BOILER SYSTEMS

BUILDING REGULATIONS PART L 2006

Information from ICOM Energy Association

SUMMARY OF MINIMUM PROVISIONS FOR CENTRAL HEATING

BOILER SYSTEMS IN NON-DOMESTIC BUILDINGS ACCORDING
TO THE REVISED BUILDING REGULATIONS - PART L: 2006
The 2006 version of Part L of the Building Regulations is supported for buildings other than dwellings
by Approved Documents ADL2A (new buildings) and ADL2B (existing buildings). These documents
require new buildings, and in some instances existing buildings, to be assessed for total annual energy
usage and carbon emissions, using the National Calculation Methodology. They also specify the
minimum acceptable performance for services such as heating and domestic hot water systems.

The detailed guidance on the
minimum acceptable performance of
heating, cooling, ventilation and hot
water systems is contained in a
DCLG document “The Non-
domestic Heating, Cooling and
Ventilation Compliance Guide”,
(referred to in this sheet as “the
Guide”). Central heating boiler
systems are covered in Section 2 of
the Guide. This sheet provides a
summary of the minimum provisions
of Section 2. It does not deal with
any requirements applying to the
whole building.
For a full understanding of the
requirements the appropriate
Approved Document (AD) and the
Guide should both be consulted.
The ADs and the guide also contain
information on the status of the
Guide.
SCOPE OF SECTION 2 OF THE
GUIDE.
Section 2 of the guide and this
summary sheet cover central
heating systems incorporating hot
water boilers fired by natural gas,
LPG and oil. It does not cover steam
boilers or electric boilers.
DEFINITIONS
Section 2 of the Guide refers to the
following terms: should be included in the calculation,
“Seasonal Boiler Efficiency” - even when some are identical.
used for all single boiler Equation 3.1
installations and for multiple Seasonal Boiler Efficiency =
boiler systems using identical OSBE = ∑ SBE.R
boilers in an existing installation. ∑R
This is a “weighted” average of the where :
efficiencies of the boiler at 30% and
• OSBE is the gross overall seasonal
100% of the boiler output as
boiler efficiency, being a weighted
described by Equation 2. This is
average with respect to boiler output,
usually quoted by the boiler
of the individual seasonal boiler
manufacturer.
efficiencies.
Seasonal Boiler Efficiency =
• SBE is the gross seasonal boiler
0.81( 30%)+0.19( 100%)
efficiency of each individual boiler
(Equation 2)
calculated using Equation 2.
where: 30% is the gross boiler
• R is the rated output in kW of each
efficiency measured at 30% load.
individual boiler.
and 100% is the gross boiler
“Seasonal Boiler Efficiency” - for a
efficiency measured at 100% load.
multiple-boiler system in a new
“Seasonal Boiler Efficiency” - for building.
a multiple-boiler system replacing For this calculation it is necessary to
an existing installation where the consult the “three-step method” and
component boilers have non - Equation 3.2 & 3.3 in the Guide.
identical efficiencies
Where more than one boiler is
installed in the same heating system
in an existing building and the
efficiencies of the boilers are not all
identical, Equation 3.1 should be
used to calculate the overall ICOM
seasonal boiler efficiency. All boilers Energy Association
Effective Heat Generating boiler providing additional heat MINIMUM PROVISIONS FOR
Seasonal Efficiency transfer capacity. Where the boiler CENTRAL HEATING BOILER
This applies to a central heating manufacturer supplies an SYSTEMS USED IN NEW OR
boiler system and is a quantity economiser as part of the boiler (as a EXISTING BUILDINGS
obtained by adding an appropriate matched package) and the combined
The table below contains a
number of “Heating Efficiency unit is tested to the standards
summary of the minimum
Credits” (see below) to the Seasonal needed to demonstrate compliance
provisions for boilers and central
Boiler Efficiency. with the Boiler Efficiency Directive,
heating systems in order to
the effect of this on the boiler
Heating Efficiency Credits comply with ADL2A or ADL2B. It
efficiency at 30% and 100% of the
These are percentage points that can shows the minimum acceptable
boiler output may be taken into
be claimed for central heating boiler Seasonal Boiler Efficiencies, the
account in the values, normally
systems fitted in existing buildings minimum acceptable controls
quoted by the manufacturer, used for
according to certain qualities and package, the Heating Efficiency
the calculation of the Seasonal Boiler
features of the system. Credits and the minimum
Efficiency using Equation 2, 3.1 or
acceptable Effective Heat
Economisers 3.2 & 3.3 as appropriate. (For the last
Generating Seasonal Efficiencies.
A device including a secondary heat of these equations please refer to the
exchanger fitted on, or near to, a Guide.)

SUMMARY OF THE MINIMUM PROVISIONS FOR BOILER SYSTEMS

Minimum
Minimum Seasonal Effective
Boiler Efficiency Minimum Controls Package Heating Efficiency Credits Heat
Generating
(based on Gross CV) Seasonal
Efficiency *
All boiler sizes: Package A
Package A

Timing and temperature demand control,

zone-specific where building floor area
> 150 m2
Boilers in New Build

Natural gas,LPG or Weather compensation (except where

Oil: constant temperature supply is needed.
Single boiler systems 100kW - 500kW: Packages A+B
84% Optional start/stop control
Package B

Night set-back or frost protection Heating efficiency credits are not

Multiple boiler system Two stage firing facility OR multiple boilers
84%
applicable for new build
- 80% for any Measures to limit heat loss from non-firing
individual boiler, 84% modules
for the overall multiple Sequence control for multiple boilers only
boiler system. >500kW: Packages A+B+C
Package C

For each gas boiler - fully modulating

burner controls
For each oil boiler - multi stage burner
controls
Boiler oversized no more than 20% 2
Sequential control of multiple boilers 1
Monitoring and targeting 1
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) 1
Boilers in Existing Buildings

Weather compensation with mixing valve (a) 1.5

Addition of TRVs or temperature zone
Zone control where the building control to (a) above or to (b) or (c)
Natural gas - 80% floor area > 150 m2 as a minimum on/off below for full building temperature control 1
control for the zone. Room thermostat or sensor controlling Nat gas-84%
LPG - 81% Room thermostat which controls through boiler water temp in relation to heat load (b) 0.5 LPG-85%
a diverter valve, (diverter valve not Direct acting weather compensation (c) 2
Oil - 82% needed for condensing boilers.) Oil-86%
Optimised start 1.5
Time clock control
Optimised stop 0.5
Optimised start/stop 2
Full zoned time control 1
Full Building Management System 4
De-centralised heating system 1
Multiple boilers 1

* Note. The Effective Heat Generating Seasonal Efficiency of a boiler system is the Seasonal Boiler Efficiency plus the total Heating Efficiency
Credits that can be claimed for that system.

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