Appendix A – Acceptable heating | Arun District Council

Appendix A – Acceptable heating

This information has been taken from the CIEH guidance on enforcement of excess cold hazards in England 2011.

(1) Full gas central heating (shared houses)

A whole-house gas fired central heating system should satisfy the design and installation requirements of British Standard 5449: 1990 and be in accordance with Part L of the current Building Regulations.

The system shall be capable of maintaining the following internal temperatures when the external temperature is -1˚C:

living room and dining room 21˚C
bathrooms 22˚C
elsewhere 18˚C

Sizing of the boiler and radiators shall be determined using an approved domestic central heating calculator and approved radiator manufacturer’s sizing tables.

Radiators shall be so sited as to ensure even distribution of heat whilst minimising heat loss through walls and windows.

The following controls shall be provided:

a room thermostat suitably positioned
a programmer
thermostatic radiator valves on all radiators except on the one in the room containing the room thermostat (usually the hall)

Installation and testing should be carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (as amended) and the relevant British Standards/Codes of Practice applicable to domestic gas installations. A copy of the manufacturer’s instructions should be left with the occupiers.

Note: Prior to installation of a combination boiler, the water pressure available in the dwelling at peak time should be tested to confirm that it is capable of providing the maximum hot water flow rate specified in the chosen boiler manufacturer’s schedule. Where it is established that there is insufficient water pressure for a combination boiler, a conventional boiler shall be used, coupled with an indirect high-performance hot water cylinder.

As a guide, a combination boiler shall be capable of providing domestic hot water at a draw off rate of at least 9.5 litres per minute at a temperature rise of 35˚C.

(2) Full gas central heating (bedsit-type and bedsit HMOs)

The system shall be capable of maintaining the following internal temperatures when the external temperature is -1˚C:

bedsitting rooms, communal living/dining room 21˚C
bathrooms 22˚C
elsewhere (including hallways and landings) 18˚C

Sizing of the boiler and radiators shall be determined using an approved domestic central heating calculator and approved radiator manufacturer’s sizing tables.

Radiators shall be so sited as to ensure even distribution of heat whilst minimising heat loss through walls and windows. All radiators shall be fitted with thermostatic radiator valves.

All controls, including the programmer and provision of boiler interlock, shall be in accordance with a recognised standard for a communal heating system and be compliant with Part L of the current Building Regulations.

The programmer and room thermostat should be accessible to the tenants. If this is not possible, the heating should be programmed to be on all the time except for up to 7 hours at night.

Installation and testing should be carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 as amended and the relevant British Standards/Codes of Practice applicable to domestic gas installations. A copy of the manufacturer’s instructions should be left with the occupiers.

(3) Full electric heating – storage heaters (shared houses)

A full electric heating system should be designed and installed for the dwelling using off peak storage heaters. The system shall be capable of maintaining the following internal temperatures when the external temperature is -1˚C:

living room and dining room 21˚C
bathrooms 22˚C
elsewhere 18 ˚C

The system shall include the following:

the living room shall be provided with a fan assisted combination storage heater with thermostatically controlled top up convector heater
the main bedroom, kitchen, hallway, and any other bedrooms with a design heat loss of 600w or over, shall be provided with storage heaters
small bedrooms where storage heating is deemed inappropriate shall be provided with wall mounted electric panel heaters with timers and electronic thermostats
bathrooms, where practicable, shall be provided with storage heaters or otherwise with on peak down flow heaters
all storage heaters shall have automatic charge control and a thermostatically controlled damper outlet

For sizing and positioning of storage heaters, regard shall be had to the method set out in DOM 8: Guide to the Design of Electric Space Heating Systems, The Electrical Heating and Ventilation Association 2006. In particular, the system shall be designed so that 90% of the annual heat requirement is available at the off-peak rate.

All works to comply with the latest edition of the IEE Regulations and Part P of the current Building Regulations.

(4) Full electric heating – storage heaters (bedsit-type and bedsit HMOs)

A full electric heating system should be designed and installed for the whole building using off peak storage heaters. The system shall be capable of maintaining the following internal temperatures when the external temperature is -1˚C:

bedsitting rooms, communal living/dining room 21 ˚C
bathrooms 22 ˚C
elsewhere (including hallways and landings) 18 ˚C

The system shall include the following:

all bedsitting rooms shall be provided with a fan-assisted combination storage heater with thermostatically controlled top up convector heater
kitchens of sufficient size and bathrooms, where practicable, shall be provided with storage heaters or otherwise with on peak down flow heaters
all storage heaters shall have automatic charge control and a thermostatically controlled damper outlet

For sizing and positioning of storage heaters, regard shall be had to the method set out in DOM 8: Guide to the Design of Electric Space Heating Systems, The Electrical Heating and Ventilation Association 2006. In particular the system shall be designed so that 90% of the annual heat requirement is available at the off-peak rate.

All works to comply with the latest edition of the IEE Regulations and Part P of the current Building Regulations.