Oil Installer Autumn 2012 by A&D Publishing

Topical issues affecting the industry today www.oftec.org

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Editorial

Contents

Installer opportunities 6-8/The Oil & Renewable Energy Show

ith the Green Deal set to be launched in October this year, registered businesses should be getting ready to take advantage of the new opportunities it will generate.

10-15/Industry News

Making the most of Green Deal

Existing OFTEC registrants can now register as Green Deal installers without the need for any additional qualifications. Under Green Deal, the government aims to retrofit 14 million homes with energy efficiency improvements by 2020. Providers (typically energy companies) will provide the capital for energy saving improvements, recouping their money back through energy bills. Funding will be available for oil-fired condensing boilers, which must be installed by certified Green Deal installers, making sure that improvements will deliver real carbon and energy bill savings.

Lobbying on bioliquids and promoting the oil industry OFTEC is still lobbying the government to make bioliquids part of the Renewable Heat Incentive. At the time of writing, the government has made no announcement to confirm further details. If bioliquids are included, it will enable existing oil customers to switch to a lower carbon fuel with very few system modifications. We are also preparing a consumer marketing initiative to support the oil heating and cooking industry. The campaign will promote the benefits of HE boilers and bunded tanks, while highlighting the many advantages of oil-fired systems for home owners in older and rural properties, for whom renewable options often have very significant disadvantages. See page 11. Finally, don’t forget to come and visit us at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show on 17th-18th October at Manchester Central. OFTEC has negotiated two outstanding deals at popular Manchester hotels – the Mercure and the Radisson Blu Edwardian. Each package includes one night’s accommodation in a double room with breakfast, together with tickets for OFTEC’s Awards for Excellence and the Oil & Renewable Energy Show. Visit the www.venueteam.co.uk/OFTEC for details of the accommodation offer.

18/Firebird News

20/Irish News

21-23/Boiler News

24-29/Tank News

30-31/ Hot Technical Topics

32-34/Training

35-38/Products & Services

40-41/Renewables Best wishes,

42/Gallery Jeremy Hawksley

Credits Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd Caledonian House, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG Tel: +44 (0)1565 653283; Fax: +44 (0)1565 755607 mail@andpublishing.co.uk The publishers gratefully acknowledge the support of those ﬁrms whose advertisements appear throughout this publication. As a reciprocal gesture we have pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to their announcements. It is necessary however for it to be made clear that, whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements it contains, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, or the products or services advertised. Printed by Pelican Press, Manchester Tel: 0161 273 3434

Advertising Publishing manager: Jonathan Hibbert Media pack on request jonathan@oilinstaller.co.uk

News Desk Editor: Jane Hughes jane@oilinstaller.co.uk Features: Liz Boardman and Alex Porter assisted by work placement student, Leo Danihel Autumn 2012 Volume 6 No 3 ISSN 1755-3490 Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 3

The Oil & Renewable Energy

Borne out of technologies working hand in hand to achieve energy efficiency, the show features some of the best respected names in the industry in both the Oil-Fired and Renewable sectors. If you are looking to keep up to date with all the latest developments in the industry including the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and The Green Deal, The Oil & Renewable Energy Show is a must visit for:

• Oil, gas and renewables installers • Specifiers • Technicians • Those interested in self-build • Those interested in renewable technologies Sponsors:

Your FREE ticket entitles you to exhibition entry plus FREE access to practical demonstrations and seminars delivered by industry experts including:

• Panel Debate – The Future of Oil Heating? • Integrating Oil with Renewables • GSHPA – an overview of Ground Source Heat Pumps • RHI – What’s going to happen and when? • Green Deal – What’s it all about

@Oil_Renewable

Show is fast approaching Register now at: www.oilandrenewableenergyshow.co.uk

17th & 18th October 2012 Manchester Central Petersfield | Manchester | M2 3GX For all enquiries regarding exhibiting or marketing opportunities surrounding the event, please call the events sales team on 01565 653 283. From the publishers of:

A perfect mix – oil with renewables Make a note in your calendar as The Oil & Renewable Energy Show is about to return, bigger and better than ever before at Manchester Central on Wednesday 17 – Thursday 18 October Following on from the success of the inaugural show in Coventry in 2010, next month’s Oil & Renewable Energy Show is guaranteed to bring you the latest cutting edge technologies in both the renewable energy and oil sectors. Some of the best known names in renewable energy have chosen to become sponsors of the show including Kingspan Environmental, Worcester Bosch and Plumb Center, whilst other high proﬁle brands have also taken ﬂoor space. Hundreds of visitors have already preregistered for the show which promises to

be the most important event of the year for manufacturers, installers, specifiers and consumers embarking on renovation or selfbuild projects. The breadth of technologies featured at the show is unparalleled with solar thermal, PV, biomass, heat pumps, wind and hydro being showcased alongside the latest oilfired heating equipment. The finishing touches have also been made to an exhaustive two-day seminar series tackling diverse themes such as integrating oil and renewable energy, training for Green Deal, the Renewable Heat Incentive and the use of Energy Performance Certificates. Respected industry commentators will lead the sessions from organisations including YouGen, Glow-worm, ICS, Plumb

Center and NAPIT. The event is being organised by A & D Publishing – publishers of a portfolio of titles including Oil Installer and Renewable Energy Installer. Exhibition director, Jonathan Hibbert, said: “Our show is borne out of technologies working hand in hand to achieve energy efficiency, and, without doubt, it will be the most important event on this year’s calendar for everyone involved in the specifying and installations of oil heating and renewables. “Combined with the exhibition will be an impressive seminar programme, bringing together some of the industry’s most influential, high profile speakers.” Register now for your free ticket at www.oilandrenewableenergyshow.co.uk.

Seminar programme Wednesday 17th October 10.00-11.00 Training for the Green Deal 11.00-12.00 Solar Thermal Technology and its applications 12.00-13.00 Green deal – What’s it all about?

13.00-14.00

Panel Debate – The Future of Oil Heating

14.00-15.00

Integrating Oil with Renewables

15.00-16.00

EPCs – An overview including their use and training Thursday 18th October 09.30-10.00 Welcome Address

10.00-11.00

Renewable Technology Review

11.00-12.00

Best Practice and Technical Review Future Renewable Energy – Are Renewables Right for your Business? RHI – What’s Going to Happen and How Should you Prepare? Ground Source Heat Pumps – An Overview

12.00-13.30

13.30-14.30 14.30-15.30

6 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Pete Roberts (head of mentoring, Easy MCS) Tony Staniforth (speciﬁcation sales director, Kingspan Environmental) Lu Rahman (editor, Renewable Energy Installer) Simon Allen (head of sustainability, Plumb Center) or Tim Pollard (renewables director, Plumb Center) Cathy Debenham (director, YouGen) Jacqui Crawford (director, OFTEC) Jane Hughes (editor, Oil Installer/Fuel Oil News) Mark Askew (CEO, FPS) Jeremy Hawksley (director general, OFTEC) Peter Carter (sales director, Atkinson Equipment) Fiona McDermott (consultant, NNFCC) Barry Gregory (managing director, Riello) Neil Sawyer (technical director, Grant UK) Simon Allen or Tim Pollard (Plumb Center) Chris Clancy (Worcester Bosch) James Dodd (director, The National EPC Company)

Tom Greatorex MP Jeremy Hawksley (director general, OFTEC) Martyn Bridges (technical director, Worcester Bosch) Garry Broadbent (managing director, ICS) Alun Williams (marketing manager, HETAS) Pippa Wibberley (commercial director, Glow-worm) Paul Rose (technical director, OFTEC) Watson Carlill (director, Future Renewable Energy) Andy Buchan (director, Future Renewable Energy) Lu Rahman (editor, Renewable Energy Installer) Cathy Debenham (director, YouGen), (NAPIT) Dave Matthews (chief executive, GSHPA)

Benefiting from a multi-technology approach Featured in the very first issue of Oil Installer, Dave Ewins of Davanna Heating has been embracing oil and renewable energy technologies for five years. He recently appeared in Renewable Energy Installer to discuss a ground source heat pump installation, and says his business has benefited from a multi-technology approach. The number of renewable jobs increased after Dave reached the National Heat Pump Awards final. He works with solar thermal technology and ground source heat pumps, while continuing to enjoy installing Worcester and Firebird oil boilers.

Signiﬁcant fuel savings Recent work has included combining traditional oil heating with renewables. One job involved installing a solar thermal system linked to an oil-ﬁred boiler. Dave explained: “On sunny days the system is making a large solar gain, so the oil boiler seldom cuts in. The family had four kids so there was a large hot water demand, yet

they were still making signiﬁcant fuel savings.” Based in Cornwall, the business is well placed to work on a range of prestigious properties including new builds, second homes and hotels, with clients more receptive to spending money on renewables.

Thinking ahead Dave admitted: “We try to install solar cylinders wherever we can. Otherwise in two years we will have redundant cylinders, which is a huge waste. We are already putting in solar pipework in all new builds. We’re thinking ahead because in two years this will be normal practise.” Whilst always keen to win jobs installing oil boilers, Dave does discuss the long term beneﬁts of renewables with the customer; including money savings, adding

value to the property and being more environmentally friendly. He added: “I love the oil industry and am in favour of oilﬁred boilers but it would be nice if reliability could be brought up to the standard of the gas boilers we also ﬁt. You can install an oil boiler immaculately and still be called back because of a pump failure, whereas with gas you often only go back to

service them. Worcester is very impressive because they have dedicated back-up teams and will send out engineers.” Dave looks to be employing a winning approach – and the proof is in the invoices. He said: “I enjoy working with the full range of technologies. The only downside of my job is the everincreasing paperwork!”

Knowledge: He

at pumps

Sweet smell of su

ccess

How Sentinel helped a Cornish very smelly pro ground source blem hea

t pump installe

r overcome a

ave Ewins and Neil Orient, of range of water Davanna Heatin treatment produ g, Truro install cts and its bespoke glycol renewable heatin caused by bacter -based heat pump g systems – ia and fungi in fluids. solar thermal The smell highli heat pump systems – was and air source ghted the very pumps. Havin added to the system heat real need to sanitise groun g installed these by Ewins, Orient and the d loops before systems for a while, they had Sentinel team filling them with glycol based the opportunity and the bacter activity reduc fl recent ial uid. Unless the bacter install their first ly to ed to very low and debris that ground source ia levels over just an hour. Each has accumulated heat pump (GSHP). They of the three loops was in the loops is flushed out turned to Sentin dosed independently and the system el – a company whose products to sanitis clear the ed, bacter problems and the they had used ia which ‘eat’, ensure it was for years – to thrive and multip offer support. practical to contin rapidly on the ly ue the glycol based thermal glycol in the fl fluid fill, using uid, will rapidl The drillers had degrade the glycol Sentinel R500C y installed three which gives freeze mix and at best 90 metre 40mm ground protection down reduce the energy efficiency loops, and Ewins to -15C and the bacter of the system and Orient installed the heade ia level was again significantly and at worst cause rs to the prope tested. Based on ATP Assay the system to rty and the Nibe heat pump , the activity was block, freeze and fail to delive that drives the now zero. r the energy effi Ewins said: “It system. The ground loops cient heat was really eye-op the system has had been install ening and encouraging been designed ed six months prior to Sentin to see a suppli to deliver. In addition, it will el’s involvement er showing so much interest be far more diffi . At the time the foundations in training install cult to flush out the degra had been dug ers. Sentinel has been really ded glycol mix for the property and left, whilst helpful and I will and clean the system at that the building was certainly be using its produ stage – far better built. As you might cts whenever to start off with a squeaky expect from a we install GSHPs in the clean system system left that long, the future. We witne that only needs regular upkee first flush of the ssed quite graphically the p. heat pump pipes resulted in a horrifi problems assoc The Cornish GSHP c ‘bad eggs’ smell iated with GSHP installations installation was that saw the plant room – and smelt them still not clean evacuated and too! It’s clear to me to go after flushing left to ventilate for a couple of that the Sentin with clean mains water. hours before it el renewables range has been High levels of was possible return to the job. bacteria were designed with to measured by It was immediately a very high understanding Sentinel that showe clear that there had been of the issues involv d that the six months of significant bacter ed and with a product for every standing dorma ial growth in the loops – exactl nt need in the install had seen a major infestation y the kind of proble ation process from of micro-bacte m that has caused proble flushing the system rial growt and h more attention ms in ground , sanitising it and filling it source heat was needed to pump installations with a robust return it to a state where glycol based in the past. This fluid that will the installation is also the reason why Sentin deliver the high could safely be continued. efficiency el developed its heating that people Sentinel R700 renewables – a sanitiser and investing in heat biocide produ technology expec pump ct that eliminates t. I’ve been very the problems impressed with the whole process.”

48 | www.re newab

Stinking situati on: Dave Ewins, Davan na Heating. The company received valuable help from Sentinel during a smelly GSHP install ation

leenergyinstall

er.co.uk

Oil Installer autumn 2007 – Dave celebrates success in the 2007 OFTEC awards for excellence with wife Anna. More recently Dave’s work was featured in Renewable Energy Installer

Oil plus solar thermal – a prize installation Dave Shaw, of South Coast Solar, won first prize in the Greenstar oil-fired boiler installation category at the 12th annual Environment 2020 Awards, hosted by Worcester, Bosch Group. His project, installing an energy-efficient Greenstar 25/32 oilfired system boiler alongside a Greenskies solar thermal system on a beachfront bungalow in Downderry, Cornwall, won praise from the judges for its replacement of a 25-year old Worcester oil-fired boiler with a new condensing model. Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support, said: “As a manufacturer of both award-winning high-efficiency condensing boilers and renewable technologies, our aim is to help installers and specifiers reduce carbon emissions wherever they can.” www.worcester-bosch.co.uk Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 7

Sponsor News Harlequin’s easy to use technology Harlequin will be displaying a number of iTank models with representatives on hand to discuss the i-Track intelligent monitoring technology. The i-Track enables homeowners to manage their home heating oil usage and potentially save up to 10% on heating bills. The oil level is calculated over 200 times per day, ensuring that fuel usage data is extremely accurate, and also offering an effective fuel protection system. Each tank is also supplied with an external lock, which protects the manhole cover, and an internal lock, which secures the ﬁll and inspection points. With the heating season approaching, Harlequin will also be offering practical day to day tips on protecting an existing tank and on reducing oil consumption over the winter months.

Kingspan – energy innovation Kingspan representatives will be on hand to showcase innovations across fuel storage, tank technology, monitoring platforms, rainwater harvesting systems, solar thermal and wind turbines. The company will also use the opportunity to get feedback from customers, which can inﬂuence future product development. “We see the market expanding rapidly to respond to the need to reduce the impact of climate change, ” said Charles Burns, commercial director. He added: “For those already working in the oil heating sector, diversifying into complementary sectors such as renewable energy technology or sustainable water management makes good business sense. Meanwhile, renewable technology suppliers can reach out to the oil industry to persuade those who work within it to branch out and include renewables.

OFTEC – discussion and technical advice OFTEC will take an active part in the show’s seminar programme. One of the critical topics under discussion will be the future 8 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

of oil heating/bioliquids – a seminar which takes place at 13.00 on Wednesday 17th October (see page 12). Throughout the show, members from the OFTEC team will also be keen to help with any technical or registration queries. The full range of technical publications will be available from OFTEC Direct, along with the latest consumer information sheets and special offers on equipment.

Plumb Center – a money saver Installers keen to ﬁnd out more about the integration of oil and renewables should visit the Plumb Center stand. Retroﬁtting renewable technologies in combination with existing oil boilers can be a great way for installers to help customers save money. Julie McLean, head of marketing, said: “The homeowner may not currently be looking to make the move towards renewables but Plumb Center and Parts Center staff are able to discuss the options with the installer so that they can, in turn, give feedback to their customers.” With more than 1000 oil parts from leading manufacturers, installers can quickly get what they need from Parts Center. If it’s not on the shelf then ask at the trade counter – most parts are available via next day delivery.

Riello – innovation in challenging times In a great year for the UK with jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Games, the oil industry is facing some of the most challenging legislative and trading conditions it has ever experienced, reports Riello which takes its responsibility to the industry’s future very seriously. Riello will showcase new products, including a multi-stage version of the popular RDB oil burner. The new model is able to operate at full and part load, for improved efﬁciency. Additionally, a fully modulating version has been developed with noise reduction and low electrical consumption. The new model has an innovative hydraulic and control solution of modulating outputs. Brett Hale, residential product manager,

said: “The show gives us the perfect opportunity to present our innovative products and to share opinions with engineers, installers and industry experts.”

Warmflow – brand new range Representatives from Warmflow will be on hand to demonstrate a range of new and current products across the oil and renewable sectors. Phil Craggs, UK general manager, explained: “We will showcase all our current products, including the condensing oil boiler range with its unique all-plastic balanced flue kits; one of the UK’s top three performing unvented cylinder ranges; a full range of solar thermal packages; and many other products.” “We will also launch a brand new range of British manufactured renewable products exclusively at this event.” Headquartered in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, Warmflow has combined recent development of renewable technologies with installing Europe’s most advanced automated oil boiler facility, and the most up to date unvented cylinder manufacturing plant in the UK.

Worcester’s perfect partnership Worcester, Bosch Group will be available to provide an insight into how a renewable heating solution could be the perfect partner for an oil-ﬁred boiler. With the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive, homeowners are being encouraged to look at renewable technologies to save both cost and emissions. Most boilers on sale are now compatible with solar technology, which is one of the most versatile forms of renewable energy, and can make a signiﬁcant impact on fuel bill savings. Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support, said: “The point here is not necessarily that a renewables revolution is set to cast aside a need for the traditional boiler, but that a measured approach to the incorporation of green technologies is the best way forward.” 5-year oil boiler guarantee, pages 16-17.

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Industry News – campaigns, costs and competition

Manufacturers back bioliquids Leading oil equipment manufacturers have urged the government to include bioliquids in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). In a letter to the right honourable Ed Davey MP, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, the chairman of OFTEC and managing director of Riello Burners, Barry Gregory, said excluding bioliquids would encourage existing oil households to “do nothing” to make carbon savings. The campaign has the backing of a number of oil-ﬁred equipment manufacturers including Worcester Bosch, Warmﬂow, Grant, Watson Fuels, Firebird and Harlequin. The Federation of Petroleum

B30K was developed as a “drop in” replacement for oil users Suppliers (FPS) has also pledged its support. OFTEC and the FPS have been working with the government since 2008, exploring ways in which a new liquid fuel could help de-carbonise heating. B30K, a new fuel speciﬁcation with 28% less carbon content than kerosene, was developed as a “drop in” replacement for oil users. Although B30K was included in the

original RHI consultation in February 2010, the fuel has been ignored in recent policy statements. In the letter Barry Gregory said: “Technologies which are included in the RHI will still be more expensive than conversion to B30K and in many cases cause severe disruption for homeowners. “If the RHI is granted to bio-liquids – at an appropriate tariff – our industry will encourage the installation of high efﬁciency bio-compatible boilers and new oil tanks. We estimate that bioliquids could be installed in sufﬁcient homes to save two million tonnes of CO2 per annum by 2020.”

Oil heating is more competitive 2009. Improvements in efﬁciency enabled householders to heat their homes using less energy. Commenting on the ﬁgures, OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley said: “Oil is still one of the most competitive fuels for off gas main properties in rural areas, and it’s reassuring that the move towards condensing boilers has helped contribute to a reduction in fuel poverty.” LPG remains the most expensive fuel for off gas main customers, costing £1929 per annum to provide heating and hot water for an average threebedroom home compared to £1408 with oil. In 2008 oil was 19% cheaper than LPG, whereas it is now 27% cheaper.

Comparative space and water heater costs for a three bedroom house

Cost £

With oil prices dipping to a low of 52.5p per litre this summer, independent ﬁgures show how the price of oil has become more competitive over the last four years. According to the Sutherland tables, the price gap between oil and mains gas has narrowed from 48% in the ﬁrst quarter of 2008 to 37% in 2012. Also there is now very little difference between the price of heating an average three bedroom home with oil, electricity or wood pellets. The results coincide with news from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that the number of fuel poor households in the UK fell to 4.75m in 2010 from 5.5m in

Launching October 2012

News 10 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Features

Opinions

Replacing oil with renewables in rural areas With the RHI and Green Deal set to encourage a push towards alternative technologies, OFTEC has taken a look at the true costs of going green for rural homeowners. Using the Energy Saving Trust’s online ‘home energy generation selector’, costs and energy savings were calculated across a range of renewable technologies for a typical three-bedroom cottage in East Anglia, currently using oil for heating and hot water. If an existing oil-ﬁred boiler was replaced with a biomass model then fuel bills would actually rise by £430 per year. Ground source and air source heat pumps did not fare much better – it would take between 31 and 200 years for any energy savings to make the installation costs worthwhile at today’s prices. In terms of carbon savings, the biomass boiler came out best, but at an increased running cost to the consumer. Users who switched from oil to an air source heat pump would actually be increasing their carbon emissions. The ground source heat pump represented the best option, with potential CO2 savings of 1150kg per annum. By contrast, calculations showed that oil users could reduce their carbon emissions by around 1643kg per annum by switching to a bioliquid blend. Existing oil heating systems can be converted to run on bioliquids at low cost, with very few modiﬁcations. OFTEC believes that if this blend is included in the RHI, 90% of existing oil customers could transfer to use it by 2020.

Heating this cottage with a bioliquid blend would require very few modiﬁcations and reduce its carbon emissions by around 1643kg per annum

Potential costs and savings of replacing an existing oil-ﬁred heating system* Biomass boiler

Ground source heat pump

Air source heat pump

Typical capital cost before grants, depending on size and type of system installed

£7,000 – £13,000

£9,000 – £17,000

£6,000 – £10,000

Financial saving (£/year)

£-430 (Note: Running costs are likely to be higher than your original heating fuel)

£290

£50

Payback period

No payback

31 – 58 years

120 – 200 years

Estimated CO2 saving (kgCO2/year)

7380kg CO2

1150kg CO2

-550kg CO2

* Based on a 3-bedroom detached house, typical rural home in East Anglia, pre 1900 construction All ﬁgures supplied by the Energy Saving Trust

@OilInstaller

Products

Training

Events Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 11

Industry News – celebrating achievements, appointments and awards

UKAS accreditation for OFTEC OFTEC has become one of the ﬁrst certiﬁcation bodies to gain approval from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for its competent persons’ scheme. In addition, the organisation has been accredited to provide a registration scheme for Green Deal installers.

OFTEC can now offer Green Deal registration

“To make sure we’re doing things right, OFTEC is independently assessed,” says Jacqueline Crawford

Registration services director, Jacqueline Crawford, said: “It’s rewarding to know that UKAS has recognised the work that we do and also reassuring for our technicians to know that OFTEC is independently assessed to make sure we’re doing things right.”

As part of the UKAS accreditation, OFTEC can now offer Green Deal registration for installers. The government looks set to make the Green Deal available to householders from October this year, with grants available for energy efficiency improvements. Only registered Green Deal Installers will be eligible to carry out the work, to ensure that the improvements will deliver real carbon and energy bill savings. OFTEC took part in the Green Deal pilot scheme with UKAS and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. This enabled registered technicians to initially extend their services and cover upgrading systems to high efficiency oil-fired condensing boilers, energy saving heating controls and associated cylinder/pipework insulation. A simple inspection process will enable them to add Green Deal to their registration and generate additional business. www.oftec.org

CBE for Worcester CEO Richard Soper, chief executive ofﬁcer of Bosch Thermotechnology, which incorporates the Worcester, Bosch Group brand, has been awarded a CBE for services to the heating and renewable technologies industries. The title was pronounced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June. Richard has worked for the company since 1977 and has also committed his spare time to the heating industry, as a past president of the CIPHE. He has also opened his Worcestershire home as a training facility for heating engineers and local school children. Richard said: “I am honoured to be awarded a CBE. This is a very proud day for my family and I, but it is also in recognition of the contribution that many individuals and employees at Worcester, Bosch Group have made to the heating and renewable industries over many decades.”

Oil Installer – more to read online

Richard Soper – awarded the CBE for services to the heating and renewable technologies industries

12 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

With cash strapped homeowners adopting a make do and mend attitude to spending on everything, sales of oil heating equipment are having a tough time. Marketing consultant John Switzer reports that the market for heating oil equipment has contracted markedly in just a few years. “Some tank installers I speak to are reporting year on year volume decreases of up to 30%,” writes John. John suggests that a “lower cost alternative to mandatory bunding, could be the continued permissibility of single skin tanks, combined with mandatory annual inspections and product replacement after a predetermined time.” Read John’s full article The perfect storm on Oil Installer’s new website www.oilinstaller.co.uk.

Trading Standards investigation OFTEC works closely with local authorities and Trading Standards to clamp down on rogue traders, and safeguard the reputation of legitimate businesses OFTEC has supplied a witness statement as part of an investigation by Trading Standards. Bristol Crown Court heard that Wade Jeffery had used several business names and falsely claimed to be registered with Gas Safe, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), and OFTEC. When Trading Standards ofﬁcers posed as consumers, Jeffery drove to the job, despite being a convicted disqualiﬁed driver. He was arrested and later found to have invoices totalling £15,000 for work involving his bogus companies. The court also heard that on one occasion Jeffery turned up at a customer’s home smelling of alcohol and, after falling off a worktop, he punched the boiler he was supposed to be working on. Jeffery pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and three counts of engaging in an unfair commercial practice between January and December 2010, and was jailed for a year.

Registrations revoked Technicians Wil Bradshaw of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, and Lenny Sandford of Stowmarket, Suffolk, have had their OFTEC registrations revoked for not complying with rectiﬁcation notices issued against them. Both came as a result of customer complaints.

Carry on learning During 2012, OFTEC ran several evening seminars at approved training centres throughout the UK to help keep registrants up to date with building regulations and technical topics. Continuous Personal Development (CPD) programmes are top priority for government, particularly when legislation changes, to ensure people are kept abreast of industry progression.

Celebrate oil’s outstanding achievements As Oil Installer went to press ﬁnal plans were being made for the event that recognises the outstanding achievers of the oil heating/ cooking industry. This year’s OFTEC’s Awards for Excellence takes place on Thursday 18th October and follows the Oil & Renewable Energy Show at Manchester Central. Featuring comic genius, Rich Hall, live music and dancing from One Stop Boogie, a sumptuous meal and glittering awards ceremony, it is the industry event of the year. Big name sponsors, including A&D Publishing, Clarehill, Grant UK, OFTEC Direct, Riello, Trade Direct and Worcester Bosch are supporting the event, which last took place in 2010. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special occasion Tickets cost £100 per person, including free entry to the Oil and Renewable Energy Show, which takes place in the same venue. Contact marketing@oftec.org or telephone 0845 6585080 to book your place. Special discounted accommodation offer If you’re very quick, you may still be able to take advantage of a special discounted accommodation offer. OFTEC has negotiated two outstanding deals at popular Manchester hotels, the Mercure and Radisson Blu Edwardian. Each package includes one night’s accommodation in a double room with breakfast, together with tickets for the Awards for Excellence and the Oil and Renewable Energy Show. See www.venueteam/oftec for details.

Rich Hall

Look out for new events in 2013 Plans are already underway for a new series of events next year, which will be important for technicians when BS5410 part 2 changes. OFTEC has submitted a position paper on behalf of the industry on this important code of practice for oil-ﬁring. Currently, this standard covers the installation of oilﬁred appliances above 45 kW output and oil storage above 3500 litres capacity. For technical topics news, see pages 30 and 31. For training news, see pages 32 – 34. Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 13

Industry News – leaders, winners and collectors

Get paid promptly

Rolling direct debits on their way

OFTEC has agreed a new business relationship with Prompt Payer. From June onwards, all registered businesses will automatically receive free premium membership of Prompt Payer - worth £250 per year - when they renew their OFTEC registration.

OFTEC expects to introduce a new direct debit system for renewing annual registration by the end of the year Since introducing annual registration in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland a year ago, it has been working towards offering registered businesses and technicians an easy way to renew. Setting up a direct debit enables the annual fee – £100 for a business or £50 for a technician, to be paid automatically. OFTEC will notify the registrant in advance of the renewal and debit payment. However, there will be no need for them to do anything else, except where there has been a change in circumstances, such as new operatives.

Designs on winning

The two most important services Prompt Payer provides are free debt collection and a loan broker service. In today’s tough trading conditions it can be difﬁcult for a business to recover its trade debts whilst maintaining an otherwise good business relationship. Prompt Payer gives OFTEC registered technicians free access to specialist advice and assistance from lawyers and insolvency practitioners. Over the last year Prompt Payer has collected debts for OFTEC businesses in excess of £1m. They will collect any amount; the lowest amount has been £40 and the largest success over £100k. Prompt Payer will handle everything required - right up to court action. The service is completely free to OFTEC registered businesses and any interest/fees collected under the Late Payment Act are retained by the businesses as well. OFTEC registered business Haven Heating has already used the debt collection service and said “It’s a relief to have someone on our side. The service from Prompt Payer was second to none, they really do care. Without them I would have been up the creek, they take members’ issues seriously.” Prompt Payer also offers a loan broker scheme. The scheme is free to use and searches for lenders based on the business’s needs and creditworthiness. Almost a million pounds of lending has already been placed for OFTEC businesses. With the banks being harder on small businesses the broker service is able to look at all avenues in the market. www.promptpayer.co.uk

Neil Phillips of Grimsby, Lincolnshire, won a copy of the Domestic Heating Design Guide in a competition featured in the spring 2012 issue of Oil Installer. For his winning entry, Neil was able to correctly identify “1/R” as the “U” value. The prize was donated by the Institute of Domestic Heating & Environmental Engineers (IDHEE). “Correct design not only minimises running costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions of installations, it also provides comfort engineering solutions for the end user,” said Bill Bucknell, IDHEE chairman. www.idhee.org.uk Enter this issue’s competition on page 30.

Neil Phillips proudly holds his prize

in partnership with a

PARTNERS:

SPONSORS:

company

EXHIBITORS:

HHIC HEATING & HOTWATER INDUSTRY COUNCIL

MCS

*Green Deal Theatre, Commercial Theatre (CPD points), Domestic Theatre, Solar Theatre, Training Theatre, Water Efﬁciency Theatre, Installer Theatre

14 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Innovation award Danfoss Randall’s Living Eco programmable radiator thermostat took the Institute of Domestic Heating & Environmental Engineers international award for excellence. Institute chairman, Bill Bucknell, said: “These innovative valves are easy to ﬁt and represent exceptional value for money. Living Eco is a cost-effective means of controlling home energy consumption whist being intelligent with features such as the open-window function. User-friendly, it can be set to your exact needs.”

Licensed for waste OFTEC is warning technicians that they face prosecution for not having a waste carriers licence if they are transporting hazardous material, or components that have been contaminated with mineral oils. If in doubt, technicians should contact their local Environment Agency to see if their work requires a licence.

Receiving the award are Ian Hill and Paul Priston

Arntzen – leading the EUA Carl Arntzen, managing director of Bosch Thermotechnology in the UK and Ireland, has been appointed as Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) president for the coming year. “As one of the UK’s most established trade associations, we have a huge role to play in maintaining the industries’ reputation, both in the UK and overseas,” said Carl. “I intend to draw upon my own hands-on experience within the industry, as well as those of the membership, to enhance the EUA’s leadership over the year ahead.” www.eua. org.uk

Logan to host Gabby Logan has been announced as the host of this year’s Renewables Awards being held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 13th September. The event is set to be bigger than ever before with 16 winners to be revealed across the hotly-contested categories. “The quality and quantity of entrants for this year’s awards surpassed expectations yet again,” said event organiser, Dan Caesar. www.renewables-awards.co.uk

Newly elected EUA president, Carl Arntzen, joined Bosch Thermotechnology in 1985; a board director since 1997, he was appointed managing director in September 2011

THE AWARD-WINNING EXHIBITIONS ARE BACK THIS SEPTEMBER, WITH MORE PRESENTATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS* & ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES** THAN EVER BEFORE! Reserve your FREE tickets to the national exhibition that visits your region – www.renewables-roadshow.co.uk Ricoh Arena Coventry – 13 Sep, Westpoint Arena Exeter – 18 Sep, International Centre Harrogate – 20 Sep, SECC Glasgow – 26 Sep, Event City Manchester – 28 Sep, Wembley Stadium London – 3 Oct

company

Sevenoaks

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Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 15

Everything you need... backed up with a 5 year guarantee

Install any Greenstar oil-fired condensing boiler, or any Greenstar gas-fired CDi, Si or Ri boiler between 1st July and 31st December 2012 and your customers will receive a 5 year guarantee for the boiler and 5 years’ peace of mind. Call 0845 313 0058 or visit www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/5year to find out more.

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News from Firebird

Firebird for built-in quality

Firebird’s Slimline combi with the digital control box inset

“More and more installers are appreciating the benefits of the unique design of Firebird’s Enviromax condensing boilers,” says national sales manager, Barry Brynildsen. “Rather than being an adaptation of an existing non-condensing type, they were designed as a condensing boiler from scratch, and incorporate unique features with proven benefits. Situated at the base of the boiler, the secondary heat exchanger is welded directly to the primary heat exchanger, eliminating the use of seals which can potentially leak and cause corrosion. This enables the use of four conventional tappings, overcoming the need to alter pipework to existing systems when retro-fitting. A single door gives improved access for installation/servicing. Other simple features include an extended hose length to the expansion vessel and the multi-directional condense trap. Condense baffles come in a comb format to simplify servicing and primary baffles have individual supports. There are multiple entry points for the oil line and electrics and the combis have a seven pin plug to facilitate wiring. The digital burner control box features a full diagnostic facility and ensures maximum efficiency in operation with pre/post purge functions. An interlock with the condense drain prevents continuous firing should the drain become blocked. Thermistors are used for more accurate response for hot water flow sensing and frost protection thermostats are pre-wired to all outdoor models. Balanced flue versions are available across the whole condensing boiler range and totally plastic flue kits simplify installation. Plume dispersal kits can be used straight off the top of the boiler – a useful facility in cellar installations where there is no clear route for a balanced flue system. The Firebird range offers fully warranted conventional and condensing boilers plus condensing combis, kitchen, utility and outdoor models, with a fiveyear extended warranty available. All Enviromax models, including the combi and slimline combi, are biofuel compatible and compatible with Firebird solar panel systems.

Not going to waste

reducing the electricity consumed by the burner’s heaters. There are two filters – one to remove metal particles and a self-cleaning filter. Every business and householder The boiler requires is looking to save money. a vertical twin wall Recognising the potential of flue system with a using waste oil to fire boilers, minimum internal Firebird has introduced a new diameter of 150mm waste oil boiler with an output and must be installed in of 86-106Kw which is highly accordance with local suited to office heating. building regulations. The A quality engineered minimum stack height product with a heavy duty should be three metres specification, it will burn 100% Heating with no fuel costs – Firebird’s new above any adjacent area waste oil including used cooking waste oil boiler to which there is general oil and old engine oil. With a sufficient regular supply of waste oil, premises access, and over 6 metres above ground level. Firebird also offers a commissioning can be heated with no fuel costs. service which is highly recommended, as The package includes a 270-litre fuel correct setting up for the type of waste oil storage tank which has a coil that can be may vary. plumbed from the boiler to preheat the oil, 18 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Firebird on show Firebird will be at the only exhibition dedicated exclusively to oil and renewable technologies. The company is looking forward to introducing installers to new products such as solar heat pipes and the Enviropel wood pellet burner, and to discussing current issues both with installers, and the oil industry’s main players. See page 12. With renewables increasingly incorporated alongside conventional heating systems, Firebird sales and technical advisory teams will be on hand to advise on taking advantage of newer technologies to maximise system efﬁciency and create new business opportunities.

Irish News

OFTEC takes the lead in Ireland Sweeping the board at the inaugural Plumbing & Heating Ireland awards in June, were four OFTEC registered companies One of the winners was 1st Call Plumbing & Heating, which won small installer of the year. This Belfast-based company employs ﬁve staff, owner Peter Doyle said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award. It has provided a huge boost to our company and our staff as it reinforces the high standards we have set out. “The current market is very competitive and customers are more informed about energy efﬁcient systems. I believe our reputation for reliability, trustworthiness, professionalism, and conveying which savings can be made in their homes, is what is carrying us forward.” Other OFTEC registered companies who were successful at the awards included Combined Facilities Management who won large installer of the year. CCTS in Belfast were also highly commended in the training centre of the year award, which was won by SERC in Ards. The awards were well received with over 200 guests in attendance. David Blevings, from OFTEC Ireland, helped judge the awards. He said: “It is very pleasing to see OFTEC registered companies and training centres being recognised for taking the lead in the heating and plumbing sector in Northern Ireland.”

£12m for boiler replacement The Department of Social Development has pledged £12m to fund a boiler replacement scheme in Northern Ireland over the next three years. Homeowners earning less than £40,000 per annum, who have a boiler more than 15 years old, can apply to receive up to £1000 towards its replacement. The grant can be used to fund replacing an inefficient boiler for a more energy-efficient condensing oil or gas boiler, switching from oil to gas, or switching to a wood pellet boiler. “This is excellent news for consumers looking to upgrade to a new modern appliance,” said David Blevings from OFTEC Ireland. “OFTEC fully endorses the scheme, because installing a modern ‘A’ rated condensing oil appliance will offer a significant increase in boiler efficiency, save energy and reduce fuel bills by up to 18% for consumers. “We would recommend consumers use an OFTEC registered technician to carry out their new installation as they are trained, independently assessed and fully insured to provide a practical, costeffective and compliant installation,” added David. www.nidirect.gov.uk/boiler-replacement

Domestic aid for renewables Designed to help the domestic sector afford renewable technologies to heat their property, homeowners in Northern Ireland can now apply for the NI Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme

(l-r) Ken Edwards, Anton, Peter Doyle, managing director, 1st Call Plumbing & Heating, and Jacqui Fairley from Plumbing & Heating at the Belfast Hilton in June

20 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

The scheme is the forerunner of the Renewable Heat Incentive, but applies specifically to the domestic sector. All householders are eligible for the scheme, including private and social landlords. However, applicants to the scheme must install the technology in their primary residence, rather than a second or holiday home. The property must also have basic energy efficiency measures in place, such as loft insulation to 250mm and cavity wall insulation where applicable. Additionally, the renewable heat product being installed must be listed under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Solar Keymark, and be fitted by someone registered under the MCS scheme. Before applying, householders must have obtained suitable quotes in relation to the installation and have chosen the one which most suits the property’s needs, and obtained necessary planning permission. Successful applicants can receive £320 towards solar thermal, £1700 for an air source heat pump, £2500 for a biomass boiler or £3500 for a ground or water source heat pump. Those who have installed an applicable technology since 24/05/12 without financial aid are also eligible for the premium payment. www.detini.gov.uk

Boiler News

A golden oldie A Shropshire homeowner may have what is thought to be one of the oldest domestic oil boilers still in operation in the UK Marton Hayes with his 39-year old WEC Fireﬂy boiler

Marton Hayes, of Oswestry, contacted Worcester, Bosch Group after discovering that his WEC Fireﬂy HD II had been heating his three-bedroom detached home since 1973. With an output of 60K BTU (17.5 kWh), the Fireﬂy falls short of the much improved outputs of the latest generation of boilers, but Mr Hayes revealed that it remains in good working order. “I think this is a fantastic achievement as the boiler is still performing excellently after 39 years of service,” he said. “I moved into the property with my wife and four children back

in 1986 and, having continued to service the boiler annually, we’ve experienced no problems other than the odd replacement spare part.” Mr Hayes plans to replace his antique Fireﬂy with a Worcester Bosch Greenstar boiler very soon. Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group added: “We were pleased to hear that Mr Hayes’ Fireﬂy boiler has given him and his family such good service and are sure the replacement will prove to be just as reliable.”

A-rated range efficiency A Shrewsbury home is benefiting from efficient heating and hot water, after installing a new Rayburn Heatranger 680KCD C/F, the UK’s first A-rated condensing oil-fired central heating range cooker with a conventional flue The new Rayburn powers 16 radiators in the property and, coupled with a fully pumped sealed system and an unvented hot water cylinder, delivers mains pressure hot water to the kitchen and bathrooms. Continued on page 22 Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 21

Boiler News Continued from page 21 Installer Neil Bishop, Multifuel Cooking & Heating, said: “I’ve worked with Rayburn’s for many years and the technological advancements of recent models have been fantastic. The 680 [KCD] is one of the best I’ve come across and is by far the quickest and simplest to install.” Homeowner Colin Jones said: “We wanted to keep the benefits of the traditional Rayburn, but improve energy efficiency and reduce running costs. The controllability of this model has allowed us to significantly reduce our oil consumption. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.” www.rayburn-web.co.uk

With efﬁciencies of over 92%, this Rayburn range cooker has ‘signiﬁcantly reduced’ the oil consumption in Colin Jones’ home

22 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

New service director Nu-way has appointed Tim Scarlett as service director, aiming to strengthen its market position as supplier, manufacturer and repairer of oil burners. He will oversee the management and support of field engineering staff, as well as continuing to improve the service and training departments at Nuway’s headquarters in Droitwich Spa. Tim said: “Our training courses demonstrate how to carry out commissioning, servicing and fault-finding on a wide range of products.” Installers can also arrange for one of Nu-way’s engineers to commission their burner, and gain specific on-site training. www.nu-way.co.uk

Tim Scarlett has almost 30 years industry experience

Eliminate debris Sentinel has launched the Eliminator, the first filter to remove magnetic and nonmagnetic debris from a central heating system The Eliminator aims to revolutionise the market by using Quadra-CycloneTM technology. Four powerful hydro-cyclones push clean water into the system, while pushing all kinds of debris down into the collection chamber. Four magnets are used to accelerate the capture and removal of magnetic debris. Installers can also save valuable time as it is easily fitted in any orientation, with no complex o-rings or special tools required. After seeking advice from installers, the Eliminator was designed to provide two cleaning options. The debris can simply be removed using the flushing valve, or the whole collection bin can be taken off for a full clean, while providing an easy way to demonstrate to homeowners that the debris is being cleared. The new product also uses a dual seal to

Four cyclones ensure more debris is removed for a cleaner, more efﬁcient system

eradicate leaks, and a collection bin which holds 300-400 grams of debris, so an annual service should ensure the bin does not fill up. However, the Eliminator promises continual movement even when the collection unit is full, so installers can be confident that the heating system will not block or suffer damage. They can also count on in-branch support from experienced professionals. Additionally, the first 10,000 products sold will win a free filter or a bottle of filter aid, which will improve the performance of any system on the market. The Eliminator is set to retail at the premium end of the market using the best technology available, but will be competitively priced. “The Eliminator demonstrates our serious commitment to delivering something new into the market place,” said John Lynch, UK and Ireland sales director, Sentinel. He added: “It offers an innovative and reliable solution to the care, cleaning and maintenance of wet central heating systems. Installers can have the confidence that this product will meet all of their customer’s expectations in a speedy and straightforward manner.” www.sentinel-solutions.net

Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 23

Tank News

– look out for new products at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show 1

New products from Envirostore

1 Launched in spring 2012 – Carbery’s Superslim bunded 2 Envirostore’s Richard Marsh (l), Robert Young (centre) operations manager, Wallace Oils and David Farrer, E&N Farrer 3 J Seed tanks can be custom made in customer selected colours, the company is also a stockist and accredited installer of Titan plastic tanks 4 The familiar CTS tank alarm – now with added improvements 5 All Koronka’s tanks are built in one piece

A new 1250 litre compact tank has been developed by Envirostore. It features the company’s specially developed inner-spill tray and robust lid, and is designed to provide quality and reliability to a storage solution over many years. Envirostore is developing a range of tanks which also includes the 5000 and 8050 Fuel Dispenser with overﬁll prevention system, gauge and ﬁttings pack. www.envirostoreuk.com Envirostore will launch another new product at October’s Oil & Renewable Energy Show. For show details and news – see pages 8-9 and 12-14.

Secure and ﬂexible liquid storage Next day delivery from Atlantis The right tank – delivered direct to your customer within 24 hours – is the promise from Atlantis Tanks and its next day delivery service. Orders can be made by telephone or online, and the correct tank delivered as promised – complete with your own branded label. The service is available throughout the UK mainland, with the exception of some postcodes in the extreme south and north of the country. www.atlantistanks.co.uk See the Atlantis Tanks leaﬂet insert in this issue of Oil Installer for full details of the company’s next day service.

Superslim for a narrower tank The new 1000SB Superslim tank from Carbery is 25% narrower than comparable tanks of a similar capacity and just 6cm longer than smaller tanks with a 650 litre 24 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

capacity. The tank has been designed for domestic installations where space is limited, and as such fits through a standard gateway. It comes with factory-fitted fill, vent and inspection points and a lockable external flip lid. A one-inch diameter BSP bottom outlet is supplied as standard. www.carberyplastics.com Carbery will be unveiling a ‘significant new product initiative’ at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show

Customer feedback improves tank alarm Centre Tank Services has produced a new and improved model of the tank alarm. “We’ve listened to our customers’ feedback,” explains sales director Joe Ferrara. The updated alarm warns users of high/low fuel levels or bund leaks, but is now easier to install and protected by a weatherproof IP55 enclosure. Zone options can be chosen with a single jumper. www.centretank.com

J.Seed & Co prides itself on offering security and ﬂexibility in liquid storage solutions for fuel oils, water, waste oils and chemicals. Horizontal Dervpacks are the company’s best-selling products. The range includes heating oil tanks which can have optional security boxes ﬁtted over the sockets and gauge – an ideal solution for tanks installed in exposed areas. Wendi Whittle, head of sales, says: “We enjoy a challenge and can always custom-design a tank to meet individual needs – no matter how obscure!” www.jseed.co.uk

Manufacturing expertise An OFTEC member with T200 accreditation, Koronka Manufacturing is a longestablished fuel storage tank manufacturer. The company provides a wide range of above and below ground cylindrical and rectangular tanks from 500 to 180,000 litres, all fabricated in one piece. The company’s ISO9001 registered products meet all current bunding legislation and, Koronka can now build fuel polishing units into its tanks at very reasonable rates. www.koronka.co.uk

FUEL TANKS

DO YOU REMEMBER 1977? AT CARBERY, WE REMEMBER IT WELL. Do you remember 1977? Queen ruled the airwaves, the Raleigh Chopper was King of the Road, and Summer seemed to last forever. Flares were hip (yes, really) and Björn Borg stood up to the plate at Wimbledon. The world said farewell to Elvis and said hello to punk. The Ford Cortina was a best seller and Apple launched its Series II computer. 1977 was also the year Carbery Plastics Limited manufactured its ﬁrst product. Much has changed during the past 35 years, but Carbery products today are as good as they’ve ever been. And they continue to be characterised by quality, reliability, strength and safety.

To ﬁnd out more about tanks with a proven manufacturing pedigree, call us on +353(0)23 883 3531, click www.carberyplastics.com or e-mail info@carberyplastics.ie

Carbery Plastics Limited T: +353(0)23 883 3531 F: +353(0)23 883 4368 E: info@carberyplastics.ie

Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 25

Tank News – for the latest news chat to us at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show

Installer-focused solutions Carbery’s commercial team will be on hand to discuss its new technologies with installers at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show. (See page 24). UK sales manager, Mark O’Connell said: “Exhibitions allow us to preview new additions to our range. They also allow us to catch up with the most important people in our business… those installers and technicians who ﬁt and use our products on a daily basis. Such feedback can then be integrated into our product development process, which allows us to develop installer and technician focused solutions.” Carbery has appointed Pio Ronan as sales co-ordinator. With a strong background in sales and customer service, Pio will be responsible for assisting in the development of sales in Munster and Connacht. This year the company celebrates its 35 anniversary. Founder Michael McCarthy said: “In 1977, steel tanks dominated and bunded tanks were a rarity. Today bunded tanks represent the majority of sales in the UK, with plastic tanks largely superseding steel at most domestic premises.” www.carberyplastics.com

Mark O’Connell

Pio Ronan

The importance of installer feedback Promoting oil protection Apollo Smart – fuel level, energy consumption, CO2 emissions and costs

Previewing important new technologies at this year’s Oil & Renewable Energy Show will be the manufacturers of Apollo storage tank monitoring systems, Dunraven Systems. “The show provides a platform for installers and technicians to give feedback on our products,” said Gerry Jones, managing director. “Such feedback has been critical in our success to date.” A new generation of oil tank alarms will shortly be launched. “The new range will comprise both remotely monitored and stand alone product options, providing consumers and tank installers with a choice – not a compromise,” said Gerry. “Last year, we launched the world’s ﬁrst heating oil energy monitor. Apollo Smart allows consumers to monitor not just fuel levels, but energy consumption, CO2 emissions and heating costs too. It affords technicians and installers a valuable incremental revenue opportunity.” Additionally, GRPS and broadband technology options have been integrated into the existing remote tank monitoring system, Apollo RMS, allowing fuel distributors to remotely monitor customers’ tanks. www.dunravensystems.com 26 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Following national concerns about fuel theft, Kingspan are offering a FREE no obligation survey to assess risk, and if necessary advise on changes to help save oil. Sonic Signalman can monitor the levels of either kerosene in a bunded heating oil tank or diesel in a fuel storage/dispensing tank. National debate, including on BBC’s The One Show, has revealed that most tank owners are unaware of theft until long after the event. Sonic Signalman constantly monitors the oil level, and sends a text to the owner if there is a sudden decrease. The wireless electronic monitor is suitable for any new or existing oil tank installation, whether bunded or single skin. With fuel theft not always covered under home insurance and leaks causing environmental damage, Kingspan is keen to promote oil protection. www.kingspanenv.com

Fuel theft – FREE no obligation survey to assess risk

Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 27

Tank News

Riding out a tough economic climate (l-r) Andy Middleton, Steve Brown, Fred Smith with Harlequin’s Mike Pitcher and John Wilde at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells

Operating nationwide and based in Shropshire, Oil Tank Installation Services (OTIS) was founded in 1995 by Andy Middleton. The company now employs eight full-time members of staff with some part-time, and owns several lorries - some with hi-hab, and numerous other vehicles. Andy has a long history in the oil business, as his father used to work for Shell. Now his own boss, his week is varied – he could be in the office, out doing site inspections or on the lorry and installing. “My favourite part of the job is seeing a site in its initial state,” Andy told Oil Installer’s Alex Porter. “And then being able to bring it up to regulation and really see the difference. For example, we were called to a nursing home in the south of England for a tank leak. The tank - only single skin and not up to regulation - had been overfilled. Within a week we’d replaced it with two 10,000 litre bunded tanks. It’s great to be able to see the whole process from start to finish, and we can do it all ourselves because we have the appropriate machinery, such as hi-hab trucks, track machines 1.5 – 21 tonne, dumpers, and tele handlers.”

28 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

A growing reputation

Survival

The company has a growing industry reputation, winning a range of major clients including the Ministry of Defence (MoD), large country estates, several county councils, hotel chains, nursing homes, National Trust and British Waterways, to name but a few. Andy said: “The work with the MoD has been non-stop since January. We always have one team on this work; they can be working at any base throughout the country. We have also been working on one of the large country estates for six years now, which includes a 24-hour service for spill prevention.” Andy stocks Harlequin tanks - OTIS is one of the main Harlequin stockists in UK, so the companies have a close working relationship. “We do a lot of work for Harlequin with difﬁcult and third party deliveries, and also warranty work.” The company offers a range of tank services including sales, installation, inspection, hire, and cleaning, as well as decommissioning, site clearance, construction work, spill response, depot/ forecourt cleaning and much more.

Although OTIS works with customers across the commercial, agricultural and domestic sectors, the latter sector has been quiet, following a mild winter and conservative spending. “The domestic sector doesn’t have the money; the farmers are the ones spending at the moment.” Now 78-years old, Andy’s father still turns up to the office around 10am, and remains involved in the daily running of the company. His vast experience has left him confident of the industry’s prospects in riding out the tough economic climate. “My father has seen it all before and has advised that if you can wait until people are confident to spend again, you can do well. The aim at the moment is survival. Everywhere is struggling, but if you can survive through these difficult times you stand a good chance of being successful.” With one eye on the future, the company plans to expand, offering a wider range of services internationally. “The biggest challenge in this industry is access on site – and getting the money!”

ABGO are pleased to introduce the Poujoulat products to their range Please contact us for full details of the products available and full catalogue.

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from Clarehill Plastics Limited 21 Clarehill Road Moira Co. Armagh Northern Ireland BT67 0PB T: +44 (0)28 9261 1077 F: +44 (0)28 9261 2672 E: info@clarehill.com W: www.harlequinplastics.co.uk

Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 29

Hot technical topics Oil line marker tape is available from OFTEC Direct

Supporting oil pipework With gardening and outdoor DIY popular during the summer, OFTEC has had several enquiries regarding protection of oil supply pipework from damage. For adequate protection, pipework should be appropriately supported above the surface or buried underground.

Above ground Pipework installed above ground should be of the plastic coated type to prevent corrosion from adjacent mortar. It should be clipped at regular intervals to a solid, permanent structure, such as a brick wall, using correctly sized purpose made pipe clips.

Underground Underground pipework should be buried to a depth of 450mm, surrounded by sand (40mm above and below) with a building grade polyethylene sheet layer on top, prior to back ﬁlling. Where this depth is not achievable, the pipework should be sleeved through a larger pipe or covered with halfround tiles. In all cases, an oil line marker tape should be laid above the pipework, 150mm below surface, to provide a warning in the event of future excavation works. www.oftecdirect.com

A winning design Which of the three system layouts shown – A B or C – is the most likely to have ongoing problems with air in radiators and at high points? Explain why your choice will have this problem.

Planning permission? When homeowners make improvements to properties, it can lead to the relocation of oilfired boilers and storage tanks. A common enquiry put into the OFTEC technical helpline is whether planning permission is required. Planning permission is not normally necessary for an oil-fired installation, providing that certain conditions are fulfilled. Examples include, but are not limited to, a flue serving an oil-fired boiler should protrude from the rear or side elevation of a building and terminate no greater than 1m above the highest part of the roof. An oil storage tank should not be forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway. Where the conditions cannot be achieved, it is the legal responsibility of the property owner to obtain planning permission, so OFTEC recommends that a statement to that effect be included in terms and conditions of trading. www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/dynp

On-site assessment OFTEC’s new consultancy service has already provided independent reports on oil heating systems at a school, police station and several private residences. The ﬂexible service, developed in response to customer demand, offers onsite assessments to ensure compliance with Building Regulations and industry codes of practice. A detailed, illustrated report is provided with recommendations for any work that is required to make the installation compliant. In some instances, OFTEC is called upon to provide an impartial assessment as part 30 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

OFTEC’s new consultancy services caters for individual needs

of a dispute; for example a bad installation by a rogue trader, or where a tenant has caused problems themselves. OFTEC can also provide advice on major system upgrades such as help with preparing tenders, and evaluating submissions. mfarrow@oftec.org

Entering Oil Installer/IDHEE competition in the email subject line, email your answer to jane@oilinstaller.co.uk The ﬁrst correct answer drawn will win a Domestic Heating Design Guide. Meet the winner of IDHEE’s competition (Oil Installer Spring 2012) on page 10.

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Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 31

Training

Commercial training

Meeting demand

Irish training provider, METAC, is now offering OFTEC’s commercial oil OFT10-201 course. The course is designed to equip installers that have already obtained OFTEC 101, 105E and 600A qualiﬁcations, to work in the commercial ﬁeld. Nationally recognised by OFTEC, Blue Flame and FAS, METAC offers courses in oil, gas and renewable energy. To date, the company has trained 627 people in OFTEC 50, 101,105E and 600A. www.metac.ie

To meet the increased demand for registration, four additional organisations are now offering OFTEC training and assessment. GTS in Derby, Domestic Gas Services in Great Yarmouth, FAS Shannon and Lincolnshire Training Centre in Boston are the latest training providers to join the nationwide network of approved training centres. The new OFTEC 201 commercial course is now available at four centres; Boilerserve in Stoke-on-Trent, South West Assessment & Training in Liskeard, METAC in Mountrath and CCTS in Belfast. The course covers installation, servicing and maintenance of multi-stage burner pressure jet boiler appliances up to two megawatts. www.oftec.org.

METAC – equipping installers for the commercial industry

Manufacturer and installer training Petroc runs a range of courses for the oil, renewable, gas, plumbing and heating industries. With training and assessment centres in Barnstaple and Tiverton, the company provides specialist workshops with the latest equipment. In addition to established courses in solar hot water and small scale domestic photovoltaic, Petroc has recently installed a Panasonic Aquarea heat pump to provide manufacturer and installer training for refrigerant (bi-bloc) and non-refrigerant (mono-bloc) heat pump systems. www.petroc.ac.uk

Highly commended Complete Construction Training Services (CCTS) has been highly commended in the Training Facility of the Year category at this year’s Plumbing and Heating Awards. As a fully-accredited company, offering the latest training, assessment and certiﬁcation, CCTS also works with industry organisations to develop new courses and create new industry standards. www.cctrainingservices.com

New members OFTEC is pleased to welcome three more training and assessment centres as new members. Domestic Gas Services Great Yarmouth, Norfolk www.domestic-gas.co.uk FAS Shannon Shannon, County Clare, Ireland www.fas.ie Gas Training Solutions (GTS), Derby www.gtsderby.co.uk Lincolnshire Training Centre Boston, Lincolnshire www.lincolnshiretraining.com The above new members are joined by electricity supplier

Gerry McManus, CCTS, (left) receives the Highly Commended award from David Blevings, of sponsors OFTEC and Jacqui Fairley, Plumbing & Heating

32 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Electric Ireland, www.electricireland.ie

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Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 33

Training

The gentle touch Earlier this year UK Energy Training welcomed its very ﬁrst female candidate – Beverly Jones. Over the years, the company has trained and assessed thousands of oil and gas engineers and hundreds of new entrants and apprentices; until now they have all been male. UK Energy Training is hoping that Beverly has started a new trend. www.ukenergytraining.co.uk

UK training academy launched Trina Solar, manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products, has launched a UK training academy. The launch follows the introduction of a training academy in Germany, with over 200 participants trained this year. In July, the company’s first UK online seminar took place and the first one-day workshop was held in Chesterfield. The Academy is aimed at distribution partners and installers working with Trina Solar products, delivering product information, hands-on training, and marketing and sales support through online seminars and on-site workshops. Participation is free of charge. www.trinasolar-training-academy.co.uk.

More renewables news on pages 40-41 Beverly – an inspiration to other women

Formerly manufactured by

Thermostatic Fire Valve (TFV) If you take pride in your work, you’ll only want the best capillary fire valve available – the one that guarantees more safety, flexibility and reliability with less hassle. That fire valve is made by FuelStop. • The FuelStop capillary fire valve complies with BS 5410 part 1

• The widest range of pipe connections and capillary lengths on the market

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34 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Products & Services

App for the world of work Heating World of Spares is launching an exciting new product for engineers to help with the running of their businesses. The World of Work app can be accessed on a smart phone or tablet and provides a database facility, work planner and also enables instant invoicing. The company’s virtual magazine, store app and new quick order app come free as part of the package. www.hwos.co.uk

OFTEC’S redeveloped site is easier to use

Be direct The new app from HWOS

OFTEC has redesigned and relaunched its OFTEC Direct website, which supplies tools, books and equipment. The site is now easier to navigate with current offers all grouped together in one place. Users can order online, with the added option of paying in euros as well as UK sterling. The system now accepts laser cards, providing they are the new issue featuring the Mastercard or Visa symbols. www.oftecdirect.co.uk

Equip yourself... with new ideas, latest products and terriÀc offers

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The quick way to ﬁnd all your oil related equipment, work wear and essential documents in one place 23; -2'09()7 +& ERH )YVS TVMGMRK ` )EW] 7IEVGL ` 1SRXLP] 3JJIVW ` 4PYW QYGL QSVI :MWMX www.oftecdirect.com 83(%=

Call 0845 65 85 080 E: sales@oftecdirect.com | www.oftecdirect.com Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 35

Products & Services

Digital smoke testing Testo provides a range of instruments designed for working with oilﬁred appliances. As well as traditional smoke pumps, Testo provides digital smoke testers, which provide a fast, easy and repeatable measure of smoke number. www.testo.co.uk

A Testo smoke device in action

Open all hours Hytek is now offering out-of-hours collections. Simply let the company know that you would like to pick up your order after hours and it will be stored in an outdoor lock box. The steel box is equipped with a high security combination padlock. The combination will be sent by the Hytek team, once it has received conﬁrmation that the order will be picked up. www.hytekgb.com The convenient but safe and secure lock box

Prevent boiler repairs

Filtration innovation Adler & Allan (A&A) has launched Sockit, an innovative filtration system. The system is a simple and economical way of dealing with oil contaminated water being pumped out of oil tank bunds, manholes, vaults, sumps, retention ponds and ditches. It uses multistage filtration to remove hydrocarbons and sediment to almost non-detectable levels. Extremely efficient, reusable and recyclable, it can be used in a range of de-watering applications, without slowing the pumping process. Sockit achieved excellent results in tests undertaken by Severn Trent Laboratories to UKAS and MCERTS standards. Sediment removal efficiency far exceeds the regulatory goal, with an average 99% attained in tests. www.adlerandallan.co.uk

The Cim-Tek Tank Dryer, from Centre Tank Services (CTS) simply and cost effectively removes water from fuel, preventing bacterial growth which may lead to costly boiler or machinery repairs. By checking for, and absorbing water, this tank sock helps to remove the environment where bacteria can grow. CTS is also offering a display box containing 12 Tank Dryers at a discounted bulk price, ideal for trade counters. www.centretank.com By absorbing water, the Tank Dryer helps to halt the growth of harmful bacteria

Reliably tested The Tigerloop oil de-aerator has now been used in more than six million installations worldwide. Invented over 40 years ago by Lars Tigerholm, each unit is subjected to stringent testing procedures, including a 12-hour pressure test, prior to delivery, which helps ensure reliability. www.tigerloop.co.uk 36 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

The Sockit system in action The Tigerloop Bio

for safe storage

Get free and mobile with tank systems from CEMO. You save time and money!

A Profitable Future in Renewables Business Strategy Conference WEDNESDAY 21ST NOVEMBER THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Brought to you by the industry-renowned REI magazine, the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only business focused conference for the sub 50kW renewables market will bring together a host of leading experts to present and debate on topical issues affecting the sector. Why attend? Understand from the policy makers the in depth details behind FiTs, RHI and Green Deal Expert opinion on how the changes will impact the market How? â&#x20AC;˘ Free up storage space â&#x20AC;˘ Fill up anywhere â&#x20AC;˘ Have security, safety and peace of mind â&#x20AC;˘ Save time, save fuel, save money Let us give you the advantage of our know-how. ! ! ! ! CEMO UK . PO Box 3189 . Gloucester . GL1 9BS . Phone 01452 720354 . Fax 01452 728290 www.cemo-uk.com

Clarity on how to take advantage of the opportunities for growth Insights into the key issues affecting everyone in microgeneration Networking with over 100 of the most senior people in the industry For more information: Visit: www.REIConferences.co.uk Email: info@REIConferences.co.uk Call: 01565 626753

Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 37

Products & Services – all the latest products at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show

The bigger the better

Riello keeps it clean

Hytek’s new 2012/2013 catalogue is to be its biggest yet. The catalogue, which has an extra 14 pages and over 100 new products, boasts more than 12 different product sections. Grouping similar products together in these sections means that the new catalogue is an easy to navigate tool. Many products have remained at the same price as last year and in some cases, prices have fallen. www.hytekgb.com

Riello sees a number of oil pumps returned with claims that the unit has failed under warranty. The ﬁrst check is to open the pump cover and look for signs of contamination. A large percentage of failures are caused by water, dirt or debris entering the pump. This is not covered under the company’s warranty terms and conditions. There must be suitable ﬁltration in the supply line to prevent further issues and maintenance cleaning to be carried out, if required. www.rielloburners.co.uk

Hytek’s impressive and user friendly catalogue

A large percentage of pump failures are caused by water, dirt or debris

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SPECIALIST OIL HEATING MERCHANT Dobies Heat Centres have been supplying to the Oil Installer and Service Engineers market since 1982 providing a knowledgeable, reliable and trustworthy service. We supply a full range of top products, from Oil Boilers to all spares. Our Spares Department carry an extensive stock ranging from fast moving products to the more obscure items.

Our website was designed exclusively for trade customers in mind with fast eĸcient ordering. All you need is your account log in and you can get up to the minute pricing, special oīers and check all your current invoices and statements in real Ɵme. Its all you need to keep you connected 24/7.

www.dobiesheatcentres.co.uk 35 Drumshoreland Road Pumpherston Livingston West Lothian EH53 0LF Tel 01506 430094 38 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

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Renewables – more news and information at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show

New solar collector range

Firebird TZ Heatpipe solar collectors.

Firebird has introduced a new range of solar collectors. The design of the TZ58-1800 Heatpipe collector enables solar energy to be captured, even at low temperatures, and prevents energy loss back to the atmosphere. The collector features aluminium manifold frames and nickel plated condensing heads for reliable long life, with a 94% absorption coefficient. The TZ range is cost effective, offering excellent performance and build quality, and is competitively priced to suit tight budgets. Unlike other Firebird solar systems, the TZ58-1800 functions as a dry pipe system. This means that the solar fluid only flows directly across the manifold, with the heat transfer process occurring through a condenser head located on the top of the tube, inside the manifold. Tubes are individually fixed making for easier, more convenient handling and reducing the likelihood of damage in transit and on site. All the company’s solar systems are supplied with the highest quality pump station, enabling quick and safe installation and easy filling. Firebird is currently awaiting MCS certification for its entire solar thermal range. www.firebird.ie

Showcasing the latest technology The installation of a Grant Spira wood pellet boiler in East Green Energy’s showroom has generated a great deal of interest. Not only does the boiler act as a primary heating source for the company’s premises, but it also offers customers a unique opportunity to see the advantages offered by this type of renewable technology. The Spira range is available in a variety of outputs and provides hot water via an open vented thermal store cylinder. By utilising the same patented Vortex condensing technology as Grant’s oil-ﬁred boilers, the range can maintain efﬁciencies of up to 97%. Its unique, self-cleaning design collects ash from the combustion grate and heat exchanger tubes, reducing cleaning and maintenance to once a year, under normal running conditions. MCS approved, the boiler was recently awarded Best Renewable Energy Product 2011 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). www.grantuk. com The Spira range is on show at East Green Energy’s company headquarters

Free training Trianco has joined forces with UTN Renewables to offer engineers free renewable training. Installers can claim back the cost of a BPEC or Logic course, taken with Trianco or UTN, up to a value of £595.00. The offer is available to installers that have completed, been certified and subsequently purchased their first Trianco Greenflame biomass boiler or Activair air source heat pump. Having recently become an accredited BPEC approved centre, Trianco now offers training on site at its manufacturing facility in Sheffield. www.trianco.co.uk

Claim back the cost of training with Trianco

40 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Designed for the UK

The TRIC F box â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an extremely low ballast ďŹ&#x201A;at roof racking system

Wagner Solar has introduced new roof brackets, designed specially for the UK market. Most PV and solar thermal roof brackets found in the UK have been designed for the German market and are often unsuitable for British roofs. The new A1 ďŹ&#x201A;ash Top brackets, however, ďŹ t perfectly onto slate, plain and peg tiles and enable a signiďŹ cant increase in the collector performance. The P UK Stv TOP bracket is primarily designed for pan tiles. With a bracket elbow of 60mm, it has very high resistance against extreme weather conditions. For solar PV installations, Wagner offers A1 ďŹ&#x201A;ash hv and P Stv KF TOP brackets. The company has additionally launched a new TRIC for solar installers, also developed with countries like the UK in mind. The TRIC F box is an extremely low ballast ďŹ&#x201A;at roof racking system, suitable for all types of industrial ďŹ&#x201A;at roofs. The box, which comes with a 10 year product warranty has a lightweight design and can be installed with just two tools, minimising installation time by up to 50%. www.wagner-solaruk.com

Win a renewable training course â&#x20AC;&#x201C; worth ÂŁ500+ Plumb Center is offering Oil Installer readers the chance to win two places on a renewable training course of their choice. To be in with a chance of winning, simply tell us in no more than 100 words why you would like to win this prize. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already working with oil and renewables, you may like to tell us about your latest project. Email your entry to jane@oilinstaller.co.uk. Entries can also be made in person at the Plumb Center stand at the Oil & Renewable Energy Show. Closing date Monday 22nd October.

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Remember you can now get up to the minute news online at our website or by following us on twitter. www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk

REI_digital

Autumn 2012 Oil Installer | 41

Gallery Riello jubilantly lets off steam This year Riello took great pleasure in supplying a burner to the owner of the steam launch Sabrina, a vessel which took part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee ﬂotilla on the River Thames on Sunday 3rd June. Restored in the 1970s, the Sabrina was built in 1870 and is part of the National Historic Fleet. The vessel’s steam raising plant is now ﬁtted with a new R40 G20D 2-stage oil burner which runs on marine diesel.

Steaming alon

Riello burner

A vintage show Customers ﬂocked to Mitchell & Webber’s stand at the Royal Cornwall Show. John Weedon, director at the Cornish fuel distribution company, said: “Bad weather initially meant customers were very pleased to sit in the dry with a hot drink, and tank sales did well. We even had a drive past by the Duchess of Cornwall.” Joining Mitchell & Webber staff, Lymarra, Sarah, Lisa, Linda and Christie, was Kevan Harris of QSS, here atop a tank specially decorated for the Diamond Jubilee. Also gracing the stand were a 1964 Massey Ferguson tractor and Mitchell & Webber’s vintage tanker.

Installation issues “I’ve seen a few installation issues in my time but this one’s unique,” writes Andrew Hounsfield of Suffolk-based Hounsfield Boilers. “Normal practice is to run a copper oil line into the boiler casing and then connect a flexible oil line to it within the casing; flexible oil lines being service replacement items. In this instance the flexible oil line runs underneath the boiler, buried in the concrete floor pad and exits through the wall! Plus, the only way of refilling the property’s oil tank is for the tanker hose to be passed through front and rear windows – but that’s another story!”

g with a new

Send yo u jane@o r photographs ilinstall t er.co.u o k

Buried in concrete, this ﬂexible oil line exits through the house wall

“Why change your site to suit a tank? ”

“I designed that tank to suit my site.” Mayweld Tanks - Security in Steel. Visit Mayweld Bespoke at

www.mayweld.co.uk/bespoke or call 01384 560 285

s 9ES TO YOUR DESIGN ONLINE s 9ES TO YOUR SPECIlCATION s 9ES TO YOUR SITE REQUIREMENT 42 | Oil Installer Autumn 2012

Banners Lane, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 2SD E: sales@mayweld.co.uk W. www.mayweld.co.uk

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