Changes to the Scottish Technical Handbooks come into force on 1st May 2007. These Technical Handbooks provide guidance on achieving the standards set in the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and are available in two volumes, for Domestic buildings and the other for Non-domestic buildings.
A revised edition of the Technical Handbooks will come into force on 1 May 2007. The revisions cover sections 0, 1, 3, 4 and 6. A summary of the changes that have been introduced between 1 May 2006 and 30 April 2007 can be accessed from the SBSA website (details below).
The handbooks are available to view online or download in full or part in PDF format using the website below. The Technical Handbooks are also available in hard copy from The Stationery Office (TSO).
The amendment revises guidance to standard 6.3 Heating Systems and includes:
6.3.1 Gas and Oil wet central heating efficiency
As from May 2007, apart from exceptional circumstances the following minimum energy efficiency rating of appliances must apply for dwellings.
Gas and Oil boilers SEDBUK 86%
Gas or oil (twin burner) range cooker SEDBUK 75%
Independent space heating (as primary heat source) 58% gross
There may be exceptional circumstances which make it impractical or uneconomical to replace an appliance with a condensing boiler. The Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) is producing a Guide to Condensing boiler Installation Assessment Procedure for dwellings (Scotland) that will also be available from the SBSA website. This closely follows the procedure for the remainder of the U.K. Where this occurs, the minimum SEDBUK efficiencies are to be:
Nat Gas 78%
LPG 80%
For replacement gas fired back boilers it is permissible for the SEDBUK efficiencies to be up to 3 percentage points less than the figures above.
Transitional provisions
Where a building warrant is not required, the work must still comply with building regulations, but the building regulations applicable to the work in question shall be those in force at the date on which the contract for the work was entered into. The arrangements are:
(a) the contract is entered into before 1st May 2007;
(b) the work on the contract is commenced before 1st July 2007; and
(c) the work on the contract is completed before 31st August 2007
Further details can be obtained by visiting the SBSA website at:
www.sbsa.gov.uk