Adoption of Water Heater Code for Buildings to Achieve Energy Savings of Up to 60%
The Minister of Electricity issues a decision to rationalize energy consumption in buildings.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
Darine Al-Ali
The Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, Dr. Sabih Al-Mukhaima, issued a ministerial decision mandating the adoption of the technical code for water heaters in buildings. The decision requires non-residential buildings to install energy-efficient heating systems that achieve savings of no less than 60%, while granting residential buildings the freedom to choose suitable heating systems, provided they comply with the code’s requirements. It recommends achieving savings of no less than 40% of the total energy required for water heating.
The decision will take effect one year after its publication in the Official Gazette and applies fully to new residential and non-residential buildings, as well as new expansions of existing buildings that require additional electrical load. The ministerial decision, numbered 131 of 2026, was published in the Official Gazette “Kuwait Al-Yawm” yesterday, establishing the minimum technical requirements for the design and installation of water heating systems in buildings in the State of Kuwait.
This decision aims to enhance energy efficiency in water heating systems and encourage the use of high-efficiency technologies and renewable energy, thereby contributing to the rationalization of electricity consumption. A key provision of the decision mandates that non-residential buildings install water heating systems that achieve savings of no less than 60% of the total energy required for water heating, in accordance with the specifications outlined in the code.
Residential buildings are granted the freedom to choose appropriate water heating systems, while adhering to the code’s energy efficiency requirements when selecting high-efficiency systems, such as solar water heaters or heat pumps. The code recommends achieving savings of no less than 40% of the total energy required for water heating in residential buildings. The code covers various water heating systems, including solar heaters, heat pumps, integrated hybrid systems, heat recovery systems, and electric water heaters, which may be used in residential buildings.
The decision also stipulates that water heating systems must be designed according to the building’s hot water needs, with required calculations provided to determine equipment capacity and water tank sizes. It mandates the installation of a sustainable heating system dedicated to swimming pools, covering at least 50% of the energy required to heat pool water.
Furthermore, the decision states that systems, equipment, and products covered by the code must comply with the Kuwait Standard (KWS 1903:2025) issued by the Public Authority for Industry, or its latest revision. The decision also specifies that it will take effect one year after its publication in the Official Gazette, and all previous decisions conflicting with it are hereby repealed.
