Bill Jones, Business Development Director for Potterton, explains how the company’s latest combi solution can help housebuilders meet SAP requirements and deliver the hot water a modern property often requires.
Government statistics show there are 2.5 million fuel-poor households in England alone. It is therefore crucial that homeowners have access to low cost, energy efficient heating systems in all homes.
To ensure homeowners’ heating and hot water demands are met, it is vital to install the right system for the property. The integration of an appropriate heating system into a new-build is vital to maximising the level of heat output and return on investment. Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) assessors will typically make recommendations on heating systems in order to reach the clients required rating.
SAP challenges
To achieve the required SAP rating for a property there needs to be good levels of insulation along with a highly efficient heating and hot water system. The developer has to balance his choice of equipment and materials to achieve the most economical build to reach the required ratings.
A high quality, efficient boiler for example, can make a massive difference to a property’s SAP rating. Potterton’s new Assure 36kW Combi boiler has a good SAP rating and is the lightest 36kW boiler on the market, making installation quick and easy. It has an impressive flow rate of 15L per minute at a 35-degree temperature rise, and its larger output means it can be used in homes with more than one bathroom.
It is also compact enough to fit in a standard kitchen cupboard which gives more flexibility when siting the boiler and is a good solution for those living in multigenerational homes where space is precious.
System design
System design is equally important. Potterton’s NewDesign team provides a complete heating and plumbing design service for residential developments. We work with SAP assessors and other technical parties to help housebuilders to meet carbon and/or energy targets. For example, to make a property even more efficient we specify temperature controls, room thermostats and weather compensation controls where possible. These controls provide greater comfort and bigger cost savings for homeowners.
It’s important to remember that a full commissioning process must take place once the heating system has been installed. This is an essential part of the process as it enables the system to function correctly and provides a record for future checks to maintain system efficiency.
By choosing a highly efficient boiler and ensuring that the heating system is suitably designed, installed and commissioned, and serviced annually, the heating system will provide comfort alongside trouble-free operation with top efficiency performance.
