Guidance

HNTAS: Draft Communal Distribution Network technical specifications for new build heat networks

Draft Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) regulatory technical requirements to help heat network developers, contractors and operators demonstrate compliance.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Details

These technical specifications for communal distribution networks detail the draft requirements and technical obligations to be fulfilled as part of the upcoming Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS).

A communal distribution network is a pipework system within a building that distributes thermal energy to consumer connections.

The specifications include the:

  • technical requirements to be met 
  • performance monitoring requirements to be met 
  • key failures to be avoided  
  • evidence requirements to be provided to demonstrate conformity with HNTAS

They are for use by:

  • heat network developers
  • heat network designers
  • heat network operators
  • heat network equipment suppliers
  • organisations within the heat network supply chain

These technical specifications correspond to the draft HNTAS assessment procedures for communal distribution networks.

Next steps

We will be requesting feedback on the information in these documents shortly. We will run a change management process in parallel with the HNTAS technical standards consultation which will launch shortly.

We will make final versions of these documents available before the scheme starts.

Updates to this page

Published 15 December 2025

Sign up for emails or print this page