The Government has approved the Regulation on the Inspection of Heating Systems, which establishes new rules for the periodic assessment of the performance of heating systems in buildings across the Republic of Moldova.

The new provisions will apply to heating systems or combined heating and ventilation systems with a rated useful output of more than 70 kW. This category may include common heating systems in residential apartment buildings, as well as systems in educational and medical institutions, office buildings, hotels and restaurants, commercial premises, sports facilities and other public buildings. Individual heating systems installed in apartments will not fall under the scope of the Regulation.

The frequency of inspections will be determined based on the capacity of the system. Heating systems with a rated useful output between 70 and 290 kW will be inspected once every five years, while systems with an output exceeding 290 kW will be inspected once every three years.

The inspections will assess the energy performance of heating systems, and recommendations for improving their efficiency will be developed based on the findings. These recommendations may include, among other measures, the modernization or replacement of heat generators or the implementation of alternative, more energy-efficient solutions.

The Regulation also establishes requirements for maintaining an electronic Register of inspection reports, which will form part of the National Information System on the Energy Performance of Buildings, managed by the Public Institution National Centre for Sustainable Energy.

The implementation of the new mechanism aims to increase the energy efficiency of heating systems and reduce energy consumption and operating costs. At the same time, the recommendations resulting from inspections may contribute to lower energy consumption and, consequently, reduced CO₂ emissions.

To ensure the provision of inspection services, specialized personnel will also be trained and qualified. It is estimated that approximately 100–150 inspectors will need to be trained.

The Regulation was developed by the Ministry of Energy with the support of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Moldova (E4M) Project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 282/2023 on the Energy Performance of Buildings.

The Regulation will enter into force on January 1, 2027, while Government Decision No. 1325/2016 on the periodic inspection of heating systems in buildings will be repealed.