Frequently Asked Questions TPI functionality explained

My thermostat had ‘TPI’ functionality but I don’t understand

how that can help me?

Modern controls are designed to ensure that you get the best energy efficiency
possible from your heating system. TPI (Time Proportional & Integral) is a feature in
your room thermostat that ensures that your boiler fires for the shortest possible time
in order to reach and maintain your room at the comfort level selected:

How it works:
Firstly, there are two things you need to understand about your room thermostat:
It has a simple memory included in its software and it ‘learns’ how the room
temperatures are achieved and maintained. It also has a basic calculation capability
so that it can work with the learned data and current temperatures to predict how
long the boiler needs to be fired for.

TPI in action:
A TPI room thermostat works by continuously measuring the room temperature and
calculating a difference between measured and target temperature. When the
difference is greater than 1.5 degrees C (known as outside proportional band) it fires
the boiler continuously. When the room temperature gets within 1.5 degrees C of the
set point you have chosen on your room thermostat, the TPI software in the
thermostat comes into action. It performs a series of calculations where it calculates
how long the boiler needs to be fired to reach and maintain the set temperature. The
calculation is based on the previously learnt characteristics of the room in which the
controller is placed and the current measured temperature. This ‘smart’ firing of the
boiler will mean that the boiler is fired just long enough to achieve the set
temperature and no longer, thus increasing energy efficiency.

What you mayWhat notice:

you may notice:
In normal operations you will notyou
In normal operations notice
willany
not difference
notice anyindifference
how your inheating system
how your heating
functions. You
systemmay,functions.
if you listen carefully,
You may, if hear the boiler
you listen firing hear
carefully, for shorter and firing
the boiler shorter
for
periods as shorter
it approaches the correct temperature. When the room set point
and shorter periods as it approaches the correct temperature. When is reached, you
will notice the
thatroom
the boiler is fired for short periods in order to maintain the temperature.
set point is reached, you will notice that the boiler is fired for short The
thermostatperiods
is calculating the rate at which the room is losing heat and topping
in order to maintain the temperature. The thermostat is calculating up with the
precise amount
the raterequired to counteract
at which the room isit.losing heat and topping up with the precise
amountanrequired
There is normally overshoot to counteract
of around 0.5 it. degrees C when first reaching set point. This is
Temperature variation with a TPI because the There is normally an overshoot ofpoint
thermostat tries to reach the set as quickly
around as possible,
0.5 degrees C when after
firstthat it should
reaching
room thermostat settle at exactly
set point. This is because the thermostat tries to reach the set point as over
the set point. The thermostat learns the room’s heat loss characteristics
Set point the first week of operation
quickly and you
as possible, afterwill
thatfind that thesettle
it should initialatovershoot is higher
exactly the during
set point. Thethat
period. It will quickly learn
thermostat thethe
learns characteristics
room’s heatand lossbecome more accurate.
characteristics over the first week of
operation and you will find that the initial overshoot is higher during that
Temperature

Proportional band
Why is thisperiod.
differentIt to
willnon
quickly learn the characteristics and become more accurate.
TPI thermostats?
In non TPI thermostats (commonly older devices), the boiler will continually fire until it gets
past the setWhy
pointisand
thisthen when the
different temperature
to non drops to a specified amount below the
TPI thermostats?
set point the boiler is then fired again. This creates greater
In non TPI thermostats (commonly older devices), temperature fluctuations
the boiler and
will continually
Time less controlfire
of your
until comfort levels.
it gets past the set point and then when the temperature drops to a
specified amount below the set point the boiler is then fired again. This
creates greater temperature fluctuations and less control of your comfort
levels.
Frequently Asked Questions TPI functionality explained

What advantages does TPI give me?

As your boiler is working more swiftly to maintain your comfort levels, you can either
be reassured that these levels can be maintained over the period or you can set a
lower comfort level, safe in the knowledge that you are not going to drop below that
point – thus saving you energy. Even a decrease of one degree will have an effect on
your fuel bill.

Can TPI controls be used on all boilers?

Yes.

What is required of heating controls in the Building

Regulations?

Building Regulations require that every system has a room thermostat, whether old or
new. This will form an essential part of the Boiler Interlock, providing the means to
switch the boiler off when it is no longer required. This performance can be enhanced
using a TPI thermostat.

How can a system be improved from Building Regulation

requirements?

By fitting a TPI thermostat, the boiler efficiency is improved, TACMA tests indicate
that under steady state conditions this can be as much as 10%. This would be
reduced by seasonal and operational losses.
But in addition, because the control is so much more accurate, the set point can be
reduced, without loss of comfort, introducing extra savings.

What TPI room thermostats should I be asking to be

installed:

Full details about all TPI Room Thermostats and TPI Programmable thermostats can
be found at the www.heatingcontrols.honeywellhome.com website. A full listing of all
products with TPI control included is at the bottom of this document.

How can I get one of these products fitted?

We recommend that you use a qualified heating engineer. To find one in your area
you can use the Find an Installer feature on our website.

ENR3 0167 UK01 D0420