Heating a conservatory

[Morphing]

We are in the middle of a redoing our kitchen. Part of the build has been erecting a 20sq metre conservatory on the back of the kitchen. Part of the kitchen wall will be knocked through to make it one big space. We currently have a multi fuel central heating stove which has enough power to heat radiators in the conservatory as well. I have read that it is frowned upon putting rads in the conservatory, but the amount oh heat generated in the kitchen will also aid in keeping the conservatory warm all year round. Underfloor heating is not an option. we will be putting taps on the pipework into the conservatory. does that count as being on a separate control with building regs?

 

[dcawkwell]

Your house do as you like.
The building police can't do anything.
If you want radiators put radiators in.

 

[muggles]

Building regs say that it must be a completely separate heating system in a conservatory, not connected in any way to the rest of your heating even with valves on. It's your house and while you're living in it you can do what you like but when it comes to selling it you'll find it getting marked down for having rads in there.

 

[D_Hailsham]

Part of the build has been erecting a 20sq metre conservatory on the back of the kitchen. Part of the kitchen wall will be knocked through to make it one big space.

If there is no external quality door between the kitchen and the conservatory, it is not considered to be a conservatory under Building Regs; it is an extension. It therefore has to comply fully with Building Regs.

You may not have problems now as Building Control will be ignorant of what you intend doing. But you will almost certainly have problems when you come to sell the house as any competent solicitor/conveyancer will demand the appropriate certificates for any work carried out on the house.


Conservatories and porches
3.15 Regulation 21 of the Building Regulations exempts some conservatory and porch extensions from the energy efficiency requirements. The exemption applies only for conservatories or porches:

• which are at ground level;

• where the floor area is less than 30 m2

• where the existing walls, doors and windows in the part of the dwelling which separates the conservatory are retained or, if removed, replaced by walls, windows and doors which meet the energy efficiency requirements; and

• where the heating system of the dwelling is not extended into the conservatory or porch.

3.16 Where any conservatory or porch does not meet all the requirements in the preceding paragraph, it is not exempt and must comply with the relevant energy efficiency requirements (see paragraphs 4.8 and 4.9 below).

Conservatories and porches
4.8 Where the extension is a conservatory or porch that is not exempt from the energy efficiency requirements (see paragraphs 3.15 and 3.16 above), then reasonable provision would be to provide:

a. Effective thermal separation between the heated area in the existing dwelling. i.e. the walls, doors, and windows between the dwelling and the extension, should be insulated and draught proofed to at least the same extent as In the existing dwelling.

b. Independent temperature and on/off controls to any heating system installed within the extension. Any fixed building service installed within the extension should also conform to the standards set out in paragraphs 4.24 to 4.37.

c. Glazed elements should meet the standards set out in Table 1 and opaque elements should meet the standards set out in Table 2. However, the limitations on total area of windows, roof windows and doors as set out at paragraph 42 above do not apply.

4.9 Removing, and not replacing, any or all of the thermal separation between the dwelling and an existing exempt extension, or extending the dwelling’s heating system into the extension, means the extension ceases to be exempt (see paragraphs 3.15 and 3.16 above). This constitutes a change to the building’s energy status (Regulation 22). In such situations, the extension should be treated as a conventional extension and reasonable provision would be to demonstrate that the extensiin meets the guidance set out in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.7 above.