REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | INTERVIEW
Breaking down barriers How is Viessmann planning to support gas engineers through the forthcoming energy transition, the UK’s steps to net zero, and the shape of new appliances? Registered Gas Engineer finds out.
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as engineers who are thinking of moving into fitting heat pumps do face barriers: whether it’s the additional certification they need so that their customers can claim government grants and funding, or that they’re simply not familiar with the technology. Viessmann is keen to help them break down those barriers. Managing director Graham Russell says gas engineers are already more than capable of connecting a heat pump system hydraulically, as well as electrically if they are Part P qualified. In fact, he says, entry-level heat pumps have fewer hydraulic connections than a combi boiler. It’s system design and the MCS process that are the main challenges, he says. To help combat these challenges, the company has plans to support gas engineers through their heat pump journey, which it aims to roll out later this
guidance. Its Vitocal 100-A monobloc heat pump, launched last year, is designed so there’s no need for a complementary indoor unit and no F-Gas qualifications are needed to fit it. Connected world But the increased tempo of support for heat pumps doesn’t mean that traditional fuels are being left behind: new boilers are coming this year too. The upgraded Vitodens 100 will be first out of the blocks in spring, followed by the Vitodens 50 later in 2021. Both have the new operating system first seen in the premium boiler launched in late 2019. All models will use the same control logic and include WiFi and RF as standard, and the connectivity to enable them to work with the forthcoming ViCare control system, as well as connecting directly to the internet.
“Engineers will get real-time information about the boiler, along with a log of every action and event on the appliance since it was installed.” year. Graham says: “We want to provide gas engineers with all the background services, the system design software that complies with the MCS process and ability to provide pre-commissioning, final commissioning and sign-off.” The company is itself MCS certified and wants to create the framework and services so that engineers can install a heat pump, by supporting with the design and specification of the installation, through to precommissioning and sign-off. This means that the customer can be sure that the installation is MCS certified and so gain access to the Green Homes Grant or RHI. The company already provides training packages, both on general knowledge and understanding of heat pumps, as well as more product-specific
ViCare includes new components for the whole house ecosystem – including digital TRVs, thermostat and climate sensor. New apps aim to make life easier for engineers as well as their customers. The ViStart commissioning app enables gas engineers to commission the boiler remotely. “It’s a great solution for boilers that have to be fitted in awkward spaces,” says Graham. And the app can connect to the boiler’s WiFi instead of the home’s if required. “ViStart walks you through commissioning the boiler step by step, with a clear display and understandable logic, even if you’ve never commissioned one of our boilers before.” Added-value products are top of mind for Viessmann, and consumers aren’t being left out of
things. Vitoguide software comes with a free ViCare app for homeowners, providing WiFi connectivity and app control so they don’t need to buy an additional home hub. “Consumers will be able to connect smart controls [to be launched later in 2021], room thermostats, room sensors, radiator thermostats and control them through the app. It provides each individual room with its own time and temperature control,” he adds. For gas engineers, Vitoguide provides visibility of the status of all the connected boilers they’ve fitted. When customers register the engineer as their trade partner on the ViCare app, engineers will have real-time information about the status of the boiler, along with a log of every action and event
– such as settings being adjusted – on the appliance since it was installed. “Gas engineers can use the app to see the boiler status and potentially resolve an issue remotely without having to visit their customer. For example, the customer might have fiddled with their control and can’t get the heating on,” says Graham. “It’s all about giving people more flexibility and better value so they don’t have to buy extra hardware or devices: they can just connect directly to the boiler Not only do they have room control but they also get the status of the boiler through the smart control too. “We think it’s a bit of a game-changer.” ■
Partner Portal The Partner Portal is getting an upgrade too. Plans are under way to combine several existing benefits so that they’re all under one roof: training through the Digital Academy, product registration, the loyalty scheme and apps. “We’re adding all our installer added-value services into one place and simplifying the registration process so it’s a single log-on,” says marketing director Darren McMahon.
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