Regulations

[Sue Foster]

Hi,

I found this forum today because I need someone qualified that knows about central heating regulations. I have just purchased a new part ownership house, in the kitchen it has a radiator next to the washing machine, it is impossible to move the machine in and out without taking the radiator off the wall and it's a 2 man job with one holding the radiator while the other forced the machine in the hole that has been measured incorrectly. I have requested that a smaller radiator be fitted so that I can access the machine on my own. I live alone with a young child and would not be able to get the machine out if I needed to. The neighbour's houses have the same problem too. I been told that the radiators have been designed to each specific room and there are regulations on sizes? Is this correct because I can't find any regulations on radiator sizes? Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[AWheating]

if its a new house then there should be warrantys on not only the build but also its design/latent defects. If it has an nhbc or zurich cert then contact them, they may force the builder back to put right.

 

[Sue Foster]

As the others have said to make the heating system work efficeintly in your new house, the radiator SIZE has (should have) been designed specifically for that room.

Removing or changing the radiator size will actually mess us the whole balance of the heating and therfore it may cost a lot more to run.


However there are solutions.

What is the current size (height, length) of your radiator and the type - one panel with fines, double panel with fins on both, or double panel with fins on one panel only - you should be able to see that by looking from above it through the slats.

From that we can then tell you what alternative sizes and types would give you the same power output, and so could be fitted as a replacement (power is kW or for the oldun's around here BTU's/hr)

Ideally what length would you like the radiator to be?

The radiator in there now is 600 x600 mm and has a row of fins, fixed to one side inside the radiator when I look in the top.

I requested one the same size that is in my bathroom which is 400 x 600 mm, this may just allow enough room to get the machine out. The make is Stelrad.

My room measures W 1.9m L 3.3m H 2.38m approx I went on B&Q and worked out the BTU which was for normal heat 1088 BTU Cooler heat 979 and warmer heat 1197.

Looking at the smaller sized radiator in the stelrad catalogue it exceeds those outputs.

 

[Worcester]

Depends what flow temperature you assumed ... If you are running a condensing boiler in a new house, your water return temperature should be less than 55° so you'll be looking at a Δt of 40° so a 600*600 K1 will have an output of 440W / 1501 Btu/hr

ASSUMING a new build with the outside wall being 3.3m and a window of 1.2m x 1m then a quick calc (CIBSE ..) at the heat loss would be around 300 watts if you keep the heating on 24 hours a day, if you switch it off when out in the day or at night, then 340 watts.

So based on that data a 600*400 K1 rad would be undersized (298W) and so would create an imbalance in the heating system, a 600*400 P+ would be adequate at 400W (P+ - double panel radiator with fins on one panel only) it would be 18mm wider / thicker than your current rad.

However ... as said above, the builder should fix it and they should make sure it is sized correctly as they will (should) have the real heat loss calcs..

 

[Sue Foster]

I'm trying to get them out to look at it again and have complained again, my neighbour has done so too. Thanks for all the advice it's very helpful

 

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

if its a new house then there should be warrantys on not only the build but also its design/latent defects. If it has an nhbc or zurich cert then contact them, they may force the builder back to put right.

What that man said
this is a powerful route.

 

[Andyswad]

hard to visualize your particular layout but you can get 500mm wide washing machines not just the normal 600mm wide.
Too easy an answer?

 

[Worcester]

How many washing machines get replaced over the lifetime of a rad? The slot for the washing machine is 600 wide, a 500 wide one would have less capacity...

No reason why the OP should keep paying many times over for the builder/designers c*** *p ...

 

[BLOD]

Do you have small plastic pipe to the radiator, and is some of it coiled behind the rad ?

I've worked in a couple of new builds where the radiator blocking the washing machine had enough plastic pipe coiled behind to allow the rad to be removed and replace very easily without draining etc.

 

[Sue Foster]

The rad pipes are flexible but not long enough to move it out of the way easily,or place on the floor. I have suggested to them they make them longer.

I've looked at smaller washing machines, there aren't many about but they cost more than normal sized ones and don't have driers. Then I thought why should I fork out £450+ to buy a washing machine when its their mistake.

I've had an email today saying that the development team are looking at a couple of suggestions and are awaiting costs from contractors. Maybe all my emails and complaining has finally worked!!

I've suggested different ways, let's see what they come up with.

I did find a building control certificate from Assent, is that the same as nhbc? I've got the wrong plot's certificate in my folder too lol!

 

[Ermintrude]

House bashing is never done well or with any attention to detail.