Standards We Work To

Building Regulations

The rules around gas installations are designed to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. The standards are improved often. Since 1 April 2005 all central heating boiler installations have fallen under building regulations (the change has applied to oil-fired central-heating boilers from the 1st of April 2007).

When having Gas Appliances Changed Or Installed all boilers must be 88% or higher:

The SEDBUK system considers several factors, including a boiler’s energy usage when its converting fuel to heat, and other features specific to the weather and buildings of a UK region.

SEDBUK is a part of the Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings (SAP). It was first created in 2005 by the UK government, which consulted with manufacturers. During the initial years of the ‘Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme’, boilers were given a rating of between A – G.

However, this changed in 2009 to prevent confusion with the EU’s energy rating system. Now boilers have a percentage efficiency SEDBUK rating:

• 90% and above – A
• 86 – 90% – B
• 82 – 86% – C
• 78 – 82% – D
• 74 – 78% – E
• 70 – 74 – F
• Below 70% – G

Declaration of Safety Certificate

When a gas appliance is installed you will be given a Declaration of Safety to prove that it has been installed by an approved professional. This is also a required element of the Home Information Pack, which is a legal requirement.

What is required?

• Every time a hot water cylinder or boiler is changed, your entire heating system must be inspected and brought into line with the latest standards of efficiency and control. This ensures that your boiler is able to work to its declared efficiency.
• Your new cylinder or boiler must meet the latest efficiency standards – SEDBUK for the boiler BS for the cylinder. (Medium duty cylinders DO NOT meet these standards).
• If the system is to be compatible with the modern, higher efficiency boilers, it should be fully power flushed.
• A boiler interlock must be installed in the system. This provides a way to turn off the boiler and pump when no heat or hot water is required.
• When a bypass circuit is fitted, an automatic bypass valve must be installed.
• All controls fitted must be either good or best practice according to definitions from CheSS or HPG302.
• Your new boiler has to be commissioned once completed. This ensures that the components are all working correctly.

Your central heating engineer must explain full operation and maintenance to the homeowner, instructions must be left along with some form of commissioning proof.

Minimum requirements to fulfil “Good Practice” or “Best Practice” requirements are:

Stored Hot Water Systems Good Practice includes:

• Programmers (even better with independent times for CH/DHW)
• Room Thermostat
• Cylinder Thermostat
• Motorised Valve or Valves
• Radiator Thermostats
• Automatic Bypass Valve

Combi Boilers Good Practice includes:

• Timeswitches
• Room Thermostat
• Radiator Thermostats Throughout
• Automatic Bypass Valve

Stored Hot Water Systems Best Practice includes:

• Programmable Room Thermostat (Control DHWRoom Thermostat)
• Cylinder Thermostat
• Motorised Valve or Valves
• Radiator Thermostats
• Automatic Bypass Valve

Combi Boilers Best practice includes:

• Programmable Room Thermostat
• Radiator Thermostats
• Automatic Bypass

Radiator thermostats should be used on all radiators other than the room where the thermostat is fitted.

When bypass circuits are used, then an automatic bypass valve is required.

Sundial S, W and Y plans satisfy good practice and smartfit satisfies best practice for your stored hot water systems.