Joe Sharpe – Head of Content at Installer – looks at why installers are preparing for the upcoming changes to the Building Regulations
New changes to the Building Regulations come into effect on 15 June 2022. Part L (Conservation of fuel and power), Part F (Ventilation) and Part O (Setting Standards for overheating in new residential buildings) will see the biggest set of updates in over a decade.
Our www.installeronline.co.uk website and the InstallerDAILY and InstallerWEEKLY newsletters are seeing a lot of interest from engineers looking for content about these changes. We know through our research that 69% of our readers want to access information about regulations and legislation, and these latest updates will affect how installers work both now, and in the near future.
Some of the key points for heating, plumbing and renewables professionals are:
- Heating systems for new builds will have to be designed with a maximum flow temperature of 55°C or lower, which favours low-temperature heating systems
- All oil heating installations will need a room-by-room heat loss calculation carried out as part of the initial site survey
- When working on, preparing or commissioning a heating system – NEW OR EXISTING – the heating system water needs to be treated as per BS7593:2019
- Where technically feasible, Part L 2022 will mandate the installation of heating controls such as TRVs.
Installing TRVs, carrying out heat loss calculations, and concentrating on water treatment are proven methods to improve the efficiency of heating systems, so it’s good to see these becoming seven more of a key focus.
The shift to maximum flow temperatures of 55°C is also a big step toward renewables. Whatever the heat source, this will start to educate consumers and installers about the benefits of low temperature heating, which will make the eventual transition to heat pumps easier.
These are positive changes as the race to Net Zero heats up, however, some have argued that they don’t go far enough. With legally-binding carbon targets to hit, a lot of change is coming, especially when it comes to heating our buildings. Engineers will be key to this process and at Installer we are committed to providing them with all the information they need to stay on top of their game.
If you would like to contribute editorially about the hottest topics in the industry today, please contact Joe Sharpe at jsharpe@installermagazine.co.uk
5 of the most popular stories in May 2022:
- Installers required to install thermostatic room controls when replacing a boiler
- Key changes to water treatment requirements in new Part L
- Key changes for Heating Controls in new Part L 2022
- Heat pumps are now cheaper to run than gas boilers – Says new report
- Opinion: Where have all the boilers gone?
