What does Boiler Plus mean to you?

The part of the Building Regulations that deals with central heating boilers is undergoing the biggest change since the introduction of condensing boilers in 2005. The change, commonly known as Boiler Plus, affects you when your old boiler is replaced, or you have a new boiler installed where there wasn’t one before.

The new law becomes effective on 6 April 2018 and applies to homes in England only. The main points of Boiler Plus that will affect the installation of your new boiler are:

• Gas boiler performance: space heating efficiency of the new boiler must be no less than ErP 92%
• Controls: a minimum of a time and temperature control is required for all gas and oil boiler installations
• Combi boiler installations must also include one of the following:
  • Weather compensation
  • Load compensation
  • Flue Gas Heat Recovery
  • Smart control with automation and optimisation

What will happen if I don't want the extra controls?

Householders are required to comply with the Building Regulations. Having non-compliant work carried out may result in prosecution and penalties up to £5,000 for the homeowner.

What happens if my installer doesn’t comply?

Installers who don't comply are breaching the Building Regulations and are therefore breaking the law and could face prosecution. This is policed by Building Control, although Gas Safe Register can refer incidents of safety concern to the HSE.
Furthermore, if an installer were to give you an invoice for non-compliant work, it may be considered fraudulent and therefore open to action from Trading Standards.

What is Flue Gas Heat Recovery?

Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHR) is an energy efficient device that recycles the heat from the flue gases which would normally go up the flue and uses it to preheat the hot water in your taps.

What is weather compensation?

Weather compensation is a device that communicates between the boiler and an outside temperature sensor. It tells the boiler to alter the flow temperature in relation to the weather outside, leading to fuel saving and a consistent environment.

What is load compensation?

Load compensation works by measuring the response of the heating system and controlling the flow temperature depending on the required load. When the boiler starts working, the increase in the return temperature is measured, giving an indication of the required load, and the boiler varies the flow temperature accordingly. The changes in the return temperature are then monitored and the flow temperature adjusted accordingly. This can reduce fuel consumption.

What is a smart control?

A smart control can switch your heating on or off remotely, for example by using an app on your phone, so you can turn your heating on when you're on your way back from a weekend away, or off when you pop out unexpectedly.

Smart controls, like uSense can also tell you your energy use and have other features such as load compensation that can help you comply with Boiler Plus.