This RdSap refresher course covers everything you would have learnt in your original training on the following aspects:

Transcription

1 RdSap Refresher Course Part 3 This RdSap refresher course covers everything you would have learnt in your original training on the following aspects: - Space heating - Water Heating - Renewable Technologies Identifying the heating System RdSAP allows for two different heating systems to be included in the survey, the main or primary heating system and the secondary heating system. Main System The main heating system is defined as: The system which heats the largest proportion of the dwelling A system which is not usually based on individual room heaters (although it can be) Usually the provider of water heating as well as space heating. The main heating system will normally be a boiler which can be identified using the SEDBUK database or alternative method. Please Note: that whilst electric storage heaters may not appear to heat most of the rooms, they heat the property using 'drift heat'. Because the heat drifts through the property, they are not required in each room. If there is doubt regarding the main heating system in a property, use the following identification process: If there is a central heating system that provides both space and water heating, and it is capable of heating at least 30% of the dwelling, select that system as the main heating system If there is no system that provides both space and water heating, then select the system that has the capability of heating the greatest part of the dwelling. For this purpose, only habitable rooms should be considered

2 If there are still doubts, select the system that supplies useful heat to the dwelling at the lowest cost If the costs are the same, select the system that heats the living room Secondary System The secondary system must be based on fixed room heaters in habitable rooms (heaters found in non-habitable rooms are not usually included in the survey). It is not possible to select a central heating system as secondary heating. If there is more than one possible secondary system in a property, use the following process to identify the system which should be selected: That which heats the greatest number of rooms should be specified as a secondary system If this doesn't resolve the choice, select the system which is cheapest to run Portable heaters are generally discounted from the survey because they are likely to be removed from the property when the current occupier leaves. However, there are a few circumstances in which portable heaters are included in the survey: When the main heating is an electric storage system, some form of secondary heating must be identified. If there is no secondary heating in the property then portable electric heaters should be included If the main heating system is not sufficient to heat all the habitable rooms in a dwelling, and there is no secondary heating specified. The software will determine whether it is appropriate to include portable heaters If there is no heating system present, the software will default the main heating to portable electric heaters Portable heating is defined as: Completely free standing and self supporting - not designed to be wall mounted or specifically designed to fit in a fireplace Must contain a built-in fuel store (if gas or oil heater), electric heaters must have a lead and plug Be easily moved from one room to another Focal point electric fires located in a fireplace can be included in the assessment and recorded as 'electric panel heater', not 'portable electric heating Broken and Missing Heating Systems

3 RdSAP assumes that the installed heating systems are operational and takes no account of whether or not they are working. Similarly if a boiler is present and the gas supply is disconnected, the boiler should still be accounted for in the heating for the property. No Heating System - If the main heating unit is missing then it cannot be included in the survey and any other heating system present in the property may be considered as the main heating (e.g. gas fire). If there is no system present please tick the 'no heating system present' box in the software. The software will then record 'portable electric heaters' as the main system. Main Heating Systems There are a number of different types of main heating broken down into the following groups: Central heating systems with radiators or underfloor heating Electric storage systems Electric underfloor heating Warm air systems Community heating schemes Room heaters Central Heating A central heating system is usually capable of heating the whole house. It will consist of a main unit, emitters and, in some cases, a hot water cylinder which is fed off the same system. Central heating is sometimes described as a 'wet system' as it involves the flow of water around the system. Essential components of a central heating system are: Main unit (i.e. gas boiler) Heat emitter Radiator Underfloor heating

4 There are 2 types of underfloor heating; those used in central heating (wet) systems and those in electric underfloor heating. This section will concentrate on the wet system. Underfloor heating is a length of small bore pipes laid under the floor carrying water heated by the main system (usually a boiler). They are laid in a circuit to cover most of the ground floor; there are often a number of loops which can be individually controlled with separate room thermostats. Although not always immediately obvious, there are some simple ways to identify underfloor heating: Lack of radiators Underfloor heating manifold near boiler Main Unit Properties with underfloor heating usually have radiators on the 1 st floor. When selecting the emitter type in the software, select the emitter which heats the greatest area of the property. If the ground and upper floor have the same floor area the emitters should be entered as radiators. The main unit of a central heating system is likely to be a boiler, either gas, oil, solid fuel or electric. A warm air unit, range cooker or heat pump can also be the main unit. Boiler Identification - Regular Boiler Gas (including LPG) Boilers Regular Boiler - This is the traditional type of boiler used in central heating systems in the UK. The boiler heats the water that flows around the heating and hot water systems The water used for heating is fed from a header or feed tank usually found in the loft As the water flows around the heating system, it expands. An expansion pipe is fitted to the heating system to discharge any build up in pressure in the system, to the header tank More modern sealed systems do not require the feed/expansion tank as they have expansion vessels instead

5 Key Ways to Identify a Regular Boiler: Usually only 3 pipes (gas supply, flow and return) Hot water tank usually present Simple boiler design - few controls on boiler If a regular boiler is present, the water heating should be provided by the main system, even if the tank has an immersion heater. This is assumed to heat the water in summer and should not be selected. For further details please refer to the Water Heating section. Boiler Identification - Combination Boiler A Combi boiler provides heating in the same way as a regular boiler; in addition it heats hot water as it's required, rather than heating a store of water. Key Ways to Identify a Combi Boiler: A Combi boiler has more pipes attached than a regular boiler, usually 5, 6 or 7 No hot water cylinder (although this may be present in some system) Boiler fires up when hot water tap is turned on More controls on the front of boiler, often a programmer and pressure gauge Boiler Identification - Condensing Boiler A highly efficient boiler type which uses an extra heat exchanger to recover heat from the flue gases before they are emitted. This means the exhaust gases from the flue are at a much lower temperature than a non-condensing boiler. Both regular and combi boilers can be condensing, usually with an efficiency of at least 80%. Key Ways to identify a condensing boiler: The plastic condensate pipe coming from the boiler to an external drain Fan assisted flue, often plastic On a cold day you can see a plume of water vapour coming from the flue Boiler Identification - Back Boiler

6 Back Boiler - The pre-cursor to the modern boiler Traditionally the open fire would have a boiler fitted behind it to heat water, however this proved largely inefficient. As gas fires became more common, gas back boilers were installed in place of solid fuel back boilers. These appliances are usually sealed to the chimney and have an open flue. Key Ways to Identify a Back Boiler: Water pipes coming from the appliance Plate at bottom of gas fire can be removed to reveal boiler controls Presence of radiators and or hot water tank, but no obvious boiler present Gas fired back boilers can be found on the SEDBUK database. For more details on solid fuel back boilers see later in the chapter Boiler Identification - CPSU CPSU - Combined Primary Storage Unit This appliance incorporates the provision of space heating and hot water. The hot water store should be at least 70L and integral to the appliance. Key Ways to Identify a CPSU: The appliance is larger than a conventional boiler and floor mounted There will be no separate hot water tank If a CPSU is selected in the software it is not necessary to include the cylinder details, as this information is assumed by RdSAP. In the water heating section of the software select 'from main system' and 'no cylinder'. Boiler Identification - SEBUK Database All the afore mentioned boiler types can be found in the SEDBUK database. SEDBUK stands for Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK. It stores specific details about a large number of gas and oil boilers, including their efficiency, which is used by RdSAP. This database is usually incorporated into your accreditation schemes database. Boilers are identified by make and model information, therefore it is vital that the appropriate data is gathered on site to ensure the boiler, selected from

7 SEDBUK, is the correct one. Modern boilers are normally clearly labelled with the model number, but older boilers may require a little more investigation. Look for ID plates. If the boiler is not in the SEDBUK database, or there was insufficient information to accurately select the boiler, the alternative method must be used. This is based on the heating descriptions in SAP Alternative Method This way of identifying a boiler applies a generic efficiency, based on the type of boiler, and is not specific to make or model. This covers a far wider range of heating systems. Boiler manufacturers sometimes produce a mains gas and LPG versions of the same boiler, so take care when selecting a boiler using the SEDBUK database. The boiler details will show whether it is a mains gas or LPG boiler. Selecting a boiler with the wrong fuel type can significantly affect the SAP rating. Boiler Identification - Flues The flue type can help in identifying the boiler type and its location. There are a number of flue types which differ between boiler type and age. Open Flue - This is usually found in properties with older, floor mounted boilers. The combustion gases are taken from the room the boiler is located in, the hot gases rise up the flue, drawn up by wind passing over the top of the flue opening. If an appliance has an open flue, the room must be ventilated (usually with an air brick). Balanced Flue - This flue type uses air from outside the dwelling for combustion, and relies on natural air movement to draw hot air back outside. The flue length must be short, with no bends for the natural air movement to work. This means that the boiler must be located on an external wall close to the flue terminal. A balanced flue is classed as 'room sealed' because all combustion air is drawn from outside. Flue terminals are usually large, square and steel and, if located low down, the flue should be covered with a grill for protection against the high temperature of the emitted combustion gases. This type of flue was commonly fitted for pre 1998 gas boilers. In order for the flue

8 to work effectively, there must be enough natural air movement to allow the cold air to be drawn into the boiler. Fan Assisted Flue - This is a type of room sealed flue which uses a fan to move the air through the flue pipes. The flue does not have to rely on natural air movement so the flue pipes can be longer with bends in them if necessary. This means that it is not necessary for the boiler to be located on the external wall. Fanned flue appliances tend to be more efficient than those with a balanced flue because more heat can be taken from the combustion gases before they leave the boiler. Other Heating Systems These heating systems are not listed in the SEDBUK database, meaning the alternative method must be used to identify them in the software. Electric Boilers Electric direct acting boiler This boiler type is increasing in popularity, particularly in modern flat developments. The unit is a narrow device, about 1 metre long. It can provide wet central heating and hot water if connected to a hot water tank. The units are usually found attached to the wall in a cupboard with the hot water tank. They can be fitted in properties with peak or dual rate tariffs but they are not considered to be storage systems as they do not fully utilise the off peak rate. Common examples of an electric direct acting boiler is the Heatrae Sadia Amptec and Trianco Aztec Classic. Electric CPSU in Heated Space Like the gas CPSU, this device combines the space and water heating in one unit. A large water store is heated using off peak electricity and the stored water is then piped to radiators. A heat exchanger provides hot water at mains pressure. The minimum capacity of an electric CPSU is 270l. This makes the unit quite big,

9 usually around 1.8m tall. Please note - if an electric CPSU is entered, it is not possible to include any secondary heating. In addition, if a CPSU is selected in the software it is not necessary to include the cylinder details; this information is assumed by RdSAP. In the water heating section of the software select 'from main system' and 'no cylinder'. Electric Dry Core Storage Boiler This works in a similar way to an electric storage heater, using off peak electricity to heat bricks inside the boiler. Heat from the bricks is blown onto an air-to-water heat exchanger to provide space and water heating. Electric Water Storage Boiler This device makes use of off peak electricity. It has a water store which is heated overnight to supply the property with heating and hot water. The water tank in an electric water storage boiler will usually be less than 270l. If the tank capacity is any greater, the device is likely to be an electric CPSU. Solid Fuel Boilers Back Boiler Range Cooker Boiler to be included in RdSAP the range cooker must incorporate a boiler capable of providing space heating. Range cookers providing only hot water are not recognised in RdSAP. (See the water heating chapter for more details). Range cookers can be fuelled by gas, oil or solid fuel. There is only one option for solid fuel range cookers: Range cooker boiler (integral oven and boilers). Gas and oil ranges can be identified as a single or twin burner. A twin burner has two burners; one for the cooker and one for the heating. A single burner range has one burner for both heating and cooking. A number of gas back boilers are listed on the SEDBUK database. Therefore, where possible please use the SEDBUK database to enter the boiler. Those not listed on SEDBUK should be entered using the alternative method. All other types of back boiler fit into the following categories:

10 Open fire with back boiler. Although they are not always easy to identify, the presence of a central heating system but no obvious boiler may indicate the installation of a Back boiler A closed room heater with back boiler. These can be gas or solid fuel and are usually identifiable by flow and return pipe work coming from the appliance All Back boilers can be considered as main or secondary heating. Please note that when entering the main heating system with Back boiler, the room heater should also be considered as secondary heating. Solid Fuel Boiler Solid Fuel Boiler - Manual or Auto (gravity) Feed Solid fuel boilers can be fuelled by traditional solid fuels, e.g. anthracite, or they can run on biofuels such as wood pellets. These boilers possess a hopper, integral to the boiler, which is used to automatically feed fuel. Alternatively, fuel can be manually fed. Solid fuel boilers are usually regular boilers capable of providing the heating and hot water for a property. It may not be immediately clear what fuel the boiler runs on; check the property for a fuel store as this should indicate what fuel the boiler uses. Electric Storage Systems Storage heaters make use of cheap rate electricity (off peak) by storing heat overnight and releasing it during the day. Because they rely on drift heat, these storage heaters are usually placed in hallways, landings and main living area, rather than in each room. Old (large volume) Storage Heaters Older storage heaters tend to be large (around 20-25cm deep) and sit directly on the floor due to the weight of bricks inside the heater. They may be dark brown or beige in colour. Modern (slim line) Storage Heaters

11 Modern storage heaters are narrower (1 0-15cm deep) and wall mounted, with small feet to support their weight. They often have vents at the top of the heater. Fan Storage Heaters Some more modern storage heaters are fan assisted to help improve the distribution of heat from the device. These types of heater can be identified by additional vents at the bottom of the heater and two separate wires coming from the device. One goes to the off-peak meter for over night charging, and one to the peak rate meter for the fan which is active during the day. Integrated Storage and Direct Acting Heater These heaters are similar in appearance to the fan storage heaters and incorporate an on-peak electric heater to provide on-demand heat. If a property has this type of storage heater it is not necessary to include separate electric panel heaters as secondary heating. Please Note: if storage heaters are the main heating system in a property, secondary heating must be included. If there is no secondary heating present in the property, select 'portable electric heaters'. Electric Underfloor Heating Cables are laid under the floor and thus they can't usually be seen. Normally it is possible to identify them by the wall mounted controls. In Concrete Slab (off-peak) This system uses the floor to store heat similar to the way storage heaters store heat in bricks. There should be an off-peak tariff available to the property and, as with storage heaters, a secondary heating system should be entered. If there is no secondary heating present, select 'portable electric heaters'. In Screed Above Insulation (standard tariff) This system has embedded cables under the floor, but they are located closer to the surface to provide immediate heat. The system uses peak rate electricity and is often installed in one room (usually the bathroom or kitchen) which means it is not often classed as primary heating for a property. Integrated (storage & direct acting)

12 This system can be used with on-peak and off-peak tariffs. Some systems have two sets of cables, one placed lower in the floor for storage heating and the other nearer the surface for direct heating. Warm Air System Warm air systems can run on gas, oil or electricity. The main unit is normally floor mounted and about metres tall and cm wide. The system blows heated air through ducts or stub-ducts (shorter ducting) around the house, and out through low level vents in the walls. The vents are a useful indicator that a warm air system is installed. Electric warm air systems use off peak electricity to store heat overnight, therefore the property should have a dual electricity meter. All warm air systems can work alongside a hot water circulator to supply hot water to a cylinder. Electric Ceiling Heaters Heat Pumps This form of heating is unusual in domestic properties and was predominantly installed in the 1970s and 80s, though it is still fitted in some modern developments. Electric ceiling heating works in a similar way to underfloor heating, with panels embedded in the ceiling construction and insulation installed above, to reduce heat loss through the ceiling. Warm air vents in the ceiling should be assessed as part of a warm air system. Heat pumps are becoming more common in the UK, particularly ground source and air source heat pumps. They can be used in conjunction with a wet central heating system or warm air system. All heat pumps work by extracting heat from a low-temperature source and increasing the temperature so it can be used for heating. This results in 100% plus efficiency, as the amount of energy used is less than the heat energy generated. Ground source heat pumps use pipe-work buried underground to extract heat from the soil. This requires a large amount of land, which restricts their installation for many domestic properties. Air source heat pumps look similar to air conditioning units and take heat from external air. They can be mounted on an external wall and require minimal space.

13 Community Heating Community heating is defined as a system which provides heat for more than one dwelling, usually from an industrial sized boiler system, housed in a specific boiler room. There are 2 community heating options in RdSAP: Community boilers only Community CHP (combined heat and power) and boilers It is important to select the correct option. As it is not always possible to access the boiler room, it may be necessary to contact the building manager. In most cases, community heating systems will have some form of hot water store and a cylinder should be included in the hot water section. Please refer to the Water Heating chapter for further details. What is CHP? Combined Heat and Power means the system generates electricity on site and the heat. produced as a by-product of the process, is used for the heating. CHP systems are not very common and their presence must be verified prior to inclusion. The building manager should have some information about the system in place. Both community heating scheme options have an efficiency of 75%, but community heating with CHP has lower costs for heating and hot water due to the way the heat is produced. This can sometimes have a significant effect on the EPC. In cases where a few flats are heated by the same domestic boiler, if possible enter the actual boiler details using SEDBUK or the alternative method. Only when there is no access to the boiler should 'community heating' be selected. Room Heaters Room heaters can be included in the survey as main heating or secondary heating, dependent upon other systems fitted in the property. They are split into four categories based on the fuel they use. Gas room heaters Oil room heaters

14 Electric room heaters Solid fuel room heaters Gas Room Heaters Gas Fire, Open Flue Pre 1980 (open fronted) - the open flue indicates the combustion gases come from the room. Ceramic blocks radiate the heat when lit. Can be with or without a back boiler. Efficiency 50% Gas Fire, Open Flue Pre1980 or Later... Gas Fire, Open Flue Pre1980 or Later Sitting Proud of and Sealed to Fireplace Opening. This appliance can be found with or without a Back boiler. Efficiency 63% Both of these appliances sit proud of the fireplace, and are 'open fronted'. Open fronted means the combustion gases are not sealed from the room. For a room heater to be 'closed fronted' it must be sealed from the room, usually with a glass panel. Gaps around the glass mean it is not sealed and should be entered as 'open fronted'. Flush fitting live fuel effect gas fire Flush fitting live fuel effect gas fire (open fronted) sealed to fireplace opening (with or without back boiler) This appliance sits where the fireplace would be. The appliance should be a single unit which fits into the fireplace and controls the air flow up the chimney, Efficiency 40% Decorative Fuel Effect Gas Fire, Open to Chimney Similar to the flush fitting gas fire, this type of fire sits where the fireplace would be. This appliance sits below an open chimney. With no way of restricting the airflow, the efficiency of the appliance is very poor: Efficiency 20% Gas Fire, Closed Fronted, Fan Assisted

15 This appliance must have a glass panel sealing it from the room. An integral fan blows the heat from the fire into the room. The appliance must have a balanced flue. Efficiency 72 % Gas Fire or Wall Heater, Balanced Flue The appliance must have a balanced flue which is located on the outside wall, in line with the gas heater. This type of appliance must be located on an external wall. Efficiency 58% Flueless Gas Fire This type of gas fire is considered highly efficient as there is no heat loss up the flue. In addition, these types of fires can be free-standing. Efficiency 90% Condensing Gas Fire This type of gas fire is very rare, it should have a condensate pipe and fanned flue. One of the main manufacturers of condensing gas fires is Mantis. Efficiency 85% Oil Room Heaters Room Heater, pre 2000 (with or without back boiler) Efficiency 55% (65%) Room Heater, 2000 or later (with or without back boiler) Efficiency 60% (70%) Oil room heaters are likely to be found in rural areas without mains gas, where the main heating is fuelled by oil. Therefore an oil supply is available for the room heater. Please note: oil filled heaters are not classed as oil room heaters. These types of heater should be entered as portable electric heaters. Solid Fuel Room Heaters Open Fire in Grate (with or without Back boiler) Efficiency 32% (with back boiler 50%) Closed Room Heater (with or without Back boiler) Efficiency 60% (with back boiler 65%) Solid fuel room heaters are the traditional way to heat a property, but are highly inefficient as most of the heat goes up the chimney. If the solid fuel room heater is regularly used, there may be a companion set close by, plus fire guard and the fuel

16 used. If it is not clear which fuel is used then select 'dual fuel', as this means the appliance can burn mineral (e.g. coal) and wood. Portable Electric Heaters Generally portable heaters should be ignored as it is assumed that the occupants will take the heaters with them when they move. These heaters should only be included when an electric storage heating is the main heating system and no other form of secondary heating is present in the property. If there is no heating system present in the property, RdSAP assumes electric portable heaters as the main heating system in the property. Panel, Convector or Radiant Heaters Fuel Mains Gas This category can include wall mounted panel, fan and radiant heaters, plus electric fires. Modern electric fires can be deceptive in their appearance, some look like gas fires unless inspected more closely. All of these appliances must be fixed, or located in a fireplace; otherwise they are classed as portable electric heaters. Mains gas is piped to individual properties and is one of the cheapest and cleanest fuels widely available in the UK. Many rural towns, villages and more remote areas are not on the mains gas network and must use alternative fuels. One of the questions in the survey is whether mains gas is available. If a property's heating is not fuelled by mains gas but it is available to the property, the software will calculate whether a fuel switch is appropriate. Mains gas is assumed to be available to a property if there is a gas meter at the property and/or a mains gas appliance is fitted at the property. In the case where the gas supply to a property has been disconnected, e.g. a repossessed property, where the gas meter has been removed or the supply capped off, mains gas should still be entered as available. If mains gas is available to the local area, but has not been piped to the surveyed property, the mains gas should not be selected as available. The cost of the work to pipe the gas to a

17 property is usually very high and would make a fuel switch and installation of a gas condensing boiler too expensive. Oil Heating oil is also common in areas off the mains gas supply. It can be bought in bulk and stored in a tank. Oil tanks can be made of metal or moulded plastic and are usually larger than LPG tanks. LPG Liquid Petroleum Gas is common in areas off the mains gas supply. The LPG is usually stored outside in a large metal tank (when purchased in bulk) or smaller cylinders. The tank is often located in the garden and can sometimes be buried, meaning only a large manhole cover can be seen. LPG is a manufactured fuel, meaning it has higher costs and carbon emissions than other fuels. As a result, properties with LPG often receive a poor EPC rating; it may be worth advising the home owner of this fact during a survey on a property with LPG. Boiler manufacturers sometimes produce a mains gas and LPG version of the same boiler. Take care when selecting a boiler using the SEDBUK database - the boiler details will show whether it is a mains gas or LPG boiler. Selecting a boiler with the wrong fuel type can significantly affect the SAP rating. Oil boilers are usually quite distinctive, often floor mounted and larger than gas boilers. Solid Fuel Coal, Anthracite, Smokeless Fuel, Wood. Coal can be burnt in open and closed room heaters, but cannot be used in smoke control areas. Anthracite is a naturally smokeless type of coal which is usually supplied as grains or nuts, and can be used in central heating boilers. Smokeless Fuel is used as a replacement for coal in smoke control areas; it can be used in open and closed room heaters, but is more expensive than coal. As it is a manufactured fuel,

18 the 'coals' are usually uniform in shape. Wood is also referred to as biomass, and although it releases carbon when burnt, it does not exceed the amount of carbon absorbed by the tree whilst it was growing. Therefore, it is considered carbon neutral. Wood is available as logs, pellets and chips. Pellets and chips can be used in biomass boilers and tend to be bought in bulk, so there should be a pellet/chip store at the property. Wood logs are generally used in open and closed room heaters. A dual fuel appliance can burn mineral (coal, anthracite etc.) and biomass (wood) fuels and most solid fuel open and closed room heaters are capable of burning both types. If it is not clear what fuel is burnt in a solid fuel room heater, dual fuel is the most appropriate option. Electricity There are 3 options for electricity meters in RdSAP. (There are 4 options in Scotland) Single - This is the standard tariff for domestic properties and means the electricity is charged at a standard rate Dual - This means a property has an additional tariff, known as 'off-peak'/,economy 7' in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or 'Economy White Meter' in Scotland. This tariff is charged at a lower rate than standard tariff electricity. The off-peak period is usually a 7 hour period overnight, and electric storage systems have been developed to take advantage of this. If a property has a dual tariff there must be a facility to display a meter reading for each tariff. Originally properties with dual electricity would be fitted with two separate meters, whereas more recently the meters have been combined to show two reading within the same meter. Modern digital meters have a button to switch between two different readings. Dual tariff meters often have 'Economy 7' written somewhere on the meter. (Economy 10 is available in some areas: it has 3 separate off peak periods, typically 5 hours during the night, 3 hours in the afternoon and 2 hours in the evening, but it only applies the cheaper rate to space and water heating). Unknown - This option should be selected if it is not possible to access the electricity meter. The software will assume the property has a single rate meter 24 Hour Tariff (Scotland only) - This tariff is for use with storage systems, the main heating, secondary heating and water heating for the property are all charged at the 24 hour rate. The storage heaters can be recharged at any time, but this is determined by the electricity company.

19 The 24 hour rate only applies to the heating; any appliances, lighting etc. use the standard tariff. Controls Control options differ between different types of heating system. There are 8 heating groups in total and control options in each of these groups differ based on the system in place. Group 0: No Heating System Present Group 1: Boiler Systems with Radiators or Underfloor Heating Group 2: Heat Pumps with Radiators or Underfloor Heating Group 3: Community Heating Schemes Group 4: Electric Storage Systems Group 5: Warm Air Systems (Including Heat Pumps With Warm Air Distribution) Group 6: Room Heater Systems Group 7: Other Systems Groups 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7 all include some or all of the following controls. * Programmer - Used to determine the times when the heating is switched on or off. The programmer is usually located near the boiler or hot water tank or may be integral to the boiler. * Room Thermostat - A room thermostat measures the air temperature and signals to the boiler to switch off when a temperature, set by the user, is reached. Room stats are usually wall mounted and can often be found in the hall or living room. The thermostat on a boiler should not be accounted for as a room thermostat; it controls the temperature of the water leaving the boiler, but cannot switch the boiler off when a set room temperature is reached. Wireless room thermostats are available so the device might not be fixed to a wall, but the digital transmitter will be located near the boiler, indicating that there may be one present. Ask the owner if you are unable to locate the room thermostat. Combined room thermostats and programmers are increasingly common, usually identified by time and temperature displayed on the same device. Please Note: the presence of a Frost stat should not be accounted for as a room thermostat. A Frost stat is usually fitted when a boiler IS located outside the heated part of a dwelling, typically in a garage or outhouse. They differ from room thermostats because either there

20 are no numbers marked, or the numbers indicate low temperatures up to about 10 degrees. TRVs - Thermostatic radiator valves control the temperature of individual radiators by adjusting the hot water flow rate through a radiator, thereby altering the heat output from the radiator. TRVs have marks on them to indicate the amount of heat emitted from the radiator. Radiator cut off valves do not allow control of the heat emitted by the radiator, they simply allow the user to turn a radiator on or off. Please Note: TRVs must be fitted to at least 50% of all radiators to be included in the survey. * Bypass - Not a physical control, the bypass indicates the presence of a radiator or loop of pipe work with no TRV. It means that hot water can continue to circulate even if all the radiators with TRVs have reached the correct temperature. This control is only relevant when there is no room thermostat in a property. * Boiler Energy Manager - This device is used alongside a programmer and TRVs. It monitors the water temperature in the system and adjusts the boiler temperature accordingly. It can incorporate any of the following features: Weather/load Compensation - Adjusts boiler temperature according to internal or external temperature Night Setback - Maintains a low temperature overnight, reducing the warm up time of the dwelling There are a few BEMs on the market such as the Danfoss BEM * Zone Control - a property can be split into 2 or more zones which have independent control for both time and temperature. The programmer will be specifically designed for zone control; the display should indicate the separate zones, each zone should also have its own room thermostat. Control Options for Central Heating Systems No time or thermostatic control of room temperature. Programmer, no room thermostat. No time or thermostatic control of room temperature This should be selected if no controls are present at the property Please note if a property has TRVs but no other. The space and water heating can be set to turn on and off by the programmer but there is no control of the dwelling temperature. This should be selected if no controls are present at the property. Please note if a property has TRVs but no other controls 'no time or thermostatic control of room

21 Programmer, no room thermostat Room thermostat only temperature' should be selected and include the addendum 7. The space and water heating can be set to turn on and by off the programmer but there is no control of the dwelling temperature There is only temperature control of the heating system; the boiler will only turn off when the set temperature is reached, or if it is switched off manually Control Options for Central Heating Systems No time or thermostatic control of room Programmer, no room thermostat Room thermostat only Programmer and room thermostat Programmer and at least two room Programmer, room thermostat and TRVs This should be selected if no controls are present at the property. Please note if a property has TRVs but no other controls 'no time or thermostatic control of room temperature' The space and water heating can be set to turn on and off by the programmer but there is no control of the dwelling temperature There is only temperature control of the heating system; the boiler will only turn off when the set temperature is reached, or if it is switched off manually A programmer and room thermostat are both present Where two room thermostats are present but the programmer thermostats cannot control separate zones. This means different temperatures can be set by the two thermostats but the system will be turned on and off at the same time. This should not be entered as 'Time and temperature zone control' The heating is controlled by a programmer and room thermostat, plus at least 50% of the radiators have TRV fitted. If less than 50% of the radiators have a TRV fitted the TRVs cannot be accounted for in the survey and the controls should be entered as Programmer and room thermostat

22 Programmer, TRVs and boiler energy manager Time and temperature zone control Programmer, TRVs and bypass Programmer and TRVs present at the property, but no room thermostat. The bypass is usually a radiator with no TRV, but if a property has only a programmer and TRVs on all radiators this control option should be selected. Controls are a programmer and TRVs on at least 50% of the radiators, plus a boiler energy manager. A system which can independently control the temperature and timing of heating for separate zones within the same property. (TRVs should not be classed as zone control of temperature) Controls for warm air systems, electric underfloor heating and electric ceiling heating These control options are very similar to central heating options, but without TRVs or boiler energy manager No thermostatic control of room temperature Programmer, no room thermostat Room thermostat only Programmer and room thermostat Temperature zone control Time and temperature zone control Controls for Storage Heating systems Manual charge control - Most storage heaters have two dials, one to control the overnight charge rate and one to control the output from the heater. These controls tend to have a scale of 1 to 6, though this can vary between different models. Automatic charge control - This type of control is a recent development for storage heaters and not particularly common. A thermostat measures the room temperature and the

23 charging of the storage heater is automatically adjusted based on the room temperature. Automatic charge control is not easily identified; occasionally the model name of the heater may provide a clue. The Dimplex XL has manual charge control and the Dimplex XLS has automatic charge control. Automatic charge control is assessed as more efficient in RdSAP. If you are unsure which control the storage heaters have, manual charge control should be selected. Controls for Room Heaters No thermostatic control of room temperature - This should be selected when the appliance only has an on/off switch. Appliance thermostats - These control options refer to controls on individual heaters Programmer and appliance thermostats - These control options refer to controls on individual heaters Room thermostats only and Programmer and room thermostats - This control options refer to central controls for all room heaters. A room thermostat and/or programmer similar to those found for a central heating system should be present in the property. Electric panel heater with appliance programmer and thermostat on the heater Controls for Community heating schemes Community heating controls fall into 2 categories, 'flat rate charging' and 'unit charging'. Flat rate charging means that each dwelling within the community system is charged at the same rate, regardless of individual use, although charges can vary, for example according to dwelling size. Unit charging means each property's energy use is monitored, usually by metering, and charged for their actual energy use. The control options are similar to those for central heating systems. Flat rate charging, no thermostatic control of room temperature Flat rate charging, programmer, no room thermostat Flat rate charging, room thermostat only

24 Flat rate charging, programmer and room thermostat Fiat rate charging: programmer and TRVs Charging system linked to use of community heating, unit charging programmer and TRVs Water Heating RdSAP requires information about the water heating system in a property. Hot water use is based on total floor area of the property only. The number of current occupants and their habits are not accounted for by RdSAP and are not used to calculate hot water use. Water heating is usually provided by the main heating system or electric immersion, although there are a number of possible options. No Hot Water System Present - Electric Immersion Assumed This option should be selected if there is no way of heating water in the property. The software assumes a normal size cylinder with electric immersion. From Main Heating System Most properties have a central heating system with a regular or combi boiler which provides both heating and hot water. If the boiler is regular there will be a cylinder present in the property. 'From main heating' can be selected when the main heating system is: Any boiler type (regular or combi) Warm air system Heat pump Some community heating schemes From Secondary System In some circumstances, it is possible for the secondary heating to supply hot water. The secondary heater must have a back boiler, and there should be a hot water cylinder present at the property. If there is simply no access to the water heating, such as in a community heating system or if the cylinder is boarded into a cupboard, then 'no access' should be selected in the cylinder details (rather than assuming there is no system in place). If a cylinder has an immersion heater fitted, and is in a dwelling with any of the above systems, the immersion heater is assumed to be an additional method of providing hot water, usually during summer, and should not be included in the assessment. This option should only be selected if the main heating system does not provide any

25 hot water. Many hot water cylinders have immersion heaters, but this is often an additional way of heating hot water, secondary to a regular boiler. It is unusual for water to be heated by electric immersion if a boiler is present in the property. Cylinder with Single Immersion - The cap of the immersion heater is usually visible on top of the cylinder, and should have an electrical wire going to a hard wired switch nearby. Cylinder with dual immersion - Dual immersion heaters are usually installed in properties with a dual electricity tariff. The immersion heaters are often located at the sides of the cylinder. The first, normally found close to the bottom of the cylinder, uses off-peak tariff electricity and heats the whole cylinder of water overnight. The second is typically placed at the top half of the cylinder, and uses peak-rate electricity. Commonly referred to as the 'Boost', this upper immersion heater is normally used in the evening to provide a small amount of hot water, as the water in the tank will have cooled down during the day. Given that it runs on expensive peak rate electricity, the Boost only heats the water in the top of the tank. Both of the immersion heaters should have a wire coming from them, going to separate wall switches (often labelled 'on peak' and 'off peak' or something similar). Properties with water heating only through electric immersion are likely to have electric storage heaters or room heaters (without a back boiler) as the main heating. * All three of the following options are likely to be found in dwellings without a central heating system. They heat water on demand, rather than storing heated water. There is no need to specify a cylinder when entering any of these water heating options into the software. Electric, Instantaneous at Point of Use This type of water heater usually supplies, and is located next to, a single sink. They tend to be wall mounted or found under the sink and have a small store of 5 or 10 litres, though this can be bigger. A wall mounted switch indicates that the heater is powered by electricity rather than gas. Multi-point Gas Water Heater

26 A multi point water heater heats water on demand and can supply a number of hot water taps in a property. They are similar in size to a boiler, but should not be confused with a regular or combi boiler. The front of a multi point gas water heater is usually quite simple, with one or two dials or a few buttons. Another way to identify a multi-point water heater is to turn on a hot water tap, which will fire up the heater (as it heats water on demand). This is similar to a combi boiler, except for the fact that it has fewer pipes. Common water heater brands include Chaffoteaux Britony and the Main Medway range. Single Point Gas Water Heater (instantaneous at point of use) These work in a similar way to the electric instantaneous water heater, providing hot water to a single tap. It is usually located in the kitchen or bathroom close to the sink. Water Heating System Components Hot Water Cylinder - RdSAP requires information about the cylinder if one is present. Select one of the following options to record the cylinder size: * Normal (90-130L) this is the most common cylinder size * Medium ( L) * Large (> 170L) most encapsulated cylinders are large capacity * No Access - if a cylinder forms part of the property's heating system but it is not accessible, the software will assume the insulation (based on the property age), and size (21 OL if off peak electric dual immersion, 160L if from solid fuel boiler, 11 OLotherwise). It is also assumed that a cylinder stat is not present * When hot water is supplied by community heating from a communal tank it may be appropriate to average the cylinder capacity between all the dwellings it supplies. This means that a normal cylinder size can be applied to individual dwellings, rather than the large capacity. It may be necessary to determine cylinder size from cylinder dimensions.

27 Insulation Type - select one of the following options * None * Spray Foam - this type of insulation is applied during manufacture, the whole cylinder is coated providing good insulation to the cylinder. * Jacket - usually glass fibre insulation, not as effective as spray foam Insulation Thickness Insulation Thickness - one of 0, 12, 25, 38, 50, 80, 120, 160 mm. This is easily measured if jacket insulation. Spray foam insulation does not have many gaps; there is usually space for a tape measure where pipes join the cylinder. If the thickness measurement falls between two figures the lower number should be selected in the software. Please Note: if the jacket is loose fitting the thickness should be entered as less than 100mm to ensure a new jacket is recommended. Immersion Type (if appropriate) - if the main water heating is selected as 'from immersion' select one of single or dual Presence of Cylinderstat - the cylinderstat is usually located about a third up from the bottom of the cylinder; typically held onto the cylinder with a coated wire. If the cylinder is insulated with a jacket the cylinderstat may be not be immediately obvious; the wire holding on the cylinderstat can be a useful clue to their presence. The cylinderstat must enable the user to control the temperature manually, usually with a small dial. Select either yes or no in the software to indicate the presence of a cylinderstat. An immersion heater has an internal thermostat to regulate its temperature, but this is not classed as a cylinder thermostat Combined Hot and Cold Water Store Some properties do not have the space for a header tank. For example, in a block of flats it is not feasible to have a large number of header tanks in the loft space, due to the weight of all the water being stored. Combined hot and cold water stores (also known as Fortic tanks) are designed so that the header tank sits directly on top of the hot water tank and can thus be located in each individual flat. This type of water

28 system does not provide very good water pressure. The cold water store should not be accounted for when determining the capacity or insulation for the tank. Thermal Stores Some central heating systems incorporate a thermal store rather than a traditional hot water cylinder. The thermal store works in conjunction with the regular boiler to provide central heating and 'mains pressure' hot water. The water heating should be entered into the software as 'from main heating system'. A thermal store should be entered into the software as a cylinder with appropriate size and insulation for the make and model of thermal store. The insulation is likely to be 50mm spray foam insulation, as with an encapsulated cylinder. Old Square Tanks Some older systems possess a square tank to store hot water, rather than a cylinder which is present in most systems. The tank is usually copper with some glass fibre insulation and a hard board outer case. This type of tank can be entered into the software as normal, with a suitable capacity selected. The insulation should be entered as 'jacket', rather than 'spray foam' and it is normally possible to measure the insulation around the pipe work on the tank. Solar Heated Water A property with solar heated water will have solar panels (pictured) or evacuated tubes. These are usually mounted on the roof, but they may be found on a south facing wall or in the grounds of the property. When a property has solar heated water, the 'Solar Water Heating' box in the Water Heating section of the software should be ticked. No additional information is required, as the software will assume a surface area for the solar panel. (It is not necessary to take measurements for the panels). The solar heated water must be linked up to a hot water cylinder (either an additional cylinder to the existing water heating system, or a large capacity twin coil cylinder specifically designed for solar heated water). If the system has an