"IMM" wrote in message
...

"Ed Sirett" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 11:10:40 +0000, Tony Bryer wrote:

In article , Rob wrote:
Whilst having a gas stove fitted the other day, I was talking to
the boss fitter about central heating and he said the rule about
all new boilers having to be condensing after next April has been
postponed for several years. He claimed to have been to a Corgi
meeting where it was explained that it had been dropped because
condensing boilers are still very unpopular due to doubts about
reliability. [snip]

Does he know what he's talking about

No. The assessment procedure for determining when a non-condensing
boiler will be acceptable after April 2005 was published last
week:



http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/grou...ents/page/odpm
_bre
g_032807.hcsp

The installer has to consider the various places where a boiler
might be installed. A number are automatically considered to
be impracticable (e.g boiler in principal living room that does
not include a kitchen). Then you add up the score (following
numbers are for mains gas):

Flat: 710 Mid-terrace house: 640 Other house: 590

Resiting of existing boiler required: +350

Flue extensions 2m required: +200

Condensate pump or soakaway required: +100

If the score for any possible location is 1000 or less then a
condensing boiler must be installed

Looks like a back-boiler in a flat can be replaced with a
non-condensing
unit then.

Only if there is no other alternative for a condensing boiler. With
long
flue lengths and condensate pumps, it would be difficult not to find a
suitable location.

Elsewhere a back boiler can be replace with a non-condensing
unit provided the only locations would require long flues or pumps
etc.

I find that ridiculous. Long flue lengths act against a condenser.
Regular
and condensers both can have very long flues. Long flue length should
not
act against a condensing boiler at all.

As most plumber are ignorant of boilers. Most will probably not know
that
some boilers, like the Keston, can have extremely long flue lengths.


I read this document as a simplistic attempt to estimate the payback of
the installation. Long flues can be used but they will incur extra
expense and so impact the payback period.