Care building · Heating
Heating in care building: what the SRI measures
The heating domain looks at how smartly a building controls its heat: per room or centrally, based on occupancy and outdoor temperature, and whether the boiler or heat pump follows demand. Heat storage and fault reporting are part of it too.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses the heating domain in a care building.
- 2For this building type, heating carries significant weight, with the highest weighting factor of 3 out of 3.
- 3Key services include room-level control, heat generator management, and fault reporting, all critical in a building that operates around the clock.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat emission control H-1a · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Individual room control with communication and occupancy detection | highest level |
| Emission control for TABS (heating mode) H-1b · 4 levels | No automatic control | Advanced central automatic control with intermittent operation and/or room temperature feedback control | – |
| Storage and shifting of thermal energy H-1c · A · 3 levels | None | HW storage vessels controlled based on external signals (from BACS or grid) | highest level |
| Control of distribution pumps in networks H-1d · 5 levels | No automatic control | Variable speed pump control (external demand signal) | – |
| Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for building heating (excluding TABS) H-1f · 4 levels | Continuous storage operation | Heat storage capable of flexible control through grid signals (e.g. DSM) | – |
| Heat generator control (all except heat pumps) H-2a · A · 3 levels | Constant temperature control | Variable temperature control depending on the load (e.g. depending on supply water temperature set point) | highest level |
| Heat generator control (for heat pumps) H-2b · A · 4 levels | On/Off-control of heat generator | Variable control of heat generator capacity depending on the load AND external signals from grid | highest level |
| Sequencing in case of different heat generators H-2d · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running time | Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, capacity of generators AND external signals from grid) | – |
| Report information regarding heating system performance H-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Central or remote reporting of performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | highest level |
| Flexibility and grid interaction H-4 · 5 levels | No automatic control | Optimized control of heating system based on local predictions and grid signals (e.g. through model predictive control) | – |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 28 percentage points (from 24 to 52 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does heating weigh so heavily in a care building?
A nursing home or care facility operates 24 hours a day. Unlike offices, night setback is not possible in residential areas, because residents are always present. This makes intelligent control of heat delivery essential for both comfort and energy use.
The heating domain (H) in the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) therefore receives the highest weighting factor for this building type: 3 out of 3. The SRI methodology recognises nine domains; heating is among the most heavily weighted for care buildings.
Which services count within this domain?
The heating domain comprises multiple smart-ready services, each with its own functionality levels from 0 to 4. For a care building, several of these are particularly relevant.
- H-1a Heat delivery control: individual room control per bedroom is not a luxury here but a care requirement, because comfort must be adjustable per room.
- H-1c Thermal energy storage and shifting: relevant because hot water consumption is large and constant.
- H-2a and H-2b Heat generator control: determine how well the boiler or heat pump responds to demand.
- H-3 Performance information reporting: fault notification is critical, especially for vulnerable residents who depend on a stable indoor climate.
Each service is assessed against seven impact criteria, including energy efficiency, comfort, and maintenance. Three key functionalities carry equal weight in this assessment.
How does this relate to the building automation requirement?
Separate from the SRI, Article 13 of the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) already sets a building automation requirement. Above 290 kW installation capacity, this had to be in place by end 2024; above 70 kW, this follows by end 2029.
For care buildings with significant heating capacity, this may mean that a building automation and control system (BACS) is already required, while use of the SRI itself remains voluntary for now. The European Commission must adopt a delegated act by 30 June 2027 to determine whether the SRI becomes mandatory for utility buildings above 290 kW.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As owner of a care building, it is prudent to map out heat delivery control per room and fault reporting of the heating system carefully, since these points carry heavy weight in the score. A higher score on these services can better prepare your building for the delegated act expected to be adopted in 2027.
- Tenant
- As a resident or user of a care facility, you will mainly notice the difference in comfort per room and the speed with which heating faults are detected and resolved. A well-controlled system means fewer temperature fluctuations and less risk of prolonged loss of heating or hot water.
- Advisor
- When assessing a care building, pay specific attention to the functionality levels of H-1a and H-3, since individual room control and fault detection carry more weight here than in other building types. Also account for constant hot water consumption when assessing H-1c, and verify whether installation capacity exceeds the 290 kW threshold in relation to the existing building automation requirement.
Next step
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