Non-domestic RHI scheme inspections

Information on documentation to prepare in advance of an inspection as part of the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

Dependent on the purpose/use of the heat of each RHI boiler, information specific to each installation is also required to the standard information. A selection of the information required for the main heat uses found on the Scheme is listed below.

If you require any of this information as a (pdf) document please contact: RHIinspections@economy-ni.gov.uk.

Care Home

Residential Care Home 1,2 

 

Please provide the following information:

 

  • The age of the Care Home. Please provide the approximate age if exact details not known
  • The area (m²) of each space heated
  • The number of residents for the care home – from commissioning date to the present.

 

Dairy

Commercial activity - Dairy 1,2 

 

Information on the hot water demand (e.g. milking, feeding calves and cleaning operations etc) in terms of litres and water temperature. 

All heat uses must be identified and a description provided along with the frequency of each activity.  

Herd size and numbers of cows being milked.

If a robotic milking machine is used, details of the manufacturer, make and model of the robotic milker.

Drying

Commercial activity - Drying 1,2

Drying process

Please provide information on both the wet input material and the production of dried material from commissioning to date in terms of the type of material, mass and moisture content. These records should be supported by ‘purchase invoices’ and / or details of harvesting of wet wood. Where loads are dried as a service this should be clear on the production records. This information should be marked clearly ‘production records’.

Where there is more than one boiler at the site the production records must be broken down, if possible, by installation (boiler).

At table 1 below, please provide a description of the operation / setup i.e. which boiler serves which drying floor including if more than one boiler serves one drying floor.

Sales (of dried wood / grain etc)

Evidence of commercial activity (e.g. sales invoices and contracts from the date of accreditation to the present). The documents returned should be marked clearly ‘sales records’.

If drying as a service, please show this clearly marked against relevant sales record.

Wood held in storage

Please provide an estimate of the type of material, mass, moisture content of dried wood held in storage.

Fuel Records

Where wood dried on site is used as fuel, these fuel records (requested above) must be clearly marked ‘Dried wood used as fuel on site’.

Other uses for dried wood

If dried wood is used on site (for a purpose other than fuel for an RHI installation), for which there are no sales records please provide:

  • a description of the purpose in table 1 (below); and
  • details of this usage including dates and mass. These documents must be clearly marked with a descriptor of the use.

Dwelling(s)

Dwelling(s)1,2  

 

Please provide the following information:

  • the age of the dwelling. Please provide the approximate age if exact details not known
  • the area of each space heated
  • the number of occupants for the dwelling.

Hotel/accommodation

Commercial Activity - Hotel1,2

Information regarding occupancy rates in various areas (e.g. room, conference facilities and hall bookings) including supporting documentation.

 

 

Mushrooms

Commercial activity - Mushrooms1,2 

 

Information on the production of mushrooms to date since commissioning of biomass boilers.

Production records should be broken down, if possible, for each mushroom shed/RHI installation and it must be clear if there is more than one boiler at the site which installations serves which shed. 

 

Pigs

Commercial activity - Pigs1,2 

 

Please provide supporting evidence of production records including dates, weights and numbers of pigs.

All heat uses must be identified and a description provided along with the frequency of each activity. 

Poultry

Commercial activity - Poultry1,2

 

Information on the production of birds to date since commissioning of biomass boilers.  

This information should be copies of your grower statements or similar reports showing as a minimum:

  • the date of birds into the house
  • the date of birds out of the house
  • the number of birds that went into the house
  • the number of birds that came out of the house
  • the weight of the birds
  • the type of poultry (e.g. chickens, turkeys)

Production records should be broken down for each poultry shed and it must be clear if there is more than one boiler at the site which installations serves which shed.

Process heating

Heating a Process (general)1,2

 

An explanation of the process and its purpose, the heat requirement, the level of activity including hours of operation and throughput.

Where there are multiple installations the information is required, if possible, broken down by installation.

Space heating

Heating of premises1,2  

 

Heating a space (such as building(s), factory, workshop etc)1,2

A site plan (drawn to scale) showing the layout of the space(s) heated and its various areas, and its footprint.  The area of the space heated by the RHI installation(s) should be highlighted. If other heat sources are present please include details of these.  

If there is more than one installation heating the premises, please provide details of the space heated by each installation (boiler). This information should be provided in table 1 which can be found below.  

Please provide the following information:

  • whether the installation(s) heat the same space in the building. If not, please provide details of the space heated by each installation
  • the area (m²) of the space heated by each installation 
  • the age of the/each building(s). Please provide the approximate age if exact details not known 
  • whether any of the installation(s) is heating hot water. If so, provide details of the hot water use.  

1 Please note if this purpose / use is applicable, you will be required to provide information separately per installation 

2 Please note that the information detailed within each document is not exhaustive. Each individual inspection will be tailored specifically to each unique circumstances on site. Consequently further information may be requested in addition to those detailed in the documentation listed above.

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