Whether you are building a home or improving an existing one, you will have to get the permission of the planning authority before installing a boiler or heating system. This article gives you an idea about the regulations of the planning authority and the permissions you need to seek before installing a heating system, boiler.
If your heating system or boiler works internally, you don’t need to take permission for replacement or installation of the system. If you are in a scheduled building, you need to check with Local Planning Authority. In most cases, the installation of the boiler includes an outlet outside. The development will be permitted only if you meet the outlined conditions. The conditions to be met are stated below:
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The duct to be installed on the side or rear elevation must not go beyond a metre above the peak part of the roof.
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If you are residing in a listed building, you need to confirm with the local planning authority even if you have development rights. In a few cases, you may have to take consent for internal alteration as well.
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If the building has visibility from a highway, you aren’t allowed to fit the chimney on the side or principle elevation. It is also not allowed if you are near a world heritage site or any conservation area.
If the installation process requires a nearby building to stock up related equipments, the same rules will apply. You need to meet rules for garden outbuilding and other extensions.
Building regulations
Heating systems
If you are looking forward to replacing a hot water system or heating system, it may not be necessary for you to use an application. Even if it is necessary, you don’t need to apply them well in advance to carry out the task.
In case of emergencies, for example like a hot water cylinder leak, there aren’t any issues in going ahead with the repair as long as it is within the rules and requirements. Once you are done with the task, you need to get approval and a certificate of completion.
If the task is to install a new system, then the installer needs to go ahead with the task as if it is being done for a new building. The Communities and Local Government publication and Domestic Heating Compliance Guide provide reasonable provision for energy efficiency requirements.
If the existing heating system has been replaced, the last person who worked on it is responsible for safe functioning of the system. It is his/her responsibility to issue a certificate stating that all checks have been successfully carried out.
Replacing boilers
You need to be concerned about the new standards only if you are about to replace the existing central heating boiler. You need to meet the standards even if you are changing the form of the heating system.
You need to get approval from Building Regulations Authority while going ahead with the installation of a new boiler. This is necessary for energy efficiency and safety issues. You can get the approval by employing an installer who has been registered in the approved scheme.
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Gas Boiler- In case of a gas boiler, the person needs to be gas safety registered from 1 April 2009.
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Oil fired Boiler- For oil fired boiler, OFTEC registration is necessary.
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Solid fuel fired boiler-The person needs to be a member of HETAS.
Guidelines
Approved Document J guidelines have to be followed by the installer. This document provides information related to where the flue outlet has to be positioned and what are necessary for flue linings, air supplies and chimney labelling.
The minimum efficiency for each boiler is 85% for oil and 86% for gas. Condensing boiler is the common replacement for gas boiler. In case if there is any other option, one needs to have sufficient reason for it. A registered installer would be assessing the type of boiler which can be installed. Communities and Local Government publication describes in brief about this assessment.
Domestic Heating Compliance guide
Going through ‘Gas and oil central heating boilers: Advice to householders’, would give complete information. This is a leaflet produced by Communities and Local Government.
Condensing Boilers – It is highly recommended to install a boiler that has SEDBUK A or B rating. You can switch to other rating only if Gas Safe Register installer assesses the boil to be not viable for installation. In such case, you need to go for boilers that have SEDBUK rating of C or D, provided these too meet the efficiency criteria.
In case of oil fired heating system, there are few guidelines set by Approved Document J which have to be met for switching to new storage tank. These guidelines have to met to minimise oil pollution and for safety reasons.
Though the authorities are liable to follow the Approved Document J guidance, it is possible for them to set the guidelines aside if they consider it to be unreasonable in all circumstances. Yet, before doing so, they would consider the vulnerability of the tank. They would check for the scope of oil pollution risk and fire in the building.
Hiring an installer
There are cases, where people hire installers who aren’t a part of Approved Competent Person scheme. Such installers will not be able to certify their work to be compliant. Hence, the householder or the firm needs to intimate the Local Authority about their purpose to go ahead with the boiler work. For this, you need to pay the notification fee well in advance. Then the Local Authority Building Control would be accessing on the work done and checks whether all the standards are met or not. If the guidelines are not met, they would be employing a registered installer.
Commissioning Certificate
Once the work has been completed, the installer will produce a commissioning certificate like Benchmark certificate. If the person is not a member of Competent Person Scheme, the certification would be done via a scheme operator. Eventually, the local authority will be providing you with Building Regulations Completion Certificate.
In addition, Approved Document J would be providing you all the necessary guidance for installation of combustion appliances and on the provisions necessary top safely accommodate hearths, flues, air supplies, chimneys and fireplaces.
Photo courtesy: JohnSeb
