Sourcing central heating boilers from China

2% on boilers, 0% on parts

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, central heating boilers of cast iron or other materials carried 2% duty on goods from China, and parts of central heating boilers 0%, with no anti-dumping measure. Steam boilers and super-heated water boilers are in heading 8402, instantaneous and storage water heaters in 8419 or 8516, and heat pumps in 8418, so confirm the commodity code.

Certification, ecodesign and installation

Gas-fired boilers are appliances under the retained Gas Appliances Regulation 2016/426, so each model needs type examination by an approved or notified body for the UK gas categories, UKCA or CE marking and instructions in English. Boilers up to 400 kW are space heaters under ecodesign Regulation 813/2013, which sets minimum seasonal efficiency and NOx limits, and those up to 70 kW need an energy label under Regulation 811/2013.

Gas boilers in homes must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and installers expect UK-approved flues, controls and spare parts, so the importer needs technical support, warranty handling and a spares stock. Oil and biomass boilers have their own emission and installation rules; see the renewable energy guide for heat pumps. For pellet models, see our wood pellet boiler sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

For a made-up shipment of 300 wall-hung gas boilers under 8403 10 90 00, add the £5,000 of freight and insurance to the £150,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £155,000. At 2%, duty on these central heating boilers is £3,100; import VAT of £31,620 is 20% of the value with duty added. Together that is £34,720, but a VAT-registered importer usually gets the VAT back. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.

Inspection checklist

Combustion and gas safety: sampled boilers fired on a rig with UK test gases, flue gas measured at maximum and minimum rate with a calibrated analyser of the kind BS 7967 covers for the CO to CO2 ratio, flame failure shut-off timed, and gas soundness checked, all against the model's certification to the BS EN 15502 series.

Water and electrics: the heat exchanger and hydraulic circuit pressure-tested, the pressure relief valve set point checked, pump and diverter valve operation checked on hot water and heating demand, and electrical safety tested against BS EN 60335-2-102 with earth continuity and insulation resistance recorded for each sampled unit.

Documents and packing: the data plate checked for gas category, heat input and maximum pressure, the energy label and ecodesign declaration matched to the model, the conformity marking and approved or notified body number checked, English installation and user manuals with the Benchmark commissioning checklist UK installers expect, and cartons drop-tested with flue kits packed alongside.

What goes wrong

Boilers fail on certification, controls and support. A model certified for one gas category or market is shipped without approval for the UK, efficiency and NOx fall short of the ecodesign declaration, and control boards, fans and gas valves fail in the first winter. Flue kits, controls and spare parts are not available in the UK, so installers will not fit the product and warranty claims cannot be met.

Check the type examination certificate covers the exact model and UK gas category, ask for efficiency and NOx test reports behind the energy label and ecodesign declaration, run samples on a test rig for ignition, modulation and safety shutdowns, confirm flue and control compatibility, and agree spare parts stock, training and warranty terms before ordering.

Cambridge China Bridge sources gas, oil and biomass boilers and boiler parts, with certification, ecodesign evidence and spare parts planned before the order. Read how we source heating products.

For electric space heaters and water heaters, see Electric heaters and water heaters from China.