Page 642 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

l Cost: this is a major factor when choosing the right fuel. Heating oil
prices fluctuate widely, depending on the price of crude oil, while LPG
prices remain consistently high. By far the cheapest of the fossil fuels is
natural gas.
l Client preference: in towns and cities, the choice of fuel for heating
appliances is limited. Natural gas is the preferred fuel chosen by customers
for both heating and cooking appliances, simply because it is readily
available. Solid fuel, in the form of smokeless fuel, is still used in some areas.
In rural settings, heating oil is preferred. LPG is expensive, and this is often
the reason that this fuel is rejected. Many new-build properties are actively
seeking greener alternatives to fossil fuels, with heat pumps and electric
boilers being chosen because of their very low carbon emissions.

3 SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR

FUEL SUPPLY INSTALLATION

Boilers, cookers, room heaters and fires require a supply of fuel, whether
that fuel is piped direct to the door or delivered by a tanker. Each fuel has
specific supply and storage requirements that must comply with certain
documents:
l Regulations: there are certain regulations that fuel supply systems must
comply with to maintain the safety of the property where the appliances are
installed and the safety of the building occupants. Solid fuel and oil systems,
such as coal, coke, biomass and heating oils, are simple to understand, since
the fuel is readily visible. However, gaseous fuel systems such as those for
natural gas and LPG tend to be much more stringent, since these fuels are at
pressure and cannot be seen. Regulations include:
l the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
l Approved Document J of the Building Regulations – Combustion
Appliances and Fuel Storage systems (2010 edition incorporating 2010
and 2013 amendments)
l the 18th Edition of the IET Regulations.
l British Standards: there are many British Standards and European Standards
KEY POINT that give recommendations when installing fuel systems.
There is a comprehensive l Manufacturers’ instructions: manufacturers of appliances and components
list of British will often give advice about the installation of the fuel system to the
Standards in Approved
Document J of the appliance. These may sometimes conflict with the Regulations and British
Building Regulations – Standards. In this instance, the manufacturer’s instructions must always be
Combustion Appliances followed.
and Fuel Storage l Guidance notes: guidance notes are produced by regulatory bodies and
Systems. professional associations to assist in compliance with the Regulations. Many

guidance notes are produced by the HSE. They should be read in conjunction
with the Regulations and manufacturers’ instructions.

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