Heating, Energy & Eco
398 sources in the library on heating, energy & eco, 40 on this page cited in a published note. Each one says what the document covers and what it is good for. Name a source to see which document it is and where to read it. One at a time. Page 3 of 10.
- strong RN-7QIL5Z cited
BSI
The standard behind any correct radiator or boiler sizing figure, published 31 July 2017 and current but under review. It gives methods for calculating the design heat load for single rooms, building entities and whole buildings, where design heat load is the heat supply in watts needed to hold the required internal design temperature under design external conditions. The calculation is carried out before heating system components are dimensioned and accounts for multiple heat emission devices in one room, domestic hot water heating power where significant, and how required heating power is split between multiple heat generators. It sits in the EPB standard set as Module M3-3, with PD CEN/TR 12831-2 as the explanatory companion. Cite this when a note says a BTU calculator is a shortcut for a proper room-by-room heat loss calculation.
Cited in Boiler Sizing: What kW Do You Need, Radiator vs Underfloor Heating: Which to Choose, Radiators Explained: Types, BTU Sizing & Cost.
- strong RN-DTC5N1 cited
BSI
BSI's catalogue entry for BS EN 16941-1:2018: its scope (design, sizing, installation, commissioning and maintenance of rainwater systems) and its withdrawal on 22 March 2024.
Cited in Rainwater Harvesting Systems.
- strong RN-W6LO6X cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: CURRENT. BS 7593:2019+A1:2024 was published 31 October 2024 and supersedes BS 7593:2019, which is withdrawn. Amendment A1 is dated 30 November 2024 in the NBS index and links the code to the new BS 9593:2024 Assessment for the performance of chemical inhibitors for use in domestic central heating and cooling water systems, test method. The code gives recommendations on best practice for preparing circulating water in open vented or sealed heating and cooling systems in individual domestic premises during initial commissioning or re-commissioning after major remedial work such as a boiler replacement, and on ongoing water treatment. It covers sealed cooling systems, treatment of water to overcome scale and corrosion, cleaning and flushing of systems, and the use of in-line filters. It excludes commercial, municipal and most multiple-residential premises but does apply to individual circuits within multi-unit dwellings. IMPORTANT for citation: the reference book still carries the withdrawn BS 7593:2019 base-edition page; this is the live edition page.
Cited in Powerflushing & System Cleaning.
- strong RN-P0GUEN cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
The British Standard for rainwater harvesting, the reference a note on collecting and reusing rainwater needs. Published 31 Jan 2009 and withdrawn 19 Jul 2018, so cite it as the established code rather than a current one. Its scope gives recommendations on the design, installation, testing and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems supplying non-potable water in the UK. It covers systems supplying water for domestic uses in residential, commercial, industrial or public premises that do not require potable water quality, and it names those uses explicitly as laundry, WC flushing and garden watering. That scope is the key point for a homeowner: harvested rainwater is fluid category 5 under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and must not be connected to drinking or washing supplies, so the standard's non-potable limitation is a legal boundary as well as a design one.
Cited in Rainwater Harvesting Systems.
- strong RN-3TAWNC cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: CURRENT. BS EN 215:2019 was published 30 September 2019, is identical to EN 215 and supersedes BS EN 215:2004; it also replaces the older British specification BS 6284:1983. It covers thermostatic radiator valves for wet central heating systems, specifically two port and integrated thermostatic valves with or without pre setting, rated for water up to 120 degrees C and nominal pressure PN 10 or lower. It gives definitions, performance requirements and test methods, plus dimensions, permitted materials and connection specifications for four series of straight and angle pattern valves, with tests for thermal performance, flow rate and endurance. This is the standard to cite when a note says a TRV must be to BS EN 215, and the reason a TRV should not be fitted in the same room as the room thermostat. Catalogue page confirms number, title, date, status and scope; the test detail is paywalled.
- strong RN-O1KN8B cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
The test standard that produces the wattage figure printed on a radiator, so it is the authority behind any radiator sizing table. Published 31 Dec 2014, current but under review, identical to EN 442-2:2014, ICS 91.140.10 Central heating systems, committee RHE/6, ISBN 978 0 580 82034 2. It defines the laboratory procedures for determining standard thermal output and other characteristics of radiators and convectors permanently installed and fed with water or steam below 120 degrees C from a remote energy source, together with admissible tolerances, sample selection and conformity verification against the initial type test. Its stated exclusions matter for a buying guide: it does not apply to fan assisted radiators, fan assisted convectors, trench convectors or independent heating appliances, which therefore carry outputs measured another way.
Cited in Bathroom Storage Solutions.
- strong RN-SE7L2Y cited
BSI Knowledge
BSI's page for the current BS EN 16941-1:2024 gives its scope: design, sizing, installation, identification, commissioning and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems for non-potable use.
Cited in Rainwater Harvesting Systems.
- strong RN-A08V5X cited
CIPHE
CIPHE is the professional body and chartered institute for plumbers and heating engineers in the UK. It maintains professional registers and a public member verification service so a homeowner can check a claimed membership, and members must follow its Code of professional standards, backed by a complaints and disciplinary process. It runs the Plumbing Professionals Development Scheme (PPDS) for apprenticeships and training. Its published guidance covers hot water safety including thermostatic mixing valves and scalding prevention, water efficiency in homes, sustainability material on heat pumps and low-temperature heating, and health hazards such as Legionnaires' disease in water systems. Cite it for the scalding and TMV point in a hot water or bathroom note, and as the verification route for a plumber.
Cited in Powerflushing & System Cleaning.
- strong RN-9TKJX2 cited
HETAS
HETAS explanation of its Certificate of Compliance. It says registered installers notify work through HETAS, which passes records to the local authority, and that the certificate may be needed for insurance and a sale.
Cited in Multi-Fuel Stoves vs Wood Burners, Snug & Second Living Room Ideas.
- strong RN-QKMEXX cited
HETAS
HETAS consumer advice on chimney lining. It explains that a liner is needed where the chimney is not sound and suitable, and that flexible stainless steel is the most popular type.
Cited in Wood Burning Stoves: Cost, HETAS & Rules.
- strong RN-596Y0W cited
HETAS
HETAS's 2026 survey of approved chimney sweep prices. It puts a standard sweep at £60 to £85, with a UK average of about £72 and London at about £82.
Cited in Chimney Sweep Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide, Wood Burning Stoves: Cost, HETAS & Rules.
- strong RN-IE2J2P cited
HETAS
HETAS consumer advice on chimney sweeping. It recommends sweeping at least twice a year for wood and at least once a year for smokeless fuels.
Cited in Wood Burning Stoves: Cost, HETAS & Rules.
- strong RN-GZ3QEK cited
Institution of Engineering and Technology
IET FAQ page on Section 722 of BS 7671. States that Regulation 722.531.2.101 requires the charging point to be RCD protected by its own RCD of at least a Type A, having a residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA, and that the requirement attaches to the charging point rather than necessarily the whole final circuit. Notes that in practice the RCD will usually be installed within the charging equipment and advises verifying this with the equipment supplier. Refers on to the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation. Useful for correcting notes that claim a Type B or Type F RCD is required for domestic EV chargers.
- strong RN-JS73CJ cited
Institution of Engineering and Technology
IET answer on BS 7671 Regulation 701.512.2: equipment in bathroom zones 1 and 2 needs at least IPX4, or IPX5 where water jets are present.
Cited in Infrared Heating Panels: Worth It?.
- strong RN-7E9GLP cited
MCS
MCS's page on its Heat Load Calculator, confirming that MIS 3005-D requires a BS EN 12831-1:2017 compliant heat load calculation.
Cited in Room-by-Room Radiator Sizing, Whole-House Retrofit: Where to Start & Costs.
- strong RN-0RXVGJ cited
MCS
MCS announcement of MIS 3012, the Battery Installation Standard that MCS-certified installers of home battery systems must follow.
- strong RN-ARWY4W cited
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)
The public register of MCS certified installers, searchable by installer name, certification number, or by technology and location. MCS describes itself as the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewables such as solar panels and heat pumps, and this certification is the gate to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. The technology filters set out exactly what MCS covers: air source heat pump, battery storage, biomass, exhaust air heat pump, ground or water source heat pump, micro CHP, small wind turbine, solar assisted heat pump, solar heating and solar PV. Use this to tell a reader how to check a quoted installer rather than take a claim on trust.
Cited in Ground vs Air Source Heat Pumps.
- strong RN-WHIYMC cited
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)
The single index of every live MCS standard, which is where to check a standard's current issue number and date before quoting it. Current entries include MIS 3002:2025 for solar PV, MIS 3003 the Small Wind Turbines Installation Standard V4.1, MIS 3004 the Biomass Installation Standard Issue 4.3, MIS 3005-D:2025 the heat pump design standard, MCS 001-1 and MCS 001-2 the Installer Certification Requirements at Issue 4.2, and MCS 025. The library can be filtered by current, new and product standards. MCS standards are owned by the MCS Charitable Foundation and governed by the MCS Approval Committee, which oversees the Technical Working Groups and runs public consultation on changes, so a note can say the scheme is standards-governed rather than manufacturer-led.
Cited in Floor Insulation Materials & Build-ups.
- strong RN-WX6I1F cited
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)
The MCS design standard for heat pump installations. Its Table 1 of internal design temperatures, taken from CIBSE, sets 22 °C for bathrooms, 21 °C for living rooms and 18 °C for bedrooms.
Cited in Room-by-Room Radiator Sizing.
- strong RN-7EPWCE cited
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) / MCS Charitable Foundation
The design standard an MCS installer must follow, and therefore the standard behind every Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump. Issue 2.0 dated 05/12/2025. Microgeneration heat pumps are defined as those with a thermal output not exceeding 45 kWth per MCS 007; multiple units may serve one installation with a total design heat load not exceeding 70 kWth determined in accordance with BS EN 12831-1:2017, provided no single unit exceeds 45 kWth. Heat load calculations must otherwise comply with BS EN 12831-1:2017. The heat pump must provide a minimum of 55 per cent of the calculated heat load with power output rated at 55 degrees C flow temperature. Where a design proposes a flow temperature above 55 degrees C, an alternative design at 55 degrees C or lower must also be provided with the differences explained. For domestic hot water the heat pump must be capable of at least 55 degrees C flow at design conditions, and hot water systems must incorporate a means to prevent bacterial growth. It covers ground, air and water source, vapour compression and thermally driven, monobloc and split units. Expressly excluded are cooling only systems, direct expansion ground loop systems, and heat pumps extracting heat from loft spaces; reversible systems are included but must be designed and optimised for heating.
Cited in Boiler Sizing: What kW Do You Need.
- strong RN-NW5SO3 cited
TrustMark
TrustMark's scheme requirements for PAS 2035 Retrofit Coordinators, describing the retrofit assessment and the coordinator's responsibility for the improvement plan.
- strong RN-GTCR9U cited
Water Regulations Approval Scheme
Sets out that WRAS checks testing of water fittings for compliance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and the Scottish Byelaws, which impose a legal duty on everyone to use suitable water fittings when connected to a public water supply, covering pipes, fittings, taps, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines, boilers and toilets. States plainly that a WRAS approval itself is not mandatory but the testing is, so the point of the approval is proof that the required material and mechanical tests were passed, including that a product will not affect the taste or smell of drinking water or promote microorganism growth. Every approved fitting carries requirement and installation notes stating conditions of use, for example cold water only. Non-compliant fittings may have to be replaced and can lead to prosecution and a fine; cites British insurers' data that a burst pipe repair claim in freezing weather costs on average 8,800 pounds.
Cited in Basins & Vanity Units: A Buyer's Guide, Boiling Water Taps & Filtered Taps.
- strong RN-JDN21B cited
WRAS Approvals Ltd
The certification scheme whose approval mark on a tap, shower, pump or cylinder demonstrates compliance with the water fittings regulations. WRAS describes itself as an independent UK certification body for plumbing products and materials accredited to ISO 17065, with more than 8,000 approved products in its directory. Approvals are searchable by seven digit WRAS approval number, company or keyword, and the public directory covers products and materials approved in the last five years, so an expired or absent listing is itself a finding. The scheme runs both product approvals and material approvals and operates a laboratory recognition programme for the accredited test houses.
Cited in Choosing Bathroom Taps & Brassware.
- good RN-2OJ0I3 cited
BEAMA
BEAMA's installer factsheet on the 2022 Part L heating controls rule. It says TRVs go on every radiator except in the room with the room thermostat.
Cited in Radiator Types: Panel, Column & Designer.
- good RN-176JNC cited
Heating and Hotwater Industry Council
The Benchmark checklist supplied with almost every UK domestic boiler. States that failure to install and commission according to the manufacturer's instructions and complete the checklist will invalidate the warranty, and that the boiler must be registered with the manufacturer within one month of installation. Requires the installer to confirm the system has been flushed and cleaned in accordance with BS 7593 and the boiler manufacturer's instructions, to record which inhibitor was used, and to record whether a primary water system filter is fitted. The annual service record repeats, at every service year, that system inhibitor concentration has been checked and appropriate action taken in accordance with BS 7593 and the boiler manufacturer's instructions, with a footnote that a system inhibitor efficacy test is required on every annual service and is only excusable for an interim visit to a non-water-facing component. Also states the boiler must be serviced at least annually by a competent Gas Safe registered engineer.
Cited in Powerflushing & System Cleaning.
- good RN-SAI6DE cited
Heating and Hotwater Industry Council
HHIC installer guidance, 17 pages, tying Building Regulations to the water treatment standards. States that when installing a new heat generator to an existing hydronic system the system should be flushed and cleaned and an inhibitor added, and names BS 7593:2019+A1:2024 as the current edition. Reproduces Approved Document L Volume 1 paragraph 8.8 verbatim. Describes BS 9593:2024 as the new inhibitor performance test method replacing the NSF (formerly BuildCert) Chemical Inhibitor Approval Scheme standard, tested in three stages for corrosion rate and pitting of metal coupons, scale-forming tendency and effect on non-metallic materials. Lists the A1:2024 changes: reference to BS 9593:2024, the water hardness website address, clarity that an in-line filter does not mean a strainer, and guidance on microbiological growth in low temperature systems below 60 C. States that checking and recording inhibitor levels is mandatory in Benchmark, and that annual service checks cover safety, water quality, inhibitor and system efficiency.
Cited in Powerflushing & System Cleaning.
- fair RN-94GS85 cited
British Geological Survey
A British Geological Survey ground source heat pump report module. It says ground at 10–15 m is at the mean annual air temperature, which is about 8–12°C for mainland UK at sea level.
Cited in Ground vs Air Source Heat Pumps.
- fair RN-5926D3 cited
Centre for Sustainable Energy
Consumer energy advice from the Centre for Sustainable Energy charity. It describes a combi as heating on demand and a system boiler as heating water held in a storage cylinder.
Cited in Combi vs System vs Regular Boilers.
- fair RN-OPLNYM cited
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice consumer guidance on storage heaters and time-of-use tariffs. It says Economy 7 gives a lower rate for 7 hours at night and that the exact times depend on supplier, tariff and location.
Cited in Electric Heating Options Compared, Storage Heaters: Modern Options.
- fair RN-WQX5Y4 cited
Consumer Council for Water (CCW)
The statutory water consumer body's page on household water use: about 139 litres per person per day, with typical volumes for showers, toilets and appliances.
Cited in Fixing a Running or Leaking Toilet, Rainwater Harvesting Systems.
- fair RN-X9NXFY cited
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust advice page on air source heat pumps, giving the typical installed cost for a UK home.
Cited in Air Source Heat Pumps: Cost, Grants & Is It Worth It, Boiler Replacement & Central Heating Costs (UK), EPC Ratings Explained & How to Improve Yours, Fan Assisted Radiators Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide and 2 more.
- fair RN-5BQJWL cited
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust guide to air-to-air heat pumps (split systems that heat and cool); it gives typical installed costs of about £1,900 for one room and £3,700 for a three-bed semi.
Cited in Home Air Conditioning: Installation Cost & Options.
- fair RN-VM0Y7O cited
Energy Saving Trust
Domestic battery storage sizing, cost and life. Capacity is measured in kilowatt hours and a typical home system is around 10 kWh. A typical unit measures about 100cm x 60cm x 25cm, slightly taller and wider than a washing machine but much less deep. Cost ranges from £1,500 to £10,000, with a 5 kWh system around £4,600. Typical lifespan is about 10 to 12 years, and the system stops discharging at a set floor, perhaps 20% of total capacity. Last updated 19 August 2026.
- fair RN-IRAQA2 cited
Energy Saving Trust
How to identify and choose a domestic boiler. Heating and hot water account for over half of annual energy spend. A boiler is a condensing model if it is a gas or LPG boiler installed after 2005, or an oil boiler installed after 2007. On cylinders, upgrading hot water cylinder insulation to 80mm saves around £45 a year in Great Britain and £35 in Northern Ireland, and when replacing a cylinder it should be sized no larger than needed. Replacement costs quoted on the page are around £3,500 and £3,200 by system type. Notes solar water heating can supplement but never fully replace a boiler or immersion heater because sunlight varies through the year. Last updated 20 May 2026.
Cited in Combi vs System vs Regular Boilers.
- fair RN-54KWR6 cited
Energy Saving Trust
How to identify a cavity wall and what filling it costs. About 33% of all heat lost from an uninsulated home escapes through the walls. Houses built after the 1920s usually have cavity walls; pre 1920 houses are usually solid; houses from the 1990s onwards usually already have wall insulation. Identification: cavity walls show an even stretcher bond with all bricks laid lengthways, solid walls show an alternating pattern with header ends visible; a brick wall 260mm to 350mm thick is likely a cavity wall, narrower is likely solid, stone walls are solid up to about 500mm thick and earth walls run 300mm to over a metre. Typical installed cost around £2,200 in Great Britain and around £1,000 in Northern Ireland, with payback usually five years or less. Unsuitable where the wall is exposed to extreme weather or flooding, in poor condition, at risk of overheating, or where the cavity is narrower than 50mm. External repairs to brickwork, pointing, roofs, gutters and downpipes must be completed first or damp can be trapped. Underfloor grilles, airbricks, wall vents and trickle vents must not be blocked. Post installation damp is chased through the installer, then the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency guarantee or an independent insurance backed guarantee.
Cited in Cavity Wall Insulation Materials Compared, EPC Ratings Explained & How to Improve Yours, Home Energy Audit: DIY Steps, Renovating a 1930s House and 3 more.
- fair RN-3D6QMO cited
Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust's consumer guide to cavity wall insulation, giving a typical installation cost of around £2,200 for a home in Great Britain.
- fair RN-FRD5VY cited
Energy Saving Trust
Draught proofing costs and savings. Professional draught proofing of windows and doors across a whole house costs around £250, with DIY cheaper. A terracotta chimney pot cap starts at around £150 and also keeps out moisture and birds. Savings: around £55 a year in Great Britain and £80 in Northern Ireland from draught proofing windows, floors and doors, plus around £45 in GB and £60 in NI from draught proofing an unused open chimney. A draught free home is comfortable at a lower setting, and turning a thermostat down from 22 degrees C to 21 degrees C saves £120 a year in GB and £80 in NI. Warns that further draught proofing of an already well sealed home raises the risk of poor indoor air quality.
Cited in Draught-Proofing Your Home: Cheap Wins That Work, Home Energy Audit: DIY Steps, Insulation: The Complete Guide, Insulation Grants 2026: ECO4, GBIS & What You Can Get.
- fair RN-SS1KSR cited
Energy Saving Trust
Glazing performance, life and price. A set of A-rated windows for a semi detached house typically costs around £4,800. Replacing single glazing with A-rated double glazing across a semi detached house saves £85 a year in Great Britain and £140 in Northern Ireland, and cuts 290kg of CO2 a year in GB and 550kg in NI. Triple glazing costs around 20% more than double glazing, justified mainly in cold or noisy locations. Good quality, correctly installed and maintained double glazed units last 20 to 35 years and can go well beyond 35 years where the seals and gaskets are checked and the units kept clean and ventilated.
Cited in Home Energy Audit: DIY Steps, Leaded Window Repair Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide, Secondary Glazing vs New Windows for Old Homes, Triple Glazing: Worth the Cost?.
- fair RN-12Q6TO cited
Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust's consumer guide to ground source heat pumps. It gives the typical width and depth range of a ground source borehole and says depth depends on heat demand and geology.
Cited in Ground vs Air Source Heat Pumps.
- fair RN-3G2Z0L cited
Energy Saving Trust
Condensation control by the numbers. A household typically produces up to 100 litres of moisture a week, which builds on surfaces or stays in the air unless ventilated out. Run a bathroom extractor for at least 15 minutes after a shower or bath and a cooker extractor for at least 15 minutes after cooking, or where there is no fan open a window for the same period. Leave a gap of at least 10mm under internal doors, measured from the top of the floor covering to the bottom of the closed door, so air can move between rooms. Distinguishes condensation from rising and penetrating damp and sets out the order of works.