Guide to Conversion of Traditional Buildings

6.10 Metering

Mandatory Standard

Standard 6.10

Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that each building of part of a building designed for different occupation is fitted with

fuel and power meters.

Limitation:

This standard does not apply to:

a) domestic buildings

b) district or block heating systems where each part of the building designed for different occupation is fitted with heat meters, or

c) heating fired by solid fuel or biomass.

6.10.1 Application of standard to conversions

In the case of conversions, as specified in regulation 4, the building as converted shall meet the requirement of this standard (regulation 12, schedule 6).

This standard does not apply to domestic buildings and applies only to non-domestic buildings where parts are designed for separate occupations and require individual metering.

6.10.2 Commentary

The standard does not apply to domestic buildings because fuel providers (e.g. gas companies) provide meters to dwellings already.

In non-domestic building, meters are required to enable building operators to measure and manage energy use effectively. Meters should be located where they can be easily accessed, and separate meters should be included where two or more units are created by conversion, or where a new fuel type or heat source is installed.

Clause 6.10.2 of the Technical Handbook notes that sub-metering should be provided to allow monitoring of fuel and power consumption to the various end uses.

It is unlikely that meeting this standard should cause issues, but in some cases, meters may have been inappropriately located (e.g. prominently by a main entrance). The proliferation of additional meters for a conversion would require careful consideration and potential liaison with suppliers to agree to a suitable location or screening design.