The actual building regulations are hard to come by. The approved documents (L in this case) we refer to is not actually regulation, more so guidance on compliance with the regulation. If you read the approved document, the only parts that are extract from the regulation are highlighted in green.
The domestic heating compliance guide was compiled to further confuse the likes of me and you. From what I can tell, it it a guide to complying with approved document L, which in itself is a guide for complying with the building regulations..
Anyway, the building regulations state:
L1. Reasonable provision shall be provided for the conservation of fuel and power within buildings by:
(a) Limiting heat gain losses -
(i)through thermal elements and other parts of the building fabric
(ii)from pipes, ducts and vessels, used for space heating, space cooling and hot water services
(b) providing fixed buildings with -
(i) are energy efficient
(ii) have effective controls
(iii) are commissioned by testing and adjusting as necessary to ensure they use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.
(c) providing with the owner sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a way as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.
Approved Document L has guidance for compliance with the building regulations as follows:
Whenever a fixed building service is extended or provided, reasonable provision would be demonstrated by following the guidance as set out in the 'Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide'
The Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide issues the following guidance on complying with the approved document L (which is in itself a guide to compliance of the building regulations)
Recommended minimum standards for controls of gas-fired wet central heating systems
1.0 Boiler Interlock
(a) Boiler based systems should have a boiler control interlock in which controls are wired so that when there is no demand for either space heating or hot water, the boiler and pump are switched off.
9b) The use of thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) alone do not provide interlock.
5.0 Temperature control of space heating
a) Separate temperature control of zones within the dwelling should be provided using;
(i) room thermostats or programmable room thermostats in all zones and
(ii) individual radiator controls such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on all radiators other than the reference rooms (with a thermostat) and bathrooms*
*When an individual system component - such as a boiler or room thermostat - is being replaced, it is not necessary to upgrade the whole system. However, while not essential for compliance with building regulations, in the case of a boiler replacement, because the system has to be drained down, it would be good practise to install thermostatic radiator valves(or equivalent) on all radiators other than the room with the main thermostat, provided the radiators are suitable and the pipework does not need to be altered.
As usual, it leaves a lot open to interpretation. So what is it, recommendation, best practice, regulation? In the extremely unlikely event of being held up in court on a breach of regulation, would you be happy to defend yourself over why you chose not not follow the guidance to comply with building regulation?
Interested to hear other peoples views on it all, personally I fit what is recommended in order to comply with building reg's. I'm also happy to walk away from a job if the price of a room stat is enough to put someone off. I really see no reason these days with the R.F stuff available.
