SEDBUK Energy Efficiency Ratings

There must be an agency for Government names as the ever increasing range of titles seem at times to defy description. One of the more recent which applies to the boiler industry is the SEDBUK rating system. The SEDBUK rating was developed by the UK Government from the energy efficiency and best practice programme. It was carried out with advice from all quarters and the boiler industry contributed fully to the final system. It is meant to provide a comparison between different models of boilers and by definition different manufacurers. The Government's aim was to highlight the inefficient boilers and make sure that the boiler manufacturers progressed to the highest level of efficiency.

SEDBUK stands for the "Seasonal Efficiency of a Domestic Boiler in the UK" and has very quickly become the standard which is quoted throughout the industry. The ratings start as follows:

Band A 90% and above 
Band B 86% to 90% 
Band C 82% to 86% 
Band D 78% to 82% 
Band E 74% to 78% 
Band F 70% to 74% 
Band G 70% and below

It is obvious that the industry cannot afford to sell boilers at the lower level and the development of greater efficient boilers has become a major priority. The best boilers both from the light commercial boilers to the domestic condensing central heating boilers are now achieving the Band A levels of efficiency.

The SEDBUK rating has changed its calculation parameters at various times but is now firmly established on set parameters. The basic work was to get a fair system that took account of the variations that naturally occur in the boiler operating systems. SEDBUK is the average annual efficiency achieved in typical domestic situations and takes into account sensible assumptions about climate, control, pattern of usage and other influences. It is calculated from laboratory tests together with other important items such as boiler type, ignition arrangement, internal store size, fuel used and knowledge of the UK climate and typical domestic usage patterns.

Estimating fuel costs is better using the SEDBUK standard than standard laboratory tests alone. It can be applied to most gas and oil domestic boilers for which data is available from tests carried out to the relevant European standards. The rating system applies to all condensing boiler systems and this is now the bulk of all boiler systems as since the 1st April 2005 all replacement boilers must be of the condensing boiler system with very few exceptions.

Providing quality, reliable and highly efficient commercial and domestic boilers for over 45 years. Alpha boilers are SEDBUK Band 'A' rated - the highest possible energy efficiency rating. Our highest efficiency boiler of all, the SolarSmart range, provides hot water to your home through solar power alone, removing the reliance on gas power. Save money and the environment with a high efficiency boiler from Alpha Innovation.

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