Heat networks: when warranties won’t help

When property managers take over new build developments, they often overlook servicing or maintaining heat network equipment during the first year. After all, in the unlikely event of a problem with their brand new system, they can invoke the developer snagging period or manufacturer warranties.

What many don’t realise is that snagging clauses usually only apply to installation-related issues. They won’t cover equipment failures or inefficiencies caused by other problems, and they certainly don’t include servicing or maintenance. On top of that, manufacturer warranties are often voided if the equipment isn’t serviced annually – including the first year post commissioning.

Complex systems

A bit like F1 cars, heat networks are sophisticated feats of engineering – high-value assets requiring skilful and consistent monitoring, servicing and fine-tuning to uphold their performance over time. Plus, because they’re made up of numerous interconnected components forming a single ecosystem, even the smallest part failure can have major repercussions for the entire scheme, multiplying the associated costs and inconvenience for everyone connected.

To protect residents from these kinds of issues, the government is introducing a new Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS), expected to come into effect this year. This will aim to ensure appropriate standards of efficiency and reliability. New installations must pass an assessment after two years of operation, with possible fines or other penalties if they fail.

Prevention not cure

The best way to ensure heat network equipment stays in good working order is through a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) regime backed up by continuous system monitoring. Preventative action is a core principle of HNTAS.

PPM should cover not just communal parts, but every piece of the system. That includes the heat interface units (HIUs) and meters located within individual properties, as these are crucial components too. For example, when surveying a new site, we once discovered a tiny transport clip left on an HIU valve that was costing residents around £1,000/year in wasted energy until we spotted it. Meter malfunction or lack of meters, meanwhile, leads to inconsistent monitoring and incorrect billing – also an area where stronger regulatory oversight is incoming. We’ve helped another client increase their billing accuracy by 117% through regular meter maintenance.

Experts only

Heat network maintenance differs vastly from regular boiler maintenance, so it is essential to engage with a specialist service provider. Inexperienced contractors can do a lot of damage. We recently encountered a new heat network where a year-old boiler had to be replaced because incorrect installation had voided the warranty and caused the boiler’s internal pipework to be damaged beyond repair.

To avoid that kind of fiasco, make sure prospective O&M suppliers have good working knowledge of CIBSE’s CP1 for Heat Networks: Code of Practice 2020, as well as a sound understanding of the changing regulatory landscape and the Heat Trust’s consumer protection standards.

PPM impact

A professional PPM programme doesn’t just support compliance and protect equipment warranties, it should also boost system efficiency, cut energy use and emissions. It keeps maintenance costs predictable and slashes the risk of costly emergency repairs by catching issues early or preventing them entirely. And when things do go wrong, you’ve got the reassurance of a quick response from a trusted supplier.

For all these reasons, don’t wait 12 months before instigating a proper maintenance routine at a new development.

Jarrad Bedford, Head of Sales: O&M, at Insite Energy