Housing Association - May 2023

CONTENTS

FRONT COVER

Panasonic is always striving to find new solutions to help society both have sustainable products and be focused on carbon reduction, the new R290 L range of Aquarea heat pumps that has recently joined the Panasonic line up has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of only 3, this will open up the refurbishment market to more easily replace a gas boiler and utilise existing radiators because they can operate at high temperatures. See pages 14-15 to find out more.

n THE TEAM

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n PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL

14. Retrofit into heat pump technology for a more sustainable future

Paul Taylor, Head of Renewables for Panasonic UK, takes a closer look at the latest developments in heat pump technology for a more energy efficient heating and sustainable future.

n EXTERIOR BUILDING ENVELOPE

28. Quality Housing with Nordic Copper Nordic Copper offers competitive and sustainable cladding materials, with natural surfaces and alloys that can be applied in numerous ways to all types of housing, delivering high-quality, tenure-blind architecture – as copper provider Aurubis explains.

n DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESS & SECURITY

36. James Latham introduces FERRO

Responding to UK/Ireland specifier calls for high-performance door components, James Latham introduces FERRO, a premium range of highly durable and weather resistant external door blanks from leading brand Moralt. HA hears more...

n FIRE PROTECTION & TENANT SAFETY

38. Go Beyond for fire safety

Siderise believes when it comes to fire safety, doing ‘just enough’ is never enough. HA hears how the company are dedicating themselves to creating a safer built environment by delivering products, systems and services that Go Beyond®.

n KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, INTERIORS & INCLUSIVE DESIGN

44. Bathroom design for stroke rehabilitation

According to the Stroke Association there are 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK. Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, a leading provider of inclusive solutions, shows how housing association bathrooms can accommodate the needs of stroke survivors.

n REFURBISHMENT & MAINTENANCE

54. Public Sector Construction: is best value longevity and performance - or reducing costs?

Construction projects in the public sector are often subject to intense pressure to cut costs, forcing them to maximise value for money but often at the expense of the longevity and performance. Waterproofing, insulation and soundproofing solutions manufacturer, Soprema provide proactive solutions at competitive rates to ensure your system provides essential protection throughout the lifecycle of buildings. HA hears more...

HA is published ten times a year. Printed in England. All rights reserved. No part of HA may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the editor. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the editor and publisher do not accept responsibility for errors or loss and damage caused by any statement, claims or observations made by contributors, authors or their agents.

How real-time data and insights can drive action for fuel poverty

In September 2021 there were 4 million households in England classified as being in fuel poverty. In October 2022, the cost of heating our homes doubled and, as a consequence, that number is now estimated to be 10.7 million. Tom Robins, CEO of social housing data and insights company, Switchee, looks at how real-time data and expert insights can help vulnerable households.

According to Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of National Energy Action (NEA) who spoke at the recent Switchee Summit on the future of European social housing, this energy crisis has resulted in two clear things. The first is breadth of fuel poverty, with millions more people falling into it and the second is depth of fuel poverty, where those who were already classified as struggling are now critically vulnerable.

This dramatic increase in vulnerable people is alarming and affects the social housing sector considerably. These are residents who may not be used to coming forward to ask for support, so what can social housing landlords do to identify those at risk of fuel poverty?

fuel poverty and Heat Loss Rate at an individual property and housing stock level. Specifically, if, whilst occupied in the past 3 months, the temperature readings for that household have been below 18°C for 50% or more time, the residents will be assigned a high fuel poverty risk level.

Being able to identify issues at such a granular level means action can be taken by landlords. One situation experienced by Dudley Metropolitan Council involved a resident only heating his home to 15°C. On being contacted by the council, it came to light that he was struggling to afford his bills and his health conditions were being exacerbated by the cold. The council organised for him to switch energy supplier, saving £300 a year and another £140 by applying for Warm Home Discount. With energy saving tips and encouragement from the council to use his heating, he reported feeling much healthier and happier.

heated their homes for an hour a day less than they previously had and turned their thermostats down by an average of 2.33˚C. In addition, there was an overall average increase of 5.33% of homes not being heated to the recommended temperature of 18˚C. This presents a worrying concern for residents as it means many homes are now colder for longer. This change in behaviour not only puts their homes at higher risk of developing issues like condensation, damp and mould but it also puts their health and wellbeing at greater risk.

“Switchee data showed that residents heated their homes for an hour a day less than they previously had...This presents a worrying concern for residents as it means many homes are now colder for longer.”

Thanks to IoT technology, landlords now have the tools to help identify issues and those most in need. Through a single device, such as a Switchee, data points such as temperature, air pressure, humidity, light and motion can be collected to help landlords build a real-time picture of how a property is performing and how residents are interacting with that building.

Via an advanced analytics dashboard, landlords receive a range of welfare and maintenance indicators.

Segmented by high, medium and low, an abundance of actionable insights identifies risk factors such as condensation, under heating, damp and mould,

Another example was a home not heated for a period, except on Christmas day. The social housing provider found that the elderly resident had put her heating on only on that day because her grandchildren were visiting. Assistance was provided so the resident received benefits she was entitled to. Data proves invaluable for identifying issues in instances like this where residents may not want to speak up. Often it can be the quietest people who are the most in need.

Specifically, since the cost-of-living crisis hit, our data demonstrates a marked change in resident behaviour and with it a greater risk of fuel poverty. Over the course of a year Switchee data showed that residents

When a home has been flagged as being at risk of fuel poverty, the data can be analysed on a caseby-case basis. Armed with this data, social housing providers can proactively communicate with residents to see how they can be supported. Communication can be conducted via the usual channels or via the Switchee Smart Thermostat which provides an average response rate of over 90%, most of which is within the first 24 hours.

Unfortunately, the cost of heating our homes will continue to remain high for some time yet, putting more financial pressure on residents. Social housing providers alone cannot fix this problem but armed with data and insights they can make better decisions to prioritise and proactively support the residents most in need.

Collaboration leads to communities that thrive

by Ollie Gray, business development director, Charis

When the EPG Energy Price Guarantee was introduced last autumn by the flash-in-a-pan Liz Truss government, it was set to run for two years, from October 2022 to September 2024.

We all know what happened to Liz - and her EPG promise was also cut short (maybe not quite as short as her tenure in number 10).

Looking back over the winter months of 2022/23, most of the funds and grants allocated to households to help them with rising energy costs have been akin to trying to stop leaking water from a pipe with a roll of tissue. Many households quickly achieved saturation when it came to what they could afford. Although, in part, this was due to the fact that energy prices increased beyond the additional support that was offered, it was also down to the fact that inflation was peaking at over 10 per cent, interest rates had shot up, and in general overall household income was squeezed on all sides, with no equivalent increase to household income.

A report from last July written by the Chartered Institute of Housing cited how 68% of social tenants were concerned about meeting their monthly expenses - with many turning to unsecured and unregulated loans and credit services to make up the gap.

It is clear that a debt tsunami is looming large on the horizon.

With a 27.5% increase in the distribution of energy vouchers through our Charis Shop over the last year, this highlights that the rising cost of living has had a severe impact on the most vulnerable in our society.

And although wholesale energy prices appear to be falling, there is still a significant time lag before the benefits of these reductions are felt by households across the UK.

Generally, communities across the country have demonstrated a sense of resilience and coming together - but the compounding impact on the mental and physical health of householders will continue to build as the pessimism of the coming winter months starts to weigh heavy. Significant emphasis is still being placed on continuing to put more support into place.

n Information is key

Organisations such as Charis, the Fuel Bank Foundation and National Energy Action have a myriad of resources aimed at helping households be more energy usage conscious. The more you can pass on this information to your residents, the more they can empower themselves to make small but often impactful changes that will affect their overall consumption.

n Property Maintenance

While much of the property maintenance housing associations carry out is key to creating a safe, efficient and insulated home for your residents, your residents can also do a lot to help further insulate their homes.

From hanging curtains to insulating pipes, tanks and radiators, some of the simplest ‘tweaks’ can make a big difference. Through the Charis Shop, residents can apply for DIY and home essentials, which cover everything from soft furnishings and home textiles to white goods.

n Taking a partnership approach

Charis has a well-established reputation for working in partnership with different agencies to help them administer targeted schemes for maximum impact. Annual programmes such as Let’s Talk Energy and collaboration with the government on the Warm Homes Discount scheme are designed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, and often the most forgotten, in our communities.

And while providing emergency food and fuel vouchers is a key part of Charis’ overall strategy, we also like to get involved with schemes which have a more proactive and empowering focus.

For example, working closely with organisations such as Sovereign and its Thriving Communities programme, or the Clarion Ready2Work scheme, Charis hopes to put the emphasis back on the individuals and communities taking back control. Whether it is providing training to get back into the workplace, setting up well-being initiatives for communities, or providing debt management counselling sessions, Charis ensures that the back-end administrative platform is versatile, robust, and fully compliant with any necessary regulation.

The warmer months might mean less firefighting. This gives us the space to start rebuilding for all and be ready for next winter.

Ollie Gray Image © Charis

Image © Adobe Stock

“It is clear that a debt tsunami is looming large on the horizon.”

A safe and secure environment

A factor in the development of housing stock is how to cater for the diverse profile of residents and ensure that their wellbeing, safety and security are paramount within their home environment. From the elderly to the very young, a prime factor of our personal happiness is to feel safe and secure within our own home. Many aspects can contribute to us feeling insecure or unsafe. Threats may come from the immediate or wider neighbourhood and residents can sometimes feel trapped in their own homes. The effects of this and resulting impact on their health has been well documented over the years.

So how do we make the outside accessible whilst at the same time provide an environment in which we can feel safe? Many homes contain their own personal outside space; a balcony, but sometimes these create their own problems. Tragic news of falls from high rise apartments reminds us of the dangers. On the other hand, balcony spaces which are left underused often fall into disrepair and neglect, attracting nothing but unwanted vermin. These underutilised spaces contribute significantly to the downturn and disrepair of a building. Desolate corners provide areas to congregate resulting on occasion with unwanted behaviour providing a threat or intimidation to those who live there. However, there is an answer.

less likely to enter the building or congregate outside unseen. Because the balcony glazing can be closed these spaces are also used for more hours in the day, and for more days in the year. They are pleasant areas to enjoy late into the evening, when many incidents or crimes often occur.

Families too can enjoy the Sunparadise balcony space, secure in the fact that the space can be made safe even for very young children. Balconies come with a balustrade section to 1100mm high, satisfying building regulations and standards. Opening restrictors can be fitted to the upper section allowing a 100mm only opening, which not only enables a safe environment for children to play, but at the same time provides ventilation to the balcony space and apartment. These restrictors can also be applied in areas of development where items thrown from a balcony may cause harm, for example onto railway tracks or walkways.

A balcony that can be closed gives the occupant the option of having that space fully open, partially or fully enclosed at any time of their choosing and is increasingly seen as the preferred choice throughout the UK in both refurbishment programmes and new build. Not only do these systems satisfy many green issues, standards and targets, but they provide an outside living space which is often used more frequently and in itself provides a buffer zone and protection to the main fabric of the building. They can be installed whether a previous balcony existed or not.

Increased use of this outside space is important. It improves health and wellbeing as residents enjoy fresh air & spend much more time watching what is going on around them. This ‘neighbourhood watch effect’ means that unwanted visitors or intruders are

“Many homes contain their own personal outside space; a balcony, but sometimes these create their own problems. Tragic news of falls from high rise apartments reminds us of the dangers.”

Sunparadise locking blocks are fitted as standard; these prevent the folding glass sections being opened from the outside. Sunparadise glaze their balconies with a combination of laminated and toughened safety glass. The safety glass is tested to the highest standards against breakage both from someone falling against it and also from implements being used for attempted breakage.

The toughened glazing in the upper section is sliding and folding, turning inwards and secured to the wall for safety. This parking mechanism ensures that when

the glazing is safely stowed against the wall, incidents including accidental impact are avoided. The whole system is designed with safety and security in mind. Whilst the system is not easy for a young child to operate, the manoeuvrability of the system means that the majority of residents, whatever their age or ability, are able to safely manage it, including carrying out routine cleaning.

Sunparadise provide full training on the use of the system. For further information or to see local installations please visit www.sunparadise.com or call John Baillie on 0870 067 8810

Residents can easily and safely manage the system.

Image © Peter Iain Campbell

Restrictors can limit danger. Image © Assael Architecture

Balcony glazing can be fully open, partially or fully enclosed. Image © K4 Architects

UK Government’s Heat Pump Ready programme announced as InstallerSHOW partner

InstallerSHOW 2023 and elemental are delighted to welcome the UK Government’s Heat Pump Ready programme as an event partner.

Heat Pump Ready is a major innovation programme funded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) which is delivered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The programme is supporting the development of novel solutions to transform the market for heat pumps in the UK, with many of the projects in the spotlight at InstallerSHOW from 27 to 29 June at the NEC.

A dedicated Heat Pump Ready area will give delegates the opportunity to interact with the developers of the innovations, which include a range of new tools, technologies and business models designed to reduce heat pump costs, optimise performance, improve the customer journey and minimise household disruption.

Project participants will also contribute to panel discussions and Q&A sessions to share learnings and reflections on how to address the wider challenge of reaching the UK Government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028.

Representatives from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will also take part in panel discussions and Q&A sessions, alongside experts from the Carbon Trust, which leads the programme’s collaboration and learning work stream.

Ahead of the main event, the first session will be a virtual Q&A on 25 May at 1pm. This session, hosted by Roger Harrabin, will feature a selection of Heat Pump Ready projects, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Carbon Trust to highlight how the programme and the funded projects are aiming to transform the market for heat pumps in the UK.

Elemental’s Head of Content Lucy Dixon said: “The partnership with UK Government’s Heat Pump Ready programme is such a fantastic addition to the line-up for the 2023 show. We’re delighted to be working with the Carbon Trust and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to enable our audience to discover the latest heat pump innovations that will help us decarbonise our buildings.”

Bradite One Can’s Sister Act

Will Rivers, Heat Pump Ready Deputy Programme Manager at the Carbon Trust, said: “Many of the Heat Pump Ready projects are about improving the customer journey for heat pumps and making installations simpler and quicker, whilst increasing quality – so InstallerSHOW was the natural place to showcase all the great concepts being developed. Installers are the key to transforming the market for heat pumps and we are very excited to be part of InstallerSHOW to share insights and learnings first-hard from the innovation developers.”

Heat Pump Ready’s presence at InstallerSHOW 2023 will be one of the many inspiring and educational features at the event. There will also be net zero technology brought to life in our dedicated Installing the Future. NOW! area and truly innovative sustainable solutions in the Wates Innovation Zone. Plus, new for 2023, our Solar City attraction will explore the latest solar and battery storage technologies. Visitors can develop EV knowledge and skills in our The Future is Electric area and discover trends and innovative products in our new Bathroom Zone.

Further Details about Heat Pump Ready at InstallerSHOW will be released ahead of the show in June. Register for free by scanning the QR Code

It has already proved it can tackle almost any industrial surface, but now Bradite One Can has conquered the art world too, thanks to the skills of two award-winning designers and muralists from Hampshire.

2SistersUK is run by Lauren and Chloe Piper, who burst onto the design scene several years ago with their vibrant brand of painted artwork and hand lettering. Based in Waterlooville, their client portfolio now includes clothing company Fat Face, Hilton Hotels, Dior and Boots.

The latest of these, a Mexican styled eatery called ‘Bonitas’ at Southsea, Portsmouth, wanted something wonderfully bright to add impact to their outdoor seating area.

The sisters were recommended Bradite One Can while searching for something that would work on all surfaces and prove highly durable.

2Sisters began painting in their garden, creating wooden signs and selling them on eBay or at markets. This developed into graphic design and making prints to sell on Etsy, with their first request for a mural coming about seven years ago.

They discovered that a huge market already existed in the USA and was yet to reach the UK, so they started pitching to companies locally and things took off.

BRADITE: www.bradite.com

“Installers are the key to transforming the market for heat pumps and we are very excited to be part of InstallerSHOW to share insights and learnings first-hard from the innovation developers.”

Image © InstallerSHOW

Image © Bradite

Automated Gates –Housing Associations’ Duty of Care

Automated gates are a regular feature within social housing developments, providing assured additional security for residents, both in terms of preventing children and pets from straying, while also deterring potential intruders. However, whilst such gates offer proven benefits, the risks associated with them are frequently overlooked.

The reality is that an automatic or electric gate is capable of inflicting serious injury or worse and in the UK, a number of deaths have been caused by the failure to either correctly install or maintain this type of installation.

Housing associations have a duty of care to ensure that any automated gates within their portfolio are legally compliant and have been installed in line with best practice. In addition, such gates should be regularly maintained by a suitably trained and competent person as required by law, and those responsible for facility management duties should undertake their own checks on the gates on a routine basis.

n What is a legally compliant gate?

All automated gates (whether swing, sliding, bi folding or a rising arm barrier) are legally required to be CE / UKCA marked to demonstrate that they comply with The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.

Generally, the CE / UKCA mark will be applied once the gate has been installed but it is worth noting that a CE / UKCA mark does not necessarily guarantee that the gate is safe!

“...gates should be regularly maintained by a suitably trained and competent person as required by law, and those responsible for facility management duties should undertake their own checks on the gates on a routine basis.”

n Critical gate safety features

Current legislation and best practice recommends that any automated gate should feature a minimum of two different forms of safety, to mitigate against the following risks:

• Impact – this describes when a gate hits a person or a vehicle during its operation

• Crushing – this describes the risk of being crushed between the gate / barrier and a fixed object 500mm or closer to the gate, for example, when a gate closes against a wall

• Dragging / Drawing in – this relates to a person being unwillingly pulled into or pulled by the gate, possibly into the support posts of a sliding gate

• Hooking – this refers to any parts of the gate that represent a risk of you or your clothing becoming caught and drawn into the gate and as a result causing injury

• Cutting – relates to any sharp edges in and around the gate capable of inflicting a serious cut-type injury

• Shearing – this describes a situation where two flat edges passing close to one another exists, that has the potential to shear a limb

Gate Safe – the lead charity associated with improving the safety of automated gatesrecommends that all automated gates should be fitted with either photocells, light curtains or laser scanners which are all (non-contact) safety devices which will stop the gate from making contact with a person or object. In addition, the gates should be installed with the correct number and siting of safety edges will ensure that if a person / object is detected, the gate halts and reverses away. Warning signs must also be added to the gate.

n Back to basics

While there has been much publicity concerning the safety devices that need to be fitted to an automated gate to improve its safety, numerous accidents

involving automated gates occur because of the limitations associated with an inferior mechanical construction of the gate or barrier and factors resulting in weakness in the actual fabric of the gate / barrier structure itself.

Physical measures to prevent gate falling / leaves dropping:

• The foundations for the gate or barrier should be substantial and must take into consideration the ground conditions as well as the weight and style of the gate. A solid gate will require a more substantial foundation than one with an open infill

• Necessary steps should be taken to prevent the gate falling over, derailing or one of the leaves dropping. Swing gates should always be fitted with three hinges so that in the event of one hinge failing, the gate is prevented from falling. In scenarios where this is not possible, a gate tether can be fitted to prevent the leaves dropping should one of the hinges fail. Inverting hinges for security reasons is a common practice within the UK but this means that the entire gate weight is supported by just the one hinge normally sited at the bottom of the gate and this can be a cause for a gate falling in the event of failure. Sliding gates should have end stops fitted in both the fully open and fully closed position to

prevent the gate travelling past the support posts and potentially falling. Care should be taken with sliding gates to ensure that adequate support posts, guides and rollers are provided to further prevent over travel and the gate leaf falling. Goal post style portals are a preferred method for supporting sliding gates to ensure horizontal movement of the sliding gate

n Further considerations

There are further possible dangers that those with a responsibility for automated gates need to be aware of.:

• External factors such as wind, snow, ice, water, plant debris etc can cause unintentional or uncontrolled movement of the gate

• The risk of finger traps also needs to be considered

• Only a trained professional electrician should undertake the final connection of the gate to the mains power

• Trip hazards should also be given consideration when installing an automated gate. Unless clearly marked, these can increase the risk of a person falling into the path of a travelling gate. Centre gate stops and the track for a sliding gate are obviously essential components of the gate installation, but they must be easily recognisable. Segregated pedestrian access will help minimise these risks

• Gates should never be installed so that they can trap someone when they are opened, for example opening across an alcove or into / over a public right of way

• Safety devices installed on a gate must cover the full area of risk, for example, safety edges must run the full length / height of the gate to avoid leaving the most vulnerable area unprotected; photocells / light curtains must not be positioned too far from the gate leaving a ‘dead / unsafe’ zone between the gate and the safety equipment

• Swing gates should be designed in such a way as to eliminate any risk of a reducing gap, while sliding gates should have the runback fenced off to mitigate any entrapment risks or be protected by other means

n Gate maintenance matters

There is a legal requirement for the housing association to ensure that regular maintenance checks are undertaken on all automated gates and barriers. Gate Safe advocates that ALL automated gates undergo regular risk assessments both by the gate owner (monthly basic checks) and also a more comprehensive review by a professional installer or maintenance provider. Most automated gates will require at least one service every six months, but this could be more frequent if the gate / barrier undergoes a high volume of daily operations. Many systems are now fitted with a counter which can record the number of gate operations and it is possible to set this so that when it reaches a critical figure, the gate will cease to work until it is reset as part of the maintenance regime.

n Monthly gate safety checklist

Outside of the maintenance visits carried out by a professional installer, a visual inspection of the gate / barrier and surrounding area should be completed

monthly to ensure the gate / barrier is still operating safely.

NEVER undertake any changes to the gate / barrier system that will alter its operation, as this could result in be leaving a dangerous machine in operation that could cause serious injury to residents, staff and visitors.

• Clean photocells / light curtain / laser scanner –ensure they are free of spider webs, dirt etc

• Check safety devices are working correctly, see Gate Safe guidance for details

• Cut back any plant growth around the gate and safety devices

• Check hinges / rollers / moving parts

• Check for wear and tear

• Check for signs of rust

• Check no changes in physical site which require alterations to the gate to be made

• Check gate is still in operation for the same planned original usage

• Check control box is securely fixed and locked

• Check any audible warning / flashing light / warning sign are still fitted and visible

• Check manual release and that location of manual release keys is known to all relevant key staff

• Check ease of manual operation

If there are any concerns with the gate or barrier those responsible switch it to manual operation and contact the maintenance company for an expert opinion.

For further guidance and details of how to find a Gate Safe approved installer visit www.gate-safe.org Those with a responsibility for automated gates can also attend the Gate Safe training course to improve their understanding of automated gate safety, visit www.gate-safe.org/training for details of the next course.

Images © Gate Safe

Retrofit into heat pump technology for a more sustainable future

Whilst we move into the summer months, now is an ideal time to consider retrofitting your housing stock and to take the opportunity to switch from traditional boilers and move towards more renewable technologies such as air source heat pumps. Paul Taylor, Head of Renewables for Panasonic UK, takes a closer look at the latest developments in heat pump technology for a more energy efficient heating and sustainable future.

The trend towards heat pumps is moving steadily forward, homeowners are clearly very conscious and well informed of global warming and the push to reduce carbon and the desire for more affordable heating. This trend is being driven by house builders and housing providers with encouragement and a clear plan from local and national government to move to more sustainable heating solutions. The social housing sector is a key adopter of heat pumps, driven by the issue of fuel poverty as well as their own carbon reduction and net zero goals. To quicken the uptake in heat pumps, manufacturers such as Panasonic are constantly innovating to make sure the technology incorporates all the needed tools to meet the issues of today’s housing providers and homeowners.

Heat Pump technology has developed considerably over recent years, to now have very low noise levels, are quick and easy to install and perform at very high energy efficient levels, with the Panasonic units performing well in the SAP 10.2 regulations. The above factors have been hugely influential in convincing housebuilders and housing providers to transition to this new technology.

n Cloud-based Control

Intelligent cloud based tools and controls have been developed to make heat pumps an attractive alternative technology. Functions such cloud-based technology and service support, allowing remote monitoring to advise end users of their energy usage to help save on costs plus the system can be remotely managed by an installer for maintenance purposes. Remote access to a unit to help improve efficiency or to rectify any user errors without having to be physically present and thus reducing travel times and again carbon emissions.

Panasonic has been manufacturing heat pumps since 1973, with a history in R&D and leading the market in renewable technologies. The Panasonic Aquarea range of heat pumps lead with energy efficiency and cloud service technology. Additionally, Panasonic has recently formed a partnership with Drayton to utilise their platform Wiser, with the aim of further enhancing and optimising the energy efficiency of the whole house and improving the overall user experience.

“....thanks to the introduction of the new Aquarea L generation of R290 units, it has never been easier for homeowners and housing providers to switch from a gas boiler to a heat pump and reduce their carbon emissions.”

Panasonic offers a wide range of A+++ energy class (average climate at 35°C), rated units that have a SCOP of 5.12 with potential energy savings and costs to the tenant or resident of the property1 and

offers an appropriate unit for all sizes of properties. An Aquarea mono-bloc unit can be particularly attractive, housing everything needed for the heat pump in one self-contained outdoor unit, making it easier to install and maintain.

n Continuing R&D for a sustainable future

Panasonic is always striving to improve products and find new solutions to help society both have sustainable products and be focused on carbon reduction, the new R290 L range of Aquarea heat pumps that has recently joined the Panasonic line up has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of only 3, this we see will open up the refurbishment market more as they can more easily replace a gas boiler

Gleeson Homes development, Poolsbrook

Paul Taylor, Head of Renewables for Panasonic UK

and utilise existing radiators because of they can operate at a high temperature. The retrofit market is a very important market for Panasonic, and thanks to the introduction of the new Aquarea L generation of R290 units, it has never been easier for homeowners and housing providers to switch from a gas boiler to a heat pump and reduce their carbon emissions.

n Working in collaboration

It is vital that there is good collaboration between manufacturers, suppliers, and housing providers to reach the all-important net zero goals. At Panasonic we keep an ongoing conversation with housing providers, and social housing providers, giving advice on new projects and pre-design work to make sure the right solution is being utilised in each situation. This type of collaboration ensures projects are successful and high energy efficiencies and cost savings are achieved.

Local councils and government are also heavily supporting the decarbonisation of their regions, driving renewable technologies such as heat pumps. For example, Greater Manchester has a large decarbonisation plan, adopting Panasonic heat pumps as a key partner. Schemes like this offer a clear plan for house builders and social housing

providers on how they can drive their businesses forward and incorporate renewable technology, reducing carbon and meeting the desire for affordable heating.

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP for Welwyn Hatfield and Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero* recently visit the Panasonic UK HQ in Welwyn Hatfield and commented, “It was so interesting to learn about and see first-hand the innovative work and highquality heat pumps which will help reduce our carbon emissions and provide lower energy bills for all. I was also thrilled to learn about Panasonic’s new training and support scheme which launches this month. I want to thank the team at Panasonic and thank them for helping Britain decarbonise.”

It is with this kind of collaboration and support that Panasonic have seen success with large-scale projects and introducing air-source heat pumps into affordable housing developments. For example, Panasonic lead the way in a recent successful

trial of the Panasonic Aquarea

Mono-bloc air-to-water heat pumps at the Gleeson Homes development in Poolsbrook** , which lead to a controlled roll-out of the technology into 100’s of homes in a number of developments. The project involved installing a 5kW Panasonic heat pump and benchmarking its performance against an identical gas boiler heated home located nearby. The trial gave the Gleeson Homes team great insight into the ease of installation and energy efficiency benefits of Panasonic’s heat pump. Since the completion of the project, homeowners are now living in the properties and happily utilising the new technology in their homes.

n Training and skills to help meet the demand

Training is also a vital aspect of ensuring that the UK workforce has the skills needed to succeed in the switch to a more renewable future. It also helps ensure that the heat pump installations are of a high quality and provides reassurance in their reliability and high level of energy efficiency which not only helps reduce carbon but also helps reduce energy costs. The focus and commitment to carbon neutrality is crucial if we are to tackle the global challenge of climate change to protect for future generations.

The heating industry is willing to embrace the change to a more renewable future, Panasonic is supporting by delivering training to installers and supporting this transition with up to £500 to newly trained installers .

For more information on the Panasonic range of low carbon heat pumps, please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu/GB_en

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP recently visited the Panasonic HQ in Welwyn Hatfield

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP learns about Panasonic’s high-quality heat pumps first hand

Panasonic’s new R290 L Aquarea heat pump

* Scan QR code for more details on the recent visit to Panasonic’s HQ by the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP.

** Scan QR code for more details on Panasonic’s successful trial of ASHP’s at the Gleeson Homes development in Poolsbrook Images © Panasonic

Heat Interface Unit installation leads to free energy for tenants

Brewham Lodge in North Brewham, Somerset is a small estate consisting of one main house, which dates back to the 17th century, and three 150-year-old cottages, together with several barns. Amber Heating of East Knoyle, Wiltshire were brought on board to modernise the heating system for the estate moving it from oil-fired heating to a ground source heat pump.

n THE CHALLENGE

The Brewham Lodge cottages were modernised 15 years ago but running on oil-fired heating, a costly heating solution with negative environmental impact. Amber Heating approached Altecnic to advise, design and develop an effective heat network running off a ground source heat pump, that would meet the requirements of residents and provide a high quality, reliable and energy efficient solution appropriate for 21st century living.

Amber Heating had been recommended Altecnic by another contractor as a well-established supplier that could provide them with a relevant solution, and give assistance with the sizing and design of the project. Simplicity, as well as cost and energy efficiency, were at the heart of this project, with the aim of creating a modern-day instant, streamlined solution to their heating through a district heating network.

“Using the latest heating technology in such old buildings shows that it’s not just a solution for new builds.”

recommended the removing of the DHW storage and showed that the DHW requirements could be met by the SATK20307 HIU, that has been specifically designed for heat pump led networks with low primary flow temperatures.

Altecnic calculated the typical flow and return temperatures that could be achieved and showed the benefits of instantaneous DHW generation over a more traditional stored DHW solution. As a ground source heat pump installer, this was the first time Amber Heating had used HIUs and therefore benefited from Altecnic’s continued advice and expertise throughout the project.

It also provided its Heat Network Bypass control modules to minimise bypass flow and increase network efficiency at times of low demand.

n THE OUTCOME

n THE SOLUTION

Altecnic consulted with Amber Heating regularly throughout the project to understand the limitations on the design and implementation to ensure the heat network configuration overcame any concerns or challenges.

The original concept was to integrate domestic hot water (DHW) storage within the network. In the majority of cases, DHW storage has negative effects on the efficiency of a heat network. Altecnic

The advice and solution that Altecnic provided resulted in many benefits to its client, Amber Heating, as well as the end users.

The HIUs installed provide instantaneous domestic hot water and control the space heating, whilst taking up minimal space within the cottages. Now that the network is operational, the fuel saving versus the old oil heating is considerable as well as the subsequent reduction in the buildings operational carbon footprint. Previously it was

costing around £1200 a year in fuel per cottage. Now the year-on-year savings are so influential that tenants aren’t being asked to pay anything by the landlord!

Considering the overall product lifespan and a highly beneficial 6.7 year Renewable Heat Incentive payback period, the projected return on investment is a staggering £306,118.

Bob Roddy, Managing Director of Amber Heating said: “As ground source heat pump specialists, we were new to the world of HIUs but wanted to provide a more efficient approach than stored hot water.

“We hadn’t worked with Altecnic before, but the team offered excellent specialist advice from the start and were able to provide the high quality and efficient systems we needed to deliver the best solution.

“Using the latest heating technology in such old buildings shows that it’s not just a solution for new builds.”

Since the successful completion of this project, Altecnic and Amber Heating have continued to work together.

Altecnic’s SATK20307 HIU

Altecnic’s HIU’s have been installed at Brewham Lodge in Somerset by Amber Heating.

Images © Altecnic

The reality of heating our homes in the future…

For people working in the social housing sector, in particular on the heating front, things have never been more interesting. Renewables are becoming more important by the day. The decision to ban the use of fossil fuel heating systems in new build homes from 2025 was the first serious change that made us all sit up and take notice. The possibility of fossil fuelled heating being banned even in replacement heating systems from 2035 seems likely if not earlier.

It seems hugely sensible that in the circumstances we move towards a proven technology that uses renewable energy and which is already being installed extensively in mainland Europe, Scandinavia and in Canada. Heat pumps use latent heat from the air, the ground or from water – available in huge quantities and it won’t run out.

We already have workable and practical products to install. Air to Water Heat Pump (AWHP) systems – monoblocs or splits - present a variety of proven energy-saving options for a home’s heating and hot water system.

The terms ‘Split’ and ‘Monobloc’ refer to how the system is required to be set up in a home. A Monobloc is a bit like a combi boiler and is literally a

‘single block’ system, where the heat pump has all of its components - apart from the hot water cylinder which is installed inside the property - located inside a heat pump unit situated outside the home.

A Split heat pump unit has both an outside unit which incorporates the heat exchanger and refrigerant and an internal unit which sits inside the property, usually in a utility or boiler room.

“Heat pumps use latent heat from the air, the ground or from water – available in huge quantities and it won’t run out.”

Air source heat pumps are perfectly suited to new build and existing homes that are well insulated. To be at their most effective, they operate well with either larger capacity – possibly K3 design - radiators or a higher number of radiators and or underfloor heating.

A COP of 3 can be relatively easily achieved by an AWHP and 4 or above is possible for very welldesigned systems. It’s possible to achieve a COP of around 4.5 from an LG Therma V system. We know that when heat pumps under-perform below these levels, it is often the result of poor design, installation and maintenance.

For more information on the LG Therma V range head for partner.lge.com/uk, or email LG at uk.aircon@lge.com

Image © LG

New programmable room thermostat from ESi

- See the range at Installer Live 27-29th June

With a reputation for helping homeowners and tenants to control their heating costs as the cost of living stays high in the UK, ESi has responded to the current economic climate with the introduction of its latest quality heating control – the RTP4 Touch programmable room thermostat.

This latest introduction is capable of controlling heating and hot water systems via combi, system or heat only boilers. When installed with the ESi WIFI hub, homeowners and tenants heating and hot water can be controlled via Alexa or the ESi Centro App. Vitally, the load compensation functionality, available via OpenTherm technology, modulates the flow temperature dependant on the desired room temperature, saving up to 15% on gas usage – a benefit not to be overlooked when energy prices have leapt to a huge new high in the UK.

And the new addition to the ESi range is an attractive addition as well. The 4 Touch has a large backlit LCD display and touch screen making it simple-to-use and programme.

The RTP4 Touch slots in neatly between ESi’s best selling RTP4RF units and its top of the range 6

Series WIFI programmable room thermostats, offering many of the benefits of both these ranges but providing additional benefits as well. It offers optimum start/stop and delayed start functions offering additional cost savings for users, 7 day, 5/2 day or 24 hour options to suit the homeowner or tenants lifestyles, automatic summer/winter change settings and has home, manual, away, sleep and holiday modes long with its popular landlord service interval reminder which makes it a perfect fit for social housing providers looking for a compliant heating control.

The new unit is battery controlled and comes with a low power indicator to show simply when the battery needs replacing. And the new control comes with a 3-year warranty to give owners complete peace of mind.

To find out more about these exceptional new controls, enquire at your usual merchant branch, pop the dates for Installler Live in your diary and head along to the ESi stand there or head for www.esicontrols.co.uk

head along to the ESi stand there or

“This latest introduction is capable of controlling heating and hot water systems via combi, system or heat only boilers.”

Image © ESi

Ideal Heating goes sky high for launch of Logic Air heat pump

Ideal Heating has launched its first monobloc heat pump for the domestic market with a sky-high VIP event at one of the UK’s most spectacular locations.

The UK’s heating market leader unveiled Logic Air at Searcys, an exclusive venue over 500 ft above the ground at the top of The Gherkin skyscraper in the heart of London.

The Logic Air launch took place in Searcys’ spectacular events space offering 360-degree views of the city on the 40th floor of the iconic landmark.

The introduction of Logic Air is the latest major move by Ideal Heating to support the drive to decarbonise UK homes.

Logic Air offers a best-in-class combination of Ideal Heating’s decades of experience and expertise at the forefront of the UK heating sector, its dedicated customer support and industry-leading product research and development.

It is designed to deliver efficient, reliable low carbon heating to UK homes and will play a major role in the transition from gas boilers to renewable heating solutions.

Brought to the UK domestic market by the experts behind Logic boilers, the monobloc heat pump integrates with a best-in-class hot water cylinder and Halo Air smart technology system to provide highlyefficient heating and hot water.

Logic Air features a modern contemporary design and is easy to install, quick to commission and simple to use.

It is built with an A+++ ErP rating – the highest European energy standard possible to achieve – meaning customers can “go green without compromise”.

Logic Air has been launched initially for the UK new-build and social housing markets.

Mark Derbyshire, Managing Director (Domestic Products) at Groupe Atlantic UK and Republic of Ireland, parent company of Ideal Heating, said: “To launch Logic Air high in the sky over London at such an amazing venue feels fitting.

“Logic Air combines the global expertise and innovation of Groupe Atlantic with Ideal Heating’s in-depth knowledge of the UK market – a winning formula for our first monobloc heat pump.

“Logic Air is supported by our dedicated customer support, best-in-class training for installers and expert team of engineers who are out and about helping customers across the UK.

“Behind every one of our products is a wealth of expertise and we’re using all of that knowledge and experience to support the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy.”

Logic Air is quiet to run, as well as easy to install and service. Installers looking to transition into the heat pump industry can receive expert, best-in-class training from the experienced team at Ideal Heating’s Expert Academy training arm.

Ideal Heating invests £1m every year providing low-cost training to installers and has created a new National Training & Technology Centre in Hessle, East Yorkshire.

Supported by a nationwide network of regional hubs, this new, state-of-the-art facility will help thousands of installers learn the skills needed to install heat pumps and become low carbon engineers.

Andy Farquhar, Product Manager (New Energy) at Groupe Atlantic UK and Republic of Ireland, said:

“Our new heat pumps have been designed to provide high-quality, efficient low carbon heating that is simple to use and supported by our nationwide customer support team.”

“The UK Government has committed to a national target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This means the way we provide heating and hot water to homes will fundamentally change over coming years.

“The Ideal Logic Air heat pump takes all the experience we have across the UK and throughout Europe to deliver heat pump technology which provides optimum comfort and efficiency.

“Our new heat pumps have been designed to provide high-quality, efficient low carbon heating that is simple to use and supported by our nationwide customer support team.”

The Logic Air was launched at the VIP event at The Gherkin, attended by guests from the new-build and social housing sectors.

Following the launch event, Ideal Heating is introducing Logic Air during a roadshow visiting four football grounds – Elland Road in Leeds, Old Trafford in Manchester, St James’ Park in Newcastle and The Hawthorns in West Bromwich – as well as the Installer Show at the NEC in Birmingham in June.

Logic Air is perfect for new-build homes and social housing developments, where infrastructure can be tailored to the requirements of heat pump installation.

Supported by Ideal Heating’s 364-days-a-year national customer service and professional engineer support, the Logic Air offers a complete low carbon package.

Mark Derbyshire, Managing Director (Domestic Products) at Groupe Atlantic UK and Republic of Ireland, parent company of Ideal Heating, launches the new Logic Air heat pump.

The new Logic Air heat pump from Ideal Heating has been launched at The Gherkin, London.

Elevating installation to reach net zero

by Achilleas Georgiou, Mitsubishi Electric

When only 60,000 heat pumps per year are being installed, achieving 600,000 installations by 2028 looks like a tall mountain to climb; and to reach one million sounds like an Alpine peak beyond the cloud base. “We cannot lower the mountain”, to quote rock climber Todd Skinner, “therefore we must elevate ourselves”. We do this, not to plant a flag at the top, but to help us get to net zero by 2050.

At Mitsubishi Electric’s recent Ecodan customer conference, the question was asked if we can reach that basecamp of 600,000 heat pumps per year. Our factory in Livingston is increasing the manufacture of heat pumps. But the supply of heat pumps in the UK alone won’t get us to our target. We need more heating engineers to install them.

According to Nesta: “There is a massive shortage of qualified heat pump engineers. … the number of heat pump engineers is estimated to be around 3,000 (and) we will need at least 27,000 qualified engineers by 2028 to meet the government’s target.” Nesta estimates that “on average, this means training roughly 5,000 to 7,000 installers per year from 2025 to 2035 – more engineers every year than we currently have in total.” That’s a staggering amount.

As a company, we are training more heating engineers and we’ve expanded our training offer with fully equipped centres in Hatfield and Manchester and have plans to develop more across the country.

We’ve recently also teamed-up with Harlow College to establish the Renewable Energy Training Centre, a new on-campus project for the next generation of heating engineers to train in using green technologies.

The centre is fully equipped with six Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan air source heat pumps, roof-mounted photo-voltaic solar panels, associated collection points and energy-storage unit and two electric vehicle charging points. The solar panels will provide enough energy to power the centre, and any extra energy will be put back into the National Grid.

Ecodan air source heat pumps can be installed in any new development or retrofit project as part of a modern eco-friendly and energy-efficient heating system, and offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gas-fired, solid fuel or oilfired heating systems.

With the government aiming to upgrade all homes to an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C within the next ten years, it’s more important than ever that heating engineers are trained to install energy-efficient technologies in our buildings.

The new centre at Harlow College will support this aim by training students on installing and maintaining renewable energy appliances. Workstations at the centre will allow learners to develop an understanding of how to install and maintain air source heat pumps, supporting the local community and businesses in meeting targets for net zero.

The college tutors who will train the heating engineers of the future are certified to a minimum of NVQ Level Three as qualified plumbing and heating engineers. They have also undertaken specific Ecodan product installation training at Mitsubishi Electric’s Training Centre in Hatfield.

Additionally, Harlow College’s Deputy Principal Will Allanson said, the trainers “have developed programmes that meet industry needs with the skills employers’ require.” Importantly, he continues, this means the college can offer “a career led curriculum”, and young people will gain qualifications “to enter industry with the skills to work on renewable energy systems.”

Russell Dean, Mitsubishi Electric’s Residential Product Group Director, recognises the opportunities for young heating engineers, saying: “With the mass deployment of heat pumps, the demand in the market is so good that it’s almost guaranteed that these engineers will find employment.”

He went on: “We believe that collaborations such as this, with Harlow College, can help ensure that future generations have access to the training and knowledge needed to build a greener, more sustainable future as we aim to achieve net zero.”

Karen Spencer, Principal of Harlow College, added: “At Harlow College, we have made a commitment to being carbon neutral in line with the Climate Action Roadmap for Colleges. Training the future generation of heating engineers is part of our contribution to our local community and the environment. We absolutely recognise the contribution they will make to a more sustainable future. We are proud to be working in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, who are supporting our venture and helping both our staff and students train in this new technology.”

Maybe that mountain is high, but what this collaboration between Harlow College and Mitsubishi Electric shows is that we can elevate ourselves, to find solutions, and to develop the skills that will get us beyond the cloud base and reach our net zero target.

www.ecodan.me.uk

Images © Mitsubishi Electric

The Renewable Energy Training Centre at Harlow College is designed to train the next generation of heating engineers in the use of green technologies.

Russell Dean, Mitsubishi Electric’s Residential Product Group Director

The 7 C’s of Net Zero

What does business need to get it to Net Zero?

We’ve just recorded an amazing podcast with someone very closely connected to the Mission Zero report which we hope to bring you more news on soon.

During the hour-long discussion, we touched on what were referred to as the 4 ‘C’s’ of sustainable business as being: Certainty; Clarity; Consistency; and Continuity.

These are seen as the essentials for supporting businesses as they look towards a much more sustainable future.

If you do a quick Google on the ‘4 C’s’, you’ll find a number of different options, predominantly for developing Business or Marketing strategies, with lists that seem to contain:

• For Business: Capabilities, Capacity, Constraints and Culture. Also Clarity, Communication, Collaboration, Choice.

• For Marketing: Customer, Cost, Convenience and Communication. Also Clarity, Credibility, Consistency, Competitiveness.

When we are talking about support for business though, I would personally add 3 more to the list: Collaboration; Compliance; and Counting! Bringing the total up to what I would call ‘the 7 ‘C’s’ of Net Zero’.

Let me explain more and see if you agree?

u Certainty

Businesses are trying to plan for Net Zero and the stages needed to get there, whether they have declared a target date of 2030, 2040, 2050 or anywhere in between.

As a business, they need to plan for the year ahead (budget planning); plan for the next 5 years (forecasting); and plan for their future (legacy planning).

The past few years have been tumultuous to say the least, but as the uncertainty and disruption has shown, most businesses are very resilient and can cope with rapid change but that does come at a cost for each business, whether financial, economic, or personal.

What is far better for business is having certainty of what is going to happen so that longer-term plans can be made, costed, implemented and constantly reviewed and adapted.

“People are finally waking up urgently to the phrase “there is no Planet B” and it can’t happen quickly enough.”

u Clarity

Along with certainty, clarity is a must for businesses to operate effectively, whether that is day-to-day or over the next decade.

Being clear on what legislation companies must adhere to, understanding the economic drivers of our political masters, and knowing what makes employees ‘tick’ so that they can develop the working patterns and comfortable, inviting spaces to increase productivity, will all help businesses thrive and grow.

Clarity on these issues helps businesses be clear on what they can offer their customers and the wider society.

u Consistency

Consistency doesn’t mean doing the same thing over and over again, or just continuing endlessly on the same path.

But it does mean avoiding the economic rollercoaster we’ve been on over the past three years.

Businesses need to know that they are operating on a commercial playing field that is as level as possible, and that means that pressures and constraints they operate in are consistent, wherever they are.

Having spent the past year touring the country with our Net Zero Roadshow, I can tell you that businesses operating in more than one location face different pressures and ‘playing fields’ from local authority to local authority.

Not only are business rates a devolved local matter, changing costs from one office to another, but planning is a devolved issue as well, meaning that the Net Zero plans and requirements change from town to town as well.

Not really what you would call consistent.

Martin Fahey, Head of Sustainability –UK & Ireland

Image © Mitsubishi Electric

Image © Adobe Stock

u Continuity

Mitsubishi Electric was 100 years old in 2021 and the company took the moment to review its purpose, analysing the thoughts of our Founder who declared that: “We manufacture electric products of the highest quality that contribute to society”.

We now align ourselves with the aims of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) [https:// sdgs.un.org/goals] as we realise that to sustain our business into the future, we have to have a sustainable business.

And the same is happening with other businesses as they realise that if they are to have a future in which they can thrive and continue, then they also need to play their part in reversing the harm humans have done to the earth.

People are finally waking up urgently to the phrase “there is no Planet B” and it can’t happen quickly enough.

u Collaboration

I mentioned that I would add 3 more ‘C’s’ to the list and the next one ‘Collaboration’ follows on nicely from my last point, because we simply will not save the planet in isolation.

This has to be a collective effort from everyone, and everyone has a part to play.

Individually, we can all make choices right now to reduce our own impact and carbon footprint, whether that is something as simple as turning off TV’s and computers when they are not needed, not letting the tap run while brushing your teeth, cutting down or stopping the amount of meat you consume, or switching to electric cars or renewable heating.

Businesses have a choice and, as I said a moment ago, they will not be able to sustain their business unless they become sustainable. Global finance has recognised this and is now insisting on seeing

sustainability in any building they finance. Consumers and employees recognise this and are demanding companies demonstrate their ‘green’ credentials.

And Governments have to play their part, which is where the podcast comes in … but more on that later.

u Compliance

The important role Government does have is in setting the legislation that regulates society, but equally important is putting in place the checks and balances that allow these rules to be policed.

Before 14th June 2017, I’m sure most people in the UK construction industry would have thought that there were too many rules affecting and constraining companies.

While we do have Building Regulations on the way things are built and the types of materials used, the tragedy of Grenfell Tower demonstrate vividly and horribly what can happen when the checks and balances aren’t in place.

And that is where the Mission Zero Report has an important role to play as it provides a deep and detailed look into what all parts of society need to do if we are to get to Net Zero.

u Counting

My final addition is a simple one – counting.

You simply can’t improve things if you don’t know where you are starting from.

Businesses need to put in place monitoring and building controls systems that can demonstrate energy consumption, so that these can be analysed and a carbon reduction strategy developed.

Improvements might be as simple and straightforward as better service and maintenance regimes, or changing the way a building is controlled to suit current work patterns rather than historic ones.

It will definitely involve looking at your building services though and planning for a much lower carbon future.

Have you worked out when, in the next five years you will remove gas from your site yet?

And have you thought about adding in renewable technologies such as solar panels, or heat pumps?

The technology is now well proven so for businesses there really isn’t any excuse now, whether that is something that can be built into plans for this year or in the next few years.

u Conclusion

Whether you agree with my 7 C’s or not, I hope this short piece has helped you understand what you can do, both as an individual and as a business.

Whether you are the MD, or a direct employee, what you do during your working day will make a difference and this is where we all have a choice.

Yes, another ‘C’ Choice. However, I would point out that we do not have a choice on whether we need to act … we absolutely must. But we do have a choice on when!

by Martin Fahey, Head of Sustainability – UK & Ireland

www.les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/ sustainable-construction

“...what you do during your working day will make a difference and this is where we all have a choice.”

The critical nature of indoor air quality

The importance of indoor air quality cannot be overstated. Long-term and short-term exposure to indoor air pollution can result in a variety of health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, dementia, and respiratory illnesses. The World Health Organisation estimates that 3.8 million people worldwide pass away each year from illnesses linked to contaminated indoor air. Amazingly, the air inside can sometimes be up to 5 times worse than the air outside. Housing Association Magazine’s Joe Bradbury discusses:

Although we frequently associate air pollution with risks encountered outside, we often forget that it is possible for interior air to be contaminated as well. Indoor air quality and human health can be impacted by smoke, vapours, mould, and chemicals found in some paints, furniture, and cleansers.

Due to people spending the majority of their time indoors, buildings have an impact on general wellbeing. More than 1,000 persons in Britain were polled by Ribble Cycles, who discovered that 92% of people’s weekly time was spent indoors. In addition, Brits also confessed that they spend 1 hour, 37 minutes less outside per day in the winter than they do in the summer.

Technology advancements are somewhat to blame, as many people find it difficult to tear themselves away from TVs, smart devices, and consoles for extended periods of time. But thankfully technology is also part of the solution, transforming the great indoors into a healthy environment in which we can thrive.

Researchers in environmental health look into how indoor air quality influences people’s health and wellbeing. According to multiple studies, there are now more air pollutants indoors than in the past, which is caused by things like the chemicals used in household items, poor ventilation, rising temperatures and excess humidity. Even people themselves pollute the air in the form of CO2, human bio-effluents, and biological aerosols like viruses.

n Respiratory issues

On average, 3 people a day die from asthma. There are 5.4 million people (1.1 million children and 4.3 million adults) in Great Britain known to be suffering from the condition… and they are just the ones that came forward for treatment. An untold number battle through their symptoms undiagnosed. The UK has some of the highest asthma rates in Europe.

Every day, the lives of three families are devastated by the death of a loved one to an asthma attack, and tragically two thirds of these deaths are preventable.

Indoor air quality is essential in the treatment and prevention of asthma, along with many other respiratory conditions.

n IAQ-improving technologies

You may have already come across devices aimed at improving IAQ, but I’ll describe how IAQ-improving technologies like air filters and heat recovery ventilation operate in case you haven’t:

MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) provides fresh filtered air into a building whilst retaining most of the energy that has already been used in heating the building. Heat Recovery Ventilation is the solution to the ventilation needs of energy efficient buildings.

The terms “comfort ventilation,” “heat recovery ventilation,” and “mechanical ventilation with heat recovery” (MVHR) all refer to the same thing. A correctly installed heat recovery ventilation system maintains air quality while being virtually undetectable by continuously supplying the home with fresh, filtered air.

An airtight building with effective filtration and ventilation is proven to reduce particle penetration by 78%.

n In summary

Regular maintenance and servicing of all cooking and heating appliances is one strategy to lower indoor pollution. A national programme called Carbon Monoxide - Be Alarmed was started in 2008 to lessen the amount of CO-related illnesses and fatalities.

According to estimates, 15 million families in the UK do not get their fuel-burning equipment regularly service. The two major goals of the programme are to increase the installation of audible CO alarms in homes and to promote routine maintenance of fuelburning appliances.

The dangers of indoor air pollution affect everyone. As an industry, we have the power to ensure the safety of the users and occupants of buildings nationwide.

Although we still have a long way to go, Britain is making brave strides towards a sustainable and healthy future, and it is crucial to address the urgent problem of poor indoor air quality throughout.

This article and other blog’s by Joe Bradbury appear regularly on Mitsubishi Electric’s The Hub, visit les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/the-hub

Image © Adobe Stock

“The dangers of indoor air pollution affect everyone. As an industry, we have the power to ensure the safety of the users and occupants of buildings nationwide.”

Advice on heating savings for social housing providers - from ESi….

Question: With rising utility prices, energy efficiency is on everyone’s minds. How can the latest Smart Controls help deliver energy savings?

With many heating controls being controlled from apps on smart phones and tablets, the ability to control your heating at any time of day and from virtually anywhere means you can be in more control than when you are at home. Modern controls allow you to control several heating zones in the home and control these individually and more accurately so you can easily increase the temperature in the rooms you will use as you head home after work, for example. And you can monitor the temperature levels in different parts of the home, reducing temperatures in rooms that will not be used but leaving enough background heat to keep them comfortable. With energy prices increasing its important to take a close look at every way in which energy can be saved and costs kept to a minimum and this is why ESi controls are OpenTherm compatible. The way OpenTherm works allows far smoother transition of heating control, which reduces energy and saves money. Using OpenTherm will save between 10 and 15% on the gas bill. We will see increased awareness of OpenTherm controls in the next few months as people begin to realise the savings these controls offer when connected to a modern condensing gas boiler.

ESI CONTROLS: www.esicontrols.co.uk

Vent-Axia’s Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution shortlisted at the Unlock Net Zero Awards

Vent-Axia is delighted to announce it has been shortlisted in the Unlock Net Zero Live Awards. The Sussex-based company has reached the final line up in the Innovation of the Year - Product or Service category for its Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony, taking place alongside Housing 2023, on Tuesday 27 June at Manchester Central.

The inaugural Unlock Net Zero Live Awards seek to recognise and champion progress on the journey to decarbonisation for the UK housing sector and the supply chain that supports it. Vent-Axia’s Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution aims to help deliver decarbonisation in social housing by providing the right ventilation support on the journey to Net Zero Homes by 2050 and healthier homes.

The Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution range consists of decentralised mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (dMVHR) units, which can be used on a room-by-room basis or used together to help maximise energy savings. DMVHR uses the heat from the stale air that is being extracted to warm up the fresh air that is coming in, while also saving energy.

VENT-AXIA: www.vent-axia.com/HeatRecoveryRetrofitSolution

LG heat pumps - the solution for social housing

LG’s new Monobloc ‘S’ has been launched in the UK. As with the original Monobloc, this new model combines the indoor and outdoor features in one module. It’s also connected by only water piping, eliminating the need for refrigerant piping, making this heat pump an installer’s dream when it comes to ease of installation.

Hydronic components like the improved plate heat exchanger, the expansion tank, water pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, air vent valve and safety valve are all built in - inside the outdoor unit – pre-installed and ready to run. And the R32 Monobloc ‘S’ provides excellent heating performance especially at low ambient temperatures whilst lowering its carbon emissions even more with the use of R32.

The original version was extremely quiet, but this new ‘S’ version is even quieter and up to 9kW units can be installed at the minimum of 4 metres away, and up to 16kW units - up to 5 metres away from neighbouring houses complying with international noise regulations. Installers will love the new Monobloc ‘S’ – the all-in-one concept and reduced weight of the unit makes for easier and quicker installations. The new version requires lower amounts of refrigerant compared to the existing model – 16.7% less in fact – reducing emissions and lessening its environmental impact still further. The new version features LG’s revolutionary R1 Compressor technology which offers advanced efficiency, reliability and operational range due in part to the enhanced tilting motion of the scroll. It offers enhanced operational range – up to 135Hz, a shaft-through structure and support at both ends of the shaft which ensures higher durability and offers bottom compression and simple structure that offers lower noise and vibration, less weight and superior reliability.

LG: partner.lge.com/uk

Price reduction on Stelrad K3 radiators from 1st May

Great news for social housing professionals from leading radiator manufacturer Stelrad Radiators with the news that their sector leading K3 radiators will be reduced in price by over 30% from 1st May 2023. The K3 radiator range offers three panels and three sets of fins to increase the heating capacity of a radiator with the same radiator footprint as a K2 by an additional 50%.

It’s key to remember that radiators are compatible with all heating systems – traditional and renewable - when sized correctly and supported by superior levels of insulation in a home.

K3 radiators have been quite common in mainland Europe for more than 10 years, but have only begun to feature in the UK in the last couple of years in any quantity. Stelrad initially offered just its best-selling Compact radiator in K3 format, but added three more of its radiators designs in a K3 option – its Elite radiators, its Compact with Style and its Planar designs. As heat pumps become more widely accepted and increasingly used in new build developments around the country, the use of K3 radiators is expected to multiply many times over until they are almost the ‘norm’ for UK homes. Much thought has gone into the latest radiator developments and it’s all to ensure that the radiators available from Stelrad are ‘fit for the future’ – able to continue providing the levels of heat required in homes in the UK to keep everyone comfortable.

STELRAD: www.stelrad.com / www.stelrad.ie

Image © Stelrad

Image © LG

Image

Quality Housing with Nordic Copper

Nordic Copper offers competitive and sustainable cladding materials, with natural surfaces and alloys that can be applied in numerous ways to all types of housing, delivering high-quality, tenure-blind architecture – as copper provider Aurubis explains.

Copper’s unique architectural qualities are defined by its naturally developing patina – which cannot be replicated successfully using other materials with surface coatings. The patina film provides impressive protection against corrosion and can repair itself if damaged, giving its exceptional longevity. Within a few days of exposure to the atmosphere, a copper surface begins to oxidise, changing from the ‘bright’ mill finish to a chestnut brown, which gradually darkens over several years to a chocolate brown. Continued weathering can eventually result in the distinctive green or blue patina seen on older roofs.

n Natural Living Surfaces

The Aurubis ‘Nordic Copper’ range provides all these surfaces straightaway. The processes involved are generally similar to those taking place over time in the environment, utilising copper mineral compounds, not alien chemical processes.

All these surfaces form an integral part of the copper, generally continuing to change over time, and are not lifeless coatings or paint. The material is easily bent and formed, and there are no limitations on the length of copper sheet or strip because whole coils are treated on the production line, not just limited size sheets.

The Nordic Copper range includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper, offering lighter or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer.

“there is more to architectural copper than meets the eye, with an unrivalled lifespan, no maintenance and full recyclability....”

Image © Hodsons.com

Image © Hodsons.com

The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and new Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘Living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material.

golden colour and simply loses some of its sheen over time, as the oxide layer thickens with exposure to the atmosphere to give a matt finish. A wide choice of Nordic Decor mechanically applied surface treatments is also available for various surfaces and alloys, particularly suited to interior applications.

to a complex patination process. It ensures extreme durability with no maintenance and resistance to corrosion in virtually any atmospheric conditions. And, unlike some other architectural metals, copper does not suffer from underside corrosion.

n Copper Alloys

But copper alloys are growing in popularity as well including Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass – which can also be supplied pre-weathered. The innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, giving it a rich golden through-colour and making it very stable. It has a thin protective oxide layer containing all three alloy elements when produced. As a result, the surface retains its

Apart from traditionally-jointed, rolled material supported by a substrate, various other forms of copper for architecture are increasingly being explored by designers. For example, copper can be supplied in profiled sheets or extremely flat honeycomb panels, pressed to provide surface textures and modulation, or perforated, expanded or woven as mesh for transparency. But there is more to architectural copper than meets the eye, with an unrivalled lifespan, no maintenance and full recyclability.

n Whole-life Cost & Carbon Benefits

The lifespan of copper roofing and cladding can be regarded conservatively as 200 years, subject to substrate and structure, and this is endorsed by experience. Naturally, this longevity has a significant beneficial effect upon comparative whole of life cost and carbon assessments. Copper’s longevity is due

In addition, copper requires no maintenance or decoration. As a lightweight and flexible covering, structural support demands are reduced, resulting in lower carbon and ‘whole of life’ costs. Copper is also fully recyclable utilising long-established practices –97% of copper in construction comes from recycling – and has other impressive sustainability and environmental credentials. And, of course, copper retains a high scrap value at eventual demolition.

n Fire-safe Cladding

With an ‘A1 (non-combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1, copper is suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. Low thermal movement makes it appropriate for any climates and locations, and it is non-toxic and safe to handle, as well as nonbrittle and safe to work. And, importantly today, its inherent antimicrobial qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces internally as well.

“As a lightweight and flexible covering, structural support demands are reduced, resulting in lower carbon and ‘whole of life’ costs. Copper is also fully recyclable...”

An expanding series of building studies showcases the diversity of surfaces, forms and applications available with Nordic Copper today. For more information visit: www.nordiccopper.com or email: NordicCopper@aurubis.com

Image © Peter Landers

Image © Chris Hodson

New clay roofing tile products hit the UK Market

Brickability Group PLC and Schermbecker Building Products joint venture to produce high-quality clay roofing tiles is now fully operational.

Our factory in Schermbeck, Germany, is currently producing around 25,000 tonnes of clay roof tiles annually for distribution into the UK and European markets.

Over the past months, modifications to the factory have been completed allowing us to further produce 2 new tiles to the current range. The new tiles we have developed are a single camber plain tile and a V10 double flat tile.

Crest Building Products part of the Brickability Group and one of the UK’s leading suppliers of facing bricks and roof tiles will be the importer, delivering directly to roofing merchants, distributors, developers and builders’ merchants.

The strategic partnership with Schermbecker Building Products and the Brickability Group will provide a much-needed solution to the severe shortage of clay roof tiles in the UK, and in doing so has further strengthened the Group’s position in the market.

The most modern technologies in the factory’s production facilities ensure that the tiles profiles are precise in their shape enabling the roof tilers to provide a high-quality finished roof. All roof tiles are available in various colours and finishes, and all come with special tiles and fittings.

The range includes:

Wolds Clay Pantile

A traditional non-interlocking clay pantile. This classically shaped pantile is manufactured to the highest standards using only the best raw materials.

H15 Clay Pantile

A beautiful new double-interlocking clay tile that when fitted has the appearance of a traditional pantile. It is available in an attractive range of colours and finishes.

SP10 Clay Tile

A modern take on a traditional ‘Courtrai style’ roof tile. Essentially a single Roman clay tile, the SP10 has a flat pan with a subtle single roll.

All New V10

A double interlocking clay roof tile is the result of combining two smallformat tiles into a single tile with its mock bond feature. This major

technical innovation offers both the good looks of small tiles and the rapid installation of large format tiles. The V10 is comes in 4 stunning colours and plans are already in place to add more colours to the range.

Plain Tile - 265mm x 165mm

The Crest Schermbecker single camber is a non-interlocking clay plain tile. An appealing traditional plain tile available in Natural Red, Toscana and Matt Black with plans to further develop the range by adding some sanding to the tile surface to which will add distinction and character to pitched roofing.

“The strategic partnership with Schermbecker Building Products and the Brickability Group will provide a much-needed solution to the severe shortage of clay roof tiles in the UK....”

Building Products

For further details on our roofing products contact the Crest Sales Team on 01430 432 667 or email: marketing@crest-bst.co.uk

Schermbeck factory the joint venture for clay tile production. @Crest

Images © Crest / Schermbecker

Marley enhances solar panel range with launch of M10

To further support the availability of sustainable roofing solutions, Marley has extended its SolarTile® range, with the launch of a new panel.

Larger than Marley’s existing 335Wp system, the new M10 Solar Photovoltaic Panel delivers a peak power of 405Wp to increase total power from a roof area, while allowing for the installation of fewer solar panels to achieve the desired power output.

Building on the ease of installation found in Marley’s SolarTile® range, the new M10 also offers simple roof integration with a clean, low-profile aesthetic making it a sustainable solution for new builds and retrofit projects.

n Power up with fewer panels

The monocrystalline half cut M10 (182mm) format cells are laid out in 6 x 9 x 2 arrangements over a black back sheet with black framing for a contemporary and seamless look. The M10 offers 10 slimline connectors for each cell meaning the higher power rating enables roof integrated solar to be even more cost effective.

Stuart Nicholson, Roof Systems Director at Marley, comments: “The M10 solar panel range is the next step in Marley’s continued commitment to delivering a complete renewable package, across our integrated full roof system, to drive a more sustainable environment. The specification of solar panels on roofscapes is on the rise as regulatory changes look to improve housing stock, provide access to renewable energy, and make homes more energy efficient ahead of the 2050 net zero target.

The M10 is compatible with the widest range of slate and tiles and includes special fixings for different batten thicknesses. It can be fitted during a normal roofing programme and comes with compatible roofing kits for simple fitting and installation times reduced to less than 45 min/kWp. The M10 panel achieves exceptional fire performance, wind resistance, and weather tightness and is the perfect solution for any solar roof project.

“The Marley M10 panel allows specifiers, housebuilders, and contractors to incorporate fewer panels and roofing kits to attain a given energy target. It also reduces installation timescales to optimise resource planning and further reduce cost. By increasing our SolarTile® range to include the new larger 405Wp and existing, 335Wp solutions, specifiers can benefit from increased versatility depending on project size and output requirements.

“The new panel integrates perfectly with the Marley Full Roof System and all tile types, meaning specifiers, housebuilders, and contractors can also benefit from the reassurance of Marley’s 15-year guarantee when the panels are installed as part of a complete roof system.”

“The M10 panel achieves exceptional fire performance, wind resistance, and weather tightness and is the perfect solution for any solar roof project.”

Those looking to incorporate the M10 Solar Photovoltaic Panels as part of a sustainable roofing solution can use Marley’s online configurator to assess system requirements and include ArcBox, the easy to install solar connector enclosure for enhanced safety should an electrical arc occur.

For more information on Marley’s M10 solar panel solution, visit: marley.co.uk/solar

Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has become the first timber frame manufacturer to offer a verified Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV) score of 55% or more.

Following a six-month material and labour cost analysis completed by specialist construction consultancy, Cast Consultancy, the DTS Sigma® II build system has been verified to achieve a minimum of 55% PMV, increasing to 58% for a detached home.

In conjunction with the Stewart Milne Group, the DTS timber system was tested on a live project, on a range of building typologies, including a 2-bed mid terrace, a 3-bed end-terrace and a 4-bed detached home. In these tests, the DTS Sigma® II build system achieved a verified PMV of 55.7%, 55.8% and 58.4% respectively.

PMV is a way of calculating the proportion of a building’s construction that takes place offsite or near-site using any of the seven categories of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). It can be achieved through a combination of off-site, near site and on-site manufacturing techniques, as well as through materials

innovation and site-based process improvement and

technology.

The PMV value of Sigma® II is achieved by a combination of offsite elements of the build, including: traditional strip footings and in-situ suspended floor slabs; conventional brickwork external cladding; external doors installed on site; conventional felt, batten and tiled roof installed on site; services and internal linings to walls and ceilings installed on site; sanitaryware and kitchens installed on site; and pre-fabricated doorsets and stair flight, with handrail components installed on site.

The Affordable Homes Programme from Homes England, launched in 2021, requires all projects it funds to have at least 25% of the units delivered through MMC and a calculated PMV of 55%.

The verification by Cast confirms that DTS can achieve this target PMV value through the build system alone, when using the award-winning, BOPAS and BBA-approved, closed panel Sigma® II Build System.

While the system can be used in conjunction with other offsite technologies to further improve PMV, Sigma® II achieves the target levels of PMV without reliance on any other off-site technologies.

Cast Consultancy has published a PMV Technical Manual explaining how the calculations are carried out. The baseline for the calculator, building a ‘traditional’ house without any additional MMC elements, provides a PMV of just 39.74%. While adding a basic structural framing system, such as timber frame (MMC Category 2a), raises it up to 44.74%, it still falls short of the required 55%. Setting the target of 55% is pushing the industry to innovate and to drive more offsite construction.

The Sigma II closed panel system offers nearPassivhaus standards of performance and sustainability and is being widely used with housing developers, particularly with those driven by whole life costs and fabric performance, contributing positively to fuel poverty challenges.

www.donaldsontimbersystems.com

Images © Marley

Donaldson Timber Systems becomes first timber frame manufacturer with verified PMV

Insulation for life

Rising energy bills have affected us all, but the impact of increasing tariffs has been felt disproportionately by social housing residents. In response, Paul Barrett, head of product management at ROCKWOOL UK outlines how housing providers can improve their homes’ energy, as well as fire safety and acoustic performance, for now and the longer term.

A report by the National Housing Federation in November last year found that social housing residents would have their heating bills reduced by 42% if their homes were insulated and draughtproofed, equating to a saving of over £700m. The same report also highlighted the inordinate impact of rising energy costs on residents, with those in the least efficient homes – rated EPC G – spending up to 15.5% of their income on heating bills, almost five times the national average based on October 2022 prices.

These figures highlight the scale of the challenge, but also the opportunity to reduce the carbon and financial impact of the UK’s leaky homes through an effective building fabric. Yet to realise these improvements, housing providers must be thinking longer-term especially when it comes to insulation.

n Consistency is key

Insulation’s ability to perform is twofold. Firstly, it is critical to specify insulation that will continue to provide energy-saving benefits well beyond installation and secondly, ensure it is fitted correctly in the first place.

For insulation to be effective and remain so, dimensional stability is key as the air pockets within it help prevent heat transfer. Squashed and sagging insulation – whether in the wall, roof, or floor – can affect these energy-saving capabilities.

performance gaps often occur in areas that can’t be seen. As such, providers must stringently monitor quality of works and ensure insulation is fitted successfully to achieve the required performance once occupied.

The first step in achieving this designed performance is to be certain that insulation is installed contiguously and without gaps. Again, the composition of stone wool insulation makes this process easier as it is highly pliable so can be closely friction fitted, without the need for impractical levels of precision cutting. This simplicity minimises the margin for error, supporting reliable and effective thermal performance that reduces thermal bridging.

As stone wool insulation is manufactured from naturally occurring volcanic rock, it has a natural, innate non-combustibility, meaning that many solutions achieve a European Reaction to Fire Classification of A1 - the highest possible rating. Stone wool insulation products also present a solution for high-rise housing – for both new build and retrofit recladding scenarios – following the ban on combustible materials in the external walls of relevant buildings over 18m2 in England which came into force in 2018.

A further benefit of stone wool is its breathability which allows air vapour to pass through its structure and escape. This helps reduce the risk of damp and mould and the health implications and remedial works they bring.

Made from basalt rock, stone wool insulation has proven dimensional stability and can maintains its shape and properties over time across a wide range of temperatures. Its high-density semi-rigid composition also means it is resilient to building movement when fitted under compression and will not slump in the cavity or sag in a loft. In tests on materials from real-life construction sites, stone wool has been shown to retain its insulating properties for more than 65 years1 without a drop in performance.

n The importance of fit

While changes to Approved Document L in England introduced in 2021 place greater scrutiny on closing the gap between designed and as-built performance,

This process also applies to abutments between insulation boards, another area that can be prone to thermal leakage. As stone wool insulation slabs are designed to knit together, they create a seamless fit that supports the delivery of designed U-values and ongoing thermal performance that will help to reduce financially debilitating energy bills for decades to come.

n Additional value

Increasing energy costs and the housing sector’s focus on decarbonisation have necessitated a focus on thermal efficiency as the primary driver for insulation choice. Yet thermal performance should not be seen in isolation or focused on in detriment to other critical factors that affect the long-term safety and comfort of buildings, and the wellbeing of residents.

With noise from neighbours one of the most common anti-social behaviour complaints, the acoustic performance of chosen insulation is an additional consideration that will benefit both the occupier and housing provider’s resourcing. Due to its dense, non-directional fibre orientation and an open porous structure, stone wool traps sound waves and reduces sound energy and can be used to prevent unwanted noise both within a home and from external sources.

With the decarbonisation of social housing stock expected to cost over £36 billion in England alone3 and take providers many years to deliver, it is an exercise that is important to get right, as well as one to avoid repeating. By opting for stone wool insulation that is proven to perform thermally across a building’s lifetime, social housing providers can ensure this historic investment has a lasting impact on current and future generations, and through the material’s additional benefits, safeguard health, safety, and wellbeing for years to come.

2

For more information visit rockwool.com/uk

1 Testing done at Danish Technical Institute (DTI) in 2023

In England, ADB also provides guidance on the use of combustible materials in residential buildings over 11m and in Scotland the ban applies to buildings over 11m.

3 National Housing Federation, 2021 Images © Rockwool

James Latham introduces FERRO

Responding to UK/Ireland specifier calls for high-performance door components, James Latham introduces FERRO, a premium range of highly durable and weather resistant external door blanks from leading brand Moralt.

Comprising some of the most robust external blanks currently available on the market, FERRO blanks are made from top-quality natural and engineered timbers, with either paintable plywood, exterior MDF or decorative veneered plywood faces.

What sets the FERRO blanks apart from others on the market is that each one contains two thermally isolated solid steel stabilising bars in its core, helping to prevent bowing and warping.

Such is the degree of anti-bowing and warping strength achieved through the incorporation of the steel stabilisers every FERRO blank comes with a 10-year anti-bowing guarantee. Going even further, Moralt is committed to replace any FERRO door, free-of-charge, which warps more than 4mm over this period, including fitting costs.

n Ready For Any Application

That’s not all. The FERRO range is CE-certified and has been developed to meet contemporary specification requirements, particularly in line with evolving UK and Ireland regulations around energy efficiency and fire safety.

Starting with the standard Klassikplus, specifiers can choose from a wider range of enhanced blanks with increased thermal performance, soundproofing and fire resistant properties; or a combination of all these augmentations.

n An All-Round Performer

Perfect for any application, whether on or off site, commercial or residential, the FERRO range delivers on every level.

Unlike many competing products it can be used to manufacture doors which are strong and robust and deliver maximum interior comfort through optimum airtightness, with a customisable finish for unrivalled visual appeal. This guarantees long-term value on every level.

Even better, all blanks in the range meet the UK’s newly introduced sustainability requirements for residential properties, ensuring developers and asset owners remain compliant with regulation.

Commenting on the introduction of FERRO in the UK and Ireland, James Latham’s Group Door Manager, Steve Williams, says, “FERRO is one of the most exciting architectural products currently available in the UK and Irish market, the perfect balance of style and substance. Its steel stabiliser gives it unrivalled durability, particularly from a structural and security perspective, giving residents and asset owners extra peace-of-mind the external doors on their properties will provide extra protection from the elements and intruders. Furthermore, developers will feel reassured that the thermal performance of the FERRO range will help them meet the revised Part L requirements, which become compulsory in June 2023. Once again, Moralt has responded to its audience’s requirements with a product that goes above and beyond to meet almost any specification.”

“...Moralt has responded to its audience’s requirements with a product that goes above and beyond to meet almost any specification.”

To find out more about James Latham’s portfolio of Moralt products and discover more about FERRO, please visit: www.lathamtimber.co.uk/products/door-blanks/brands/moralt

Ensure value for money as budgets tighten

Andrew Cross, Marketing Manager of Kestrel Aluminium Systems, explores why ensuring value for money for their investments is more important to housing associations than ever.

The social housing sector spent more than half their overall budget on maintaining and repairing existing properties in 2022, according to the latest figures from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

The RSH’s ‘2022 Value for Money metrics and reporting’ data showed that while reinvestment into existing properties has returned to pre-pandemic levels, rising inflation and borrowing costs are bringing new financial pressures to bear on housing associations looking to upgrade their properties.

Fiona MacGregor, Chief Executive of RSH, said: “Housing associations are faced with significant economic challenges, as well as multiple and competing pressures on their resources. Providers need to manage these difficult trade-offs and make best use of their resources, so they can continue to deliver their core objectives of providing safe, well-maintained homes for their tenants and invest in new homes.”

It’s clear that housing associations are facing challenging times as material costs continue to rise, especially given the government’s expectation that both public and private property landlords continue to make efficiency upgrades to the value of their properties.

Since April this year it has been an offence to continue to let or rent out a property if it does not have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least E, and this is expected to be raised to a C rating or higher for new lettings in 2025.

With these looming deadlines in mind, housing associations must choose renovation products that offer high efficiency, quality and low maintenance to make their budgets stretch as far as possible. Aluminium doors and windows, such as those manufactured by Kestrel Aluminium Systems, are a sensible and cost-effective option that offers high efficiency and sustainability, thanks to modern thermal break technology and the strong recyclable properties of aluminium itself.

Most importantly for housing associations, aluminium windows and doors are extremely low maintenance. Once installed they do not require repainting, sanding or treating – just a routine clean is all that is needed right across their 30 to 40year working life. They are also naturally corrosion resistant, making them extremely durable and damage resistant.

Kestrel has been supplying aluminium window and door systems for more than 30 years. The company

offers excellent customer service and high-quality, reliable products that to allow projects to be completed on time and to a high standard.

For more information on Kestrel’s systems, visit www.kestrelaluminium.co.uk or call 0121 333 3575.

Image © Kestrel Aluminium Systems

Go Beyond for fire safety

Maintaining a high level of fire safety is a key concern for every Housing Association. It impacts all areas of practice, from the initial design of buildings and specification of products, through to the quality of their installation and on to the long-term maintenance and improvement of building stock – recorded in the ‘golden thread of information’. However, with new legislation and standards being introduced at a rapid pace, and requirements increasingly diverging within England, Scotland and Wales, it can be challenging for project teams to ensure their work is in line with the Building Regulations and best practice.

In this environment, passive fire protection manufacturers have a vital role to play. They must not only provide tested and certified solutions, but deliver these with the tools, services and guidance that will enable project teams to create buildings that meet the highest safety and performance standards.

n Product development

At a basic level, developers and their project partners need access to fire safety products and solutions that not only achieve compliance now, but that have been developed to ensure ongoing safety for the lifetime of the building.

This has been a driving force for Siderise to keep at the forefront of passive fire safety innovation. This started in 1991, when we developed vertically fibred Lamella insulation using patented technology which enabled a robust, pre-compressed solution that enables excellent fit, best-in-class fire performance, longevity, and ease of installation. This technology is now used throughout our passive fire protection solutions, which are comprehensively fire tested to international and national standards.

It is also important for passive fire protection

manufacturers to be ready to meet the emerging, real-life requirements of their customers and find solutions for common issues. For example, conversations with our customers highlighted that using stainless steel cavity trays packed out with non-combustible insulation to meet the new Building Regulations requirements was time consuming and required expensive and complex installations on site. This extended programme timescales and introduced greater opportunity of installation errors which could undermine fire performance.

In response, we developed the Siderise CT Cavity Tray. This combines an aluminium tray and insulation in a single engineered product which can be simply cut to fit with a cutting knife or saw – eliminating the need for specialist equipment and power tools. In addition to providing a faster, more practical solution of installers, the single component solution could also be tested as complete solution under EN 13501-1, achieving a compliant Euroclass rating of A2-s1, d0 along with further testing for heat aging and watertightness. For added peace of mind, and to support compliance and building control processes, we also sought and achieved BBA certification

and approval from the NHBC, LABM and Premier Guarantee.

n Proving performance

Product testing is the only reliable way to determine the performance of passive fire protection products, and therefore their suitability for the application they are intended for. This is why Siderise opened its own £1million Innovation Centre. Operational from January 2023, the centre features a specialist fire test furnace, enabling testing of products to any published fire test curve, including EN, ASTM, UL and ISO standards. This will allow us to not only conduct our own research and quality control testing inhouse, but to expand our bespoke solution offering to meet specific project needs.

n Technical excellence at every stage

Beyond developing products which meet your needs and deliver reliably excellent performance, manufacturers have a crucial role to play in equipping their customers with the right information necessary to ensure accurate applications, right from the initial concept design, through to long-term tracking and maintenance.

Siderise Insulation are committed to working as your trusted partner that stands by your side through the full construction process.

Technical services teams not only offer guidance on the best solutions for a project or to overcome an issue at the design stage but can also provide valuable support to construction teams too. Our Technical Services team provides customers with free, detailed advice and assistance from highly trained engineers. With an enormous amount of test data at their fingertips, they offer various technical support, including specification advice, detailing, engineering judgements and in-depth CPD seminars.

However, even the best product’s performance can be undermined by poor installation. Manufacturers that offer site services can help to ensure correct installation through training, assessment, and auditing. This support can also reduce the risk of contracting teams changing the specification to

products they are more familiar with, but which may not meet the project’s performance targets.

Siderise Site Services team offer on-site installation training to ensure your contractors are fully up to speed with best practice. The team were the first in the industry to have its Product Installation Training delivery method certified to ISO 29993: 2017 (Learning services outside formal education — Service requirements) and in the last year delivered training to over 2,000 people and conducted over 1,350 site visits. This offering also includes free site inspections.

Proper auditing and reporting of installations can help to ensure that the product information and any inspection reports are then passed on to the building

owner or operator at completion, ensuring they have an accurate record of what has been installed on their building and maintaining that vital ‘Golden Thread.’

In addition to offering in-person inspections, we’ve also embraced new technology to allow installers to track and monitor the quality of the work with the Siderise Inspection App. This offers a simple way for installers to record the quality of installation of our standard firestop, cavity barrier and acoustic barrier systems before they are covered up by the building facade. It allows contractors to send photographic evidence of installations directly to Siderise technical engineers for assessment. The report generated by the app provides a visual record of hidden elements of a construction, including how it was installed, providing the all-important ‘golden thread’ of information which can be passed to the building owner and used to inform future maintenance or building work.

n Partners for a better built environment

There is no room for compromise when it comes to the fire safety of our buildings, and to achieve the best results, this means all parts of the construction chain need to come together. Siderise is committed to Go Beyond® the basic requirements, supporting you at each step with innovative solutions which are rigorously tested and backed with industry-leading technical support to ensure your homes meet the highest quality standards.

For more information and guidance on passive fire protection, please visit www.siderise.com

Images © Siderise

“Siderise is committed to Go Beyond® the basic requirements, supporting you at each step with innovative solutions...”

Siderise Insulation delivers a comprehensive range of technical services and tools to support the design, installation and maintenance of passive fire protection measures.

The new Siderise Innovation centre features a specialist test furnace supporting the testing testing of products to any published fire test curve.

The Colt Guide to AOV Maintenance

An “AOV” or “Automatic Opening Vent” is a smoke or fire vent that will open and close automatically when triggered by a control system to help vent smoke or heat out of a building in the event of a fire. As such, they are considered life safety systems and form an extremely important part of a building’s fire safety systems. They are predominantly installed on the roof or side of the building to clear smoke from corridors or common areas such as lobbies and are also used to protect escape routes (such as stairwells) in residential or commercial buildings. They may also be required in buildings that feature open-plan interiors, such as atria, or in large single-storey buildings such as warehouses or factories where smoke would otherwise just build up indefinitely.

They not only help people escape from a building safely, but also help to improve the conditions in the building for firefighters who are entering it - with better visibility and improved air quality they can reach the fire quickly and safely to get the situation under control.

AOVs are typically activated by a smoke or heat detector, either directly or from a smoke detection system or possibly a fire alarm system.

n Who is in charge of maintaining AOVs in a building?

Under the RRO (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) it is the role of the “Responsible Person” to ensure that all fire safety systems in the building are maintained properly and in good working order.

Most commonly, the “Responsible Person” will be either an employer, the owner or landlord of the building or anyone else who holds a level of control of the management and/or upkeep of the building. These titles could include a facility manager or building manager.

Typically, there will be more than one “Responsible Person.” If this is the case, they must all work together to fulfil their duties.

Additionally, they should be tested on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and 6-monthly basis. The weekly, monthly and quarterly checks and tests can be done by a person who is familiar with the system (such as the Responsible Person), but the 6-monthly tests need to be carried out by a third-party certified smoke control specialist to ensure compliance. If you need help with weekly, monthly and quarterly checks and testing, Colt can assist you with these as well as the six-monthly and annual maintenance – email us at service@uk.coltgroup.com for more information.

If any of the vents are found to be non-functioning during routine testing, or has become damaged, immediate action needs to be taken to remedy the faults and/or failures. You must also notify the local fire service within 24 hours of the fault being discovered.

If it is not possible to repair or replace the faulty components immediately, the “Responsible Person” should carry out a risk assessment to determine if any additional measures should be put in place until full performance is restored - these might include putting in place a waking watch or relocating the building occupants or employees until repairs can be carried out.

n How do you maintain AOV systems?

supply is cut off. Depending on a number of factors, the back-up power supply may be required for anything between 4 hours and 72 hours. The back-up time depends on:

• the type of power source

• the type of system

• the building use

• the presence of on-site maintenance or emergency call out contract.

More detail is available from EN 12101-10. Our engineers are fully equipped to test battery health.

At the 6-monthly checks, your smoke control maintenance provider should be doing a full functionality check which takes into consideration cause & effect, checking the correct airflows, opening and closing times, battery charge rates, motor resistance levels, water tightness and more.

Your annual maintenance visit will include all the above as well as additional performance tests. To verify that the system is still performing at the level required, a certificate will be issued to you at this time.

n Complete smoke control maintenance from Colt.

n How often should AOVs be serviced and tested?

In order to meet the requirements of the RRO and BS: 7346-8, AOVs need to be serviced by a competent person at least once a year.

At weekly checks and tests, it should be determined that all vents are opening and closing correctly when activated and that any fans in the system are running at the required speeds. Any back-up generators also need to be checked and tested accordingly. Any faults on the control panel should be investigated and cleared or reported. Likewise, anything unusual in the system operation should also be reported and dealt with, for example, very slow damper operation or an unusual fan/motor noise.

For monthly maintenance checks, it should be checked whether the back-up power supply automatically kicks in if the system’s primary power

Thorough smoke control maintenance by a competent specialist is crucial to keeping your building and its occupants safe. If you have a building with AOVs and need help with checking or maintaining them, Colt can help.

As well as offering help with 6-monthly and annual maintenance requirements, we can also assist with weekly and monthly checks - with engineers stationed all around the country we are never far away. Talk to us about your needs to find out how we can help. Email us at service@uk.coltgroup.com or call us on 02392 491735.

www.coltinfo.co.uk

Images © Colt

Introducing the Ei3030the next evolution in Home Life Safety

Introducing the newest innovation in Multi-Sensor alarms from Aico, the Ei3030 Multi-Sensor Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm. The flagship alarm in Aico’s technologically advanced 3000 Series, the Ei3030 combines individual Optical, Heat and CO sensors, for the ultimate fire and CO response.

Aico continues to evolve its offering to provide products that align with its customer’s requirements while maintaining the simplicity that Installers love. The Ei3030 multi-sensor Fire and CO specifications include:

• Fire Response - The device contains a Thermistor Heat Sensor and high-performance Optical Sensor that intelligently work together, but will also operate independently.

• CO Response - The proven electrochemical CO Sensor provides an accurate CO response. The CO response is in line with BS EN 50291-1:2018.

• Visual Indicators - The Ei3030 has visual Fire and CO indicators. The relevant indicator flashes depending on what has triggered the alarm.

• Kitemarks – This device holds Kitemarks for British Standards BS EN 14604:2005, BS 5446-2:2003 and BS EN 50291-1:2018.

Michael Wright, Product Development Manager at Aico comments, “The Ei3030 continues Aico’s pioneering development of Multi-Sensor Fire and CO alarms for domestic properties by offering both Multi-Sensor fire detection and CO detection from one alarm. This maximises coverage whilst making installation simpler and easier. The alarm sits alongside the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat and CO alarm, meaning users can achieve combined fire and CO coverage for all areas of the home from our flagship 3000 Series”

The Ei3030 also has a range of additional benefits, including built-in dust compensation technology. The unique self-monitoring dust compensation mechanism reduces the risk of false alarms. The optical sensor chamber continually self-monitors

minute changes in dust levels, automatically recalibrating the alarm’s trigger point when necessary to reduce false alarms. The Ei3030 can also be fitted in any room where both Fire and CO protection is required (excluding the kitchen) meaning coverage can be provided with fewer alarms.

Like all alarms in the 3000 series, the Ei3030 utilises an easi-fit base, is mains powered, has a 10-year rechargeable lithium cell backup, and is compatible with other Aico mains-powered units. The device is also compatible with the Ei3000MRF Module for wireless interconnection and data extraction via the Ei1000G Gateway.

The Ei3030 also includes Aico’s award-winning AudioLINK+ technology, making it simple to gain data directly from the alarm head via the AudioLINK+ app, reporting on information such as alarm activations, sensor status and record of testing.

The Ei3030 will be available to order from the 8th of May 2023, to keep up to date with the launch please visit - www.aico.co.uk

Images © Aico

The Ei3030 Multi-Sensor Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm

Bathroom design for stroke rehabilitation

According to the Stroke Association there are 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK. Here, Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, a leading provider of inclusive solutions, shows how housing association bathrooms can accommodate the needs of stroke survivors.

While the needs of those who have suffered a stroke can vary dramatically, there are three basic design principles that can help create a safe bathroom adaptation that works for the stroke survivor and their wider family. Think about a design that provides physical support, puts products in the most logical places – for instance, keeping shower gel in the shower etc. – and that minimises clutter.

Wash basins - these should always be fixed securely to a wall and not freestanding. Similarly, towel rails need to be strong and fixed to the wall for added stability.

Fold up grab rails - these, combined with toilet roll holders, are an ideal way to maximise space, whilst offering even more stability aids for a stroke survivor. The grab rails should be installed on both sides of any furniture and need to be of the type that they can be put away against the wall if needed, allowing greater access around the space.

Taps - the needs of the individual will dictate the choice of taps. For example, for a stroke survivor with paralysis on one side, a mixer tap would be a better choice as this can be operated with one hand, however for someone with significant cognitive damage, a mixer tap is more confusing than two separate taps.

Underfloor heating - to avoid exposed pipework and radiators, underfloor heating is ideal. Opt for low surface temperature radiators if underfloor heating is not possible however, so that burn injuries are prevented.

“With a well-designed inclusive bathroom, installers can ensure the stroke survivor has maximum accessibility, giving them the best possible space to adjust to their changing needs and to promote their recovery.”

Flooring - non-slip flooring is essential and patterns or flecks should be avoided, as these can be visually challenging for those with cognitive damage or visual impairments.

Tiling - muted colours and patterned tiles are best avoided as these can cause visual confusion. Contrast can be used however to distinguish between different surfaces.

Showers - the controls need to be simple to understand and easy to use with one hand operation. There should also be obvious up and down buttons for temperature and flow control.

AKW SmartCare Plus Electric Care Shower is BEAB CARE approved and RNIB accredited and offers these features.

With a well-designed inclusive bathroom, installers can ensure the stroke survivor has maximum accessibility, giving them the best possible space to adjust to their changing needs and to promote their recovery.

For inclusive bathroom ideas for stroke survivors, visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk/akw-creates-strokebathroom-guide/

For more information contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Images © AKW

Floors for Good Quality Social Homes

The need to deliver a supportive, good quality interior at a low cost presents difficulties in the selection of flooring within social housing projects. Speed of installation, homely design, easy maintenance and durability all at a low cost, is not something every floor can deliver.

Beauflor sheet vinyl flooring offers an attractive finish across a wide range of popular natural looks with benefits for the developer and tenant alike. For the housing association, it’s cost-effective, fast to install and durable helping to deliver value throughout its life cycle. Tenants benefit from a homely and comfortable floor that’s hygienic, easy to maintain, safe to walk on and which has the potential to support their feeling of wellbeing.

As a multi-layer design floor that’s supplied on roll, Beauflor sheet vinyl floors are an affordable entry-point into natural look flooring. The ‘cut to fit’ sheet format means quick installation across the collection. In many domestic rooms, Beauflor sheet vinyl floors can even be laid without glue, cutting down on material costs and time.

The benefits of fast installation are made even more apparent in floors that feature a textile backing, such as Resitex. These can be installed loose lay in areas up to 35m2 over a range of substrates, including tile and timber floors. This capability also makes them a good choice for refurbishment.

The construction of vinyl floors makes them durable, with the thickness of wear layer determining the longevity of the floor in use. For example, the manufacturer’s most hardwearing floor Xtreme, is still cost-effective but has a Class 34 rating, making it suitable for heavy commercial use.

All of the Beauflor collections suitable for social housing also feature a Premium Coating low maintenance finish. Making the floor more resistant to dirt, stains and scratches, it extends the durability of the floor and therefore helps to ensure a longer life before replacement is needed. For the tenant, the floor is easy to clean using water and mild detergent, without any specialist products or periodic maintenance.

The multi-layer composition of sheet vinyl also allows modification of the floor to improve other comfort factors. Underfoot comfort, acoustics and thermal performance can all be improved with a specification of Beauflor vinyl flooring. In fact, specialist acoustic solutions, like Sonipro, can provide up to 19dB of impact sound reduction, making them an excellent choice for multi-occupancy housing projects.

The low slip nature of sheet vinyl also creates a safer environment for tenants. A sensible measure for all social housing, this is particularly important where reduced mobility needs to be considered. Beauflor floors provide a surer feeling underfoot, while also allowing the easy passage of wheelchairs thanks to a smooth finish. The company offers R11 finishes suitable for domestic and public use.

Creating a home-like feel for any tenant is paramount in the selection of flooring for social housing and Beauflor’s collections provide a wide range of familiar, natural and home-like looks. From wood designs for social and living spaces, including popular herringbone patterns, to contemporary stone and concrete for bathrooms; Beauflor provides a look that helps tenants feel at home which has a positive impact on emotional wellbeing.

All Beauflor vinyl floors are made in Belgium using a REEACH compliant supply chain to ensure a floor free from hazardous substances, including harmful ortho-phthalates. The manufacturer has also implemented a range of fossil fuel reductions and savings in energy use, including the installation of solar panels, the switch to LED lighting and heat recovery processing. Production waste is also recycled into other products and efficiency improvements have driven down waste by 33%.

Beauflor has a UK-based team that can help you to develop a high-quality flooring specification for your social housing project. They will work with you to identify the flooring needs of your project and to develop a specification to provide a cost-effective and durable flooring solution that plays its part in a safe, good quality home.

For more information, visit www.beauflor.com/gb/en/social-housing

“Creating a home-like feel for any tenant is paramount in the selection of flooring for social housing and Beauflor’s collections provide a wide range of familiar, natural and home-like looks.”

Images © Beauflor

Blacktex Laurel Oak

Resitex Nottingham

Xtreme Lannion

Quintex Treviso

Radiators work well with heat pumps...official!

The rise and rise of the heat pump is seeing the need for larger and higher capacity radiators. Stelrad has responded to these needs by broadening its already massive range for its most popular radiators and the introduction of a wider range of vertical radiators. It is also meeting the enhanced need for its K3 radiators – with three panels and three fins - offering 50% more heating capacity from a radiator with the same footprint as a K2 format radiator, for example.

As heat pumps become more widely accepted and increasingly used in new build developments around the country, the use of K3 radiators is expected to multiply many times over until they are almost the ‘norm’ for UK homes.

Much thought has gone into the latest radiator developments and it’s all to ensure that the radiators available from Stelrad are ‘fit for the future’ – able to continue providing the levels of heat required in homes in the UK to keep everyone comfortable.

And good news for buyers and specifiers of radiators – Stelrad has announced a more than 30% price reduction in its K3 radiators with effect from 1st May 2023.

Low temperature heating systems have brought with them perhaps understandable questions that installers and specifiers want answers to. Can we still use products we use now with traditional boiler driven heating systems if the heat source is a heat pump? Is there anything we need to consider that we take for granted nowadays? The answer is of course yes – we need to look closely at how to ensure that the heat generated is shared effectively in the new home or the existing home that is having its heating system upgraded.

In new build housing, using a heat pump-based solution is a relatively simple solution. The heating system can be designed into the home at the outset so you know the parameters in which the heating system has to operate – the method of construction, the size of the rooms, the number, type and size of doors and windows – so the heat loss calculations can be done up front and radiators sized accordingly. The levels of insulation can be agreed at the outset that will provide the best support for any heating system chosen, whether radiators or underfloor heating. The key to radiators operating well in any situation is to size them properly at the outset, which involves accurately working out heat loss calculations to achieve the necessary number of BTUs required to provide comfort heating in each room and to select a radiator that can provide that level of heating.

“...can radiators work well with air source heat pumps? Very definitely yes, they can - and they already are in a host of installations across the UK.”

Stelrad offers a simple to use and free radiator sizing and heat loss calculator along with a Renewables Advice page on its website at www.stelrad.ie. Facts and helpful information are also shared through a free to take CPD also available on its website, to anyone.

So, do we need to ditch radiators altogether and look for alternatives as some are suggesting?

The answer is a resounding no. Radiators are very much ‘fit for the future’ but as always, correct sizing will need to be undertaken to ensure that they keep the home warm and cosy.

But can radiators work well with air source heat pumps? Very definitely yes, they can - and they already are in a host of installations across the UK. Head for www.stelrad.com for more information. You can call for information on 0844 543 6200 or email marketing@stelrad.com. Alternatively, you can also see regular updates from Stelrad on Twitter @Stelrad and Facebook @StelradRadiators.

Images © Stelrad

Planar K3 (also inset above)

Compact with Style K3

Compact K3 - three panels and three finsideal for use with heat pump systems

Creating safer, sustainable homes with electric care showers

With the cost-of-living soaring and multi-generational living on the rise, ensuring homes are safe and fit for purpose, as well as sustainable will be key to supporting tenants through these difficult times.

Martyn Brown, Contracts & Technical Manager at Triton Showers, discusses why bathrooms and electric care showers ought to be the starting point in this movement.

It goes without saying that times are tough. Inflation is at its highest, gas supplies are at their lowest, and a cold winter is predicted to cause spiralling costs and energy bills over the coming months. Weighing up whether to ‘eat or heat’ is the uncomfortable reality that faces a significant proportion of the nation.

Multi-generational living has been steadily rising, but owing to these recent developments, the trend is starting to accelerate rapidly. Young people are now not only choosing not to move out, but they are also opting to move back in with family too. Homes with grandchildren, parents and grandparents could be a new way of living for many for years to come as they pool resources together.

For housing associations, this trend is not new, and adaptation of housing stock is an everyday occurrence. However, with multiple generations under one roof and differing needs to cater for, the key is getting the right solutions to fit everybody first time. This is vitally important in bathrooms, one of the busiest rooms in the home. and especially pertinent to one particular appliance – showers.

By retrofitting the right solution that is inclusive and fits with peoples’ needs, or indeed, fitting an optimal model from the get-go, showering becomes a lot safer for tenants and also, more sustainable. In households with vulnerable users, i.e., elderly, disabled or young people, the benefits of having safe showering solutions are even more pronounced. With a unit that performs well and is adapted for tenants’ needs, occupants can feel confident that they can start or end their day comfortably and accidents such as slipping are prevented. Meanwhile, issues like not having enough hot water and/or pressure, or being able to operate the controls easily, do not become a daily inconvenience.

n Omnicare – an all-encompassing care shower

For housing providers looking to adapt housing stock with fit-for-purpose showers, or developers building new stock, this is where Triton’s Omnicare range can make all the difference.

BEAB Care Mark approved, all Omnicare models are equipped with innovations such as thermostatic temperature control to prevent scalding and sudden drops in water temperature, regulating to within +/-1°C. Additionally, to help users of all abilities wash easily and safely, all products in the range are RNIB accredited and include audible feedback and tactile controls such as a looped lever handle and soft press start/stop button.

There are a variety of other accessories that can add further assurance against slips, trips and falls too. This includes multi-purpose grab riser rail kits to support people who may be unsteady on their feet, or remote start/stop controls that allow operation from outside a cubicle, which can be handy for carers.

n Service is essential

Another factor for housing associations to take into consideration is service. If there are breakdowns that impact appliances as important as showers, tenants feel the effects immediately, so they must be rectified as quick as possible.

“...with multiple generations under one roof and differing needs to cater for, the key is getting the right solutions to fit everybody first time. This is vitally important in bathrooms, one of the busiest rooms in the home.”

Omnicare Design Thermostic Electric Care Shower with Grab Riser Rail.

For this reason, alongside choosing the right products, reliability and a manufacturer’s service offer must be considered when looking at bathroom specification. Better cooperation between housing suppliers and manufacturers leads to improved outcomes for occupants, and points to be aware of include certifications and accreditations, third-party testing on products, and servicelevel agreements (SLAs).

Triton’s showers have a failure rate of less than 1%, making them an incredibly reliable when installed correctly. For added peace of mind, Triton operates a nationwide team of service engineers, providing a ‘Fast Track Service’ that guarantees a response and visit within 72 hours. This ensures that a rapid replacement is guaranteed if ever required.

Understandably, speed of installation is another major factor when quick turnarounds are required or mass adaptations undertaken. With multiple cable and water entry points, the Omnicare series can help make retrofit applications quicker and simpler.

n Sustainable showering

Not only do housing providers need to look at showers from a safety perspective, but they also need to look at how showers fit into other important agendas. This includes helping tenants financially and assisting in the fight against climate change. Recent statistics suggest that the latter is more important to the public too, with more than eight in ten people (86%) saying that protecting the environment was important to them (People and Nature Survey for England).

Electric care showers meet both of these requirements, as they help save money by reducing energy and water consumption. Heating water via electricity has long been the most efficient method, and with the Omnicare showers featuring an ‘A’

energy rating, this means tenants can lower their spend. Along with this, it gives peace of mind that they are doing their bit in the global warming challenge.

In Triton’s latest research, for example, it found using an electric shower costs nearly a third less than a mixer shower, and can reduce carbon footprint by 70%. The findings were based a five-minute shower and compare an 8.5 kW electric model to a mixer fed by an A-rated combi boiler outputting 12 l/min, with the analysis also showing users can reduce energy usage by 76% and save just over 40 litres of water.

In earlier research, Triton also uncovered that an electric shower can also help an average family of four conserve up to 48,000 litres of water when compared to alternatives.

n It’s time to go electric

With more people switching to multi-generational living, bathroom safety will be a crucial focus as this movement gathers pace. With cost-concerns continuing to rise also, housing associations will need to do everything in their power to support tenants through this winter and beyond.

Electric showers are a significant element to solving these issues. Having a reliable, safe showering solution like Triton’s Omnicare electric care shower not only protects against accidents, but also takes away any undue stress – serving an important function in saving energy, water, money, and ultimately, our planet.

For more information about Triton and its Omnicare range of energy efficient thermostatic electric care showers, please visit: www.tritonshowers.co.uk/showers-taps/care-showers

Omnicare Design Thermostatic Electric Care Shower in situ. Inset left: Omnicare Grab Riser Rail

“For housing providers looking to adapt housing stock with fit-for-purpose showers, or developers building new stock, this is where Triton’s Omnicare range can make all the difference.”

Images © Triton

Reducing shower downtime in Midlothian Housing

As a social housing landlord, Midlothian Council owns and maintains over 7000 rented homes across the South East of Scotland, stretching from Penicuik to Dalkeith. The properties, maintained by the inhouse Building Maintenance Service, are available to residents of varying ages and with varying accessibility requirements, meaning all bathrooms must be adapted to facilitate independence.

However, with ongoing quality issues stemming from previous suppliers, shower breakdowns were becoming an increasing issue. As a result, the council was receiving a growing number of tenant complaints due to disruption caused by product downtime. In many cases, faults could not be easily fixed due to long lead times for replacement parts, meaning the whole unit would require replacement – causing a rise in maintenance costs and an unsustainable outlay.

n A promising partnership

With extensive experience in specifying accessible showering solutions across multi-location housing associations and the care sector, Ron Henderson, Senior Sales Manager – Scotland & North England – at Triton, worked with Scott McCormack, Stores Officer at Midlothian Council, to find a long-term solution. The partnership began in October 2021, with Ron recommending Triton’s Omnicare Ultra thermostatic shower – a versatile, safe, and easy-tofit model that offers ease of showering for a range of capabilities. With the combined principles of design, safety and simplicity, the shower includes thermostatic temperature control and a soft press, audible stop/start button for tactical operation and ease of use.

After a successful trial, 53 showers were initially installed across properties in the council’s district, with a further 40-50 showers being installed every month since.

Ron Henderson said: “The Omnicare Ultra has provided a great solution for Midlothian Council’s inclusivity requirements. With no need to change pipework, the simple installation process allowed us to fit replacements quickly and with minimal disruption.

Beauflor heads to Housing 2023

With sheet vinyl floors that offer benefits for housebuilders, developers, local authorities and housing associations, as well as tenants; Beauflor will be one of the exhibitors at this June’s Housing 2023 show in Manchester. The three-day show is Europe’s largest housing festival and sees delegates attend to collaborate, learn and converse on what needs to be achieved to improve the lives of people the sector houses.

Beauflor will use Housing 2023 to introduce its sheet vinyl floors to the sector and demonstrate how these can meet the quality and affordability challenges of the sector, while providing tenants with a floor that’s homely, comfortable and easy to look after. Through Beauflor Pro ranges that offer commercial performance levels in domestic looks, providers can ensure a floor that’s not just lasting but one that also helps to create a good quality home for tenants.

On show will be vinyl floors that can meet the requirements of all types of housing. Cost-effective and fast to install thanks to a sheet format, ranges such as Blacktex, Quintex, Smartex and Xtreme provide a surface that’s not only durable, but also simple to maintain and which stays looking good throughout use. Combined with natural wood and tile designs, as well as popular modern looks like concrete and terrazzo, the result is an attractive floor that tenants find easy to live. And with enhanced

“As the Omnicare range has a failure rate well below 1%, issues have been few and far between, while our enhanced repair service has provided added reassurance that a Triton engineer can be on site to resolve any faults and supply spare parts on the same day, if needed.

“I was also able to fast track the delivery and installation process by using distributors that were already on the council’s procurement list, as well as suggesting shower accessories – such as support railings – to help improve accessibility further, where required.”

“The Omnicare Ultra has provided a great solution for Midlothian Council’s inclusivity requirements. With no need to change pipework, the simple installation process allowed us to fit replacements quickly and with minimal disruption.”

Scott McCormack Stores Officer at the Midlothian Council added: “Product failure has dropped substantially since our partnership with Triton began. On top of this, Triton’s same day repair service means shower downtime has been kept to a minimum, avoiding any ongoing disruption.

“Ron has been extremely helpful throughout the entire process, from setting up the partnership, through to coordinating distribution channels and providing installer training for new starters. We look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.”

For more information about Triton Showers and its range of Omnicare electric care showers, please visit: www.tritonshowers.co.uk/omnicare-electric-range

“...providers can ensure a floor that’s not just lasting but one that also helps to create a good quality home for tenants.”

benefits, such as improved noise absorption and slipresistance or suitability for high-traffic public areas, providers can create a floor specification that works for every room and every type of housing.

Beauflor ranges are also the only sheet vinyl floors available for social housing five-metre wide. Free from seams after installation in all but the largest of public areas, the seamless finish provides a 100% water-resistant and a more authentic natural look.

Chris Roberts, regional sales director, Beauflor says: “We’re excited to be exhibiting at Housing 2023 as it gives us a chance to engage with providers and demonstrate how our sheet vinyl floors are the ideal solution for social and affordable homes.”

You can find Beauflor at Stand D59 Housing 2023, 27-29 June, Manchester Central. For more information, visit www.beauflor.co.uk

Image © Midlothian Council

Beauflor® will be taking its sheet vinyl floor collections to Europe’s largest housing festival.

Image © Beauflor

Forbo Allura: innovative commercial LVT made with passion

In response to the ever-changing trends in commercial design, Forbo Flooring Systems has refreshed its popular Allura Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) collection. Introducing new on-trend shapes, plank sizes and a range of contemporary designs, the new collection provides specifiers and architects with an array of innovative and fresh LVT designs to create modern, yet practical flooring schemes. The range includes a brand new, highly contemporary gradient wood plank, which features a graded light to dark design at random intervals of the plank, as well as a twine wood effect, a hybrid between wood, stone and textile. At the other end of the spectrum abstract designs such as the new digitally printed Sky and Cloud designs.

The new collection also sees the launch of a series of new plank and tile sizes including a modern, elegant 75x15cm plank in a palette of 10 colourways to help accentuate the laying pattern and designed to meet the demands of the growing herringbone trend, as well as larger 150x20cm planks in serene oak and twine designs. There are new tile sizes too, 100x50cm and 75x25cm, which broaden the possibilities of flooring design further.

In the development of the new Allura collection, Forbo continued its work in increasing the sustainability of its portfolio. Produced in Europe based on zero waste principles and using 100% green electricity, Allura is 100% phthalate free, REACH compliant and contains up to 30% recycled content.

FORBO FLOORING SYSTEMS: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/allura

Altro Tegulis creates colourful, homely feel for Sanctuary Housing

Altro Tegulis tile-effect wall panels have added a splash of colour with a luxury feel in Sanctuary Housing’s latest affordable development.

Sanctuary Housing, a large housing association based in Worcester, wanted to explore wall cladding rather than tiles for the kitchens and bathrooms in their latest affordable housing complex of 16 flats. This need was driven by the shortage of tiling contractors in the local area and the risk of tiles and grout getting dirty very quickly.

“The look and feel we wanted was a hotel-type design, and we were considering something more colourful and decorative. We have used Altro Whiterock before and have always found it to be a great product in high traffic areas, giving us a lot of confidence in its performance. We were really pleased to discover Altro Tegulis,” says Neil Ruecroft, Head of Construction at Sanctuary Group.

Altro Tegulis™ tile-effect wall panels offer the ideal alternative to traditional tiles for wet rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and retail spaces. With a range of tile-effect patterns offering a grout-free alternative to tiles, Altro Tegulis offers a more familiar feeling than traditional wall panel sheets.

“Altro talked us through all the colour and tile-effect combinations of Altro Tegulis and then provided us with mock-up designs for the bathrooms which looked really good,” explains Neil. “We decided to give it a go and Altro put us in touch with MI Contracts, Altro Whiterock Premier Installers who were highly experienced in using Altro Whiterock.”

ALTRO: www.altro.co.uk

Image © Forbo Flooring Systems

Image © Altro

Public Sector Construction: is best value longevity and performance - or reducing costs?

Construction projects in the public sector are often subject to intense pressure to cut costs, forcing them to maximise value for money. Yet, this drive for cost-effectiveness can sometimes come at the expense of the longevity and performance of certain aspects within the finished structure.

With the current state of the economy consistently pinching at the purse strings, the focus on cost reduction has intensified, with some public sector construction projects straying away from sustainable specification at no fault of their own.

This can, and has, resulted in a decline in the quality of some public sector buildings, and lack of much needed refurbishment, resulting in buildings which are simply not fit-for-purpose. This then has a knockon effect on the health and wellbeing of occupants, necessitating expensive refurbishment down the line.

n Material Selection

One of the biggest challenges facing the public sector is balancing the need to reduce costs with the requirement to deliver high-quality, long-lasting refurbishments. Lower cost materials with a cheaper up-front cost during specification may, in the long term, result in increased maintenance and a decline in overall value and sustainability. Specifiers must be wary not to discount some solutions which could provide the durability and longevity the project requires – generating whole life cost savings.

Working closely with an experienced and accredited manufacturer from the outset, and selecting the most suitable materials for the project, is paramount. As an expert manufacturer of waterproofing, insulation and soundproofing solutions, Soprema has been making

great strides in sustainability for some time, hitting those performance goals for customers.

Responsible sourcing is also important. Soprema’s XPS recyclable insulation, for example, is produced from recycled polystyrene with climate-friendly CO2 technology. We offer natural insulation materials –such as Pavatex – made from wood residues from sawmills, and Pavatextil P insulation board, made from recycled denim jeans and cotton fibres.

n Lack of Funding

Another factor contributing to the decline in longevity and performance of public sector construction projects is the lack of available funding to invest in maintenance, which can result in reduced performance and increased costs over time.

Public sector projects are continuously under pressure when it comes to making a budget work. The use of lower-skilled labour and the pressure to deliver projects in a shorter timeframe, can also create problems. Yet, no matter the level of workmanship when installing a system, if the product isn’t a high-quality manufactured solution, it will not perform as it should.

At Soprema, all our systems are installed by fully trained, approved contractors; guided by our in-house technical team. Specifying Soprema’s waterproofing systems allows contractors to offer a single point

warranty to the end user for complete peace of mind, as well as best value service life.

n Reducing Emissions

Whilst the battle to reduce costs may be the primary aim, the current sustainability agenda will force many companies to think differently about product longevity and performance. This is thanks to the UK government’s plans to reduce emissions from buildings to meet net zero targets, as our built environment is responsible for 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) recommends the government introduces mandatory whole-life carbon assessments for buildings, sets carbon targets aligned with net zero, prioritises retrofit and reuse over new build, as well as the specification of low-carbon materials. The committee also recommends the development of a retrofit strategy with an upskilling program and emphasises the need for accessible training in whole-life carbon assessments.

n A Balanced Approach

It is clear that public sector construction projects have faced intense pressure to reduce costs in recent years, due to circumstances outside of their control. However, in the quest to cut budgets, some projects have lost sight of the importance of long-term performance and what best value really means for the end client, and end user alike.

At Soprema, we provide proactive solutions at competitive rates to ensure your system provides essential protection throughout the lifecycle of buildings. Whole life cost savings can be found in quality products, backed by a knowledgeable team. And we think that’s the best value for money.

Covering up with Pendock pipe boxing and casings

The Pendock Profiles range of specialist pipe boxing and casing solutions is one of the most comprehensive available, and is already a common feature in countless projects across the UK including heating system refurbishment, boiler upgrades and retro-fit fire sprinkler system installation.

For interior pipework, MX and TK pipe boxing can be used in most general applications, such as heating system or waste pipework, while MXF boxing is a dedicated concealment solution for fire sprinkler systems, where its widespread use is helping speed fire safety improvement projects across the UK.

Where exterior pipework needs to be concealed and protected from the risk of damage or tampering, the CHM and MXM metal pipe boxing range is designed to enclose services and utilities associated with the installation of low carbon district heating schemes, as well as air source or ground source heat pump installations.

Concealing boiler pipework, valves, regulators and filters is equally simple with the BC range of boiler pipe casings, which are designed to be free standing. Four casing options are available, including jointed designs that can be supplied either factory assembled or as components for on-site assembly.

As metal boxing is non-combustible, it is also used to conceal retrofitted interior sprinkler pipework in tower blocks where there are no sprinkler heads, such as in communal areas, to help comply with fire safety requirements.

Except for the metal boxing range, all products are manufactured from preformed plywood and are supplied pre-finished with a white resin impregnated décor paper. This removes the need for time consuming on-site fabrication or painting, which saves time and money, as Pendock boxing can typically be fitted in under half the time of site-made alternatives.

A three-sided channel pipe boxing, the CH range, is also available and is used for covering interior pipework located mid-wall, in both vertical and horizontal applications. Full details on the complete Pendock Profiles family can be found on the company’s website along with downloadable drawings in PDF and DWG formats.

www.pendock.co.uk

Door closer enhances fire safety

British designed and manufactured, Powermatic controlled, concealed door closers are gaining increasing popularity for use on fire doors in high-rise flats, apartments and HMOs.

The door closers carry the UKCA mark and have been independently tested and proved to meet the requirements for one-hour and half-hour fire doors under BS EN 1634-1.

Totally concealed when the door is closed, Powermatic door closers are less susceptible to damage from vandalism or tampering. This gives them a significant advantage over surface mounted door closers when it comes to reliability of the fire door and maintenance costs, making them the right choice for both tenants and social landlords.

Unlike other jamb-mounted devices, Powermatic door closers facilitate a door’s compliance with the accessibility requirements of Approved Document M, are the only Certifire jamb-mounted door closer and do not have to be removed from the door to be adjusted.

SAMUEL HEATH: www.concealeddoors.com

Alternative ventilation for kitchens and bathroom with Titon’s Vent Trex

Titon’s Vent Trex Unit has been in existence for around 20 years now, used primarily in social housing stock for window replacement programs. This unique ventilation unit offers an alternative way to vent bathrooms and kitchens alike, whilst the traditional extract fan has been seen as a relatively low impact option to extract it does have it’s limitations especially when the design and layout of kitchens and bathrooms do not allow for external wall space or limited glazing. Both of the forementioned need to have holes in the fabric of the building as part of the installation process which is not always an option especially in the flats and apartments to be found in the vast number of housing stock.

The Vent Trex offers a solution to those properties whereby external space is a premium in the layout of Kitchens and Bathrooms alike, however can be used as a standard for wet room venting. The Vent Trex unit can be attached to the top frame of a window unit, be it UVPC, Timber, Aluminium, a 30mm reduction of the window frame height allows for the Vent Trex unit. Mechanical ventilation via the Vent Trex in the frame is achieved, this method saves having to drill holes in the external walls or having to cut a hole in the glazing unit. With condensation and mould being high on the agenda of the majority of social housing bodies the Vent Trex offers a different way to help combat moisture creation in the wet rooms. In recent years the true cost of poor ventilation in social housing is now impacting on all parties involved. Whilst the condensation issue is not new for maintenance and repair teams across the country, the profile has risen to alarming levels. The Vent Trex Unit gives a unique flexible and variable solution, coming in various sizes covering openings up to 3 meter wide, would be suitable for window replacement programs often seen as part of the planned works or special works.

“...Pendock boxing can typically be fitted in under half the time of site-made alternatives.”

Image © Pendock

Image © Titon

Image © Samuel Heath

Britain’s Current Housing Stock

To many working in social housing - and those living in these properties - it will be evident that there is a problem with a lot of the current housing stock, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Many of these problems relate to damp, condensation and mould, with The English Housing Survey for Housing Quality and Condition1 claiming that 3.5 million occupied homes were not suitable and did not meet the Decent Homes Standard in 2020, with 4% having serious damp issues.

This can lead to a number of health-related problems, such as asthma, COPD, and can, in the worse circumstances, be fatal. It is estimated to cost the NHS £38 million2 to treat the impact of damp.

Tenants First

To protect tenants, a new law came into force in 2019 to ensure rented properties are ‘fit for human habitation’. This means that houses must be safe, healthy, and free from things that could cause serious harm – otherwise the landlords can face high remedial costs and fines. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 helps tenants and landlords by making sure that their rental property isn’t causing them to live in dangerous or unhealthy conditions.

Landlords, Housing Associations and Social Housing providers have a duty of care to rectify issues raised by tenants. And one of the major issues is damp or mould – an issue that still has not been rectified. And this isn’t something you can leave to the tenant to fix; it is the legal responsibility of the landlord to make sure their properties are fit for people to live in.

The Solution

SprayCork, from CorkSol UK, is a sustainable and eco-friendly sprayed cork coating for walls and ceilings that raises the temperature of the surface. This moves the dew point which helps to eliminate condensation forming on surfaces.

As it is an extremely thin coating, applied at 6-8mm with skim, it is the ideal solution for retrofitting properties with mould issues. It also improves the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the property, providing tenants with a healthy and safe space to live, and peace of mind to the landlord.

The thin layer at which the product is applied makes it perfect for:

• Small rooms and tight spaces where thicker layers cause unacceptable reduction in room size

• Properties with historic internal architectural details, which should not be concealed behind thick layers of insulation for conservation reasons

• Properties on a tight budget, who do not want the extra cost, time and hassle of repositioning services such as electrical points and radiators

The Problem With Mould Black mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditions and produces spores. These are allergens, meaning they can cause various allergic reactions. It is why inhaling or touching them can cause health issues or make existing conditions worse.

The spores allow mould to keep reproducing and growing. They are always present in the air and effectively nothing that can be done about this. So it is important to deny the spores the water they need to form into mould itself.

It is possible to reduce some of the moisture in the air, but as it comes from activities such as breathing and cooking, it will never be fully eliminated. So, it is important to improve the ventilation of the property, and then the insulation.

“SprayCork, from CorkSol UK, is a sustainable and eco-friendly sprayed cork coating for walls and ceilings that raises the temperature of the surface. This moves the dew point which helps to eliminate condensation forming on surfaces.”

We have recently launched a new CPD course focused on Black Spot Mould. It is delivered remotely or on-site by our new Specification Sales Manager, James Erskine. This course looks at the causes and associated risks of black spot mould, along with some of the methods of treatment. If you would like to participate on the course or discuss how SprayCork can help solve mould problems within your housing portfolio, then contact us today on 01484 442 420

www.corksoluk.com

1 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1088447/ EHS_Housing_quality_and_condition_report_2020.pdf

2 https://bregroup.com/press-releases/bre-report-finds-poor-housing-is-costing-nhs-1-4bn-a-year/

Images © Corksol