BUILDING REGULATIONS – SMALL PROPERTY TEMPERATURE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS SET TO CHANGE

The 2010 changes to the Building Regulations via the supporting ‘Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide’ brought in a requirement in domestic properties of 150 m² or less to provide separate temperature control in the main living area and the remaining rooms via two separate zones controlled by a room thermostat or similar. The new requirement when introduced was less than popular owing to the burden that it placed in many cases on providing an additional motorised valve, piping and wiring arrangements. The Association and many of its members could not see the potential energy savings arising from this change in legislative requirements. In early 2012 consultation took place on potential changes to the Building Regulations with this particular requirement being highlighted, in fact the change had been so unpopular that Government included for a proposal to revert back to the previous 2008 arrangements for the temperature control of space heating systems fired by oil and gas. APHC actively supported change back to the original requirements during the consultation. The Government’s response to the consultation on proposed changes to Building Regulations was issued a few weeks ago and the response indicates that there was widespread support to move back to the 2008 temperature control requirements. We have yet to see the final version of a new Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide but we believe that the minimum space heating temperature control requirement for a dwelling with a floor area of 150 m² or less will be a single zone controlled by a room thermostat with TRVs fitted to the remaining radiators in the property. 2013 Building Regulations changes are scheduled to come into effect between April and July this year. Notice issued by the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors

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