NEW building regulations come into force on April 1. The Government is trying to encourage greater energy efficiency in the home with the regulations, which are applicable to England and Wales.

According to the Central Heating Information Council, hot water and central heating accounts for 85 per cent of the energy used in the home and the energy contributes to household carbon dioxide emissions, which is the major cause of global warming.

For most homeowners these new regulations will affect them when they change their domestic heating boiler or have a new central heating system installed.

From April 1, the regulations - Part L - affect existing homes as well as new properties. This includes complete new systems, as well as changing a boiler, the hot water storage system and the controls.

For anyone having work done on their domestic heating and hot water system after April 1 this year, there are a number of things of which they should be aware:

* The homeowner or landlord is responsible for ensuring that any work undertaken complies with the new regulations.

* If you are having a new domestic heating boiler installed, it must comply with Building Regulations Part L, which grades boilers on a performance efficiency scaled called SEDBUK. Your installer should be aware of this and be able to recommend the right boiler that will comply with the regulations.

If you are having a new boiler, a new central heating system or a new hot water storage system installed, it has to be installed and commissioned by what the regulations terms a “competent person.”

* In addition, when a new boiler or hot water storage system is installed, the person installing it must either have the installation approved by the local building control body or leave you with a fully completed “commissioning certificate.”

For gas boilers, this must be a CORGI registered installer.

For further information, visit the Central Heating Information Council’s website, www.centralheating.co.uk.