April 2019

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Volume 57 | Issue 4 | April 2019

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Volume 57 | Issue 4 | April 2019

Drop in apprenticeships sparks calls for reform

WIN a set of Cobra pliers

Latest figures reveal that apprenticeship starts are down by 26%, suggesting that the Government will fall well short of its target of 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020 and increasing fears of a skills shortage.

According to Department of Education statistics, the number of apprenticeships started in England during the 2017/18 academic year was 375,800, a fall of over 26% compared to two years ago.

The disappointing figures have caused industry leaders to question the launch of the Apprenticeship Levy, introduced in April 2017, where all businesses with a payroll over £3m per annum have to pay 0.5% of their wage bill towards funding apprenticeships.

The funds go into individual Digital Apprenticeship Scheme (DAS) accounts for businesses to spend on approved apprenticeship training and assessments, with government providing a further 10% top up. Smaller companies can also benefit from the levy as they only need to pay 10% of qualifying training costs, with government footing the remainder of the bill. However, two years on from the levy launch, only 20% of paying employers have taken on an apprentice and £3 billion of funding has been left untouched.

Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE,

comments: “The levy was meant to reform the system and in many ways it has – but for the worse. Parts of big business have regarded the levy as little more than an additional tax on wages, with many failing to claim back the money they have put in.

Amongst employers that have utilised the levy, there has been a trend in furthering the qualifications of existing employees, rather than taking on new starters.”

The number of new construction apprenticeship starts for January 2019 has fallen to 950 compared with 1216 the previous year. Commenting on the figures, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, says: “These

latest statistics point to a serious failure of the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. The Government needs to make the system work for small firms by increasing the proportion of levy vouchers that are permitted to be passed down the supply chain from large to small companies from 25% to 100%.”

The oil heating body OFTEC is concerned that the drop in numbers will exacerbate skill shortages in the heating industry.

OFTEC Training Manager David Knipe comments: “As an industry we are in danger of a ‘generation gap’ as older, highly skilled technicians retire, and there are currently not enough new people coming in to replace them. So, encouraging fresh talent into the sector is vital.

“For too long, apprenticeships have been considered ‘second rate’ but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This perception does now seem to be changing, but we still need more employers and young people to recognise the highly credible route to further education and future employment apprenticeships provide.”

Jail sentence for installer with a grudge A heating installer from Plymouth has been jailed for two years for deliberately sabotaging domestic gas boilers in a bid to discredit rival firms. Michael O’Brien, a qualified gas engineer, lost a contract to carry out work at various Ministry of Defence Homes and then decided to undermine his competitors by tampering with their installations.

O’Brien lost the MOD contract in February 2017 after taking an unauthorised person on site with him. He then obtained information about where new boilers had recently been installed on the site and then visited three

homes, telling the owners that he needed to carry out final checks.

He gained entry to two of the homes and then tampered with the gas pipe and meter with the intention of causing a gas leak. He told the owners to call the number on the gas meter if they smelled gas. A subsequent investigation found that the most serious leakage was directly beneath a children’s bedroom.

The defendant pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and being reckless as to whether lives were in danger. O’Brien admitted

that he had been ‘utterly stupid, reckless and illogical’ in his thought process.

Exeter Crown Court was told that his reckless actions could have caused a tragic explosion.

Judge Rose told O’Brien that he had exposed families ‘to the risk of very serious harm indeed and, in theory, possible death’ for financial gain.

After the hearing, DC Tina Worthington of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “This was a reckless and dangerous act which, had it not been noticed, could have had devastating consequences which cannot be underestimated.”

see page 51

Support for Superbikes

Commercial heating and hot water specialists Remeha and Andrews Water Heaters, part of the Baxi Heating Group, have announced a new sponsorship deal with Smiths Racing BMW for the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Contesting this year’s championship aboard the new Smiths BMW S1000RR are Peter ‘Hicky’ Hickman, who took 5th place in the BSB 2018 Series, and James Ellison, a former World Endurance and double European Superstock champion. The first round of the 2019 season will take place at Silverstone on the weekend starting 19th April.

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Inside this issue People baffled by Editor’s burst water pipes Viewpoint Exhibition Review

Some of the highlights from the recent ISH exhibition in Frankfurt – the industry’s biggest show

See page 14

Energy Efficient Products Products and devices designed to save energy and help reduce your customer’s fuel bills

Starts page 31

Showers & Enclosures Addressing some common shower installation issues and advice on how they can be avoided

Starts page 43

Test & Measuring Instruments What are the things you should think about before investing in a flue gas analyser?

Starts page 48

The Technical Magazine for the Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement Industry

Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News

According to a recent survey of homeowners, nearly half of people (42%) would have no idea what to do should a faulty pipe start flooding their home, and nearly two thirds rate their basic plumbing skills as either poor (29%) or very poor (35%).

The survey of 2000 homeowners, which was commissioned by Sykes Pump Hire, also revealed that 15% said that they have suffered from a burst pipe in the home and that the average cost of dealing with the damage caused is £976.

Unsurprisingly, the kitchen is the room in the house most likely to suffer from water damage (42%), followed by the bathroom (25%) and the living room (22%).

Of those who have suffered water damage to their home, only a third went through their insurance policy to get their repairs done, and 38% have no idea if their insurance covers water damage. 52% paid outright for the damage to be sorted, and 9% said there are still repairs which need addressing in their home after their most recent experience of water damage.

Over 20% of homeowners said that they had returned from holiday to find that

by Chris Jones

Is Britain a nation of snobs?

they had a problem with a leaky pipe, with 7% admitting that this had happened many times. Despite 14% of respondents saying that they live in fear of a potential water flood, only 6% said that they have any kind of flood preparation, such as pumps and sandbags, ready in their home in case of disaster.

A spokesperson for Sykes Pumps Hire said: “It seems inevitable that at some point, whether through inclement weather, a burst river bank, or just some dodgy plumbing, homeowners are going to need to deal with some major water damage.

“We were surprised at the sheer number of people who have suffered water damage to their home, while still lacking the skills and knowledge to prevent further damage if disaster were to visit them again.”

The Government’s bold manifesto pledge to have 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 looks like falling well short as the latest figures suggest that numbers are going in the wrong direction (see this month’s front cover story).

Despite the rising costs of embarking on a degree course at university, it seems that the alternative road of taking up an apprenticeship is still not appealing to enough school leavers. So where does the problem lie?

It was hoped that the Government’s introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy would help to ease the financial burden for small businesses, but many have argued that the scheme is too complicated and time consuming for employers to apply. Perhaps of longer-term concern is the bias that exists in the education scheme where schools continue to rate their performance based on the number of students they successfully send on to university.

Are parents also more likely to be proud of their offspring if they graduate with a degree rather than go on to achieve high levels on an apprenticeship? Education Secretary Damian Hinds has suggested that Britain has become a nation of “technical education snobs” who think university is the only way to get a good job.

Speaking at Battersea Power Station last December he argued that parents must understand that a degree is “not the only path to a great job” and school leavers who embark on apprenticeships deserve “as much praise” as their classmates who go on to university.

Hinds has said that the ultimate is to establish a “parity of esteem” when it comes to technical and academic routes, but it’s going to take a lot more than a tinkering with the Apprenticeship Levy before we’re likely to see a change in public perception.

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© Copyright 2019 | Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement News All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without written consent from the publisher. Attributed articles represent the views of the Author(s) and are not the necessarily those of the Editor.

The publishers accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers or advertisers. This magazine includes a number of colour editorial photographs paid for by suppliers.

Two tickets to this year’s Open golf championship is the top prize in a special underfloor heating promotion by Joule UK. Installers purchasing the company’s InvaHeat UFH system between April and the end of June can enter a prize draw to win two tickets for the weekend final of The Open (19th22nd July) which takes place at the Royal Portrush Gold Club in Northern Ireland. The prize includes three nights half board hotel accommodation at the Ballyrobin Country Lodge hotel and return transfers from the hotel to Royal Portrush – said to be one of the most challenging links courses in the world. Further details and an entry form can be found at www.jouleuk.co.uk/promotions

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Email:info@mvfh.co.uk info@mvfh.co.uk www.straub.co.uk • www.mvfh.co.uk Email: ENQUIRY

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Tribunal decision blow to gig workers Study shows boiler breakdown rates Heating Engineer Gary Smith, who won a workers’ rights case against Pimlico Plumbers in the Supreme Court last year, has lost his claim to £74,000 in back holiday pay after an employment tribunal ruled against him. It was found that Smith should have made his claim for missed pay within three months of each holiday period dating back to 2005.

The Supreme Court case was hailed as a victory for businesses and staff in the gig economy, and the decision remains in place.

The employment tribunal’s ruling against Gary Smith does not overturn the basic employment rights

and protections won in the 2018 decision, but it does prevent a worker from claiming holiday or sick pay retrospectively from employers or former employers if a claim is not within the prescribed three

month period.

Gary Smith’s lawyer, Jacqueline McGuigan of TMP Solicitors, said in a statement that her client was “extremely disappointed at the outcome after spending seven years going through

the courts defending his legal right to be recognised as a worker.”

Charlie Mullins, CEO of Pimlico Plumbers, commented: “While the Supreme Court deemed him to be a ‘worker’ and entitled to associated rights, the tables have been turned and common sense prevailed in the actual employment tribunal, and Mr Smith has been told that he wasn’t entitled to a penny.”

Gary Smith plans to appeal the tribunal’s decision, and Charlie Mullins says he has asked his lawyers to pursue Gary Smith for legal costs.

Mullins is also considering suing Smith for damages due to ‘reputational’ harm.

Chance to win the Online calculator keys to Transit van for cylinder size

A Ford Transit Connect van is the top prize in a new promotion sponsored by Wirquin. To enter, plumbers and installers simply need to upload their receipt to wirquin.co.uk/ winavan after purchasing one of the company’s products from a participating retailer or merchant.

The competition runs until the end of December and the winner will be presented with their prize in January 2020. In addition, entrants will also have the chance to win £250 worth of Wirquin products within the month they entered. For more information, visit www.wirquin. co.uk/winavandetails.html

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The Hotwater Association (HWA) has launched a hot water cylinder sizing calculator to help both consumers and installers select the right size cylinder for the job.

Isaac Occhipinti, Head of External Affairs, comments: “HWA member companies receive enquiries from both consumers and installers on a regular basis asking for help and advice on sizing the hot water cylinder.

We wanted to make this process as easy as possible for everyone, and so we have developed this online tool.

“Getting the calculation wrong can have repercussions for everyone involved.

The installer gets called

back to jobs and the consumer runs out of hot water or pays over the odds heating water they don’t use.”

The online calculator asks a few questions to help identify the correct sized cylinder for the job.

The calculator is based on current government and heating design guidelines, together with decades of experience from water heater manufacturers, to give logical and sensible advice on the size selection of a domestic hot water cylinder.

If the property requires a unique kind of cylinder, HWA members are happy to offer advice on bespoke solutions.

Residents in London are more likely to experience a boiler breakdown in their property compared to anywhere else in the UK, according to figures collected over the past ten years by boiler repair specialist, Boiler Guide. The figures showed that 6.1% of properties in London had experienced a boiler breakdown since 2009.

The West Midlands (6%) and the North East (5.6%) followed closely behind London. At the other end of the scale, boilers least likely to break down were in Yorkshire (4.3%), ahead of Scotland (4.4%) and the North West (4.8%).

The report also found there was a clear link between the percentage of home ownership and the amount of boiler repair enquiries made, with areas dominated by rental properties – such as in London, the North East and the West Midlands – more likely to experience a breakdown.

It is thought that this is likely due to tenants not keeping a close eye on the condition of their boiler, or not living in a property for a long enough time to notice any changes.

Princess pipes up

HRH the Princess Royal recently paid a visit to Polypipe at one of its manufacturing sites in Doncaster. Chief Executive Martin Payne treated Her Royal Highness to a tour of the training and moulding facilities in action, and spoke about the history of the business and its sustainability objectives.

HRH also unveiled a plaque to commemorate her attendance.

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Lecture to focus on Highlights of CIPHE dinner In brief extreme weather

This year’s annual lecture of The Worshipful Company of Plumbers (WCP), taking place on Monday 20th May at the Royal College of Physicians, will focus on the impact of extreme weather and what we as an industry and society in general can do about it.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environmental Agency, will deliver the lecture entitled ‘Too much, too little, too hot, too cold – extreme weather, what do we do next?’.

The lecture is open to anyone with an interest in the subject and is also an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals committed to excellence in plumbing and heating.

CIPHE members can also count attendance towards their continuing professional development (CPD) hours.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www. plumberscompany.org.uk.

Tickets are £25 (lecture only) and £80 (lecture and dinner).

Success stories Following its recent TV ad campaign, Vaillant is inviting installers to share their biggest professional wins of the last few months – whether that’s an increase in sales, new website, etc – using the hashtag #CelebrateSuccess.

A selection of the best stories will be chosen to receive a ‘Celebrate Success’ prize pack. Vaillant says the ad campaign generated a 116% increase in traffic to the ‘Find Your Local Vaillant Installer’ page, resulting in a 65% increase in leads compared to the previous year, benefitting Advance members across the UK. Alice Woolley, Director of Marketing at Vaillant, comments: “The Celebrate Success promotion aims to shine a light on the fantastic work of installers. We plan to continue consumer advertising and hope to see a continued rise in brand awareness and, therefore, leads for our installers.”

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Education, public health and industry collaboration were the running themes of this year’s Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering’s (CIPHE) President’s Dinner. Held last month at The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, some 50 guests joined President Tracey Richardson to celebrate her year in the Institute’s highprofile position.

Tracey’s speech focused on her passion for education and her support for the introduction of the new Plumbing & Domestic Heating Technician (Trailblazer) Apprenticeship. She also addressed the CIPHE’s recent public health work in the areas of scalding and Legionnaires’ disease. Tracey

Tracey Richardson, CIPHE

said the Institute was “leading the way in pulling statistical information together from a wide range of sources to show what impact these occurrences are having on our hospitals in both England and Wales.”

She also urged the whole

industry to come together to help tackle public health issues, saying: “It’s by working together with other likeminded trade associations, to form collaborations that we should be able to see how we can all help to make the industry a better and safer place.”

Tracey will continue in her role as President until the CIPHE’s AGM in June.

The CIPHE has also welcomed two more members to the company of Master Plumbers. Jamie David Cousins and Lucy Mawer were both worthy recipients of the prestigious award, which is only attained by the highest of skilled members of the plumbing and heating industry.

Show for Online application sparkies returns This year’s Live South exhibition, operated by NICEIC and ELECSA, is returning to Epsom Racecourse on 16 May. As part of the exhibition and seminar programme, experts will be on hand to provide clarity on certain areas of BS7671 Wiring Regulations, answering the most frequently asked questions like EICR coding in line with the 18th Edition.

Tickets cost £29 plus VAT for NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA contractors, and £49 plus VAT for non-registered persons. Apprentice passes are available free of charge.

For more information visit www.niceic-elecsalive.com

Applications for Engineering Services SKILLcards can now be made online. Operated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), the SKILLcard is for those working in the HVACR sectors and provides evidence that the bearer has the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carry out on construction sites.

Rachel Davidson, Director of Certification Schemes at BESA, says: “We were well

aware that the manual process could be frustrating and time consuming, so we moved quickly to introduce a new online process that new applicants will find simpler, quicker and easier.”

The new system has gone live for new applicants and BESA says it will also be extended to cover renewals over the coming months. To access the SKILLcard online application service visit: www.skillcard.org.uk

• Towelrads.com has been named Best Service Provider 2018 at the annual Barratt Homes Supplier Conference.

• Bemis Manufacturing Company, the global toilet seat manufacturer, has acquired Croatia-based Ivanicplast, a thermoset compression and thermoplastic injection molder.

• Ellesmere-based manufacturer Fabdec has rewarded 10 employees for their long service with the company, with awards split between those with 25 years of service and those with 30.

• Sentinel has reported double digit growth across Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific and now projects global growth of 62%.

• Starting this month, Hamworthy Heating will be touring the country in a van equipped with its range of boilers and controls.

• In a move to reduce its environmental impact, Lakes Showering Spaces has introduced 100% recyclable packing.

• Installers who purchase the SpiroVent RV2 in 22/28mm before 28 June will be able to claim £5 cashback from Spirotech.

CORRECTION In an article about ways to keep van insurance premiums down, printed in the previous issue (p28), the source of the research should have been attributed to Confused.com.

We apologise for having been confused.com.

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April 2019

10 NEWS Review Reserve tickets for Workshop considers industry changes WIT conference Tickets are now available for the third Women Installers Together (WIT) Conference taking place at The Building Centre in London on 4th July. Now in its third year, the conference is the only national conference for women plumbers and gas engineers and is supported by leading manufacturers in the industry. To reserve a place at the conference, sign up for a free-of-charge ticket by visiting: https://witconference2019.eventbrite.co.uk

Last month APHC teamed up with Worcester Bosch to present regional workshops for installers on the future of the heating industry. Change is coming from both manufacturers and Government in terms of competence, best practice, and data logging, and the workshop explained how this is likely to affect installers and their businesses.

Worcester Bosch hosted the first event at its Training Academy in Worcester, with Technical Training Engineer Sean Sneyd taking a look at the worrying trend of consumers choosing not to have their boilers serviced on a regular basis. He said they appear to believe that manufacturers will cover any potential issues under the warranty, regardless of its service history.

Sean explained that manufacturers are going to be applying the terms and conditions of their warranties more stringently in future, and this could have the effect of increasing service and maintenance activity.

“We are predicting a boom in servicing work as warranties become tied to boiler checks,” said Sean, “and this will evolve to incorporate the whole system in terms of balancing, water quality, maintenance and the proactive

will improve the quality of service you provide and make your job easier.”

Industry schemes

replacement of wearable parts.”

Also from a manufacturer’s perspective, Sean said, it’s important that servicing is done according to best practice. “We are providing more comprehensive information to installers on best practice and not assuming that everyone knows what best practice is.

This should help reduce system failure and keep customers happy.”

Another change installers can expect is for boiler service histories to become accessible online. For example, Worcester is looking to launch an online portal for Benchmark reporting, as Sean explains: “The idea is that for an installation, you will fill out the Benchmark and submit that via an online portal. Any subsequent visits to that property will also be logged on that portal. This data

The workshop also addressed changes affecting the sector from a government level. APHC’s Technical Manager Graeme Dryden looked at the various industry schemes and the reasons why installers might participate in them.

Some government schemes have ended, like the Green Deal, and others are set to wind down, like the RHI, which means there may be less incentive for contractors to be MCS certified or have PAS 2030 accreditation. In addition, the Grenfell tragedy has placed competency under greater scrutiny, which signals changes in how the Government looks upon the question of competency. The government-endorsed quality mark, Trustmark, is expected to play a larger role in this area.

Concluding the day, Graeme Dryden said: “Competence in our industry is something we have done a lot of work around, and we know that we can prove competencey in a number of ways.

Schemes such as Gas Safe, WaterSafe and the various CPS are helping to keep our industry robust and effective.”

Tenants have right to healthy IAQ – such as lack of ventilation – rather than just disrepair.

If a home does not meet the standard and the property owner does not carry out the necessary repairs or maintenance, tenants will have the right to take them to court where a judge can issue an injunction forcing the work to be carried out.

“We are pleased to see the importance of good ventilation being recognised in this Act. If ventilation is inad-

Ventilation specialist VentAxia has welcomed the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which came into force last month.

The Act makes it a legal requirement that rental properties, both social housing and private, are fit for human habitation, including the need for effective ventilation and freedom from damp.

The Act addresses problems caused by defective design

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Stove Industry Supplies will be hosting the annual SootFest exhibition at its HQ in Blackpool, taking place on 25 and 26 May. Aimed at chimney sweeps, retailers, manufacturers and installers, the event is free to attend and provides an opportunity to see and buy a range of products including chimney sweeping equipment, fireplaces, flue liners, CCTV surveying equipment, pots and cowls, stoves and vacuum cleaners, and more.

There will be tea, coffee,

refreshments and a full bar available throughout the two day event. Just some of the exhibitors set to be in attendance include F2 Fires, Flue & Ducting, Charlton & Jenrick, and Clock Stoves.

The celebrations at SootFest will continue into the Saturday evening with live bands, food, and drink from 7pm. Tickets for the evening do are available at the special early bird price of £5 each.

Further information can be found online at: www. sootfest.co.uk

equate or absent it can have far reaching consequences for both the occupants and the building itself,” explains Tom Wodcke, Product Manager, at Vent-Axia.

“Without effective ventilation, homes are susceptible to condensation and mould, which creates poor indoor air quality, leads to ill health and damage to the building.

We welcome the Act and the opportunity for all to benefit from effective ventilation.”

Duke brings award The manufacturer Harvey Water Softeners was visited

by HRH The Duke of Kent last month for the official presentation of the company’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. HRH was given a tour of the factory and production line where thousands of domestic water softeners are made each year before presenting the award to founder Harvey Bowden and MD Martin Hurworth.

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April 2019

PEOPLE on the Move Waterloo Air Products has named Andy Wardle as Head of National Sales. Previously the territory manager for the North of England, Andy has been at Waterloo for 13 years and has over 34 years experience in air distribution. In his new role Andy will help in the creation of framework agreements, centralised purchasing and a national account to provide an enhanced customer experience.

Following an expansion of the Daikin Group, with the acquisition of the AHT Group in November 2018, the leadership of Daikin UK has changed, with MD Martin Krutz returning to Austria as Chief Executive Officer of the AHT Group and Angela McGinlay, currently Managing Director of Daikin Air Conditioning Portugal (DAPT), becoming Managing Director of Daikin UK. The new Sales Manager representing the South West and South Wales for Schiedel Chimney Systems is Andrew Martin. With over 30 years experience in the plumbing and heating sector, most recently at Wilo, Andrew will be responsible for sales and technical support for installers, distributors and retailers in both the commercial and domestic sectors, specialising in the residential market.

Simon Marklew has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Cheltenham-based heating, plumbing and electrical specialist Shackleton, Wintle & Lane (SW&L), as the company aims for further growth. Simon joins after a decade with Wolseley UK, where he most recently held the position of National Sales Director for National Frameworks and Drainage Category Sales.

Sunderland-based Salamander Pumps has appointed three new Business Development Managers. Ian Donnan (pictured), Matt Backhouse and Jonny Davis will be responsible for developing new and existing business, as well as building relationships and providing support to their accounts, increasing product sales, and identifying new opportunities for growth.

The BMA has announced that Tom Reynolds will take over the role of CEO when Yvonne Orgill steps down at the end of this year, with Tom serving as CEO designate from the beginning of May. He is currently Commercial and Public Affairs Director at the British Ceramic Confederation.

Yvonne will work with the BMA in a part-time capacity in a non-executive role from 2020.

Boiler and water heater manufacturer Lochinvar has appointed Craig Jeffrey as Area Sales Representative for Scotland. Craig joins from energy company Spark where he worked for five years in a number of roles, including recruitment manager.

In that position, he was responsible for equipping other team managers with motivational, customer service and performance management skills.

Hitachi Cooling & Heating has appointed John James Officer as the new Sales Manager for Scotland and the North East of England. Joining from Manchester-based HVAC contractors, Thermatic, following seven years with Capital Cooling, John has extensive experience in working with contractors and installers and brings an understanding of the market from the contractor’s perspective.

BPEC has welcomed Paul Wilson (pictured) and Jonathan Bexon as Technical Business Support Managers. Within this role, they will both be offering technical support across development and operations within the business.

Both have extensive experience in the industry, including time on the tools as plumbers. Paul also has many years experience as a plumbing lecturer in FE establishments.

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April 2019

12 YOUR Views

Send your views via email to: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk

Gas is the here and now Naturally as a Gas Safe registered engineer my ears pricked up with the proposal from the Committee for Climate Change to eliminate gas supplies to all new homes built from 2025 (cover story, March 2019).

I’m not convinced that their proposals have great merit at this time, even with the notion of using heat pumps to provide the heating needs for a property. I’m mindful of the relative inefficiency of gas fi red power stations – at around 40% from the quick research I did, and up to 60% for the newest turbines (https://www.brighthubengineering. com/power-plants/72369-compare-theef f iciency-of-d i f ferent-power-pla nts/) compared with the 90% or so efficiency of modern condensing boiler technology.

I accept that as time goes on the renewable generation of electricity will increase its ratio within the overall factor mix, but to a certain extent we need to deal with the here and now.

However, there is an extraordinary amount of waste of potential in the current use of condensing boilers in the majority of installations. The optimal use of employing the technology is in underfloor heating. This could be augmented with the use of both solar PV and solar thermal combined with a heat store to provide a pre-heat boost, both for heating and hot water.

This calls for a radical re-think of housing

design and planning regulations. Houses Let would need to have ter long-face, asymmetric roofs to optimise the surface area available for the panels, as well as the pitch being optimal for latitude and seasonal variation. The roof would also need to be south facing in every instance which might provide a challenge for the architects, and housing design incorporating a boiler house, something not uncommon on the continent, to accommodate the equipment.

£10 0

This is of course expensive and would add significantly to the cost of new build.

However, it would seem from all the climate change reports we are receiving that the days of cheap options are over.

There are, of course, other potential technologies – district geothermal for one – but these are considerations for another time.

I accept that the UK is not the worst global polluter in terms of both carbon and air quality. But we can’t use that as an excuse for relative inaction, otherwise we may as well shrug and toss our flag into a hedge rather than planting it on a hill and making a stand.

Regan Dickenson Via email

Degree not required I have no doubt that Mr Adams has only the best interests of our trade at heart with his suggestion that plumbers be required to undertake a degree course (Your Views, March 2019) but as someone who also works in the education sector I must disagree with him.

It is true that some of the ‘wrong people’ apply to trade courses, but that is also true of degree courses. This country is overrun with graduates who were misled into believing that the only way to make something of yourself is to go to university and we are in the situation that half a generation are in massive, unnecessary debt with no hope of a decent job at the end of their course.

To add tradespeople to that number would be ridiculous.

Since Labour took power in 1997, manual work has been maligned and academic studies pushed as the better option. I see people in their early 20s who are incapable of bleeding a radiator, yet their pursuit of pointless academia is no solution.

Skills Minister Anne Milton recently said that graduates are immature, irresponsible and cannot communicate and

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says that more people should be undertaking apprenticeships.

She was formerly a nurse, which never used to require a degree, as nursing college gave the trainees the necessary education, supported by practical work in the local teaching hospital. unfortunately, it is now also necessary to have a degree in this field and this is indicative of the wider problem.

By turning practical jobs that include some theory into degree courses, they have all been devalued. I resent the notion that because I do not have a degree I am a lesser person, and I expect most plumbers feel the same.

We have too many universities offering too many courses to too many people, with the obvious result that no-one really ends up with their desired outcome.

Vocational jobs should be taught in dedicated colleges with equal focus on theory and practical work. To lump us in with the annual tidal wave of useless graduates is an insult to all tradesmen.

Phil Stannard Southampton

How to boost savings from condensing boilers I refer to the letter from M Whitworth in the March issue of PHAM News.

It is not surprising that he is not seeing savings with his condensing boiler controlled by an S Plan Plus system. I suspect the boiler is running with a f low temperature in excess of 75ºC, so it will hardly ever condense.

If he were to install a boiler which can accept dual inputs and run it in DHW priority mode with a modulating room controller or weather compensation controller, the boiler will spend most of its working life at lower temperatures, only switching to high f low temperatures when there is a demand for DHW cylinder reheat, leading to increased condensing and savings in energ y used.

We have been installing such systems for in excess of 10 years using Remeha Avanta boilers, and more recently Intergas boilers, with Opentherm controls.

All our customers have reported greater comfort from their heating systems and lower energy consumption.

Mike Walton MCIPHE RP Bracknell

Wearing too many hats?

What is a plumber? I think we expect too much from one tradesman. One day hanging radiators, another fitting a bathroom, maybe a new sink unit or kitchen. Who does the chimney flashings?

In my day I also did lead burning roof/soil stack slates. I made and fitted a handrail up Ely Cathedral Tower out of ¾in. galv iron pipe. I don’t think there’s

The Tweet Spot

A Class Plumb & Elec @A_Class_P_And_E What an absolute mess!

Plumber Hosegood @plumberhosegood Wet MDF! The perfect cylinder stand. Not sure they thought this through.

many would or maybe could tackle laying a new lead roof with 10lb cast sheet lead as I did in my younger days.

Just a thought: I am of the opinion that we should specialise and break the jobs into separate trades.

What do others think?

GA Pitchford Norfolk

@PHAMNews

Where do you even start?

Clive O Malley @cliveomalley When you turn up and see the customer has actually thought about what you’re doing today.

Infusion Plumbing & Htg Ltd @infusion_andy Been a good run...but it finally happened.

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14 EXHIBITION Review

Another glimpse into the future With over 2500 exhibitors and 190,000 visitors, ISH – the biennial Frankfurt trade show for the bathroom, heating and ventilation industry – has become a ‘must attend’ event for anyone who wants to keep on top of market trends and advances in technology. For those too busy to make the trip, we round up of some of the new products unveiled during last month’s ÿve-day exhibition.

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hatever the potential ramifications of Brexit – or otherwise – there’s no denying that the heating, plumbing and ventilation industry is very much a European affair and the biennial Messe Frankfurt exhibition is the industry’s showcase for the latest product innovations and future technologies.

This year’s event took place from 11th to 15th March and attracted around 190,000 visitors with close to 50% of them from outside Germany.

And to give you an idea of the scale of the show, the various exhibition areas, spread over 12 halls, covered a total of 275,000m2, which is the equivalent of 39 football pitches.

Colour choice Individuality and a wider choice of colours and materials were key themes reflected in the bathroom halls at ISH 2019. Space saving solutions and rimless toilets were two other concepts on display on many stands and which look set to dominate bathroom design in the years ahead.

Looking to position itself as a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions, Grohe used the event to showcase several new

products designed to cater for the increasing demand for more bespoke solutions.

These included minimalist ceramic lines to match the company’s brassware products, as well as the Grohe Colours Collection, a range of taps and accessories in ten different colours and finishes that allow more creative freedom for individualising the kitchen and bathroom.

Digital world Digitisation and intelligent water management were other key themes for Grohe, with products such as the company’s Sense Guard flood detection system and Rapido SmartBox shower installation system on display.

Colour was a key focus on the Roca stand, where the

This year’s show attracted over 190,000 visitors, mostly professional installers, and many from outside Germany

company unveiled its new bathroom palette, with fresh colour finishes for both the company’s vitreous china and brassware ranges, but visitors to the stand were also able to view some new advances in bathroom technology The manufacturer took

Material gains

Roca’s new Senceramic anti-slip low level shower trays

New hall leads by example As if the Frankfurt Trade Fair wasn’t big enough already, this year’s show saw the introduction of a new hall – Hall 12 – and an expansion of exhibition space by 5% to a leg-aching 275,000m2.

Hall 12, to the south of the Frankfurt trade fair site, covers a ° oor space equivalent to ÿve football pitches. The building, shaped like an asymmetrical pyramid, opens to the east, west and north and provides an example of some of the sustainable building solutions that have been a focus for the exhibition in recent years.

On the roof of the hall a

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the opportunity to present a new generation of In-Wash smart toilets, highlighting a ground-breaking dryer that has been designed based on modern aerodynamics. This technological innovation projects air in one single direction and, together with its turbo option, provides an enhanced level of drying, claimed to be well beyond the standards found currently in the market.

photovoltaic system with 5300 solar panels over a surface area of 9000m2 is said to produce energy equivalent to the average annual consumption of over 240 four-person households.

The new exhibition area also includes 46 ventilation

systems, 50,000m2 of ventilation ducts, six refrigerating machines, 34 kilometres of pipes for cooling and heating, 160 radiators, 25,000 sprinklers and more than 11 kilometres of stainless steel drinking water pipes!

Roca also presented a new generation of anti-slip shower trays based on its ‘Senceramic’ technology, an innovative material combining the sanitary and hygienic benefits of vitreous china with a new anti-slip texture and extraslim design. Claimed to be extremely resistant to wear and with a zero-porosity surface that makes cleaning easier, these shower trays are available in a wide range of colours and dimensions of up to 1.80m.

On the Kaldewei stand, visitors were invited to

Get a good drenching with Hansgrohe’s Rainfinity spa shower

immerse themselves in five different themed zones, representing the company’s latest advances in the areas of digitalisation, sustainability, modern bathroom solutions, new materials and international partnerships.

Practical solutions on display included Kaldewei’s range of floor-level shower

systems for easy, flat, flexible and secure installation. The company estimates that it can now offer customers over 100,000 different options for floor-level showers, which now include different colours and five different waste cover designs, including polished and brushed rose gold.

Having recently marked its centenary year, the German manufacturer also took the opportunity to promote the benefits of its steel enamel bathroom products, made from natural, recyclable materials.

Rain fall

Kaldewei exhibited a wide range of floor level solutions

One of the highlights of Hansgrohe’s exhibition area was the Rainfinity spa shower which, with a giant domeshaped showerhead and new-style wall connection, provides the user with a truly immersive showering experience.

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April 2019

EXHIBITION Review 15 On the double With a range of shower and pump solutions to display, Saniflo’s parent company, SFA, exhibited its products on two different stands.

In Hall 9.0 the stand consisted of a mix of new products and amazing technology. Taking centre stage was a new range of outdoor pumping stations for underground use which will take the company into bigger projects and developments.

With up to 12,000 litres tank capacity and 150 litres per minute pumping ability, the new pumps will be launched into the UK market later this year.

In Hall 3.0 the latest additions to the company’s range of Kinedo shower cubicles and enclosures were on display including new enclosures – Fast 2000, Kinespace and Eclipse – as well as new shower tray ranges Kinestone, Kinesurf Pietra and Kinesurf+.

Aimed at the mid to higher end of the market, Kinespace is a distinctive range of enclosures suitable for both small and large spaces, with some options available with a black or copper finish.

Some big brands working together on the RWC stand

Fresh identity RWC, the push-fit plumbing and heating systems and water control valves specialist, used ISH 2019 to reveal the company’s new brand vision and identity.

The company has united its family of brands to offer an extended product portfolio.

To showcase its products – which now include SharkBite, JG Speedfit, Reliance Valves, John Guest and StreamLabs – and help visitors understand how they work together, RWC created an interactive product display and an installer zone to offer hands-on product experience.

This product introduction is a result of the acquisition of the Halm Circulator brand by Armstrong, and enables the

company to serve customers across Europe with leading high efficiency technology in a cost-effective wet-rotor circulator line. Also on show, Armstrong’s Design Envelope Tango is an intelligent, variable-speed pump. It features Parallel Sensorless Pump Control (PSPC), a technology that improves the efficiency of a multipump installation through optimised load sharing. PSPC technology is said to improve efficiency levels by up to 30% over traditional multi-pump installations.

On the hour With hourly product demonstrations, Rehau’s two-tier stand gave visitors the opportunity to catch up with the company’s latest innovations in plumbing and pipework systems.

These included Rehau’s underfloor heating systems with manifold and control technology. The company’s Rautitan plumbing system and Raupiano Plus acoustic soil and waste system were also on display, together with new software solutions.

Underfloor heating solutions on display by Rehau

Fluid control

For installers interested in fluid flow control, the Armstrong Fluid Technology stand was the place to be. The company claims to offer a range of solutions for the domestic and commercial market, with the lowest installation cost, lowest operating cost and the lowest environmental impact.

One highlight of the display was the Armstrong HEP Optimo range, a line of wetrotor, variable speed Pumping stations demonstrated circulator pumps for

by Saniflo parent company SFA domestic applications.

PHAM News Publisher Chris Evans (left) with Armstrong Chairman Charles A. Armstrong and Sales Director Michael Schulz ENQUIRY

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16 EXHIBITION Review Versatile pump Providing an overview of the latest advances in pump technology, Wilo offered an insight into the development of its Wilo-Varios PICO – said to be the most versatile pump solution on the market for replacement projects. With a new Sync function, the pump is able to replicate the hydraulic performance of any pump being replaced.

For ease of installation, the pump also features an easy to read LED display and two push buttons – one for the control mode and one for pre-set pump curves. Other products on display included the new Stratos MAXO pump for large residential and light commercial projects (see page 51 for more details).

Energy efficient pump technology demonstrated by Wilo

Nature lovers

One of the show’s most eyecatching displays was on the Aeon stand, where the company demonstrated its latest designs of decorative radiators and towel warmers – described as both functional and sculptural. Highlights include the company’s new Acheron range, said to have been inspired by nature. Looking like giant mushrooms, available in a range of colours, the handfinished product features actual grass that has been specifically treated to last for five years.

Slightly less artistic but perhaps more practical products were available for viewing on the Grant Combining art with function – Engineering stand in radiators from Aeon

Hall 11. Exhibiting at ISH for the second time, this year Grant had a larger stand which enabled the company to display more products – from the latest modulating oil boiler technology through to biomass boilers and air source heat pumps. All three models within the Grant Solo Fan Convector range, including the Hideaway, were also incorporated into the 150m² stand enabling visitors to view Grant’s new and expanding heat emitter range.

Also on display was a new product concept which will further extend Grant’s hybrid technology offering in the future. The company says it is set to change the way renewable energy can be incorporated into existing homes and a prototype of the product took centre stage of the stand over the course of the show’s five days.

Big thinking

Grant Engineering exhibited at ISH for the second time

Plenty of room for everyone on the Viessmann stand

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Always a big presence at the show, German manufacturer Viessmann took the opportunity to announce the company’s strategic transformation from a heating technology manufacturer to a provider of integrated solutions. The family-owned business emphasised its role in ‘creating habitats’ for future generations, while declaring a rise in global sales of 5 % in 2018.

Viessmann’s new corporate strategy aims to provide sustainable growth for both itself and its installer partners through the development of platforms that will enable heat, cooling and ventilation products to be seamlessly connected to digital services.

The company reported that its strongest product segment growth in 2018 was the Vitovalor fuel cell heating system, sales of which doubled to over 2000

units. The trend towards highly efficient heat pumps has also continued, with sales increasing by 20%.

Also on home turf, Vaillant has historically been another dominant force at ISH and this year the manufacturer used the event to unveil a new generation of gas-fired condensing boilers. Featuring a new IoniDetect combustion control system, the boilers are able to recognise different types of gas and automatically balance out fluctuations in gas quality.

A key component is a maintenance-free ionisation electrode that permanently assesses the quality of the flame and adjusts the combustion air volume in the case of fluctuating fuel quality.

Into hot water Visitors to the Stiebel Eltron stand were some of the first to see a range of innovative new products across the company’s hot water, heating and ventilation divisions. The DCE series of instantaneous water heaters will expand Stiebel Eltron’s offering in the domestic hot water market, a sector that has been bolstered by the growth of city-centre living in the UK. Incorporating three new product lines, the DCE-X Premium, DCE-S Plus and the DCE-C Trend, the series will combine high performance with a space-saving modern design said to be ideally suited for high-density residential developments.

The launch has been supplemented by the announcement of a new environmentally friendly refrigerant for heat pumps.

Next year will see the company begin producing heat pumps that implement R454C refrigerant, a sustainable option that improves coefficients of performance and enables higher temperatures.

Visitors to the Vaillant stand got a preview of the latest gas boilers

New generation Heat pump technology also took pride of place on the Panasonic stand where the company highlighted the environmental benefits of its new Aquarea J Generation of air-to-water heat pumps.

With a CoP of 5.33, the J Generation features an improved heating efficiency and a domestic hot water CoP of up to 3.30. From September 2019, models will be rated A+++ in low temperature operation, the highest Stiebel Eltron introduced several energy class, according to extensions to its product range the new Energy Labelling Well connected Directive.

In addition, the J Generation Under the catch line of ‘a can cool down to 10°C and connected world’, Danfoss control the indoor comfort used this year’s show to focus conditions via surface on the topics of digitisation heating or a fan convector, and intelligent building more effectively. A special control. Displays on the PV function also opens up stand helped to illustrate the possibility of utilising how heating systems can free solar power for cooling be controlled centrally via intelligent valves and of the building.

For intelligent maintenance thermostats and the Alexasupport, Aquarea Service compatible Danfoss Link Cloud is available as part of smart heating system. In the company’s smart cloud addition, the company was control system, which allows able to showcase the latest users to operate the Aquarea intelligent valve components remotely via a smartphone. for dynamic hydraulic Aquarea Service Cloud saves balancing in apartment time and installer visits by buildings and commercial connecting Aquarea to a projects, including the cloud infrastructure that latest generation of AB-QM monitors remote error codes, pressure independent control enabling them to quickly valves and the NovoCon respond to faults and issues. digital valve actuator.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the development of the radiator thermostat by Danfoss founder Mads Clausen, so visitors to the stand also had the opportunity to view a presentation board with a number of historical exhibits on display.

Intelligent control solutions on display from Danfoss

The next ISH will be held in Frankfurt from 22nd to 26th March 2021

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April 2019

MERCHANT & Distributor News 17 Flame expands to More branches to offer early delivery the North West Plumbase is expanding its Spares Point early delivery option so that there are now a total of 55 branches with this service. The service lets customers get their genuine spares orders at 7am the next day when ordered by 7.30pm the night before.

The Spares Point early delivery service is essentially a secure place where overnight couriers can place orders. All the customer has to do is collect the purchase from their chosen branch from as early as 7am. A further 40 Spares Point locations will be added to the Plumbase branch network in the near future.

Aidan Ogle, Plumbase Spares Director, says: “Plumbase

Carlisle is the site of Flame Heating Group’s first outlet in the North West. The new 2000ft2 branch on Rosehill, Carlisle will be led by Investor Director Jamie Heath and branch manager Christine Bell (pictured above).

Established in 2011, Flame operates 12 branches across the UK, including a bathroom showroom. It specialises in heating spares, commercial heating and plumbing,

renewable energy and bathrooms for both the trade and the general public.

MD John Savage says: “Both Jamie and Christine possess a wealth of industry experience, which will be crucial to the long-term success of Flame in the North West. We are hoping to extend our reach into more regions across the UK, and our Carlisle branch will play a large role in the company’s future.”

offers next working day delivery on 130,000 lines and has significant genuine spares stocks held locally, so in most cases installers can pick up what they need on the day. If we don’t have what they need though, the Spares Point service is perfectly suited to meet the requirements of installers who need a genuine part quickly.

“The convenience of being able to get the parts they need, even before the working day has started, has been so well received that naturally we are very pleased to be able to offer even more installers the chance to use Spares Point in 2019.”

Group for collective purchasing power Contractors can now benefit from the BEE Trade Buying Group, an initiative launched by Brimble Elton Enterprises.

The group brings together professional heating installation companies to provide collective purchasing power and a knowledge base for all types of boilers, renewables, parts and materials.

MD Paul Brimble explains: “We were keen to provide an efficient trading platform to allow contractors to source best quality items at the most competitive pricing levels.”

The Group constantly negotiates with industry merchants and manufacturers on behalf of its members. The aim is to open new avenues of rebate schemes and grow a portfolio of products included in the discount structures.

Companies joining the Group will benefit from group purchasing power, increased supplier discount levels, and rebate schemes, all with the objective of increasing profit margins. Membership is free of charge.

In day-to-day terms, the BEE Trade

Buying Group works on behalf of the new member to monitor, review and produce invoices, statements and rebates whilst keeping track of orders and deliveries in real time. Support also provides pre-sales advice, after sales service and advance information of discounts, prices and products.

Further information on the BEE Trade Buying Group is available by emailing BEE@brimblemail.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.shop. brimble.ltd/trade-group

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20

ENERGY Matters

Holding out hope for hydrogen Following the announcement that the Government intends to follow through on plans to ban gas boilers in newbuild homes by 2025, Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, proposes an alternative solution.

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n his Spring Statement, carbon answer on the horithe Chancellor Philip zon that could get close.

Hammond outlined the Hello hydrogen Government’s plan to ban It’s been over 40 years since all gas-fi red boilers from the UK converted from town newbuild homes by 2025. gas to natural gas. Some 23 This was following advice million homes are connected given by the Committee to the grid and changing to on Climate Change. Now another gas may mean a although I agree that climate change in pipework. This change needs to be tackled, may sound daunting, but this one-size fits all solution much of the job is already may cause more unforeseen underway. For some years issues than are evident today. we’ve been converting the If the Government’s plans original steel pipework of go ahead and all new builds the underground mains into are off-gas, then electricity Martyn Bridges, Worcester for solutions such as heat plastic or polythene, which pumps still needs to come can already carry hydrogen. from somewhere. Unless the electricity Converting to hydrogen would also comes from a zero-carbon source, it defeats be beneficial to the installer in terms of the object. If the whole of the country came future boilers. Through ours and other off gas, we would need the power of around manufacturers initial investigations it 30 nuclear power stations in this country, seems that a hydrogen firing boiler will look and run near enough the same as the and currently we have eight.

There is no one-size fits all solution, and current ones on the market. They would the Department for Business, Energy and physically be around the same size as a Industrial Strategy (BEIS) now understands natural gas boiler and it would be possible that. However, there is an alternative zero- for combi, system and regular versions.

Mitsubishi Electric Max Halliwell, Communications Manager “We welcome the comments made by the Chancellor and see this as a real acknowledgment that the way we heat our homes is no longer ÿ t for purpose.

The announcement of the Future Homes Standard – to end fossil fuel heating systems in all new homes from 2025 – is certainly a step in the right direction.

The Heat Pump Association Graham Wright, Chairman

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“However, action must be taken now to ensure the residential building industry pivots away from its ‘business as usual’ ap-

“The Government’s announcement in the Spring Statement that gas boilers will be banned in new homes from 2025 is a step in the right direction. It also supports the comments made by the Committee on Climate Change in their recent report, ‘UK Housing: Fit for the Future?’, which called on the Government to get serious about tackling emissions from homes.

“The HPA believes that it is vital that consumers are made aware of the potential of heat pumps for

It looks like copper piping and soldered joints will work for hydrogen, however it’s unlikely that any mild steel gas supply pipes will be suitable. Luckily, most homes already have copper pipe running through and the few with mild steel will need to be replaced.

For the consumer, it would mean less disruption to their lives. With hydrogen it can be a simple switch, instead of forcing them to make drastic changes to their homes to accommodate a heat pump or other alternative.

Fuel of the future This may seem like looking far, far ahead but steps are already being taken to see if hydrogen can be the fuel of the future. The first trial site will be going live in August or September this year. The campus at Keele University will be injecting around 20% hydrogen into their gas grid.

If this is successful then the next stage will be to a larger public trial with several hundreds of houses trialling a higher blend of hydrogen, maybe even 100%. A lot of gentle steps are moving us towards the ultimate aim of decarbonising heat and water.

At Worcester Bosch we are also

proach to providing their customers renewable heating technologies not as a costly alternative, but as the norm. We have a choice and abundance of such renewable technologies that are not being used to their full potential and our reliance on fossil fuels, gas and carbon intensive sources are clearly not a sustainable option for the future. ˛“For this country to meet its climate reduction commitments, we need to act fast to move to low carbon

renewable solutions. We need to future-proof our homes as pressure on energy efÿciency and reducing carbon emissions is only set to increase.

“This shift in mindset and the use of innovative technologies such as heat pumps will become increasingly important to help create a sustainable environment for future generations.”

low carbon heating. Heat pumps supply more energy than they consume by extracting heat from their surroundings. Currently, heat pump systems can supply as much as 3kW of heat output for just 1kW of energy input.

“Although heat pumps can save considerable carbon emissions, this has not been recognised yet in Building Regulations and the UK needs a mechanism to enable us to take advantage of the 10 years of investment in renewable power generation,

which has seen a signiÿcant renifi duction in the amount of CO° emitted per kWh generated.

“Further investment in training is also required to enable the current cohort of boiler installers to be able to install renewable technologies, a task that the industry understands and will be working with all stakeholders to ensure we achieve.”

investigating hydrogen-ready boilers, much like HD-ready TVs back in the day.

By starting this now it means that once a decision on hydrogen is finally made in years to come, it doesn’t mean that suddenly whole cities have to replace their boilers at once. Our early investigations have found that it is likely that hydrogen boilers can run on natural gas until the day hydrogen becomes available, and a much smaller conversion of the appliance can then be undertaken.

Questions remain While we understand the need to reduce our carbon footprint, the recent announcement for newbuilds in 2025 begs a number of questions. We will continue to investigate and trial hydrogen gas for the foreseeable future. Even if all newbuild homes from 2025 onwards don’t have gas boilers, there are still a large number of homes on the gas grid that are suitable for hydrogen as a fuel.

Of course, the overall goal is to find a suitable and realistic way to decarbonise heating and hot water in this country, and we will continue to do our part to support this, even when others are pushing back.

APHC John Thompson CEO “My initial response to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement announcement to end fossil fuel heating systems in all new houses from 2025 is positive, and I believe it is good news for heating contractors.

“Whilst the Governm e n t ’s advisory Committee on Climate Change p u b lished a report in Februar y which recommended ending the connection of new homes to the gas grid by 2025, I don’t believe the Chancellor’s Spring Statement goes that far as his proposals include increasing the amount of green gas in the National Grid to replace natural gas from the North Sea.˛ “Keeping new houses connected to the gas grid

Industry comment

also potentially means that hundreds of thousands if not millions of houses will have access to an infrastructure to enable them to adopt hydrogen, which the CCC has previously concluded is a credible option to help decarbonise the UK energy system.

“However, the devil is always in the detail, so we will keep a watchful eye on how this policy progresses, and we need to see a detailed strategy which addresses the requirements for training and development and the inevitable investment which will be required by heating contractors to move towards installing and servicing new heating technologies.”˛

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April 2019

ENERGY Matters 21 The best and worst As the FiT ends, uncertainty lies ahead areas for EPCs Lack of clarity over the future of the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) has prompted the Solar Trade Association (STA) to demand urgent action. The SEG is a new scheme that will replace the Feed-in Tariff, which ended on 31 March, and will require suppliers to pay smallscale low-carbon generators for the electricity they export to the grid. However, the STA questions whether the market can practically deliver a smooth transition from FiT to SEG for consumers. It is not yet known when the SEG will be in place, or in what form, which means a damaging policy hiatus.

STA Chief Executive Chris Hewett says: “We are fast approaching a cliff edge and now need Government to mandate a fair minimum floor price for exports from homes installing solar. Fair treatment for households trying to do the right thing should not be in dispute, particularly given the Government provides market certainty and investment support to large-scale utilities.”

A study from Everest has analysed over 15.5 million home Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) in England and Wales to reveal the best and worst rated areas for energy efficiency.

Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, and the City of London top the chart as the three most energy efficient areas according to the data. 29% of Tower Hamlet properties received an ‘A’ or ‘B’ rated EPC – which is the highest in the country – followed by Greenwich and the City of London each with 20% of properties in the ‘A’ or ‘B’ band.

Despite being one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the UK, Tower Hamlets’ top ranking is the result of being part of The London Plan and London Climate Change Action Plan that aims to

ensure that the area has the highest standards of energy efficiency for new build development of any city in the UK. When looking outside of London, Dartford (Kent), Uttlesford (Essex), and Basingstoke and Deane (Hampshire) are amongst the top 10 best areas with the most top rated EPCs. Over 1 million dwellings across the country received an ‘F’ or ‘G’ rated EPC, making them the least energy efficient houses in England and Wales. The Isles of Scilly, Gwynedd, and Ceredigion are the three worst areas. A huge 35% of properties within the Isles of Scilly received an ‘F’ or ‘G’ EPC. For further information, go online: www.everest.co.uk/ epc-energy-performancecertificate-in-depth-guide

For better homes TrustMark, the government endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople, has launched Better Homes for Hastings, a pilot in partnership with East Sussex Trading Standards, to improve the quality and energy efficiency of rented accommodation in and around Hastings.

The event, held last month, brought together private landlords, housing associations, tenants and businesses to promote the minimum standards of safety, comfort, health and energy efficiency that these properties should ideally meet.

The aim was to educate tenants about their rights and encourage the comfort and health factors in rentals.

It also addressed the issue of fuel poverty through the improvement of energy efficiency measures, which is

a key concern in this region.

Private landlords, housing associations and letting agents also had the opportunity to learn about the incoming regulations relating to energy efficiency standards in rental properties, as well as connect them with reputable businesses and tradespeople to help ensure their properties meet these requirements.

The Hastings pilot is part of a series of events designed to address carbon reduction targets and fuel poverty. A further project is planned for Cornwall during 2019.

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22 STEP by Step

Installing a water softener Fitting a new water softener in a home should take between just three and four hours.

Here, Harvey Water Softeners provides an overview of the installation process.

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nstalling domestic water softeners is a good way to make plumbing jobs more profitable. An additional source of revenue, they can also extend the life of your customers’ kitchen and bathroom appliances in hard water areas by preventing the build-up of limescale around the home.

Water softeners can be fitted in various places around the home. This will often be determined by the location of the incoming mains water stopcock. Existing cupboard space can affect the decision. In the step-by-step case here, the best choice is the corner cupboard rather than beneath the sink itself (see picture, right).

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Start by turning the mains water off and draining down to complete all necessary pipework. This will ensure the water can be turned back on as quickly as possible and will keep inconvenience to a minimum.

Next, assemble the bypass set, then tighten up the bypass set before putting it into position.

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Prepare the pipework.

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In this case, a hard water feed has been incorporated alongside the bypass set for a drinking water supply, which some customers choose to have alongside a water softener.

Now turn the mains back on.

If, as in this case, the softener will be ÿtted in a different place to the mains, you’ll need to feed the hoses beneath the kitchen units to come up into the cupboard housing the valves (making the necessary holes as required). Then ÿt the drain connection for the softener with air gap.

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Next job is to ÿt the water softener unit. In this case, the corner cupboard is the best spot.

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Place the bypass set into position. Then measure and carry out alterations to pipework to accommodate the bypass set.

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Fit the altered pipework into place.

Head outside to make the hole for the over°o w.

Drill the hole from outside to in to avoid damaging the brick, and then ÿt the hose, cutting to desired length.

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Fit the threeway tap. In this case, a standard tap was replaced with a threeway tap to allow for hard ÿltered drinking water.

At the customer handover you can explain all of the beneÿts that will come from their new water softener, including the reduction in the use of household products. If the water softener you’ve installed is non-electric then it won’t need any further maintenance from you once ÿtted. When it comes to salt consumption, customers should be advised to allow one salt block per household member per month. www.harveywatersofteners.co.uk

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April 2019

GADGETS & Tools 23 Secure storage to protect the tools Adding to its range of in-vehicle secure storage, Van Vault has launched eight new products offering advanced protection, including the traditional box-style containers and the easy-to-use drawer sliders.

The new products have been accredited by Secured by Design the UK’s police-approved standard.

Secured by Design promotes products which help prevent crime.

They are also tested and certified

by Sold Secure, an independent test house for security products owned by the Master Locksmith Association.

Making your mark The EKPR series of markers from Artline gives tradespeople a way to make a bold mark on their work. The markers have been designed with all manner of tradespeople in mind, including plumbers, builders, and electricians.

Individual markers in the collection are crafted to work on tough surfaces including fencing, piping, metalwork, stone and concrete. The Plumber’s Marker can write on most wet surfaces, including copper, plastic and most types of metal.

Each of the seven markers also has a colour-coded barrel to make selection from the tool box simple.

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All of the key areas of attack have been strengthened, including a cross bar reinforced lid which, claims Van Vault, is next to impossible to prise open. Also new is a wide mouth drop front to the storage containers for greater access and visibility of the contents.

A new VaultLock locking system has been introduced to sit deep within the body of the box. It is shielded by a hardened steel plate to protect it from drilling, picking and cutting. The products also come with an anti-theft fixing kit to mount them on the vehicle floor.

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Slimline batteries make light work

104 Now with slimline batteries, the 12V Peak Slide cordless tool series from HiKOKI is designed for working in confined spaces over long periods of time while delivering 38Nm of torque.

The slimline slide 12V battery range powers the DS12DD brushless cordless driver drill, the DV12DD brushless cordless impact driver drill, and the WH12DD brushless cordless impact driver. The batteries make

the tools lightweight and easy to handle – none weigh any more than 1.2kg. More tools will be added to the range later in the year.

A new charger has also joined the 12V battery series.

Compact and lightweight, the UC125L charger offers a rapid charge-up time – 37 minutes for the 2.5Ah battery and 60 minutes for the 4.0Ah battery.

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TRAINING Update 25 LPG qualifications for new entrants Focus on topics in new course content Rural energy provider Calor is highlighting the training support it offers to help young people into the industry and develop their skills along the way.

Calor partners with a number of independent training centres across the UK which offer LPG qualifications. Calor representatives have a hands-on approach, imparting their knowledge and expertise to help installers get up to date knowledge about LPG and its benefits.

Heather Quinn, Training Centre Manager at Kiwa Training, says: “We are very pleased to be working

alongside Calor to promote the uptake of LPG use and installation in the UK. Our candidates have found their presentations useful when

considering whether to extend their scope to LPG, and their knowledge of the wider industry has enriched our delivery of LPG courses.”

There are two key qualifications on offer to installers, the first of which is CCLP1: Core LPG Safety Training and Assessment.

The second important qualification is CONGLP1 (PD): Conversion of Natural Gas to LPG. Karl Bateman, National Specifier Manager at Calor, says: “If you are a young person undertaking an apprenticeship, or an established installer taking on an apprentice, it is worthwhile considering upskilling to gain qualifications in LPG.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Looking into the air Thermal images Spirotech has extended its training programme to include graduates. Among the latest to be given an insight into the benefits of deaeration and dirt separation were a group of post-graduates from Vital Energi.

Newly recruited to the industry from university, they are being given the opportunity to learn more about the problems caused by air in a system and how to overcome them.

Rob Jacques, National Key Accounts and Technical Sales Manager for Spirotech, says: “Our objective

is to give the graduates a deeper understanding of pressurisation and energy efficiency, including an introduction to Henry’s law.

“The sessions are in small groups, which makes them more accessible and are a mix of theory and practical, with a demonstration model used to show how air and dirt can, with the right products, be quickly and easily removed.”

Students taking part range from mechanical to design engineers and are from energy management companies.

With infrared cameras becoming more affordable, more people are using them, which means training is more important than ever – so says thermal imaging specialist Flir.

The company argues that without training, thermal images are virtually meaningless and findings are at risk of serious misinterpretation.

Flir is running courses throughout 2019 that span three levels of certified competence. The course duration for Category I and III is four days and for Category II it’s five days. A new three-day course for Optical Gas Imaging has also been introduced to this year’s programme in response to a growing interest in the use of infrared to pinpoint the source of industrial gas leaks.

The next course available is on 29th April in Fareham. To see the full course schedule, visit: www.irtraining.eu

Following feedback from installers, Worcester Bosch has announced a major change to its training programme that means it now offers courses that are topic-specific rather than product-specific.

Under the new format, each course will concentrate on one topic covering many products. Topics include specification, installation and commissioning, service and maintenance, and fault finding and repair.

Worcester says it has produced a diversified programme that covers more topics in greater detail while promoting progression.

Installers can now sign up to a topical course which covers all of the company’s products in more detail, rather than

a product specific course.

The Training Academy has now increased its centre-based courses to 28.

It also offers a selection of mobile courses and three progression packages within the curriculum. The portfolio of courses is split into the following sectors: gas, renewable, certified, system, oil, commercial, and mobile.

National Training Manager Nick Fothergill comments: “The Training Academy is now in full swing following its opening in 2017. It made sense to rejuvenate our training programme to ensure that we are giving installers the essential skills they need to progress in the current market.”

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Donation to college helps the students

Heating and plumbing apprentices at Leeds College of Building are getting hands-on experience using industry standard plumbing and heating components thanks to Altecnic’s donation of product. The company provided unvented inlet composite valves, tundishes and tool boxes for the students.

Paul Guise, Curriculum Manager for plumbing apprentices, says: “The donation means that our students can install, commission and adjust a mixing valve, giving them a practical and technical understanding of its purpose and operation. Altecnic have invested in the future of our industry in a very real and practical way.”

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April 2019

26 INSTALLER Spotlight

Designing the dream bathroom Graham bathroom showrooms are working with local installers to help inspire their customers and enable them to visualise their ideal bathroom. We talk to Worcestershire based bathroom designer Keiron Perry about how a close partnership beneÿts his business.

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agazines, product brochures and websites can all play a valuable role in raising awareness about the latest products and design trends, but when it comes to helping your customer visualise their dream bathroom there’s nothing like a showroom to help identify what is going to work best in their home.

Recognising the important role they can play in helping to drive sales, Graham Plumbers’ Merchant has been looking to enhance its bathroom showroom experience and has been working closely with local installers to ensure that they are able to meet their needs and also provide a welcoming environment for consumers.

Graham’s showroom in Evesham, Worcestershire, was one of the first to benefit from an upgrade, with the emphasis on creating a lighter and more inviting open space. The room sets on display are designed to encourage customers to envisage a completed bathroom, with opportunities for them to view, touch and interact with the various brands and product options.

Like other Graham bathroom showrooms around the country, the Evesham branch has linked up with a select number of ‘Elite’ installers – bathroom fitters that the company is happy to recommend to the public because they know they can be relied on to do a good job.

Keiron Perry, an Evesham based designer and installer of kitchens and bathrooms, is one of this exclusive group and he argues that the relationship is one that makes good business sense for both parties.

“I’ve been working with the showroom for nearly four years now and we’ve developed a good relationship,” he explains. “I’ve got a good level of respect for their professionalism and I think they respect the way I work too. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship because I bring customers to them and they generate work for me too. I’d say it’s about a 50/50 split and it works really well.”

Kitchen and bathroom installer Keiron Perry has built a thriving design and fit business over the last 10 years

“It’s a joint project – they’re my customer, but they’re also David’s customer, so it’s very important that the two of us work together,” says Keiron. “I’ve got the measurements and seen the room, so I pass on as much information as I can and I’ll also email pictures of the room to David.

That said, I think it’s important that I make it clear to customers that I’m independent from the showroom so there’s no reason for me to try and sell them something they don’t really want.”

Room with a view A typical showroom visit will take about an hour and As well as helping to generate work by passing on sales a half and Keiron says that it is rare for a customer to leads, Keiron says that the Graham showroom plays a big still not know what they want by the time they’ve looked part in helping his customers to reach a decision on the around the products on display. Of course, it’s impossible bathroom look they want to go for. to guarantee that every project is going to go smoothly, “People often struggle but Keiron argues that it is with the visualisation of a important that customers “The showroom plays a big part in helping room, whereas because I do view him as the person Expanding business customers to reach a decision” it all the time I know what’s they can contact to sort out Coming from a carpentry background, Keiron set up his going to work a lot quicker. any problem that might own business 10 years ago having first widened his skill If I know their budget, I can have a pretty good idea of arise. “If a customer has an issue with a job, I’ll answer set by working with another kitchen and bathroom fitting what’s going to work in the space they have available, my phone rather than have them ring the showroom. If business for four years. Now a limited company (Keiron but sometimes you have to slow down a little bit. Inviting someone has made a mistake and they’re four tiles short, Perry by Design Limited) Keiron has enough work to customers to look round the showroom provides them for example, I’ll sort that out for them rather than them need the support of a regular sub-contractor and is also with an opportunity to consider the various options at having to call David and stressing about it.” now weighing up the potential benefits of taking on an their own pace.”

Waiting game apprentice. Like many other installers, building a good Keiron explains that once customers know how much relationship with customers has been key to the success the installation work is going to cost they generally With a steady stream of work coming in, one of the biggest of the business. have a good idea of how much is left in their budget challenges to Keiron can be persuading customers that “People seem to be comfortable with me and being for products and materials. He then suggests they book his bathroom installation service is worth waiting for.

“If I got a call today, the customer will probably need to recommended and getting work through word of mouth an appointment with Graham’s Evesham showroom wait around nine weeks before I’ll be able to make a start is the best way to grow. Much of my work is within a consultant, David Williams, who is able to provide a 3D on the job, but most people are happy to wait that long,” 10 mile radius and the majority of my customers are design of their room and discuss what solutions might he explains. “Once the ball is rolling and you’ve had that usually elderly, retired homeowners. They don’t want any best fit within their budget. initial chat most people are generally happy to stick with it. After all, if you buy a car and it’s the right price and the right colour, you don’t mind waiting for it.”

Keiron admits that one of the luxuries of having an established business is that he is now in the position of being a bit selective about the customers he works for and, while he might not go as far as directly turning down an opportunity, there are some people that he might respond to quicker than others.

“It helps, of course, that I’m not desperate for the work, but these days, I think I pick the customer more than they pick me,” he explains. “I’ve never walked away from a job I’ve started, but I have perhaps put in a high price because it’s a project I’m not sure about.”

As well as confidence in his own abilities, Keiron says that it helps to know that the brands on display at Graham – all the familiar names within the industry – won’t let either him or his customers down.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. bathroom-showrooms.co.uk 110 Keiron will spend time with customers demonstrating some of the products on display at Graham’s Evesham showroom

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unnecessary hassle and they generally trust me when it comes to offering advice about what’s going to work best in their bathroom.”

Keiron estimates that bathroom refurbishment projects now represent over 75% of his business and that bias is something he’s happy to see continue. “I prefer bathrooms all day long to fitting a standard, off-the-shelf kitchen. It’s a bit more involved and each room can be very different.”

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April 2019

BUSINESS Matters 27 Making your fleet Advice on changes in issuing payslips ULEZ compliant

London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) scheme, to be introduced on 8th April, has prompted the AA to urge the capital’s van drivers to seek advice to make their vans compliant. The traffic management and emission reduction scheme affects all non-resident drivers travelling through central London.

Approximately eight in 10 vans are thought to be nonULEZ compliant, but some financial incentives are already in place to help businesses comply. Microbusinesses and charities, for example, can apply to the Mayor of London’s £48m scrappage fund for grants of £6000 and £3500 respectively, which can help to absorb some of the financial impact of scrapping older fleet vehicles and switching to cleaner models.

Initially operating in the same area as central London’s congestion charge zone, ULEZ will be rolled out across north and south circular roads in 2021. It will apply 24/7, charging drivers £12.50 a day for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, including petrol and diesel cars, motorcycles and vans.

For more information and a link to the AA’s Operational Fleet Report visit: www.phamnews.co.uk/london-van

The APHC is advising employers on how they can stay within the law following changes to how payslips must be issued. Launched earlier this month, the new statute gives all workers the right to receive an itemised payslip.

Previous to the change in law, only staff classed as ‘employees’ needed to receive written itemised payslips; staff classed as ‘workers’ did not.

As of 6th April, the difference between a worker and an employee will no longer matter, and everyone will fall under the same rules. This means that employers will need

to look into their workers’ payslips carefully and ensure that they break

down according to pay and deductions.

Employers need to ensure they are acting upon these changes, because a worker who doesn’t receive an itemised payslip will be able to take an employer to an employment tribunal.

In addition, itemised payslips will make it much easier for HM Revenue & Customs to find and prosecute employers who pay below the national minimum wage.

To read more about the detail of this change and to download guidance issued by BEIS, visit the PHAM News website: www.phamnews.co.uk/11293-2

Digitalisation boosts productivity A free eBook from TomTom Telematics – ‘Digitising the workflow’ – offers small businesses advice on how automating everyday tasks could improve business.

The guide contains TomTom’s research showing how digital solutions could help SMEs be more productive and profitable. It found that 81% of decision

makers believe they could get more done by automating certain business activities.

When asked how they handle everyday duties such as expense management, customer updates and quoting and invoicing, the majority revealed they either manually or part-manually do so.

Elsewhere in the study,

59% of respondents agreed that reporting working times was labour intensive.

The respondents also expressed their frustration regarding internal communication and team management. 51% said the inability of their field teams to follow the assigned schedule has a negative impact on their business

and 53% indicated they are not certain their drivers are behaving safely on the road.

Meanwhile, 55% agreed they have an issue regarding miscommunication with their field team.

The full report offers insight based on this research and is available for free download from the website (telematics.tomtom.com).

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28 BUSINESS Matters Get advice on how to grow a business Mobile tech brings big change to firm Launching this summer, Vaillant will be running a nationwide campaign for installers that will provide expert advice on growing a business.

At the heart of the initiative will be nine Business Support Clinics held at the company’s seven Centres of Excellence across the UK, along with two additional locations in Ireland and Hatfield.

These events will provide advice on business development specifically for installers, with experts such as industry platform Check-a-Trade, business

management specialists Powered Now and marketing agency Saatchi & Saatchi on hand to supply one-to-one

guidance to attendees.

The Business Support Clinics will begin this summer, with dates to be released in

the coming months.

Supporting these events is a 100-date merchant tour offering installers the chance to sign up for the Business Support Clinics.

Tour visitors will be able to access exclusive giveaways and offers, as well as the chance to win a trip for two to Barcelona and an entry to win one of two branded VW T32 vans worth £30,000 each.

To sign up to a Business Support Clinic or to find out when the tour is coming to your area, visit: www.vaillant. co.uk/BusinessSupport

Where are the highest premiums?

Van drivers in Oldham are paying the highest premiums in the UK for comprehensive insurance according to data from online insurance price comparison website, The Van Insurer (www. thevaninsurer.co.uk).

Alongside Oldham, three other cities in the North

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West were in the top 10 most expensive locations for van insurance, compared to none in the North East.

Manchester took the fifth spot, Liverpool came seventh and Bolton was placed 10th.

Van drivers in Scotland were likely to have the

lowest regional average, and Staffordshire town, Newcastle-under-Lyme, had the cheapest premiums in the whole of the UK, with van drivers paying on average £567 per year.

The top ten list of most expensive van premiums in the UK includes:

1. Oldham (£1630) 2. Luton (£1492) 3. Slough (£1489) 4. West Bromwich (£1487) 5. Manchester (£1485) 6. London (£1468) 7. Liverpool (£1465) 8. Birmingham (£1458) 9. Bradford (£1445) 10. Bolton (£1424)

A five-in-one job management solution from BigChange has helped DFP Services take advantage of cloud and mobile technology.

JobWatch is a paperless system that has helped the heating and plumbing firm boost efficiency, reduce admin work and improve engineer productivity. DFP equipped its engineers with rugged tablets as part of a fully digital system connected in real time to the company’s national service centre in Durham.

The solution from BigChange replaced five other systems, including those for service management, vehicle tracking and certification. JobWatch now handles everything from the original services request through to invoicing; jobs are booked, allocated and managed with the system, which allows DFP engineers to operate independently.

Jon Paul Seed, MD at DFP Services, says: “Always knowing what is going on is of course really helpful, but so is the management information and traceability that the system offers. We can now review the business properly, and Big Data reports allow us to drill down by customer, by engineer and any other criteria so we can accurately assess performance and profitability. We simply couldn’t do this before.”

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April 2019

CIPHE Viewpoint

How to improve water efficiency Gas App Uk members have unburied some of the latest horrific evidence of shocking installation work. Seen some terrifying installation sights of your own? Share your snaps with Gas App Uk!

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Kevin Wellman, Chief Executive Ofÿcer at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), argues that the best way to combat the strain on the UK’s water supply is to improve efÿciency in both supply and consumption, alongside more informative labels.

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he need for more Water meters efficient water Another way in which water usage in order efficiency can be improved to ease the strain on is through the wider use of existing resources is water meters. Unmetered high, and predictions households use an average for the future present of 30 litres per person per an even starker picture. day more than metered Population growth and households. This is perhaps the impact of climate understandable given there change present a dual is currently little financial threat to the future of incentive to use water our water supplies, with efficiently, but changing the estimations suggesting Kevin Wellman, CIPHE CEO mindset of consumers who we will require a further 3300 million litres of water per day by 2050 have not had to place a commercial value on their water usage is a crucial challenge just to keep them at their current level.

A common mistake is to believe that to overcome.

Statistics suggest that the UK actually this is not a major issue for the UK, yet our high population density means the falls behind many countries in the available water per person is actually developed world in this regard, with just less than that in many Mediterranean 50% of households possessing a water countries (see Water conservation report meter. This is clearly a route towards 2018 by Department for Environment, more effective use of water, with evidence to suggest that more than 80% of British Food and Rural Affairs).

Reports by Defra and Waterwise have adults with a meter take action to reduce explored possible solutions to this their water consumption.

The benefits of a water meter, not just pressing issue, and it comes as no surprise to us at CIPHE that much of the power for on wider society but on individual homechange lies in the hands of those in the owners, must be stressed, and because they’re the individuals on the front line, plumbing and heating industry.

CIPHE members are in a strong position to Addressing leakage make such recommendations.

Leakage is one of the single biggest contributors to water wastage, Effective labelling accounting for approximately 22% of One of the best ways to promote water loss that has been put into UK water efficient products is through homes (equating to 3 billion litres of comprehensive labelling. The CIPHE water per day). Leakage can be caused is a proud partner of the European by a variety of different issues and, Water Labelling Scheme, which seeks to although it has been reduced by a third introduce a standardised product label over the last 25 years, the water sector across the continent for all water-using regulator Ofwat has challenged water bathroom products.

Its purpose is that information about companies to reduce leakage by at least factors such as the performance, water a further 15% by 2025.

From an installer and consumer consumption, and energy usage of perspective, significant progress can be these products will be easily accessible, made using products now available to be displayed clearly for consumers and fitted in new and existing homes. Toilet installers to view at a glance.

There has already been success with a leakage, for example, has been identified as a major contributor to the UK’s water similar initiative in the US, with one such problem, with research suggesting over labelling scheme credited with saving more than 1.5 trillion gallons of water 4% of toilets experience such issues.

There are also challenges with hot water since 2006. If the UK is committed to wastage that could be easily rectified improving water efficiency in homes, then through installation of innovative, water- an effective labelling system must be a efficient fixtures and fittings. Contrary priority. to popular opinion, these are relatively inexpensive and have little detrimental For more information about becoming a effect on customer experience, thus member of the CIPHE please contact Tim presenting a more economically viable Sainty via email (tims@ciphe.org.uk) or call 01708 472 791. long-term option.

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April 2019

ENERGY EFFICIENT Products 31

Assessing Boiler Plus one year on On the ÿ rst anniversary of Boiler Plus, Product Director Alister Maclachlan of Vokèra by Riello assesses the impact of this initiative and how the Government’s proposed policy review in April 2019 will be an opportunity to clarify some aspects of the legislation.

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ntroduced in England by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in April 2018, Boiler Plus set new minimum performance standards for domestic gas boilers and made fitting timers and room thermostats a requirement to reduce energy costs for consumers. With the consumer at the heart of the legislation, Boiler Plus was designed to give people greater choice and more information about the products that are Alister Maclachlan, available to help them achieve Vokèra’s Product Director optimum comfort and energy savings. But what’s the reality nearly one year on?

Although Gas Safe registered installers haven’t had to undertake any additional training to comply with Boiler Plus, it is obviously important that they understand the different options within the legislation in order to be able to advise their customers on the best solution for their particular needs. In this respect, Boiler Plus has placed greater responsibility on installers and so it is essential that they have the information they need regarding the benefits of each solution and the knowledge and skills to ensure best practice is followed.

Clearing confusion Going by the number of queries to our technical helpline since the new standards were introduced, there is some confusion surrounding certain aspects of the legislation.

For example, an installer in the process of fitting one of our water heaters was asked by the householder if the unit complied with Boiler Plus. Unsure of the answer, the installer called our helpline and a member of our team was able to confi rm that water heaters are outside the scope of Boiler Plus.

Whilst it is unlikely that the legislation will be extended to cover water heaters, DHW demand does appear to be on the increase in many modern households. Delivering instantaneous hot water to multiple outlets at high flow rates, the latest high efficiency water heaters, such as Vokèra by Riello’s new AquaNova LE, can offer a reliable, energy saving domestic hot water supply for showers and other domestic applications.

Weather compensation has become a popular choice when it comes to specifying an energy efficiency measure because this device is relatively lower in cost compared to the other options

Affordable option Under Boiler Plus a new combination boiler must incorporate one of the following measures within the system: • flue gas heat recovery (FGHR) • weather compensation • load compensation • smart controls featuring automation and optimisation functions I suppose it is inevitable that end users and installers will be attracted to the measure that combines compliance with affordability, yet which still provides additional efficiencies without compromising comfort. Since Boiler Plus was introduced, Vokèra has seen sales of external weather compensation sensors rise by approximately 60% compared with the same period in 2017.

Clearly, this measure is regarded as a relatively low cost means of complying and the easiest to install compared with, say, smart controls or FGHR devices. Perhaps it is not surprising that the FGHR option is not proving particularly popular. These large, rather bulky units aren’t very attractive and there isn’t always enough space above the boiler to fit them.

What’s smart?

A combination of energy efficiency measures can add up under Boiler Plus. In this scenario, a 94% efficient boiler is installed with both load and weather compensation functions to bring the ErP rating up to 98%.

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Smart controls, complete with automation and optimisation, can provide an effective additional efficiency measure. However, some areas of the industry are calling for the definition of a smart thermostat within the context of Boiler Plus to be stipulated as an internetconnected device offering remote control of the heating system using a smartphone app, for example. Clarifying this in the forthcoming policy review would certainly distinguish a Boiler Pluscompliant control from cheaper so-called ‘smart’

Under Boiler Plus, the new minimum performance standard for domestic gas boilers in English homes is set at 92% ErP – the standard also makes timers and room thermostats an explicit requirement for all gas and oil systems

thermostats that are non-connected and which don’t offer consumers the same level of efficiency or convenience.

Whilst there are a number of compliant smart control solutions, it is worth looking for any additional features that will add to the usability of the control, ensuring the homeowner can make the most of their heating system, manage their energy efficiently and maximise comfort. The OpenTherm protocol RF control from Vokèra, for example, enables energy saving modularity and includes a handy ‘holiday’ function. Our BeSMART Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostat also offers full compliance and is very easy to install and intuitive to use.

As an internet-connected device it allows homeowners to manage up to eight different heating zones from anywhere in the world through the BeSMART app. In addition, a weather compensation function can be added that adjusts boiler output to reflect ambient temperature with no need to fit an external sensor. As a further benefit, BeSMART can alert customers (who have subscribed to remote monitoring) and the Vokèra Service Centre if something goes wrong, minimising disruption.

Change for the better We know change can be daunting and it can take time for industry to adjust, but we believe Boiler Plus should be seen as a positive that will help tackle climate change and keep household energy costs down.

At Vokèra we also welcome any initiative that steers installers towards fitting more advanced controls, thereby increasing their technical skills and bringing energy saving benefits to their customers. Nearly one year on, there are clearly some areas of Boiler Plus that could be improved – let’s just hope the distraction of Brexit doesn’t prevent the Government from addressing these issues and keeping its pledge to review this important legislation in April. www.vokera.co.uk

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April 2019

32 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products

Smart way to cut heating bills Smart thermostats and climate management services can save installers time and their customers money. Svea Kübler, Product Manager at intelligent home experts tado°, looks at how installers can make the most of opportunities in this fast growing market.

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omplicated heating systems, orders throughout the whole day, and back-office work in between – installers have a busy schedule. There is hardly time to train themselves in new technologies like smart heating control. At the same time, customer needs are increasing, they want smart and energy-efficient solutions that offer them comfort and affordable prices. The market is very competitive so heating engineers need to differentiate themselves to stay a step ahead of the game.

With smart thermostats, installers can bring their customers’ heating systems to the digital age. The devices are not only helping to make their heating systems intelligent and digital, but also providing more comfort and well-being at home. Our tado° smart thermostats, for example, support more than 15,000 heating systems from around 650 manufacturers and cover 95% of heating systems. Heating engineers just need one training session to learn how they should be installed. A smart thermostat can enable a user to save up to a third on heating costs, so once training has been completed, installers can offer customers a solution that has a long-term positive impact on their energy consumption.

separately – no matter if a radiator or underfloor heating is in place.

Healthier home

Energy savings

Smart control technology has advanced so that users can control temperatures with an app on their phone

Hundreds of millions of pounds are wasted in the UK every year through the heating of empty homes. Many people keep their heating on all day even when they go to work as they want to return to a warm house. Others find it difficult to use their programmable timer properly and some people have flexible working hours, so a timer is often not very useful.

By the use of such features as geofencing technology and weather compensation, a smart thermostat can detect the presence and absence of users, and also respond to local weather forecasts and building characteristics. When sunshine is predicted, for example, the smart thermostat turns down the heat to leverage the solar gain and avoids overshooting the set temperature, thereby saving energy and increasing comfort.

Information is exchanged through a connection to the internet. The smart thermostats receive a signal via the app when the last person leaves home and reminds the user with a push notification (this can also be automated).

The heating can then be turned down until the first person approaches home and then, on arrival, it is pleasantly warm again.

The tado° smart thermostat also takes open windows into account and, thanks to its flexibility and algorithms, is more efficient than conventional heating controls. Even old heating systems can improve their energy efficiency class by using smart thermostats. The app provides smart schedules and allows for multi-room control with its smart radiator thermostats and additional smart thermostats.

Different heating circuits and rooms can be managed

Thanks to our new generation of V3+ smart thermostats, tado° can now also help to analyse indoor air quality. The Air Comfort Skill guides customers to a healthier home environment by providing them with concrete, meaningful, and actionable advice on how to achieve more comfort. It also offers tips on preventing health risks such as mold which can be caused by too much humidity.

The new Boiler Health Monitoring Skill also helps to keep track of the status of the boiler, no matter the brand, as it notifies the user when there is a problem. Residents can then forward this information to their installers. This saves installers precious time and is particularly beneficial for those with digital boilers as tado° detects the error code right away, which can then be passed on to the installer before they set off for the repair job.

Another feature, Boiler Repair Services, is an in-app platform that connects customers directly with heating engineers to get their repair or maintenance check done.

Installers can sign up in the tado° Installer Club Portal for free and they will receive local and national repair and maintenance jobs as well as leads for customers who require a new heating system.

Growth market At tado° we are aiming to make it easier than ever for installers to become a smart heating control expert. The UK smart thermostat market is a fast growing sector and is expected to reach a value of approximately £800m by the end of 2023. There has never been a better time to get up to speed with smart thermostats. Installers who embrace the technology can give themselves a competitive edge and stand out from the competition, get more maintenance contracts, new customers, more orders, and become the number one contact for heating management and savings. www.tado.com/gb

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The importance of commissioning Rushed or poorly planned commissioning is undermining the heating industry’s efforts to reduce energy use – so says boiler and water heating manufacturer Lochinvar.

Commissioning plays a key part in making sure that installations are set up correctly and continue to perform well throughout their operating life. However, deadlines on building projects can often be so tight that the commissioning of heating and hot water equipment is sometimes arranged just a few hours before the building needs to be handed over. This can make it difficult to address any problems, according to Lochinvar’s Service Manager Paul Mitchell.

“We do what we can under the circumstances, but advanced planning and earlier involvement of specialists would help deliver a better long-term outcome for the

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building user,” he says.

“Commissioning of heating and hot water equipment should be considered as early as possible in the process so that easy access to the equipment is included in the design and comprehensive technical information is passed on to the commissioning team.

“This not only helps with the handover process, but also means the pieces are in place for ongoing service and maintenance,” he adds.

Lochinvar believes a collaborative approach is more important than ever because of the growing trend of integrating renewable technologies, such as heat pumps with high efficiency

boilers and water heaters.

The initial set-up of such systems is particularly crucial in ensuring that a system with different technologies works in harmony.

“Manufacturers have intimate knowledge of their products and applications, and their commissioning engineers will already have experienced most of the technical challenges they are likely to meet,” says Paul Mitchell. “This allows them to quickly identify potential issues and ensure the system is set up to perform well throughout its operating life.”

The commissioning team at Lochinvar is able to make sure boilers and water heaters operate at maximum

efficiency from day one. The company’s engineers are also able to assist on-site staff with the operation of the equipment, including some targeted training.

“As buildings become more complex and performance challenges increase, the role of the commissioning engineer must be given greater attention and status,” says Mitchell.

“The secret with increasingly sophisticated heating and hot water solutions is to ensure the sophistication remains behind the scenes and the equipment is relatively simple to operate for the building occupiers; otherwise, the performance will drift over time.”

Lochinvar’s Knight range of water heaters feature a low NOx burner and provide an ErP-compliant alternative for replacement applications where an upgrade to condensing may be technically difficult or not economically viable www.lochinvar.ltd.uk

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Heating from household rubbish Any technology that is able to prevent household rubbish going to landfill and turn that rubbish into useful, cheap energy seems to have a lot going for it. Successful trials could see the HERU system making an appearance in UK homes in the next few years.

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new energy saving system that delivers hot water via the burning of household rubbish – everything from nappies to milk cartons, coffee cups to food waste – is currently undergoing trials.

Developed by UK inventor Nik Spencer, the HERU (Home Energy Resources Unit) is a washing machine-sized unit which takes household disposable items, including plastics, and then uses patented heat pipe technology to heat them within a chamber in the absence of oxygen (allowing pyrolysis to occur). After burning, the resource becomes a charcoal like substance and oxygen is added back in, releasing oil and gas which is then captured and cleaned so it is safe to discharge.

Gases produced are saved and can then be used in a domestic boiler, while the hot water produced is stored in a standard hot water tank. A single cycle of the HERU can produce a 30°C temperature rise for around 70 to 120 litres of water a day, equivalent to a full bath. After eight hours operation, the small amount of ash that is left in the unit – about a teaspoon full – can be flushed down the drain.

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the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Founder and inventor Nik Spencer comments: “After hundreds of hours of rigorous testing at our engineering facility, where we basically tried our best to break it and find its weak points, it’s exciting to now test the HERU in real-life scenarios, and the data and feedback we get from these trials will mean we can take the final steps in bringing this innovative product to market.”

Fuel saving Putting household rubbish to good use

The trials have been co-funded by Worcestershire County Council and will see the HERU tested at three sites with three distinct types of ‘fuel’: Hillers Farm Shop (commercial food and packaging), Rugby Borough Council (domestic housing resources) and Wychavon District Council (office materials). Lasting approximately ten months, the units will be monitored remotely in real time in order to assess progress around energy efficiency, usability and qualification criteria for

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As well as being an innovative greentech solution, it is claimed that the HERU can also help users save up to 15% on fuel bills, assisting in the fight against fuel poverty for those most in need.

Nik calculates that it is possible to save huge amounts of carbon if waste material was able to be incinerated at home instead of transporting it to larger sites. “This disruptive technology is providing a completely new way of stopping waste arising,” he argues, “putting the decision to generate energy and reduce energy bills back into the hands of households and businesses.”

As well as the production of cheap energy,

one of the key benefits of the HERU is that it disposes of household rubbish that might otherwise have ended up in landfill. The unit doesn’t burn metal or glass, which require much higher temperatures to break down, but if those items are added accidentally no damage will be caused.

With financial support for the trials coming from Worcestershire County Council’s Low Carbon Opportunities Programme, Ruth Corrall, Programme Manager, comments: “Our business support programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to help innovators bring low carbon, clean technologies to market. We were therefore delighted to support the development of the HERU in its trial phase.

We hope that the trials will be successful and to see this technology adopted in homes and businesses very soon.”

If all goes to plan, it is hoped that production of the HERU system could begin next year. It is thought that the units could be available with an estimated price tag of £3500. www.myheru.com

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How to change public perception Research suggests that the awareness of the energy saving benefits of heat pump technology remains quite low, but the introduction of hybrid systems could be a way to ensure that heat pumps become part of the mainstream – Sime’s Phil Birchenough explains more.

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recent YouGov survey suggested that 53% of respondents consider a new boiler as the most desirable way to cut down on fuel bills (see February issue). From a manufacturer’s perspective, this is welcome news. But the findings made me wonder why, when consumers are so aware of the need to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, are renewable solutions like ground and air source heat pumps not considered as important in terms of cutting fuel bills as a new boiler?

Only 33% and 29% of the respondents respectively thought ground and air source heat pumps would help cut their fuel bills. This suggests that they still have somewhat of an image problem when it comes to the adoption of these technologies.

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Phil Birchenough, Product Manager at Sime

The industry sees heat pumps as a mainstream product now, yet it seems that consumers aren’t quite on the same page.

Why is this? Perhaps the biggest reason heat pumps are not as widely regarded as a priority purchase for improving the energy efficiency of the home is the

perceived cost. It can be a challenge to demonstrate to customers how they will get the investment back – and more – in savings on their energy bills.

Further education is needed to make consumers aware of the fact that the initial expense may appear high but there are considerable longterm cost benefits to adding a heat pump to your home heating and hot water system.

Another barrier closely linked to cost is the additional kit required to accompany the heat pump itself. Accessories like smart controls and a compatible boiler and radiators to compliment the system all add to the cost of installing a heat pump.

There is also additional labour expense of potentially having to use an F-Gas certified installer.

Another reason why less people surveyed would consider a heat pump to be a key purchase when looking to make their home more energy efficient is the type of property they live in. Given that most heat pumps need to be installed outside the property, many still perceive them as more suited to newbuild homes.

Best of both Recent advances in renewable technologies have seen the emergence of hybrid products that combine two technologies in one to make them more practical for the mainstream.

One of these developments is our Murelle Revolution – a hybrid heat pump and boiler in one cased unit that can be installed inside the home.

Innovations like this make renewable technologies more

accessible for existing housing stock because they can be installed inside the home with minimal disruption.

The Revolution in particular also doesn’t require F-gas certification for installation or extensive additional kit, therefore removing some of the additional costs involved.

The investment in heat pump technology is worth it but it’s a long-term payback on the initial cost – which, in our society of instant gratification and bargain savvy consumers, can be a harder sell.

It’s fair to say that both the industry and the government have tried to take the sting out of the initial outlay cost to make it more appealing with initiatives like the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), but more is needed.

Changes to these incentives are needed to incorporate new,

innovative products coming to the market.

The proposed Future Homes Standard will require all newbuild homes to have low carbon heating and world leading levels of energy efficiency from 2025.

Hybrid products that combine different energy sources to improve the overall performance of the appliance and the efficiency of the dwelling are a huge part of how we can achieve this.

Further recognition of these technologies by government-led incentives will go a long way towards improving existing consumer perceptions of heat pumps and I am hopeful that if YouGov undertakes a similar poll in ten years time, the findings will tell a very different story.

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ENERGY EFFICIENT Products 37 OT control helps meet Boiler Plus Offering a simple way to comply with Boiler Plus, the new RET2000-OT room thermostat from Danfoss provides modulating control of OpenTherm equipped condensing gas boilers.

The control continually exchanges data with the boiler, as opposed to issuing basic on/off commands.

Modulating boiler output ensures closer, more accurate room temperature control, with less temperature fluctuation, to optimise boiler efficiency and end-user comfort. This control also ensures that the flow temperature from the boiler is modulated to as low a level as the prevailing load permits. Compared to simple on/off stats, the room thermostat is able to increase the proportion of boiler operating time spent in condensing mode.

As an ErP Class 5 modulating room thermostat,

Ventilation and heat boost in one

Check for savings the Danfoss RET2000-OT provides an additional efficiency gain of 3%. Its OpenTherm link to the boiler offers faster response time than on/off counterparts, allowing even small changes in room temperature to be communicated to the boiler.

Its microprocessor control provides accurate PI room temperature regulation and manages the bi-directional communication with the boiler.

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Grundfos is highlighting the benefits that its pumps can bring to large installations when they are installed with its Energy Check service. A basic Energy Check is performed at the site using data from the name plates of pumps and motors. An advanced Energy Check is based on data from a SCADA system or from onsite measurements without load profile mapping. The check takes into account pump data, pump age, and operating hours, the factors that are known to impact energy consumption.

As an example, a large office building in central London did this when it replaced obsolete pumps with new, energy-efficient models following a Grundfos Energy Check. The pumps now operate to meet the actual demand, and the new pumps are delivering a saving of 318,000kWh per year after they followed through on recommendations they received as a result of the check.

Grundfos says it is typically able to achieve savings of 30-50% for customers with an Energy Check. www.grundfos.co.uk

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The Mistrale Fusion (MFS) unit from Gilberts is claimed to remove much of the complexity when it comes to designing, installing and maintaining central heating in multi-occupancy lowrise buildings. It combines appropriate ventilation with heat boost so there is no need for radiators in the rooms where it is fitted. Further, because the solution is fitted at ceiling height, it liberates interior design and optimises use of floor space.

The solution is based on

the Mistrale Fusion (MFS) unit with an integrated LPHW coil. Just two MFS128 units, or one MFS256, will warm a standard 32 pupilclassroom to all regulatory requirements.

MFS ensures an even distribution of airflow, with control over temperature and CO2 levels, and maintains a comfortable internal environment for occupants, attains air leakage better than legislative requirements.

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Give HVAC systems a boost Modern heating systems need to be able to adapt to a changing climate. Mark Bradley from Xylem looks at how fitting some ‘plug-and-play’ technologies can help to improve system flexibility and performance.

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ver the past decade, climatic shifts and weather patterns from colder climes have had a big impact on British weather.

The ‘Beast from the East’, for example, was caused by a diverted northern polar jet stream bringing with it low temperatures not experienced by the UK since 1991.

For any team charged with the management of a commercial or residential building, extreme weather shifts can cause significant headaches. Managing heating and cooling solutions within these buildings is a delicate balancing act.

Decades ago, this balancing act was achieved through a consistent heating schedule dictated by seasonal change.

Residents knew when to expect their heating to be switched on (usually from

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The Hydrovar variable speed booster from Xylem can be retrofitted to any standard motor

November to March) and owners knew when to expect the bigger bills. Unfortunately, a heating ‘rota’ is no longer able to cope with the complex demands of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

A further complication is the introduction of strict efficiency standards to combat the high levels of emissions caused by residential and commercial buildings. As some of the largest users of energy in a building, heating

and cooling systems have been prioritised in the race to secure a sustainable living and working environment.

The answer to climate change, diverse tenant expectations and stricter legislation comes in the form of smart, scalable and modular heating and cooling technology.

Make it easy There are many technologies currently available on the market that provide facilities managers and landlords with a relatively easy way of delivering smart heating management systems to buildings, without requiring significant levels of up-front cost or intrusive installations.

Most of these technologies (of which a few are summarised below), can be attached or assimilated into existing infrastructure, with room

to extend or scale the system as and when required. The efficiency gains and cost savings to be made from such minor changes can be very rewarding for owners and tenants alike.

Zoned heating systems allow facilities managers to control the level of energy used in a building by only heating rooms that are being used.

Hydronic circulator controls, for example, use RJ-11 cables to connect systems of up to 18 circulators. Amongst other benefits, these controllers provide a domestic hot water priority and timer, pump exercise and a postpurge timer. All of this functionality is integrated into the controller, which is also compatible with existing analogue and digital 24 VAC thermostats. Our Lowara Ecocirc XL Plus intelligent

circulator pumps, for example, are easy to install and start up with no advanced programming necessary.

Variable speed drives are arguably one of the simplest ways to boost energy efficiency. The installation of variable speed drives into an existing system can lead to energy savings of around 50%. Variable speed booster sets, for example, replace conventional fixed speed units to vary the flow and power of the water depending on where it is being used, and by how many people. In most cases, you can install a variable speed drive by simply attaching it to the top of a pump such as a Lowara e-SV vertical multistage unit.

Plate heat exchangers can deliver significant efficiency gains. Compatible with both residential and light

The Lowara e-SV vertical multistage unit

commercial hydronic systems, brazed plate heat exchangers offer increased heat transfer through a smaller surface area.

Gasketed plate exchangers use a chevron pattern to create metal-tometal contact points, offering superior heat transfer.

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Geolocation function added to smart boiler control The Touch Connect smart boiler thermostat from Ideal Boilers now includes a geolocation function.

Controlled remotely by an app, the user can set a ‘home boundary’ and an ‘away boundary’ at chosen distances from their address.

When the mobile devices crosses either one, the heating will switch on or off accordingly.

Lizzie Wilkinson, Head of Domestic Product Management at Ideal Boilers, says: “With geolocation, Touch Connect users simply set their desired temperatures for day and night, and let the technology do the rest. There’s no risk of heating an empty home, no need to wait for a cold house

to warm up and no need to worry about adjusting the thermostat when they’re heading out for the day.

“This additional function is an attractive benefit for installers to sell on and helps them tap into the growing appetite for smart home technology in the UK.” Multiple occupants in a single home can use

geolocation. The heating turns off automatically when the last person leaves and turns on again when the first person comes back. Guests and visitors can easily be added to geolocation or can override it by programming the Touch Connect thermostat directly.

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Low loss header is built in A separate low loss header and connecting pipework is no longer required for Viessmann’s Vitodens 200W commercial wall boiler (49 to 150kW) now that the header is incorporated in a new pump connection set.

This solution for larger single boiler installations is more compact than having a standalone header.

The combined connection set means installation is a matter of fitting the wall-mounted boiler and the pump-header unit using wall brackets or a free-standing frame. Installation is further simplified because the flow and return connection

can be on either the left- or right-hand side.

The low loss header increases operational efficiency by acting as a hydraulic sepa-

rator, decoupling the boiler and system circuits from each other. This is necessary if a greater flow rate is required for the heating system than the boiler, as is typically the case with older heating systems, UFH, and multiple heating circuits. The low loss header also helps eliminate debris from the heating system. The secondary heating circuit can be specified with Viessmann Divicon pump stations or with a separate circulating pump which must be sized on site.

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Stat for all applications Resideo, the maker of Honeywell Home branded heating control products, has enhanced its portfolio of heating controls with the addition of the Honeywell Home T3 programmable thermostat range. It is designed to be used across a variety of housing situations and with any boiler, however it comes into its own where a large number of thermostats are needed, such as in social housing portfolios or new build developments.

Providing automatic control of domestic heating systems, the T3 series offers features such as: optimum stop, start and delayed stop functions that learn how the

room is heated and regulate start up and cool down periods; ‘fuzzy logic’ protocols that react to temperature changes for fully automatic control of the boiler; and simple screen interface with easy temperature and timing adjustments.

There are two models in the range: a wired version for replacing existing wired thermostats, and a wireless version to minimise installation time. Both come with 7-day and 5/2-day scheduling, as well as summer and winter auto time change. There are additional OpenTherm models for installations that benefit from an OpenTherm heat source. heatingcontrols.honeywellhome.com

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40 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products XL boilers always a good fit Wall panels offer a discreet solution The XL Series of gasfired boilers from ATAG Commercial are said to combine high efficiency with a wide selection of modular installation and cascade options, with a choice of multiple boiler sizes and configurations. This ensures that no matter how much space there is in a plant room, a suitable boiler configuration is always available.

With options for wall mounted, free standing and back-to-back arrangements, the XL boiler can be fitted in a number of different modular installations. Systems of two to eight boilers are possible, simply by combining together the appropriately sized components required.

Furthermore, XL boilers are equipped with connections for flue gas and air inlet (parallel tubes), allowing for both open and room sealed arrangements. An open system cascade sees the boilers’ combustion air taken from the ventilated plant room via a separate air

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A new series of radiant panels from Tansun offer a discreet and efficient heating solution for both commercial and domestic applications. With energy conversion rates of 98%, the panels provide even heat distribution to warm people and objects before the surrounding air. As cool surfaces heat up, the panels raise the ambient temperature of the room.

filter, with the flue discharge connected together via a cascade header. Alternatively, a room sealed system uses combustion air divided by a cascade header system.

Each XL Series commercial boiler also incorporates an efficient and durable stainless steel heat exchanger. Its hydraulic chambers and smooth tubes ensure water

turbulence is optimised for maximum heat transfer, while maintaining the lowest possible pressure drop.

Additional features include a fully modulating brushless fan for quiet operation, an in-built ‘A’ rated pump, an automatic air vent and a modulating gas valve.

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Silent in operation, the heating panels are said to be ideal for noise-sensitive environments and, as they are IP55 rated, can be used in bathrooms and wetrooms.

Each heater is easy to install as there is no pipework and can be wall or ceiling mounted to save floor space.

The Iridium Series 600 (300W), 900 (610W)

and 1200 (785W), are lightweight and extra slim radiant heating panels and come in a neutral design of white or black finish to blend in with any decor.

Temperature levels can easily be adjusted via a digital thermostat, based on heating requirements to heat each individual room separately.

All of Tansun’s products are made in the UK and the panel heaters come with a five year warranty.

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New heat pumps will meet demand Looking to address growing demand for renewable heating solutions, Vaillant is launching two new heat pump products: aroTHERM split and aroSTOR. Improving on the company’s original aroTHERM model, the aroTHERM split system delivers enhanced efficiency levels and quieter operating noise.

The air flow stream has been redesigned to achieve a tangible reduction in noise levels at all running conditions, while a new radial front grid concept limits pressure losses and noise disturbances to provide

an A+++ energy rating and Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of up to 4.69.

Another new addition is aroSTOR domestic hot water heat pump (pictured) which provides reliable and energy efficient stored domestic hot water for larger properties with multiple bathrooms.

This product delivers an A+ ErP rating and SCOP of up to 3.19. Vaillant says that engineers will find it easy to install and transport, thanks to its compact diameter of only 634mm and branded installation carry bag which comes as standard.

For added peace of mind, aroSTOR comes with a fiveyear warranty on the tank and a two-year warranty on other parts.

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Solar thermal opportunity As the Feed-in Tariff for solar PV panels comes to an end, Belfast based CoolSky is highlighting that there are still market opportunities with financial incentives available for solar thermal applications.

The Renewable Heat Incentive for solar thermal panels will remain in place until at least 2021.

Tariffs are currently 20.66p/ kWh for domestic solar thermal installations, paid over a period of seven years, and 10.75 p/kWh for the nondomestic RHI, paid over a period of 20 years.

“A typical solar thermal collector has an efficiency of approximately 65 to 80%, while a typical solar PV system has an efficiency of

between 15 to 20%,” points out CoolSky MD Kathy McVeigh.

“What this means is that in effect, much less roof area is required to install a solar thermal system in order to generate a similar amount of energy. A typical solar thermal system is capable of providing 60 – 70% of a household’s hot water requirements in the UK. Therefore, solar thermal

is suitable for many properties which just can’t accommodate a solar PV system due to the space requirements on the roof.

“Also, as well as DHW applications in conjunction with fossil fuel boilers, solar thermal is a great partner with heat pumps and biomass heating, often avoiding the need to fire up costly fuel in spring, summer and autumn, when solar thermal can provide the majority of hot water for households.”

Available from CoolSky is a range of Apricus domestic packages and bespoke commercial/industrial hot water solutions.

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Easier to control electric heat All electric heaters from EHC now benefit from the company’s DSR controller which offers time and temperature control, open window/door recognition and geo-location features. It can be controlled manually or, when connected to the EHC Smart Gateway, can also be controlled remotely via a smart phone or Amazon Alexa.

To complement the range, EHC have now launched the DSR Solaris and Edge Electric Heaters which are available in 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000W outputs.

The DSR Solaris (pictured)

is a modern, slim-sized convector heater that features a curved front and front air outlet.

The DSR Edge is an aluminium convector heater that produces heat on

demand and comes with an easy-to-use controller with a protective cover located on the top of the heater for ease of access.

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Ventilation fits in at V&A Dundee

Heat on a plate

visiting numbers within the gallery, Waterloo worked with Arup to create the perfect environment.

Waterloo’s WRS and WLMD – variable air volume controllers – were installed to control the volume of air passing through the ducts to the air terminals, independent of the air volumes supplied from the air handling unit.

Air handling automatically copes with variants in footfall to increase air volume when a high number of visitors are in the building.

Air distribution products from Waterloo have been used in the creation of the cooling and ventilation system at the new V&A Dundee. Waterloo became involved with the project five years ago, when discussions began with design engineers, Arup, about how to create a comfortable, controlled environment.

This was made possible thanks to VAV controllers providing a dynamic range of duty into the gallery and other areas. Waterloo also supplied air terminal devices for the building.

Faced with the complexities of high ceilings, unusual angles and varying Econoplate plate heat exchangers (PHE), from Stokvis Energy Systems, have been installed as part of an overhaul of the domestic hot water provision within a 500-bedroom hotel at Stansted Airport.

The building services upgrade at the Radisson Blu, Stansted, has been overseen

by Manchester-based [PS]K Design Ltd, leading to the specification of four C3A 1350+0R Econoplates to replace the original PHEs one at a time.

The quartet of Econoplates was supplied along with unvented kits and made-tomeasure insulation jackets to further increase energy efficiency. Stokvis’ own engineers carried out the commissioning of the units during July 2018. The scope of the work also included the installation of water softening equipment and a secondary return for the hot water service.

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Self-builder impressed with ease of UFH What started out as a bathroom upgrade for the owners of a home in Cambridgeshire has morphed into a major reconfiguration and extension project, with the installation of a CircofloPro underfloor heating providing a new heating system.

The large bungalow in Hardwick, near St. Neots, saw the creation of a bathroom in what had been a living

room area, while adding a large orangery and altering

Off-site pre-fab delivers the goods Medway Council has installed five Remeha Gas 220 Ace floor-standing condensing boilers on an off-site fabricated cascade system at Gun Wharf, its main council offices, to achieve more reliable heating with minimum disruption.

When the existing boilers came to the end of their serviceable life, the Council appointed contractors TSS Facilities to replace the dated and inefficient boiler plant.

TSS Facilities recommended installing five Remeha Gas 220 Ace boilers with a plate heat exchanger on an off-site fabricated

cascade system to meet the project requirements.

Mark Basset, Mechanical Installations and Asset Manager at TSS Facilities,

says: “We’ve fitted Remeha boilers for many years and are impressed with the operational efficiencies and performance of their products, which is matched by the great service we receive.”

The Gas 220 Ace boilers were selected partly due to their small footprint and width, and also because of the off-site fabricated cascade options that facilitate faster installation.

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Discreet vents for whisky distillery The Macallan’s new distillery, home to the luxury single malt, is being ventilated by grilles and diffusers manufactured by Gilberts and installed by SES Engineering Services. The vents ensure efficient, adequate airflow throughout the visitor area, management suite and specific areas of the distillery itself. Gilberts’ linear slot diffusers, linear bar grilles and double deflection grilles have all been integrated into the complex building which has been cut into and below ground of the historic Speyside estate that is home to The Macallan.

“There were a number of design challenges to overcome,” says SES Project Manager Thomas Hardie. “Clean lines, discreet placement and unobtrusive products were key. We had to be sure the products supplied were manufactured to millimetre-precise specifications and tolerances. From experience, we knew Gilberts could meet that challenge.”

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the kitchen. The boiler was replaced with a higher output

model, and the heating circuits were extended using the CircofloPro kit. The kit was made to order and included LowDeck boards, 12mm heating pipe runs, two fourport manifolds, circulating pump, controller and thermostat. The UFH system was installed by the home’s owner, with CAD drawings supplied by Circoflo .

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Microgeneration a win for the school

Bootham School in York, a charitably run boarding school, has selected a TOTEM micro-cogeneration (m-CHP) based system from commercial heating and hot water specialist, Adveco Ltd, for sustainable and costeffective provision of power and heating throughout the school estate. The system provides £37,000 in annual operational cost savings and reduces the school’s CO2 generation.

Adveco recommended the installation of two TOTEM T25 m-CHP units and an Adveco MSS5000 for a prefed boiler system. Electrical generation by the m-CHP would decrease the energy import of the school, as well as lowering carbon dioxide

emissions. Heat generated would be delivered to the hot water circuit which operates constantly through the entire school.

Adveco also provided Bootham with a full maintenance contract, covering all moving parts and controls, that guarantees long-lasting CHP unit efficiency. “Whilst there are high servicing costs, we factored all of that into the total lifecycle costs. This means after 10 years, rather than replacing the whole unit we can simply extend the contract with Adveco, saving the capital cost of installing new units,” says Craig Pierotti, Estates Manager for Bootham School.

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April 2019

SHOWERS & Enclosures 43

Common installation issues can be avoided Most shower installations are trouble-free, but what can you do to help ensure you won’t run into problems? Paul McGuire, Senior Training Specialist at Mira Showers, explores a number of typical installation headaches that might be encountered and how installers can overcome them to offer peace of mind right from the get-go.

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ith the vast amount of product and system options available across the showering market nowadays, it is no surprise that even the most experienced of installers come across a few headaches when installing them from time to time.

Understandably, the quality of product is key, and it’s important that installers work with products they can fit and forget. Here, we explore a range of common scenarios and considerations to prevent or overcome them.

Pressure pains With such a large amount of showering solutions which are designed to be installed on high pressure mains fed systems, it is easy to see why an installer might overlook the importance of recording the static and maintained pressure of the supplies before fitting a shower.

However, since the mains pressure delivered by the water undertaker can vary so vastly, we would always advocate the benefits of recording these pressures before proceeding with the installation of any mains fed shower.

This is because the mains pressure can often be well over and above the 5bar maintained, and 10bar static pressures are commonly defined as the maximum for most mains fed showers.

Where this is exceeded, the typical results include leaking, failure to shut off and, for mixer and digital showers, noisy operation and unstable blend temperatures since the hot and cold will often have unbalanced pressures across the system too.

By recording the pressure beforehand, the installation

Fitting the Mira Advance electric shower

The Mira Switch changes spray patterns at the press of a button

of an appropriately located pressure reducing valve will protect the shower from any potential damage from over pressurisation if required and minimise any associated disruption to the rest of the job.

As well as ensuring that the static and maintained pressures are within manufacturer recommendations, supplying mixer and digital showers with equal pressures across the hot and cold supplies is also sometimes overlooked.

This is more common on showers fitted to an unvented cylinder, where the cold mains supply is not ‘balanced’ with the hot. The rectification of this is easily resolved by balancing this with the installation of an appropriately located pressure reducing valve or the reconfiguration of the supplies.

the temperature of the incoming mains water supply.

This is often referred to as ‘seasonal effect’.

Before trying to recommission any mixer or digital shower, it’s best to ensure that an appropriately-sized flow regulator is fitted in the hot supply of a mixer or digital shower, or the outlet of some mixer showers.

Available in a range of flow rates, best advice would to be to select an appropriately sized flow regulator to match the kW rating of the boiler installed. Or, for outlet flow regulators in some mixer showers, use the one supplied by the manufacturer.

Combi conundrum Perhaps the most common pitfall for mixer and digital shower installations is for those installed to combination boilers where the blend temperature delivered from the shower is not hot enough or, where the blend temperature from the shower is noticeably cooler in winter than in summer months.

Since combi boilers are designed to provide a specific heat rise at a given flow rate, the ability of the combi to heat the water depends on the flow rate through it and

Electrical best practice Finally, it’s important not to cut holes or make any modifications to the back case or cover of electric showers, as this compromises the IP rating of the shower and can allow water ingress onto electrical components. The use of a multi-fit electric shower would always be recommended in these cases to provide a solution to multiple service entry points.

Another consideration for electric showers is appropriately sized circuit protection and RCD protection.

Consultation with an electrically qualified person is always recommended if you’re unsure on this for any reason. www.mirashowers.co.uk

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Premium enclosure makes life easier

Always check the mains pressure before fitting a mixer shower

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Recent additions to the growing range of shower enclosures from Mira is the Ascend, a premium enclosure specially designed to improve ease of ÿt for installers and maximise user experience. The patented design features a minimal metal frame and chrome-plated brass hinges and handles, as well as 8mm coated safety glass.

For ease of use, the Ascend also offers a low-friction mechanism in place of a conventional roller system which improves aftercare and maintenance, while providing customers with easy-opening.

“This product is all about the user experience, and we have analysed every aspect of the enclosure, from the modern aesthetics right down to the intricate details of the ÿ xings

to ensure customers are not only provided with a product that looks nice, but one that they know will last them a lifetime,” says Head of Industrial Design Roland Boal.

For ease of installation, the Ascend doors are reversible and include 20mm of adjustment. Other features include: concealed ÿ xings reducing dirt traps; a quick-release mechanism for easy cleaning; a super-thin lintel for a minimalist frame design; and a beaded installation system which removes the need for installers to drill and improves adjustment. www.mirashowers.co.uk/shower-enclosures

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44 SHOWERS & Enclosures

How multi-entry units save time and money Multi-entry showers have helped to make life easier for installers. Lee Stones from Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation – which includes the Redring brand – explores what makes the showers so time-effective and how they can save money for consumers.

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arket research has shown that 46% of electric shower sales are made via merchants.

When you consider that the majority of electric showers purchased are for replacement installations, then flexibility, universal capability and plumbing fitting compatibility have all become essential elements to keep in mind when choosing the right shower unit.

Multi-entry showers have Lee Stones from Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation become more commonplace in the bathroom market as they have significantly reduced an installers’ workload, which in turn means less cost for the end-user when paying for the installation.

Not only do multi-entry options offer considerable timesaving benefits for installers, but they also allow for the best possible quality installation. The most successful products are likely to be the most versatile ones, making it easier for installers to fit a shower into any home, regardless of the existing plumbing and fixture work.

With traditional showers, entry points may be limited to left or right hand only, so replacement installations have typically required drilling to align the plumbing and wiring connections. This not only takes significant time but also disrupts the tiling and aesthetics of the bathroom too, both of which end-users can do without.

In comparison, multi-entry electric showers offer multiple plumbing and electrical entry point options when siting the unit on the bathroom wall. This is why multi-entry

showers present an ideal solution, as they reduce the need to re-engineer plumbing, drill through tiles and amend the electrical wiring of the mains feed.

The higher the number of entry points, the more universal the shower unit will be. This makes it easier for installers to replace a broad range of differently branded showers, whilst also reducing the need to drill or reposition the new shower from the original fitting position.

For the plumbing aspect of the job, there should be at least eight entry points to ensure optimum versatility, ideally two at the top, two at the bottom, two on the rear and two at the side. This range of entry points almost guarantees that the existing pipework can stay in place, with little or no disruption to the bathroom’s décor.

In terms of electrical cable entry, the shower should have both left and right-hand entry options, ideally two at the top, two at the bottom and two from the rear. Again, this adaptability reduces the need for any re-wiring of the power feed into the shower, saving on the time and cost of the installation.

Time saving In addition to the number and position of the electrical and water entry points, there are several other design features that will improve the speed of installation.

To deliver the biggest possible working area when undertaking a replacement installation, it is important that the shower’s backplate is not only uncluttered but also that the bottom third has the ability to clip off. This is so installers have the maximum working space for tool access, making the job much less fiddly and reducing the time needed to complete the installation.

Twin terminal blocks are also an important feature, as they allow electrical connection into the shower unit from either the right or left-hand side without having to relocate terminal blocks or replace cable. A shower without twin

Electric model has all sides covered Making it easy to replace an existing shower, the Triton T80 Pro-Fit features eight cable and water entry points (left and right sides) and a generous footprint that will cover most other models. It also features a longer length riser rail (up to 620mm) and rail brackets that are adjustable to fit any existing holes.

Carefully designed entry point trims can be put in position before or after the unit is fitted to the wall for a clean finish and, thanks to wider channels within the backplate, pipework can run alongside cable of up to 16mm.

The problem-solving shower

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is suitable for use with push fit, copper, or plastic pipe and compression fittings. Making installation even easier, the Swing-Fit terminal block and dual water inlet allow for left or right pipe and cable connections. For speed, there’s also a nut and olive included in the box, which is handy when reusing an existing compression set-up.

Addressing potential issues in hard water areas, the T80 Pro-Fit model also features Triton’s DuraFlow heater, which helps to reduce the build-up of limescale by up to 80%, maximising the flow and extending the life of the shower.

Redring’s Bright multi-connection electric shower

terminations would have a significant negative impact on the flexibility of the retrofit, meaning the installer would be required to undertake more work and disrupt the bathroom space.

Which is best?

There are many multi-entry showers on the market, but installers should consider which products or systems offer the best versatility, coupled with a good price point.

Our Bright multi-connection electric shower, for example, is purpose-designed to fulfil installers’ needs as the ultimate replacement shower, featuring our SmartFit design including twin terminal blocks, six cable entry points and eight water entry points. The shower also comes with an extended three-year warranty, giving added reassurance to installers.

With replacement showers likely to continue to dominate sales in the electrical shower market, opting for multientry showers makes sense if installers want to provide a seamless customer experience and maximise their income. www.gdhv.com

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Controlling the experience

The shower comes with a two-year full parts and labour guarantee and also includes an optional clip-fit bottle tray, five-spray rub clean shower head and 1.5m anti-twist hose.

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A new name in the UK showers market, Jaquar has a presence in over 45 countries and is looking to expand via a network of retailers with a range of bathroom products for both domestic and commercial sectors. The company recently opened a flagship showroom in Milan and there are plans to open another in London later this year.

Products include the Artize ShowerTronic iV2, an intelligent water mixer system, which is said to deliver the ultimate in luxury and comfort. The control features an intuitive waterproof touchpad and allows users to select shower mode while the control

automatically maintains the water temperature and flow rate.

ShowerTronic iV2 also offers convenience and safety features like warmup mode, auto clean, summer mode, thermal disinfection, on-screen alarms and auto cut-off.

Other products in the Jaquar shower range include the Artize Rainjoy, an extralarge overhead showerhead which offers a wide range of showering modes inspired by nature: Rain, Intense, Mist, and Twin Waterfall.

Each Rainjoy shower comes with a waterproof remote control which enables the customer to customise their chromotherapy experience. Users can choose a relaxing colour to shower in, or switch to an energising multiple-colour experience. What’s more, the control also makes it possible to select the speed at which the colours change.

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SHOWERS & Enclosures 45 Advanced spray technology The Tuora collection of showers from Methven is crafted from high-grade stainless steel and features the company’s own spray technology, V Jet, a variable spray pattern that can be personalised to each user.

The shower has hidden channels to create spirals of water that flow through the nozzles across the entire showerhead, whilst the smooth handset slider

activates a seamless spray transition ranging from a firm, invigorating blast to a gentle, enveloping spray and everything in between.

The V Jet spray also maintains a water-saving flow rate to deliver 9 litres per minute with wide-spray coverage – conserving water without compromising on performance.

“Turoa is all about combining the latest in spray tech-

Range covering all the bases

nology with familiar forms and materials, resulting in a product that will deliver a truly personalised showering experience,” says Head of Marketing Simon Cornelius.

“This shower reflects our desire to reduce the environmental impact of our products whilst not compromising on performance or user experience.”

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Beauty is clear in a minimalist setting To satisfy the growing demand for wetrooms, PJH has enhanced its own-brand shower enclosure range, RefleXion, with the addition of a luxurious new collection of wetroom panels, available in both 8 and 6mm glass.

Both the RefleXion 8 and RefleXion 6 wetroom panel categories (8mm and 6mm toughened safety glass respectively) are available in a wide range of dimensions.

A lifetime guarantee

a generous 1950mm height all come as standard.

The glass panels can be installed directly onto a prepared floor or teamed with a slim profile tray, which PJH also offers from its shower tray range in an ultra slim 25mm anti-slip model. Both panels can be installed as a single wetroom panel or combined with an optional side panel. underlines the quality design of the range. Features such

as concealed fixings, Easy Clean glass treatment and

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The Emotion range from Abacus Bathrooms encompasses a wide variety of c h rome -f i n i shed, easy-clean showerheads, hand showers, thermo shower mixers, valves and kits, giving installers what they need for a modern shower or wetroom.

The round, rectangular and square showerheads come in a range of sizes, including ultra-thin designs. They can be installed directly into the ceiling or on a wall arm and can be combined with a hand shower to create a full showering solution. The thermostatic shower mixer can be concealed behind the wall for a seamless, elegant look.

All products come with a five-year guarantee, and the ‘Plus’ kits are WRAS approved. www.abacus-bathrooms.co.uk

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46 SHOWERS & Enclosures

How to design more into less As UK bathrooms get smaller, the trend for slimline bathroom ÿxtures and ÿttings is getting bigger. Chris Tranter, Senior Product Manager at Bristan, gives the lowdown on the latest bathroom options that make the most of bijoux spaces.

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ritain’s houses have never been smaller than they are today – homes are nearly a third smaller than equivalent properties built in the 1970s. The average living room is now 17.09m2 – that’s 1.64m2 smaller than a decade ago – and bedroom size and the number of bedrooms on offer has also decreased.

For years, research has shown that the UK’s newly built homes are lagging behind most of Europe by floor area. These trends have inevitably required new and creative ways of maximising space, and nowhere is this better exemplified than in the bathroom.

That’s why installers need to ensure that they are up to speed with the latest space saving products in the bathroom market.

Here’s some clever solutions that should be top of the list.

Traditionally, however, concealed valves could be challenging to fit, often leading to delays and frustrations for installer and customer. This is essentially because of the difficulty in judging how much space is available behind a cavity wall and dealing with particularly tight cavity spaces.

Nowadays there are solutions on the market that cater to even the slimmest cavity areas. When choosing a concealed valve, installers should look for options such as those offered by Bristan which can be fitted into cavities as small as 35mm. Valve adjustability is also an important feature, as this provides the necessary flexibility to ensure the perfect fit every time.

Light and illusion

Shower valves When customers are searching for a shower valve that fits their needs, they will need to take into consideration a few things. Will they want to use an overhead shower or a hand shower? Or both? Does the home have hard water or soft water? The space and size of the shower is also an important factor for choosing the right valve for the ultimate shower experience.

Homeowners love a concealed shower valve, which can be combined with a host of options from overhead showers to hand showers and body jets. This is reflected in

A concealed shower valve combines with an overhead shower for a sense of luxury

the latest MTW market research which shows this sector outperforming the shower market as a whole, with double-digit growth predicted up to 2022.

The reasons for this, aside from obvious aesthetic considerations, link to wider minimalist bathroom trends, for example frameless shower enclosures, wetrooms and low profile trays.

In most small bathrooms, having the shower above the bath is a common solution. Even without a separate shower enclosure, a luxurious space to relax and rejuvenate in can be created. Opting for a glass panel across the bath rather than a shower curtain and increasing the size of mirrors will let in more light and increase the sense of spaciousness.

Consumers are becoming more trendaware when it comes to their bathrooms.

With spas and wellbeing retreats more popular than ever, some consumers are keen to replicate this feeling in their bathroom. Style and ambience can make a big difference, and uncluttered designs are ever-popular.

A good shower is a key part of the bath-

room experience and this year we’re seeing demand for oversized shower heads, as well as showers which provide features such as waterfall settings and LED mood lighting to create a sense of total relaxation.

Mix it up The basin is one item that can be downsized without any loss of style or convenience, particularly as there is now a great choice of smaller taps to suit. A corner or pedestal option works brilliantly if you’re struggling for room, as the open area below gives the impression of more space.

A statement mixer tap can add the finishing touch with a sleek, streamlined design.

The challenge of incorporating a bath, shower, basin, and toilet into a bathroom – whilst leaving enough room to manoeuvre – relies on finding the right mix of fixtures and design inspiration. Space will continue to be a challenge as our homes get increasingly smaller, but installers have an important role to play in meeting consumer demand for space-saving products. www.bristan.com

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Look of stone with a cushioned touch Take a seat in an adapted bathroom The JT Evolved Tray has a 25mm height to deliver the look and feel of a wetroom without the complicated drainage issues.

This tray has a slimline composition with a Wirquin manufactured waste that has a flow rate of up to 27 litres per minute.

The Pure Bathroom Collection from Smiths Briten includes a choice of shower trays in a wide range of shapes and sizes, with an optional anti-slip kit.

The JT Softstone tray (pictured) has a beautiful stone effect finish that provides an unexpectedly cushioned surface for an added touch of luxury.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. purebathroomcollection.co.uk

Bliss in the steam cabin For the ultimate in luxury, Glass 1989 offers a multifunctional shower cabin. Pictured is the Metis model, which can include a steam and aromatherapy generator, turning a steam bath into a feast for the senses.

The cabin is available with a host of water functions and showerheads, such as a cervical waterfall, vertical hydromassage jets and handshower.

With an essential oil aroma-dispenser, aromatherapy makes the steam bath ritual even more blissful. The chromotherapy function lets users choose a lighting colour, and the Bluetooth audio kit pipes in music to enjoy while taking a shower.

The steam version offers the possibility to relax in a cloud of micronized steam. To maximise steam bath performance, a generator adapts the power on a case-by-case basis, depending on the volume of the shower cabin. In addition, the Glass 1989 boiler performs an automatic rinse to prevent water build-up and limescale residue in the line. www.glass1989.it

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With the launch of the entry level 1000 Series (pictured) and the upgrade to the 3000 Series, AKW says it can now offer a shower seat for every adaptation requirement and price point.

The 1000 series has side transfer and colour padding options for users with visual impairments.

It is also height adjustable and features a padded backrest on the frame.

It can bear a maximum weight of 158kg/25 stone.

The improved 3000 Series shower seat offers a strong, durable chair, as a mid-range option. It is height adjustable and has a half back support with padding and PU arms with

top padding. It also has a maximum weight capacity of 190kg/30 stone.

Both the 1000 and 3000 come with a 12 month warranty. Developed in consultation with occupational t herapists, end users and installers, the new shower s e a t s complem e n t AKW’s 2000 and 4000 Series ranges and deliver functionality and safety without compromise to style.

For more information, enter the number below on the reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue.

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April 2019

SHOWERS & Enclosures Fast fit for almost any space Designed to appeal to the contracts sector, a new range of Kinedo shower enclosures has been added to the portfolio of showering products by Saniflo.

Fast 2000, named for its 2000mm high profiles and the rapidity of installation, is a collection of enclosures designed to suit every size and shape of bathroom.

Saniflo says it offers ‘exceptional’ value for money, and the collection includes: pivot doors, sliding doors, corner entry sliding doors, quads with sliding doors and fixed panels.

This enclosure features interlocking aluminium profiles to ensure the frame is simple to assemble, whilst easy release rollers can be fixed to the door profiles without any tools. Handles are attached using pre-supplied screws and fixings for the glass panels, which slot neatly and securely into place. The whole job can easily be completed by one person.

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ENQUIRY No.

Universal pump suitable for positive and negative head Eve is the name of Salamander Pumps’ new twin-ended, universal shower pump featuring a variable bar rating that can be changed with the touch of a button.

This pump uses a sensor to monitor the system water flow and detect any changes, while a brushless motor varies its speed to ensure a constant pressure, no matter how many outlets in the home are open at any one time.

Salamander claims that Eve is the first pump on

the market to fit into both positive and negative head situations, without the need for a pressure vessel. It works with any gravityfed system.

The pump has a flatline flow curve, thanks to

its ability to increase the motor speed to sustain a high water pressure as and when the demand increases. The motor varies speed to maintain constant pressure with up to a 40 litre flow, and it can be set to 1.5, 2.0 or 3.0 bar.

With its variable pressure adjustment, and its ability to operate in a positive or negative head mode, Eve is an all-around pump that can help make specification easier.

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Panels with the style of tile Reflecting the popularity of large format tiles and rich grey tones in the bathroom, IDS has introduced two

new wall panel decors to its Proplas range, with stone graphite large tile and stone grey large tile.

Offered in a tile design 400 x 250mm format, the matt panels offer a realistic tile and grout effect, but with easier and faster installation and simpler cleaning.

The tongue and groove 2800 x 250 x 8mm panels are non-porous and mould resistant, with insulation and sound-proofing benefits. The hardwearing decorative PVC surface has the advantage of being warmer than tiles and is durable and hygienic.

The panels come in packs of five, giving a coverage of 2.8m², with a five-year domestic use warranty against manufacturing defects when installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

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48 TEST & MEASURING Instruments

A more reliable flue gas analyser When it comes to something as important as recording and reporting the results of ˜ ue gas combustion products, it is important to have a reliable FGA that makes the job easier. Here, Damian Cairns, Anton Sales Director, looks at the technology that can help achieve this.

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sk a heating engineer what their most essential tool in the kit bag is and more often than not they’ll tell you it’s their flue gas analyser. This is because modern heating systems cannot be commissioned, serviced or repaired without the use of a working FGA. The FGA provides info on the relative concentrations of the various components of the products of combustion in the flue gas. But modern Damian Cairns, Anton’s high efficiency appliances Sales Director also produce huge amounts of moisture in the flue gases and, as this cools, it forms condensate. Clearly, condensate isn’t something that you want to be putting into an expensive piece of electronic instrumentation. That’s why all the FGA manufacturers include water traps in their designs – so that as the humid flue gas cools and the water vapour condenses into condensate, it’s then captured and contained and not sucked into the instrument itself.

This works well and any heating engineer will have experience of collecting condensate in their water traps and know that having to empty them regularly is all part of using an FGA. The only problem is that back in the real world, the water traps aren’t always emptied after every job which does lead to full water traps, which can result in water being sucked into the instruments or water running into the instruments when they’re placed back into their bag.

Water ingress This unwanted water ingress into the instruments can have a short term effect of affecting the instrument’s readings due to water blocking the sensors. Usually, warming the instrument on a radiator will get it working again as the instrument’s internal workings dry out. But prolonged water ingress can damage the pump, sensors and other internal components, meaning more serious damage to the instrument and the need for repairs. The real cost to the heating engineer, though, is the disruption to their working schedule, as a damaged FGA has to be sent away for repair. But this causes inconvenience and potentially loss of earnings if work is lost.

Usually a faulty sensor, a faulty pump or a faulty PCB can be attributed to water ingress. This water ingress problem affects all instruments and is by far the most common reason for an FGA to develop a fault.

Reliable to a fault With the advent of the Sprint Pro range of FGAs, Anton believes to have overcome this problem. Our customer feedback tells us that the most important feature an FGA can have is reliability. Cost is obviously also important, but today’s engineers understand that the real cost of instrument downtime due to faults/repairs is significant, and the clear message was instrument reliability is the priority and that paying a bit more for a quality product was better value to them.

With this in mind, every aspect of the Sprint Pro design

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Versatile and flexible, the Sprint Mobile app can be used in conjunction with all of these smart devices

has been about instrument robustness and reliability. We knew that if we could crack the problem of water ingress, then we’d stop 90% of the problems seen in the field. So incorporated in our water trap filter design is a hydrophobic filter. This clever filter lets all the flue gases past to ensure we give accurate and reliable readings, but critically does not let any water past, protecting the instrument.

Seeing is believing Search ‘Anton Sprint Pro’ in YouTube for a demonstration of the Sprint Pro and you can see an example of pulling a sample of water from a jug – and no water The Sprint getting past the filter/water trap. Clearly Pro range this is an extreme test, but in many of FGAs has been ways it just accelerates what happens designed to when a water trap isn’t emptied often overcome enough. We now use a foam particulate the problems filter, so when (not if) this happens in associated the field, the engineer can simply empty with water ingress the bowl, dry the foam filter on a cloth, blow the flue probe through to remove the water and reassemble. They’re up and running again in minutes. Paper filters that are traditionally used in FGAs can’t be used when wet, so a full filter bowl often results in an FGA you can’t use unless you have spare filters.

The new flue probe design also has the same hydrophobic filter technology in the new clip-in probe connector which provides a secondary defence to water ingress. A belt-and-braces approach, but given the importance of keeping water out, having two of these water barriers makes sense. Because you can’t connect a flue probe without this new clip-in connector design with its built-in water stop filter, then there’s no way you can get water in the instrument.

We’ve paid attention to detail to make this the most robust and reliable instrument we’ve ever made. The instrument body is made from polycarbonate (the same material used in most motorcycle crash helmets) with a rubberised over-moulding for added protection. Even the filter bowl/water trap is made from polycarbonate.

Aside from the focus on making this new range of analysers reliable, it’s clear we have given every aspect lots of thought and attention. With today’s emphasis on reporting and evidencing the work completed, then methods of reporting the results from the FGA are vital.

Recording your work With Sprint Pro all models can print to a printer whilst on site, and depending on the model, you can also download your reports via a USB cable to a PC for storage and emailing to customers. But with the big move in the industry to paperless reporting, Pro3 models and above can wirelessly transmit the reports/data to either iOS or Android phones and tablets for efficiency and traceable data. Anton’s free app, Sprint Mobile, can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store, but it’s easy to pair up the devices with nearly any field-based apps you choose to use.

Charging ahead Modern USB-C charging makes charging at home, on site or in the van easy, and additional or replacement chargers are a lot cheaper as it’s all too common to accidentally leave a charger on the job. A full colour screen enables clear warning messages and helpful guidance to the user, and large, easy-to-use buttons help to navigate around the user friendly menus.

There are options for all types of engineers, including those working on commercial installations, with the addition of the option of NOx measurement in the flue gas analysis, high range CO sensors with built-in over-range protection as well as the option of direct CO2 measurement via an infrared sensor, ideal for commercial catering applications and for all CO incident investigation work (CMDDA1).

With the exception of Pro1, all other models can be upgraded to fit these additional features at a later date. So, if further down the line you want wireless communication, or need ambient CO2 readings as you’ve got your COMCAT ticket, or NOx measurements become mandatory, then you add these features, meaning that your analyser is fully future-proof. There’s even a new bag design that makes unpacking and repacking your FGA and probes quicker. www.anton-group.com

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TEST & MEASURING Instruments 49

Quick and easy thermal imaging Thermal imaging cameras represent a quick and effective way to identify potential issues in a range of heating and plumbing applications.

Here, plumber and general handyman Paul Sevink says that two pocket-sized devices from FLIR are fast proving to be invaluable.

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escribing himself as a professional handyman, Paul Sevink enthusiastically embraces new technology to ensure he can provide his customers with the best possible service. The scope of his work is extremely broad.

In addition to general maintenance and renovation, he is also a certified wood refurbishment specialist. And for fault finding in all these applications, thermal imaging has an important role to play.

The importance of FGA calibration Independent test instrument specialist Test4Less advises installers on why the regular calibration of flue gas analysers is so important.

While your analyser is away for its calibration, it’s no secret that your work schedule may be adversely affected or, worst case scenario, you are unable to continue working. However, the importance of calibration cannot be overlooked.

All Gas Safe registered engineers know the importance of safe installation and they rely on their flue gas analyser to determine if an installation is performing according to specification. It is your responsibility to ensure your equipment is suitable for the application and reading within the manufacturer’s specification.

Typically, manufacturers recommend you return your analyser annually for calibration, either to the manufacturer themselves or an Approved Service Centre (ASC), even if it has only been used a handful of times. The O2 and CO sensors inside the analyser often have a limited lifespan regardless of how often the analyser is used.

Calibration is not simply a box ticking exercise. Only the manufacturer and ASC have the specialist trained engineers, climate controlled environment, equipment and

software to calibrate your analyser and issue a valid certificate of calibration.

Anton, TPI and Testo all operate an ASC programme, of which Test4less are one of.

Many analysers feature a countdown to calibration, helping you plan your work schedule, but the instrument may lock you out should the calibration expire, meaning you cannot use it at all.

The analyser locking out should not be seen as an inconvenience, but a critical safety feature designed to protect you and your customers.

The risks and consequences of carrying out gas work without a calibrated analyser are well documented. Stay calibrated, stay compliant!

expanded with moisture.

“After removing a few tiles at the client’s request, the FLIR MR160 confirmed my suspicion,” Paul says. “It was clearly accumulated moisture, not a leak. And based on this information I could advise my client to run a construction dehumidifier for a few days, after which I would replace the damaged tiles.

Leak detection “What I really appreciate is that Construction professionals typically you can save and transfer your Putting the FLIR MR160 to good use use moisture meters that measure measurements and results,” he adds. electrical resistance between two pins set a fixed distance “With the supplied FLIR Tools software you can create beautiful apart. The lower the resistance, the higher the moisture content reports that provide proof to clients which, in my case, are of the measured surface. A drawback with these devices is often insurance companies. It is also handy to be able to that it often takes time to locate the best spot for moisture show the client the moisture problem while on site, based measurement to be taken. on the thermal image.”

By combining a moisture meter with a thermal imaging Pipe seeking camera in a single unit, the FLIR MR160 imaging moisture meter provides a solution. It visually guides the user to the Having taken moisture measurements with his FLIR MR160, location where reliable moisture measurements can be taken Paul also uses his FLIR C2 to confirm his findings and in floors, walls or ceilings, which can then be examined further put any problem into context. The pocket-sized thermal imaging camera allows users to take a thermal image at with the built-in sensors.

“This device recently served me well on a job where the any time, typically to detect structural defects or heat laminate flooring on a landing had suddenly bulged up and patterns that may indicate energy loss.

Pipes show up clearly in the image, particularly in MSX there was no way to get a good look without causing damage,” Paul explains. “A leak detection survey confirmed there was mode. This is FLIR’s patented multi-spectral imaging no leaking water pipe or drain, suggesting that poor caulking technology, now standard on all camera models, which provides exceptional image quality in real time. It extracts and grouting was the cause.

“The FLIR MR160 showed me a pattern that appeared to the outline detail of structures from the camera’s visual indicate water was present that had not been found during the image and blends it with the thermal profile, making it survey and my first thought was an old moisture problem.” much easier for the user to diagnose a problem.

“FLIR equipment not only makes a professional impression, Moisture can accumulate when it wicks in through a poorly sealed joint and is unable to evaporate because it also saves me a lot of time,” Paul concludes. “The devices the surface is covered with a layer of tiles, for example. require little explanation, so I could start using them straight The problem only becomes apparent when the substrate away, and as they fit easily in my pocket, they are now becomes saturated. In this case some wall tiles had also with me on every job.”

Infrared technology is now easily affordable and very easy to use, benefits that Paul can confirm through his recent acquisition of a FLIR MR160 moisture meter and pocket-sized FLIR C2 thermal imaging camera. Indeed, he is finding both indispensable for investigating damps spots and structural defects.

cracked, caused by the stress that built up as the substrate

www.flir.com

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Free head torch In an exclusive offer to PHAM News readers, Test4Less is giving away a free head torch with every calibration order.

To take advantage of the offer, visit www.test4less. co.uk and use the promo code ‘PHAMSPECIAL’.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.test4less.co.uk

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April 2019

50 TEST & MEASURING Instruments

Need a new FGA? Think ahead!

Do you need to consider the future of NOx monitoring when choosing your next flue gas analyser? Jon Bawden, HVACR Product Manager at Testo UK, discusses why installers may want to think about their ability to provide accurate measurements of NOx in the future.

W

hen the Energy-related Products Directive (ErP) was first implemented with regards to the domestic and commercial heating sector, our industry knew that this was only the first step towards ever-tightening legislation for manufacturers to meet. The next phase of the directive has now come into place (as from 26th September last year) which has set maximum nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission levels for all new domestic and commercial heating and hot water products that are rated up to 400kW. These new NOx limits correlate to a maximum of 56mg/ kWh for gas and LPG fired boilers, and 120mg/kWh for oil fired boilers, and all boilers supplied by manufacturers within the rated range will need to be compliant to the new NOx levels on or after the September date.

Health issue One common misconception is that NOx levels are related to energy efficiency, however this is not true. Measurement of NOx values is actually directly related to the measurement of the exhaust products after combustion has taken place and nitrogen oxides are formed through the high temperatures around the combustion process. The reason NOx levels are under increasing scrutiny is the effect they can have on air quality and health, especially in large cities where a combination of NOx from both road vehicles, heating plant and industry can often combine to form high pollution levels.

Taking London as a typical large city, it is thought that up to 33% of the NOx emissions are now coming from heating systems, and so the focus is on to bring in ‘greener’ technology to try to reduce the levels of pollution and to therefore reduce the approx. 24,000 early deaths each year which are currently attributed directly to poor air quality (according to Defra figures).

Installers of this new wave of low-NOx boilers currently are not required to monitor the NOx values as part of any installation or servicing, as the manufacturers themselves will have put their boilers through a type approval process

The Testo 300 flue gas analyser comes with built-in WiFi and can be fitted with an optional nitric oxide sensor

to ensure it meets the legislation guidelines. However, many heating service companies are looking to futureproof their flue gas analyser needs by ensuring that any unit can either be supplied with the ability to measure NOx or be retrofitted with a suitable measurement sensor in the future.

One slight technical area to be remarked on is that to obtain a total NOx value for a boiler being tested/serviced, the flue gas analyser needs to measure both the NO (nitric oxide) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) gas components. Most basic flue gas analysers only have the capability to measure the NO component and then use a calculated fixed percentage of NO2 to obtain a total NOx value. Some more advanced analysers can use measurement cells for both NO and NO2 and then give a true measured total NOx value.

Flexible FGA For service companies and engineers looking for the potential to be able to measure NOx values, our new 300 flue gas analyser offers the capability to have an NO sensor fitted either at point of ordering or retrofitted, thus futureproofing

for any possible requirement that they may have for NOx measurement in the future. The Testo 300 also has some other key features which enable it to work effectively, from domestic sized boilers all the way up to 400kW, including a unique automatic dilution system which enables the unit to go beyond its normal CO measurement limit of 8000ppm and actually still keep measuring up to 30,000ppm without risk of damage to the CO sensor.

With its innovative smart-style operation using a 5in HD full colour display bringing all the flexibility we have become used to with smartphones, the Testo 300 also offers the user an integral customer site database for ensuring that records are kept in a simple manner, and the built-in WiFi means that no smartphone app is needed to work the device.

Finally, the long-life sensors are designed to give at least five years normal operating life and this combined with our fixed price servicing means low lifetime costs for installers. www.testo.co.uk

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Free app provides back-up reports When combined with a smartphone and app, the DC710 flue gas analyser from TPI provides the user with tools to view, save, print or email any number of tests.

The free TPI View app can create multiple jobs by reference number and attach any number of tests whilst allocating a unique reference to each test for easy identification.

The reports created by TPI View are marked with GPS location. This, along with time and date stamping, means engineers can be safe in the knowledge that their tasks have supporting documentation to back work up.

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Featuring a durable, sealed housing, the DC710 FGA is described as low cost and easy to use. It has been designed to meet the needs of engineers and contractors who need to submitproof of sub-contract work or for multi-national organisations taking liability for assigned works. For large organisations the DC710 can be incorporated into existing job management systems.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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April 2019

WHAT’S New

COMPETITION

UFH system completes the package With the aim of offering a complete package of heating solutions to installers, Grant UK has launched its first range of underfloor heating.

Suitable for both new build and retrofit applications, the new UFH systems come with all pipework and components.

Designed to partner effectively with renewable technologies, Grant’s underfloor heating complements and works alongside the company's existing product ranges which include biomass boilers and air source heat pumps.

Two wet underfloor heating ranges are available – Uflex

and Uflex MINI. Both systems use the same manifold, evenly distributing heat and maintaining optimum room temperatures.

The Uflex system is embedded within the floor

construction and is ideally suited for new builds and extensions, while the Uflex MINI system can be installed over an existing floor.

The Uflex MINI system has a low profile – just 15mm in

finished floor height – so avoiding any need to make significant changes to a room’s infrastructure. A self-levelling screed can be laid over the Uflex MINI system, which dries in three days, after which the heat source can be introduced.

Furthermore, this system does not require overboarding, which makes for a simpler installation as the final floor finish can be laid directly on top of the dry screed.

Grant UK can also provide design assistance including outline system designs through to full drawings.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Fan can Light commercial extras sense a smell

The PureAir Sense from Vent-Axia is a bathroom fan with odour sense technology, designed to improve the air that occupants breathe.

The fan is equipped with an odour sensor that increases air˜ ow when the air is poor, helping ensure a comfortable living environment. When the sensor detects a strong odour, the fan speed increases and quickly extracts the odour to help ensure the air always feels fresh.

Steve Totman, Product Manager at Vent-Axia, says: “Installers can now offer a simple solution to poor IAQ with the PureAir Sense, combining Odour Sense Technology with smart controls, quiet operation and an attractive design.”

The fan is delivered factory set to provide continuous operation at low speed.

ENQUIRY No.

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With improved installation, servicing and operation in mind, Bosch Commercial and Industrial has made a series of enhancements to its GB162 light commercial gas boiler.

For the first time, the GB162 is available as an 85kW model, meaning the boiler is now available in outputs of 50, 65, 85 and 100kW. When fitted as a cascade design, it can cater for heat demands of up to 1.6MW, coming into and out of operation when required to ensure even load matching.

A key feature of the new GB162 is the introduction of overpressure flues which result in reduced installation height and increased flexibility. With each flue containing a flue gas non-return valve, the need for a large cascade flue header is removed, saving space and making the solution even better suited for buildings with low ceilings and restricted space.

The new boiler model also features an improved syphon with a threaded connection for a secure fit, offering peace of mind to the commissioning engineer, while 360° insulation helps to reduce heat loss and energy consumption. The addition of a single sided removable cover also improves access

GET A GRIP! 2 sets of Cobra

pliers to be won!

This month we've teamed up with Knipex to offer TWO readers the chance to win a set of 3 Cobra water pump pliers – light and easy to use with a grip that won't let you down.

The prize When it comes to working in compact areas, the KNIPEX Cobra range of water pump pliers helps every plumbing and heating installer’s day flow smoothly.

Just like the snake they’re named after, the Cobra pliers have enormous gripping capacity.

They are lighter than comparable pipe wrenches, and with a push button adjustment on the handle, the tools are perfect for working in cramped areas. Forget painful blood blisters and trapped skin – the anti-pinch mechanism on the handle prevents injury, making them safer and easier to work with.

They are self-locking and will not slip on the pipe, nut or joint being worked on and can be directly adjusted on the workpiece – simply position the upper jaw on the item, push the button and slide the lower jaw closed. The reliable catching of the hinge bolt prevents unintentional shifting.

to internal components to simplify servicing and maintenance.

The GB162 now boasts a new pump group which offers the combination of lower hydraulic resistance and more residual pump head, said to be ideal for single boilers and single heating circuit installations to reduce installation costs and energy bills, as there is no need to run an external system pump. www.bosch-commercial.co.uk

ENQUIRY No.

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Pump range just got smarter Acclaimed as the world's first true smart pump, the new Stratos MAXO pump from Wilo has been designed for use in large residential projects and light commercial applications. It features an intuitive user interface and a number of energy-saving functions to help maximise system efficiency.

The successor to the popular Wilo-Stratos pump, the MAXO offers Bluetooth connectivity to enable the pump to be directly connected to mobile devices while Wilo Net offers a new standard interface for

connectivity among Wilo products, for example, to control multiple pumps.

The new pump also offers innovative energy efficiency functions such as Multi-Flow Adaptation which enables the feeder pump to adjust its output to the precise demand of the connected consumption

circuit pumps. Additional control functions enable the pump to automatically adapt its output to the varying system requirements.

The Stratos MAXO-Z is ideal for specific hygiene requirements, as it automatically recognises a thermal disinfection programme being carried out and supports the rinsing of pipes by increasing its output to the maximum. The WiloStratos MAXO is available as a single or double pump and as Wilo-Stratos MAXO-Z for drinking water applications.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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How to enter Simply read the question below and then write your answer on the freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. Just enter the number of the correct picture on the card. The two winners will be drawn from all correct entries received before 1st May 2019.

Which picture shows a cobra?

101

102

www.knipex.com

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April 2019

52

WHAT’S New

Plenty of choice for warmth on all sides New flame sensor for oil burners As the official UK distributor for the German-made Spartherm range of wood stoves, DRU has streamlined the inserts range into two groups: the Linear series, which has door handles that are an integral part of the frame, and the Design series, where the handle is a separate, detachable component.

Spartherm wood fire inserts are available in front view, 2-sided, 3-sided and tunnel versions. They are all Eco Design ready and said to be highly energy efficient.

control the air flow in the fire and the temperature in the home using a graphic display.

Other features of the range include an air wash system to keep the glass clean, a soft-close concealed door-locking mechanism, a user-friendly air slide and a simple hinged ash tray.

Selected Spartherm wood stoves and fires will be displayed on the DRU stand at Hearth & Home trade show in Harrogate from 9 to 11 June 2019.

Another feature of the inserts range is the

S-Thermatik NEO app, which enables the user to remotely

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Compact suite includes rimless toilet New to the Premier Bathrooms collection from Ultra Finishing is the Ava bathroom ceramic range, a modern and versatile suite featuring a rimless WC as well as a space-saving design for compact spaces.

With a soft square finish, the stylish Ava bathroom is a contemporary ceramic range with an attractive slim profile. The WC, which due to its rimless design, ensures the entire interior of the bowl is flushed completely for hygiene and total cleanliness.

With a short projection of just 610mm, the rimless pan is equally suited for small, compact spaces as it is for larger bathrooms, and also features a slim wrap-over soft close seat as standard.

All cistern fittings are also included for simplicity of installation.

With an equally stylish and modern look, the matching ceramic basin and full pedestal measures 840 x 545 x 455mm and, together with the WC, comes with five-year guarantee. www.premierbathroomcollection.co.uk

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Riello has launched new flame sensors for use with all of its domestic oil-fired burners that are covered

by EU Directive 2011/65/ EU (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electronic and Electrical Equipment), which comes into force in July.

As a result, Riello RDB, 40 and Gulliver models now require new cadmium-free photocells within the flame sensors if replacement is required. For RDB models the correct replacement depends on whether an analogue or digital control box is in use.

The old photocell was a very simple component that could be used with both analogue and

digital burner control boxes, however the new cadmium free technology incorporates both a sensing cell and PCB contained within the flame sensor itself.

EU Directive 2011/65/EU is designed to prevent certain hazardous substances from entering the production process, resulting in the introduction of these new cadmium-free technologies within the flame sensor.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Name the City in Italy to WIN a Vokèra boiler!

How to Enter: PHAM News has teamed up with Vokèra by Riello to give readers the opportunity to win an evolve24 combi boiler each month. Vokèra’s parent company, Riello Group, is headquartered in Legnago (Verona), Italy, so to celebrate this Italian heritage, the competition focuses on some of the most beautiful cities in the country.

For a chance to win, simply identify the city pictured and email your answer to editor@phamnewsedit. co.uk with ‘Name the City’ in the subject line.

Make sure you include the following: Your name and your business’s name Phone number Please type ‘YES’ in the body of your email if you are happy to receive offers from Vokèra via email All correct answers received before the closing date of 1st May 2019 will be entered into the prize draw. Only one entry per person allowed.

52.indd 1

The Prize: The Vokèra evolve24 combi combines the company’s extensive knowledge of appliance design, performance and servicing to deliver a superior and cutting-edge boiler range.

One of evolve’s key attributes is that it is extremely easy to use. At the heart of evolve is the REC10 liquid crystal display user interface. The full text menu driven control enables the user to quickly navigate through the parameters and settings, including programming the heating on and off times as desired. The display will also provide excellent diagnostics in the event of an issue.

The footprint of the evolve24 combi models is especially shallow, making it ideal for a discreet cupboard fit. It also includes an embedded time clock, integral frost protection, concealed service valves and pump kick function. The boiler can be adjusted to operate with either NG or LPG and no extra kit is needed, so in off-grid areas evolve can prove an attractive option.

The entire evolve range is ErP ‘A’ rated and models feature a space heating efficiency of 94%. The evolve24 operates in condensing mode during the production of hot water, and also boasts exceptional domestic hot water flow rates.

As an added safety feature, the boilers incorporate an excess CO alarm, which will monitor the level of CO being produced and will fail-safe if or when excessive CO is being emitted.

www.vokera.co.uk/evolve

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April 2019

DIRECTORY 53 Calibration Services

Business Services

Electric Towel Rails

Green Deal Provider For Sale Ideal for ECO & Brokerage also FCA Authorised HYCO

For more details Tel: Dave 07887 552 442 GREEN DEAL PROVIDER

ENQUIRY

ENQUIRY

06

Heating Controls Next day delivery available on 100s of controls

01

Compliance Services www.heatingcontrolsonline.co.uk

Achilles Audits

HEATING CONTROLS ONLINE

TEST4LESS

ENQUIRY

03

Controls

PAS and Green Deal Installer

Solar Thermal Heating

Green Deal Provider

The sensible choice for efficient commercial and domestic solar projects!

Tel: Dave 07887 552 442 ENQUIRY

02

BANICO CONTROLS

To advertise your Product or Services to over 29,000* readers in the next issue of PHAM News please ring Sharon on 01889 577222 or email classified@phamnews.co.uk *29,040 Verified ABC circulation Jan-Dec 18

07

Renewable Energy

FCA Authorisations and Compliance

GREEN DEAL PROVIDER

ENQUIRY

ENQUIRY

04

further your ambitions, telephone 023 8066 8900 for information and application pack.

For expert design, specifications and supply contact us: info@cool-sky.co.uk ++44 (0) 28 91 829470 @CoolSkySolar www.cool-sky.co.uk

www.idhee.org.uk The professional body We are not a trade association, and we the the Domestic recognised forms of study and achievement.

Heating Engineer.

IDHEE

ENQUIRY

05

COOLSKY

ENQUIRY

08

Plumbing Products

PLUMBPAL

ENQUIRY

09

53-55 Pham APR19:Layout 1 01/04/2019 10:14 Page 54

April 2019

54 DIRECTORY Radiators

Radiators

Training & Assessments

FREE INSTALLER TRAINING

BOOK NOW

TRAINING@AQUALISA.CO.UK 01959 560042 AQUALISA.CO.UK/TRAINING

Pictured: Adam (loves installing Aqualisa products)

APOLLO RADIATORS

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AQUALISA

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15

MR COMBI

ENQUIRY

16

10

HURLINGHAM

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12

Safety Products

GOTEC

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13

STEVE WILLIS TRAINING

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Temperature Sensors To find out more about highlighting your Training Courses and availability to over 29,000* PHAM News readers, please contact Sharon classified@phamnews.co.uk 01889 577 222 *ABC Audited Circulation 29,040 Jan-Dec 2018 PALADIN

SOUTH WEST PENINSULAR TRAINING LTD

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ATC SEMITEC

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53-55 Pham APR19:Layout 1 01/04/2019 18:36 Page 55

April 2019

INFORMATION Centre 55 Training & Assessments

Central Heating Wiring & Controls Book For years electricians and heating engineers have commented that wiring heating controls is a difficult subject to learn, existing diagrams are not always easy to follow.

Mr Combi® Training has developed a fantastic set of easy to follow coloured wiring diagrams for central heating wiring and controls, 2 / 3 port systems, Faults, Frost stats, testing components, everything you need in one handy A5 book.

Tuition from Industry Experts for 20 years Focussing on Student Success Courses on o er include; Domestic Gas Foundation Training

Please order from www.mrcombi.com or enter the PHAM No.

Gas Engineering Apprenticeship Level 3 ACS Refresher

CIBSE DBSP

HTR1 Package, Refresher and Assessment Domestic Solar Hot Water Heating WRAS Energy E ciency Photovoltaic Systems Bristol • Redruth • Plymouth • Newton Abbott • Exeter

For further information visit www.thefocustraininggroup.com ENQUIRY

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19

John Reginald has released his easy to read, easy to understand book that takes the reader through the background and operation of each major component within combi boilers past and present.

The comprehensive fault finding logic guides provide professional solutions helping you to achieve professional standards.

Priced at £26 this Industry leading book is available from all High Street and Online Book Stores.

COPPERJOB

ENQUIRY

ENQUIRY

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374

Solid Gear continues to modernise PPE footwear with a safety shoe that looks and feels more like a trainer.

Combining a lightweight athletic look and superb safety features, the new OCEAN safety shoe is ideal for workers who are constantly on the move.

With an eye-catching style, the shoe’s BOA comfort fastening delivers a better overall fit making it easy to take the shoe on and off, the shoe’s fibreglass toecap and ballistic midsole combine with the other protection features and anti-static properties to deliver S3 protection.

For more information visit www.solidgearfootwear.com Or enter the PHAM No. SOLID GEAR

ENQUIRY

376

Get commercial with Logic4training's free guide

Draper Tools have launched their Centenary Edition Catalogue, in addition to commemorating 100 years of business the new catalogue also highlights their commitment to growth and have broadened its range of tools and equipment.

With a new structure and order it is easier than ever to find the product you need.

Dedication to quality and customer service remains constant plus there are exclusive Centenary celebrations with promotions and competitions.

To view the Catalogue online or request a hard copy visit www.drapertools.com Or enter the PHAM No. 20

SNICKERS

375

Draper Tools New Centenary Edition Catalogue

ENQUIRY

372

New Solid Gear OCEAN Safety Shoe

Decotray is the latest shower tray option to be added to the range of British wetproofing and insulation specialist, Marmox, providing easy, floor level access to the shower enclosure, or suitable for contemporary wetrooms.

Manufactured from patented Marmoxite, a synthetic material resembling textured stone, the sloping stain-resistant shower tray is R12 slip resistant and comes in a choice of Slate Grey or Polar White.

The Decotray can also be installed with a raised Marmox Plinth to create a more traditional, step-up shower enclosure.

For further information visit www.marmox.co.uk Or enter the Pham No.

NORTH WEST GAS TRAINING

ENQUIRY

Not only will you stay warm with these new 37.5® Technology Fleeces, you’ll look and feel cool too. With styles for both professional tradesmen and women, they excel at ventilation and moisture transport to keep you working comfortably wherever you are on site.

So, to make sure you get the right protection, visibility, flexibility, durability and ventilation, check out the new Snickers Workwear 37.5® Technology Fleeces, to fit your workday.

For more information visit www.snickersworkwear.co.uk Or enter the PHAM No.

373

Marmox Decotray Offers Shower Safety and Style

MARMOX

MR COMBI

Snickers NEW Climate Control Fleeces

Central Heating combination boilers fault finding & repair

OFTEC - OFT101, OFT600a, OFT105e

FOCUS TRAINING GROUP

ENQUIRY

DRAPER

ENQUIRY

Logic4training has launched a new free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Careers in the Commercial Sector, examining the logistics and culture of the commercial sector and offering practical advice.

A comprehensive and free resource, the guide is packed full of information and advice to help installers successfully transition from domestic to commercial, including: · How to prepare and submit a bid for tender · Finding work and building relationships · Demonstrating competence, compliance and health & safety · Large-scale pricing and budgeting · Managing increased stock volumes · Qualifications and training

Download the Guide for Free, for more information, visit: www.logic4training.co.uk or enter the PHAM No.

377

LOGIC4TRAINING

ENQUIRY

378

Advertiser’s Index Alpha Heating Innovation

29

The Electric Heating Company

34

MV Fluids Handling Ltd

Anton Industrial Services Ltd

50

Firebird Products Ltd

35

Navien UK

Armstrong Fluid Technology

3

FLIR Systems Ltd

23

Specflue

41

6

Ford Motor Company

56

Stelrad

33

Gastec Training

25

TPI Europe Ltd

49

Geberit - Twyford Bathrooms

45

Testo

10

Toolstation

13

BES Ltd Baxi Heating UK Ltd CMR Controls Ltd

17 8

5 18, 19

Comap

24

Glow Worm

Danfoss Ltd

39

Intatec Ltd - Zilmet

15

Vaillant Group UK

Domus Ventilation

37

KSB Ltd

36

Viessmann Ltd

40

Delabie UK Ltd

47

Kamco Ltd

28

Vokera Ltd

11

38

Wirquin Ltd

27

Eclipse Magnetics (BoilerMag) (Spear & Jackson)

Kensa Heat Pumps Ltd 21

Kohler Mira Ltd

9

Front Cover Wrap

Worcester, Bosch Group

4

7

PHAM APR19 FORD:Layout 1 29/03/2019 13:43 Page 1

ENQUIRY

336