April 2015

Volume 53 | Issue 4 | April 2015

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Volume 53 | Issue 4 | April 2015

Water source heat map reveals nation’s hot spots

WIN!

The Government has identified water source heat pumps as a technology that could help many homes to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce the need for gas-fired domestic heating.

Waterways could be providing low carbon heat to many more homes and communities according to DECC, which says that by installing a water source heat pump a typical household could slash its carbon footprint by up to 50%. The department has developed an interactive online map that identifies over 4000 rivers, estuaries, canals and coastal sites that could supply heat energy to homes across England.

Launched last month by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey at Battersea Power Station, the Water Source Heat Map includes details of water conditions such as temperature and flow rates, as well as the potential heat capacity of each waterway.

DECC sees the map being used as a first point of inquiry, prior to commencing any detailed feasibility studies. Users can zoom into the map to investigate water bodies with the best heat potential in their areas of interest.

Commenting at the launch, Ed Davey said: “We need to make the most of the vast amount of clean, renewable heat that lays dormant and unused in our rivers, lakes and

seas. Doing this will help contribute to an energy mix that maximises clean, reliable home grown resources rather than relying on foreign fossil fuels. It also provides a system that bolsters growth in our local economies, protects the natural environment, and creates resilient communities.”

Battersea Power Station is investigating the feasibility of installing a water source heat pump at its site. If all goes to plan, it

would be one of the energy sources used to provide heat to around 4000 new homes, shops, offices and public amenities being built as part of the redevelopment of the area.

“We are looking at a range of options to deliver the energy required,” says Phillip Gullett, CEO of Battersea Power Station.

“Being located on the banks of the Thames in central London, we are ideally placed to investigate what role water source technology may play in supplying our energy needs.”

Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for 2000 miles of waterways in England & Wales, adds: “There is huge potential for water sourced heat pumps to deliver a low carbon solution to the UK’s heating and cooling demands.

“We have a number of innovative projects already underway, or in development, on our canals and rivers. These are delivering benefits for waterside businesses and the environment and proving again that, 200 years after they were built, the waterways are still bringing a whole range of benefits to the nation.”

the link between lack of heating and people suffering ill health is a huge issue that needs addressing,” comments Worcester's Neil Schofield. “With over 100,000 heating and plumbing engineers making an estimated 8m home visits every year, the industry is in the perfect position to help identify those exposed to the effects of fuel poverty.”

However, some have expressed concerns about the burden this may place on those working in the field. Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins says: “Plumbers, like most people, will always do the right thing, but adding care worker to their job description is simply wrong. Making them part of the

official safety net only proves the net is broken and is the first step in releasing the people who are supposed to look after the vulnerable from their responsibilities.”

Baxi's MD Paul Hardy adds: “We join NICE in encouraging engineers to take the necessary action if they think their customers are at risk. However, we must remember that during the winter months engineers are put under extreme pressure to respond to calls to fix and install heating and hot water systems. It must be acknowledged that gaining consent from vulnerable adults and making a referral will take time. At this point, there are still a number of questions that need answering.”

It is estimated that a million homes could benefit from water source heat pumps

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Solar panels Concern over guidelines issued by NICE branch out

Recently released proposals from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) calling for plumbing and heating engineers to identify people whose health may suffer from a poorly heated home have caused some debate within the industry. The idea behind the guidance is that professionals who carry out home visits could refer those at risk to a team established by local councils who would then help residents access grants and advice to make their homes warmer.

“Given that there are around 24,000 more deaths in the UK between December and March compared with the rest of the year,

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Made of steel and 36 solar panel 'leaves', the structure was designed by local artist John Packer and will be planted as part of Bristol's year long reign as European Green Capital 2015. There will also be an interactive, tilting solar panel exhibit showing how PV power works in varying light conditions.

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April 2015

NEWS Review

3

Inside this issue Industry support Editor’s Exhibition Review We round up some of the new product launches and market trends unveiled at this year’s ISH

See page 12 t

Showers & Enclosures An overview of some of the latest trends and options in the showers market – from budget to luxury

See page 27

Energy Efficient Products Smart controls and other technology that will help consumers reduce their energy bills

See page 41

Stoves & Biomass Systems The domestic RHI has helped to kick start consumer demand, but will the market continue to grow?

See page 52

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

Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News

for CO alarms in Viewpoint rented properties

by Chris Jones

An announcement by the Government that carbon monoxide alarms will become mandatory in privatelyrented accommodation has been broadly welcomed by manufacturers and industry bodies. The Government has said that it will require all private sector landlords to install smoke and carbon monoxide devices in their properties from October.

“Having backed the campaign for mandatory carbon monoxide alarms, we strongly welcome the news that all UK private renters will soon benefit from crucial early warning of this silent killer,” says Tim Jack, Business Development Leader at Honeywell Analytics. “The urgent need for a change in legislation was highlighted in a recent survey that showed nearly two-thirds of all private renters in England and Wales are vulnerable to CO poisoning because they do not have an alarm installed.”

It is hoped that the shift in the Government’s stance on domestic CO protection could pave the way for a wider requirement for alarms to be fitted as standard in new homes and social housing.

Call up to the front line

“We’ve been pressing for the Government to change regulations through our Make CO Alarms Law campaign, which has attracted thousands of supporters,” says Plumb and Parts Center’s Gail van Dijk. “We would like to see them go further and make it mandatory for alarms to be installed when all carbon-burning appliances are changed, which is already the case in Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

The HHIC has described the mover as a “good first step” but Director Roger Webb has called for more funding to research the impact of nonfatal levels of CO exposure.

“We know all about the dangers of passive smoking, but our understanding of low levels of CO exposure are minimal and this really should change,” he argues.

Suggestions that plumbers could join a ‘hidden army’ of domestic tradespeople in keeping a watchful eye on the elderly and more vulnerable members of society has received a mixed response from the industry (see this month’s front cover). Some have argued that such activity should be left in the hands of social services and care professionals, while others have welcomed the opportunity to play a part in helping less able members of the community.

It might have echoes of David Cameron’s quietly abandoned vision of a ‘Big Society’, but the NICE proposal that our industry can do more to help identify people at risk makes perfect sense. Although more may need to be done to ensure that installers and service engineers are aware of the proper channels to follow, there is no doubt that PHAM News readers should be well placed to help customers access any grants or funds that might be available to them. It’s also right that this industry should be considered the experts when it comes to offering advice on ways to ensure that homes are not only kept warm, but comfort levels are achieved with the minimal use of energy.

The number of fatalities that can be attributed to under-heated homes is shocking for a modern country with more than enough resources and technology to ensure that no-one is obliged to live in a dangerously cold environment. With the regular media exposure of rogue traders and cowboy operators, plumbing and heating engineers have not always been held in the highest esteem by UK consumers, but playing a more active part in the ‘cold war’ can only help to raise levels of trust and improve public perception of our industry.

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The driving force

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Editorial & Southern Sales Office: PHAM News | 1b Station Square, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1DP Tel: 01525 716143 | Fax: 01525 715316 Editorial Email: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk Sales Email: nathan@phamnews.co.uk Northern Office: Pinede Publishing | Argyle Business Centre, 8 Leicester Street, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0EZ Tel: 01704 501090 | Fax: 01704 531090 Email: russ@phamnews.co.uk Subscription Enquiries: Tel: 01889 577222 | Fax: 01889 579177 Email: circulation@phamnews.co.uk

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© Copyright 2015 | 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.

Bathroom and building products supplier Nicholls & Clarke has announced a sponsorship deal for the 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship. The company, which marks its 140th anniversary this year, will be backing experienced pro motorsport driver Mark Cole, who last won the championship in 2002 and returns to racing this season after an eight year sabbatical. A number of this season’s races will be transmitted live on ITV 4 and over 370,000 spectators are set to attend the races over the course of the season. The latest cars are the type 991 Porsche GT3, pure race versions of the famous GT3 model, and are all built by hand at Porsche Motorsport division in Germany.

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April 2015

4

News Review

New talent needed Tradespeople ready to cast their vote to plug skills gap OFTEC is highlighting the need to recruit more young people to begin a career in the heating industry. The oil heating body points to a recent report from KPMG and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) which suggests that 20% more construction workers and other tradesmen will be required over the next four years if UK infrastructure targets are to be met.

Despite this growth in demand, fewer people are taking on vocational courses or apprenticeships in skilled work. Latest government statistics show that in the academic year 2013/14, 440,000 apprenticeships were started in England –70,000 fewer than the previous year.

Registrations Director Adrian Lightwood says: “Skilled tradespeople are of vital importance to the UK economy and without their valuable work, productivity will falter. Too many young

OFTEC’s Adrian Lightwood

people are put off vocational routes which are still viewed as second class, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Equipping school leavers with professional skills and qualifications provides them with a key to a secure and rewarding future. The Government has made some good inroads to encourage businesses to invest in trainees and apprenticeships but industry, education and employers need to work together to encourage many more youngsters to take this route.”

According to a survey of its trade customers by Screwfix, 89% of tradespeople intend to vote in the May General Election. The same survey also reveals that the majority of professionals consider the availability of skilled workers more of a priority than policies on immigration, and 80% want the next government to focus on raising the number of apprenticeships.

More than three quarters of those surveyed want the number of apprenticeship places to be raised in order to encourage more school leavers to take up

apprenticeships as opposed to university. Cost was identified as the biggest barrier to taking on an apprentice for more than one third, and research suggests more funding for

The UK’s

Returning to Brighton this summer is the Eco Technology Show, the exhibition for sustainable energy, build and transport. New for this year is an Innovation Zone, designed to offer heating and ventilation professionals the latest ideas on how to deliver ongoing benefits to clients through energy efficient buildings. Entry to the show is free and VIP tickets for fast track entry and access to the VIP bar are available to PHAM News readers. Simply name the publication on arrival for VIP status. The Eco Technology Show will be open from 9.30am-5pm on Thursday 11 June and 9.30am-4.30pm on Friday 12 June.

Register today for free at www.ecotechnologyshow.co.uk

washes, dehumidification work, callouts and endless investigations at the least and costly legal fines at worst.

You have to ask yourself – how much is your fan choice really costing you?

If you are a social housing landlord who has recurring issues with mould and condensation, then it is very likely that you have a major problem with ventilation.”

The three datasheets cover the topics: ‘Break the mould and have a ventilation review’; ‘Ventilation Effectiveness – is a fan just a fan?’ and ‘What is adaptive ventilation and why do you need it?’. They can be accessed by going to Greenwood’s website: i n f o.g r e e nw o o d .c o.u k / free-ventilation-guidancefor-social-landlords

during the same time period they will earn £250 cash back, as well as being entered into the competition again to give them more chances to win.

Random draws will be held on 1 May and 1 July and on each date, one entry will be selected and the winner then chooses a prize from the list.

The prizes include a family holiday to Euro Disney, five days in Las Vegas, an all-inclusive holiday to Barbados, a technical package such as a 3D TV with iPad and Xbox, tickets for the winner and friends to a top sporting event and a five star VIP weekend in Barcelona.

Full details and terms and conditions are available at www.twyfordpromotions.com

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Luxury prizes are on offer from Twyford in a new promotion for its Energy Collection of bathroom products. The company is giving installers the chance to win a choice of six luxury prize packages worth up to £5000 each, as well as earning £250 cash back every time they buy over £400 worth of Energy Collection products.

To enter the prize draw for one of these prizes, which range from five star holidays to a £5000 technology package, all installers have to do is complete a quick and easy online registration form (www.twyfordpromotions. com) before 30 June.

Plus, each time an installer buys at least £400 worth of Energy Collection products

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Dealing with damp and condensation Ventilation specialist Green- number of these being social wood Airvac is looking to houses managed by local help social landlords with authorities and housing the problems of mould associations.

Michelle Sharp at and condensation in their housing stock with the Greenwood Airvac explains: launch of a new datasheet “Mould and condensation resource. The company represent some of the points out that over five biggest headaches that social million properties in the landlords face. Both in the UK are estimated to be long term can be hazardous suffering from damp and to health, as well as be 11227 Talon Landscape adverts_Layout expensive13:30 to fix,Page with1 mould condensation, with a high1 31/03/2014

apprenticeships would allow businesses to train future tradespeople.

The report also revealed that nearly three quarters of tradesmen are concerned about the amount of tax their

business pays and say it should be a priority issue for any future administration.

Nearly 90% said that they support current commitments to continue freezing fuel duty and 84% want the personal income tax allowance to increase to £12,500, believing that such measures would have a positive impact on their business and encourage growth.

Respondents also said they wanted to see a reduction in paperwork and red tape, as more than half say they spend nearly a month out of the year on form filling.

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April 2015

News Review

6

President calls for Recognition goes to star apprentice diversity in sector Skills shortages in the sector and the need for training were the highlight of a speech given

by Kevin McCallister, National President of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), at a special dinner held last month at the Royal College of Surgeons in London. Kevin talked about his involvement with the Construction Industry Council, where he represents the Institute on the Diversity Panel.

“The construction industry along with Government is waking up to the fact that we have a skills shortage within the industry,” he said. “We need to encourage women and ethnic minorities to recognise that they can develop an exciting career path with learning lifetime skills and this will go some way to bridging the gap. A fact that is not well published is that construction is the largest employment area in the UK.”

Kevin McCallister of CIPHE

He went on to talk about the work carried out by the Institute in helping to develop the new Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Trailblazer Apprenticeship.

“I am passionate about training and believe this review of the structure of apprenticeships is long overdue. It’s great to see industry organisations working together for one common aim – to raise the standards of young people entering the industry.”

A 23 year old plumber from Bexleyheath has been named JTL’s Plumbing Apprentice of the Year.

James Ransom completed his apprenticeship with Dartford-based Kent Eco Homes, a plumbing, heating and renewable energy firm.

Commenting on the winning of the award, JTL training officer Mark Brown says: “James’s knowledge of his craft was beyond any I have seen over the last 10 years. Not only that, he’s also a really likeable young person who, without

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A survey conducted by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has found that nine out of 10 MPs believe a full set of heating controls should be fitted when a central heating boiler is replaced in homes.

Currently, there is no such requirement on households, even for Government supported schemes.

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EUA has been campaigning for heating controls to be recognised as an important factor in driving down energy bills and maximising the benefit of having a new boiler fitted. Commenting on the figures, Mike Foster Chief Executive of EUA, says: “It should be mandatory for a full set of heating controls

to be fitted when a boiler is replaced. It is the ideal time to add these to the existing heating system of a home and maximise the savings the consumer will make.

“All government supported schemes like Green Deal and ECO should encourage this approach right now, sending a signal of intent.

MPs overwhelmingly support the measure and the Government needs to show leadership on this.”

Mike Foster adds that smart controls could make an even bigger impact and recognising their merits and encouraging their use would be a positive step for the Government to take.

Employers looking to keep up to date on legislative and technical matters in the plumbing industry are invited to attend a series of seminars in April hosted by the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) and City & Guilds.

The first session, to be held on the 20th at

APHC’s office in Solihull, is ‘Challenging the Competence and ReAssessment requirements in industry’ and will look at a range of issues such as Water Regulations, how re-assessment is measured, and training and apprenticeship matters.

Other dates scheduled

for this seminar include: 22 April at Worcester in Wakefield, 27th at Vokèra in St Albans, and 29th at Baxi in Newport. They begin at 8.30 and finish up at noon.

To book a place on one of these free seminars or to find out more call: 0121 711 5030 or email: Jayne. carpenter@aphc.co.uk.

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a real pleasure to watch him progress through his apprenticeship.”

Updating plumbing employers

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“I learnt so much on my apprenticeship,” adds James.

“I’d expected to master the practical skills but I hadn’t anticipated learning so much in other areas too. I’ve learnt how to deal with all different types of people – a skill that’s equally useful out of work as during the working day.

It’s been a great experience and one that I’d repeat in a heartbeat.”

Having completed his apprenticeship, James now works across a wide range of plumbing and heating projects in the South East.

A spate of boiler thefts has led One Vision Housing to implement its ‘Too Hot to Handle’ initiative as a way to reduce crime in its communities. It was calculated that if the rate of boiler thefts continued, it would cost the organisation around £200,000 in repairs and replacements.

The solution was SmartWater, a product that uses forensic technology to protect valuable items by making them uniquely traceable. This helps the police to quickly identify stolen property and acts as a criminal deterrent. Once applied, SmartWater is almost impossible to remove and can only be seen under ultraviolet light.

One Vision Housing now uses SmartWater as standard on all its boilers, and over 900 households have been offered the opportunity to mark all their valuables with the clear solution, and deter potential thieves by placing

a sticker in their window.

The organisation has also provided training sessions to local police and funded special UV torches to officers so they can stop and test suspected stolen items whilst on patrol.

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April 2015

8

News Review

Funny for money Showers give back in fuel on Red Nose Day Shower manufacturer Triton has launched the ‘Tank Up with Triton’ promotion that offers a £10 fuel gift card with every qualifying Triton shower purchased from participating electrical wholesalers. In addition, all purchasers will be entered into a free prize draw to win a Van Vault Secure Storage Box to ensure valuable kit is safely stowed away.

Heating controls manufacturer Drayton raised over £1000 for Comic Relief during this year’s Red Nose Day by creating a specially designed thermostat and asking people to tweet it on Twitter. Images posted included selfies as well as shots taken with comic accessories like headphones and safety goggles attached to the red nosed fascia.

For each picture posted, Drayton donated 50p to Comic Relief, with an extra 50p donation for every

retweet of the pictures. Staff added to this with their own donations.

Catherine Connolly, MD of Drayton, says: “We’d like to say thank you to everyone who got involved with our Red Hot Nose Day fundraising efforts, including Drayton and Schneider Electric staff and also the trade magazines who supported us on Twitter too.”

To check out the gallery of Drayton Red Hot Nose Day pictures, search for #DraytonRND on Twitter.

now and the end of April.

Then complete the contact details form, attach the invoice, and a fuel gift card will be despatched to your registered address.

The promotion applies to purchases made by 30 April (terms and conditions apply).

For more information on the ‘Tank up with Triton’ campaign and the range of qualifying showers, visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk

To get involved, simply choose a shower unit from Triton’s range of electric showers, including the T80Z Fast Fit, between

Dragon Awards recognise excellence to back Polypipe Members of the heating and renewables industry are invited to throw their hat into the ring and apply for recognition of their achievements at the Heating and Renewables Roadshow Awards.

Previously known as the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Awards, this year’s event sees the addition of four new categories, which include

Apprentice of the Year, Oil Installer, Community Heating Project and Training Initiative of the Year. Other categories address various heating and renewables projects – both new build and retrofit – and a special category for innovative product.

The awards night will be held on the evening of 10 September at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, marking

the first of the Roadshow exhibitions. The black tie event follows the day’s Midlands exhibition and includes hospitality and entertainment.

Application for entry to the awards is free.

For more information, visit the website (heating andrenewablesroadshow. co.uk) or to request an entry pack contact: team@ theeventworks.eu

Interior designer and Dragons’ Den investor Kelly Hoppen MBE has been named brand ambassador for Polypipe’s underfloor heating. As the company’s celebrity endorser, Kelly’s remit will be to make consumers aware of the aesthetic and lifestyle benefits that these systems can offer and how affordable they can be.

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April 2015

PEOPLE on the Move Mark Larden has been appointed MD of Geberit and Twyford for the UK/Ireland as part of the acquisition of the Sanitec Group by Geberit. Mark has 16 years experience in the bathroom industry, having worked for brands such as Armitage Shanks and Ideal Standard.

Prior to joining Geberit 15 years ago, Mark was Head of Marketing for the Armitage Shanks brand.

Exclusive to Westco

Cylinder specialist Gledhill has named Andy Hirst as its new Sales Director, with responsibility for developing the company’s sales strategy in the UK and across key export markets. With more than 20 years experience in the merchant sector, Andy joins the company from Plumbase where he spent 10 years in a variety of roles, most recently as Sales Development Director.

Andrews Water Heaters has announced the appointment of a new Sales Director. Chris Meir has worked in the industry since 2002, having previously worked at Lochinvar for three years and, most recently, Remeha Commercial as National Sales Manager for five years. In his new role, Chris will look to raise brand awareness and drive the business forward.

SenerTec has enhanced its team of specialists with the appointment of Gary Stoddart as its new General Manager.

Gary has spent the last 30 years at Baxi Commercial, joining the company as a commercial service engineer in 1985 with Potterton Commercial. Among the posts he has held over the years are National Service Manager and Technical Manager.

Fernox has appointed Mike Bradley as its new Business Development Manager in the North West region. With almost 15 years experience in various trade sectors and having held a number of managerial positions, Mike’s early career involved working as a branch manager at Wolseley UK. He then spent four years as a Senior Account Manager for Travis Perkins.

With the increase in legislation in the heating industry, Baxi has announced the appointment of a Regulatory Marketing Manager to help ease the process for heating engineers.

Jeff House, formerly Technical Manager for Baxi Customer Support, takes on the newly created role to prepare and adapt the Baxi business in line with new and emerging regulations and other government policies.

Burner manufacturer and distributor EOGB has strengthened its technical team by appointing Stephen O’Neill as Technical Specifications Engineer. Stephen, a former professional rugby player, re-trained as a gas fitter when he retired from playing in 2001 due to injury and is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Industrial & Commercial Combustion Engineering.

Stuart Doggrell has joined Fabdec as General Sales Manager to head up the water heating business. Stuart’s primary objective will be to launch Fabdec’s new unvented water heater, the Excelsior i. He was previously National Sales Manager at Stiebel Eltron and has a wealth of technical and commercial experience within the mechanical and electrical building services sector.

Three new commercial Business Development Managers have been named by Bristan. Jon Mead, Matthew Williams and Nicola Morris (pictured) will cover South East London, the West Midlands and the East of England, respectively.

They will be tasked with leveraging the Group’s expanding commercial portfolio in order to develop the brand with architects, M&E consultants and contractors.

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09/01/201511:10 15:46 23/03/2015

April 2015

10 YOUR Views

Sponsored by

£100 Star Letter More clarity for consumers

With so many regu lations affecting daily life it is impossible to expect the average consumer to be fully aware of these requ irements. Therefore it is vital as more and more of these types of fittings are bein g sold direct to consumers that manufactures present clear relevant information to enable consumers to select products appropriate for their system.

These shou ld be sufficiently deta iled so that it can be safely installed in accordance with all relevant legislation, including the Water Fittings Regu lations and Byelaws.

Unfortunately, in our experience, this is not always the case.

I read your star letter in the January edition with interest, which I see also raised a few comments on Twitter too.

It seems that in recent years these styles of taps (kitched taps that incorporate a flexible hose) have become more popular. I tend to agree with Mr Chambers’ sentiments that in a like-for-li ke replacement, the majority of these types of taps would not be able to meet UK back flow protection requirements. What is of greater concern is that vital information is not always being prov ided to prospective purchasers. It is in this area we hope manufacturers will be reviewing and improving not only the insta llation instr uctions but also on the external packaging.

Paul Millard Technica l Manager, WRAS Ltd

Reasons for The old ones lack of labour are the best With reference to last month’s story about skills shortages – the Labour Government in 1966 brought in a new tax called ‘Selective Employment Tax’ (SET as it was known).

Prior to this time, most tradesmen in the building industry were employed by quite long established firms. This tax caused the employers to look around for ways to avoid paying SET. What most decided to do was entice workers to go self-employed, which resulted in no sick pay, no holiday pay and total avoidance of the dreaded SET.

I totally agree with W. Whitworth about more life in zombie boilers (February letters). I am a time served plumber and installed boilers in the early 1970s. These boilers were robust in design and had a good longevity which doesn’t seem to be the ‘in thing’ by today’s standards with our throw away society.

As an example, my late father had two combi boilers fitted in the last 12 years, whereas I’m still on my original back boiler of 30 years – and it’s running well. I service it myself using a manometer and check the flue by using smoke bombs.

For employers this was a ‘triple win’ situation, and a pay boost for the new selfemployed via tax incentives and all sorts of perks (fiddles) that are available to those working for themselves.

These old boilers may emit higher concentrations of CO2 and are not as efficient as the latest boilers, but on average less repairs are needed. Think of the carbon footprint if you need to buy a new boiler every five years!

What no one foresaw was, because of this new organised labour force, nobody was going to take on an apprentice and it wasn’t long before this fact became apparent and the current proliferation of one-man bands and the term ‘White Van’ man is now part of the English language.

China is using coal-fired power stations all over their country, but in our country the politicians are worried about old boilers emitting high emission levels – they are having a laugh!

Philip Hemsley Via email

G.A. Pitchford Norfolk

Easily one of our most reliable boilers ever

Having the The return of last word on Plumbsure illegal taps The last thing I want to do is bombard you with letters on the same point, but on the basis that people only remember the last thing they read, my original letter (published in the January issue) will have done more damage than good!

It seems my letter (‘The risk of illegal taps’) has raised a few questions, with responses in both the February and March issues. Whilst I do not wish to get into a titfor-tat debate I feel it is important I reply, as the assertions by the two respondents are misleading. Indeed, in the March issue what Mr Gray advocates will break the law! Having spent almost 50 years as a plumber and Water Regulations Manager I can assure both gentlemen I speak with a wealth of experience behind me.

I have indeed heard of check valves, but as is the case with many plumbers, Mr Gray is mistaken to assume a check valve – single or double – is a fix-all method of backflow protection. As for his comments regarding unvented systems, he is simply wrong. Contrary to what he says, in the case of the sink taps I refer to in the January issue there is indeed a ‘routine’ requirement for a separate cold feed and booster.

Turning to his reference to a captive hose, whilst such an arrangement is an acceptable method of protection it is not mandatory in every instance. A bath is Fluid Category 3 so a double check valve is also acceptable and, from a customer’s point of view, a more practical option as it allows greater use of the hose.

Where problems do arise is where a bath mixer with a flexible hose is fitted in close proximity to a WC or bidet and the length of the hose is such that the shower head could be placed below the top edge of the pan. This is where the option to restrict the shower hose using a restraining ring is applicable – but beware there are specific requirements on how this must be done as well!

As I pointed out in my original letter, the problem is with sinks because a sink is considered a Fluid Category 5 risk, whereas domestic baths and basins are Fluid Category 3, which, generally speaking, means subject to the proximity of any WC or bidet, the supplies to a bath and basin require a lower lever of protection, such as a double check valve.

I trust this clears matters up.

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Rob Chambers Via email

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10.indd 1

At the start of the millennium I was asked

by Andrew Watts, the Chief Executive of The Institute of Plumbing (now CIPHE), to act as an Insurance Adviser and seek out cover for an insurance backed guarantee of plumbing workmanship standards for a sixyear period. Plumbsure was launched 10 years ago in the House of Commons. The Plumbsure scheme faltered after just two years, when the Underwriter came under pressure to back an initiative by the then government, to support the anti-cowboy builders initiative.

The 38 plumbing companies using the facility were disappointed at its closure. Due to the excellent workmanship standards set by the Institute members, no claims were forthcoming in the six-year run off period under the scheme. Now here we are ten years on, once again in warranty fever, being asked to recreate ‘Plumbsure Mk2’.

With the MCS Scheme requiring an insurance backed guarantee of workmanship standards and various other trade initiatives seeking to provide such warranties, we have just completed a one-year review of current availability. In that period we have discussed with installers their requirements and their demands and needs going forward and will shortly be announcing the launch of a major campaign making the facility available to any domestic plumber registered with an Approved Persons Scheme. In many ways existing warranties do not go far enough to protect the public, in our view.

Most current schemes only activate if the contractor/engineer goes out of business, leaving clients with rectification problems and no redress. Some include limited cover for loss of deposit. None appear to have a professional team of assessors to view potential claims. Some warranties are not insurance backed. In these cases, you deal with complaints, not claims.

Manufacturer product warranties do not address the question of workmanship standards and Plumbsure will dovetail with a manufacturer’s warranty to protect the public far more than at present.

Representing the only Professional Institute in the water sector, we must produce a facility that is not only cost effective to the installer but one that improves on current market products and enhances the standing of the professional domestic plumber and gas engineer in the eyes of the public.

Any feedback in this consultative period on the content, duration or distribution of such a new product would be most welcome.

Please email me at: ron@courtprice.co.uk Ron Berry MD of Courtprice Ltd Past President of the CIPHE

Let us know what you think...

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The Editor welcomes letters from readers on all aspects of the industry. Letters can be sent by email or post but must have a return name, phone number and address (not for publication).

Please address your letters to: The Editor, PHAM News, 1b Station Square, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1DP

or email to: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk

27/03/2015 15:53

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Part of the BRAAS MONIER BUILDING GROUP

19/03/2015 11:42

April 2015

12 Exhibition Review

Europe’s biggest heating and plumbing show continues to pull in the crowds

W

ISH, the biennial Frankfurt based trade show, attracted a record number of exhibitors last month and almost 200,000 visitors from around the world. Focusing on the combined theme of energy and water, the event provides an opportunity to view some of the latest trends and technical advances in bathrooms, heating, ventilation and renewable technologies.

idely acknowledged as the industry’s most important trade event and showcase for new technology and product innovation, this year’s ISH set new records for the number of exhibitors and exhibition space occupied.

The five-day Frankfurt exhibition, which opened on 10 March, attracted more than 2465 manufacturers, taking up an area of around 260,000m2.

According to the event organisers, 198,000 visitors attended the show with 37% (74,100) of visitors coming from outside Germany, most of which arrived from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and China.

“We are delighted with the exceptional success of ISH 2015, and these excellent figures underscore the positive mood in the

Visitors arrived in large numbers at this year’s exhibition

sector,” says Wolfgang Marzin, President and CEO of Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “Moreover, with growth in the number of international exhibitors and visitors, the fair has confirmed its leading international role.

ISH is unrivalled in terms of product variety and the world’s biggest show of its kind.”

With a strong emphasis

Feminine touch – minimalist brassware design from Kohler

on sustainability and energy saving solutions, the bathroom halls were dominated by sustainable sanitation and water management solutions.

On the energy side, the focus was on how Europe could reduce existing dependencies through energy efficient products and the use of renewable energies.

Putting on a show – the impressive Grohe stand

In the bathroom Responding to the theme of water saving and efficiency, Ideal Standard unveiled its new AquaBlade flush technology – said to offer superior flushing performance even at low water volumes. Initially available with the company’s Tonic II luxury showroom range, that launches this

Hansgrohe’s easy to use concealed ShowerSelect thermostat

STOP LIMESCALE AT THE SOURCE

summer, the AquaBlade system features ‘microslot’ channels to create a cascading wall of water from the top of the toilet bowl which reduces splashing while ensuring new levels of hygiene and cleanliness.

Innovation in toilet technology was also on display on the Roca stand, where the company invited visitors to learn more about its rimless WCs plus a new range of intelligent toilets called In-Wash. Other highlights included the latest addition to its shower range – the Rainsense showerhead.

The large overhead shower comes in square, circular and rectangular versions and is said to represent the ideal combination of form and function.

Large showerheads were equally prominent on the Hansgrohe stand where the German manufacturer demonstrated its new

The Rainsense showerhead on display from Roca

Rainmaker Select range.

A new white glass surface provides an extra touch of design to this premium range which is complemented by new ShowerSelect thermostats featuring a matching white glass finish that is scratch-resistant and easy to clean.

Maximising the visual appeal of its brassware designs, Grohe put on an eye-catching display of its latest ranges, including the new Essence collection that comes in a range of sizes to suit different basins. All Essence single-lever mixers incorporate 28mm cartridges equipped with integrated temperature limiters.

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from

27/03/2015 25/04/2014 10:24 13:31

April 2015

Exhibition Review 13 Heating Halls

The Rainmaker from Hansgrohe with white glass surface

Visitors seeking inspiration the pump chamber rather from contemporary bathroom than by cutter blades, thereby designs would not have been helping to reduce the risk of disappointed by the Kohler clogging. The unit also has stand, where the company’s two easy access hatches to new Avid line is said to assist with maintenance and combine simplicity with servicing. visual comfort. It includes The Kinemagic range a full range of taps and of shower cubicles is now accessories, available in available in three new polished chrome, brushed models – Serenity, Design nickel and the company’s and Style – all designed for new Titanium finish. quick installation with no Kohler also showcased need for silicone or tiling. its Contra shower enclosures, a range that has been designed with extra-slim shower trays and walk-in showers in mind. The range is composed of a pivot door, a sliding door and a fixed panel, all providing easy access for users with limited mobility.

Also designed with ease of use and easy access in mind, the Sanicubic XL range Duravit’s Cape Cod bathroom range is enhanced by a thin and more and Kinemagic range delicate basin design of shower cubicles were on display from Saniflo.

Comfort and practicality The Sanicubic XL can are two key words that help handle 40m³ of grey water sum up some of the latest waste per hour, making it products from Duravit. suitable for a wide range French designer Philippe of applications, including Starck has helped to produce large commercial projects. the Cape Cod bathroom The Sanicubic XL is the first range that is said to provide pump in the Saniflo range aesthetically appealing to feature Vortex technology materials and forms, and whereby the waste is broken features an innovative down as it passes through ceramic formula that allows for especially thin and delicate wash bowls.

Other highlights include OpenSpace shower enclosures which simply fold back against the wall after use, providing extra space and freedom of movement in the bathroom. Accessories such as a handle, shelf and seat provide additional practical yet stylish features The Serenity shower enclosure, part for more vulnerable of the Kinemagic range from Saniflo users.

On home territory, the Vaillant and Viessmann stands maintained their traditionally dominant presence in the main heating hall at this year’s show.

Vaillant used the event to introduce its new Green iQ concept, representing an environmentally friendly range of products that are said to meet a high level of sustainability and efficiency.

All products under the Green iQ banner are also wifi compatible and feature integrated interfaces.

Included in the range are the company’s ecoTEC exclusive wall-mounted gas condensing boilers and the flexoTHERM heat pumps.

Both product ranges can be controlled by a tablet or smartphone and can easily be retrofitted with other renewable products, such as solar PV panels or solar thermal systems.

The flexoTHERM and flexoCOMPACT heat pumps come with an integrated hot water cylinder and are said to achieve new levels of quiet operation.

Vaillant’s flexoTHERM and flexoCOMPACT heat pumps

Other highlights on the Vaillant stand included the unveiling of a new floor stand-

ing fuel cell heater featuring an integrated condensing unit. (continued on next page)

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27/03/2015 10:27

April 2015

14 Exhibition Review Latest technical advances on the Viessmann stand included the company’s new power-to-gas system which is designed to transform power from renewable energy into hydrogen by means of electrolysis and then into synthetic methane by adding CO2. It can be stored, transported by the nationwide gas network, and utilised as energy. The manufacturer has already put into operation the first such facility at its headquarters in Allendorf.

Fuel Cell systems were also on show on the Viessmann stand

ENQUIRY

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air to water heater pump featuring the company’s own noise reduction system. Elco also unveiled a new compact design for its Thision Mini wall-hung gas condensing boiler.

Key components

Ariston’s Nuos Plus 250 Sys cylinder and heat pump system

Viessmann also launched a new family of hybrid heating systems at the show which combine condensing and heat pump technology in a single unit. Responding automatically to outside temperatures and current energy prices, the system is able to react to changes in electricity prices so that the homeowner can select the most economical operating mode at any given time.

The Ariston Thermo Group also looked to highlight its commitment to more efficient production of heating and hot water on its stand, divided into two branded areas for Ariston and Elco.

The Nuos Plus 250 Sys and Nimbus Compact air to water heat pumps were put on show by Ariston, while Elco demonstrated its Aerotop S – a new indoor

The SpiroTrap MBL

Energy efficiency is dependent on maintaining a clean system and visitors to the Spirotech stand would have been amongst the first to view the company’s new SpiroTrap MBL dirt separator with external magnet. The MBL broadens the company’s family of dirt separators with three new sizes (1¼, 1½ and 2in) and is based on the company’s three key principles: energy saving, comfort and ease of installation.

Xylem’s e-series efficient in-line and end-suction pumps

Another company looking to promote the benefits of water treatment was Fernox who took the opportunity to showcase its complete range of cleaning products. Pride of place was given to the new TF1 Delta Filter, a magnetic filter specifically designed for commercial applications (see page 55 of this month’s issue) which was first unveiled at the recent London Ecobuild exhibition.

Water technology company Xylem demonstrated the benefits of its latest solutions, including the newly launched e-series, a range of highly efficient Eclipse valves from IMI Hydronic in-line and end-

suction pumps that exceed the requirements of the 2015 European Ecodesign directive.

Visitors to the stand were also able to view the Lowara ecocirc XL high efficiency commercial circulator pumps with an optional built-in wifi module for remote monitoring of operation.

Other innovations launched at this year’s event include Eclipse – a new thermostatic valve with automatic flow control from IMI Hydronic.

A more compact design has enabled a significant expansion of the product range and the company claims to be able to offer the smallest thermostatic valve on the market.

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27/03/2015 15:11

April 2015

Unrivalled quality and reliability, with added peace of mind.

INDUSTRY Insight

Show business Continuing his regular column, industry expert John Griggs reports on a visit to the recent Ecobuild exhibition and considers how it might continue to attract an audience in the future.

I

n 2006 Ecobuild moved to there was very little. One Earls Court and attracted item I did see was a system just over 6000 visitors. In of sound transducers that you those early years the exhibition attach to your bath to turn it grew dramatically and doubled into a giant speaker. I am sure its size and attendance, so that this would be great in an that by 2008 it had attracted isolated bathroom, but in I’m around 26,000 people. This not sure the neighbours would rise in attendance was in appreciate such a feature in marked contrast to Interbuild a block of flats. at the NEC that had seen its Talking points attendance starting to dwindle.

Although there may not have At that time there was a lot been many innovations at of interest in how to build in John Griggs MSc FCIPHE IEng Ecobuild there were lots a more ecological way and everyone wanted to learn about the new of seminars. The seminars were very well developments that were being invented or attended and located. One of the seminars brought in from other countries. I remember I attended in the Water Zone was titled seeing copper heat recovery systems that fitted ‘Delivering effective urban water management’, to the underside of shower trays and others and it was excellent. One of the speakers, Prof that could be integrated into vertical waste David Butler from Exeter University, introduced pipes; these had come from Holland and were a concept of ‘Safe and SuRe’. This took the innovative. This year at Ecobuild I saw exactly ‘variability of extremes’ introduced by climate the same products, so in eight years what has change and integrated them into established design criteria for system performance and changed?

Well, thanks to the interest in all things properties. Most designs consider how to eco, Ecobuild mutated into the new Interbuild make a system safe and perform well for and moved to its current venue in London’s a finite period of time, but the ‘envelope’ ExCeL in 2011. Originally, the exhibition was of performance could be extended by also a focus for many enthusiasts and specialists considering the resilience of the system to who lived sustainably and wanted others to changes over a longer period of time. He do likewise. This almost evangelical attitude explained that such criteria could be applied was infectious and we all became interested to different items and a comparison made to in straw bale houses, reed beds and water help choose the feature that would have the economy. However, as the exhibition grew most beneficial impact for a given scenario. In the stands also grew as the multinationals his example of water management, the simple and global construction products companies addition of a water butt, rain-irrigated bed or took their places to demonstrate how green water garden would cost little, but could help they were. However, today we have cheap alleviate flooding, increase the potential for solar panels, the wind-down of the Code for water reuse and improve biodiversity.

Another way of comparing options was Sustainable Homes, distrust of Government highlighted

by Martin Shouler of ARUP. He incentives for green technologies and a much introduced WReN, a program that could be used better informed public. So is this the start of to determine the impacts of different water the end for Ecobuild? reuse systems and show the benefits over a Going global number of decades. This work built upon the From its humble beginnings in the Truman British Standard BS 8595:2012 and is proving to Brewery in London’s Brick Lane in 2004, it has be useful in masterplanning. One result of good grown nationally and even internationally masterplanning was the Olympic Park, and (in 2012 the first international Ecobuild took David Thompson of LDA Design explained how place and this year Ecobuilds are taking place the conflicting demands of the contaminated in Malaysia and Mexico). Before it moved to East London site were tamed using grey, green ExCeL, a marketing company (Bostock and and blue infrastructure. Another example came Pollitt) stated that for Ecobuild to succeed it from Mike Henderson of AECOM, who talked needed attendance of over 50,000 people. Since about the UK’s largest rainwater harvesting 2013 the attendance has been less than 50,000 system in Cambridge and how WSUD needs and last year it was only 44,000. This year the collaboration with all stakeholders to work. number of exhibitors is back to 2010 levels If Ecobuild continues to offer thought from a peak of over 1500 in 2012. provoking seminars it should continue to This year’s event was like last year’s, only a bit attract a sustainable audience, but the days smaller. I hunted around for some new items, of an event where innovation abounds seem but apart from a couple of new tap designs to be over. As with all organisations today, and shallower rainwater harvesting tanks, re-invention seems to be the key.

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John Griggs has worked in water supply and drainage research for over 30 years and represented the UK on various European and International Standards committees. He is a Director of JPJN Partners Ltd, a company that links together a growing number of construction, water and plumbing experts who provide consultancy services to UK and international clients.

The company is based in Hertfordshire and has a website at: https://sites.google.com/site/ jpjnpartnersltd. John can be contacted by phone 07910 456314 and email jpjn99@gmail.com.

Viessmann Trained Installers also have exclusive access to warranty packages of up to 10 years, to provide complete peace of mind to their customers.

To find out more, contact your ABM; or to become a Viessmann Trained Installer email us at: academy-uk@viessmann.com or call 01952 675032

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23/03/2015 11:14

April 2015

16 Green Matters Housing providers can get free GSHPs Baroness backs energy efficiency Some 500 vulnerable homes across the UK are to be the recipients of a new fully funded ground source heat pump offer, backed by Kensa.

The scheme is aimed at housing associations and is expected to provide savings of up to £200,000 per annum.

Simon Lomax, MD of Kensa Group, comments: “The increasing focus on the UK’s high levels of fuel poverty highlights a growing need to reduce heating bills. Ground source heat pumps provide the most economic heating with costs even lower than a

Kensa’s Simon Lomax (l) and Chris Davis (r) with Lord Taylor

mains gas condensing boiler.

“This free offer is expected to halve many tenants’

heating costs and will appeal to landlords too as ground source heat pumps

are remarkably reliable and durable. As the industry leader in ground source heat pumps we are delighted to be the first to bring this ground breaking offer to market.”

The company says it expects the offer to be hugely popular with housing providers with stock in off gas areas.

With funding limited to 500 homes, Kensa is urging housing providers to get in touch via their dedicated website (www. kensaheatpumps.com/freethe-heat) to register their interest.

More funds available to GDHIF Finance is key to uptake

The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, which reopened for new applications last month, now has a budget of £70m, but changes have been made to the amounts of money available for installing some energy efficiency measures. The amount for solid wall insulation has dropped from £4000 to £3750, but will continue with the additional £500 for people who have purchased their home within the last twelve months. The £100 upfront assessment cost will be refunded at the point work is undertaken.

Roger Webb, Director of the HHIC, says: “We welcome the reopening of the scheme, however as the types of measures that are eligible remain unchanged it will continue to be difficult to create a workable package for homeowners. This is why £5.5m is still unallocated from the last round of funding.

A further troubling area is the insistence that installers must be PAS20/30 accredited in order to work on this scheme. We are under no illusions that the much needed overhaul will happen this side of the General Election.”

PV works with combi boilers 4Eco and Viridian Solar have formed a partnership that will see the two companies work together to provide a new approach to energy efficient domestic heating.

Alongside sharing R&D insight, customer feedback and product innovation to develop a next-generation of affordable heating devices, the arrangement will see both companies promote the installation of 4Eco’s renewable energy

ENQUIRY

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diversion system – the immerSUN – alongside Viridian’s Pod PV. Pairing the immerSUN with Pod PV enables owners of solar PV systems with combi boilers to benefit from their surplus PV

energy, with 100% of selfgenerated renewable energy used on site rather than exported to the grid.

It is claimed that integrating the use of both products will enable consumers to significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuel for hot water requirements, saving on energy bills and significantly lowering their household carbon footprint.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.viridiansolar.co.uk

107

Latest research from Delta Energy and Environment (Delta-ee) shows that new t hird par t y f inancing models will enable sales of low carbon heating systems to grow rapidly to more than 100,000 installations per year in the UK, if made widely available. This represents a significant boost from a base of less than 30,000 units today.

Delta-ee says the biggest market barrier in the UK is the high upfront cost of low carbon products and that the only way to remove this is through finance. Its research with homeowners found that 40% said they would rather use third party finance to install these technologies than pay up front.

Minister Baroness Verma has thrown her support behind Plumb Center’s efforts to promote renewable energy. Speaking at the opening of Practical Installer at Ecobuild last month, she emphasised that how people heat and cool their homes and businesses is critical.

“Half the energy the UK uses is for heating and cooling, and it accounts for about a third of greenhouse Baroness Verma with Tim Pollard emissions. So we have to consider how to reduce energy bills, improve energy security and reduce emissions.”

The Baroness spoke about the Renewable Heat Incentive, which enables any building in the UK to get help from the Government to switch to renewable heating: “Plenty of people are making the most of this opportunity. We’ve seen almost 2.4 terawatt hours of renewable heat generated and paid for through this incentive, which is enough to heat the equivalent of 160,000 homes in the UK. “But we only get warmer homes, lower bills and fewer emissions if the people installing those systems have a good understanding of how to maximise their efficiency and how to explain how to use them to their customers, and the local plumber is usually the most trusted person to do that.”

Training vouchers Installation companies can benefit from a new renewable energy training voucher scheme worth up to £5000 for each company (£500 for each installer) thanks to a scheme operated by renewable energy training provider PPL Training.

The scheme allows installers the chance to become fully qualified in a wide range of renewable energy technologies including solar PV/thermal, biomass, heat pumps and solar thermodynamics. The

scheme also offers training for Energy Assessors and Green Deal Advisors.

The electronic training vouchers can be applied for via online registration.

This provides applicants with vouchers which can be used at 11 UK-wide training locations. The scheme also provides discounted NICEIC MCS accreditation services and Easy MCS membership.

Visit www.retvs.org.uk for more information.

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ENQUIRY

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11/03/2015 27/03/2015 09:16 12:56

April 2015

18 Energy Related Products

Installers invited to attend free seminars on new ErP directive PHAM News is backing a new industry initiative to help installers understand more about the new Energy related Product (ErP) directive. Plumb and Parts Center has joined forces with some key manufacturers to launch a series of free to attend evening roadshows set to take place at 40 different locations around the country from April to July.

T

he free evening roadshows commence on Monday 20 April at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and will visit 40 locations across the UK, from Inverness to Belfast, Swansea to Ipswich, and finishing in Plymouth on Thursday 16 July.

Plumb and Parts Center, alongside major manufacturers Ideal Boilers, Baxi, Vaillant, Worcester Bosch, Heatrae Sadia, Kingspan, Honeywell, Danfoss, Fernox, Adey and Grundfos, is helping installers get to grips with the details of the regulations and how to take the energy efficiency message to their customers.

Installers will be able to find out which heating products will be affected, what manufacturers have been doing to prepare for these latest regulatory changes and how Plumb and Parts Center and participating manufacturers are making understanding ErP as straightforward as possible.

In addition to refreshments on arrival, there will be short, informative presentations from four manufacturers at each event, plus the opportunity to ask questions and gain additional information after the presentations.

What’s the deal?

The new Energy related Product (ErP) directive is for ecodesign and energy labelling of space and water heaters, and will be mandatory for all 28 countries in the European Union. Many heating products will be affected, including gas and oil boilers, cylinders, heat pumps and solar thermal cylinders. Manufacturers will be responsible for ensuring their products are prepared for the new legislation change, including the incorporation of modulating pumps.

In addition, manufacturers will be responsible for ensuring their products have compliant energy labels,

The roadshow will visit Aintree Racecourse on 5 May

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which must be clearly visible on the product at the point of sale.

Each product must include a fiche of energy efficiency information documents.

Impact on installers Installers can be confident that all products manufactured after 26 September will come with the required labels, as this will be the manufacturers’ responsibility.

However, installers will be required to calculate and issue an efficiency label for the entire heating system.

Installers will still be able to The Coventry Ricoh Arena will stage the first seminar “Because householders are already familiar with the install products purchased prior rating system on energy labels, installers can be sure to 26 September and while those older products may not have that their customers will be able to get to grips with the the necessary label, installers ratings and labels now applying to their heating systems.

“As consumers continue to be more energy-savvy, will be able to find the necessary rating information via Plumb and shopping around for the best prices from energy companies Parts Center’s ErP calculator and for heating and electricity, so installers can ‘ride’ this wave of consciousness to manufacturers’ websites.

Once they have this encourage homeowners information they will be to upgrade their heating able to include it in their systems to more energycalculations and issue the efficient ones, which will overall system label. save them money over the It will be the reslife of the system.” ponsibility of installers What’s next? to calculate and issue Installers keen to gain efficiency labels when a better understanding they install new heating of the implications for systems, or install new their businesses from the boilers, controls or implementation of the renewables in an existing Hampden Park in Glasgow set to be the venue on 3 June ErP directive, but who are system. However, Plumb unable to attend the roadshows, can access a number and Parts Center and manufacturers are making it easy of manufacturers’ free training seminars and online for installers to calculate and issue these labels via simple resources. online calculator tools.

The roadshows will make all these changes clear and show installers how to find the necessary tools and Where and when information to help their customers get the most out of Forthcoming dates include: the energy efficient products on the market.

20 April: Coventry, Ricoh Arena 21 April: Darlington, Mowden Park RFC Business opportunity 22 April: Newcastle, St James Park Plumb and Parts Center’s Head of Sustainability Tim 23 April: Carlisle, Racecourse Pollard says: “ErP is a timely opportunity for installers to 27 April: Nottingham, Meadow Lane sell better quality, more efficient products to customers 28 April: Wigan, DW Stadium who are more open to the energy efficiency message 29 April: Sheffield, Bramall Lane than previously.

30 April: Hull, KC Stadium 5 May: Liverpool Aintree Racecourse “This is an ideal opportunity for heating installers to 6 May: Leeds, Elland Road take advantage of the necessity for new labelling, which For more information on where and when the roadshows means that energy efficiency labelling, already familiar will take place and how to register for the events, please to consumers via household items such as washing visit the website: understandingerp.co.uk machines, fridges and televisions, will be required for heating systems.

27/03/2015 14:42

April 2015

Gadgets & Tools See the heat with compact camera Flir has developed a pocket sized thermal camera that also comes with the benefit of a lower price than its largersized Flir counterpart. The C2 is packed with features and will help identify hidden heat patterns that reveal where problems are in plumbing and heating applications.

Featuring Flir’s MSX real-

time image enhancement and touch screen with auto orientation, the camera creates thermal images with sharp details to help identify problem locations more easily. MSX adds key details (captured by the on-board visible camera) to the C2’s thermal images so numbers, letters, texture and other features are clearly recognisable without compromising the thermal image.

With simple point-andshoot operation, the C2 stores radiometric JPEGs which can be downloaded later using software that allows the user to adjust thermal image levels, isolate and add temperature measurements,

change colour palettes and create persuasive reports.

With 4800 pixel resolution, the high sensitivity detector has a wide 41º field of view that frames in more of the scene. It also has a built in torch for low light areas. It sells for £559 plus VAT. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Power to portable devices If you’re in the habit of carrying around a bunch of devices that need power topping up, then you’re going to need a convenient and portable way of charging them while on the go. The Robot Head Power Plus Charger houses a 10400mAh battery that allows you to charge most smartphones five times. Whether it’s your mobile, camera or even your e-cigarette, the Robot Head’s two USB ports let you charge two devices at one time.

Five little indicator LEDs light up to show you

Smaller2

how much power you’ve got left and there’s even an automatic power-off function so they won’t run

down once they’ve finished charging your gadgets.

Get one from Firebox.com for £49.99.

Sounds on site never better

In-van mount is magnetic Keep your phone, tablet or GPS device secure whilst on the move with the Scosche Magic Mount. The super slim magnetic plate can be fixed to the back of the device, inside a battery cover, or inside a protective case. Secure suction lets you mount it on a window, dashboard or cup holder and it comes with a flexible goose-neck design and two magnetic plates, one small and one large. Halfords sells it for £29.99 online (www.halfords.com).

For high quality sound on site, Makita’s new DMR106 radio comes with 89mm diameter speakers on both sides of the unit for a powerful 25W maximum output. It also features an aux-in jack and USB port for mobile devices to be played and charged. For durability, the radio is protected with high impact resistant elastomer corner bumpers and steel facia protection bars to safeguard the radio, even in 1m falls.

Equipped with 2-star Bluetooth connectivity, a mobile device wirelessly connects to play your music. It’s powered by any of Makita’s Li-ion LXT batteries from 7.2 up to 18V (not the BL1813G) or on the mains. www.makitauk.com

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More energy efficient2

INTRODUCING THE NEW INTEC2 X The very latest addition to our technologically advanced InTec range. Smaller and lighter than ever before, with new advanced combustion management to ensure improved energy efficiency.

w w w. a l p h a - i n n o v a t i o n . c o . u k ENQUIRY

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April 2015

20 Gadgets & Tools

Knip it in the bud Mighty techy pen Discover what’s in Lightweight but strong, the Knipex Cobra water pump pliers are self locking and won’t slip on the pipe, nut or joint that you’re working on.

All versions in the range (in lengths from 125 to 560mm) can be directly adjusted on the work piece, meaning there is no time consuming trial and error to find the correct set up.

Simply position the upper jaw on the item, push the button and slide the lower jaw closed.

An anti-pinch mechanism on the handle makes them safer to work with.

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www.knipex.com

The Tech Tool Pen does more than let you write down pertinent information whilst on the job. In addition to a blue ball point, you’ll find a spirit level, ruler and two different screwdriver tips. The pen is finished in a stylish matt black so it’s coollooking as well as useful. Choose to measure in inches or centimeters and easily swap the screwdriver end from a flat-head to a Phillips. It’s even got a luminous green spirit level so you can check whether your newly made project is straight and true.

It’s available for £8.39 from Amazon.

Lightweight drills pack a punch Hilti has launched its smallest and lightest range of cordless tools designed to increase productivity, control and accessibility in everyday light-duty drilling and screwdriving work. Operating on a new 12V battery platform and only weighing around 1kg each, the SF 2-A, SFD 2-A and SID 2-A have been designed for working in tight spaces, dark corners or overhead for prolonged periods.

Each tool is well-balanced and ergonomically designed for handling and working comfort. They are also designed with two LEDs in the foot of the tool to illuminate the task in hand.

See these tools in action online: www.hilti.co.uk/12v

www.hilti.co.uk

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your indoor air

Dubbed a ‘smart air sniffer’, Blueair’s Aware sensor will tell you all about the quality of your indoor air, identifying factors such as PM2.5 dust particles as well as dust mite feces, gasses and odours. The device will pick up these indicators and then transmit that information to an app on your phone. This lets you respond by adjusting the indoor air cleaner to remove stuff that would otherwise be inhaled.

The system detects pollen, moulds, pet dander and viruses as well as emissions from traffic and industrial plants, chemicals from cleaning fluids, beauty products, building materials, carpets, candles and cooking odours. Turn on the air purifier before conditions arise that lead to an allergy attack or headache.

Find out more by visiting the following website: www. breathingspace.co.uk

Smartline Tank in Tank technology An effective concept delivering outstanding performance.

Exceptional re-heat time, only 9 minutes (15°C to 60°C – SLE+ 210) n Large heat transfer area n Low pressure drop – 18mbar n Unrivalled resistance to limescale n No sacrificial anode required n Future proof – additional connections for renewable technology as standard (SLE+ 210, 240 & 300) Combining Tank-in-Tank technology into your installation can offer considerable energy savings versus a traditional coil tank. Due to the large heat transfer surface, the tank is able to absorb much more kW output from the boiler. This cuts down boiler cycling, and in turn reduces gas consumption as well as reducing the workload of your boiler to satisfy your hot water production.

Smartline Multi-Energy Due to the unique design of the Multi-Energy Cylinder and the large thermal store, it’s the perfect partner for Solar, Heat pumps, Pellet Burners, Heat recovery systems, District heating applications and more. n n n n n n n *Model Shown SLME ENQUIRY

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Increased heating surface for domestic hot water recovery Can be used as a low loss header for a heating circuit Smaller compact tank with increased performance Immersion heater in primary circuit More heat sources absorbed into the tank Flexible design options for specifiers and installer Extra primary connections

Call: 01383 820100 Email: information@acv-uk.com Visit: www.acv.com

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23/03/2015 16:10

LABELLING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LABOURED… LET US SHOW YOU HOW AT ONE OF OUR EVENTS. From 26th September 2015 all installers of heating and boiler systems will have to comply with the new EU Energy Related Products Directive. It affects the efficiency and labelling of systems.

Plumb & Parts Center are hosting a series of nationwide events in conjunction with major manufacturers that will help you understand your obligations under the directive and more importantly the opportunities it presents.

Date

Town/City

Venue

Date

Town/City

Venue

20 April

Coventry

Coventry City F.C. (Ricoh Arena)

2 June

Manchester

Stockport County F.C. (Edgeley Park)

21 April

Darlington

Mowden Park R.F.C. (Northern Echo Arena)

3 June

Glasgow

Hampden Park

22 April

Newcastle

Newcastle United F.C. (St. James' Park)

4 June

Edinburgh

Hibernian F.C. (Easter Road)

23 April

Carlisle

Carlisle Racecourse

9 June

Dundee

Best Western Queens Hotel

27 April

Nottingham

Notts County F.C. (Meadow Lane)

10 June

Aberdeen

Aberdeen F.C. (Pittodrie Stadium)

28 April

Wigan

Wigan Athletic F.C. (DW Stadium)

11 June

Inverness

Caledonian Thistle F.C. (Tulloch Caledonian Stadium)

29 April

Sheffield

Sheffield United F.C. (Bramall Lane)

16 June

Peterborough

Peterborough United F.C. (London Road Stadium)

30 April

Hull

Hull City A.F.C. (KC Stadium)

17 June

Norwich

Norwich City F.C. (Carrow Road)

5 May

Liverpool

Aintree Racecourse

18 June

Ipswich

Ipswich Town F.C. (Portman Road)

6 May

Leeds

Leeds United F.C. (Elland Road)

23 June

Brighton

Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. (Amex Community Stadium)

11 May

West Bromwich

West Bromwich Albion F.C. (The Hawthorns)

24 June

Reading

Reading F.C. (Madejski Stadium)

12 May

Stoke

Stoke City F.C. (Britannia Stadium)

25 June

Londonderry

Maldron Hotel Derry

13 May

Birmingham

Birmingham City F.C. (St. Andrews Stadium)

29 June

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes Dons F.C. (Stadium MK)

14 May

Cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse

1 July

Preston

Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C. (Lightfoot Green Lane)

18 May

Swansea

Swansea City F.C. (Liberty Stadium)

2 July

London (West)

Chelsea F.C. (Stamford Bridge)

19 May

Cardiff

Cardiff City F.C. (Cardiff City Stadium)

6 July

Belfast

Ulster Rugby Club (Kingspan Stadium)

21 May

London (East)

West Ham United F.C. (Upton Park)

7 July

Watford

Watford F.C. (Vicarage Road)

26 May

Bristol

Gloucestershire Cricket Club (County Ground)

14 July

London (South)

Sandown Racecourse

27 May

Exeter

Exeter Racecourse

15 July

Gillingham

Gillingham F.C. (Priestfield Stadium)

28 May

Southampton

Hampshire Cricket Club (The Ageas Bowl)

16 July

Plymouth

Borington Park Golf Club

Spaces are limited, register today by visiting

understandingerp.co.uk

WE’LL PUT OUR ENERGY INTO HELPING YOU.

ENQUIRY

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April 2015

Company Spotlight

22

Controls don’t have to be complex Heating controls have become an important focus in the field of domestic heating, and manufacturers are stepping up their efforts to meet the demands of an evolving market. Carol Hitchcock visited Drayton Controls in Plymouth to find out how the company is staying one step ahead.

T

he peak heating season may be slowing down, but Drayton Controls is staying in top gear as it continues plans to drive product innovation and improve all aspects of service to heating engineers and their customers. When Catherine Connolly took over the role of MD last September, the company’s flagship controls range – the Mi Series – was already well established, but as she points out, the industry as a whole is in a period of rapid development and there’s no room for complacency in making sure the company stays at the forefront of its field.

“Drayton has an ongoing research and development programme that is delivering the innovative products demanded by installers to meet the needs of a changing market,” explains Catherine. “We’ve got a number of initiatives in place that are helping us meet these challenges, including plans to roll out internet enabled controls, a programme of installer forums and the formation of a new loyalty club that will keep our customers up to date on technical issues and reward them for choosing Drayton products.”

Proud history The company draws upon more than 50 years of manufacturing at its factory in Plymouth and also benefits from the expertise of parent company Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management solutions. Product Manager David Kempster says that heating engineers are also instrumental in the unfolding of Drayton’s plans to maintain its strong brand presence in the UK. He’s been running the installer forums, which have been designed to exchange essential information between the manufacturer and its customers. It’s this kind of feedback that helped shape the development of the Mi Series.

“We’ve spent a lot of time over the last few years upgrading all the electronic products and believe we offer the most comprehensive package of solutions on the market,” explains David. “The new Mi Series has the big benefit of being easier for the homeowner to use. You cannot overestimate how important ease of use is, because if people don’t understand the control, they won’t use it to its full potential and won’t realise the potential savings.

For the end user, the Mi Series is the easiest thing in the world to operate.”

David says that ease of use for the installer is equally important, which is why this has been another area of focus.

For example, all the controls fit on a standard back plate to make replacements possible in a matter of minutes. The wireless controllers are easy setad.pdf up because they come ‘prePHAM News ACR Show 90 to x 274 1 27/03/2015 13:20 bound’, which facilitates the determination of signal strength.

All Drayton products, from thermostats to TRVs and motorised valves, are manufactured at its production site in Plymouth

“With the new wireless range,” explains David, “you take the components out of the box and they already speak to each other. The engineer doesn’t need someone back at the boiler telling him it’s a good signal. This makes for a one-person installation job.”

This is the kind of information Drayton is delivering in the installer forums, where David says the participants are picking up knowledge that they might otherwise have missed.

“We have packed so many useful features into our controls that it’s hard to get all the information across,” says David. “The forums allow us to give a better picture of what we have to offer. For example, many installers were surprised to find that there is a service function on our controls that lets them programme in their details so that in a year’s time, it will alert the user that a boiler check is due and display the engineer’s phone number.

It’s a nice little feature that can ensure they get future business with that customer.”

Hidden benefits

Getting smarter

With more product launches on the horizon, Drayton is looking to enhance the ways it engages with its installer customers. Plans to roll out a mobile website will see yet another avenue that connects the two, which is already supported by a busy technical helpline and lively social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Catherine Connolly says that Drayton will make the most of its internet presence to get the message out on its new installer loyalty scheme, set to go live this summer. She says: “We’ve named it the 9º Network because when the temperature drops to 9ºC outside, traffic on our website really picks up. The scheme will give installers access to technical information, a video series, news of special offers as well as provide a place where installers can connect with their peers on all issues related to heating controls.”

The next big launch for Drayton, due this summer, will be an internet enabled control which the company believes will be the most installer friendly model on the market.

David admits there are some nice looking smart controls out there, but the difference that Drayton is making with its iteration can be summed up in one word: simplicity.

“Installers are telling us they’re interested in internet enabled controls, but they’re put off because they aren’t broadband experts. They want something that will take that element out of the equation and let them get on with being heating engineers,” David insists.

“With our model, you don’t even need to do any rewiring.

You can just take an old control off the wall, clip on the new one, hook up a gateway into the back of the home’s router, and it will be internet ready. We’re talking ten minutes here.”

As a specialist in controls, Drayton also offers a range of thermostatic radiator valves which are so advanced, the company has dubbed them ‘a TRV for life’. One of the key differences is that they have replaceable and adjustable parts, which means that problems can be fixed without the additional labour costs associated with draining down a system.

“Another advantage of our TRVs is the use of a plastic insert that makes it ideal for use in hard water areas,” adds David.

“When the heating kicks in after a period of dormancy, it won’t be stuck with limescale and will open right up. That can save installers from callbacks during a busy time of the year. Our valves also let you permanently balance the radiator system at the TRV. By using the TRV body to regulate flow, you avoid unnecessarily re-balancing the system when a radiator has been removed during decoration.”

Join the club

www.draytoncontrols.co.uk

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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27/03/2015 14:03

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23/03/2015 16:02

April 2015

24 Training Update Expert tuition on all things boilers Free courses are available from Ariston across its 14 UK training Centres of Excellence, focusing on the company’s high efficiency gas boilers. The courses comprise theory sessions and hands-on, practical classroom experience, including expert tuition on understanding operational parameters, how to commission the boiler and install a multi-zone system.

Alan Hayes, Technical and Quality Manager at Ariston, says: “Training courses educate gas engineers on procedures such as how to check combustion settings and correctly use a flue gas analyser, as well as inspect other elements such as boiler efficiency, data logging and differential pressure.”

He continues: “By consistently raising their standards through training, installers will enhance their skillset, as well as their

Getting to grips with heating controls Domestic heating controls training is available from Danfoss for installers at venues around the country, including Glasgow’s Premier Inn, Plumb Center branches in Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth, and Ilford Golf Club in Essex.

Courses are conducted by experienced instructors and cover every aspect of domestic central heating controls techniques, theory and practice. Installers are guided through current regulations relating to new

and existing installations and how to achieve Part L compliance using products

from the Danfoss range, from electronic programmers to room thermostats, TRVs and

motorised valves.

The course explains how the various domestic heating systems can be controlled for optimum comfort and economy. The day is completed with an afternoon workshop which gives installers the chance to gain hands-on experience of wiring up a complete heating control system. Installers will receive a certificate from Danfoss on successful completion of the course.

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Fit training around the working day profitability – after all, they will be able to fit and work on a greater array of products for a much wider selection of customers. Plus, being equipped with the latest industry knowledge and trends enables them to keep ahead of competitors.”

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Installers looking to stay abreast of the latest installation methods and heating technologies can now benefit from an interactive online learning platform from Vaillant.

The new learning portal is available for free to Vaillant Advance installers.

Providing an informative

and engaging way for users to refresh their knowledge of domestic and commercial boilers as well as renewable technologies in their own time, the e-Learning portal means installers can learn without compromising time out from day-to-day business operations.

Described by Vaillant as a ‘training centre in the pocket’, the e-Learning platform features videos, simulations, quizzes to test knowledge and understanding, together with downloadable manuals and literature. It covers core areas vital to installers such as Gastec online

courses, controls and fault finding, in addition to upand-coming technologies.

To become an Advance member and use the new training platform, as well as find out about rewarding gifts, workwear tokens and the latest news, visit the website: www.vaillant. co.uk/e-learning

TRAINING

Confused about

ErP? Take one of our training courses and we’ll get you up to scratch...

To find out more call

0844 871 8763

NOT ONLY DO OUR PRODUCTS MEET THE ERP DIRECTIVE, OUR TRAINING CAN HELP YOU MEET IT TOO!

In September 2015 new ErP (Energy-related Products) legislation comes into effect, which will have an impact on the way you work. We can talk you through all you need to know, including the new labelling procedure, to help you meet the changes trouble-free.

w w w. a l p h a - i n n o v a t i o n . c o . u k / t r a i n i n g

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23/03/2015 11:28

April 2015

Training Update New Daikin centre now open Following an investment of £1.1million, Daikin has raised the curtain on its new training and technology centre in Woking, Surrey. The aim is to provide engineers with the specialist product and installation skills required to support the expansion of the air conditioning industry and further encourage the growth of the UK renewables market.

The Woking centre is equipped with the latest range of fully operational Daikin products so engineers can learn while on the tools.

A wide range of courses is available to HVACR engineers across the technology portfolio, including product selection, installation, servicing and maintenance.

These programmes offer installers both hands-on and classroom based learning from experienced trainers.

The centre features eight heating training bays,

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as well as a whole floor dedicated to air conditioning technologies, numerous demonstration rooms and an online training room with digital conferencing facilities.

John Durbin, Daikin’s Technical Sales Manager, who led the training centre development project, says: “Our UK training centres

are designed to help raise the standards of HVACR engineers. We recognise the business potential for expertly trained installers and we want to help the HVACR industry to grow by training professionals to have the very latest product and service capabilities.”

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Get the skills for HIU jobs Logic Heat Interface Units (HIU) are the subject of Ideal Commercial Boilers’ new one day course covering key features and installation requirements. A live training calendar is now available on the website, making it even easier to book directly onto a course and discover more about other boiler training opportunities.

The HIU course combines both theory and hands-on learning techniques using

fully operational units. This ensures all participants leave with the confidence to specify, install, commission or service these units within numerous types of application.

The course covers the features and interior workings of all models in the Logic HIU range, which includes two direct and two indirect units, as well as the applications and systems for which

each is ideally suited and advice on specification and installation requirements.

Each Logic HIU course can be tailored to meet the precise requirements of individual installation and servicing companies.

Engineers can enrol on the Logic HIU course at either of the Ideal Commercial Boilers Centres of Excellence, based in Leeds and Reading.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Free courses for apprentices Remeha Commercial has expanded its range of training courses to include free introductory courses for apprentice heating engineers and free CPD sessions for consultants and specifiers at its training facility in Wokingham.

Opened during National Apprenticeship Week, the facility is targeting the future generation of heating engineers with the offer of a two-day course on the company’s range of high-efficiency condensing boilers. The course will include theory

sessions on all aspects of installation, servicing and commissioning. Apprentices are required to be accompanied by experienced Gas Safe registered engineers for eligibility.

There are also CIBSEaccredited CPD sessions aimed at consultants and specifiers. The course covers Remeha’s Fusion Hybrid, a bespoke renewable heating system that combines gas absorption heat pumps and condensing boilers with a fully integrated, scalable building control system. It is said to offer a low carbon alternative for new build developments and retrofit projects.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.remeha.co.uk

...with JTL, the leading work-based training provider throughout England and Wales offering:

A rigorous selection process Dedicated JTL Training Officer Help with college placements and courses FREE off-site training and on-site assessments for those aged 16-18 Help with accessing grants and extra funding (JTL will pay employers who recruit a heating and ventilating apprentice aged 16-18 a grant of £500 payable after three months, provided the apprentice remains on the JTL scheme).

Further industry training Celebrating 25 years of delivering apprenticeships to young people 0800 0852 308

www.jtltraining.com QUOTE REF: PHAM

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April 2015

26 Training Update Wall hung sanitary Renewables forum systems in focus Geberit is offering installers the chance to gain the skills needed to fit its sanitary systems as well as take home a free Duofix framing system and flush plate – worth some £250 – to practice their newfound skills. Held at its recently redesigned Training Academies in Warwick and Dublin, the courses focus on hands-on learning to give an efficient, reliable method of wall mounting WCs in most bathroom and washroom situations.

The sanitary systems training gives installers an insight into the latest techniques used for fitting wall hung sanitaryware.

The module is suitable for even experienced bathroom installers and covers methods for fitting and maintaining this equipment.

The first of this year’s courses took place in March and dates scheduled for the next round of training in

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Warwick are 9th and 23rd September and 7th and 21st October, while the Dublin site will run courses on 14th May, 16th September and 26th November.

To book a place and claim a free Geberit Duofix frame and flush plate, email training.gb@geberit.com.

A national forum that will address best practice and quality assurance of renewable heat training has been launched by SummitSkills. Designed to enhance the skills infrastructure underpinning the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), the forum will comprise awarding organisations, MCS/installer representatives, industry bodies, qualifications regulators, and training providers.

DECC has appointed SummitSkills to lead the forum, bringing together its members and overseeing its work. A series of core objectives have been set for the group which include encouraging standardisation of training materials and courses; introducing ‘train the trainer’ and ‘master trainer’ resources; driving continuous improvement; and developing a quality assurance process for

renewable heat training.

In addition to establishing the training forum, SummitSkills has also been commissioned to assess how renewable heat installer training might be affected by recently proposed changes to the Qualifications and Credit Framework. The work will help ensure potential implications are identified and addressed at an early stage.

Commenting on the new series, Nigel Hollett, General Manager of SummitSkills, says: “We’re delighted to be carrying out this important project.

It will help to ensure that standards are established and the quality of training available is maintained to deliver a competent renewable heat workforce to meet domestic RHI demand.”

For more information contact SummitSkills on 020 7313 4890.

Testing the waters Chemical water treatment courses from Fernox are offered with a complementing series of e-learning modules.

The one-day class covers the benefits and regulatory requirements of water treatment for all heating systems and are held at locations across the UK. Delegates will have the chance to powerflush a system, install a filtration device, test the quality of the water by using on-site water test kits as well as learn the various ways to dose a system with inhibitors.

The e-learning modules

address topics such as the fundamentals of water treatment, testing water quality, and powerflushing and water treatment in renewable technologies. Pre and post assessments are included to ensure a thorough understanding is gained after each course. Each module comprises a useful overview on its subject area, with visual and audio instructions.

Installers who attend the classroom based training option will be given a complimentary Fernox MaxMag. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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SHOWERS & Enclosures 27

There’s a showering solution for everyone With the shower the main focus of many British bathrooms, there is now a wide choice of options to suit a range of budgets and applications. Georgina Spencer, Marketing Manager for Roca, takes a look at some of the options and the latest trends.

A

shower might seem like a basic product, simply depositing water from a height on the head of its user. The modern shower, however, can do much more than this, with countless options when it comes to style, cost and features. Keeping abreast of bathroom trends and the applications they’re best-suited to is key – with 85% of UK homes having a shower and pretty much Georgina Spencer from Roca every new build featuring one, this bathroom essential is something plumbers will be asked about time and time again. Whatever your customer, there’s a shower to suit, so here’s a low down of just some of the trends making their mark on UK bathrooms in 2015.

Space saving With new houses getting smaller and many more people choosing to shoe-in the ever popular ‘en-suite’, showers are often being chosen over baths, particularly for a wetroom – the ultimate way to make the best use of a diminutive area.

A popular choice is to zone off one section as a ‘wet area’, most commonly with a frameless shower screen and low-level shower tray, which instantly creates a separate section within the room to dry off. This approach can work well in large bathrooms or where there are particular budget constraints.

The wet area can be achieved by installing a sunken tray which can then be tiled and sealed to make it waterproof, decreasing labour times and lowering the overall cost of

the project. On a practical level, you may find that when it comes down to it, many of your customers would prefer a ‘part’ wet room, with shower tray that ensures proper drainage. Frameless enclosures create wet and dry zones, while not detracting from the open plan feel.

In small bathrooms that are not ‘all wet’, infold shower doors are a good option, particularly for corner cubicles. A glass, quadrant-style cubicle will make the most use of a corner’s floor space, with a smooth curved one softening sharper lines in the room. Other space saving products include multi-functionality – a shower that incorporates storage, for example.

Water saving Water saving is something everyone should be doing in the bathroom, and for those on a meter making sustainable showering choices will have a direct effect on bills. By cutting down on hot water consumption, energy can also be saved – 13% of the energy in a typical home goes towards heating water, so reducing this will benefit every customer.

In general, choosing a shower over a bath is a water saving move. The average eight-minute shower uses up 62 litres of hot water, compared with an average bath’s 80 litres – but be warned, some power showers can use up to 136 litres!

There are ways to create that power shower feeling without wasting too much water. Aerated showerheads reduce the amount of water in the flow, but maintain pressure by mixing air in with the water to produce a steady, even and powerful feeling spray.

Alternatively, low flow showerheads reduce water volume, with modern versions designed to maintain the end user experience as much as possible. By replacing a showerhead with a more efficient model, such as our Victoria-T shower, which features an Eco Button, it’s possible to reduce water consumption by more than half.

Even-T features a big showerhead and multifunction handshower

popular, with users ‘massaged’ while they shower, ideal for people with back or joint problems, or anyone looking for a more luxurious, spa-like experience. This luxury doesn’t have to come with a particularly high cost either. Our Essential 2.0 hydromassage shower column, for example, is sold at a very accessible price point. Another key trend is over-sized overhead showers that provide complete engulfment in water, ideal for larger, luxury bathrooms.

In an increasingly space, time and resource poor world, the shower provides the ultimate ‘clean’ solution. Make sure your customers are presented with all the options available to them in order to create bathrooms that meet a cross-section of end user needs while fitting in with the modern, sleek design aesthetic. www.uk.roca.com

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Future proofing Many homes house the young, elderly and everything in between under one roof, so they will be looking for bathroom products that suit everybody’s needs. Safety is the main criterion here, with thermostatic showers providing a key way to make the shower a safer place. By setting the temperature the risk of scalding is eliminated and hot (or cold) shocks are a thing of the past.

Thermostatic showers maintain temperature regardless of fluctuations in pressure, something that can be a real problem in manual showers. In the worst case scenario a too hot shock can end up as a scald. Other clever safety focused technology includes ‘SafeTouch’ which prevents the shower valve itself from getting too hot. Safety doesn’t mean scrimping on functionality either. For example, a Quick Reaction feature, available with many of our showers, means water reaches the required flow and temperature in less than three seconds.

For customers with mobility issues, showers are easier to access, particularly for wheel chair users. Shower trays can help here too, with non-slip versions preventing unnecessary falls – useful for all members of the family – with low-height shower trays being a better option to prevent trip hazards.

Touch of luxury

The Roca Essential 2.0 hydromassage shower column

For customers with the budget and space for a more luxurious bathroom experience there are many exciting and different options on the market. Shower innovations that include features like hydrotherapy are becoming increasingly ENQUIRY

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What your customer needs The electric shower market now has more options than ever before – but how can you ensure you have the right model to match your customer’s needs? Steve Holton, Strategic Marketing Director at Redring, has some answers.

T

he way a shower operates and its capabilities can significantly impact on a user’s happiness and experience.

After all, showers are an integral part of a home and are used several times a week, if not every day, and by all members of a household. For this reason, it’s important to take a holistic view when recommending a shower to homeowners, and ensure that the solution meets their current and future needs.

There are plenty of different aspects a homeowner could want from their shower, and manufacturers have worked over the past few years to deliver a wide breadth of options. Firstly, if a shower with higher eco-credentials is top of the list of requirements, there are a wealth of showers to recommend.

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Features to look out for include the ability to reduce the power of a shower and showers that automatically adjust the flow rate. This will deliver lower energy and water consumption, which is not only better for the environment, but will also save money on household bills. Our Xpressions Eco-T model, for example, has an Eco setting which will reduce the power used to 65% of the maximum. This is certainly a benefit to those who are conscious about their energy consumption.

All inclusive Turning attention to those users who may have additional needs, such as limited eyesight or reduced dexterity, we have worked hard to develop solutions that offer an inclusive

showering experience. Choosing a shower that is fully thermostatic will eliminate the risk of scalding, which is of particular importance for more vulnerable users.

Fully thermostatic showers compensate for changes to pressure, flow and ambient incoming water temperatures to maintain the ideal preset temperature. The very best thermostatic showers, such as our Selectronic range, can offer temperature control to within ½°C, but not all showers claiming to be ‘thermostatic’ can offer this accuracy. Thermostatic technology is also a huge asset for households where multiple generations live under one roof, as it enables all members of the family, from young to elderly relatives, to shower in comfort and safety.

In addition to thermostatic

control, some showers have the option to set a maximum temperature lock during the installation process. This means that the selected temperature cannot be exceeded accidently, which eliminates the risk of discomfort or accidents from higher temperatures being selected in error.

Quick fix For some homeowners there may be a very simple request – a quickly fitted shower that delivers hot water simply and easily. This could be for a replacement installation, perhaps if a previous unit has broken down and the users don’t want to be without a shower for too long. Or it might be a new second bathroom or extension where a high quality but straightforward shower is what is required.

Choosing a fast fit shower does not have to mean compromising on quality. For example, our new Expressions Revive (pictured) provides ease of connectivity and fitting, while offering numerous benefits to the end user. Its ultra-slim profile provides a compact and stylish solution, while its chrome highlights and chrome accessory kit further enhance the shower’s appearance.

Outside of the actual shower unit, it’s important to take into consideration the water type. Homes within a hard water area will suffer from limescale build-up, so it’s wise to recommend showers with anti-limescale protection.

Even a small layer of limescale, just 3mm thick, can decrease efficiency by 20%.

The most common protection is a ‘phased shut-

down’ or scale flush that flushes out any residual hot water when you switch it off.

This stops water from sitting in the system, reducing the potential for limescale to build up. The good news is that some manufacturers offer this feature in a wide range of their showers, from entry-level through to the most advance technology, so installers can offer this as an added extra to the selected solution.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.redring.co.uk

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Benefits of smart thinking What does smart technology mean for the showers market? Lloyd Best, Group Product & Design Director at AKW, explains some of the thinking behind the company’s new range that can be controlled via an app or wireless remote.

S

mart homes are a hot topic within the industry and this trend will only intensify over the next few years as new technologies and developments continue to change the way we run our homes. With this in mind, it seems that there is a smart device or product for every aspect of our lives, so what does ‘smart technology’ mean for the shower industry?

Before developing our new range of smart showers – the new iShower range – we first needed to identify how such a shower would add value for the end user.

We undertook a study within both the care and private sectors to pinpoint where the gaps lay in terms of design and features. The results informed us that

Replacing the flow meter on the pump connection, it is able to talk directly to the pump. Streaming data to and from the shower, the unit can be used with a free phone app that monitors flow rate, water usage and temperature. Several user profiles can also be set up to ensure preferred settings are allocated accordingly.

Well received The new iCare shower is designed to enhance any bathroom

consideration was needed for easy installation, longer lifespan and adaptable features that utilised wireless technology for the better rather than just offering it as an add-on. We didn’t want to use wireless technology or apps for the sake of using them, and so we began to outline how it

would enhance a new shower and remain relevant as future developments materialised.

Bringing together Bluetooth and wireless remote technology, iCare, the first in a range of three models to be launched this year, boasts a wireless interface between the shower and our digital waste pumps.

Early testing of the prototype for iCare by a group of occupational therapists gave us positive feedback on the smart features. The app allowed them to control the temperature, adjust the flow and ensure that the shower user couldn’t override the settings, eliminating the risk of scalding and ensuring the carer could control when the shower turned on and off.

The ‘delayed mode’ was an additional feature we introduced following a request from occupational therapists, where the shower could be turned off with the remote control but could not be restarted manually until some two minutes later, giving the carer the time to transfer the user out of the shower area.

This product represents a giant leap forward in smart shower design, creating a universal platform that we can build upon in the future.

As technology develops, the shower could potentially allow for remote monitoring and automated diagnosis for servicing.

Using such technology means the user is firmly in control and this will lead to greater visibility over water usage, energy consumption

and generally help the homeowner to run a smarter home.

The new showers also address the needs of the installer. With easy retrofit installation in mind, the iCare shower has a footprint that covers most manufacturers’ models. We have also incorporated eight electrical/water entry points and left or right hand wiring, reducing installation time and enabling the shower to be fitted without concerns about wiring complications or positioning limitations.

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A new addition to the family 2 year warranty*

Pressure 1.8 and 2.6 bar

More pressure & flow

Crossover technology

More compact in size

Continuously rated

Impressively quiet

Patented product

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*the CT Bathroom range comes with a 2 year warranty. This can be extended free of charge to a 3 year warranty by calling our PumpWise team following installation of the pump.

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Showers & Enclosures 31 Shower pumps for any application Available from Stuart Turner is a wide range of shower and pressure boosting pumps to suit different budgets and applicat ions.

Each product range comprises a number of options including different pressure outputs, a choice of single and twin head pump options and variants suitable for both positive and negative head installations.

Top of the range is the WRAS approved Monsoon shower pump (pictured), which now comes with a five year guarantee. At the core of the pump is a high performance electric induction motor rated for continuous reliable operation without overheating. For improved performance and reliabil-

ity the pumps are precision eng i neered from brass and feature hard faced seals which keep the motor separate from the water in the pump head.

Also available is the Showermate range, manufactured from thermoplastics. Designed to boost the performance of a wide range of individual shower and tap outlets, all Showermate products are supplied with a three year guarantee. Options include Showermate eco, a compact and cost effective solution suitable for boosting the performance of a single shower in a positive head domestic application.

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Coming on strong

Good to be square The Phoenix Idyllic range of shower doors feature a slender stylish frameless glass design, single sided hinges and easy clean glass. The Idyllic range comes in a variety of sizes, including a Neo Angle square shower door option. Also available as a showerhead and handset option is the VP066 Square Thermostatic Bar Valve with rigid riser and handset with hose, featuring a 300mm square design shower head. www.phoenix-uk.co.uk

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Designed for use in high traffic areas like schools, colleges and leisure centres, Pland Stainless has introduced a number of new wall mounted Shower Panels all manufactured from stainless steel. The range includes the Helsinger (pictured) with flexible hose and slider bar offering 800mm height flexibility and a single function showerhead. It measures 1275 x 200mm and comes with a pre-plumbed thermostatic shower valve. This product is particularly suitable for the less abled person and features a long lever shower valve and a handhold that also serves as the riser bar.

Other options include the Sheridan panel (508 x 203mm) which comes with a preplumbed push button valve and spray head to suit a pre-mixed water supply.

This panel is manufactured in 2mm thick stainless steel and is supplied complete with a push button valve and an anti-ligature showerhead, making it suitable for use in high risk areas such as police custody suites and prisons.

The Stamford and Palma showering panels are 975 x 200mm in size, both offering the same showerhead and design with the difference that Palma features a push button valve for premixed water supply and the Stamford a thermostatic valve for dual feed. www.plandstainless.co.uk

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Two-way shower diverter

The stunning Kinemagic shower cubicle fits perfectly into the same space as a bath. Its innovative design requires no silicone or re-tiling, meaning it can be installed in just a day.* With a low height shower tray and a cool-touch thermostatic valve for extra showering safety, the Kinemagic Design is not only stylish but practical too.

Easy entry shower tray

For more information or to request a brochure visit kinedo.co.uk.

Overhead rain shower

SILICONE FREE

2

YEAR

NO LEAKS

CRISTAL PLUS GLASS GUARANTEE

*It is possible to fit a Kinemagic in just one day with two people. However, this is subject to site situations and the competency of your installer.

All it takes to transform a bathroom

Designed by the experts at

is a little Kinemagic.

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No need to compromise on style The increase in multi-generational living has led to the need to provide bathrooms and showers that can cater for the needs of all members of the household. Lisa Ward, Product Group Manager at Bristan, discusses the need for practical yet stylish solutions.

Fortunately then, where the bathroom is concerned there are products available that can be used safely and easily by all generations, without compromises having to be made on style or design.

Easy does it

Bristan’s new Joy Care electric shower has been designed to appeal to a range of different users

improvement, most householders are no longer willing to accept clinical looking all-purpose solutions. Today’s homeowners are style-savvy and are seeking fashionable, on-trend design.

In terms of specifying showers and taps, a good starting point is to think about how easy they are to access, grip and operate. The addition of grab rails is ideal for anyone with mobility problems, and there are clever versions available that double up as stylish towel rails or over basin shelves so they can be used by the whole family, but for different purposes.

It is also important to ensure optimum hot water safety. Here, fitting thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) or showers and taps with inbuilt thermostatic control will significantly reduce the risk of scalding, protecting the people who are at a higher risk, including the

FLAWLESS. EFFORTLESS. TIMELESS. Made from beautiful hard-wearing 3.5mm steel enamel, Kaldewei shower surfaces offer outstanding hygienic properties and come with a material guarantee of 30 years. Unlike tiled shower floors they boast smooth surfaces without grout, making them extremely hygienic and easy to clean. This ensures that not only do they perform well but also continue to look as good as new even after decades of use.

Contact us for further information email: info-uk@kaldewei.com or call 01480 498053

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elderly, less-able and children.

Thermostatic electric showers are now widely available too. For the ultimate assurance, some have the BEAB Care Mark, which demonstrates compliance with additional requirements that take into account the needs of people in care situations, such as the elderly and people with disabilities. Some products are also endorsed by the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People).

A good example here is our soon to be available BEAB Care and RNIB endorsed Joy Care from Bristan, an innovative electric shower which looks like it would belong in any bathroom, but has been cleverly designed so that people with varying capabilities can use it. As well as delivering safe water temperatures, it has large, easy to move dials, raised markings and an audible click when settings are adjusted, an illuminated stop/ start button, an LED digital setting

display and a grey contrasting back box. It also comes with the option of a longer rise rail and handle style dials, as required.

Further features include phased shutdown technology to help reduce limescale build-up, significantly prolonging the life of units installed in hard water areas. Plus, as a big benefit for the installer, Joy Care is easy to fit with multiple water and cable entry points plus an error code display for a fast, fuss-free fit.

As family dynamics have changed, so have bathroom requirements. And amid the escalating 3G trend, the emphasis on practical yet stylish designs which cater to all is only going to grow. For the shrewd installer looking to tap into this opportunity, it is vital to stay ahead of all the newest products which can ensure a stylish bathroom design which meets the needs of all.

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SCONA • www.kaldewei.com

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ecent years have seen the extended family make a major come-back, as an increasing numbers of families are choosing to live together to shelter against financial hardship. In fact, the media has even coined a new term for it – ‘3G living’.

It is estimated that around half a million households in the UK are home to three generations of the same family and this figure is set to rise. There are many causes, from the inability of young adults to get on the housing ladder to the soaring cost of care for the elderly.

Such trends have transformed the household dynamic and led to a growing emphasis on practicality.

After all, in a household where the very young and the elderly live together, it is even more important to ensure a comfortable and safe environment that caters for all.

However, design is still a major factor. With increasing onus on interior design and home

23/03/2015 11:46

April 2015

Showers & Enclosures Pump and shower go wireless Claiming a first, Mira Showers has launched a version of its Advance electric shower that features the addition of a wireless pairing to a waste water pump. The Advance Flex Extra Wireless simplifies installing or retro-fitting a wet room in situations where a conventional gravity fed drainage system would be unfeasible, such as where level access is required.

Developed especially for the visually impaired and endorsed by the RNIB, the standard model has a large colour-contrasted rotary lever, tactile raised areas, large on/ off button, backlit buttons and an audible click on the temperature lever so it is easy to use. The push button on/ off switch also means that the

FOR WATER WITH A LOT MORE

user can leave the power and temperature controls at their preferred settings.

Advantages for the user include fail-safe operation and minimised noise from the gully due to the match between pump speed and flow rate. The shower shuts down automatically to prevent risk

OOOMPH

of flooding if the pump stops.

For the installer the job is simplified because there is no physical link between the shower unit and the pump – it can be fitted up to 5m away with no trunking or conduits to worry about.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.mirashowers.co.uk

Say hello to Flomate - the mini pump that makes a mighty difference. Flomate provides an instant solution to low or intermittent water pressure and can be fitted directly to the incoming mains water supply without the need to install a cold water break tank.

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Elegant and accessible The new Embrace Curved Wetroom Panel from Roman has been developed from designs within the hotel sector to bring a touch of luxury to residential bathrooms.

Providing easy level access entry for all users, there is no step up into the shower and no handle.

Made from 8mm glass, the curved panel has a height of 2000mm and incorporates a chromed brass wall bracing to ensure full support and maintain its position.

Embrace features a bright silver frame, including 25mm of adjustment for ease of installation. It is

available for use in an alcove situation and also in a corner situation, which is accompanied with a side

Visit www.flomate.co.uk, call 01491 572655 or just listen to staff gush about it at your local plumbers’ merchant.

panel. The panel is fully reversible for left or right hand installation and can be fitted straight to the floor or with trays of different heights.

MD David Osborne says: “This is a valuable addition to our inclusive range, with level access entry, no handle and wide entry access into the showering area. It’s a flexible addition to any bathroom as it will work around existing fittings and fixtures with its door-less entry, making it the perfect product for the domestic bathroom.”

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Slate style completes the look For customers looking to bring natural materials to the bathroom, Matki has introduced the Slate Shower Tray. Modelled on a

single piece of slate, this flat shower floor gives a look of slate with all the benefits of polyester coated cast stone, delivering an ultra-low

profile look to wetrooms.

Height is dependent on the size ordered, which ranges from 22 to 26mm, although it is also available in a standard height of 40mm (not available as a bespoke version).

There is also a raised version available supplied with adjustable legs and front cover panel. The raised tray adds 100mm to height.

The Slate Shower Tray is available in all standard bathroom colours, and a RAL colour matching service is offered at no extra cost.

Prices start at £378.

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ALL OTHER ENCLOSURES ARE SCREWED...

Introducing Mira Twist & Lock Technology Our new, patented installation system, means that once you have the wall jambs in place there’s no need for drilling or screwing. Our expertly engineered Mira Leap enclosures mean you just Twist & Lock.

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Style and safety First fix installation to ease the process blended together

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Italian style is behind the new Chronos range from Inta. Finished in highly polished chrome, the line-up incorporates features that let the user exercise complete control over temperature and flow. Chronos includes a thermostatic bath tap, a bidet tap and a host of aesthetically appealing showers.

Behind the design is a variety of ‘green’ credentials, with an in-built eco button that can override settings to deliver energy-conscious flow rates and temperatures.

The new products are designed to meet the style requirements of highend, boutique-inspired bathrooms. Chronos retains all of Inta’s anti-scald features, with cool-touch bodies being standard across the complete range.

Stuart Gizzi, Director at Inta, says: “We believe the Chronos range marks a step change in terms of the quality and visual appeal of showering products in the market. The cuttingedge design and elegant Ital ian craf tsmanship make for a truly beautiful,

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Said to combine cutting edge design, innovation and quality, the Vessini range of shower controls from Abacus Manufacturing Group has been conceived to enhance the bathroom experience for the end user while providing an integrated solution that makes installation easy.

Brassware in the Vessini range comprises manual and thermostatic shower and diverter valves. These include standard fittings and those that work in combination with the

Vessini universal EasiBox system, which is said to provide the installer with a simple installation procedure. The Vessini Easi-

Box, along with associated pipework, is installed at the first fix stage so there is no need for the valuable chrome fittings to be left on site. Once tiling is complete, any Easi-Box finish set from a wide choice of different shower valves may be fitted.

The Easi-Box balance control valve allows any variance of water pressure on the hot and cold feeds to be adjusted to provide a balanced water pressure into the valve. In addition, it acts as a check valve during inspection or repair

by stopping any residual water in the pipework from travelling back into the hot and cold water supply.

Should it be required, the hot and cold feeds can be isolated for inspection or replacement of the mixer valve body without the need to isolate the entire bathroom water supply.

Pictured is the Vessini Orta manual shower valve/ diverter finish set in chrome, priced at £134.50 excluding VAT. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Pumping water away from wetrooms

highly desirable range.

“The ability to easily finetune the Chronos family to make the perfect bespoke shower and taps, without compromising on design or durability, is taking bathroom products to new heights.”

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New from Saniflo is the Sanifloor shower waste with a suction pump and sensor that enables the installation of level access showers and wetrooms in situations where gravity drainage is not an option.

The product has been designed to cope with a large deluge of water at any time. The discharge pipework is 32mm wide and the flow rate of the suction pump (25 litres/min at 3m) means it is compatible with the latest waterfall and rainshowers.

There are three models in the range designed to

cover all flooring types.

The Sanifloor 1 is aimed at tiled floors and has a total waste height of 68mm. The Sanifloor 2 works with sheet flooring, such as vinyl and linoleum, with a waste height of 68mm, whilst the Sanifloor 3 works with level access trays and has a total height of waste of 63mm.

Each unit has an integrated non-return valve to ensure water never backs up in the pipes and a sensor which is activated when water in the waste/gully reaches a certain level. This automatically starts the pump to discharge the waste water.

www.saniflo.co.uk

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April 2015

Showers & Enclosures 35 Safety valve for easy installation With the aim of promoting hot water safety, Abode has designed the Tempeau thermostatic valve, a bathing and showering system that coordinates with 11 of its contemporary ranges of bathroom brassware.

The valve is specifically made for deck mounted baths and typical UK water pressures and meets the requirements of the Building Regulations.

Described as simple and safe to use with a wide range of styles and configurations, it delivers thermostatic safety and is said to be significantly faster to install and maintain compared to existing wall mounted solutions. It also allows users to obtain good flow performance from a low pressure hot water system.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.abode.eu 136

Growing fan club for Aurajet technology With the incorporation of Aurajet technology into its Aio range, Methven is offering users a shower that delivers fan shaped sheets of water for a superior showering experience.

Aurajet delivers up to 20% more total spray force (compared to Satinjet) and double the water coverage on the skin than traditional showers – yet uses as little water as nine litres per

minute. With greater spray force and body coverage, the

shower also offers increased warmth.

The showerhead’s hidden nozzles generate single jets of water that hit preciselyengineered surfaces to produce a wide, even shower spray with no gaps and enhanced droplet density.

Incorporating high-end aesthetics and a stylish halo handset design, the product uses an engineered polymer with hydrophobic properties

and silicon rubber nozzles to reduce hard water build-up and resist the accumulation of limescale.

The range includes a handset; wall shower on a short arm; hi-rise shower, a hand shower with hose, wall outlet and parking bracket; a rail shower; and a thermostatic cool to touch bar shower and kit.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.methven.com/uk

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Cornering the market on colour choice The One Collection from Matki has been enhanced with the addition of a new solution for corner showers.

This curved enclosure has been designed to combine elegance and functionality, with a curved 8mm safety glass door featuring smooth sliding action and quiet operation.

As part of Matki’s designer range, the One Collection offers a variety of colour choices to help harmonise

the scheme in the bathroom.

It comes in a silver/chrome finish as standard and can be personalised with a choice of vertical frame, handle and colour details.

Homeowners can choose from a choice of coloured frames and disc details too.

The picture here shows a silver frame and blue details, combined with the Universal 40 colour shower tray in blue.

It’s available in sizes from 900 to 1500mm.

www.matki.co.uk

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OTHER TRAYS HAD BETTER WATCH THEIR STEP TOO. Mira Anti-slip Technology Our Mira Flight Safe trays couldn’t be easier to install or safer to use. Not only are they tough, light, and easy to level, they’ve also faced the most stringent of anti-slip tests – and exceeded them.

www.mirashowers.co.uk/expert ENQUIRY

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36 Products in Action Stokvis returns to Plastic pipe offers quick connection the Holiday Inn

After nearly 30 years reliable service at a large hotel and conference centre in Surrey, one of the original Stokvis Econoflame R18 gas boilers has been replaced with the modern equivalent. The boiler plant at the Holiday Inn Guildford is maintained

by Economy Heating Services, which recommended a Stokvis Econoflame R6539 for the project. The new boiler offers the first response to demand from the 168 guest bedrooms and other facilities.

A spokesperson for Economy Heating says: “The hotel had two Stokvis R18s

when it was built in the 1980s.

When one of the original boilers needed replacing, we recommended the R6539, which has been installed and set up as the lead boiler. This means it provides the bulk of the load for the bedrooms, kitchens, and leisure complex with pool and Jacuzzi, as well as the conference facilities.”

The ground floor boiler room still contains the original pair of Stokvis Econoplate heat exchangers and a buffer vessel for the hot water service.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.stokvisboilers.com

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A new £12m student accommodation development, which has adopted a pod design to achieve challenging build deadlines, has utilised Durapipe HTA pipework to help with the speed of installation.

Hatbox in Luton was built for use by University of Bedfordshire students. Comprising 199 rooms, the 11 storey development offers 151 studio bedrooms with shower room and 35 en-suite bedrooms over nine floors, with a range of communal leisure facilities.

Thames Valley Mechanical was tasked with installing a hot and cold water system for the development and

mains on site and so Durapipe HTA in sizes up to 110mm was installed for the main service riser.

This transfers water from the main storage tank in the basement plant room, via a pump set, up to the top floor plant room, which houses the boiler. It then feeds smaller risers to distribute the hot and cold water to each floor, which are all connected to the main pipe turned to Durapipe HTA for run and hot and cold returns the pipework requirements. on the first floor.

Each pod needed PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 141 www.durapipe.co.uk connecting to the water

One boiler for all A 440kW Ares Tec floor-standing commercial boiler from Alpha Heating Innovation has been installed in St Mary’s Court, a retirement/sheltered housing dwelling in Rickmansworth. Made for installations with high heating demand, the Ares Tec has been designed to provide an energy efficient way of maintaining a comfortable environment.

The boiler was suggested by Simon Heller of Orion Building Engineering Services, who had worked with Alpha on previous projects and was impressed by what they could deliver. Able to service the 40 flats in the building, the boiler provided a solution that could cope with the high heating and hot water demands of the residents, even at peak times. With varying demands from different residents, the Ares Tec also allows each tenant to control the temperature in their flat.

www.alpha-innovation.co.uk

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Cardiff property benefits from UFH Long term gains for high risers Underfloor heating with staple technology has been supplied by JG Speedfit for the North Lodge house, located near Cardiff Castle, to supply an energy efficient method of heat distribution.

The staple system is among the several alternatives JG Speedfit offers for solid floor installations. It is suitable where large areas need to be covered and is ideal for rooms with an irregular shape. Using the screed as

The system installer, Gavin Thomas (pictured) of GT Heating, says he was delighted with the aftersales support JG Speedfit provided, saying that the CAD drawings he received and the on-site visits from the JG technical team helped him immensely during all stages of the project, as it was the first time he had installed a UFH system.

a heat diffuser, the pipe was secured with staples to rigid

insulation panels placed over the concrete subfloor.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Evomax delivers savings for Poole Ideal Commercial Boilers has supplied two Evomax 70kW wall hung condensing boilers on a frame and header kit to Poole Housing Partnership (PHP). They have been installed as part of a planned heating system refurbishment at the organisation’s head office in Poole.

The boilers are now delivering reliable and high efficiency heating to the five storey office building, meeting the key objectives of reducing carbon emissions and running costs, whilst optimising heating control.

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The old heating system consisted of two inefficient floor standing boilers and a complex system of 28mm copper pipes.

Richard Freeman, Building Services Manager at PHP, specified the two Evomax boilers as well as 90 Stelrad Radical radiators, situated throughout the building. “We selected the Evomax boilers as they were recommended by numerous contractors we spoke to and offered very high efficiencies,” says Richard.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Elco has supplied five R606 floor standing condensing gas boilers to a new residential regeneration project in Alperton, London.

The development, 243 Ealing Road, comprises 441 mixed tenure apartments in seven 9-14 storey contemporary glass towers, as well as 13,300ft2 of commercial space.

The boilers were specified by John Holland of Bromsgrove-based M&E engineers DW Pointer. Commenting on the project, he says: “As part of the vision of regenerating the Alperton area, all residential developments had to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, while commercial and community floor space needed to achieve BREEAM Excellent status. These requirements were instrumental in the specification of the R606 boilers. The units have emissions which easily exceed the requirements for the best BREEAM score, plus they return excellent efficiencies.” www.elco.co.uk

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Products in Action Stats suit social housing Danfoss TP5000M Si programmable room thermostats are part of the energy saving heating specification for councilowned housing managed

by Dale and Valley Homes in County Durham. The high efficiency heating controls are installed in thousands of properties to give tenants greater control of room temperatures and their energy use.

The TP5000M Si is said to offer reliability, ease of use and enhanced home comfort and economy with advanced functionality, such as chrono-proportional control.

This modulating mode

calculates how long the heating needs to stay ‘on’ to achieve optimum comfort and boiler efficiency.

Proven in ‘real world’ tests conducted by Danfoss, chrono-propor tional room temperature control can result in a potential

Time saving.

Cost cutting.

Corrosion free.

10% reduction in energy consumption by the heating system compared with a slower reacting mechanical thermostat. The Danfoss stat also features a service interval function.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.heating.danfoss.co.uk

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Stormwater’s under control The Permavoid Podium Deck system from Polypipe has been specified as part of a large scale student accommodation project in East London. The Unite Students Stratford One project will provide accommodation for over a thousand students across 28 floors.

Main contractor Westfield Construction and M&E Contractor, Dimension Data Advanced Infrastructure, engaged with Polypipe to develop a practical rainwater attenuation system to manage the site’s stormwater drainage requirements in the event of a ‘1 in 100 year’ storm event. The site has a restricted external ground area to incorporate a large buried attenuation structure.

Working closely with design consultants the Environmental Protection Group (EPG), Polypipe

supplied a two tiered Permavoid geocellular attenuation system at podium level to collect rainwater runoff from both the building roof and podium level. The podium discharge was conveyed via flow control outlets into a small 30m3 buried attenuation tank constructed with Polystorm geocellular units in order to attain the site discharge rate of 42 litres/sec.

Consisting of 85mm deep modular cells that can be interlocked to create a load supporting raft, Permavoid Podium Deck provides first stage rainwater interception and source control that can be easily integrated into an overall SUDS solution.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.polypipe.com/terrain

Leak before press indicator

Hygienic and versatile stainless steel press system.

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• Complete stainless steel fitting system - fitting & tube • Suitable for multiple applications, including potable water • Innovative O-Ring designed for permanent connections • Designed with a highly corrosion resistant material • WRAS & KIWA approved

Heavenly convection heat

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the almost silent Smith’s Caspian Universals, which plumb into all types of wet central heating systems.

The contractor has also

installed Caspians in a further three churches in the North West.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.smiths-env.com

Excellence since 1909

148 CB/UK/4.15

Smith’s Fan Convectors has provided six Caspian Universals for Christ the Servant Church of England in Digsmoor, Skelmersdale.

The contractor was Colin Wakefield of Wakefield & Wilson, Garston, Liverpool, who had already installed Smith’s fan convectors in a previous church. The church’s existing heating dated from 1972. The maintenance programme had lapsed and the heating was both noisy and ineffective for the congregation.

From a cold start, the church is now warm within 40 minutes and everyone is extremely pleased with

For further information, please visit www.conexbanninger.com, Tel: +44 (0)121 557 2831 or email: sales@ibpgroup.com ENQUIRY

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38 MERCHANT & Distributor News PTS and CPS refocus business Acquisition enhances Grafton The plumbing and heating division of Travis Perkins Group has announced a major programme that will sharpen the focus of its two merchant brands, City Plumbing Supplies (CPS) and Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS), with the aim of catering for the specific needs of customers in the domestic and contract sectors.

For CPS this means focusing on small and medium sized installers, whilst PTS extends its service to large contracts and commercial relationships. The restructure will result in 90 specialist PTS contract branches, supported by seven customer support centres, and 400 nationwide CPS branches.

Selected PTS branches will be transitioned into new CPS outlets, complete with bathroom showrooms and counters for City Heating Spares to create a stronger combined offering, whilst dedicated service centres have been launched to support PTS’s contract customers.

ENQUIRY

Grafton Group, the builders merchanting and DIY group, has acquired TG Lynes Ltd, a distributor of mechanical engineering products for use in commercial and public sector buildings, apartments and industrial processes. TG Lynes has an established position in the mechanical services market in London and the South East and

Paul Tallentire, CEO of the Plumbing and Heating Division for Travis Perkins, announces the plans for PTS and CPS

Paul Tallentire, CEO of the Plumbing and Heating Division for the Travis Perkins Group, explains the thinking behind the conversion plans: “Behind this significant investment is a simple concept for customers of both PTS and CPS. The PTS business is focusing on what it does best – world class delivery to our large contract customers.

CPS has been vastly expanded to maximise our reach for the domestic

installer and to provide them with an unrivalled range of services and product choice.”

John Frost, MD of CPS, adds: “The refurbishment of the majority of our network, plus other benefits such the creation of bathroom showrooms, the wider availability of spares, and further improvements to product availability and choice, means that our customers will have access to much more than ever before.”

trades from a distribution facility in Enfield.

The acquisition is said to enhance the Group’s presence in this segment of the merchant market and complements developments in its Plumbase Industrial business, which serves major contractors in the mechanical and electrical market.

Grafton CEO Mark Kelly says: “We are delighted to extend our offering to commercial building services and industrial process markets across the South East. This acquisition further strengthens the Group’s platform for future growth and is a significant step forward for the Plumbase Industrial business.”

Expanding showroom service Following a substantial investment, Plumb Center has announced that it plans to make a significant expansion of its bathroom showroom offering.

By summer 20 showrooms attached to existing branches will be open across the UK – giving a wide choice so installers and their clients can pick the right bathroom.

Each showroom will offer tech tips, water and energy efficiency solutions, and bathrooms to suit any budget.

“We’ve been listening to

customers,” says Plumb Center’s Richard Redfern, “and we’ve hired expert staff who talk installers’ language.

They’ll get clear trade prices

so they can focus on their bottom line. We’re also rewarding loyal customers with great discounts and excellent incentives.”

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Product Spotlight

COMPETITION

Deceptively simple – the push-fit fitting Push-fit fittings have made the installer’s life easier since their first introduction by John Guest in the 1970s, but the technology has continued to develop and now plays a crucial role in many different industries. We take a look at the evolution of the JG Speedfit range.

O

ver 40 years ago a sophisticated piece of technology was developed to address the needs of the construction industry – the invention of the plastic push-fit concept. In 2015, this simple connecting solution has penetrated a wide variety of markets including plumbing and heating, automotive, drinks dispense and water supply, and continues to adapt and evolve with new technologies including fibre optics.

John Guest initially created the pushfit fitting in the 1970s, after running his engineering company of the same name for over a decade. The original collect-gripping mechanism remains the critical component of the pushfit and serves a broad spectrum of industries, with billions of push-fit connectors in use across the globe in a wide variety of applications.

Quick and easy Increasing demands of new technologies and faster and easier installation of more reliable components has undoubtedly encouraged the adoption of push-fit fitting solutions. Introduced into the plumbing and heating sector at the Interbuild Exhibition in 1987, John Guest’s Speedfit plumbing and heating system won best product at the show and the push-fit soon began to gain exposure across different sectors.

In today’s plumbing practice the combined use of plastic pipes with push-fit fittings has become a reliable, easy and efficient way to conduct installation. The pre push-fit method of joining pipes used to be very time consuming and required a multitude of tools, yet push-fit technology reduces assembly times to a few seconds with an instant tube-coupling system.

The JG Speedfit push-fit fitting can also lay claim to being the first truly demountable and reusable product on the UK market, thanks to its simple

Win a full package of water treatment products from Adey!

Push-fit technology can achieve a reliable pipe connection in just a few seconds

twist and lock multi-sealing system.

Simple to use and easy to install, the science behind the push-fit concept is well hidden and often not fully acknowledged. Defined by three features, the JG Speedfit boasts a twist and lock cap that increases the compression on the ‘O’ ring seal around the pipe, locking it into position. Its stainless steel teeth provide a firm grip and ensure the pipe stays in place while the ‘O’ ring seal eradicates any leakage risks.

Push-fit technology also meets the specification of new-build and retrofit projects, aiding the installation of pipework alterations without the hassle of tooling or the restrictions old fashioned methods can entail. With a simple twist and lock, installation can be completed in a matter of seconds and a watertight piping system can be established.

House warming In addition, the same technology has been used to warm homes and has been used in over 30 million applications worldwide in conjunction with the Myson PPV thermostatic valve range.

Other radiator valve manufacturers have also utilised the push-fit fitting, adding a further 10 million fittings within heating installations.

The flexibility of the push-fit fitting,

reliability of performance and high quality UK engineering has ultimately contributed to the development and enhancement of other industries outside of plumbing and heating. In fact, the creation of the push-fit concept was originally to address the demand within engineering environments and quickly found its use in high-tech industries.

Going global Today the John Guest push-fit fittings are integrated in the fuel, brake vacuum, air suspension and low-pressure power steering systems of some of the leading automotive manufacturers including BMW and Ford. In global terms, over one billion John Guest automotive connectors have been used in vehicle applications over the past 30 years. The push-fit fitting also plays a key role to deliver the growing demand for fast fibre optic networks.

Specifically designed push-fit connectors for the fibre to the home market have been developed, with the connectors often used in very technically and environmentally demanding areas. Accommodating and protecting delicate fibre bundles, the original gripping mechanism remains the key feature to securing new communication lines, with over 2.5 million John Guest connectors sold in 2014 alone for use in fibre optic telecommunication networks.

One of the biggest achievements for the humble push-fit is its role within the food and beverage industry, with 10m John Guest connectors used every year in the UK beer and beverage industry.

Accommodating a vast array of industries, the plastic push-fit has come a long way. Creating a secure and adaptable fitting, the push-fit concept is a sophisticated piece of kit that may go unnoticed to many, but makes a big impact in the wider world of technology.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

Modern push-fit fittings meet the needs of a variety of applications and industries

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www.speedfit.co.uk

We’ve teamed up with Adey to offer readers the chance to win all the tools they need to cleanse, flush, maintain and protect household heating systems.

In this month’s issue (see Technical Tips, page 57) Adey’s Technical Director, Dr Neil Watson, explains the benefits of the MagnaCleanse process and the results installers can achieve when they adopt it as part of a best practice approach.

The company’s recommended best practice follows four steps: start with the introduction of an advanced strength premium cleanser, use the MagnaCleanse process for a fast and highly-effective flush, install a proven magnetic filter, and finally ensure the system is properly dosed with a quality chemical protector.

With MagnaCleanse a flush could be carried out in as little as two hours, working with MC5 Cleaner to remove virtually 100% of suspended system sludge and debris in just one pass. A MagnaClean filter can cut household heating bills by up to 6% year on year, protecting a system for the long term. Likewise, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates that using a premium chemical inhibitor, such as MC1+, can increase boiler efficiency by a further 3% and prevent up to a 15% reduction in the effectiveness of radiators – bringing greater savings for homeowners.

The prize The prize package includes Adey’s MagnaCleanse process, MC1+ Protector, MC5 RapidFlush Cleaner, market-leading MagnaClean Professional2, Rapide aerosol chemicals and demo jar.

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. So, for example, if you think the answer is ‘10%’, you should write 101 on the card. The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries received before the closing date of 30th April 2015. Only one entry allowed per person.

How much boiler debris can the MagnaCleanse process in just one pass?

(A) 10%.....101

(B) 50%.....102

(C) 100%....103

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ENQUIRY

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April 2015

ENERGY EFFICIENT Products 41

How should we define ‘smart’ technology?

Recent times have seen the introduction of an array of internet enabled controls which promise to save energy and make life easier for the end user. Martyn Bridges, Director of Marketing and Technical Support at Worcester, discusses the latest innovations in this field and questions what the term ‘smart’ should actually mean.

I

t’s an exciting time for the HVAC industry, with so many technologysavvy products entering the market over the last couple of years. One of the areas that has seen the most activity is the controls sector where the word ‘smart’ has come to be used as an adjective for a piece of technology that is internet connected.

The benefits of an internet enabled device are obvious. Interacting with thermostats via the internet or smartphone app has led to homeowners being able to Worcester’s Martyn Bridges turn heating on and off from afar, and this has so far been defined as smart. Undoubtedly, being able to turn heating off from a distance is an advantage that may save homeowners money. However, they may also end up using more energy if they start turning their heating on earlier than they would have done before, perhaps warming up their home before they return from work. This is a luxury and an exciting development for our industry, but if smart is the adjective to describe energy saving controls, then is this function alone really smart?

Other features To judge smart controls by the true meaning of the word, I’d encourage installers to look for intuitive or in-built elements which lessen the fuel consumption of the boiler as well as allowing the interaction of the end-user to operate the heating system from afar. There are other features available that enhance a control, for example the modulation of the flow and return temperatures of the boiler to make sure it condenses as much as possible. It is now possible for this to happen from a smart controller via both load and weather compensation.

Load compensation takes into account the current room temperature and only fires the boiler at the necessary level for more efficient use of fuel to maintain peak efficiency levels whilst still achieving the desired room temperatures.

Weather compensation, meanwhile, boosts efficiency even further by referencing the property’s postcode to determine local weather conditions. This negates the need to install a north facing sensor externally to the property, making installation simple too.

At Worcester, we’ve extended our controls on the

See for yourself...

Three new videos have been uploaded to Worcester’s YouTube channel to enable installers and homeowners to familiarise themselves with its range of Greenstar Comfort Controls. The videos explain the intelligent controls’ various features, while illustrating how simple they are to use. To view these and other Worcester videos, please visit: www.youtube. com/WorcesterBoschGroup

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The Wave control works with Worcester’s Greenstar boilers

Heating and hot water can be controlled via the internet

premise that not every end-user is the same, and have provided a variety of controls to enable installers to cater for different homeowner preferences. Alongside the Wave internet-connected device is the full range of Greenstar Comfort controls that can be tailored to the needs of each customer. For example, in contrast to the Wave, the Greenstar Sense controls are not internet enabled, but the room temperature control models connect to the timer using radio frequency signal rather than being hard wired.

As a boiler manufacturer accustomed to the demands of the industry, we’ve created a range that interacts with the boiler with precision, enabling the installers to match them to individual customers depending on their preference, and technological habits and abilities.

When we consider what ‘smart’ technology really is, there is a whole host of functionalities extending far beyond the ability to connect to the internet. Arguably, the compensation functions are just as smart by reducing the level of interaction required by the end-user to maximise efficiency.

Controls have moved on at a swift pace from a mere wallmounted switch to a 24 hour timer, to a full day programmer, to internet-enabled thermostats. What constitutes a truly smart device is completely subjective as things stand, so I’d encourage installers to look a bit closer at the range of controls available to make their own decision, which in turn will enable them to make bespoke recommendations to homeowners.

It is vitally important that manufacturers and installers continue to educate their customers on the benefits of using more intelligent programmers to benefit from greater comfort and the potential for reduced energy bills.

Complete systems As we mark the tenth year since condensing boilers were made mandatory and combi-boilers are now so common, the role of complete heating solutions – encompassing smart controls – seems to be more and more valuable. Additionally, the importance of systems that work well together is set to increase in September under the ErP Directive which recognises a 3% uplift for load compensating controls, a 4 % uplift for weather compensating controls, and a 5% uplift for a controller which takes temperatures from numerous areas of the house and modulates the boiler flow temperature, for example through utilising electronic TRV valves to feed back the temperatures.

From September, the ErP Directive will introduce a new requirement for labelling to be placed on all energy-related products in the domestic and light commercial heating sectors. The ultimate aim of this is to create a standard for emissions and efficiencies that needs to be adhered to and it will see manufacturers strive to design more efficient products. Manufacturers like Worcester are constantly evolving their product portfolios to create low emissions solutions, but the changes will have implications on the dialogue installers have, both with their merchants and their customers.

www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/installer

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PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

Make your home a “SMART” home For 60 years Cotherm have been manufacturing market leading hot water heating controls for you and your home

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App based for ease of control home or away Compliant with EN50440 Proven 15% more energy efficient “Saving you money”

ENQUIRY

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42 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products

Fan convectors – perfect partners Modern fan convectors can help to ensure that heat pumps operate at low temperatures and deliver the fuel efficiencies customers expect.

Jim Bennett, Sales & Marketing Director at Smith’s Fan Convectors, argues that they offer significant advantages over other heat emitters.

F

an convectors are well-known for being suited to a variety of different applications.

They are selected when radiators aren’t going to perform adequately, or in combination with radiators to provide different levels of heat, powered by a wet central heating source. In the last 12 months there have been some convincing independent tests to show that the installation of heat pumps is one instance where Jim Bennett from Smith’s fan convectors should be preferred over radiators, used to complement underfloor heating in new build projects and as a better alternative in refit.

Even before this research was made available, the MCS 021 heat emitter guide had stated quite clearly that heat pumps will perform at an optimum if used with low-temperature heat emitters, saying: ‘A fan-assisted radiator (fan convector) will have a higher heat output than a standard radiator the same size. You can therefore achieve a higher Temperature Star Rating without the heat emitter becoming too large for a room with a fixed specific heat loss’.

Aiming low There’s been an almost de facto approach to heat pump installations – new build projects equal underfloor heating, retrofit projects equal oversized radiators. The fact is that heat pumps are designed to work at low temperatures (otherwise why bother to invest in the technology?) and radiators do not effectively convect heat when the water running through them is at 45°C or lower. To compensate, radiators are specified at much larger sizes than they would

Ecovectors are designed for use in commercial applications

The Eco-Powerad provides a cost-effective heating solution

be when working with a boiler. This seems a curious state of affairs when it is much more straightforward to use fan convectors of a much more usual size to enable the heat pump to achieve efficiencies almost comparable to underfloor heating. Using a radiator of any size with a heat pump automatically reduces the heat pump’s efficiency by more than 10%.

the set temperature, it will switch off. Once the room drops below the set temperature, the fan convector will switch itself back on. Typically, a standard radiator is much slower to heat up, less responsive especially at lower temperatures, and loses around 10% of its heat to the wall it is sitting on.

Good match An example SAP calculation shows that when using an air source heat pump in combination with fan convectors in a new build, it should show at least a 12% reduction in running costs and carbon usage, when compared with an air source pump paired with radiators. By using fan convectors, the efficiencies achieved are also close to those gained by installing underfloor heating. Fan convectors are capable of working at these low temperatures by their very design.

Using forced-air convection via a small energy-efficient electric fan, they circulate heat generated from the heat pump quickly into the living space, providing almost instantaneous heat. When the room temperature reaches

Controlling your heating system has never been easier The innovative heating control app that allows you to control and simply adjust your Windhager biomass heating system everyday from any smartphone or tablet.* Easily integrated with existing Windhager systems with MES Plus controls.

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Receive push messages from your boiler (service reminders, pellet refill, boiler status) Pre-programmed functions available for automatic adjustments.

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Market confusion We find there is still much confusion about fan convectors out in the marketplace. Those who know and understand how they work specify them regularly for projects where fan convectors have much greater merit than a conventional radiator replacement. Confusion arises because of their electric motor, yet this is the way heat is forced out, rather than generated, and the humble fan convector contains a heat exchanger through which water flows – so the fan convector is hydronic, just like the humble radiator.

The difference is that fan convectors only use 5% of the water content of an equivalent output radiator.

This makes them much more responsive to changing weather patterns and, because of their small energyefficient fans to circulate heat, they can circulate this heat almost instantaneously. This provides them with other advantages. They do not need to be large in size to be able to perform economically and they can also be controlled in much more tight parameters and far more easily than by a TRV on a radiator.

They also have considerable siting advantages, because they can be positioned high on walls, embedded in ceilings, floor-mounted, or under a kitchen base unit, depending on the project and needs of the building.

Small footprint Heat pumps and fan convectors are certainly a commonsense pairing. It can be challenging to suggest a move away from radiators if that is what was previously installed, yet the efficiencies speak for themselves and I can’t help but think that anyone investing in a heat pump for their premises or home is also going to have an eye on the aesthetics of the heat emitters. Oversized radiators are not appealing, particularly when compared with modern domestic fan convectors, which are quiet, easy to install, and have a modest footprint.

With the added advantage of the higher levels of system efficiency and much more beneficial running costs for the end user, you might ask why radiators were ever in the equation in the first place. Fan convectors (or fan coils as they are sometimes called) are still a niche product in the UK heating market; air or ground source heat pumps are certainly one niche market where the fan convector should find a very welcoming home. www.smths-env.com

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25/03/2015 16:06

For UFH with optional integrated renewables we offer you loads more.

At Nu-Heat, we believe in the importance of offering fully integrated solutions. Supplying complete, technically advanced warm water UFH systems for the trade is a given, but it’s the way in which we partner with you that really sets us apart. We take pride in delivering complete renewables packages that maximise energy efficiency while our unrivalled technical support ensures complete peace of mind across all technologies no matter what your project.

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Freephone 0800 731 1976

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See our videos /nuheatuk

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Trusted in the trade.

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H E AT P U M P S

SOLAR THERMAL

24/03/2015 10:01

April 2015

44 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products

The value of smart radiator valves Whether installed throughout a building, or just in problem zones, smart radiator valves can offer a relatively simple way to reduce energy wastage. Steven Henry, Managing Director of Chalmor, explains more about the potential energy savings.

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hermostatic radiator valves have always been a useful added extra for HVAC systems, but the introduction of new smart TRVs is bringing greater efficiency through localised control within an overall system. With the emergence of new capabilities, such as occupancy sensing, smart radiator valves provide new opportunities to ‘close the loop’ to reduce energy wastage on a room-by-room or radiator-by-radiator basis in a way that would be extremely difficult to address via a central control system.

use large central plant rooms which treat the site as a single source of demand. For example, the sports facilities of a school might be in use during the evening whilst classrooms are empty. In this case there can be an ‘all or nothing’ scenario where heating has to be supplied to the whole site in order to meet the needs of one zone. In many cases a BMS (Building Management System) is able to provide an increased level of control, facilitating zone-by-zone management across the site, but this does not drill down to room-by-room control.

Challenges of use

How it works

when many of the students are away from Many buildings are subject to unpredictable or campus. Or the university library may be widely varying occupancy levels throughout open to students 24/7 during term-time, the day. In commercial buildings, architects and has to be heated or cooled at all times, are dealing with fluid working environments regardless of whether anyone is studying with less predictable usage patterns than there. This waste of energy on empty spaces the formal layouts of the past. undermines the efficiency of even the best In public sector buildings too, HVAC systems, making it more difficult to unpredictability of occupancy levels can meet financial and environmental targets. have a significant impact on the ability to Controlling the building services to deliver heating and cooling efficiently. For allow for changing occupancy patterns has example, bedrooms throughout an continued to present ECODAN student INSTALLER AD - 178x274_Layout 1 15/12/2014 08:40 Page 1 system designers with accommodation block will be heated, even challenges. It is common for properties to

It is this area of control that the smart radiator valve is able to supply. It requires a change of thinking in that it uses local sensing to trigger centralised changes, rather than using centralised control to sense local changes. The approach, however, is proving to be highly effective either as part of a newly installed system or as a retrofit ‘quickfix’ in areas identified as being subject to unnecessary wastage.

Smart radiator technology is typically designed for bolting on to existing system

designs. The Chalmor eTRV+, for example, enables individual radiators to be set to operate timed programmes to suit predictable schedules.

Reduction of temperature at a radiator level signals to the central plant that supply to the space needs to be reduced. Where the central plant room has variable speed capability and BMS, this reduces loading on energy consuming equipment such as pumps, boilers, chillers and air handling units. The overheating of radiators can be avoided and, in buildings without BMS, the ‘vicious circle’ can be broken where heating and cooling components of the system are working in opposition.

The latest products also incorporate occupancy sensing to enhance energy saving in areas with intermittent or variable use.

For example, the eTRV+ has an optional PAIR (Passive Active Infra Red) sensor and timer to automatically reduce heating when areas become unoccupied. If occupants return to the space, the radiator is automatically triggered to return the room to the set temperature. www.chalmor.co.uk PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 153

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April 2015

46 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products

Cut heating bills with modulation How important is the modulation ratio of a boiler? Neil Mattock, Marketing Director at Vokèra, takes a look at how a gas boiler modulates and why it should be considered an important factor in helping to reduce energy usage and heating costs for homeowners.

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ccording to uSwitch it is estimated that the average UK home spent £1265 on energy during 2014, so it is little wonder that homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their energy bills. An effective way to cut energy usage and reduce costs is to select a boiler with a wide modulation ratio and ensure it is working as efficiently as possible.

So, what is a modulation ratio? In simple terms, the Neil Mattock from Vokèra modulation ratio is a boiler’s ability to reduce its maximum output to its minimum output.

A narrow modulation range gives a poor ratio whereas a wide range provides a good ratio. For example, if a boiler has a maximum output of 30kW and a minimum output of 7.7kW its modulation ratio is less than 4:1. Meanwhile, an appliance with a maximum output of 30kW and a minimum output of 3kW has a wider (hence better) modulation ratio of 10:1.

Firstly, a good modulation ratio reduces constant on/off cycling, improving efficiency and boiler longevity. If a boiler has a high maximum output – let’s say 40kW – yet only has a modulation ratio of 4:1 it will only be able to modulate down to 10kW. However, when most rooms have reached the required temperature and radiator TRVs have closed, the demand on the boiler will be considerably less than 10kW. This means that the minimum output of the boiler will be higher than it needs to be, so the boiler is likely to constantly switch on and off, leading to fuel The modulation ratio of inefficiency. This will also Vokèra’s Mynute i30 system place unnecessary stress boiler has been improved on the boiler’s components and now benefits from a 10:1 and parts. modulation ratio

Modulation matters A boiler with a high maximum output and a wide modulation ratio, however, will be able to modulate down to an extremely low output, reducing wear and tear on primary components (fewer on/off cycles increase component longevity) and optimising fuel efficiency.

Secondly, an appliance (specifically combis) with a poor modulation ratio won’t be able to maintain a stable domestic hot water (DHW) flow temperature at a low flow rate, and might even cause the burner to switch off during operation. This can be a significant issue for end users who prefer showers over baths or for those who require a constant DHW outlet temperature – for example, where there are young children or elderly people in a household, who are at a higher risk of scalding.

Oversized combis Another important point regarding combis is that they are often sized according to their DHW performance, which frequently means up to 38kW for the DHW. However, space heating requirements, particularly in more recently built or well insulated dwellings, have generally decreased and can be as low 4kW. Without high modulation ratios, combis can be oversized for the space heating even at their lowest output.

At Vokèra we have made a significant investment in the development of boilers with excellent modulation ratios.

For example, our latest Unica i boilers all feature a classleading modulation ratio of 10:1. This range also incorporates weather compensation and OpenTherm technology to further enhance fuel efficiency and comfort further still.

As well as installing a boiler with a good modulation ratio, installers can also help homeowners take control of the way a home is heated. There are a vast amount of control options available and selecting the right one can be tricky.

Sometimes the all-singing, all-dancing expensive model is not what is required and simple controls, interacting directly with the boiler, will in the long run be those that save the most amount of energy and money for homeowners.

One option is an ‘intelligent control system’ or ‘modulating thermostat.’ These modulating thermostats use a protocol

Heating control at home and away A new remote heating control mobile app has been introduced by Windhager, designed to work with the company’s range of biomass boilers. The myComfort app enables homeowners to control their heating system from any recognised smartphone or tablet. The app can be retro-fitted to all Windhager boilers with MES plus controls and requires a fixed LAN cable to the householder’s router.

Whether at home or abroad, the heating system

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can be regulated from any location via any recognised smartphone.

Providing two-way communication with the boiler, messages can be received about its status, such as fuel levels, emptying the ash pan, and service reminders.

Extra pre-programmed functions, Eco or Comfort modes, can be chosen automatically when bespoke heating is not required. It is easy to set up and organise the heating programme and heating modes can be

to communicate with the boiler and are not simple ‘go-stop’ controls. Instead, they instruct the boiler on the required warmth for the flow temperature. Vokèra uses an established protocol, OpenTherm. Similar in appearance to a standard on/off stat, the key difference with OT is that it will control the boiler flow temperature precisely to match the load.

For example, if the target and actual room temperatures are far apart the unit will run the boiler at a higher temperature. Once the target and actual temperatures are closer the OT will reduce the boiler flow to a level low enough to match the heat being lost from the building, but no more. As a result the boiler runs cooler and in condensing mode more frequently.

External sensors There are also control systems that will regulate the boiler according to the outside environment. Weather compensation technology aligns the heating system flow temperature to the outside temperature, where the flow temperature increases or decreases in response to external conditions.

An external sensor communicates with the boiler directly.

The boiler responds to the information it receives from the sensor and alters its flow temperature accordingly. The installer will need to assess the property’s heating system along with its geographic location and then adjust the boiler performance to suit the situation to set the appropriate heating curve. The settings on the boiler control board can then be simply adjusted to supply the heating system with a flow temperature equivalent to provide an internal temperature of 20˚C when the weather in the area is at the lowest anticipated level. It is estimated that weather compensation will improve a property’s SAP rating by 3%.

The increasing reliability of RF technology means manufacturers are now offering RF enabled controls that can talk directly to a boiler with no need for extra wiring. By removing the hassle of adding extra wiring to the home it can make installation less disruptive to the homeowner and a quick and simple task for installers – no electrician required.

Modulation does matter and by selecting a boiler with a good modulation ratio, installers can help homeowners make significant fuel bill savings, improve comfort levels and protect the boiler from unnecessary wear and tear. www.vokera.co.uk

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New hot water thermostat

changed, such as the single domestic hot water refill mode that charges the hot water cylinder outside the usual hot water programmes.

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New from ESi is a cylinder thermostat which is claimed to offer energy savings and superior control over the temperature of water in domestic hot water cylinders.

The patented product allows water to be stored at a lower and more energy efficient temperature, but also triggers a weekly automated ‘boost’ for just one hour to ensure the elimination of any legionella bacteria. The thermostat also enables homeowners to adjust the water temperature depending on the season, saving energy by making the water a little cooler in the

summer but perhaps raising the temperature in winter.

Using the ESi CTDE Dual Thermostat, hot water can be stored at any desired temperature between 25°C and 65°C, with the confidence that the weekly boost to above

61°C will prevent legionella bacteria. The LCD display shows the current water temperature and the userdefined water temperature, whilst the red LED indicates that the unit is calling for heat.

A large dial makes it easy for the homeowner to set the required hot water temperature, whilst the second (limit) thermostat is pre-set to 80°C, with a concealed manual reset, to comply with Building Regulations and to ensure safety.

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Energy EFFICIENT Products 47 Cylinders harness Take control of heating and hot water renewable heat Torrent GreenHeat thermal stores from Gledhill have been specifically designed to offer increased performance by providing a practical and energy efficient solution to harness renewable energy and store it for when the user requires it. This energy in turn provides both heating and domestic hot water to the property.

The range incorporates five variations, ensuring a specialist solution for any configuration. Because the Torrent GreenHeat is open vented, it is safe and can be used with uncontrolled heat sources such as wood stoves, with an optional solid fuel connection available on all models.

The basic models are the Torrent GreenHeat OV for use with an open vented boiler and/or direct immersion as its primary energy source and the Torrent GreenHeat SP for use with a sealed system.

Greenstar Comfort is the name of Worcester’s new range of intelligent controls featuring an intuitive dialcontrolled menu which allows smooth navigation of all heating and hot water functions. They can be used to programme different times as well as a number of other energy saving abilities.

These controls offer wireless load compensation, which not only ensures installation flexibility without having to physically wire the unit to the boiler, but also

has the potential to reduce fuel consumption.

The new range includes three options. The first, the Greenstar Comfort twin channel programmer, is capable of delivering a different central heating and DHW programme for each

day of the week. The twin channel programmer lets users set and adjust three separate time periods for each day. The Greenstar Comfort I RF twin channel programmer offers the added benefit of a reliable radio frequency, which has a pre-

paired receiver and sender. It can also display boiler fault codes remotely.

The Greenstar Comfort II RF programmable room stat is the premium model, with additional features such as allowing the boiler’s central heating and DHW to be programmed and controlled from the stat itself. In addition, the Comfort II displays fault codes and allows installers to access the boiler’s fault history.

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Stop heat from going through the wall The range also includes the Torrent GreenHeat SOL with solar coil, while the HP operates with an air or ground source heat pump as the primary energy source.

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Providing an easy add-on to radiator installations is the Radflek Radiator Reflector. Made from laminated aluminium, the reflective sheets are said to radiate 95% of wasted heat from the rear of the radiator back into the room and reduce heat loss through the wall by 45%.

The company says its reflectors are at least 23% more efficient than saw-toothed radiator reflectors and benefit from a hardwearing protective coating to prevent the aluminium from tarnishing and losing reflectivity over time. Radflek has been independently tested by the BBA, verified by the BRE, and is approved by Ofgem for CERT scheme use. It is also an Energy Saving Trust Listed Product.

www.radflek.com

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April 2015

48 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products

Save water and save on energy Against the backdrop of depleting natural resources, installers have an active role to play in helping customers to reduce their water use and thereby also save on energy bills. Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, highlights some simple measures that could lead to significant savings.

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ur global water supply is becoming more of an issue every day. While most of the planet is covered in water, the reality is that there simply isn’t enough to go around, with many water systems worldwide already overtaxed and some having already collapsed.

Plus, with an escalating global population, there are concerns we could be heading to a crisis if things don’t change. Researchers estimate by 2030 our demand for water will outstrip reliable supply by 40%.

As such, we must take action now. On a European level, we have seen the arrival of the Water Label which aims to cut the confusion when choosing water-saving products. The label provides clear information in a simple format to help customers make an informed choice. Don’t forget you should also be sure the products you recommend are compliant with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations so they don’t risk contaminating the water once installed. Look for WRAS approved products or those listed on the KIWA UK website.

In a similar vein, the ErP Directive also comes into force this September which will see electric showers labelled based on their eco credentials. And further legislation such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and Part G of the Building Regulations have added greater focus on water responsibility in the new-build and retrofit sectors.

However, there is still much work to be done, particularly when it comes to the wider public. It seems the problem is one of national ignorance, as consumers appear to forget just how precious water is.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe

how western countries like ours can suffer.

So, how can we look to drive water-conservation more widely?

The answer lies in the costassociation. Consumers are more likely to sit up and take notice when they are hit in the pocket, so making a direct correlation between usage and cost can prove quite effective.

There’s an opportunity here for savvy plumbers to be responsible and educate homeowners on all the latest water-saving innovations and practices. And the good news is the choice of products is growing and, with the Water Label, installers can have confidence in recommending them to their customers.

It is all too easy to turn on the tap and forget about the consequences.

In fact, a recent study by the Energy Saving Trust revealed Instant savings that in the UK we use a total of In terms of what to recommend, nine billion litres of water per day, a good starting point is the use of with showers taking up a quarter flow regulators. A typical tap or of the total. The study involving shower running on mains pressure 86,000 households found that the can distribute up to 20 litres of typical shower lasts seven and a water per minute. Therefore, fitting half minutes and a flow regulator reducing this to the existing “Installers are in the time by just one system will save perfect position to minute could water instantly. save the nation Not only do promote the water £215 million on flow regulators saving message” energy bills a reduce the year. More so, water usage and three quarters of households wastage but, if installed into the frequently boil more water than mains system of a larger dwelling, they need, equating to £68 million they help to evenly distribute out in unnecessary energy bills. water. If the regulator is added Excessive water use simply to the end of a tap, it’s important isn’t sustainable given the global to tell customers to keep it situation. After all, we must clean, following manufacturer’s remember even in our developed instructions. Regulators and UK economy, water is something aerators can provide an attractive that can’t be taken for granted environment for microorganisms – we only need look at Britain’s if they are not maintained. Also drought epidemic of 2012 to see bear in mind if an aerator is added

Introducing the most energy efficient and accurate cylinder thermostat* on the market

it could pay dividends to check all parts are working properly and not leaking.

With a growing population and limited water, water efficiency is becoming more important year on year and, as an industry, we all have a role to play in taking action today. As the first port of call for the consumer, installers are in the perfect position to promote the water-saving message and make informed product recommendations. This may mean added learning and research, but it will pay dividends in the long-run – ensuring they remain in the fast lane ahead of competition as the necessity for water-saving grows.

About WaterSafe Backed by UK water suppliers, WaterSafe is a national plumbing assurance scheme which aims to provide recognition for competent plumbers and assurance to customers. For more information please visit: www.watersafe.org.uk

The CTDE Dual Thermostat* is a revolutionary energy efficient product, designed and manufactured by ESi controls and specified by the main house builders and top cylinder manufacturer.

* Patent Pending

For more information call 01280 816 868 or visit www.esicontrols.co.uk ENQUIRY

48 (WAS 50).indd 1 ESi Controls CTDE QTR PAGE V4.indd 1

to a bi-flow tap, it may require additional backflow protection.

In addition, many people may not realise toilets are one of the big water wasters in homes and business premises, accounting for nearly 30% of household water consumption. Cistern Displacement Devices (CDDs) are a very simple solution which will reduce the toilet flush to one litre per flush.

Fitting one of these devises could save homeowners up to 5000 litres of water a year. But be careful – these devices are not suitable for newly installed toilets that have a reduced flush capacity.

Equally, it is important to get the basics right. For example, fixing a leaky tap straight away could save the homeowner 5500 litres of water annually, while switching a normal shower head to an aerated shower head will reduce water consumption without compromising water flow.

In addition, household appliances can also be big water wasters so

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Features include Easy to use and quick to install Accurate temperature control Double insulated Pre-set limit/safety thermostat prevents overheating Automatic weekly one hour override kills legionella bacteria 23/03/2015 12:19 08/03/2015 21:44

April 2015

Electric radiators fit right in The Digi-Line range of electric radiators from Electrorad is said to offer an efficient and easy-to-control alternative to traditional central heating.

Available in similar types and sizes as standard radiators, and complete with the same mounting brackets, the DigiLine range offers a total of 20 models, all manufactured in the UK. Models are available in 300 and 500mm heights and power ratings from 500 to 2000W. For accurate temperature control, the Digi-Line thermostat senses room temperature below the radiator where it is at its lowest and there is no heat from the radiator to affect the reading. Each thermostat also has an inbuilt radio frequency receiver,

so central control is easy to achieve by using an optional four zone radio frequency central programmer.

An optional central programmer is battery powered and uses RF signals to communicate with the radiators, so no wiring is required. Suitable for wall mounting, every radiator can have different temperature settings and every zone a different operating time.

Electrorad MD Richard Brown says: “In terms of energy saving features alone, Digi-Line sets itself apart. As well as featuring an advanced central programmer, each radiator boasts an energy saving open window feature, a surface temperature control and a double panel radiator smart control. All this from a 13 Amp connection.”

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Complete control in one unit The Sensys is a remote control and system interface unit specifically designed for use with Ariston’s range of Evo boilers. Available individually or as part of the Ariston Advance scheme, Sensys’s smart interface offers simple and efficient room temperature adjustment and domestic hot water (DHW) control.

The control has been designed to enhance a heating system’s efficiency and is capable of managing up to three separate heating zones. The device is said to offer easy system configuration and management while providing full system con-

trol from a single unit. Plus, there is no requirement for Part P compliance due to the use of a volt-free two

core cable. A colour coded plug is supplied to ensure the correct connections to the PCB. All controllers utilise wireless BUS BridgeNet

technology and feature a large, easy-to-read backlit display. There are a number of functions available, such as a modulating room sensor, night setback and a seven-day programmer.

Other key features include visualisations of the solar kWh storage and carbon savings, alongside modulating thermoregulation and automatic temperature regulation.

There are also daily and night room temperature settings, as well as a weekly programmer for heating and hot water.

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Water heater that is ErP compliant With the Government’s Energy related Products (ErP) Directive coming into force later this year, Andrews Water Heaters is highlighting the ECOflo, a legislation-ready product with ultra-low NOx emissions. The fully condensing direct fired unit incorporates a downward firing pre-mix power burner for an environmentally friendly and cost effective operation up to 98% efficient.

Designed for high demand applications, the ECOflo delivers hot water recovery rates of up to 1900 litres an hour. Available in eight outputs from 36 to 119kW and a tank capacity of 230 or 380 litres, it is suitable for a wide range of commercial applications. With natural gas and LPG models too, the ECOflo is also suitable for off mains gas applications.

The tanks are lined with highly thermally efficient Vitraglas, which is protected by factory-installed maintenance-free Correx anodes, and is said to reduce service time and costs. Meanwhile a Hydrojet sediment reduction system improves performance and prolongs the life of the product.

Grant Spira.

The high efficiency condensing biomass boiler.

With outputs from 6kW to 72kW, the unique Grant Spira Wood Pellet Boiler range combines easy installation with straightforward daily operation and low maintenance.

• MCS approved

Awarded Best Renewable Energy Product 2011 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Spira range provides a highly efficient, convenient and environmentally friendly way of heating a property.

• Modulating burner

• Automatic pellet feed and ignition • Award winning condensing heat exchanger

• Flue box with integral fan/ draught stabiliser • Automatic wash system for condensing unit

MCS CERTIFICATE BBA 0121

eering n i g n E t ing • Gran k n i h t t a e r cts • G Green produ

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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For further information visit: www.grantuk.com or call our sales team: +44 (0)1380 736920 ENQUIRY

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50 ENERGY EFFICIENT Products

Efficient solution for community housing Are Thermal Interface Units (TIUs) part of the solution to help Government meet targets for affordable housing and energy efficiency? Carsten Schlemm from Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) highlights some of the cost-saving benefits of the company’s new range which has been specifically developed to meet the needs of the UK market.

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laying a part in tackling global warming issues has always been high on the agenda for the UK, but combine this issue with our increasing population and high property prices and it results in a substantial demand for high efficiency, affordable homes.

Already, the number of affordable new homes is falling short of government targets, partly due to the cost and availability of land for building. Local Authorities are therefore electing to invest in urban regeneration and multi-occupancy building projects in order to keep up with demand.

Traditionally in the UK, housing stocks have been built with individual gas combi boilers located in each apartment.

Conversely, across mainland Europe CHN’s – Community Heating Networks – (or District Heating Systems as they were previously known), have long been the solution to provide heating and hot water in large community developments, with a centralised energy centre coupled with a low temperature hot water network.

In recent years we have seen a resurgence of CHN developments in the UK as the available technology improves and becomes more popular in helping comply with current legislation for energy efficiency and reduced emissions.

Heat transfer Thermal Interface Units (also known as Heat Interface Units) work on a heat transfer basis, transmitting heat from the primary network supply (which has been heated from the central energy centre) via heat exchangers inside the TIU to the secondary side. One heat exchanger supplies the space heating radiator circuit and the second heat exchanger instantaneously heats the domestic hot water.

As a result, TIUs are highly efficient, environmentally friendly and can contribute to achieving a ‘zero carbon’ rating. They do not require a gas supply into the apartment or any external flues, which is particularly good news for architects who are free to design aesthetically pleasing, stylish buildings without the usual planning constraints of gas applications.

The use of TIUs is also welcome news for specifiers and contractors. Installation time, material costs and maintenance are significantly reduced as copper pipework

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Local authorities are investing in multi-occupancy buildings

RWC’s Radiance TIU is designed and manufactured in the UK

corrugated stainless steel to enable full flexibility and further reduce heat loss. Pipe connections are only made using union fittings to ensure complete reliability and easy maintenance. The clean manufacturing process where Growing demand connections are made without soldering or welding negates The market for TIUs is predicted to increase in volume by a the need for flushing the unit during commissioning and compound annual 16% in the next few years, with sales in mitigates against contamination.

2017 ranging between 45,000 to 50,000 units. In response to Radiance TIUs also incorporate a patented spring loaded this demand we have now a UK designed expansion vessel, which is maintenanceand manufactured thermal interface unit. free and offers unrivalled extended “Installation time, Our new Radiance range consists of three lifetime high performance. All Radiance material costs and instantaneous domestic hot water models, TIUs are fully traceable with a unique two stored water units and a cooling unit maintenance are serial number marked on every unit, which are 100% pressure tested prior to making routine maintenance or repairs significantly reduced” despatch to meet the bespoke needs of easy to track. individual project requirements.

A number of additional options can also The Radiance TIUs are designed with whole system be included, such as a first fix rail, flushing by-pass valve, efficiency in mind. The units are ‘demand controlled’ which pre-payment meter or an ultra-sonic heat meter with m-bus ensures water only flows through the unit when there is interface which measures the individual apartment’s heat a requirement for heat or hot water. This minimises the usage and can be read via radio frequency without the need potential for limescale build up, prolongs system longevity to enter the property and disturb residents. and reduces standing heat loss.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.rwc.co.uk 163 All internal pipework is made from fully insulated and flues are no longer needed. The need to conform to Gas Safe or FGAS regulations in the apartment is also completely removed.

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Energy EFFICIENT Products

Controls are key to managing energy

Heater will warm large spaces Ideal for large spaces such as schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories and churches, the Rinnai Energysaver 309FTR fanned convection powered flue space heater is claimed to deliver major efficiencies in operation. The easy to install units provide warm air without the use of central ductwork or domestic heating circuits.

The units, encased in a low surface temperature casing to avoid any risk of burns, are swift to warm up and easy to control. They are available with infrared remote control, a 24 hour digital dual timer with intelligent features, self diagnostics and a self learning pre heat time. Fully modulating burners means heat output is reduced as the space warms up.

The smallest space heater in the Energysaver range, the 309FTR unit has an output of 2.92kW and measures 695 x 465 x 257mm. It has a maximum flue length of 7m. The Energysaver 556 and 1004T complete the range, all available in both natural gas and LPG options.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.rinnaiuk.com

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Half the energy of a conventional rad The Contract range from Infrarad is capable of providing infrared heating that consumes half the energy required to run conventional radiators. The range includes three hardwired models, available in output ratings of 500W, 800W and 1kW and the option of a plain gloss white or gloss black finish (pictured).

These products use radiant the solid objects they land requirement for heat is based heat, meaning the energy on. The company points out on 50W/m3 but with infrared is emitted in the form of that a traditional method of radiators only 25W/m3 is SALUS PHAM Ad 292mm wide x 198mm high_Layout 1 12/03/2015 13:06 Page 1 infrared rays which heat only calculating a standard room’s required. So if a room needs

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2kW of standard gas and electric convector radiators, then it will only need a 1kW radiant model.

Together with the more conventional looking flat versions, one portable model has a convex curved surface and is available with power outputs of either 250 or 350W. Infrarad says that the expected minimum working life of all these radiators is 100,000 hours.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.infrarad-heating.com

Control your heating from anywhere via your Smartphone, Tablet or PC

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Horstmann is highlighting the difference that a controls package – such as a TPI room thermostat, TRVs on radiators and a timer fitted to a condensing boiler – can make to a home’s energy consumption. The UK manufacturer offers a wide range of programmers, timers, thermostats and system accessories to meet these requirements.

The company offers a choice of controls, from the C-Stat combined programmer and room thermostat, to the CentaurPlus timer/thermostat combination, and the recently introduced HRT range of room thermostats (all with TPI software) that are available in a number of installation options.

TPI provides highly accurate temperature control in room thermostats and programmers and an optimum start feature that allows a programmer to anticipate the next set temperature and switch on the central heating up to two hours in advance. For easy installation and upgrading, Horstmann has also developed a full programme of advanced wireless controls. www.horstmann.co.uk

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iT500 Smartphone Controlled Thermostat

Simple to install and easy to use.

Total control at your fingertips.

Download the FREE App

www.salus-tech.com 51 (WAS 53).indd 1

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April 2015

52 STOVES & BIOMASS Systems

Adding up all the benefits of biomass Since its launch in April last year, the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive has helped to generate a rise in demand for biomass and other renewable systems, but how can the industry continue to make renewables an attractive proposition once the funding’s run out? Simon Holden, co-founder of Euroheat, considers some of the arguments.

T

he domestic RHI is proving popular, encouraging many homeowners to switch to greener ways of heating their homes. Statistics from DECC show that 75% of installations are displacing fossil fuel heating, making a significant carbon saving.

At the moment, it’s mainly homeowners that are taking up the RHI, with a small level of interest in the social housing sector of just 8%. In February DECC announced Simon Holden from Euroheat that the requirement for a Green Deal Assessment was going to be removed for social landlords, which should go some way to encouraging this group to take the RHI plunge. With many social housing properties home to vulnerable, cash-poor groups, switching to more cost-effective forms of heating has got to be a positive.

Other changes In addition to making it easier for social landlords, other changes brought in at the start of the year included making cooker stoves eligible, as well as high temperature heat pumps. Cooker stoves installed from August 2014 onwards can apply – they have until July to do so. Any biomass cooker stoves commissioned since this new rule was introduced have 12 months from the commissioning date to apply.

The scheme rules surrounding properties made up of

3 Offer the complete range of wood log boilers 3 Two complete ranges Angus Super and Angus Orligno 200 3 Output range 18kW, 25kW, 40kW, 60kW, 80kW, 96kW and 130kW 3 Products fully MCS certified 3 Grants available under Renewable Heat Incentive 3 92% Heat Efficiency 3 Significantly reduce heating costs 3 Incorporate into existing heating system

www.ecoangus.co.uk 01934 862642 ENQUIRY

Euroheat’s showroom and training facility in Bishops Frome

The dual fuel TDA Thermodual boiler available from Euroheat

more than one building were also clarified. In most cases, the following set-ups are eligible for the domestic RHI: • Properties with a home office within a house • Properties with annexes attached to the house • Properties with a main house and a self-contained outbuilding (with its own bathroom and kitchen), both heated by a renewable heating system Properties with a main house and other outbuildings all heated by a renewable heating system may not be eligible for the domestic RHI, but should be covered by the nondomestic version.

Legacy applicants will have until 8th April to make their applications, including individuals and landlords who have received the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP).

After the RHI

The domestic RHI’s intention is to kick start interest in renewables in people’s homes, as it has done in the commercial market. But, as we’re seeing already, tariffs are reducing and eventually money will run out. The next challenge is to keep people’s interest in renewables, a challenge which in part falls on the shoulders of installers.

There are plenty of reasons why going green should be Approved suppliers attractive to end users after the RHI’s funds have run out.

From 5 October 2015, biomass systems will need to be The most obvious one is cost cutting. According to the fuelled by suppliers from an approved list to ensure they Energy Saving Trust, if a biomass boiler is used to replace must meet lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets an old electric heating system, for example, this could of 60% savings against the EU fossil fuel average, and land save around £650 a year in fuel bills. While we all know criteria. For wood fuel, this is set out by the UK Timber the price of oil has come down of late, it will undoubtedly Standard for Heat and Electricity. go up again. Wood presents a much more stable option in Producers and traders of authorised fuels, as well as self- terms of cost (and availability), ideal for customers with suppliers of wood biomass can apply to an eye to the future. register their fuels. Once fully authorised, Stability is also key when it comes “We have a ready traders’ fuels will be listed on a public to fuel security. The UK can no longer supply of wood, with register (which will be made available meet its own fuel demand. Whilst coal once a sufficient number of traders have reserves are still potentially available, oil much of it currently joined up). Where fuels are sourced from and gas are increasingly sourced from going to waste” a client’s land, they can register on the politically and economically unstable list as a self-supplier. areas of the world. We have a ready supply of wood, with much of it currently going Alternatively, a report will have to be submitted quarterly to Ofgem, detailing the sustainability to waste, ending up in landfill or rotting on the forest floor of fuel used. In the commercial sector, installations over of unmanaged woodland.

With all these benefits, not to mention carbon cutting, 1MW will also have to provide an annual independent it’s not surprising that renewables are making properties audit including details of the fuels used over the last year. more desirable and therefore more valuable. In a Federation The Approved Biomass Suppliers List will hopefully go of Master Builders (FMB) survey it was found that three some way to ensuring fuel quality and, as a consequence, quarters of potential buyers are attracted to a home with boiler efficiency – something we’re passionate about at eco-features.

One in three thought green technology added Euroheat. value to a home and one in five stated a house with ecoTariff reductions features was more ‘up-to-date’. Choosing renewables, In January the biomass tariff fell to 10.98p per kilowatt hour therefore, should be viewed as a way to future-proof the and at the end of February the ‘super trigger’ degression saleability of a property.

For domestic installers trained in renewables, now was passed, meaning a further 20% drop to 8.93p/kWh for all new applications made from 1 April 2015. The tariffs is a golden opportunity to take advantage of a buoyant for air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and marketplace, and as the saying goes, ‘make hay while the solar thermal were not affected and legacy applications sun shines’, or in the case of biomass ‘the wood burns.’ remain at the original 20%.

www.euroheat.co.uk

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STOVES & BIOMASS Systems 53 Steel construction sets stoves apart

Good for logs and pellets The latest addition to Windhager’s lineup is the DuoWIN, a hybrid biomass boiler that enables the use of either logs or pellets. An intelligent switching detects when the wood gassifier is in burnout and switches to pellet operation, either automatically or at a desired time.

The DuoWIN system is based on two of Windhager’s biomass boilers, the compact log boiler LogWIN Klassik and the compact BioWIN 2 wood pellet boiler. It takes up only 4.19m² of space.

It’s available as either a comfort

or energy optimised variant, and a PowerBoost function can meet shortterm higher heat demands up to 56kW. With the energy optimised version, the unit’s pellet operation is up to 25% more efficient than conventional combination boilers. Available in four models from 33 to 56kW output, the DuoWIN has a filling volume of 145 litres for 50cm split logs and 164 litres of wood pellets. The unit also has two independent heat exchanger systems which ensure maximum reliability.

www.windhager.co.uk

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High efficiency that’s clean burning The Bellingham range of multifuel stoves from Dimplex combine stylish design and high efficiency with robust, steel body construction. The range of four models from 5 to 12kW output offers efficiency up to 85%.

The design of the cast iron door features a large, unobstructed view of the flames which is kept clear by an airwash and the 8mm thick steel body construction ensures durability. The handles are fitted with stay-

cool sleeves whilst top and rear flue positions provide maximum flexibility of installation options.

Three freestanding models, the 5SE, 8 and 12, offer a single air control with different settings for wood burning

More than just good looks Available from Specflue is a wide range of pellet boilers and stoves for domestic applications. The range includes MCZ Hydro products which can be connected to the central heating system to provide both heating and hot water to the home.

The MCZ Duo Hydro (pictured) is a pellet stove which heats both the air in the room it is installed (through forced draught) as well as the water in radiators. With a heat output of up to 22.3kW, it comes in

a steel design with ceramic top and sides and delivers 93% energy efficiency.

The Duo won the Pellet or

Wood Chip Boiler Appliance of the Year Award at last year’s Hearth & Home Exhibition and qualifies for the domestic RHI. Specflue also offers a range of training courses for installers who are interested in fitting biomass heating systems. A new dedicated training website (s p e c f luet r a i n i ng.c om) provides information on course content and makes it easy to book a place online.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

specflue.com

and solid fuel, with a twoposition grate which can be set for fuel type. A rear air inlet gives users the option to use direct outside air supply, which means there is no need for additional room ventilation where Building Regs allow.

The Bellingham 5SE is Defra-exempt, which means it can be used for wood burning in Smoke Control Areas.

Freestanding models are also available in 8 and 12kW. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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With six new models in Aga Stoves’ range of Scandinavian inspired wood burning models, there is an extensive range of outputs for a variety of room sizes. The Dorrington, Hadley, Hanwood, Lawley, Shawbury and Westbury benefit from steel construction rather than the more traditional cast iron.

Commenting on the new models, Aga Stoves’ Marketing Manager Nigel Morrison says: “The new wood burners have proved to be a great addition and have opened up the Aga range to a new market, where homeowners are looking for a centrepiece to their room, as well as a reliable and powerful heat emitter.

“Having seen the positive reception to the new models, we are already planning to introduce new stoves to our portfolio, blending the latest styling with the high quality construction customers expect from Aga.” The Hanwood (pictured) is raised from the floor on two steel legs, which also provide handy storage for logs.

The stove has a nominal heat output of 6kW and an efficiency of 80%, ensuring more than enough power for large family rooms. www.agaliving.com

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Euroheat

The UK’s leading biomass solutions provider High quality HDG and SHT biomass boilers from 10 kW to 1 MW

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Housing biomass outdoors The SpiraPod Outdoor Boiler Housing is made for Grant’s Spira condensing biomass boilers to give greater installation flexibility.

The fully weatherproof housing accommodates Spira models from 5 to 36kW and is suited for where space is at a premium. It has the additional benefits of a 190kg integral hopper and it neatly houses both the Grant wood pellet vacuum and sealed system kit.

“The Grant SpiraPod is a ready-made home for our Spira boilers, meaning the appliances can be sited outdoors, safe from the elements and easy to access for maintenance and cleaning,” explains Anna Wakefield, Marketing Manager for Grant UK. “At Grant, we are working hard to make biomass boilers a viable alternative for home heating and the SpiraPod is yet another novel Grant product that will help tick that box for both installers and homeowners.”

ENQUIRY No. 172 www.grantuk.com

Applications for the home, industry and commercial premises

01885 491100

www.euroheat.co.uk ENQUIRY

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54 STOVES & BIOMASS Systems

The future is bright for biomass Demand for biomass has risen significantly since the launch of the domestic RHI last year, but will its popularity continue when there are less financial rewards? Sue Bennett, MD of Bentley Fire Shop, discusses the UK market and what the future might bring.

D

espite the recent reductions in store, which not only reduces the amount of gas and oil prices, the long term intervention by the owner, but also allows cost of heating remains a major the fuel to be bought in larger volumes for issue across the UK, accounting for a large better economy. proportion of both household and business With financial benefits through the budgets. However, with the introduction of RHI, there is now more than ever before the domestic and non-domestic Renewable an extensive range of biomass products Heat Incentive (RHI), the mass take up of available on the UK market. However, the renewables has finally taken hold. So where recent degression in the government scheme does biomass heating fit into the mix, and has affected the longer term benefits of how does it really stack up against other certain technologies, so these need to be forms of renewable heating? carefully considered at the specification Well, on the domestic side, a cursory stage. For this reason, it is important that glance back at 2014 will highlight it as the installers are fully aware of the advances breakthrough year for biomass, with over in biomass technology and how each type 6300 biomass installations approved one is best applied to individual installations. year on from the RHI’s inception. On its own Great outdoors this figure might not resonate, but when One such product that continues to perform you look at where biomass sits in the whole well in both the domestic and commercial domestic market, it is on course to become sectors is the outdoor wood gasification the favoured choice of renewable heat – boiler. Certainly as far as the RHI degression having overtaken solar thermal at the end is concerned, these log boilers (such as the of last year and grown at a rapid rate since.

Two 75kW E-Classic outdoor boilers supplied by Bentley Fire Shop for a country house in Essex MCS approved E-Classic 1450 from Bentley There are also plenty more applications Secondly, a biomass system is relatively simple to operate Fire Shop) have a distinct advantage if the fuel is readily in the pipeline as on and off-gas households invest in sustainable alternatives. And if we take the non-domestic and easy to live with, making it an excellent alternative available, as the overall running costs are dramatically RHI as an indicator – where biomass accounts for over to the more traditional methods of heating. Generally, reduced.

Also, unlike pellet and wood chip units which require 90% of all RHI installations – it is likely that its domestic most biomass systems are quite straightforward to run counterpart will continue to grow from strength to strength. or operate and, when commissioned and maintained a housing for the unit and fuel store, outdoor models are correctly, will continue to operate for the same lifecycle specifically designed to be sited away from the property and Little and large open to the elements. Wood gasification (if not longer) as most traditional heating But why is biomass technology proving to be so popular? appliances. units are also incredibly efficient (over “Outdoor wood Firstly, the fact that it can be installed into such a diverse 90%), as they are designed to utilise number of buildings is one of its strongest selling points. For Advanced controls gasification boilers a unique process of heat generation residential property, size is not an issue for the technology, When it comes to levels of controllability, which forces hot gases from the burning cause minimal with powerful units capable of providing ample heating biomass appliances are without doubt a wood into a reaction chamber to reach disruption to the and hot water for all the occupants’ needs. Elsewhere, true comparison to their non-renewable temperatures over 1000°C. Such units biomass is regularly found in commercial applications, counterparts. That’s certainly the case also allow rural domestic or commercial existing setup” such as schools, village halls, nurseries, farm buildings or for wood pellet boilers, which house an property owners to install a biomass even zoos. Prior to the uptake of biomass in such buildings, integrated auger and advanced controls where fuel is heating system with minimal disruption to the existing most would have been utilising the more recognised fossil carefully regulated to the burner in order to match heat setup, keeping a boiler as a backup if necessary.

A further advantage of wood gasification units is their fuelled boilers, where annual running costs have been demand from the boiler. For commercial applications, somewhat prohibitive. this can be further automated with fuel from a bulk fuel ability to burn wood logs, which makes the system an extremely attractive proposition for rural properties that have good access to felled timber. Plus, should the RHI cease in the future, they will still remain an incredibly cost effective means of heating a property or commercial The total cost, including building.

A biomass solution from the installation of the Eco Angus has helped a Better understanding system, was £15,000. Since family halve its fuel bills having the boiler installed, An important aspect in ensuring biomass remains a reliable and benefit from a far more their annual fuel cost has and trusted heat source is in the training of individuals efficient heating solution for halved and they receive an and installers by raising the general understanding of their five bedroom home average of £1848 in non- the technology. This will ultimately improve the lack of and office. domestic RHI payments for specialist knowledge and promote take up of the systems The house, single glazed the 21,000kW hours used on offer. And with this better understanding and enhanced and with solid walls with product knowledge comes great rewards in the form of each year. no space for insulation, Based on these figures, savings and paybacks for end users. had previously been Notwithstanding the obvious benefits of the Renewable the Eco Angus boiler will relying on oil for heating, Heat Incentive scheme, biomass will remain one of the have paid for itself within hot water and cooking. most efficient and cost effective renewable technologies Renewable Heat Incentive. just over five years, with the Their first remedial steps The solution for domestic and commercial applications, thanks to its Commenting on the new homeowners still receivincluded double glazing Following research of the excellent reliability and operating longevity. Armed with the windows and installing market, the homeowners heating system, the home- ing RHI payments. If they an electric cooker, solar decided to add an Angus owner says: “The boiler is used their full allowance a more informed and technically knowledgeable audience, thermal and PV, as well Orligno 200 40kW log boiler very efficient – there’s plenty of a maximum of 52,560kW uptake of the technology is sure to remain strong, and as a wood-burning stove. for an eco friendly solution. of hot water and the house hours, the time taken for the it’s safe to say the future of biomass heating still looks However, even with all The system was installed is now nice and warm. It boiler to pay for itself would very encouraging indeed.

To find out more about the solutions from Bentley Fire Shop, these improvements the three years ago, and the has definitely been value be just under three years. please enter the number below. buildings were still difficult couple receives payments for money, especially with PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 173 www.ecoangus.co.uk PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.bentleyfireshop.co.uk 174 and expensive to heat. through the non-domestic the RHI payments.”

Log boiler slashes rural heating costs

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WHAT’S New 55 Corrosion resistant, flexible radiators Magnetic filter for large applications The new Zmart Flex from Zehnder is a flat panel radiator that is said to combine performance, comfort and sustainability with style and ease of installation.

Different to a pressed steel panel, the Zehnder Zmart Flex is manufactured from polybutane, a hard wearing polymer, and comprises a network of plastic tubes configured behind an aluminium front casing. The use of these materials means the radiator is as much as 60% lighter than a traditional pressed steel panel, improving its manageability.

This means the Zmart Flex can be lifted, positioned and installed by a single person at all times. Zehnder says this has the potential to save 33% in transport and labour costs on site and to minimise the risk of injury.

When it comes to installation the Zmart Flex can be fitted with a bracket assembly that caters for varied locations and mountings, plus patented 360º flexible flow and return tubes that fit all connections no matter where the pipework is situated. This

not only provides extra freedom when planning a new installation, but also takes the aggravation out of radiator replacement in refurbishment projects.

Because the product is made from plastic components, the radiator does not itself corrode,

Precise control over UFH Designed for use with water based UFH, the BasicPlus2 room thermostats from Danfoss provide precise control over room temperature while optimising the system’s energy consumption. The range includes Dial, Digital Display and Programmable Digital Display models.

The wall-mounted Dial version has a simple green/ red light display to indicate whether there’s a heat demand. In addition, the setting scale on the Dial version includes a frost symbol, which maintains the room temperature at around 5°C. The Digital Display and the Programmable variants

have an LCD display and are equipped with floor sensor terminals, enabling control of maximum floor temperature to reduce the risk of overheated floors.

Both models offer selectable room and floor temperature control modes, together with an advanced programmable

www.heating.danfoss.co.uk

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Blade action cleans completely With the launch of the new AquaBlade toilet system, Ideal Standard claims to offer the best flushing performance at low water volumes. The technology uses an engineered system

of channels to create a cascading wall of water from the top of the bowl opening and two powerful plumes to energise the flush action.

The manufacturer points out that in traditional

modern toilets approximately 20% of the bowl remains unwashed after flushing, with the back ‘dirty zone’ of the WC in particular typically not washed properly. However, AquaBlade washes 100% of surfaces beneath the slot and cleans every part including the back of the WC, ensuring a pristine bathroom. The design, with no over-hanging rim, sees all surfaces exposed to make it easier to clean.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.ideal-standard.co.uk

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Keeping it quiet

timer.

A temperature calibration function allows the temperature set-point to be adjusted to compensate for a possible temperature difference between the thermostat and, for example, the centre of the room.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

nor does it suffer the consequences of corrosion.

Even when installed within a system with poor quality water, Zehnder says the efficiency of the Zmart Flex will not be impaired.

As a result it comes with a full 10 year guarantee, providing peace of mind that the radiators will operate effectively for many years to come.

Available in a range of 63 sizes and tested to EN442 requirements, the Zehnder Zmart Flex achieves heat outputs of between 124 to 2621W. It is suitable for use with renewable energy sources and is claimed to have a 25% lower environmental impact than standard radiators, making it a practical solution to indoor climate control.

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Quite operation is promised with the Silavent Sapphire range of bathroom and kitchen intermittent extract fans and Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) units from Polypipe Ventilation.

The range features axial and centrifugal dMEV, and intermittent axial, in-line and centrifugal bathroom and kitchen fans.

These fans are available as both standard and Green Line energy efficient models, with low Specific Fan Powers (SFP) to comply with Building Regulations at an attractive price point, making them suitable for new builds as well as replacements for homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint. They operate down to 12dB(A) for dMEV and 32dB(A) for intermittent extract fans.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.polypipe.com/ventilation

The Fernox TF1 Delta Filter has been specifically designed to protect the vital and expensive components in large volume and low temperature commercial heating and cooling systems.

The TF1 Delta Filter uses three methods of filtration – magnetic, hydrocyclonic and automatic or manual deaeration – to deliver an efficient, effective and wellprotected system.

The magnetic filtration is powered by a high grade, high temperature rated neodymium magnet. System water is fed to the magnet via the hydrocyclonic action created within the filter design, the same that is used in the TF1 Total Filter.

In addition, the TF1 Delta Filter has the ability to automatically or manually deaerate the trapped air in the system depending on the system design or preference.

The filter is made from high quality, nickel-plated brass alloy and comes with all the necessary valves and brackets. It can be installed horizontally or vertically in four different orientations and there is no need to remove the filter from the pipework when cleaning it.

Suitable for both new and existing installations, the TF1 Delta Filter provides a solution for large volume

heating and cooling systems such as zoned or cascade systems, incorporating a low loss header or plateto-plate heat exchanger. It can be installed onto 2in. pipework and fitted onto larger pipework sizes using a bypass.

A non-combustible Fernox TF1 Delta Filter thermal jacket is also available. This will improve the energy efficiency of the system and provide a thermal barrier for installers to ensure high levels of safety.

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www.fernox.com

CLIMAFLEX®

Flexible closed cell polyethylene pipe insulation

• • • • •

Ideal for frost protection and energy conservation ODP of ZERO Thermal Conductivity of 0.034 W/mK at 0°C Large range of sizes available in 1m & 2m lengths Made in the UK we will succeed together

nmc (uk) ltd.

Tredegar, Gwent NP22 3AA Tel: 01495 713266 Fax: 01495 713277 E-mail: enquiries@nmc-uk.com

181 ENQUIRY

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April 2015

COMPETITION

WHat’s New

Win an Xpelair Simply Fast track electric UFH system Silent Contour Fan – there’s 20 to be won!

This month we’ve teamed up with Xpelair to offer readers the chance to win the new Xpelair Simply Silent Contour Fan, independently tested to be the quietest bathroom fan on the market.

Featuring Xpelair’s brand new Ghost Air Movement Technology, the Simply Silent collection raises the bar for domestic ventilation technology. It uses the latest innovations in ventilation technology to combine high performance, near-silent running and So Simple Installation.

Fan noise comes from both the motor and the movement of air. To combat this, Ghost Air Movement Technology uses long-life silent running motors and precision engineered components to avoid mechanical noise, whilst advanced air flow management eliminates irregular air flow paths and turbulence. As a result, under independent testing Simply Silent has recorded a sound pressure level of just 16dBA at 15 litres/sec.

The Vario PRO from Thermogroup UK is a system that combines electric underfloor heating cables with an uncoupling, crack isolation and waterproofing membrane.

It enables installers to prepare difficult substrates, prevent tile delamination and install a flexible electric underfloor heating system in one process.

Applying the membrane combined with uncoupling technology means the floor will be warm and comfortable thanks to the electric underfloor heating and, because of the uncoupling membrane, there will be no cracking issues in the tiles or grouting later down the line.

Installation of Vario PRO begins with fixing the Vario

ProMat membrane to the floor using a flexible tile adhesive and then laying the electric underfloor heating cable into the grooves in the matting until it has covered the desired heated area. Tiles can then be laid directly over the uncoupling membrane

and underfloor heating cable.

Alternatively, a 10mm layer of self levelling compound could be laid, followed by installation of a compatible carpet, vinyl or engineered timber floor finish.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.thermogroupuk.com

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Better air in apartments

It also offers So Simple Installation, with a range of smart and innovative features for quick, simple and fuss-free fitting – giving a win-win situation for installer and customer.

We are giving away 20 4in/100mm AC Simply Silent Contour Fans with timer and square fascia, worth £49.99. But even if you don’t win, you can still reap the rewards of the Xpelair Simply Silent family.

The collection already includes the AC fan with square or round fascia, available

in four models: standard, timer, pullcord and humidistad with timer.

Xpelair has also launched a Constant Volume (CV) range incorporating Intelligent Adaptiflow Sensing, available with square or round fascia in 240V or low voltage 24V models.

Further additions to the family will be coming soon, including the Simply Silent DX range with a more traditional grillestyle fascia, and a collection of Simply Silent shower fans.

For more information visit www.xpelair.co.uk How to enter

Enter to win one of 20 C4TS (92962AW) Xpelair Simply Silent Contour square fans with timer. Simply read the question below and then write your answer on the freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. So, for example, if you think the answer is ‘Phantom’, you should write 104 on the card.

The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries received before the closing date of 30th April 2015. Only one entry allowed per person.

What is Xpelair’s new air movement technology is called?

Phantom................104 Ghost.....................105 Spirit......................106

56 (WAS 60).indd 1

The Sentinel Kinetic range from Vent-Axia has been enhanced with the addition of the 200ZP, a compact mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) solution designed specifically for small apartments.

It offers 86% thermal efficiency and features a summer bypass to ensure year-round thermal comfort.

SAP Appendix Q qualifying, the product’s efficiency is supported by a specific fan power (SPF) as low as 0.62W/l/s and a backward curved impeller design to produce low energy consumption and quiet operation.

The programmable summer bypass operates when a home’s temperature rises above a pre-set comfort temperature. In winter the unit ut i l i s e s

frost protection to stop frost building up on the intake side of the heat exchanger to prevent damage.

For further cooling the summer bypass has an evening purge feature that boosts

early evening and then runs on a timer until about 10pm so there is no nuisance noise at night. Additional cooling is also available for periods of several days of high temperatures and warm nights.

C om b i n i ng supply and extract ventilation in one unit, the 200ZP extracts warm, moist air from wet rooms through ducting and passes it through the heat exchanger before being exhausted outside. The unit includes two Lo-Carbon EC DC motors.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.vent-axia.com

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Outputs for any application Potterton Commercial has extended its range of Sirius boilers to offer commercial contractors a boiler that can meet any application.

Available in outputs from 50 up to 525kW, there are also new outputs for single floor standing boilers of 400 and 525kW. Designed with a dual burner configuration, the range offers a modulation ratio of 10:1. The stainless steel, triple pass heat exchanger and compact design make it a heating solution for large projects such as schools, hotels, care homes and leisure facilities.

For lighter commercial applications, such as pubs, shops and offices, the range

is available in outputs from 50 to 110kW as a single boiler, and up to 440kW using cascade pipework kits. Particularly suitable for replacement projects, it can be used in large

domestic properties and small commercial premises, as well as medium sized applications.

Sales Director Neville Small says: “The new outputs have been introduced in response to customers who told us they’d like to be able to give every end user the peace of mind that comes with specifying a high-performance range like the Sirius. The new additions mean that we can now offer contractors a truly reliable one-stop-solution for applications of any size or requirement.”

All Sirius condensing boilers include a five year parts and labour warranty.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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24/03/2015 10:41

April 2015

WHat’s New Localised control in buildings New from Ideal Commercial Boilers is the latest range of Logic Heat Interface Units (HIUs), designed to maximise efficiency in multi-residential buildings served by central boiler plant.

Providing localised control for residents, the Logic HIU operates as an interface between the centralised heating plant and the central heating and domestic hot water system within each dwelling. Depending on the type of fuel used, this type of system can improve the SAP rating of a building and assist in achieving target ratings under the Code for Sustainable Homes requirements.

The Logic HIU features a fully insulated cover that reduces heat loss to further

increase energy savings.

Fast-acting electronic control valves within each unit adjust quickly to changes in the primary system pressure and secondary demands, ensuring a rapid response to requirement as well as allowing these units to be smaller and lighter than those with larger components. In a system that

is sized correctly, these HIUs will enable the return water from the primary system to reach a lower temperature of below 40°C for hot water and below 50°C for radiator systems as advised by Part L of the Building Regulations, thereby enhancing the condensing function of modern commercial boilers to further improve system efficiency.

There are four Logic HIUs in total: two indirect units (50 and 75) and two direct units (High Temperature and Medium Temperature). All units can be fitted with a heat meter, allowing the energy used within each individual apartment to be recorded and charged accordingly.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

idealcommercialboilers.com

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Infrared on public sites The latest infrared tap from Bristan has been designed for light commercial environments requiring a cost effective, entry-level, non-touch option. Infrared technology detects human presence to switch on the water flow for a set amount of time to eliminate waste.

This feature therefore helps to comply with the Building Regs and BREEAM. The nontouch mechanism also alleviates the risk of cross-contamination. It’s designed for plug-and-play installation, and there is no need for any earthing, helping to reduce labour time and cost on site. Plus, a failsafe mode for vandal resistance means the taps will not give a continuous flow, even in the event of the sensor being damaged. www.specifybristan.com

ENQUIRY No.

186

Slimmer tank The Sandringham 21 range from Armitage Shanks now includes a smooth WC featuring slimmer tanks for a more contemporary look.

The pan is compatible with all existing tanks and seats and offers a new soft close seat option. The improved shape is an upgrade on the current version, offering low flushing capability. Targeted at both domestic and commercial sectors, the range offers a sleek, easy clean look with improved functionality. www.ideal-standard.co.uk

ENQUIRY No.

187

Filter complements controls With the aim of providing installers with a complete Honeywell solution to boiler installations, the company has launched a magnetic filter for domestic central heating systems. It features a 360º solution and incorporates a strong Neodymium magnet to remove sludge and metal impurities from a home’s heating system to extend the system’s life expectancy. Complete with isolation valves and a pipe cutter guide, the filter is said to be simple to install and requires little maintenance.

57.indd 1

A rotating connector allows for the filter to be installed on horizontal or vertical pipework, making it suitable for all types of heating systems.

The compression fittings are available in two different sizes – 22 and 28mm. Other features and benefits include a stainless steel filter mesh for non-magnetic contamination and a removable sheath for easy cleaning of the magnet.

The filter can also be used as a water treatment dosing point.

ENQUIRY No. www.honeywelluk.com 188

Sponsors of

`.

Technical Tips SPRING POWERFLUSHING Dr Neil Watson, Technical Director at Adey Professional Heating Solutions, explains why it’s the perfect time to be offering customers a ‘spring clean’ and highlights some of the benefits of using an advanced system cleaning processes.

Seasonal downtime Last year 55% of homeowners were worried about turning their heating on for winter because of high energy bills or fear of breakdown. Spring is the best time to tackle these apprehensions because the better weather means less demand and expectation is being placed on household heating systems. This seasonal downtime presents installers with the perfect opportunity to undertake routine maintenance checks, helping customers to protect their systems from any potentially costly issues before winter rolls around again.

One of the most effective measures installers can use to start this process is a system flush to thoroughly cleanse the system of any damaging sludge, scale and debris deposits.

Advanced technology Extended warranties being offered by boiler manufacturers have been driving the need for installers to ensure a system is flushed and cleaned before a new boiler is fitted. However, we believe the process can often be overlooked when it comes to routine maintenance.

It’s not difficult to understand why.

Traditional power-flushing can be very time-intensive and often costly for the customer, in both labour and water usage.

It’s also difficult for the customer to see any benefit. That is why we recommen combining the flushing process with the latest magnetic filtration and chemical water treatment technology.

Powerful cleaning combo Some claim traditional powerflushing is more effective at cleaning a system because the higher the velocity of water passing through the system, the better the effect, suggesting that without it, heavier debris won’t move and compacts in radiators.

The MagnaCleanse process combines water treatment with highly effective agitation to lift stubborn debris and powerful magnetic filtration that work with the system’s usual flow rate to capture and remove virtually 100% of suspended boiler debris in just one pass. It also means a system flush could be carried out in as little as two hours, a huge time-saving for installers.

Before any system flush, we recommend using an advanced strength chemical cleaner to start breaking up stubborn sludge deposits and scale within the system. During the process, the chemical is heated up, enhancing its performance and making the cleansing process faster and more effective.

But a real secret weapon is a radiator agitator. It’s an effective way of lifting magnetic and non-magnetic debris into suspension so it can be carried to the magnetic filters to be captured and removed. In fact, more sludge is moved in 20 seconds than in 30 minutes of operation without it.

Reduced risk The high velocity of water pumped through the system by a powerflush can also be too harsh for some system types. By developing a process that works with the system’s typical flow rate, installers can offer the customer a less aggressive way of flushing, even 5mm microbore, with minimum risk of damage or burst pipes.

Visible results With magnetic filtration at the heart of the process, the installer can also demonstrate results to the customer by physically showing the amount of dirt removed from the system and collected on the magnets.

Transparent pipes flowing to and from the filters also show the installer when each radiator is clear from sludge and debris so they can move on to the next one and keep going until they have visual evidence that the whole system is clean.

Best practice The best practice approach promotes the process of cleanse, flush, maintain and protect. For maximum results, we would encourage installers to complete the process by using a premium protector.

Independent research shows that the most effective magnetic filters can cut household heating bills and carbon emissions by up to 6% year on year, and also reduce system maintenance call-outs by up to 37% a year.

By taking these steps, installers will ensure customers continue to reap the benefits of a clean, healthy and protected system with fewer worries in winter.

For further information about the beneifts of powerflushing visit: www.adey.com

26/03/2015 16:38

April 2015

58 WHat’s New Plenty of space to hang wet towels

Combi joins Vitodens line-up Launched by Viessmann is the Vitodens 050-W gas fired condensing combi, aimed at the specification market as well as one-off installations.

With a compact design and an installation height of just 825mm, it is said to be especially suitable for replacing outdated boilers in flats where up to five boilers on different floors can be connected to

In addition,the control unit is prepared ready for plugin time clocks and wireless receivers.

An Inox-Radial heat exchanger, constructed from corrosion resistant stainless steel, is covered by a 10 year warranty, while the standard warranty on the boiler itself is three years.

one vertical flue system.

The boiler has been engineered to offer lower spare part costs by ensuring that components can be replaced individually, all of which are easily accessible from the front of the unit.

As with the Vitodens 100-W boiler, weather compensation can be incorporated with the simple addition of an inexpensive outdoor sensor.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.viessmann.co.uk

189

Horizontal orientation over the bath Without is the name of the latest towel warmer from the Designer Italian collection by Graziano, supplied by Aestus.

With its sleek, landscape composition, Without not only enhances the aesthetics of a contemporary bathroom when placed above a bathtub or vanity unit, it also provides hanging space to warm and dry towels.

The towel warmer features 35mm round vertical tubes with 25mm round horizontal tubes, making it versatile. The design is available in white, anthracite, quartz and ancient bronze, as well as two different sizes measuring 380 x 110mm, with widths of either 1200 or 1600mm, giving heat outputs of 1583 Btu/hr and 2129 Btu/hr respectively. www.aestus.co.uk

Take a

Break

for chance to win £50 cash

Bread Wordsearch Bread Wordsearch Which one of the words is NOT in the grid?

Which one of the words is NOT in the grid?

A J S N C A N A L S I D N A L W C S

S E P C E R E M I W A L I I N G I R

E N A I C C A C O F T T E K R A M U

I S I A D H E V S T Y A S T H L R A G G A E A U G U T O I A N D A K T E L E P C C M I R U T L S B C L O T E A V U R T S I G T Q E A A I E A B H L R S L U O H W X L L N S S TWordsearch Y B N Boats

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Baguette Bread Brown Ciabatta Crusty Dough Flutes Focaccia Garlic Loaves Markouk Pitta Sandwich Slices Sticks Submarines Walnut White

Last Month’s Winner

I E U E Flutes Sandwich A F L S Q T L F and Answers Focaccia Slices S E E E R Y L R Winner: Mr A HallSticks from Dorset E R S R Garlic I T A I Boats Gondola V I H E Loaves Submarines Canals Kayak C B E S Canoe Keel M U R S Markouk Walnut Q E O L Cruisers Liners N B T U Ferries Navy Pitta White S H S P Freighter Ocean C M G M I I W I E L N I N Y S L

Rivers Sailing Schooners Vessel Water Yacht

Word not in the grid: Keel

Please email your answer, including your name and address to: info@phamnews.co.uk The closing date for the April 2015 issue will be 23/04/2015

Missing word - Keel

58 (WAS 62).indd 1

190

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.mhsradiators.com

191

Pump is ideal for solar power

PHAM NEWS WORDSEARCH No.173

A J S N S E N I R A M B U S L W C C

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

Now available from MHS Radiators is the Arche Bath

by Vasco. The new model has sturdy, rectangular tubes which provide strength as well as high heat outputs.

The rail has an aluminium grey finish and is available in two sizes – 870 x 500mm (consisting of 16 tubes) and 1470 x 500mm (28 tubes) – offering maximum outputs of 0.6 and 1kW respectively. The new range also benefits from a 10 year guarantee.

Gareth Charles, National Sales Manager, says: “Arche Bath is a towel rail with a high quality, yet understated design, making it perfect for sharper and more contemporary interiors. It is powerful enough to warm both the bathroom and the towels hung on it, plus the quality of the materials and welding used in its construction ensure longevity and comfort.”

The Solar Heating Evotron SOL circulator pump from DAB Pumps has been designed for the high temperatures associated with solar installations, particularly in domestic applications.

Properties that use solar power require a circulating pump that can cope with the very hot water temperatures often produced by the panels. The Evotron SOL pump is designed to withstand temperature peaks of up to 140°C. It can also function perfectly with

high glycol concentrations (up to 60%) and has a special electrophoresis coating of the pump body to ensure resistance to glycol attack.

Like all circulator pumps from DAB Pumps, the

Evotron SOL is also ErP ready.

From 1st August 2015, the limit value of the EEI will be reduced and will apply to integrated pumps in newly installed heat generators and solar thermal systems.

“The Evotron SOL range of circulator pumps offers installers an easy to install, ErP compliant and energy efficient option for properties using solar power,” explains Adam Ferneyhough, UK Sales and Marketing Director for DAB Pumps UK. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

192

www.dabpumps.co.uk

Stop the sound, keep the heat Complementing its range of HVAC solutions is Rockwool’s HVAC Slab, a versatile product that provides thermal and acoustic insulation for a variety of applications, including warm air and extract ducts. It offers a multitude of uses for jobs where foil facing is not required.

A semi-rigid insulation batt with a nominal density of 45kg/m³, this product can supply both thermal and acoustic insulation applications for boilers, ducts and vessels.

Recommended for service temperatures of up to 230°C,

HVAC Slab is suited for a range of general thermal applications including fur-

naces, ovens, calorifiers, hotwater boilers, storage tanks, drying equipment and air conditioning plant.

Supplied in batts measuring 1200 x 600mm, HVAC Slab is available in thicknesses of 40, 50 and 60mm to suit the application and performance required.

Made from stone, with a dense, non-directional fibre structure, Rockwool traps sound waves and dampens vibration, making HVAC Slab acoustically absorbent.

Stonewool is also naturally fire resistant.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.rockwool.co.uk

193

24/03/2015 10:44

April 2015

WHAT'S New

59

Solid fuel look with gas fires Available under its Valor Centre brand are two new gas stoves designed to give installers the chance to offer customers a lower maintenance, more efficient alternative to solid fuel stoves.

The new Brunswick (pictured) and Ridlington gas stoves deliver the charm and atmosphere of a solid fuel

Compact PICVs

Tracey Falshaw, Product Market Manager, says: “The Brunswick and Ridlington gas stoves are a fantastic choice for those homeowners who want the look of a stove but are put off by the maintenance and inconvenience associated with solid fuel.”

stove with added control and a clear flame picture. With a matt black finish, the 4kW Brunswick is a small and compact design suitable for most homes, while the 5kW Ridlington is for bigger rooms.

Both models are available in natural gas with an option to convert to LPG and come with a three year guarantee.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.valor.co.uk

A new range of Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICVs) is now available from Albion Valves (UK). The Art 20C range is said to be ideal for the automatic balancing of heating and cooling systems and is particularly compatible with fan coil units and chilled beam applications. The PICVs can withstand temperatures from -10C° to +120°C and complement the company’s Monolink system. When assembled together, the configuration is said to offer a much easier installation in applications where space is at a premium.

194

www.albionvalvesuk.com

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PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

DIRECTORY SALES AGENTS Radiator Keys

Controls

Sales Agents Wanted

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Ring 01628 484202/07795 999262 email: keys@radkeys.co.uk Visit www.radkeys.co.uk AVAILABLE TO BUY ONLINE

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Detailed drawings of AEL radiators and valves in a CAD drawing format that is also compatible with AUTOCAD TA8W15 is availableWhite on digital disc or via www.aelheating.com thermostatic valve set e-mail: sales@aelheating.com Tel: 01928 579068

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Original FARAL Aluminium Radiators, always ENQUIRY ENQUIRY JMF GAIA 02 03 appreciated, often imitated since 1966 The choice of many JMF Advert 70x42mm.indd 1 14/11/2014 19:07 Architects and local authorities for over 50 years, Faral radiators provide the highest heat Contractors Insurance & Financial Advice output achievable from Expert and sales support one of technical the mostadvice energy AEL 130x94 Faral Rads_Layout 1 20/08/2012 14:02 Page 1 support from the UK market leaders in thermistor Expert technical advice and sales efficient low water content sensors and thermal components.

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60 DIRECTORY Training & Assessment

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INFORMATION Centre 61

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New Product Selector Guide from Henkel

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New JG Aura App

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SNICKERS

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Mitsubishi Electric has launched a single online platform to provide immediate access to a host of sales tools and resources, aimed at helping heat pump installers engage with homeowners and grow renewable heating sales. The Ecodan Toolbox provides simple descriptions of the tools and resources currently available as well as those coming soon. The online platform coincides with the launch of a new tool designed to help installers explain all the features and benefits of Ecodan to a homeowner in a non-technical manner.

The toolbox is located in the ‘installer’ area of the company’s heating website. For further details visit Ecodan.co.uk or enter the PHAM No.

This gives the unparalleled convenience of determining which zones are to be heated, at what temperature and at what time. For further information please visit speedfitUFH.co.uk or enter the PHAM No. ENQUIRY

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378

Polypipe Ventilation’s New Catalogues

Ecodan Toolbox offers simple access to renewable sales tools

JG Speedfit have launched the new JG Aura App. Available free for iOS, Android and Windows phone users, the App gives complete control of the heating system from the palm of your hand. Remotely regulating both radiators and underfloor heating zones in the home, no matter where you are.

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The new, informative and easy to use 76 page Product Selector covers the range of market leading, energy saving domestic and light commercial ventilation systems, accompanied by a concise 20 page Short Form Product Guide. The two new brochures cover the full selection of Polypipe Ventilation’s Silavent mechanical extract and Domus duct product ranges, including its latest product releases. Designed to assist in the specification, selection and installation of ventilation systems that meet Building Regulations and save time and money on site.

To download copies of either brochure visit www.polypipe.com/ventilation Ring 08443 715523 Email vent.info@polypipe.com or enter the PHAM No. POLYPIPE

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ProApp delivers Geberit Know-how straight to your Smartphone Installers can now enjoy fast access to product details and installation instructions for Geberit products directly from their Smartphone, with the launch of the Geberit ProApp. The Geberit ProApp is free to download from the App store, Google Play or by scanning the QR code on any Geberit ProApp promotional material. Visit www.geberit.co.uk or enter the PHAM No. GEBERIT

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The new way to beat paperwork!

‘Appy Days The Grundfos Installer Companion App is proving itself to be a worthwhile and valuable download, offering a wide range of support including: access to product information; application know-how; easy sizing and selection, a handy replacement tool, pump selection guide; calculators that are set to system parameters, trouble-shooting options and service videos. Whatever pump assistance you require, it will be where you need it, when you need it.

To find out more visit the website www.grundfos.com/installer-app. html or download the App from Google play or the App store.

GRUNDFOS

IDHEE

Unbeatable functionality, quality and comfort - the Canvas+ is the latest addition to the Snickers range of Toolvests. This hard-wearing Toolvest ensures you have easy access to your essential tools at all times. There’s built-in ergonomic tool carrying and all the pockets you need – for outstanding working comfort and efficiency on site. What’s more the Integrated expander means the tool vest can be easily worn over a jacket to ensure you keep working effectively on site. Check out one of the Snickers’ range of Toolvests, buy one and it’ll be a long-lasting workmate on site for you. Download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk email info@ snickersworkwear.co.uk call 01484 854788 or enter the PHAM No.

The Henkel Product Selector is free of charge through the company’s UK distributor network or ring 01442 278100.

Alternatively, download a pdf copy from: www.loctite.co.uk

L N CH HW ON HW OFF

Please order from www.mrcombi.com or enter the PHAM No.

Snickers’ Canvas+ Toolvest - the ultimate in tool-carrying tehnology.

Henkel’s New Product Selector for industrial adhesives, sealants and surface coating solutions is now available. This extensive product guide encompasses the LOCTITE®, BONDERITE®, TECHNOMELT® and TEROSON® brands to provide an excellent source of reference for those involved in industrial manufacturing and maintenance; building, assembly and repair.

JG SPEEDFIT

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COPPER JOB

Mr Combi® Training has developed a fantastic set of easy to follow coloured wiring diagrams for Danfoss and Honeywell Controls, 2 / 3 port systems, Faults, Frost stats, testing components, everything you need in one handy A5 book.

BROWN / WHITE

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.

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 inc P&P www.combiboilerrepair.co.uk Also available from High Street and Online Book Stores

HENKEL

Mr Combi Training GREY

Danfoss & Honeywell Book of Wiring

ORANGE

Central Heating combination boilers fault finding & repair

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Powered Now is the business admin app for iPhones/iPads that is designed to help plumbers and other tradesmen manage their businesses while on the move.

Powered Now provides a comprehensive admin toolkit for every step, from preparing an estimate through to taking payment.

Version 2 of the software is out now and adds: n A diary integrated with existing estimating/quoting, note-taking, invoicing and payment features. n Automatic route planning between appointments for more efficient scheduling. n Alert customers via text message/email from the app. n Improved user interface. More templates to make paperwork look professional. n Apple Air Printing support.

Download a 14-day trial.

Visit www.powerednow.com, ring 0800 011 9036 or enter the PHAM No. POWERED NOW

Features appearing in MAY 2015 issue

Pipes, FittingS & Valves

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