HEAT NETWORKS | POLICY power to designate where zones are, and which buildings must connect. The consultation is the governments first in a project that is intended to take place over several years. It is seeking views on a number of issues, including: The methodology used for identifying and designating heat network zones Roles and responsibilities of different parties involved in the zoning process The requirement of certain buildings within zones to connect to a heat network, with an exemption process to avoid sub-optimal outcomes Requirements on certain parties to provide information to support identification and designation of zones Whether zones should meet a low carbon requirement Enforcement, monitoring and reporting regimes. Customers for heat will be protected with the introduction of a separate regulatory framework for the sector. Ofgem has been appointed as the heat network regulator, with responsibility to enforce sector-specific protections on pricing and quality of service once legislation is in place. Heat networks currently provide about 2% of UK heat demand. The impact assessment accompanying this consultation estimates that the zoning proposals will enable an additional 31TWh of heat to be Figure 2: Heat-network map undertaken on behalf of Bristol City Council deployed in the period to 2050, which is about 7% of UK heat demand. Jones says the heat-zoning document will drive use of CIBSE publication CP1, which sets out minimum standards for networks, as well as checklists for compliance. To accompany CP1, CIBSE has published Design guide: Heat networks. Authored by Chris Parsloe, this document is written for those with previous experience of closed, recirculating commercial heating and chilled-water systems. The guide focuses on hydronic issues: how to control flows and temperatures around the network to get the best carbon savings from central heat sources. Both CP1 and the heat networks design guide reference a third document more recently published by CIBSE (August 2021), Guidance IMAX XTRA 2 The UKs experts in commercial heating EXPERTS Total plant room solutions by Ideal Heating and ACV UK idealheating.com welcome to our ideology 40 November 2021 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Nov21 pp39-41 Heat networks guidance.indd 40 22/10/2021 16:25