New TACMA guide to the new 2010 Part L Regulations.

TACMA, has produced a new guide for installers to help them ensure that their systems comply with the new regulations coming into force on the 1^st October 2010. An enhanced version with example system layouts will also be available in the next few weeks.

The regulations have been tightened in respect of zone control:

- All new systems in dwellings that aren’t open plan must have at least two heating zones, each controlled by a thermostat and zone valve. In addition, all radiators must have Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) fitted except those in rooms with a room thermostat and those in bathrooms.

- When replacing a boiler in an existing system it is now good practice to install TRVs on all radiators except those in rooms with a room thermostat and those in bathrooms while the system is drained down.

These new regulations continue the Government’s move towards more efficient homes and should ensure that householders have efficient heating systems and can manage their energy use effectively. TACMA welcomes these improvements as a step in the right direction; recognising the importance of controls in reducing energy costs and carbon emissions from UK homes.

The new guide is available under PUBLICATIONS on the right of this page.

TACMA (The Association of Controls Manufacturers) is the well established association for UK manufacturers and suppliers of electrical and electronic controls used in heating and hot water systems, and wider applications to control the internal environment of buildings. The association is very active in policy making, standards and directives in the UK and Europe.

If you are an installer of heating controls click here.

If you are a householder click here.

For information on the energy saving potential of heating controls click here.

To find TACMA members click here.

The current focus of TACMA is on advancing heating controls for domestic installations to ensure a comfortable environment at the least cost. The priorities for the UK are to bring all existing homes up to a minimum level of control, to promote best practice for installation and use of controls, and to bring to market advanced control technologies.

Heating and hot water controls are designed to ensure that our homes are warm and comfortable to live in, but that the energy used by the heating appliances (e.g. the boiler) is kept to a minimum. They increasingly allow users to automatically set the controls to fit with flexible living patterns and to choose to minimise heating usage to make further energy and cost savings.

Control of your heating system can be the most important aspect of energy conservation in your home. Yet the relationship between different control types, and their combination into an effective control system can seem quite complex. This site aims to help you to get the best out of controls when selecting, installing and using them.