Page 446 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

CHAPTER 7 CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION

Some 97 per cent of homes in the UK have a central heating system, and most of these are in the traditional
form of a boiler and radiators. In the past ten years, central heating has developed into a sophisticated home
heating system that incorporates energy-saving appliances and controls designed to heat the dwelling quickly
and efficiently using as little fuel as possible and saving thousands of tonnes of CO from being released into
2
the atmosphere.

In this chapter, we will look at the subject of central heating from a domestic perspective. We will investigate
existing and modern systems, their pipework layouts, methods of control, the various types of appliances and
the fuels they use.
By the end of this chapter, you will have knowledge and understanding of the following:
l central heating systems and their layouts
l how to install central heating systems and components
l the decommissioning requirements of central heating systems and their components.

1 UNDERSTAND CENTRAL

HEATING SYSTEMS AND THEIR

LAYOUTS

The main purpose of central heating is to provide thermal comfort conditions
within a building or dwelling. Central heating is preferable to open fires as it
heats the whole property. Thermal comfort is achieved when a desirable heat
balance between the body and surroundings is met. How we achieve this balance
is down to the design of the central heating system and the way it is installed.

Sources of information

The recommendations for good central heating installations are set out in the
British Standards and various other documents, some of which are legislative
and take the form of regulations. In this first part of the chapter, we will look at
the criteria used for efficient central heating design.

Regulations
These are as follows:

l The Building Regulations:
l Approved Document L1A: conservation of fuel and power in new
dwellings, 2013 edition with 2016 amendments

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