Our new house has the boiler in the living room. We don't like the
noise it makes and it's quite ugly so I have been working out how to
move it into a different room. I was planning to physically move the
boiler and do the non-gas pipework myself. When I phoned a plumber to
get a quote for the gas work involved I was told that because our
boiler isn't condensing (it's a Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move
it as it would be classed as an installation and all new boilers
installed after April 05 must be condensing.

I've been browsing the web and it looks like he's right. Does anyone
know anything to the contrary? I know there are exceptions but I get
the impression they only apply if there is something about the property
which makes fitting a condensing boiler expensive. I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?

thanks for any advice
Thomas

In message . com,
" writes
I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?


According to my friendly local Corgi bloke, yes you're right. We had a
new combi fitted approx 18 months ago, and as part of a subsequent loft
conversion want it moving upstairs into the loft. "No go" is his reply
:-(

If you find out different, please do let us/me know on here!

--
Someone

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 14:32:58 -0800, wrote:

Our new house has the boiler in the living room. We don't like the
noise it makes and it's quite ugly so I have been working out how to
move it into a different room. I was planning to physically move the
boiler and do the non-gas pipework myself. When I phoned a plumber to
get a quote for the gas work involved I was told that because our
boiler isn't condensing (it's a Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move
it as it would be classed as an installation and all new boilers
installed after April 05 must be condensing.

I've been browsing the web and it looks like he's right. Does anyone
know anything to the contrary? I know there are exceptions but I get
the impression they only apply if there is something about the property
which makes fitting a condensing boiler expensive. I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?

thanks for any advice

I think you're right. I'd try and put up with this boiler for a bit longer
and as soon as the "Lockout Problem" starts then make plans for a new one.

A new PCB to fix the "Lockout Problem" will be over £200 (or £100
reconditioned) + fitting. So you'd have that as starter towards its
replacement.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:08:26 GMT, somebody
wrote:

In message . com,
" writes
I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?


According to my friendly local Corgi bloke, yes you're right. We had a
new combi fitted approx 18 months ago, and as part of a subsequent loft
conversion want it moving upstairs into the loft. "No go" is his reply

Silly, isn't it?

I mean, it's a nearly new boiler and replacing it with new will use up
far more of the earths resources and produce more pollution than the
'old' boiler would ever have produced.

sponix

When I phoned a plumber to get a quote for the gas work involved
I was told that because our boiler isn't condensing (it's a
Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move it as it would be classed
as an installation and all new boilers installed after April 05
must be condensing.

Ask your BCO first. They will probably swear for 10 minutes about all the
time wasting extensions of building regulations and say that of course you
can move the existing boiler, whatever it says in the approved documents.

Christian.

Christian McArdle wrote:

When I phoned a plumber to get a quote for the gas work involved
I was told that because our boiler isn't condensing (it's a
Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move it as it would be classed
as an installation and all new boilers installed after April 05
must be condensing.

Ask your BCO first. They will probably swear for 10 minutes about all the
time wasting extensions of building regulations and say that of course you
can move the existing boiler, whatever it says in the approved documents.

Christian.

If that doesn't work, ask more CORGI fitters - one of them may display
some common sense.

Tim

wrote in message
ups.com...
Our new house has the boiler in the living room. We don't like the
noise it makes and it's quite ugly so I have been working out how to
move it into a different room. I was planning to physically move the
boiler and do the non-gas pipework myself. When I phoned a plumber to
get a quote for the gas work involved I was told that because our
boiler isn't condensing (it's a Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move
it as it would be classed as an installation and all new boilers
installed after April 05 must be condensing.

I've been browsing the web and it looks like he's right. Does anyone
know anything to the contrary? I know there are exceptions but I get
the impression they only apply if there is something about the property
which makes fitting a condensing boiler expensive. I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?

thanks for any advice
Thomas


Why won't you do the gas work, in practice water is most likely to cause
damage. Is your soldering up to it?

wrote in message
ups.com...
Our new house has the boiler in the living room. We don't like the
noise it makes and it's quite ugly so I have been working out how to
move it into a different room. I was planning to physically move the
boiler and do the non-gas pipework myself. When I phoned a plumber to
get a quote for the gas work involved I was told that because our
boiler isn't condensing (it's a Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move
it as it would be classed as an installation and all new boilers
installed after April 05 must be condensing.

I've been browsing the web and it looks like he's right. Does anyone
know anything to the contrary? I know there are exceptions but I get
the impression they only apply if there is something about the property
which makes fitting a condensing boiler expensive. I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?

Not true, a mate of mine had an new non-condensing backboiler (Baxi?) fitted
a couple of months ago replacing and aging 1970's Baxi model. Plumber worked
out not possible to fit condensing boiler without major rework, so changed
like for like. Works fine, gas bills dropped slightly, but most likely as
converted to a fully pumped system rather than gravity HW.

In message , sPoNiX
writes
On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:08:26 GMT, somebody
wrote:

In message . com,
" writes
I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?


According to my friendly local Corgi bloke, yes you're right. We had a
new combi fitted approx 18 months ago, and as part of a subsequent loft
conversion want it moving upstairs into the loft. "No go" is his reply

Silly, isn't it?

I mean, it's a nearly new boiler and replacing it with new will use up
far more of the earths resources and produce more pollution than the
'old' boiler would ever have produced.

If you find some figures for this, let me know


--
geoff

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:42:48 +0000, Ian_m wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...
Our new house has the boiler in the living room. We don't like the
noise it makes and it's quite ugly so I have been working out how to
move it into a different room. I was planning to physically move the
boiler and do the non-gas pipework myself. When I phoned a plumber to
get a quote for the gas work involved I was told that because our
boiler isn't condensing (it's a Potterton Suprima 50L) we couldn't move
it as it would be classed as an installation and all new boilers
installed after April 05 must be condensing.

I've been browsing the web and it looks like he's right. Does anyone
know anything to the contrary? I know there are exceptions but I get
the impression they only apply if there is something about the property
which makes fitting a condensing boiler expensive. I don't think the
fact that we already have a 2 year old working boiler and buying a new
one would be expesive counts -am I right?

Not true, a mate of mine had an new non-condensing backboiler (Baxi?) fitted
a couple of months ago replacing and aging 1970's Baxi model. Plumber worked
out not possible to fit condensing boiler without major rework, so changed
like for like. Works fine, gas bills dropped slightly, but most likely as
converted to a fully pumped system rather than gravity HW.

That would have been possible under the exemption assessment procedure
which probably won't be available for the OP as a short flue and the drain
will likely be possible from the loft.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

Ask your BCO first. They will probably swear for 10 minutes about all the
time wasting extensions of building regulations and say that of course you
can move the existing boiler, whatever it says in the approved documents.

Christian.

If that doesn't work, ask more CORGI fitters - one of them may display
some common sense.


I just phoned building control and after looking it up to check he said
the plumber was right and I can't move the old boiler. Looks like we're
stuck with it in the living room until it breaks down. I might try to
find another corgi plumber but they're very hard to get hold of.

I'm really getting tired of all the regulations now. It's putting me
off DIY as the phone calls involved in working out what work you can
and can't do are becomming as complicated as the job itself.

Thomas

I just phoned building control and after looking it up to check he said
the plumber was right and I can't move the old boiler.

You may be able to swing it under an "improvement" type application. By
proving that the house after the modification is better energywise than the
building before, they should allow it.

i.e. put a building notice in for the moved boiler and a layer of loft
insulation. Because the house will have improved energy efficiency, it might
be approvable.

Christian.

wrote:

Ask your BCO first. They will probably swear for 10 minutes about all
the time wasting extensions of building regulations and say that of
course you can move the existing boiler, whatever it says in the
approved documents.

Christian.

If that doesn't work, ask more CORGI fitters - one of them may display
some common sense.



I just phoned building control and after looking it up to check he said
the plumber was right and I can't move the old boiler. Looks like we're
stuck with it in the living room until it breaks down. I might try to
find another corgi plumber but they're very hard to get hold of.

I'm really getting tired of all the regulations now. It's putting me
off DIY as the phone calls involved in working out what work you can
and can't do are becomming as complicated as the job itself.

Thomas

I'm not convinced you actually spoke to the BCO - more like a receptionist
as they had to "look it up".

Go in person and ask for a quick word with the BCO in person. At the end of
the day moving the boiler isn't making the installation any worse and
replacing the boiler just for beaurocracy's sake is patently more damaging
to the environment than waiting for the current one to see its life out.

Hope you are going to whinge at your MP!

And try some more gas fitters if that doesn't work...

Tim

I emailed building control and got this response. It's not looking good


--
Dear Mr Rynne

I would confirm the comments made by your plumber that the boiler needs
to be a condensing boiler are correct. In exceptional circumstances non
condensing boilers can be installed but there is an assessment
procedure that needs to be carried out, your reasons for not providing
a condensing boiler are not applicable. Further information can be
found on the ODPM web site, www.odpm.gov.uk . Your plumber will need to
issue a certificate on completion of the work and he will need to be
satisfied that the boiler meets the requirements.
--

btw, my reasons we the only reason for buying new is environmental
(the current one is room sealed) and the environmental impact if
replacing is higher than the 10% saving.

I'll be writing to my me with www.writetothem.com

wrote:
I emailed building control and got this response. It's not looking good


--
Dear Mr Rynne

I would confirm the comments made by your plumber that the boiler needs
to be a condensing boiler are correct. In exceptional circumstances non
condensing boilers can be installed but there is an assessment
procedure that needs to be carried out, your reasons for not providing
a condensing boiler are not applicable. Further information can be
found on the ODPM web site, www.odpm.gov.uk . Your plumber will need to
issue a certificate on completion of the work and he will need to be
satisfied that the boiler meets the requirements.
--

btw, my reasons we the only reason for buying new is environmental
(the current one is room sealed) and the environmental impact if
replacing is higher than the 10% saving.

I'll be writing to my me with www.writetothem.com

I don't like the sound of all this.
I will be wanting to move a boiler from bedroom to a kitchen.
I may have to just do it myself.

Can't you get a gasman to disconnect (if you don't DIY),
move it yourself, plumb yourself, then arrange for it to need to be
"fixed" for gas, then arrange separately for a landlords certificate.
So nobody knows it's been "moved" except for you.
Does that sound feasible. Sometime the law is an ass.
Simon.