Regulation on Indoor Heating and Air-conditioning Systems (RITE)

The Regulation on Indoor Heating and Air-conditioning Systems (RITE), promulgated by the Royal Decree 1027/2007 of 20 July 2007, came into force on 29 February 2008 after revision. The Regulation forms the basic legislative framework laying down the energy efficiency and safety requirements to be met by heating and cooling systems in buildings, with a view to meeting comfort and hygiene demands, during their design and sizing, construction, maintenance and use. It also specifies compliance procedures. 

The approval of this Regulation implies an advance in the transposing of the Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings, setting minimum energy efficiency requirements to be met by thermal systems in new and existing buildings and a procedure for periodic inspections of boilers and air conditioning systems. The more stringent energy efficiency requirements laid down in RITE 2007 include:
- Improved energy performance of heating and cooling equipment, and of equipment designed to transport fluids. 
- Improved insulation of heat transport equipment, pipes and fluids. 
- Better regulation and control to maintain the design conditions envisaged in air-conditioned premises. 
- Use of available renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy and biomass. 
- Incorporation of subsystems for heat recovery and utilisation of residual energy. 
- Mandatory metering systems for consumption for collective systems. 
- Gradual elimination of more polluting solid fuels. 
- Gradual elimination of less efficient generating equipment.   

The need to transpose Directive 2010/31/EU, amending the Directive 2002/91/EC, and the demand laid down in Royal Decree 1027/2007 of 20 July approving the Regulation on Building Heating Installations, on undertaking a periodical revision of energy efficiency requirements at intervals no longer than five years made it necessary to modify the RITE through the Royal Decree 238/2013, of 5 April.

 

UPDATE 2021: The RITE update will contribute to achieving the goal of improving energy efficiency by reducing primary energy consumption by 39.5% by 2030. The new standard requires that buildings with high consumption take the first step to become smart buildings that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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