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PD CEN/TR 12098 — Controls for Heating Systems Technical Report Series (Parts 6-8: Accompanying TRs for prEN 12098-1/-3/-5, Modules M3-5,6,7,8)
Controls for Heating Systems — Accompanying Technical Reports, Modules M3-5,6,7,8 (2016 Edition)
🌡️ PD CEN/TR 12098 (corresponding to the CEN/TR 12098 series) is the UK implementation of the technical report series on controls for heating systems, prepared by CEN/TC 247 (Building controls) and adopted in the UK by BSI Technical Committee RHE/16 (Performance requirements for control systems). Parts 6, 7, and 8 are accompanying technical reports to prEN 12098-1:2015, prEN 12098-3:2015, and prEN 12098-5:2015 respectively, giving interpretations, background, and design rules around modules M3-5,6,7,8 (heating control-related modules) in the EN ISO 52000 building energy performance modular framework. Together they provide valuable supporting guidance for the design, commissioning, and energy assessment of heating control systems.
💡 In the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the EN ISO 52000 series modular framework, the M3 modules relate to the heating subsystem, while the sub-modules M3-5,6,7,8 correspond to different aspects of heating control. The CEN/TR 12098 accompanying reports link these module requirements to specific control standard clauses, helping designers understand “the impact of control zoning on energy saving and thermal comfort”.
1. Series Structure and Publication Background 📌
| Part | Corresponding CEN/TR | Accompanying Standard | Modules Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD CEN/TR 12098-6:2016 | CEN/TR 12098-6:2016 | prEN 12098-1:2015 | M3-5,6,7,8 |
| PD CEN/TR 12098-7:2016 | CEN/TR 12098-7:2016 | prEN 12098-3:2015 | M3-5,6,7,8 |
| PD CEN/TR 12098-8:2016 | CEN/TR 12098-8:2016 | prEN 12098-5:2015 | M3-5,6,7,8 |
All three reports were approved by CEN on 11 April 2016 and published in August 2016, prepared by CEN/TC 247 with the UK participating through RHE/16. They were published as British Standards Institution documents by BSI Standards Limited in 2016, each carrying its own ISBN (e.g. 978 0 580 92590 0, 978 0 580 92595 5, and 978 0 580 92593 1) and the ICS classification 91.140.10 (central heating systems) and 97.120 (building automation control devices). These are guiding technical documents that provide explanatory content for the accompanying prEN standards rather than standalone normative specifications — an important point to keep in mind when applying them.
2. Accompanying Report for prEN 12098-1 (Part 6) 🎛️
Part 6 accompanies prEN 12098-1:2015, addressing the main design rules of heating control systems. The body of the report first sets out the general design rules for controlling heating systems, then gives the method and basic principles for partitioning control heating zones within buildings. Its core content includes:
- The overall framework and scope of design for controlled heating systems;
- The method for dividing heating control zones by function, orientation, and load characteristics;
- The control strategies, control parameters, and the basis for selecting them that correspond to modules M3-5,6,7,8;
- Requirements for controller installation, selection, and interfacing with other systems.
Through these design rules, designers can translate the abstract requirements of the modular framework into an executable control system scheme, providing a sound foundation for subsequent commissioning and acceptance testing.
3. Accompanying Report for prEN 12098-3 (Part 7) 📅
Part 7 accompanies prEN 12098-3:2015, serving demand-oriented and behaviour-related heating control applications. The report likewise sets out the general design rules for heating control systems and the partitioning of heating control zones in buildings, and adds background and implementation advice related to demand control. The core idea of demand-oriented control is “supply heat on demand”: the heating output is adjusted in real time according to actual usage needs, indoor temperature feedback, and occupant behaviour, avoiding unnecessary overheating and waste. The report explains, through text and examples, how to map demand signals into the controller’s setpoints and actuation logic, thereby improving the economics of system operation while maintaining thermal comfort.
4. Accompanying Report for prEN 12098-5 (Part 8) ⏱️
Part 8 accompanies prEN 12098-5:2015 (relating to start-stop scheduling and related topics), focusing on start-stop scheduling of heating systems, the partitioning of heating control zones, and the scheduling and operating strategies corresponding to modules M3-5,6,7,8. Start-stop scheduling is an important means of energy-efficient heating operation:
- Pre-heating optimisation: based on the building’s thermal mass and pre-heat curve, calculate the optimal start time precisely to avoid the waste of starting too early;
- Set-back during idle periods: lower the indoor setpoint at night, weekends, and periods without occupancy to reduce base heat loss;
- Holiday scheduling: include statutory holidays and special calendars in the schedule for flexible, on-demand operation;
- Zone-by-zone time control: schedule each zone independently according to its own usage timetable for an overall optimum in energy consumption.
⚠️ The reports are accompanying technical documents, not standalone specifications. When designing and declaring conformity, refer to the corresponding prEN/EN standard clauses; the technical reports are used only to understand background, parameter selection, and practical application. Always verify that the referenced report version matches the accompanying standard version.
5. The M3 Modular Framework and Its Energy Significance 💡
In the EN ISO 52000 series modular framework, building energy performance is decomposed into several modules: M1 describes the building envelope, M2 describes ventilation and air conditioning, and M3 describes the heating subsystem. Sub-modules such as M3-5, M3-6, M3-7, and M3-8 correspond to various aspects of heating control, including zoning control, behaviour and demand control, and scheduling control. The value of the CEN/TR 12098 series lies in translating the abstract boundary conditions of these modules into content that control engineers can use directly — for example, when a module requires “adjusting heating output according to occupancy”, the report explains how to realise this in a real system through sensors, time schedules, and controller logic. For projects carrying out building energy calculation, energy certification (such as EU energy certificates), and retrofits, correctly mapping these modules is the first step in compliance assessment and the key to unlocking the potential of “control-driven” energy savings.
6. Engineering Practice Essentials 🛠️
- 🔍 Module mapping: in building energy calculations and compliance assessment, map modules M3-5,6,7,8 one by one to specific controller functions, input/output points, and control parameters, forming a traceable correspondence table.
- 🔧 Zoning: partition heating control zones by orientation, occupancy time, and load characteristics, avoiding the waste caused by “one-size-fits-all” temperature control.
- 📊 Start-stop scheduling: use pre-heating optimisation and set-back during night and idle periods, balancing comfort and energy saving, and include holiday calendars.
- 📋 Documentation: during commissioning and acceptance, archive control strategies, setpoints, zone partition tables, and the accompanying technical report recommendations together for subsequent operation, energy auditing, and system optimisation.
7. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: What do modules M3-5,6,7,8 represent?
A: In the EN ISO 52000 series modular framework, module M3 describes the heating subsystem, and sub-modules M3-5,6,7,8 correspond to various aspects of heating control (such as zoning, behaviour and demand control, and scheduling control). They are the standard decomposition units used in energy calculation and compliance assessment.
A: In the EN ISO 52000 series modular framework, module M3 describes the heating subsystem, and sub-modules M3-5,6,7,8 correspond to various aspects of heating control (such as zoning, behaviour and demand control, and scheduling control). They are the standard decomposition units used in energy calculation and compliance assessment.
❓ Q: Is CEN/TR 12098 a normative document?
A: No. It is an accompanying Technical Report providing interpretations, background, and application advice for the respective prEN standard; it is guiding in nature, and conformity should be based on the corresponding EN/prEN standard clauses.
A: No. It is an accompanying Technical Report providing interpretations, background, and application advice for the respective prEN standard; it is guiding in nature, and conformity should be based on the corresponding EN/prEN standard clauses.
❓ Q: Why does heating control zoning matter?
A: Spaces with different orientations and uses have very different heat demands. Zone control supplies heat on demand, avoiding overheating in one area while another is under-heated — an important measure that balances energy saving and comfort.
A: Spaces with different orientations and uses have very different heat demands. Zone control supplies heat on demand, avoiding overheating in one area while another is under-heated — an important measure that balances energy saving and comfort.
🔍 Q: How does start-stop scheduling help save energy?
A: By optimising the start time in advance based on building thermal mass and lowering setpoints (set-back) during idle periods, it reduces system operating time and energy consumption while maintaining comfort; the achievable saving can be significant in practice.
A: By optimising the start time in advance based on building thermal mass and lowering setpoints (set-back) during idle periods, it reduces system operating time and energy consumption while maintaining comfort; the achievable saving can be significant in practice.
❓ Q: What if the technical report and the accompanying prEN version are out of sync?
A: First confirm the standard version referenced by the report (for example prEN 12098-1:2015) and check the currently effective version. If the standard has been updated, consult the newer accompanying report or follow the newer clauses to avoid design deviations caused by version mixing.
A: First confirm the standard version referenced by the report (for example prEN 12098-1:2015) and check the currently effective version. If the standard has been updated, consult the newer accompanying report or follow the newer clauses to avoid design deviations caused by version mixing.