Boiler Plus comes into force today (6 April), and the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has released a consumer guide for installers to share with their customers.

The new guide from the HHIC can be found here. The legislation requires all those fitting new combination boilers to include one of the following in their system:

  • Flue gas heat recovery systems
  • Weather Compensation
  • Load Compensation
  • Smart controls featuring automation and optimisation functions.

Stewart Clements, Director of the HHIC, said: “The premise of the legislation is that it will encourage, and enable, householders to make informed decisions about the products that best meet their needs. The degree of flexibility in terms of which products render a new boiler ‘compliant’ means that the diversity of the house stock and needs of the consumer are catered for.

“Given the extent to which domestic heating contributes to emissions, the new standards, coming into effect in April 2018, will help reduce carbon emissions whilst encouraging consumers to prioritise the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of their heating.

“While this may sound like a big change to some, we know that many installers already work above and beyond the Boiler Plus standards and many products already comply. Mandating additional efficiency measures for new boiler installations in England sends a clear message to the public and engineers; standards are high in the heating industry, technology is world leading and consumers can save money and improve their thermal comfort.”

To answer questions surrounding the technologies mandated by Boiler Plus, the HHIC is also launching a series of guides to assist installers and consumers in understanding and choosing these measures. The first guide, Weather Compensation – Installer Factsheet, can be found here.