Technical data

Over the last few years boilers have become increasingly
efficient and, with condensing boilers already offering typical
efficiencies of around 91%, there is little scope for significant
developments in boiler efficiency.
So it makes sense to take a closer look at the other parts
of the system where we can improve performance – and
the controls side is an obvious area to focus on. In fact, the
operating efficiency of a condensing boiler can be increased
by as much as 13% when used with the correct controls,
depending on boiler size and heating load.
As every installation is different it’s important to be able to
choose the best control solution for each situation. This will
depend not just on the choice of boiler and heating system
but also the preferences of the end user and the budget they
have available to invest in achieving maximum energy savings
for a slightly higher initial investment.
At Worcester, we believe in delivering optimum choice
to enable heating engineers to meet all of these diverse
requirements in the most cost-effective way. This philosophy
is reflected in the breadth of our controls offering.
Why are controls so important?
4
Regulations and best practice
In addition to the end users’ requirements, there are also
current and future regulatory influences over the control of
heating. For example, Building Regulations recommend:
‘the provision of controls that meet the minimum control
requirements as given in the Domestic Heating Compliance
Guide for the particular type of appliance and heat
distributions system’
However, these minimum control requirements will not
meet the needs of forthcoming regulations; future editions
of the Building Regulations are certain to demand higher
levels of control to achieve greater efficiencies, bringing
them in line with the Code for Sustainable Homes
(see facing page).
Nor will minimum controls performance meet the demands
of today’s energy-conscious homeowner. With energy prices
set to continue rising for the foreseeable future, home
owners want maximum efficiency to keep their bills down
and to minimise their carbon footprint.