Following a clerical error by government that narrowed the window for its ban on gas boilers in new build properties, The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has expressed concern about the damage done.
The government’s recently announced Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution at first included a promise to outlaw gas boilers in new homes by 2023, which was later corrected to the initial 2025 deadline.
Kevin Wellman, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), said: “While the government’s Ten Point Plan supports the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – which says that all new developments in the UK are required to be nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB) before 2021 – at present, installers can still fit and indeed retrofit combi gas boilers to the current Boiler Plus Standard in England (and certain property types in Wales), with a minimum ERP efficiency of 92%.
“Currently, the Future Home Standard is due to come into play from 2025 – though this could now be earlier – meaning that gas central heating appliances in all new build properties will be banned, and will therefore require an alternative heating source such as a heat pump or hydrogen powered boiler. Existing properties will not be affected by the legislation and are expected to be able to use gas boilers for the foreseeable future. However, with the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050, it’s true that natural gas fired boilers are on borrowed time.”