The new TRV regulations: The two minute lowdown
What's new?
Updates to Part L of the Building Regulations in England mean that, when a boiler is replaced, thermostatic room controls must be provided in every room.
Why is it happening?
Part of a move to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing homes.
When is it happening?
The new regulations came into force in June 2022.
How can Resideo help?
A straight-forward way to meet the new requirement is by installing a room thermostat in one room, and TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) in all the other rooms in the property – and we can help you with this!
We offer a wide range of TRVs suitable for commercial or residential properties, so there’s a product to suit any job. With a host of benefits, some of our TRV solutions can be mounted vertically or horizontally at either end of a radiator.
What’s more, the easily interchangeable TRV heads are available in a variety different of finishes and can be matched to suit the décor of any room.
What difference do TRVs make?
TRVs ensure that each room is maintained at a comfortable temperature to help avoid any overheating in those rooms that will be a waste of energy. This will include reducing the heat output of a radiator when the outside temperature increases or when additional heat is generated by people or electrical appliances in the room.
The boiler will sense when the TRVs are closing and either turn off or reduce the amount of heat it produces in response to this.
In fact, research from the University of Salford shows that the use of TRVs will reduce a typical gas boiler’s energy use by around 18% over an average UK heating season1. This equates to savings of £69 per year, a total saving of £1,034 over the 15-year expected lifetime of a boiler2.
What do I need to look out for?
To ensure you can ‘fit and forget’ when it comes to TRVs, there are three key things to remember:
1. Check existing TRVs
Always check that the heating output is being affected when the TRV dial is turned and look out for any leakage or jamming.
2. Check for quality
Look out for TRVs that have been Keymark certified as a sure sign of quality.
3.Consider alternatives if you need to
In most cases TRVs will be the most suitable solution. However, there are alternatives. As long as you have installed a solution that can independently monitor and adjust the heating in every room, then the property will be compliant. This could be networked TRVs or smart controls, or an underfloor heating system with a wall mounted thermostat in each room.
To view Resideo’s full range of radiator valves and thermostats visit: https://www.resideo.com/gb/en/products/comfort/radiator-valves-and-thermostats/
ENDS
Footnotes
1 Sources: BEAMA report 2022, https://www.beama.org.uk/resourceLibrary/estimated-fuel-bill-savings-from-heating-control-upgrades.html
Individual energy savings are dependent upon existing controls, environment and lifestyle.
2 Based on British Gas standard tariff of 4.053p per kWh - 8 Feb 2022