Boiler Plus - Everything You Need to Know

Boiler Plus is a set of standards that were implemented in April 2018 to improve the way people use energy in their homes, giving them a greater choice on how to maximise energy efficiency. These standards provide households with a level of choice over how boiler efficiency measures are implemented in their homes, whether they use a combi, system or heat only model. In this blog we look at the key requirements set out by the Boiler Plus regulations, as well as looking at central heating solutions to help homeowners and installers meet the standards.

What Is Boiler Plus and What Are Its Key Requirements?

1. All gas boilers installed into existing systems in England must have an ErP efficiency of at least 92%.

2. All gas and oil boilers must have time and temperature controls installed at the same time, if not already present and working.

3. Combination (combi) boiler replacements must include the provision of an additional energy efficiency measure, to be installed at the same time.

These measures include flue gas heat recovery, weather compensation, load compensation, and smart controls with automation and optimisation functions.

Boiler Plus Regulation FAQs

To help you understand how the Boiler Standard affects installers, we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions that explain the Boiler Plus standards in more detail.

Who Does Boiler Plus Apply To?

Boiler Plus applies to all households in England. The provision of an additional energy efficiency measure applies to replacement combi boilers only.

When Did Boiler Plus Come Into Effect?

Boiler Plus regulations came into effect on 1st April 2018.

Does Boiler Plus Increase Costs for Households?

Boiler Plus aims to ensure that households are running efficient heating systems, which should help to reduce energy bills in the long term.

In the short term, the provision of an additional energy efficiency measure with any replacement combi boiler may cause a slight increase in initial cost at installation. However there are a range of options available to provide solutions for homeowners and installers, covering a range of costs. This ensures you are provided with a choice of solutions based on individual circumstances.

What Options Do I Have to Help Me Comply with Boiler Plus Regulations?

Let’s take a look at some of the solutions that are available to help installers stay compliant with the Boiler Plus regulations and provide appropriate options for their customers.

Flue Gas Heat Recovery System (FGHRS)

Almost all modern boilers already have some sort of heat recovery built in, making condensing boilers much more efficient than older ones. The Ideal Heating Code Combi is an example of a model that features integrated flue gas heat recovery.

Flue Gas Heat Recovery Systems recover heat from waste flue gases to preheat the cold water entering the boiler, lowering the amount of energy needed to warm the water up to the required level. These systems can further increase the efficiency of condensing boilers in most cases, delivering the same amount of heat with up to 4% less gas.

Weather Compensation

Weather compensation intelligently interacts with the boiler to reduce water temperatures based on outside temperatures, which increases efficiency without compromising user comfort. An external weather compensation kit is available as an accessory to all Ideal domestic boilers.

This smart functionality allows boilers to maintain a steady internal temperature by adjusting boiler output to account for changes in the weather. Weather compensators can be a simple external sensor that feeds weather data back to the boiler.

Load Compensation

Load compensation is a common function in many smart controls and thermostats, which can be used to comply with Boiler Plus. Ideal thermostats including the wireless Halo can help boilers reach and maintain the user’s desired temperature without using excess energy

These devices work by measuring the gap between what the internal temperature is and what the user wants it to be and modulates the boiler so that it only uses as much fuel as necessary to close the gap.

Smart Controls with Automation and Optimisation

Smart thermostats such as the Halo Wi-Fi let consumers remotely control their home temperature via a smartphone or tablet for greater control over the central heating system.

Automation is a function that allows the device to automatically control the heating system output in response to programmed demand (e.g. scheduling with temperature control) or occupancy detection.

Optimisation means the device calculates how long it takes the property to reach the desired comfort level, and times the system’s operation to minimise the amount of work it has to do.

Do I Need To Install Every Energy Efficiency Option? 

Only one out of the four energy efficiency options needs to be installed alongside any replacement combi boiler. There are no additional ‘points’ or gains to be made from a legislative perspective by installing more than one additional energy efficiency measure.

Are Ideal Boilers Compliant with Boiler Plus?

All Ideal domestic boilers comply with the Boiler Plus regulations, achieving the minimum required ErP efficiency of 92%. All makes and models of combi boilers are fully compliant when combined with one of the four energy efficiency options listed in this blog. We regularly post installer-related tips, news and advice. Bookmark our Ideal Heating blog to stay up to date with our newest posts and read all the latest boiler-related expert tips.