National Standards - NHBC guidelines - Requirements for Heating Systems

Section 8.1 – D14 'Space Heating' of the NHBC Standards state that:

“Where space heating is provided it shall be in accordance with the statutory regulations, standards and codes”

This can be interpreted as needing to comply with Building Regulations Part L1A (see: Building Regulations > Part L – England & Wales > Part L1A – New Dwellings) for England and Wales and Building Regulations Part J (see: Part L – Scotland > Part J ) for Scotland.

The standards also state that the following should be taken into account in the design of the heating system:

(a) minimum standards for living room heating

The main living room of a dwelling should have a heating appliance or a heat output as part of a central, or whole home, heating system which is capable of maintaining a design temperature of at least 21°C in the room when the outside temperature is -1°C.

(b) minimum standards for whole home heating

The provision of central, or whole home, heating is discretionary. Where it is provided, it should be designed to a recognised standard such as BS 5449 ‘Code of Practice for central heating for domestic premises’ and based generally on the following as a minimum:

  • external temperature -1°C
  • the design temperatures and ventilation rates given in the table below:
Room Design temperature (°C) Air changes per hour
Living room 21 1½
Dining room 21 1½
Bedsitting room 21 1½
Bedroom 18 1
Hall and Landing 18 1½
Kitchen 18 2
Bathroom 22 2
Toilet 18 2