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Heating

A person pulls on warm gloves in the snow

Mindful of the climate emergency, the Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2022 were issued, to encourage parishes to transition from fossil fuels. The legislation now requires that proposals to which net zero guidance applies, including new heating installations and boiler replacements, must be accompanied by an explanation within the faculty petition to the Chancellor stating how the applicants have had due regard to the net zero guidance in formulating the proposal. This remains the case whether the work is planned or brought about by failure of the existing installation. This is both national legislation; and national guidance.

Information and guidance on achieving these goals can be found on the following pages:-

Works of maintenance, repair and adaptation (not amounting to substantial addition or replacement) to existing heating systems and/or gas services, to include the replacement of control equipment and the insulation of pipes in the boiler room and ancillary service areas

Provided the following conditions can be met this work falls within List A1(6)(a) meaning that no further permission is required from the DAC. Please log the work on the online faculty system.

  • The works do not involve making additions to an electrical installation;
  • Any work to a gas fitting is carried out by a person who is registered on the Gas Safe Register (or is a member of another class of persons approved by the Health and Safety Executive for the purposes of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998);
  • Any work to an oil-fired heating system or to an electrical installation or electrical equipment is carried out by a person whose work is subject to an accredited certification scheme (as defined in rule 3.1(6));
  • In the case of adaptation, the parochial church council’s insurers are notified of the proposals.
The replacement of a boiler in the same location and utilising an existing non-fossil fuel supply and existing pipe runs, whether with existing or similar pipe runs

Provided the following conditions can be met this work falls within List A1(7)(a) meaning that no further permission is required from the DAC.  Please log the work on the online faculty system.

  • The works do not involve the creation of a new external flue;
  • The parochial church council’s insurers are notified of the proposals.
The replacement of a flue liner
Provided the following conditions can be met this work falls within List A1(7)(b) meaning that no further permission is required from the DAC.  Please log the work on the online faculty system.
  • The works do not involve the creation of a new external flue;
  • The parochial church council’s insurers are notified of the proposals.
The replacement of a boiler, whether in the same or substantially the same location and utilising, whether with existing or similar pipe runs either (a) a non-fossil fuel supply in place of a fossil fuel supply or (b) a different non-fossil fuel supply
Provided the below conditions can be met this work falls within List B1(5) permission. Please apply using the online faculty system where you will find instructions highlighted in orange at the top of the page.
  • Any work to a gas fitting is carried out by a person who is registered on the Gas Safe Register (or is a member of another class of persons approved by the Health and Safety Executive for the purposes of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998);
  • Any work to an oil-fired heating system or to an electrical installation or electrical equipment is carried out by a person whose work is subject to an accredited certification scheme (as defined in rule 3.1(6));
  • The parochial church council’s insurers are notified of the proposals.

Within the application you will need to provide product information, photos of the location and context, a quotation and description of the proposed work.

The introduction of an electrical heating appliance not forming part of a heating system
Provided that the below condition can be met this work falls within List B4(10) permission. Please apply using the online faculty system following the instructions highlighted in orange at the top of the page.
  • Any work to an electrical installation or electrical equipment is carried out by a person whose work is subject to an accredited certification scheme (as defined in rule 3.1(6)).

Within the application you will need to provide product information, photos of the location and context, quote, description of work and details of any cable runs with fixing methods and locations.

The installation of an electrical heating system for the attachment to pews made in or after 1850 and which are not of historic interest
Provided that the below conditions can be met this work falls within List B4(10A) permission. Please apply using the online faculty system where you will find instructions highlighted in orange at the top of the page.
  • Any work to an electrical installation or electrical equipment is carried out by a person whose work is subject to an accredited certification scheme (as defined in rule 3.1(6));
  • No article of historic or artistic interest is removed or disposed of.

Within the application you will need to provide, product information, photos of the locations and context, a quotation, description of the proposed work, details of any cable runs including fixing methods and locations and evidence of the date and significance of the pews.

The replacement or installation of a heating system

The first step will be to apply for an energy audit via the diocesan scheme. In most cases this will involve an assessor from a company named Inspired Efficiency visiting the church to advise the parish on the various steps it can take to reduce its carbon footprint. The audit will include an assessment of your present heating system, and the options available to the church for replacing it, taking into consideration the technology available, the use pattern and construction of the specific building. 

Once the audit has been done, it is best to appoint a heating design engineer to design a heating system for you (having made sure to share and discuss the energy audit report with them). This can then be used to obtain comparable quotes for the works. The CIBSE Register may be helpful for you in appointing an appropriate engineer.

Once the energy audit and proposals from the building services engineer are available, the church buildings team will be able to review and provide initial advice. A copy of the energy audit is provided to the Church Buildings team when it is issued to the parish.

The Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2022, which came into effect on 1st July 2022, require that proposals to which net zero guidance applies, must be accompanied by an explanation within the faculty petition to the Chancellor stating how the applicants have had due regard to the net zero guidance in formulating the proposal. The proposals to which this net zero guidance applies are: Heating system replacements, the introduction of solar panels, electric vehicle charging point installations, and changes to lighting and floodlighting provisions. The guidance documents to which regard must be had are available on the ChurchCare website. All proposals must give due regard to the Practical Path to Net Zero Church. Therefore, for applications whereby a fossil fuel-based system is being proposed, in addition to the proposals from the building services engineer your faculty application will need to include:

  • A completed checklist of the Practical Pathway to Net Zero including any further summary of the parish’s proposed actions towards Net Zero;
  • A copy of the expression of interest/enquiry form to the diocesan energy audit scheme which provides some important basic information about the size and use pattern of the church;
  • A copy of an energy audit produced by Inspired Efficiency under the diocesan scheme, or another company or advice from the Diocesan Environmental Programme Team if they do not feel an energy audit is required in this case;
  • A completed heating checklist;
  • A heating options appraisal which demonstrates that all options have been considered, including the technological and financial viability of each option. The Church of England guidance is available here, explaining how to produce this, or it can be carried out by a professional such as a Building Services Engineer, or in some cases the energy audit may fulfil this requirement. 

You will need to apply for the faculty permission using the online faculty system following the instructions highlighted in yellow. Together with the documents already mentioned (if applicable) you will need to provide the following:

  • Details of the existing boiler including fuel type, age, filter type, output in KWh, location in the church, and flue arrangement as well as a report from a boiler engineer on the condition, and viability of repair. Photos are also very helpful;
  • Information about the existing heating system. What is the existing heat distribution system? For example, radiators – how many are there? How effective are they?
  • The usage pattern of the building, who is it used by, for what, and how often, and for what kind of services. How many hours per day and days per week do you run the heating? 
  • Photos of the church interior are very helpful for us to understand your building as well as possible. Details as to whether the church has pews, and if so whether they are moveable or not are also very helpful;
  • Information on any significant historic building fabric which may be sensitive to temperature and moisture level changes - eg wall paintings.


Guidance from the environment team

As advised by Matt Fulford/Inspired Efficiency

Page last updated: Monday 25th March 2024 3:02 PM
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