What level of insulation do similarly efficient heating systems require to meet the thermal comfort criterion?
A. If the system is similarly efficient to gas/oil programmable heating then it needs to be accompanied by at least 50mm of loft insulation, (if there is a loft space) or cavity wall insulation (if there are cavity walls) to meet the thermal comfort criterion (although, as mentioned above, where insulation is being fitted in order to bring a home up to the decent standard, landlords should use the opportunity to improve the energy efficiency by installing insulation of a greater depth). If the system is similarly efficient to electric storage heaters/programmable solid fuel/LPG central heating, it needs to be accompanied by 200mm of loft insulation (if there is loft space) and cavity wall insulation (if there are cavity walls) to meet the thermal comfort criterion. Q Will ‘solid fuel’ heating systems automatically fail the decency standard? A. No. Solid fuel programmable central heating systems generally have a similar energy efficiency to electric storage heaters, so as long as they a
