Is it mandatory to fit a condensing boiler in Scotland?

[fluff29]

Hi there

This info is for someone in the office, not me, I have another thread with my prob.

My friend has a conventional boiler. Does she have to fit a condensing boiler in Scotland? Can't find anything on internet - everything only mentions England.

Thanks in advance

fluff

 

[kirkgas]

there is an exemption criteria based on ammounting points for type of property, location of boiler etc, cant remember where it is off the top of my head, i live in Scotland so only deal with it here not sure if it relates to all uk

 

[fluff29]

Thanks Guys

We have been browsing the internet and even looked at building standards but we could not make out anything precise in the wording.

Thanks

Fluff

 

[D_Hailsham]

My friend has a conventional boiler. Does she have to fit a condensing boiler in Scotland?

Only if she is replacing it - and there is no need to do that until it is clapped out.

It's all laid down in Scottish Building Standards, Section 6 . See Sections 6.3.1, and 6.3.12 - Part Systems.

An exception can be made in certain circumstances - see Section 6.3.12 - Condensing boilers, and the link highlighted in blue.

PS A google for "scottish building regulations" found the info in about 20 seconds.

 

[fluff29]

hey there D_Hailsam

You get around and seem to come to my help all the time at the moment. My friend's boiler was cut off by Scottish Gas today at the annual service as it has 3 gas leaks which cannot be fixed.

The boiler is over 20 years old, so she's isn't complaining, just that it happens to be coming into the cold time of the year.

I looked up building standards regs 2004 in section 6 and couldn't see where it said for definate that it was mandatory in Scotland. The regs that I found were different from what you have attached.

We found various bits on the internet which said that a condensing boiler was needed unless it didn't meet certain criteria but couldn't find anything in black and white. AS you can see from the other 2 replies on here, we got kind of confused.

She currently has a wall mounted potterton conventional boiler. She has a room stat in the hall and no TRV's on any of the radiators in the house.

She does not even know if there is inhibitor in the system.

She would rather stay away from condensing boilers if possible and not sure if this will be possible.

- who enforces the requirement to have condensing boiler in Scotland and how would they know if a condensing boiler wasn't installed?

thanks for your help again.

fluff

ps still trying to get the heating engineer to phone me back - he is quite a busy guy.

 

[D_Hailsham]

hey there D_Hailsam

You get around and seem to come to my help all the time at the moment. My friend's boiler was cut off by Scottish Gas today at the annual service as it has 3 gas leaks which cannot be fixed.

The boiler is over 20 years old, so she's isn't complaining, just that it happens to be coming into the cold time of the year.

Thought I recognised your user name.

It does sound as if your friends boiler is dead

I looked up building standards regs 2004 in section 6 and couldn't see where it said for definate that it was mandatory in Scotland. The regs that I found were different from what you have attached.

The latest Scottish regulations were issued in 2009, they are the ones I gave you the link to.

The only way she can, legally, have a non-condensing boiler is if she meets the exception criteria in the document named in blue in the regulations (click the blue link to open the document)

She has a room stat in the hall and no TRV's on any of the radiators in the house. She does not even know if there is inhibitor in the system.

The installer will advise what is required to meet current standards.

She would rather stay away from condensing boilers if possible and not sure if this will be possible.

Why? Does she mean combi boiler by any chance, i.e one which provided hot water directly from the mains, not via a hot water cylinder?

who enforces the requirement to have condensing boiler in Scotland and how would they know if a condensing boiler wasn't installed?

The installer has to notify the appropriate authority and, if a non-condensing boiler is installed, provide information as to why it meets the exception criteria (see the "blue" document).

 

[fluff29]

Hi Rickfuller

What makes you say that it is not enforceable to fit a condensing boiler?

Are the boiler installers in Scotland required to make a return to a governing body? How would they know if you fitted a non-condensing boiler if you didn't return the form?

Thanks

Fluff

 

[Rickfuller]

Not required in Scotland & most installers only complete the Bench Mark & return the guarantee details to the manufacturer.
There's no requirement to submit details to LABC either, when replacing a boiler.

We are Gas Safe & OFTEC members & never bothered in their daft paper chase, it's a complete waste of time. However, 99.9% of the replacement boiler we fit are condensing Band A.

If it's your own house & you don't let it, fit what you like - it's still a free country.