Operating and maintenance instructions
9.1 For a new dwelling and for work to an existing dwelling, operating and maintenance instructions should be given to the owners of the dwelling for any fixed building services and on-site electricity generation installed as part of the work.
The instructions should contain sufficient information to help the occupiers achieve the expected level of energy efficiency and to verify that any fixed building services and on-site electricity generation comply with the energy performance requirements of the Building Regulations. The documentation should be all of the following.
a. Easy to understand.
b. Specific to the dwelling.
c. Durable.
d. In an accessible format.
9.2 For a new dwelling and for work to an existing dwelling, the operating and maintenance instructions should do all of the following.
a. Explain the following for the fixed building services and on-site electricity generation and any other technologies.
i. What they are.
ii. What they are for.
iii. Where they are located, using a floor plan.
iv. How to operate them, including the location and operation of timers and sensors.
v. How to maintain them.
b. Signpost other important documentation, such as appliance manuals.
c. Include a completed commissioning sheet, where relevant.
Additional information for new dwellings
9.3 For new dwellings, a signed copy of the Building Regulations England Part L compliance report (BREL report) and photographic evidence of the build quality should be provided to the homeowner.
9.4 For new dwellings, the operating and maintenance instructions should signpost both of the following.
a. The as-built BREL report, which includes data used to calculate dwelling primary energy rate, dwelling emission rate and dwelling fabric energy efficiency rate.
b. The recommendations report generated with the ‘on-construction’ energy performance certificate.
9.5 For new dwellings, the operating and maintenance instructions should include a Home User Guide. The Home User Guide should contain non-technical advice on how to operate and maintain the dwelling in a healthy and energy efficient manner. The guide should contain advice on the following.
a. Ventilation.
b. Heating and domestic hot water.
c. On-site electricity generation (if applicable).
d. Staying cool in hot weather.
A template for a Home User Guide can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-user-guide-template.
There is no requirement to follow the layout, format or example text used in the template.
Additional information for work in existing buildings
9.6 For existing dwellings, when any building work is carried out for which Section 5 and/or Section 6 of this approved document sets a standard, the energy performance of the fixed building services and/or on-site electricity generation affected by the work should be assessed and documented.
9.7 For existing dwellings, when installing a complete new or replacement system (e.g. replacing a heating system including the heating appliance, pipework and heat emitters), the energy performance of the whole system should be assessed. The results should be recorded and given to the building owner with the manufacturer’s supporting literature. The record of energy performance results may be in any of the following forms.
a. Full records of commissioning the system in accordance with Section 8.
b. A documented assessment using the Standard Assessment Procedure, such as a new energy performance certificate.
c. Another equivalent assessment carried out by a suitably qualified person.
9.8 For existing dwellings, when carrying out work on an existing system, such as installing or replacing components (e.g. replacing a boiler but retaining the pipework and heat emitters), the energy performance of the new components should be assessed. The results should be recorded and given to the building owner. The record of energy performance results may be in either of the following forms.
a. Product data sheets from the product manufacturer.
b. Other documented results of energy assessment of the product carried out in accordance with relevant test standards.
9.9 For existing dwellings, if work on an existing system alters the energy performance or CO2 emissions performance of the system, then the complete altered system should be assessed and the guidance for new or replacement systems in paragraph 9.7 should be followed. Such work could include the following.
a. A change in heating fuel for a space heating or domestic hot water system.
b. Extending or expanding the capacity of a space heating, comfort cooling or ventilation system by over 25% of its previous capacity.
