Spanish Buildings Need To Modernise Their Heating Equipment
Spain now has nine million installations, of which 6.5 million are old and inefficient, so replacing them with more modern technologies should be a priority. Installers play a decisive role in advising users about the solutions that best suit their needs.
Updating existing heating equipment is a priority: This was made clear at the panel discussion on “Efficiency and Safety in Thermal Installations” during a recent conference organised by FEGECA in partnership with the Madrid Region Energy Foundation.
The leading heating sector associations were present, represented by FEGECA chairman, Francisco Alonso, chairman of CONAIF, and Marta Margarit, General Secretary of Sedigas, together with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism’s representative Timoteo de la Fuente, Technical Advisor of the General Subdirectorate for Industrial Quality and Safety. Iván Vaquero, Head of the Technical Unit of the Energy Foundation, moderated the debate on the efficiency and safety of thermal installations.
Condensing Boiler
In their conclusions, panel members also pointed out that, although it depends on the type of existing installation, generally, the most recommendable option for efficiency is the condensing boiler. It offers higher performance and low emissions while being optimum for air quality.
The government provides several tools to help improve the energy efficiency of heating systems, such as regulation and financing, and sets an example as an efficient consumer.
The industry is firmly committed to improving the efficiency of existing installations and regrets that current government policy only provides for renewable energy installations when, in reality, these are not technically feasible for most buildings in Spain.
Safety of Installations
Industry representatives conveyed a message of reassurance, stressing that equipment is safe because it can only be marketed if it complies with a series of technical operating and safety requirements defined in European directives and regulations.
They also stressed the importance of making users aware of the mandatory periodic inspections for equipment up to 70 kW every two years and installation inspections every five years.
To improve equipment safety, it is essential only to install recognised brands, and heating boilers should match the maximum power of the heating installation and operate to suit the installed radiators. They should have room thermostats and timers, with regulation and control equipment. Above all, it is essential to get advice and have the equipment maintained by qualified professionals trained in home heating equipment.
For its part, the government has set out two main lines of action for safety: one for equipment and the other for installations. Through regulation and standardisation of equipment, inspections, certification and market monitoring, these actions ensure that the equipment installed meets the required safety levels. In this regard, both European and Spanish regulations have kept up with technological changes and have evolved in line with the state of the art.