Storage heaters not complying from 2021?

Web84 · Dec 11, 2020

Hi all,

I've been asked to comment on a quote by a builder, part of the quote was to replace all the storage heaters in the property as "they will not comply with new regulations coming in 2021".

I'll be honest, I've been trying to avoid wholesalers and been on a few personal non Electrical projects so haven't really been keeping up with current trade publications.

Can anyone advise?

bill01803 · Dec 11, 2020

I am sure it won't be retrospective

Web84 · Dec 11, 2020

I haven't been to site but the builder had taken pictures of the heaters and ccu, the only issue I could see was one heater was missing its temp nob! And they are removing the hall heater for space issues so you could swap it for the one destim for the bin!

snowhead · Dec 11, 2020

The customer needs to get the Builder to state exactly which regulation and then why existing ones won't comply.

Is this builder going to rebuild the whole house to current building regulations as some of the existing won't comply.?

Web84 · Dec 11, 2020

snowhead said:
The customer needs to get the Builder to state exactly which regulation and then why existing ones won't comply.

Is this builder going to rebuild the whole house to current building regulations as some of the existing won't comply.?

Sorry I wasnt clear. There was another electrician that had come to quote and recommended the heaters are changed. The builder is currently working on this property and called to run it by me as you can imagine the cost of changing all the heaters in a property is quite alot

Julie. · Dec 11, 2020

The only thing I know about in this area effective Jan 2021 is SI 1441 from 2019, however this applies to the overall scheme, heaters are just heaters so you can't really meet any changes by changing them alone. There is also the efficiency labelling rules effective jan 2021, but these aren't retrospective.

There are the Lot 20 regs, but again these came in in 2018 and only apply to new products.

Dartlec · Dec 11, 2020

I suspect the person quoting has misunderstood the Lot 20 rules - or has a job lot of heaters he wants to make a good mark up on.

"Traditional" storage heaters, that are only powered by the off peak supply, are no longer available to buy due to Lot 20, but there are plenty of companies who sell storage heaters still - they just need a permanent live too to power their timers, thermostat, electronics, etc.

Functioning installed ones will certainly not have to be removed though - just that replacement will sometimes require additional wiring.

Parts for existing ones may start to become rarer over time too, so if doing a complete rewire it might be a good time to change them, but otherwise I'd say there is no need.

For most (working) people I don't think traditional storage heating really works anyway, although since a lot more people are now home during the day because of a certain pandemic then they probably are getting the benefit at the moment - that will no doubt change back next year though.

Something like the Dimplex Quantum heaters with timers are a better replacement imo for most people these days.