BEIS have released a consultation relating to Improving boiler standards and efficiency. The deadline for response is 11.45pm 21^st March 2023.

The main points are:

• New mandatory controls when installing a boiler
• New standards around boiler outputs
• Extending boiler plus requirements to system/regular boilers
• Increasing min ERP rating of hot water cylinders to B
• Mandating hydrogen ready boilers
• Potential to increase hybrids heating installations and products

Boiler efficiency

New product standards for boilers and hot water tanks to be applied from 2025. Main proposals:

• New gas boilers to have Class VI boiler controls as per the ‘Energy Labelling Regulations for energy labels, of packages of space and combination heaters of temperature controls and solar devices’ (weather compensators and room sensors, for use with modulating heating including gas boilers).
• Control Communication. Mandating open protocols to enable interoperability on gas boilers, ensuring Class VI controls can be delivered as expected.
• Flue Gas Recovery. Considering how flue gas heat recovery can contribute to efficiency, and whether it should be included in Class VI controls or not.
• Boiler Oversizing (including system and regular boilers).
  • Mandating a high modulation range, all domestic-scale gas combination boilers should be able to modulate to 10% of their maximum output without on/off cycling.
  • A capping of the minimum output levels of boilers is suggested.
• Tested boiler efficiency to raise minimum performance standards to 93% or 94%.
• All hot water storage cylinders to have a minimum efficiency rating of B.
• Skills and Installation. Make heating system servicing go beyond current standards, such as the recommended gas checks and seeking views on making low temperature heating training mandatory by incorporating it into Gas Safe Registration Renewal and entry training.

Hydrogen ready boilers

Proposal from 2026 that all new domestic gas boilers (less than 45kW) sold are to be hydrogen ready. This is expected to go ahead if:

• Regulatory requirements (safety and performance) can be satisfied, and boilers can operate on 100% hydrogen gas.
• Price parity with gas boilers can be achieved, when hydrogen boiler sales achieve natural gas boiler sale totals.
• A definition of a hydrogen ready boiler is agreed.

The decision is expected to be made before the decision on hydrogen heat in homes in 2026. Government expects the upfront cost of hydrogen ready boilers to reach price parity with existing natural boilers, based off industry price guarantees.

The below areas are to be consulted on:

• Government wants to understand how this cost parity would be achieved and the impacts on early adopter consumers.
• Proposed efficiency standard for hydrogen gas boilers (up to 94%) and other regulatory standards.
• Definition to be agreed for the qualification of hydrogen ready boilers.
• To increase installer skills, hydrogen installers will be required to complete a hydrogen training module to be able to fit the technology (informed by the Hydrogen Competency Framework).

Hybrids

There is intent for hybrid systems to play a more substantive role in contributing to the 600,000 annual heat pump install target, with potential to become the new minimum energy performance product from 2028.

The boilers in these hybrid systems would be proposed to be hydrogen ready from 2026 and could have a role to play from the proposed gas boiler phase out in 2035.

Proposals/considerations for hybrid include:

• A minimum Seasonal Space Heating Energy Efficiency (SSHEE) of 125% for hybrid heating systems, for example.
• Utilising Ecodesign and Energy Labelling standards to define a minimum heat pump contribution.
• An energy labelling system to differentiate between hybrid energy system performance. This would be a tiered system. 
• Specific smart controls standards, that go beyond those for smart heat pumps needed for hybrid heating systems.
• For upskilling, the Government view hybrid training as being able to provide the competencies required for installing a standalone heat pump.
• The role of compact hybrids, if significant upfront or running costs are not imposed on consumers.

You can find the full document here and how to provide responses.