The Government has approved the update of the Regulation on Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE), a regulation that sets the energy efficiency and hygiene requirements to be met by thermal installations in buildings, as well as indoor air quality.

This amendment to the Royal Decree will help to achieve the 2030 green transition targets, specifically the target of improving energy efficiency by reducing primary and final energy consumption by 36,809.3 tonnes of oil equivalent.

Although the standard will continue to include the requirements to be met by thermal installations under the principle of technological neutrality, without forcing the use of a particular technique or material, or preventing the introduction of new technologies and concepts in terms of design, it will be essential to justify from now on the installation of conventional thermal systems instead of other more efficient and sustainable systems such as heat pumps.

Additions to the standard RITE

In this sense, the RITE partially incorporates European Directives 2018/844 and 2018/2002 and introduces several modifications to the regulations for the installation of thermal systems, which must include forms that allow energy recovery and the use of renewable and residual energies. In short, the aim is to standardise energy efficiency.

The regulations now include the incorporation of renewable energies in buildings that are to be refurbished, so that fossil equipment is replaced in the areas to be refurbished, as well as for technical installations when they are installed, replaced or improved.

The RITE update obliges buildings for administrative or commercial use of more than 1,000 square metres to inform customers or users about the energy consumption of the buildings as well as its origin, encouraging users and owners to opt for more efficient solutions.

At the same time, the new regulation introduces digitalisation in hotels, shopping centres and office buildings whose air conditioning consumption exceeds 290 kW and requires these buildings to take the first step towards becoming smart buildings that contribute to reducing consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Related news:

• Adapt the ventilation of yout business to the pandemic