Solid Fuel Association

Guide to Central
Heating
Link-Up

Combining solid fuel with other central heating technologies using

various methods ranging from a simple link-up to a fully integrated
thermal store system

www.solidfuel.co.uk
 Benefits of link-up - Flexible heating
Introduction The real advantage of link-up is its flexibility.
The consumer can enjoy the cosy comfort of a
Modern integrated or linked-up systems allow
solid fuel fire or stove and at the same time,
customers to utilise a solid fuel boiler
derive a wider heating contribution from it.
alongside other heating technologies such as
When the fire is not lit, the primary central
gas, oil, heat pumps or solar thus providing
heating operates as normal.
maximum flexibility.
Interlinking appliances can be achieved in a
Note: The information in this booklet
number of different ways and the method
specifically applies to open vented systems.
chosen will depend on the existing system if
With a very few exceptions, it is not
applicable and the output of the appliances
recommended that solid fuel appliances be
being linked.
connected to a sealed system so it is very
Whichever method is chosen, it is essential to
difficult to link up with a combination boiler
ensure that in every case, the solid fuel
or other sealed system boiler.
appliance has an unrestricted open vent and
separate cold feed. To further increase safety
Building Regulations
and reduce the possibility of boiling in the
The installation of any heating appliance in
event of a power or pump failure, any
the UK is subject to Building Regulations.
motorised valves fitted to the solid fuel circuit
There are separate regulations for Scotland,
should be of the normally open, powered
Northern Ireland and England & Wales. All
closed type.
place constraints on the type of appliance
which can be installed particularly in relation
It is possible to design a custom link-up
to minimum efficiencies.
system to suit almost any combination of
In designing a link-up system, full regard
technologies but the design must take into
needs to be given to the Building Regulations
account the specific requirements and
as they cover all aspects of the installation
hydraulic characteristics of the different
including electrical work.
appliances and the type of system controls
that are to be employed.
 Where a glass lined or similarly rust-proofed
Section 1 - Simple Link-up boiler is fitted to an open fire or stove, the
boiler can be connected directly to the
How a Simple link-up works domestic hot water cylinder. This type of
system was originally used years ago for the
General Features of a simple link-up system:- production of hot water from open fires but is
still valid today.
• In its simplest form, an open fire, room It can be seen from fig.1 that the solid fuel
heater or stove fitted with a back-boiler can appliance uses the domestic hot water feed
be linked to an existing or new central heating and vent and heats the water in the cylinder
system. directly by passing it through the boiler.
• The existing or primary boiler continues to
service the system as and when required. Simple indirect link-up
• The hot water and radiators can be supplied In this instance, a standard boiler is used and
by either or both appliances depending on the the water in the cylinder is heated indirectly
heat required. via a coil. It requires the fitting of an
• Link-up can apply to either hot water only or additional cold feed and expansion tank to
both hot water and radiators. service the new system and allows the use of
• Solar panels can be integrated to maximise a standard boiler. In the strictest sense of the
efficiency by providing ‘free’ hot water from word, this is not a link-up as the two
the sun when it is available. appliances have a separate system and heat
the same cylinder via separate coils
Link-up can be very simple and inexpensive if In a house fitted with solar panels, the heat
only a limited additional benefit is required. In generated can be used to indirectly supply a
many cases a simple link-up is most cost twin coil hot water cylinder. In this way, hot
effective when an open fire or stove is added water can be obtained all year round using
to an existing central heating system. By using the power of the sun backed up by your solid
a boiler flue-set with domestic hot water fuel boiler during the cooler months.
back-boiler or a boiler stove, it is possible to
improve the efficiency of a fireplace and Simple link-up will only provide hot water and
generate additional hot water. will not assist with heating the radiators.
Simple direct link-up

Fig.1 Simple direct link-up Fig.2 Simple indirect link-up

Section 2 - Full Link-Up
A fully linked up or integrated system enables Neutral point vessel link-up- neutraliser,
more than one appliance to contribute to the centraliser
central heating system as well as the domestic The use of a neutral point manifold or vessel
hot water. offers a neat solution to the problems of
In the past there have been problems linking appliances. This fixes the neutral point
associated with linking two dissimilar heating location within the system. The cold feed and
appliances into the same heating system, open vent are both connected to the system
especially when the appliances are located at the neutralising chamber.
remotely from each other.
These problems have included loss of heat Benefits of a neutral point vessel
through the unlit appliance, loss of stored hot Because both appliances are only connected
water when the heating is on, inefficient use through the vessel which has a comparatively
of the heat generated when both appliances large volume, pumped and gravity circuits are
are in operation and excessive heat produced hydraulically de-coupled so will not affect
when both appliances are operating. each other.
In other words, the pumped circuit from a gas
There are now specialised products on the or oil boiler will not induce or hinder the flow
market which enable link-up to be carried out through a solid fuel boiler via its gravity
successfully between any two appliances and circuit. A system incorporating a neutralising
can give different levels of control and vessel can connect several different
automation to meet the customer’s appliances together without them interfering
requirements. with each other hydraulically.
Electronically controlled link-up Location
Heating Innovations Ltd have produced a • In converting an existing system to
control system called H2 which operates in accommodate a neutral point vessel, most of
conjunction with any solid fuel appliance the work takes place in the airing cupboard
with a boiler together with an existing open thus avoiding general disruption within the
vented automatic central heating system. home.
This system can also be incorporated as part • Where the solid fuel appliances are on the
of a new system to enable Link-Up to take same floor level as the vessel, elevation of the
place. Installation of the H2 unit has been vessel and hot water cylinder is
made as straightforward as possible by recommended. This elevation is to achieve
having the electrics pre-wired leaving only gravity circulation and efficient venting of the
external connections to be made. system.
More details at www.h2panel.co.uk

Fig.4 Dunsley Neutralizer

Fig.3 H2 Panel
www.dunsleyheat.co.uk

Fig.5 Dunsley Neutralizer Typical Layout - more details at www. dunsleyheat.co.uk

Fig.6 Esse Centraliser Typical Pipework Layout - more details at www.esse.com

Section 3 – Thermal Store Link-Up
The thermal store system takes the principle Direct connection means that the store holds
of the neutralising vessel one step further by primary water. In other words it is the same
providing considerable heat storage as well as water that is circulating around the stove or
neutralisation of water circulation. the gas boiler. The thermal store acts as the
neutral point of the system and also stores
A thermal store is a large tank (typically 200- some or all of the heat produced for later use.
300 litres) very much like a hot water cylinder Domestic hot water can be supplied at mains
but instead of containing domestic hot water, pressure via a secondary coil inside the store
it is filled with primary or system water. Both or through a separate plate heat exchanger.
the appliances and heating circuits are Many different sources of heat can be
connected directly rather than via a coil. integrated into the same system.

Fig.7 Typical thermal store system

Solar Panel
Alternative
method of
Solar heating can
providing mains
either be a fully
pressure hot
filled pressurised
water using a
system or drain
plate heat
back system as
exchanger piped
shown.
directly into the
thermal store.
Note:- The same
arrangement
would allow
Heat Leak Radiator connection to a
sealed radiator
system or
underfloor
heating system.

Mains cold water

Solar Coil Room

thermostat

Thermal Store
Pump with bypass

Radiator Circuit or
underfloor system
Solid Fuel Appliance
Pipework Design will work more efficiently and cleanly when
The output from a solid fuel stove can be burning at a higher rate. Stored heat can be
turned down but not turned off. Therefore, immediately accessed without having to wait
there are two essential rules to be observed for the appliance to heat up to working
when designing the system. temperature. A buffer will help to maintain a
1. The system must have an unrestricted open more consistent output from sources that
vent to atmosphere. may work slightly intermittently such as solar
2. There must be scope for the dissipation of or heat pumps.
heat from the appliance in the event of a An accumulator takes this a step further by
pump or power failure. A heat leak radiator storing all the heat produced by an appliance
should be provided sized to the turn- down during an extended period working at full
output of the appliance (usually 25% of rate. This heat is then gradually used up over
maximum output). the course of the day. This is an ideal way to
The stove primary pipework should always be use the heat from batch log burning
designed so that in the event of a pump appliances etc. Because accumulators store
failure, heat can circulate by gravity more heat they are usually bigger than buffer
(thermosiphon) to the store or to the heat tanks.
leak radiator.
Where the primaries are pumped, a bypass Benefits of using a thermal store
should be fitted to the pump to facilitate an The water in a thermal store is usually stored
unrestricted cold feed to the appliance at around 80⁰C.
(10mm diameter). This water is then circulated to the heat
emitters via thermostatic mixing valves. For a
Important note: A stove should never be radiator circuit, the water would typically be
connected to an unvented cylinder unless two mixed down to 60⁰C whilst for underfloor
tiers of safety can be provided in accordance systems, this could be as low as 35⁰C.
with Part G of the Building Regulations. By storing water at a higher temperature, the
Guidance should be sought from the charge of heat lasts longer.
manufacturer of the system.
Additional overheat protection for thermal
Accumulators and buffer tanks stores
Accumulators and buffer tanks are both A secondary coil connected to the cold water
thermal stores, the difference between the main and controlled by an overheat valve can
two is the way they are used. be fitted as shown overleaf. In the event of
A buffer store retains heat for later use. The an overheat situation, the store can be cooled
buffer can supplement the output of the down by the coil and the heated water goes
appliance when demand is high and store to domestic waste via a tundish.
heat when demand is less. This can be
particularly useful in the case of a stove which
 Fig.8 Additional overheat
protection

To drain via tundish

Cold in
coil

Valve opens at 95⁰C

Additional notes:-
To ensure a satisfactory link-up the following factors must be taken into account.

1. The priority of any design must be safety. There must be no possible danger to persons or
property arising from the way a householder may use the system, even if this is unorthodox,
unreasonable or ill advised.
2. Ensure separate and suitable flues exist for each appliance in use.
3. All components of the linked system must conform to all relevant Water Bye-Laws, Building
Regulations, British/ European Standards and Approved Codes of Practice.
4. Since much of the pipework of an existing system will be concealed, it must all be located and
correctly identified by whoever carries out the installation.
5. Any solid fuel appliance must always have a separate cold feed and vent which must be
permanently open and unobstructed at all times without valves. Many modern gas and oil
boilers operate with sealed and pressurised systems which are not suitable for linking to an open
vented system.
6. The float valve in the feed and expansion cistern and the overflow pipes must be made of copper.

The Solid Fuel Association is the UK’s foremost authority on

all aspects of domestic solid fuel heating. We are happy to
offer expert guidance to both professionals and consumers
alike.

To find out more about solid fuel, visit our website at

www.solidfuel.co.uk
Or call us on 01773 835400

Solid Fuel Association, 95 High Street, Clay Cross, Chesterfield S45 9DZ
Tel: 01773 835400 Website: solidfuel.co.uk Email: [email protected]