Central Heating Zones - New & Replacement Systems

[stevetheplumber]

building inspectors will only attend a building on one condition and that is that some one is paying themso the chances of one ever checking something you've done is not worth worrying about
im certain these new regs are being brought in to keep trainers and controls companies in work each extra piece of cost that legislation adds to a job is money in the illegals pockets

 

[chris watkins]

I would like the law to be fully enforced, what is the point otherwise, when you have a BC officer who comes out after a customer pays £275 & says "I don't know anything about these unvented cylinders but if it hasn't blown up by now it must be all right" gives him a bit of paper & walks out !!!
I want to see people (customers & installers) being prosecuted where ever possible for non complaints of the building & for that matter the water regs as well. Why have I spent good time & money making sure I have the training & skills to comply when others don't & undercut me because they don't bother to upgrade heating systems for instants.
Lets try to get the law of the land fully enforced, it may be a way of getting the cowboys out or at least have a bit more of a level playing field !!

 

[stevetheplumber]

chris i agree completely but this is the problem of todays society so many laws are being flouted no one obeys any when you see burglars walking free despite having hundreds of previous convictions what chance is there of a crack down on builders and then theres politicians commiting fraud and paying the money back to avoid prosecution, the list is endless

 

[chris watkins]

Can't just throw our hands up in the air, otherwise we might end up with some people choosing not to obey any of our laws.
Got to complain, I will find out who best to & let who all know.
It might not be registration for plumbing but it is the only laws we have to prevent cowboy works, so it has got to be worth a try hasn't it ?????

 

[doitmyself]

I would like the law to be fully enforced, what is the point otherwise, when you have a BC officer who comes out after a customer pays £275 & says "I don't know anything about these unvented cylinders but if it hasn't blown up by now it must be all right" gives him a bit of paper & walks out !!!

I don't know if it's common throughout the USA, but I was recently reading an American site (Heating Help - Heating Systems ) and it would appear that in New York all heating work has to be pre-approved (e.g heat loss calculations etc) and the installation checked afterwards by independent inspectors. NO "self-certification".

There are also stringent rules about qualifications and training. One builder got done for using untrained and unqualified personnel to repair someone's chimney.

 

[chris watkins]

doitmyself it is done like that in most developed countries through out the world, apparently in this country it is to allow market forces & anti-bureaucracy to prevail, kind of tells you of the importance others place on it when the good old US of A has so stringent rules, a !!

 

[Leo21]

Iff all the building regs were rigidly enforced some people couldn't afford it. Meaning some of thework would be done illegally. So enforcing it to the letter would have the opposite effect than the desired one.

 

[AWheating]

unregistered gas engineers bearly get taken to court, so you will find it hard to find a installer getting done over a lack of trv's fitted. Right or wrong you have to try your best to earn a living and do the right thing while competing with those that dont in many walks of life.

 

[chris watkins]

How so Leo21 ??
If customer need work done they need it done !!! If they or others carry out the work & break the law they should be prosecuted shouldn't they ? just like anybody who breaks our rules. If you don't like the law (rules) then get them changed otherwise all I what is them obeyed by everybody !! is that so wrong ??
If you are a plumber / heating engineer it is in our interest isn't it ??

 

[Leo21]

Following the building regs to the letter may mean some people have no other option than to go the "cheap route" iff they can't afford it. ie cowboys or unregistered people working only for cash. In that situation isn't it better for a registered engineer to do a safe job ,that doesn't meet some of the criteria. Rather than having that bloke from the pub who,s got the escort van doing a dangerous job? And I'm only talking about perhaps not zoning or room stats. Not standard efficiency boilers. So there gas bill may be 5% higher. So what!

 

[chris watkins]

Oh, so you want to be an arbiter of the law then !! perhaps you feel it that although the law of the land is that we have a speed limit of 30 MPH in towns it really alt to be 40 - 45 for those people who can't or find it difficult driving at 30 ?? I am not having a go at you really, all I am saying is that you can't pick & chose. The law is the law & whoever breaks it should be prosecuted be they registered or not. Let the message go out that this these laws are out there & need to be obeyed by all & this would give us more work & we would be doing it right. If not, then change the law so we all know were we stand !!

 

[Leo21]

Since when has the law been the building regulations. Get over yourself.

 

[chris watkins]

ooooooo !!! hit a nerve have I ??
think you will find that a regulation is a statute i.e. law.

night, night Leo21

 

[Leo21]

Pompous twits always hit a nerve. Night night.

 

[stevetheplumber]

yep us have stringent zoning and building codes but they are mostly run by the mafia if you
got the money you've got the permits

 

[fuzzy]

i think the gains are minimal on a property under 150m2. as the gains IMO are insignificant i wouldnt think it would even cover the small installation cost for some time. Totally agree for larger properties

if all rads are sized correctly and trvs fitted i dont see how zoning on a small property would give any significant financial gain or comfort control

 

[fuzzy]

i was also told this decision was being reviewed, however i cannot confirm this

 

[diamondgas]

I didn't know this thread had taken off some, sheeeeeeeeeesh! I miss the good ones

By-the-way, building regs are legal requirements and you can be prosecuted and fined if found out flaunting them! I agree with Chris that we should all abide by the legal requirements. The fact that it's down to the local authorities to enforce the regulations and someone has to pay for anything to be inspected means there's little chance of work ever being checked out! Self policing is the only way I see it being regulated which would mean some kind of means for reporting contraventions we may come across! Just don't see it happening alas !!

 

[fuzzy]

could be a can of worms

 

[GasManMike]

I seem to vaguely remember being told that straight swaps eg combi for combi or conventional for conventional don't need zoning as long as the pipe work remains the same. But if you were to change a gravity system to a fully pumped system it would then need to be zoned in line with building regs. Is this right or Have I made it up?

Thanks.

 

[diamondgas]

Do a google on Part L mike! requirements for changeover may encourporate an exemption for zoning, would have to check it myself, but you are still rewuired to put TRV's, time clock and room thermostat ...

 

[rodders]

Hi everyone,

When I started this thread I never imagined it to get so much attention, but it seems everyone has their own view on it.

To settle this once and for all I have asked for professional clarification and will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

Thanks everyone,

Rodders

 

[fuzzy]

nice one mate

 

[doitmyself]

To settle this once and for all I have asked for professional clarification and will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

And every "professional" you ask will give a different answer.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

I have a large house and different rooms are required to be heated at different times of the day. I found a simple solution which has worked very well for me. Programmable TRV's: Salus Programmable TRV PH60 - Buy Plumbing Online

I bought 2 of these and they work just great. It gives me the complete flexibilty to heat my house efficiently

Just my tuppence worth