Domestic central heating boiler installations and replacements are a controlled service. This means the homeowner must obtain a certificate from the installer confirming the work meets relevant Building Regulations. Local Authority Building Control Officers can ask to see this document at any time, and it will be required if the homeowner sells their house. Click here for details of the Home Information Pack.

Note 1 – the worksheet can be downloaded from here
Note 2 – the installer must be registered with a Competent Persons Scheme Operator such as CORGI for gas or OFTEC for oil installations
Note 3 – where an exception applies, financial assistance with fitting a condensing boiler may be available – for details, contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre or the Energy Efficiency helpline of your gas or electricity supplier.

Homeowner Facts

AMENDED PART L1 BUILDING REGULATIONS FROM 1ST APRIL 2005

These new Regulations are to help deliver the carbon savings targets set out in the Energy White Paper published in February 2003 by DEFRA and DTI.

The new regulations only apply in England and Wales.

Building Regulations Part L1 have been amended so that for all domestic wet central heating installations a Sedbuk A or B condensing boiler will have to be fitted in every new, first-fit or replacement situation from 1st April, subject to the following:

• Oil boilers are exempt until 1st April 2007
• For gas boilers in a small number of first fit or replacement
• Situations an exception will be allowed
• If a formal assessment (Note 1) by a competent person (Note 2) shows the cost and technical difficulties are excessive (Note 3)
• There is likely to be a 3 month transition period until 30th June 2005 to complete any installations contracted before 1st April 2005