November/December 2018

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Volume 56 | Issue 10 | November/December 2018

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Volume 56 | Issue 10 | November/December 2018

Calls to bring extended payment terms to an end

VitrA’s wall-hung frame and flush plate FIVE to be won

The Government has accepted that more needs to be done to ensure large companies pay their supply chains properly and the APHC argues that it’s time to outlaw long payment terms of 120 days or more.

Late payment is one of the biggest challenges affecting small businesses within the commercial plumbing and heating sector – that’s according to the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC). The Association has responded to a call for evidence from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), asking businesses to share their views on what more the Government can do to create a responsible payment culture.

APHC CEO John Thompson comments: “The Government has attempted to tackle the problem of late payment through various measures such as the Payment Practices Reporting Regulations, which requires large businesses to publish information and statistics on their payment practices, and through the Small Business Commissioner which deals with late payment disputes for small businesses. However, the level of late payment debt owed to SMEs remains too high and many small firms have no

choice but to trade on what I would call unfair payment terms imposed on them by larger companies.

“BEIS’s open consultation states that the Government is committed to creating a more responsible payment culture and it details a set of new proposals designed to clampdown on late payments. But are these measures enough to deliver practical improvements? In my view a responsible payment culture has to bring a stop to long payment terms of over 120 days which is far too common in the construction sector.”

Since April 2017, all large companies with a £36 million annual turnover have an obligation to report to the Government about their payment practices, which can be accessed by anyone online. Only 316 out of the 6613 businesses in the latest government report, published in September, pay all their invoices within 30 days.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has estimated that late payment causes 50,000 company failures a year and the annual cost to the economy is £2.4bn – a figure accepted by the Government.

In responding to the BEIS consultation, FSB argues that one way to address the problem is to strip those big companies that regularly pay suppliers late of any government contracts.

The consultation, which is open until 29th November 2018, aims to consider the impact of existing measures to improve payment practices as well as whether new measures should be introduced to further encourage a responsible payment culture.

HHIC says landlords still getting off lightly The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has welcomed the recent announcement that landlords must contribute up to £3500 to upgrade their inefficient properties – although HHIC still argues that landlords need to do more.

The funding cap is an increase on the £2500 that was previously put forward by Government after HHIC proposed that the cap should be set at £5000. The Government’s plan to cap spending at £2500 would have only helped 30% of houses reach EPC band ‘E’, whereas a cap of £5000 would lift a substantially higher number to this banding. Government predicts that a cap of £3500 will affect 290,000 properties.

HHIC Director Stewart Clements comments: “When Government and industry work together, then the resulting outcomes are better. I am pleased that the Government has recognised that legislation is required in the rental sector to improve EPC ratings.

The figure of £3500 is an improvement, but we still believe £5000 is the correct level for the cap, as it would help close to 60% of cold, inefficient (band ‘F’ and ‘G’) homes reach the required EPC level.

“This is because the cost of installing a new central heating system can amount to £4000, which is £500 above the new cap level.

Insulation alone will not keep a home warm,

you need an efficient heating system too.

And gas central heating is the most obvious solution.”

Highlighting the latest National Energy Action report that says that 4 million UK households are unable to heat and power their homes adequately, the HHIC points out that the private rented sector is one of the least regulated markets in the country.

“Like every business and service provider, landlords should be regulated by similar laws to every other market in the UK,” argues Stewart Clements. “This would prevent cold and damp homes from entering the rental market.”

See page 71

Successful escape plan

Raising more than £15,000 for UK charities, nine teams from HomeServe recently took part in ‘The Great Escape’ challenge to travel as far as possible in a weekend without spending any money – with one team reaching Christchurch in New Zealand!

Other teams got as far as Cape Town and Los Angeles, travelling a collective distance of 34,706 miles. Pictured above are Adam Dickinson, Jannat Khan and Terence Greene from the HomeServe winning team at their final destination in New Zealand. Charities set to benefit from their endeavour include Cancer Research UK, the Royal British Legion and Acorns Children’s Hospice

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November/December 2018

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Inside this issue The smart money’s Editor’s on connected homes Viewpoint Water & System Treatment Why water quality is so important and how to ensure that heating systems stay clean

Starts page 45

Ventilation & Heat Recovery Advice on improving indoor air quality and fitting MVHR systems in smaller properties

Starts page 53

Taps & Showers The latest trends in tap design and introducing a smart way to install a concealed shower system

Starts page 61

LPG Heating How switching to BioLPG could help to reduce your customer’s carbon footprint

Starts page 67

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

A record surge in home automation and smart home installation jobs has created a new multi-million pound market for experienced tradesmen, with in-demand trades enjoying a significant increase in earnings – that’s the conclusion of online local services provider Bidvine.com following an analysis of over six thousand related tasks posted over the last year.

Job requests range from setting up entire connected smart home systems and automating individual devices to helping set up Google Home and Alexa Echo smart speakers. The company suggests that professionals working in the home services sector could be missing out on thousands of pounds of work if they ignore the smart home installation market.

“There’s a sizeable shortage of suitably skilled and experienced workers who can help owners set up devices in their homes,” said Sohrab Jahanbani, founder and CEO of Bidvine.com. “This is presenting a substantial earning opportunity for a range of traditional trades who want to get involved in installing new technologies.

Now’s the perfect time for local service professionals to get involved and establish

by Chris Jones

Why time is of the essence their presence and future proof their business.

“In recent years, we’ve seen more and more big retailers offer these services to customers buying smart home devices that either includes a set-up charge from the retailer or it’s a hidden fee that is absorbed into the price. However, the massive surge in demand presents local professionals the perfect opportunity to offer their services at a much more competitive rate while still offering an attractive profit margin.”

Growing at 19% a year, the UK smart home market is estimated to be worth up to £2.2bn and is the second largest in Europe. Just under a tenth of homes are now controlled remotely and those containing smart speakers has doubled to 10%.

The number of smart home projects listed on Bidvine. com has surged by 78%.

Getting paid in a timely fashion for work completed has long been a challenge for many small businesses.

It’s hard enough when private customers claim to have mislaid their cheque book, but when you’re owed money by a larger contractor – a business you may be depending on for future work – then any disputes about settling invoices are inevitably going to take place on an unequal footing.

It’s an age-old problem, of course, but following the well-publicised collapse of Carillion at the beginning of this year, there does at least appear to be widespread agreement that late payment is an issue that needs to be addressed. However, true to form, the first instinct of the Government is not to rush through any legislation that might actually make a difference, but rather to reach out and allow interested parties to put forward their own proposals to how the current state of affairs might be improved. BEIS is currently staging an open consultation and inviting suggestions as to how measures might be introduced to clamp down on those companies that habitually leave their suppliers hanging (see this month’s front cover story).

Previous attempts to ‘name and shame’ have failed to make much of an impact, and when there is clearly a disparity between the financial strength of feuding parties, then it’s delusional to think that the smaller business will regularly risk taking larger corporations to court. It is hoped that the latest round of head scratching will at last come up with some proposals which might provide contracts to be negotiated on a more equal playing field, but, while we wait for some answers, how many businesses will go to the wall waiting for debts to be paid?

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Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News Published by: Pinede Publishing | 16/18 Hawkesyard Hall, Armitage Park, Nr Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1PU Tel: 01889 577222 | Fax: 01889 579177 Email: info@phamnews.co.uk www.phamnews.co.uk Managing Editor Chris Jones Assistant Editor Carol Hitchcock Publishers Chris Evans Russ Jackson

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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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ABC Audited circulation Jan-Dec 2017 | 29,094 Subscription Rates United Kingdom £65.00 Overseas (Surface) £95.00 Overseas (Airmail) £110.00 ISSN 1368-9061 Printed by: Precision Colour Printing Ltd. Origination by: Design & Media Solutions

© Copyright 2018 | 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.

An Instant Win promotion has been launched by Kingspan where everyone who buys one of the company’s Ultrasteel or Ultrasteel Plus hot water cylinders is guaranteed to be a winner. There’s a top prize of £5000 to spend on a luxury holiday, plus 4K TVs, games consoles, weekend breaks, and experience days. Lower value prizes include workwear, pub meals, ice-scrapers, USB chargers, money off vouchers for the Kingspan Parts Shop and Gregg’s breakfast vouchers.

To take part, simply buy a Kingspan Albion Ultrasteel or Ultrasteel Plus duplex stainless steel cylinder before the promotion ends on 31 January 2019. Find and scan the QR Code on the special Instant Win Card, and it will instantly reveal your prize. Fill in your details, upload a photo of your invoice and your gift will be on its way. For more details and full terms and conditions visit www.winwithkingspan.com

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Homeowners urged to check for lead With more than two-thirds of homeowners not knowing if their water is supplied through potentially harmful lead water pipes, WaterSafe, the UK register for approved plumbers, is urging residents to ‘take the scratch test’.

A recent survey of 2000 homeowners

by WaterSafe revealed 68% don’t know if they have potentially harmful lead water pipes in their property. A further 53% of homeowners don’t know that it’s their responsibility to replace lead pipes they find in their home. WaterSafe says they need to replace them with copper or plastic ones approved for tap water.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, says: “Lead pipes are normally dull grey and soft and if you scrape the surface

Homeowners who find they do have lead pipes should contact their water supplier, who can test the levels of lead in the drinking water and offer advice on replacing them.

Toxic levels gently with a coin you’ll see shiny silvercoloured metal underneath. It’s quite distinct from copper or plastic. If the pipes are painted, just scrape the paint off too.”

The use of lead in plumbing has been banned in the UK for more than 25 years, so it’s houses built before 1970 that are most likely to have lead pipes.

Toxic lead has been found in the tap water of residents in a Northumberland village, with some living with more than five times the current UK ‘safe’ standard. The Northumbrian Gazette reported that tests carried out by the council revealed 15 households were above the recommended limit, and nine properties saw levels of more than 50μg/ litre – a fivefold increase on the UK ‘safe’ standard of 10μg/litre.

Apprentice finds first golden ticket Boiler supplier aims to simplify the market Heating and plumbing apprentices are being given the chance to win an all expenses paid trip to Monument Tools’ factory in Surrey and £400 worth of tools for them and their employer in JTL’s new ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ inspired Golden Ticket initiative.

JTL, with the help of its partner Monument Tools, already distributes free toolkits on a quarterly basis to its new learners once they have completed three months of their apprenticeship.

Now a Golden Ticket will be randomly inserted inside and each lucky learner will receive an instant prize of a £100 Amazon voucher, plus

automatic entry into a grand prize draw in June next year to win the factory tour and £400 worth of tools.

The first of the four tool distributions has taken place and the first winner has been named as Vusimuzi Mayendesa who works for Mears Ltd, based in Peckham, south London.

He says he was delighted to have been the recipient of the first Golden Ticket: “I don’t normally win things so it was a real surprise to open the tool kit and find the Golden Ticket! The initial prize is great and the odds are pretty good – at one in four – that I might win the overall prize in June 2019!”

A domestic boiler installation start-up which aims to change the way people purchase a new boiler, has secured a £2.15m investment. The company currently serves homes in around 45% of the UK, with plans to hit 90% of homes by mid-2019. To achieve this, the investment will be used to complete a national roll-out plan, investment in their digital platform, product R&D and the recruitment of surveyors, engineers as well as head office teams.

Boiler Plan was launched in 2015

by Ian Henderson, a former heating engineer with 25 years of experience, who left to launch his own business to fix what he felt were fundamental issues in the market. The company uses an online platform that provides an instant quote along with recommended boiler types for the customer’s home.

Consumers benefit from a convenient

way to complete the survey, without customers needing to take time off work to deal with engineer visits. Boiler Plan also offers a range of low monthly financed payment plans to spread the boiler and installation cost.

On a mission Ian comments: “When I launched the company, my mission was to deliver a service that takes the hassle out of boiler purchasing and care, with high quality installation, at a convenient

time, supported by excellent customer service – and this rings true today.

We are simplifying the way to buy a new boiler and making it easy for our customers.

“At the moment we cover just under half of all UK households, in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Midlands. This investment is going to help us grow our business and make our offer available to more people across the UK by allowing us to invest in more engineers, thus providing more jobs, as well as our technology and product development.”

The £2.15m investment comes from independent asset manager Maven Capital Partners, with £500,000 coming from the North East Development Capital Fund, managed by Maven and supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Chance to take on the King of Bling

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Visitors to the Conex Bänninger stand at PHEX Chelsea will not only have an opportunity to learn about the company’s range of flame-free fittings, they will also have a chance to put their darts skills to the test against former professional darts player, Bobby George.

The ‘King of Bling’ will take on visitors in a series of threedart challenges on both days of the show, 14th and 15th November, which is being staged at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium.

Dan Wild, Business Unit Director for UK and Ireland, says: “We are expecting a very busy two days, which is why we’ll have a big team of technical sales managers on our stand (Stand 86) ready to answer questions from installers.”

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Shower tray is cause for celebration Leading UK shower brand Mira Showers has celebrated the production of its two millionth Flight shower tray.

Workers at the company’s Hull manufacturing facility gathered round with local dignitaries to celebrate the achievement, which also marks six years since a £6m investment saw the company relocate production to a new state-of-the-art facility in the East Riding area.

Jon Ramsdale, New Product Development Director at Mira Showers, comments: “This milestone for the Mira Flight shower tray range

is testament to both our associates’ hard work and a high-quality product. It’s always exciting to watch a

product like this grow from strength to strength in such a short period of time.”

First launched in 2004,

the Mira Flight tray is constructed from durable, acrylic-capped resin stone and offers a robust yet lightweight solution. It features BioCote technology to reduce bacteria and mould growth, and the Mira Flight Safe anti-slip shower tray has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.

The tray is available in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different bathrooms and is supported by a 10 year guarantee. For more information visit www. mirashowers.co.uk

Advert highlights illegal gas fitter risk Gas Safe Register has launched a new ‘Don’t Cut Corners’ TV advert featuring the character, Jack Corner.

Jack is a family man who is obsessed with corners. He takes the corners for his football team, folds corners to make paper planes and can make a decent dovetail joint – but the one

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thing he knows never to do is to cut corners with gas. Jack knows that if his gas appliances need fixing he must contact a Gas Safe registered engineer, because cutting corners, either by using an illegal fitter or attempting DIY gas work, could cost his family their lives.

The advert will air on TV every other week until the end of March 2019, and will be shown on multiple channels including mainstream entertainment channels like ITV2, ITV3 and More4, and more lifestyle-focused channels including the Discovery channel and the Home and Food Network.

PRV misuse leads to breakdowns Boiler breakdowns caused by the incorrect use of pressure relief valves could easily be avoided – so says Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch. He says it’s not unusual for PRVs to last the lifetime of a boiler if used correctly.

“If a PRV is used incorrectly, though,” says Martyn, “it can quickly become irreparably damaged and lead to a breakdown.

“Unfortunately, PRVs are frequently used erroneously to drain heating systems down. This isn’t what they are designed for and can cause complications, yet due to PRVs being situated at the bottom of a boiler, in addition to being attached to a permanent pipe, it can be tempting to drain a system this way.”

When using a PRV to drain a system, any contaminants in the heating system are

drained through the valve itself and end up on the seating of the valve where the valve should re-seal and shut off again, according to Martyn.

“The most noticeable sign of this is apparent when the heating system is put back into operation and you can see water dripping periodically from the valve.

“The system should contain drain-off valves at all low points in the system, and all drops to radiators from above. These are the only places that a system should really be drained from,” concludes Martyn.

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November/December 2018

10 NEWS Review Columns added to Opportunity to win a luxury hamper fuel promotion The Stelrad Fuel Promotion that sees installers getting free fuel vouchers when they purchase certain Stelrad Radiators has been extended to include the company’s Classic Column radiator range.

The promotion runs until the end of the year, and all installers need to do is provide a legible invoice/ receipt showing the names and quantities of radiators purchased up until the 31st December 2018, and upload the information to www.stelrad.com/fillup.

Applications for vouchers for radiators purchased will be accepted up until 31st January 2019.

“All professional installers can head towards the end of the year knowing there is some assistance towards paying their fuel bills if they install Stelrad radiators,” says Head of Marketing, Chris Harvey.

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UK shower enclosure manufacturer Lakes is running a #LoveLakesIsland campaign to mark the first anniversary of its Island Collection. Stockists and installers are encouraged to share their Island success stories across social media – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram – and the campaign is calling for installers to post up their best Island installation. All photos posted with the hashtag #LoveLakesIsland will be entered into a prize draw to win a luxurious hamper for the best installation. A hamper will be presented by Lakes to both the installer and their stockist.

The competition will run during November and the winner will be announced in December.

Mike Tattam, Lakes’ Sales and Marketing Director, comments: “Island has been very successful since we introduced it to our range last year so we wanted to mark its first anniversary with something a little different. We achieve great engagement with customers across our social channels so it made sense to use these platforms to show off the many fantastic installations as well as generate a bit of fun along the way.”

30 years of evolution Drayton is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing motorised valves, which have evolved over the years to provide a number of installerfriendly features. These include snap on actuators that can be removed and replaced by simply pressing the release button, giving more room for installation and speeding up servicing and replacement.

What’s more, the motor can easily be replaced by removing the actuator cover, extending the

life of the complete product. The motorised valves also feature a valve position indicator to show which port is open. Other popular features include industry standard wiring and valve dimensions, meaning they are an easy direct replacement for most other models.

Product Manager David Kempster says: “We’re excited about what the future has to bring for the range and will continue to develop products with the installer in mind.”

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November/December 2018

NEWS Review 11 Brexit, buying behaviour and business opportunities

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his year’s Bathroom and Kitchen Business Conference – the annual gathering of manufacturers and suppliers organised by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association – attracted 170 delegates and delivered a diverse line-up of speakers tasked with addressing the event’s main theme of ‘building a new future’.

Keynote speaker Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford, explained why he thought that leaving the European Union could be good for the UK, saying it would open up new trade opportunities with the rest of the world.

Iain spoke about the reasons for his pro-Brexit stance, which are ultimately less about the economic arguments and more about his political reservations regarding further European unification, and amused the audience with one or two anecdotes from his time in Government.

His entertaining speech might not have added any new arguments to the debate, but it was well received and revealed a more humorous side to the former Conservative leader than was perhaps evident in his House of Commons appearances.

It all helped provoke some interesting questions from the floor which were handled by the conference facilitator, financial journalist Sally Bundock.

Behind closed doors The BMA also announced the results of its recent consumer research, ‘Behind the Bathroom Door’. The study looked at real time behaviour in the bathroom and analysed the factors that influence consumer buying behaviour. The research reveals that many consumers want better storage solutions and think their bathrooms are too small. Over 25% say they are worried about wasting water, but this is driven more by cost concerns than environmental issues.

Yvonne Orgill, BMA CEO, suggested that the research shows that consumers want more information about water usage. She challenged manufacturers to do more to educate the consumer and took the opportunity to highlight the benefits of the industry’s water labelling scheme.

Iain Duncan Smith putting the case for leaving the EU

Video star IDS was far from the only speaker of the day to succeed in both entertaining and informing industry delegates. James Lawrence, the founder and owner of successful YouTube channel and brand Plumberparts.co.uk, talked about how video content can benefit brand marketing. With over 99,000 subscribers and 18,000 Twitter followers, James clearly knows how to engage an audience and provided a good insight in how to make the most of this fast-evolving medium.

Behavioural therapist William Higham from the strategic consultancy Next Big Thing provided an insight into how businesses can track changes, influences, attitudes and consumers’ needs in order to adapt and provide new revenue streams. He argued that change can be a good thing for business and highlighted two trends that are already impacting on the bathroom sector – the growth in multi-generational households and the increasing number of consumers who value convenience more than price when making their purchasing decisions.

Changing times Claire Curtis-Thomas, the CEO of construction product industry certification body British Board of Agrément – BBA, gave a presentation about how the Government’s attitude to compliance is changing, while Mark Berrisford-Smith, Head of Economics for HSBC UK commercial banking, considered how businesses can prepare for economic changes both in the run-up to Brexit and following the UK’s departure from the EU. Motivational speaker Richard McCann closed the conference with an emotional talk on overcoming adversity.

He spoke about the murder of his mother by Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe when he was five years old. He told the audience how his ‘I can’ attitude helped him overcome his struggles in life and led him to achieving much more than he ever imagined.

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November/December 2018

12 NEWS Review Free hoodie with three cylinders In a promotion which runs until the end of this year, RM Cylinders is offering a free Snickers hoodie to any installer who buys three of the company’s unvented hot water cylinders.

The promotion started at the beginning of October, and any installer that purchases three unvented units will be able to claim their prize by completing a simple online form before 30th January 2019.

MD David Klages says: “While we manufacture vented and unvented products, the most significant growth is definitely in the unvented market. Being fed directly from the cold water mains, unvented cylinders provide high pressure and flow rates to all hot taps and showers, making them popular with homeowners.

“Our unvented ranges are designed to provide exceptional quality at affordable prices, and are compatible with gas, oil and electricity, but also solar and other renewables. We offer multiple ranges that offer differing technological features to suit all needs and applications.

“We know that many of our loyal installers are buying multiple products from our ranges, and our Snickers hoodie promotion is one way for us to thank them.”

New app puts radiators in their place Installers have been given a new way to specify designer radiators thanks to the launch of an augmented reality app by Barlo Radiators.

The new Barlo Designer Radiator app provides potential customers with the opportunity to virtually ‘try before they buy’ using advanced augmented reality (AR) technology to help them visualise how different models of designer radiators would appear, in situ, in their home.

Barlo says that the app has been created specifically with installers in mind, presenting them with a sales tool to help them add value when communicating with customers.

The AR app offers an opportunity to take a noobligation look into how a designer radiator might transform a specific space.

Through its simple and intuitive design, installers can access Barlo’s designer radiator range at the touch

of a button and show customers how multiple styles, sizes and colours could impact on the aesthetic of their rooms.

“Through the app, users can browse our designer radiator range and use their smartphone’s camera to see exactly how specific models would look on the wall in front of them. They can even try different sizes and colours in an instant, making the app the ideal sales tool for installers – whether they’re specifying for a direct designer replacement or offering an upgrade from a standard panel emitter.”

Available for download on both Android and iOS devices, the app gives installers easy access to the Barlo Design portfolio. Users simply point their device’s

Seeing is believing Richard Wheeler, Product Strategy Manager at Barlo Radiators, says: “We want to give installers and end users the ability to visualise what feature radiator styles – such as multi-column or tube emitters – would look like in a particular setting in any room of the house, confident in the knowledge that by choosing Barlo they’re also getting the best heat outputs on the market.

camera at their chosen wall space and the app will use AR functionality to display a fully scaled, 3D mounted image of their selected radiator. They can then choose different designs, sizes and colours, before saving images and sharing them directly via the app.

As well as creating AR visuals, installers can use the app to send quotes to customers, with the ability to include their business’s logo.

It also features a heat loss calculator, as well as a store locator, with information on where they can find their nearest Barlo radiator stockist.

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e’ve teamed up with Gas App Uk to offer readers the chance to win a fabulous Makita radio – ideal for carrying around on site. The robustly built DMR104W has been designed to withstand up to five minutes exposure to rain and comes with elastomer bumpers to protect against rough handling. It receives both DAB and FM stations and delivers stereo sound from two powerful 76mm side firing speakers. It also features a micro USB port for software upgrades, easy-toread digital tuner with LCD display, and AUX-IN jack for connecting to an external audio source.

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How to win

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For a chance to win the radio, all you have to do is search for the picture of Gas App Uk founder Ant Provan (shown left) hidden inside this issue. Once you’ve found him, simply take a picture of the page and send it via What’sApp with your name, email and telephone number to 07879 627403, or send a text to the same number (complete with your contact details), or email editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk. Good luck!

Last month’s winner Congratulations to last month’s winner, Steve Wade from Aylesbury, who found Ant’s picture on the top of page 28 in the October issue.

A Makita radio is on its way to you!

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November/December 2018

YOUR Views 0 £10 tter Le

Labels won’t cut it

Regarding last month’s news item headed ‘Gas Safe message on boiler packaging’ in the October issue of PHAM News:

So I see that the HHIC’s boiler manufacturers group have pledged to voluntarily put labels on its gas appliance boxes to let members of the public know that only a Gas Safe registered engineer should install the product.

That’s all very well and good, though I have yet to see any

[QOV WN \PMU N]TÅ TTQVO \PMQZ pledge.

But wouldn’t it be better to restrict the sale of gas equipment to registered installers only? You know, that whole ‘regard the card’ thing? If you can’t produce your Gas Safe card, retailers should think about turning people away when they try to buy.

If all the merchants agreed that, together, they would not sell gas equipment to the general public, we might

[\IZ\ \W [MM [WUM LQЄ MZMVKM being made. But why on earth would any business take steps to LIMIT their customer base without a law forcing them?

The Government will never make a law that prohibits gas appliance sales to the ]VY]ITQÅ ML IVL I TIJMT Q[V¼\ going to change anything, MQ\PMZ ;W VQKM MЄ WZ\ 001+ but a cute little label isn’t going to stop the cowboys.

Bill Bowman Via email

In the September issue, we printed a letter from Jamie Anderson headed ‘Don’t follow the feminist agenda’ in which he criticised our news report on this year’s Women Installers Together (WIT) conference. In last month’s edition we published a response to Mr Anderson’s letter, and the letters below are just two examples of further correspondence we’ve received on the subject.

Oppression: not The right a feminist myth to express Jamie asks: “How many existing or aspiring females are being oppressed in the trade?”

I am a woman and I am serious about my work as a plumber. But, yes, sometimes I have been oppressed in the trade. Here are just two of my experiences: When I got my apprenticeship in a very large and well known plumbing company, I was taken aside by \PM JW[[ WV \PM Å Z[\ LIa IVL \WTL \PI\ 1 PIL JM\\MZ R][\ keep my head down and not complain. He said there was no place for angry lesbians in this company.

So when the plumber I was sent out with ‘exposed himself’ to me in the van on an almost daily basis, I knew there was no point telling anyone. I wanted to succeed and needed my placement, so I kept my mouth shut, though his behaviour made me sick. ?PMV 1 XI[[ML Ua I[[M[[UMV\[ _Q\P Æ aQVO KWTW]Z[ he did it again; this time I was ready. I quietly told him never to do that again, and he didn’t. I’ll never know whether I’d have passed if I’d done that earlier.

I don’t have time for that kind of behaviour. I want to get on with my work. I don’t especially enjoy working in cramped loft spaces, but it’s not very often that I do. I don’t mind the dirt – it’s no worse than changing nappies or working in the NHS, which was what I did before I became a plumber.

Getting together one day a year with other women who have had similar experiences is hardly being a feminist campaigner. Why shouldn’t the trade magazines report it just as they report all the other trade exhibitions?

How is this following the feminist agenda?

Responding to Karen Learner’s letter published in the October issue: I hope that someone can inform the above mentioned female that Britain is still a democracy and people are allowed to express their point of view in the written word and via verbal discussion provided they do not invoke slander or libel.

Name withheld, via email

Brian Penny, via email

Mr Anderson wrote a very reasonable letter whereas Karen Learner created a compilation which to my view demonstrates her total lack of knowledge of the plumbing industry in the U.K. I confess that in the 60 plus years I have frequented the plumbing industry I have met a few types guilty of the personal attributes she mentioned. They were NOT however plumbers or any other tradesmen employed in construction.

They were just a small minority of the public we have to deal with.

The situation in America no doubt ZMÆ MK\[ \PI\ QV \PM = 3 XWTQ\QKIT correctness started there, a cancer that attacks democracy. Sadly we have people in the U.K. like Karen Learner and they are a cause for much concern.

Let us know what you think...

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

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November/December 2018

PEOPLE on the Move The new Commercial Director at Sentinel is David Barrett, who will be responsible for the strategic direction and development of the company’s UK operations. David will work closely with the team to continue the promotion of the Vortex300 filter and other existing products. He brings significant experience to the new role, having previously held senior positions at Baxi and Kingspan.  The sales force at Hamworthy has been enhanced with two new additions. Paul Fox will look after specifications for consultants in London while Darcy May (pictured) is Sales Manager for the East Midlands, including Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. Both bring a wealth of experience to their roles, with a combined industry background of 55 years.

Gastite UK has announced the appointment of Luke Boler as its Technical Manager for the Midlands region. In this newly created role, Luke will support the company through dedicated technical support and installation design services.

Gas Safe registered, Luke brings a wealth of experience to the role, having formerly worked as a heating engineer and gas compliance manager.

Rebecca Thurlow has been appointed as the new Business Development Manager for Wirquin to support customers in the North of England. Rebecca spent the past five years working in the construction industry, part of which was supporting merchants in both a regional and national capacity. She will be the face of the company for the M62 corridor, North and East Midlands.

The newest sales representative at Buteline UK is Marc Farrell who has joined the company as an Area Sales Manager covering the North. Marc has over 15 years of experience in the plumbing and heating industry working for merchants such as Plumbase and James Hargreaves, as well as four years for Viessmann as an Area Business Manager.

Xylem has named Jason Howlett as its new MD for the UK and Ireland, overseeing both the sales and services divisions of the business. Jason has 18 years experience in the water industry, including 16 years with Severn Trent Water. Over the past 10 years Jason has managed a wide portfolio of businesses in capital goods spanning several sectors, including construction and energy storage.

Kudos Shower Products has announced the appointment of Keeley Haines as its new National Accounts Manager supporting both the merchant channel and key customers for the business. Keeley joins the business from Hansgrohe and prior to that Lecico Bathrooms, so she comes to the new role with a wealth of relevant experience. Keeley will be reporting to Sales & Marketing Director Nick Graville.

To support the independent kitchen retail and plumbers merchant distribution channels for InSinkErator, Amy Patrick has been appointed to the position of Key Account Manager.

With eight years experience in account management, Amy joins the company from BCG and brings with her a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise in building and maintaining successful business relationships.

The latest appointment by Lakes, the manufacturer of showering spaces, is Area Sales Manager Clare Chase.

Clare will be responsible for the Midlands and is replacing ASM Barry Clark, who now covers the South West. Clare comes to the role with 20 years sales experience, including seven years as a National Account Manager for a major shower manufacturer.

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POINT of View

Problems with Boiler Plus rush More than six months in, Boiler Plus is still causing confusion which is leading to non-compliance. Here, Dean Jepson, European MD of Salus Controls, examines some of the consequences.

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Also, should next year’s policy hen Boiler Plus was first rolled review rightfully conclude out in April, it was that smart thermostats are welcomed by the heating indeed internet connected, controls industry. This new who will compensate the legislation not only sets a homeowners and suppliers new minimum performance who have already installed standard of 92% ErP for non-connected solutions that domestic gas boilers in were wrongly marketed as England for both new and Boiler Plus compliant? replacement installations, Combi plus for the first time ever it also made timers and room Since Boiler Plus was thermostats a requirement. launched, Salus has invested The aim of Boiler Plus in bringing connected smart Dean Jepson, Salus Controls is to give consumers the thermostats in line with power to achieve the greatest comfort and requirements – namely to ensure products energy savings in their home. However, due yield energy savings and flexible control.

When the homeowner installs a new combi to the poorly worded first draft of Boiler Plus that was released in October 2017, the boiler and they choose to add our smart Government (BEIS) had to issue a revised thermostats as the extra efficiency measure, draft in January 2018, followed by two sets of they not only benefit from automation and optimisation functions, they benefit from FAQs to clear up the confusion. internet connected devices too. Whilst Contradictions the automation function serves to adjust Unfortunately, the confusion surrounding time and temperature settings – based on Boiler Plus remains – and lies in – the occupancy detection, or geo-location and/ simple but misleading definition of a ‘smart or stored data from user adjustments over thermostat’ in Part L Building Regulations. time – optimisation is a control function A smart thermostat with automisation and that starts the boiler at the optimum time to optimisation is now one of the four added achieve the setpoint temperature at the start efficiency measures that a homeowner of the occupancy period. The homeowner must take when installing a combi. However, can control the time and temperature of Part L’s definition of a smart thermostat is their heating and hot water simply at the one that does not require remote control or touch of an app.

We have also developed a simple internet connectivity. This contradicts the definition by BEIS and HHIC which states thermostat that features load compensation that smart thermostats are products that – one of the four additional energy saving enable remote control of a central heating options. It appeals to those who don’t want to (or can’t) control their heating online. system via an app.

This inaccurate definition has sparked a trade war within the heating controls industry, with many unscrupulous manufacturers exploiting this loophole and claiming that their smart thermostats are fully compliant with Boiler Plus. In reality, however, they are not connected thermostats but cheaper non-connected devices that offer minimal advantages.

Rushed to market

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BEIS has pledged to review Boiler Plus in April 2019 to ensure that consumers are not being adversely affected by the confusion. From a manufacturer’s perspective, a one year period where this uncertainty is allowed to continue is unacceptable. It is entirely incompatible with the supply chain and the product development period required to bring appropriate products to market.

A further grievance against Boiler Plus is that it was rushed through in a mere six month period, when a standard phase-in/phase out period for products following new regulations is normally two to three years minimum.

Change is coming Boiler Plus is here to stay and we support this legislation by selling products that are fully compliant and by educating the market about the confusion. Despite holding stock of thermostats that we classify as non-complaint and that are valued at around £4 million, we can hold our head high and assure customers that they operate within the law.

There is no way of policing what additional energy efficiency measures homeowners are taking when installing a combi boiler – which is why many manufacturers continue to flout the law. However, it’s only a matter of time before it will show up on a survey when the house is being sold.

Our hope is that next year’s review in will correct the inaccuracies of Boiler Plus and that consumers are given the correct guidance to help them achieve the greatest comfort and energy savings in their home whilst fully meeting this key legislation. www.salus-controls.com/uk

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Advertisement Feature

PRODUCT Spotlight 19

LG unveils new R32 heat pump

The new Therma V R32 Monobloc air to water heat pump range from LG Heating, delivering higher capacities, lower noise levels and a quicker response to heating demand, is set to help drive demand for air source heat pumps. Read on to find out more.

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embley Stadium was the impressive backdrop for the recent LG renewable heating event that saw the announcement and introduction of the new Therma V R32 Monobloc air to water heat pump range – the first full range of R32 Monobloc heat pumps available.

In addition, LG announced its new partnership with Pacifica Group to provide the new 0800 Repair service available nationwide for LG equipment operators and owners, and alerted the attendees of the launch to the prospect of the soon-to-arrive Metering and Monitoring Service Package – the MMSP – a new tool for servicing and diagnostic procedures for installers developed with Regin.

The MMSP will provide solid, meaningful information for Government that will enable it to back the installation of heat pumps across the country.

Tried and tested LG has developed a high quality air to water heat pump range over many years under its Therma V branding.

Thousands of these units have been installed up and down the country. The latest introduction to its popular range, operating on the low GWP R32 refrigerant available in 5 to 16kW 1Ă˜ and 12 to 16kW 3Ă˜, in a wide operating range of between 10-135Hz and water temperatures up to 65°C without an electric backup heater, is the LG Therma V R32 Monobloc range. It comes with an energy label rating of A+++ (ready for September 2019 ErP changes).

The new version of the Therma V Monobloc contains a plate heat exchanger, expansion tank and an energy efficient water pump. The new units have a higher capacity due to the choice of refrigerant. The electric heater can be installed as an optional accessory as this is not always required. The latest units have a 5 to 6dB lower sound power level than previous models and incorporate a number of additional new features including a new revolutionary scroll compressor, designed and manufactured by LG Electronics with ‘wet vapour’ injection. The unit has excellent performance at low ambient temperatures – 100% at -7°C. LG units offer quicker response times for the provision of heating and cooling by sensing not only the temperature but also pressure – a pressure control sensor provides a faster and more accurate response, reducing the time delay for implementing heating or cooling commands significantly. The addition of pressure control enables the Therma V R32 Monobloc to take less time to reach the desired temperatures, with up to 30% quicker response in cooling and 44% quicker response in heating, with a high level of accuracy and stability built in.

Andrew Hooper is LG’s UK & Ireland Heating Manager in the Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions business: “As a package for the installer and the end user, this is a game changer in the air to water air source heat pump marketplace,� he says. “The market for air source heat pumps is set to explode in the UK and this new range puts LG in pole position to take advantage of that increase in popularity.�

The new offering from LG comes with a revolutionary

new scroll compressor combining high efficiency and low noise characteristics of the scroll compressor with the stable compressing structure of a rotary compressor in one unit.

LG equipment has always benefitted from exceptional controllers. The new series comes with an intuitive controller, with a 4.3in coloured LCD display that is perfect for installers and end users alike. partner.lge.com/uk

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KEEPING YOU THE PERFECT T E M P E RAT U R E

Therma V Monobloc contains Fluroinated Greenhouse Gases R32 *A+++ label is available from 26th September 2019 and should be considerd as A++ label until that time.

www.lg.com/uk/heating THE IDEAL COMFORT FOR YOUR HOME. Therma V Monobloc air-to-water heat pump, operating on the low GWP R32 refrigerant and available in 5kW ~ 16kW 1Ă˜ and 12kW to 16kW 3Ă˜, with a wide operating range of between 10-135Hz and water temperatures up to 65°C without an electric backup heater. A new intuitive colour screen controller and LG's smart ThinQ for remote access.

Renewable technology

LG’s Therma V R32 heat pump launched at Wembley Stadium

Comfortable home

Lower bills

Reduce carbon emissions

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20 GADGETS & Tools

Xmas Winter warmer The smart way to take control raffle! pack full of light Win The SALUS Smart Home Base Pack (SHBASE) contains everything you need to control a single heating zone system.

It can be used in conjunction with the SALUS Smart Home app. The pack includes a bonus SP600 Smart Plug with the added benefit of controlling and scheduling one electrical device or appliance from the app. The Base Pack is designed to be an entry-level single zone heating system but can be easily expanded to a multi zone heating system with individual room control by adding TRVs and additional thermostats. To further expand the system simply add additional products like window/ door sensors and smart buttons.

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As we move into the season of giving, we’re once more giving our readers a chance to win some cool gadgets and tools. All you have to do is write the enquiry number of the prizes you want to win on the reader enquiry and registration card inside this issue and then send it to us before 7th December to make sure your name has a place in the draws.

Winter weather is setting in so you are probably going to be dealing with the perennial problems of lack of light and lack of warmth. Unilite is here to help with its Winter Warmer giveaway bundle, which features a 500 lumen PS-IL5R inspection light, a BE-02TH Thinsulate lined beanie light, a thermos flask to keep your brew warm, a notepad, an air freshener and a work bag to keep it all in!

Founded in 1981, Unilite has a wealth of experience to help plumbing and heating engineers light up the dark corners of their work with lights for any number of situations. Whether it’s headlights, inspection lights, site lights, or more conventional torches, Unilite has a solution.

Win 1

www.uni-lite.com

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Show no mercy to grime Win 3

This prize package from Swarfega includes two gift sets, so three winners will get one of each. The first set includes TOUGH Hand Cleaner and TOUGH Gel Moisturiser. The other part of the prize package is a wash bag, which contains the same TOUGH Hand Cleaner and Gel Moisturiser, but it also has the brand’s Shower Gel. Swarfega is an expert in heavy duty formulas that cut through the work of the day that accumulates on hands, while being gentle on the skin. www.swarfega.com

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GADGETS & Tools Say ‘Hi’ to the combi Now bearing its new brand name – Hikoki – the DV18DGL combi drill delivers all the power and endurance it featured when it bore the Hitachi label.

This advanced power tool has 55Nm hard torque, 22 different torque settings, and a two speed variable motor.

Whether drilling in masonry (13mm), wood (38mm) or steel (13mm), the DV18DGL’s ergonomic design and soft grip handle makes it comfortable to use for extended periods of time. It has good trigger control at all speeds and

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the power needed when driving into hard surfaces.

The drill comes with two 1.5Ah Liion batteries which have a charge time of 40 minutes, and the builtin light allows for work in dimly lit spaces. The DV18DGL weighs under 2kg and is designed for working in tight spaces.

Go pro with battery that keeps its cool Compact, powerful and efficient, the Bosch Professional Pro-CORE 18V batteries are fully compatible with existing Bosch Professional 18V equipment. It promises to make professional users more efficient through greater power, lifetime and runtime. It also features the company’s CoolPack 2.0 technology, which protects the battery against heat damage. The Pro-CORE battery is available in 4.0, 8.0 and 12.0Ah versions, and the winner of this prize will get the 4.0Ah variety, along with the GAA 18V-24 battery adapter, all neatly contained in soft-sided, Bosch-branded carrying case.

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Win

1

Designed for Win 10 right hand use If you’re fed up with reading tapes upside down, get to grips with Fisco’s new ‘Mark-Right’ Tape.

It’s designed for right-handed people, with a blade that reads from right to left. Measuring and marking gets a whole lot easier and more accurate because you won’t have to read the tape measure upside down and use your left hand to hold the tape in position while marking.

Available in 5m lengths, the blade is graduated in mm and inches, is accurate to EC Class II and housed in a tough ABS case with a positive action slide lock brake, belt clip and zeroing end hook.

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Get a grip on comfort pliers With ergonomic design at the heart of these slip joint pliers, Bahco says this product can help protect the user from unnecessary pain and strain. Bahco’s 8231 slip joint pliers combine maximum comfort with minimum effort.

Bahco says they fit the hand so well that they help to protect even the toughest hands from painful strain or injury.

Extra wide-opening jaws ensure large capacity grip, while a shorter

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handle provides better access.

Single handed op er at ion is enabled by a thumb adjustment button.

These slip joint pliers are manufactured with anticorrosion treated, high alloy steel with hardened jaws and black finish to give a long service life.

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www.bahco.com

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22 GADGETS & Tools

Add DAB to a van Raptor hand tools Small but powerful cordless drivers Old vans can now have new digital radio technology with the Nextbase Adapt DAB250, a plug-and-play DAB+ radio solution. It wirelessly sends the audio of your favourite DAB stations to your existing vehicle radio via the FM transmitter. It comes complete with an active film antenna and a mounting system for the windscreen or dashboard.

A clear 2.4in LCD screen displays the selected radio

stations with four buttons for menu selection and playback. It automatically selects the best vacant FM car frequency. One can be yours for around £50 if you order from Amazon.

Hand tools from the Raptor range are now available at over 400 of Wolseley’s branches nationwide, including Raptor screwdrivers. They feature a Tri-lobular grip for improved torque transfer as well as highspec S2 blades, which make them safer, stronger and hard wearing. The range of hand tools joins the brand’s power tool accessories, released earlier this year. www.wolseley.co.uk

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For a cleaner finish The new finishing nailer (DBN600ZJ 18V LXT) from Makita is designed for second fix construction site installations, including applying plumbing connections, electrical fixtures and skirtings where a neat, professional finish is required. Powered by an 18V Li-ion battery, the powerful motor will deliver up to 800 shots on a fully charged 4.0Ah battery. The magazine can hold 110 nails, and when empty, the machine weighs 3.4kg. A conveniently designed window allows for easy checking of the remaining quantity of nails. This new tool can be used in either bump-fire mode – where the nose is bumped against the target material to activate it – or in sequential mode, where the tip is placed on the target and the trigger is pulled.

www.makitauk.com

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The latest cordless impact drivers from Bosch are made for efficient use in hard-toreach areas. The Bosch GDR 18V-200 C Professional and the Bosch GDX 18V200 C Professional are claimed to have the best performance-tosize ratio compared to competitor models in the same category.

Both have a maximum torque of 200Nm and feature short head lengths of 126 or 147 millimetres respectively.

They are designed for all connections in installations and in metal and wood work and are said to offer considerable advantages over cordless screwdrivers.

Both models can be adjusted by the Toolbox

app via Bluetooth to users’ personal settings. This includes functions such as soft start that enables a wellcontrolled and precise tool positioning when screwing in wood.

Both cordless impact drivers have three preset speed settings meaning tradespeople can now work faster, and more efficiently.

The preselected speed minimises the risk of overtightening and snapping screws.

Maintenance has also become easier because it is now possible to receive information about the status of the tool straight to a smartphone.

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MULTI VOLT battery

AC power.

DC freedom.

A new generation battery system with almost the same size and weight as our 18V battery - but it’s the technology inside that gives you the great improvements you need. Doubling the voltage provides optimal power without the hassle of cords. The MULTI VOLT battery is compatible with almost every cordless HiKOKI power tool, which means you can easily switch from one power tool to another, regardless of the voltage. So you’re just a simple click away from maximum performance.

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November/December 2018

24 PRODUCT Review

Turn your smartphone into a diagnostic device Thermal imaging technology is expanding so much that professionals have their pick of devices at a range of price points to make their jobs easier. Here, Nathan James Van Gambling provides a review of the FLIR ONE Pro accessory that turns a smartphone into a useful and affordable diagnostic tool.

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cleanse) the camera can within a report for the consumer and was given the opportunity to review also ascertain whether even used with databases such as the the FLIR ONE Pro, a cleaning has been Home Works Register currently being thermal imaging device successful. This is great for developed by gas engineer Lee Fisher. within the extensive range the customer and vastly Accessible technology offered by FLIR. It fits to the different to what has underside of a smartphone sometimes taken place in The technology in this device is not new but it has become affordable for by connecting to the the past. our industry. Engineers by their very charging port, and models Visual proof nature like to take pride in their work exist for both Android and Not just rogue sole traders, and this device seems to be catching Apple devices. but companies with KPI’s on in popularity, and like any good tool It comes boxed in welland performance targets it has the ability to exemplify a certain designed packaging rather have been known to professionalism. It also aids a customer’s like smartphones do. This coerce their engineers understanding of their heating system is a shame, as oversized to just connect a flush when it’s explained to them on a wrapping does not really fit Nathan James Van Gambling machine to the system walkabout during commission. Anything with the key features of the Plumbing&Heating Lecturer and give the impression which helps an engineer achieve this heating industry: energy an adequate flush was being performed. tremendous task gets a thumbs up from efficiency and protecting the environment.

I’m not suggesting this was common me.

An app is required to work the device, practice, but unfortunately it has been When I announced on social media and a QR code is provided to aid the known to happen and that I had been download. Admittedly, I did struggle to find asked to review this the correct app but I am sure this is down probably still does.

The FLIR ONE Pro technology, it was met to me being a novice with smartphones. with some cynicism, Interestingly, every time I used the device camera, therefore, can and I was led to form at a friend’s house they all suggested they provide before and the impression it was would like to have one. So it does seem after evidence that not wanted. This was to have a certain appeal, even for non- will verify the system not from engineers professionals. But within the plumbing is clean and reduce the but different sections and heating industry, I think it could be a occurrence of ‘pretend flushing’. of the wider industry game changer.

Of course there – possibly the same Game changer are other methods ones who still Being able to take thermal images of for proving system misinform engineers radiators – the UK’s most common type water cleanliness, but about corrosion. of domestic heat emitter – I believe can the uniquely visual To use an analogy for have a beneficial impact for both the representation that corrosion: If you kept consumer, engineer and the environment. the FLIR ONE Pro offers chickens and were Rather like the people trying to hide is hugely beneficial fed up of repeatedly in the bushes from the helicopter’s to a customer and finding dead birds thermal camera on one of those police easy to comprehend. each morning, your programmes, presence of dirt in a heating Because the FLIR ONE two best options are system is now much more visible and Pro connects to the to get rid of your able to be detected. And once effectively smartphone, images chickens or get rid dealt with (e.g. performing a system can easily be uploaded Checking for leaks with the ONE Pro of the fox. With the

Visual data captured with ease The FLIR ONE Pro helps professionals find invisible problems faster than ever, whether inspecting electrical panels, troubleshooting mechanical systems, looking for HVAC problems, or finding water damage. With a rugged design that is drop tested to 1.8m, the FLIR ONE Pro is made to The FLIR ONE Pro plugs into a withstand demanding work and outdoor environments. smartphone to work with an app With FLIR’s MSX technology, which combines thermal and visual data for ÿner details and added perspective, and VividIR video signal processing technology, the FLIR ONE Pro delivers high thermal image quality and clarity. It also offers exclusive advanced app features, including multiple spot temperature meters and selectable on-screen temperature tracking regions. The device measures temperatures up to 400°C (752°F) with a sensitivity that detects temperature differences down to 70mK. The OneFit adjustable connector enables the connection to be adjusted by up to 4mm to accommodate a variety of smartphone cases without the need to remove the case.

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A powerful thermal imaging camera, the FLIR ONE Pro helps you easily find hidden electrical problems, energy loss, water damage, and other heat-related issues

common form of corrosion which exists in UK heating systems, this equates to getting rid of your ferrous metal (e.g. pressed steel radiators) or getting rid of oxygen.

Practical solution Swapping everyone’s rads to UFH is impractical, but instead of eliminating oxygen by sizing expansion vessels correctly (so consumers are not constantly topping up their system with fresh water, like manufacturers tell them to do) and using a deaeration device, industry still maintains one of the best options is to use magnetic filters. This is no different to employing someone to collect dead chickens to keep the coup tidy. It does not solve the problem of chickens being killed.

The FLIR ONE Pro camera solves a problem: customers and engineers can see radiators have been cleaned and any device or method which helps rebuild that trusting relationship between a customer and an engineer is certainly worthy of a shot.

Final verdict The FLIR ONE Pro is a fantastic tool and reasonably priced. As mentioned above, the packaging needs to be changed and ideally the charger for this device could be the same size as the micro USB used to plug into my phone. Apart from that, however, I think many engineers will enjoy using it and benefit from not only its capabilities but from being able to help the consumer understand their system is working just that bit better.

About the author Nathan James Van Gambling has worked in the heating and plumbing sector for over 30 years in roles that have seen him on the tools as well as working as a college lecturer, assessor and speaker. He can be found on Twitter at @ betateach. www.flir.co.uk

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November/December 2018

26 SPECIAL Report

The big debate: Licence to operate The plumbing industry is governed by a variety of schemes that duplicate requirements, multiply costs and add to general confusion, which is why the APHC has been engaging with installers to explore the potential of developing an industry-wide licensing scheme.

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uring this year’s Quality Plumber Week (1st-7th October), the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors hosted a series of events to gather opinion and insight on the wisdom of introducing a single mandatory license to operate a plumbing and heating business. In all, around 100 plumbing businesses of all sizes and types were represented, speaking their minds about the current schemes in place and the pressures they exert on professionals in the industry.

Graeme Dryden, Technical Services Manager at APHC, led the events (held in Leicester, Surrey, Taunton, Newport, Chester and Leeds), exploring what licensing might look like and whether such a scheme might solve some of the worst problems businesses face: excessive fees, overlapping requirements, administrative burdens, confusing pathways to compliance, etc. With that in mind, Graeme was quick to reassure everyone that the Association took a completely agnostic position on the issue. At the Leeds event, he said: “There is no hidden agenda in our doing this – APHC has no plans to launch a license to operate. We only want to find out what you think. The reason we are asking the questions now is because this subject is being talked about by many, and we want to give the people who matter – you – an opportunity to be a part of those conversations. We want to go back to the Government and tell them what you are really concerned about.”

Disjointed system The presentation at all six events had several core themes, the most prominent being that the current system is vastly disjointed and confusing. To illustrate the point, Graeme showed a slide that depicted a cat’s cradle of associations among the various entities and activities in the industry:

Next steps Armed with the insights gained from its event tour, APHC will continue to engage in research and consultation to produce a preliminary findings report, which will then be shared with industry partners for further dialogue.

In Leeds, Graeme concluded: “I will close where I started.

Do not go away here thinking the APHC has got a plan for some form of licensing. Government is continuing to talk about forms of schemes without a mandate behind them, and they are having those debates right now. We want to step out of the dark corridors and have an open debate.”

Graeme Dryden presenting License to Operate in Leeds

License to operate In the simplest terms, a licensing scheme needs to address two key areas: business standards for the company and competency standards for the individual. It should be a single, industry-led scheme that would eliminate the complexities, confusion and overlaps that currently exist in the sector. A license to operate must simplify things for the consumer so they know what to look for when wanting to hire a bone fide business. It should also be simple for industry to understand what they need to do to comply with regulations. All of this would be governed by a system that is cost-effective and easily understood by everyone involved.

Round-up After nine days on the road visiting six cities in England and Wales, APHC compiled the data it had collected and presented it to an audience at PHEX Manchester in October.

Although there were mixed views reported from each of the six groups, a majority agreed that, in principle, the licensing model could work if it reduced costs and burdens.

Looking at the current system, Graeme asked the attendees for the reasons they joined an industry scheme – such as Gas Safe or CHAS – in the first place. Legislation was the primary driver for most, with one audience member saying, “we join because we have to, not because we want to”. Everyone at the Leeds event expressed frustration at the lack of policing and enforcement within the industry schemes. If no-one checks for compliance, then what was the point of any scheme’s existence?

Basic framework Whatever sector of the industry an installer may be working in, they are inevitably confronted with a myriad of requirements and options that permit them to operate legally. But will licensing simplify the system and reduce the costs and burdens on the installer? In short, can licensing move the industry from the cat’s cradle above to a more orderly scenario like this:

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In building a picture of a licensing scheme that would be acceptable to the majority of heating and plumbing engineers, a number of expectations were voiced, the first being that it should be mandatory and with rules that were routinely enforced. A common thread was for an element of consumer adherence, meaning the public should employ only licensed businesses and face some kind of penalty (such as fines or warranty invalidation) for going outside the system. Additionally, manufacturers and merchants would ideally be selling only to licensed businesses.

As to how the licensing body would be organised, it was widely agreed that it would have to be nonprofit, with surplus income ploughed back into development of the scheme, training, or for other benefits to the industry.

It was widely accepted that businesses should be able to provide evidence of insurance (e.g. public liability, employers liability, professional indemnity), have sound financial management, adhere to customer protection standards and operate with health and safety systems in place. It was also generally agreed that a licensing scheme would be acceptable to the industry if it replaced and combined current schemes to reduce confusion, increase participation, and did not add to costs.

The sixth and last stop on APHC’s tour was in Leeds, attended by a wide range of stakeholders, from plumbing business owners to representatives from Yorkshire Water, JIB, JTL, Unite the Union and BPEC. Debate was lively and much of what was said reflected comments that had been made at the previous events. Below is a selection of remarks by attendees made on the day.

On why an individual would join a scheme: • “I can do all my work with just a CPS affiliation, but I choose to join other schemes for the badge. If a customer believes that you need to be, say, WaterSafe to carry out plumbing, it saves confusion to have that badge.”

• “OFTEC is useful for me because it makes Building Regulation compliance a lot easier and it gives me the ability self-certify.”

• “I am a member of WaterSafe and Gas Safe – Gas Safe is to cover the legal aspect, but I wanted the company to be WaterSafe because it allows us access into the NHS, which will only take on a WaterSafe contractor.”

• “If you ask a customer about who you should pick to do your gas work they might say Gas Safe or even CORGI, but if you ask them who should you get to do plumbing, they don’t know. So it’s useful to be affiliated with an industry body, such as APHC or CIPHE.” On the potential benefits of a licensing scheme: • “The first thing anybody says when a new scheme comes along is ‘what is it going to cost me’? So if licensing means less cost to the plumber, then for me it’s a goer.”

• “It’s got to be cost-effective and it’s got to make our lives simpler.”

• “For me, a license to operate has got to be specific and targeted to stop just anyone from claiming to be a plumber. We might hear about illegal gas fitters, but there is no such thing as an illegal plumber.”

• “I don’t see how things could improve with a license if you still have the thriving black economy. People who want to avoid tax and ask for cash-in-hand work won’t care if you’re licensed or not. So there needs to be some sort of penalty for consumers who ignore the regulations.”

On what competency means under licensing: • “You’ve got to make sure a licensed plumber has done a recognised apprenticeship and is time-served.

Without solid criteria, a license would be meaningless.”

• “In the beginning you need to make it accessible to all legitimate businesses, because it’s better to have everyone inside the tent. You don’t want to leave out the experienced installation companies who may not have the newly devised qualifications. You can’t tell a company that’s been operating for 50 years that they are no longer competent.”

• “A grandfather clause is absolutely necessary. People who are newly entering the industry can be subject to the standards in a strict way, but long-standing businesses need to be given a fair chance to align themselves with the new standards – without adding to their costs.”

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November/December 2018

28 ENERGY Matters Report promotes a hydrogen future A new report has been issued which highlights the role that hydrogen could play in the future of the mains gas network while helping the UK to meet its global carbon reduction targets. ‘The Future of Fuel’, published

by Worcester Bosch, takes a look at how the UK could decarbonise heat and hot water generation without radically changing the way 85% of households heat their homes.

According to the report, decarbonising the supply running through the mains gas network would not only cost three times less than the Government’s current aim of electrification, but would also allow the UK’s longstanding infrastructure to remain.

As well as comparing hydrogen with natural gas, ‘The Future of Fuel’ takes a close look at the technical requirements of a hydrogen

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boiler before spelling out the differences between hydrogen and natural gas, and answering some of the questions likely to arise if the country were to move toward a hydrogen-supplied gas network.

The report puts forward a three-stage roadmap towards a sustainable gas network, which calls for more funding and financial support for the training of heating engineers.

Cheaper option Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA) and author of the report’s introduction, says: “Numerous studies have shown that switching to electricity is a more expensive option for the UK and it will struggle to meet demand in a cold snap. Low carbon gas in our homes will be the cheapest, most secure, and most flexible source

Funding for heat networks

of energy we can deploy.

The fact that it meets our international obligations too should be something we welcome.”

Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, adds: “If the ultimate objective is to decarbonise heat, it would be very short-sighted to try to do so by removing gas from 26 million homes.”

‘The Future of Fuel: What the future holds for the UK’s mains gas network’ is now available to download in full via the Worcester Bosch website at worcester-bosch. co.uk/hydrogen

The Government’s decision to invest £320m of public funds to support heat networks has been welcomed by an industry spokesperson. Pete Mills, Technical Operations Manager at Bosch Commercial and Industrial, says that the commitment to provide capital funding for heat network projects is a positive step forward.

The ‘Heat Networks Investment Project’ (HNIP) will provide ‘gap funding’ through a combination of loans and grants, which eligible projects will be offered from April 2019.

Pete says: “The UK is ideally

Pete Mills, Bosch Commercial and Industrial

suited for the development of heat networks, as it is densely

populated, with a high demand for heat. As such, the funding announcement will open new market opportunities. The ‘HNIP’ provides a valuable foundation on which to build, and should help to attract institutional investment.

“It is important however, that applicants do not see this money as a short-term windfall, but as an opportunity to invest in heat networks that prioritise the end user in the design process. This will ensure that the money is invested into meaningful projects that prioritise consumers over a quick profit.”

Green week backs electric October’s Green GB Week should be used as a catalyst to further promote the potential of modern electric heating systems, says manufacturer Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation.

Shaun Hurworth, the company’s Senior Channel

Marketing Manager, says: “Green GB Week has been a big success, highlighting the need to curb climate change, as well as the solutions already in place – from heat pumps to electric vehicles. Now the heating industry must continue that

momentum to showcase the potential of modern electric heating solutions, working towards achieving the Government’s target of electrification in order to reduce the significant carbon impact of heating and cooling our buildings.”

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November/December 2018

HEALTH & Safety

HORROR SHOW Installation work that will make you shiver!

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

Drug and alcohol awareness The Considerate Constructors Scheme is helping to address the issue of drugs and alcohol use on the job with its ‘Drugs and Alcohol e-learning’ course. The free course focuses on how contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and clients can take practical and effective measures to safeguard and protect the workforce in relation to drugs and alcohol.

The effects of drugs and alcohol abuse can be incredibly dangerous in the construction industry, where working at height and operating vehicles and heavy machinery are common.

Drugs and alcohol e-learning follows on from the Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on… drugs and alcohol’ campaign, and its handy drugs and alcohol policy template are

available on the Best Practice Hub. Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy says: “The impact of drugs and alcohol on the construction industry is an extremely serious issue and one which the industry is working hard to address.

We see our Drugs and Alcohol e-learning as an essential way of extending the Scheme’s reach to help educate and further raise awareness to help address this issue.”

To take the course, visit the website: https://ccsbestpractice. org.uk/courses/drugs-andalcohol

Asbestos: know the risks NICEIC and ELECSA have launched a partnership with Central Compliance UK (CCUK) to provide training on the dangers of working with asbestos.

Figures from the HSE suggest that 14 people will die prematurely every day as a result of being exposed to asbestos – this equates to around 5000 deaths a year.

Although receiving a total ban in 1999, there are an estimated 12.5 million households that could potentially contain asbestos.

Working with CCUK, NICEIC and ELECSA contractors can take online or face-to-face training in asbestos awareness

courses, fully certiÿ ed by the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA).

Mark Smith, Marketing Director for NICEIC and ELECSA, says: “Tradespeople need to know they are working in a safe environment. These ÿgures are a startling reminder of the work that needs to be done to protect those who are at greater risk of exposure.

“The courses will highlight what to look out for if they believe asbestos to be present in their vicinity and what immediate action they need to take to prevent themselves and others around them from being exposed to this harmful material.”

Billy Quinn, MD for CCUK says: “There are potentially thousands of contractors who are still not aware of the dangers surrounding asbestos. At CCUK we strive to get the message across that professional training can change the way today’s workers operate so they don’t put their lives at unnecessary risk.”

The partnership means NICEIC and ELECSA contractors can take online training at a special discounted rate of £15, inclusive of VAT. To take the course, simply visit the website: www. cent ralcompliance.uk / certsure

Aggressive eye protection

To join the Gas App community simply visit the Apple or Google store and search for Gas App Uk and get a 7-day free trial.

Expanding its PPE products in the UK, Fortress Distribution now offers Guard-Dogs Aggressive Eyewear. This US brand is distinguished by an attractive design that also delivers quality, strength and durability, with an emphasis on protection from debris in aggressive work environments and high-speed activities.

The range offers goggle and eyewear styles and combinations that have been specifically designed to keep dust, industrial particulates, wind, insects, grit, sun and other foreign objects out of your eyes. Guard-Dogs have a FogStopper Coated Lens to reduce fog and moisture buildup, and the Optical Grade Polycarbonate Lens is distortion free, providing 99.9% UV

protection. Guard-Dogs Aggressive Eyewear is said to fit extremely well, seal the eye area, and be comfortable all day.

Also part of Fortress Distribution’s offering are Black Mamba Gloves and Accessories and Yuleys reusable overshoes by HexArmor, as well as Body Partner Spine Align clothing and ColdRush personal cooling products. fortressdistribution.co.uk ENQUIRY No. 117

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November/December 2018

32 TRAINING Update Development centre Manchester academy aims to inspire looks to the future

Polypipe’s new Professional Development Centre in Doncaster

Looking to inspire the next generation of budding heating professionals, Polypipe has officially opened its new Doncaster-based Professional Development Centre (PDC).

The £250,000 training facility features specially designed training spaces to give trainee and experienced plumbing professionals the opportunity to improve their practical skills.

The courses on offer at the PDC include BPEC-accredited courses on installing warm water underfloor heating, apprenticeship training and guides to domestic ventilation product installation. The PDC will also be home to the company’s technical design team and its new underfloor heating management team.

Rachel Smith, Polypipe Underfloor Heating General Manager, says: “We want

to further strengthen our position as the market leader for underfloor heating solutions and a key part of that is the level of service and support we offer to our trade customers. Offering accredited training and development for heating professionals is a key part of that support.

“The new PDC will also help us tackle the skills gap head on by working with schools and colleges to help train the plumbers of the future. It will also ensure that Polypipe continues to serve the local and national workforce by developing new talent.”

The official opening was attended by local dignitaries and CIPHE President Tracy Richardson, who presented a plaque to commemorate the centre being granted CHIPEaccredited status.

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Aimed at young people and adults in Greater Manchester, a new Academy has been opened by Thermatic, a national provider of bespoke heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, based at Sovereign Enterprise Park in Salford.

The new facility was opened in October by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and has been developed in partnership with the Salford Foundation which supports social and academic development of young people and adults in the local area. Its aim is to help address the growing skills shortage in the engineering sector and to make engineering more appealing and accessible for young people, regardless of gender.

Thermatic says that it hopes to encourage a new perception of the engineering industry and the academy is part of the company’s ongoing ‘Women in Engineering’ campaign which has already seen two new female HVAC

GM Mayor Andy Burnham demonstrates his pipe bending skills in front of children from a local primary school

engineers taking up new roles.

Chairman Colin Tennent says: “Our sector is simply not the go-to sector for those leaving school, and so this

academy is about investing in the future of the community and the industry with the purpose of not only tackling the skills gap in our industry, but also to inspire the next generation to pursue a career in engineering.

“We feel that it is our responsibility to sell engineering as a career of choice for all. Our apprenticeship programme will also take high priority in the coming months, with a focus on engaging more apprentices and providing them with the training and development needed to progress within the business and the industry.”

The team at Thermatic is liaising with colleges and universities to allow use of their facilities as a venue for lectures and educational visits. Next year, the company also plans to offer training to ex-forces personnel to help them settle back into civilian life. www.thermatic.co.uk

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Pump know-how Getting up to speed Responding to demand, Grundfos has extended the range of topics covered by its online Ecademy, a flexible learning hub which offers a range of bite-sized training modules that can be accessed at any time of day from a smartphone, tablet or computer. Now aimed at a wide target group of pump professionals, including installers, designers and water utility companies, the Ecademy covers pump solutions for domestic, commercial and industrial applications, with modules designed for those new to the industry and seasoned professionals.

As well as incorporating a diverse range of themes, it provides information on different pump products and their applications, as well as looking at the theory behind them. To find out more, please visit: www.grundfos. co.uk/ecademy

According to reports, more than 1000 electrical contractors have now successfully taken and passed their 18th Edition training with NICEIC and ELECSA. The 18th Edition was officially launched in July this year, with electrical contractors given a six-month transition period to get up to speed with the changes. A further 2000 contractors are said to be looking to complete their training before the end of the year.

NICEIC and ELECSA currently runs two different 18th Edition courses. The full course takes three days while an update course is a one-day option for those who have recently completed their 17th edition Amendment 3: 2015 qualification. Both courses can be taken online or in the classroom.

18thedition.com

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CPD on overheating

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A new CPD seminar has been introduced by Titon aimed at domestic specifiers and designers, with the focus on interpreting the current regulations for ventilation and overheating.

Designed to last an hour, the seminar covers the different forms of ventilation available and how they fit in with Part F and Part L(a) of the Building Regulations, as well as giving an insight into overheating.

The CPD also looks at the need for purge ventilation.

Lee Caulfield, Sales Director,

comments: “The issue of purge and overheating in dwellings is a key one, as it needs to be addressed at the earliest stages of building design.

We believe this CPD will give designers and specifiers the tools to deliver the best possible outcomes for their projects, as well as a thorough knowledge and understanding of the complex requirements when it comes to ventilation strategies.”

To register for the new CPD from Titon, visit https://cpduk. co.uk/directory/profile/titon.

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November/December 2018

TRAINING Update 33 Learning about new burners Online JTL welcomes cut booking to employer costs Over 200 installers and service engineers have benefited from a trip to ELCO Burners’ manufacturing facility in Resana, Italy, to receive in-depth training on the company’s new range of low NOx EKL burners.

They were the first industry professionals to attend the new course, which includes both theoretical and practical hands-on training.

The course also includes a guided tour of the company’s production facility, providing detailed information on the assembly process, as well as the testing that all burners must undergo before they leave the factory.

The EKL burner has been manufactured with installers in mind, featuring a design that is straightforward to fit and maintain. A single Allen Key can be used to remove and adjust key components, including the burner head, while all parts are easy to access, thanks to a dedicated servicing position and a simple layout.

Commenting on the new training course, Giuliano Conticini, MD at ELCO Burners, says: “We were delighted to welcome installers and engineers from the UK and Ireland to our facilities in Italy, in conjunction with Firebird Heating Solutions.

It’s incredibly important to educate the marketplace on the changes to ErP legislation, and the most effective way of achieving this is through an in-depth course that offers a comprehensive blend of practical and theoretical learning objectives.

“The feedback received from installers and service engineers has been very positive, so we are looking forward to running additional courses with our customer.”

EKL burners have been introduced to the UK market to meet the requirements of the ErP directive. The new burners are designed to minimise their environmental impact, thanks to a unique combustion head design that significantly reduces NOx levels to below 120mg/kWh. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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As part of an ongoing drive to make training more accessible to installers, Baxi now operates an online booking system for all of its courses.

Installers can view upcoming dates on Baxi’s website and reserve a place on the courses they wish to attend. Topics include free product training on key ranges such as the Baxi 600 combi, as well as specialist and accredited training courses.

The company has also introduced a Training Tuesday initiative, publishing regular videos across social media every Tuesday. Each week covers a different topic, ranging from servicing and maintenance to installation and repairs, providing bite-sized lessons that help to bring the classroom to installers.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement in the recent Budget that SME employer contributions towards apprenticeships will be halved has been welcomed by industry apprenticeship and training provider JTL. The contribution of employers will be reduced from the current 10% level to half of that, at 5% from April 2019.

JTL Chief Executive Jon Graham says he was pleased with the reduction at a time when the numbers of apprenticeships being started in England is well down on the previous year. “We applaud the proactive measure by the Chancellor to support apprentices and particularly the SME organisations who are the life blood of this form of training,” he said.

“There is no doubt that smaller businesses have been reticent about taking on learners given the additional training costs imposed –

JTL CEO Jon Graham

these are on top of all the employment and supervision costs already incurred. We are currently participating in some serious research with small and medium sized businesses to understand the wider reasons why there are barriers to taking on apprentices at the present time.

“We hope Government will continue to reflect and listen to the training sector regarding other barriers and react appropriately.”

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PRODUCT Spotlight 35

How cement can fill the gap for plumbers Cement might not be high on your list of priorities, but it is something that can prove invaluable in certain situations and knowing which cement to use and how to use it can save a lot of time and hassle. Dr Bill Price, National Commercial Technical Manager at Tarmac Cement, discusses why it’s worth keeping some in the back of the van.

P

lumbers will often need to install or repair pipes and vents that pass through an exterior wall, and no matter how tight the fit, a gap will remain around pipes routed through brick walls.

These tend to include waste pipes, water pipes and vents for boilers or non-condensing tumble dryers. This exit gap in the wall must be sealed as, without this, the wall is not Dr Bill Price, National Comweather-tight and can lead mercial Technical Manager to in-flowing rain, unwanted pests entering the building and heated air escaping.

Let’s look in a little more detail at how cement can, quite literally, fill the gap for plumbers.

The pre-mixed mortar comes in a handy 5kg re-sealable tub

Foam or cement?

Some specialists may opt to use polyurethane foams to seal gaps. However, for many this tends to be unsatisfactory.

The foam makes neat finishes difficult and without being painted or sealed when hardened, it degrades due to exposure to sunlight, making it a short rather than longterm solution. Foam sealants also carry the risk of being potentially flammable and harmful to the skin, as well as being extremely hard to remove from your hands, so be sure to wear safety gear.

Opting for a simple ready-mix cement mortar can offer a more durable and weather-resistant solution, resulting in reduced maintenance and replacement over the lifetime of the building. It also ensures a neater and more accurate finish, adding a touch of professionalism to the job at hand.

There are also clear benefits in terms of ease of application.

The guaranteed mix proportions of a ready-to-use mortar also help overcome any potential problems relating to site mixing, such as excess water and the addition of other inappropriate materials. This is a huge consideration, as not getting the mix right can result in reduced strength, increased permeability, and reduced durability of the hardened mortar.

Basic steps Pre-mixed cement mortar, such as Blue Circle Quality Assured Mortar, consists of a dry mix of selected sands, lime, cement and admixtures. While straightforward to use, plumbers should nevertheless follow some simple steps to ensure a successful finish: r 1SFQBSF UIF IPMF CZ VTJOH B IBNNFS BOE DIJTFM UP TRVBSF the edges. Be careful not to damage the pipe.

Cement mortar provides a neater and more accurate ďŹ nish

r #SVTI UIF BSFB BSPVOE UIF QJQF UP SFNPWF BOZ EJSU dust and debris. r 0OMZ VTF BT NVDI DMFBO XBUFS BT ZPV OFFE UP NBLF the mortar workable. More water equals weaker mortar.

Start off with a small amount, and tip in more as needed. r "QQMZ UIF NPSUBS BSPVOE UIF QJQF T QFSJNFUFS VTJOH the margin trowel. Work the material into the gap to fill additional voids behind the surface when necessary. r $FNFOU NPSUBS JT B TBGF QSPEVDU CVU JU TUJMM OFFET UP be handled with care. Be aware of the safety issues, wear personal protective equipment and wash off concrete splashes promptly. r "T XJUI BMM DFNFOU CBTFE NBUFSJBMT NPSUBST NVTU CF kept moist. Mortar sets by reacting with water. This process is called curing and requires the mortar filling to be covered with a wet cloth or sheet of polythene. If mortar dries out too quickly it will shrink, leaving a gap around the pipe.

Handy container For plumbers, larger 25kg bags of cement can often be too impractical to store in the back of the van. Tarmac produces its mortar mix in smaller 10kg or 5kg re-sealable plastic tubs, which enables a small amount of product to be used before re-sealing the tub, leading to waste reduction and less chance of spillage. It also means that the product can be easily carried in one hand, reducing risks of accidents by making it easier to transport up ladders or through confined spaces such as passageways.

Highly workable and cohesive, a good quality mortar mix can be a great asset for any plumber looking at a more durable, sleek finish for plugging those gaps on projects. www.tarmac-bluecircle.co.uk

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November/December 2018

Getting to know you Each month, PHAM News shines the spotlight on installers around the country to get a picture of what life is like for them at work and at play.

NAME: Callum Megarry COMPANY: Apprentice at WPJ Heating Ltd. FROM: West London

At work... At play...

What would you say is the best part of the job you do?

“I like the variety and the fact that most days are different. This suits me well as I don’t like to get stuck in a rigid routine. I like meeting new people and going to different sites for work too.”

In your free time do you ever play any sport?

“I love football and I play centremid for a local pub team called Wheatsheaf Athletics in the Sunday league. I have played football all of my life so I don’t think I could be without it.”

What material do you most like to work with – copper or plastic?

“Copper is definitely the best in my opinion. I don’t think plastic can compete if I’m honest. You can solder copper together to make the pipework nice and neat, plus it polishes up really well for a professional finish.”

What’s your favourite breakfast?

“On a normal workday I only have time for Weetabix. When I do get time though I like to make a fry-up.

I think that the best fry-up must have sausage, bacon, hash browns, beans, and bubble and squeak.

It’s not the healthiest, but it is definitely tasty!”

Do you think that smart controls save energy?

“Absolutely. We get a lot of requests for smart controls and I think it is because more people are realising the energy saving benefits. If you are away from home a lot, or come back at odd times, it is so useful to be able to remotely control your heating so that it switches on in anticipation of your return.”

Have you ever visited a trade show aimed at installers?

“I haven’t been to a trade show yet, but it is definitely on my todo list. I’m still quite new to the industry and in the thick of my apprenticeship at the moment, so I expect I’ll go to a few in the future.”

As an apprentice, what do you enjoy most?

“I would say that I enjoy being able to learn from a lot of different heating and plumbing engineers on a daily basis. I’m also a pretty hands-on type of person, so I like being able to get out and about doing all sorts of different jobs.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

“I’d like to imagine that in ten years I’ll be running my own company. I’ll start out solo, and then I’ll look to recruit as the client-base expands.

Knowing that I’ve personally gained so much from an apprenticeship, I would absolutely take on an apprentice myself.”

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What’s the first thing you would do if you could be Prime Minister for a day?

“I’d start by introducing 52 more Bank Holidays. I feel that we all deserve more time off and I think I’d be a very popular Prime Minister!”

Do you spend a lot of time on social media?

“This question is easy for me because I actually don’t use social media at all, at least not personally.

In my free time I prefer to be doing other things than scrolling my phone on social media. I think it is a good tool for businesses to use and in the future, I might use it to show examples of my work, but I can’t see myself using it for anything else for now.”

Where are you going on holiday next?

“I recently went to Magaluf in Spain for ten days with my girlfriend, so I haven’t got anything else planned yet. I do like to go on holiday so now it is getting colder I’m definitely thinking about going somewhere nice and hot again.”

Callum Megarry is the 21-year-old Worcester Bosch 2018 ‘Apprentice of the Year’. To ÿ nd out more about the #WeAreWorcester AOTY competition please visit www. weareworcester.co.uk. For more information about WPJ Heating, please visit www.wpjheating.co.uk

BUSINESS Matters Free app now has bathroom design feature for installers Building on the success of its mobile phone and tablet app for heating and plumbing installers, TradeHelp has expanded its functionality to include a new bathroom design feature.

TradeHelp is a free-tojoin Network designed to provide installers with a range of time and moneysaving solutions. One of these tools is the TradeHelp app (free to download on both Android and iOS) which boasts a quick quote and invoice tool, appointment management system and multiple payment options for their customers, such as 0% interest-free credit.

The new bathroom feature will include free designsoftware, enabling installers to create professional bathroom plans to rival larger interior or bathroom design companies. The app also enables the installer to then order the products used in the room design directly from their local merchant or manufacturer with just

the tap of a button.

“We are delighted to announce the introduction of our new bathroom design feature within the TradeHelp app, providing installers with an additional tool to help grow their business,” says TradeHelp MD Martin Jones. “We are always looking for new ways to enhance our offering and help our members stand out in today’s competitive market – and this is just one of many developments planned.”

As well as time-saving tools, exclusive product

discounts and finance options, the TradeHelp Network’s procurement team offers further support to members with invoice checks and advice on how to structure their purchasing.

Members also have access to extended warranties of up to 10 years on leading manufacturer brands.

The TradeHelp Network is free to join: simply download the free TradeHelp app from Google Play or the App Store and create an account. For more information please visit www.tradehelp.co.uk

Save up Advice on how to to £3000 grow a business The APHC has issued a reminder to employers to check whether they can reduce their National Insurance bill.

The Association suggests that most plumbing and heating employers should be able to claim the Government’s Employment Allowance, assuming they are paying employers’ Class 1 National Insurance on salaries above the secondary National Insurance Contribution threshold, which currently stands at £8424 per year.

The allowance can reduce the amount that employers have to pay by up to £3000 per year. Self-employed plumbers and heating engineers, i.e. those who don’t operate via a limited company, are ineligible to claim against any proÿts they draw down personally, as they pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contributions. However, they can claim if they have employees and make Class 1 National Insurance Contributions.

Offering tips and advice from the heads of successful businesses, ‘Accelerate!’ is a new book designed to help tradespeople grow their own businesses.

Each chapter of the book covers a key topic, such as borrowing to invest, marketing techniques, and building a workforce, and then goes into a case study with contributions from successful trades business owners, including Charlie Mullins of Pimlico Plumbers.

Filled with real-life experiences and inside tips from a range of businesses at every stage of the growth curve, the book lets readers see for themselves exactly how people in the UK are developing their trades businesses.

Other chapters include advice on building sales by setting clear priorities and attracting loyal customers, and dealing with money, from cash flow, surpluses, payroll and debts.

Commissioned by Richard Harpin, Founder and Chief

Executive of HomeServe plc and Chairman of Checkatrade, ‘Accelerate! is aimed at anyone who wants to turbo charge their trades business.

The author, Dan Matthews, writes for the broadsheet press including the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian newspapers, as well as a long list of magazines and websites. He is the founder of Minutehack.com, a website for people building a business.

The book is published by Harriman House and costs £12.99.

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CIPHE Viewpoint 37

Helping consumers to save water Paul Massey, Chairman of the CIPHE’s Industrial Associated Development Group, looks at how trade bodies, installers, suppliers and manufacturers can all work together to make energy and water saving measures more front of mind for UK consumers.

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t is my belief that Institutes such as the CIPHE have a valuable role to play when it comes to improving the levels of energy/water saving understanding, and uptake of efficient products.

Attempting to place all of the responsibility on bathroom manufacturers to change purchasing behaviour in favour of efficient products isn’t going to work.

Only through a united effort, encompassing the voices of manufacturers, merchants, retailers, installers, end users, and trade and consumer associations, can we push the importance of water saving measures effectively.

We know that thanks to bathroom product innovation, it is possible to save energy and reduce water bills all

while maintaining excellent performance. Unfortunately, many consumers are unaware of Water Regulations and efficiency standards, so when they do want to refurbish their bathroom suite, talking about efficiency isn’t always going to be the first thing on their minds.

Consumer focus The steps to change this therefore must involve improving consumer knowledge around the subject area, so that homeowners can feel confident to request the best products.

Trade professionals also

need to be influencing their customers and suggesting efficient products. Nine times out of ten the prospect of making savings on water and energy bills will be welcomed.

New build legislation and regulations are especially good at helping to drive water saving and energy efficiency enhancements.

However, the retrofit market is where we should be diverting our attention.

Retailers are often the first place a consumer will go when they are planning a new bathroom. Showcasing the benefits of products like eco-friendly toilets, taps, showers and baths at the point of sale is a huge opportunity.

The CIPHE is also working tirelessly with its Industrial Associate members, Pro-

fessional CIPHE Accredited Installation Engineers and Alliance members like the BMF, HHIC and BMA, in an attempt to outlaw criminal rogues posing as qualified professional plumbing and heating engineers.

Voicing concerns The CIPHE’s CEO Kevin Wellman, has increased communications with government bodies, lobbying and consumer associations, in an attempt towards building an improved awareness campaign with the aims of making it harder and riskier for fraudsters to try to get away with ripping off consumers. By engaging with consumers, we can manage their expectations and give them the tools to be able to choose a professional and see through the scammers.

For manufacturers, the CIPHE has the technical backing to create innovative training resources using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology.

All our training resources are built in conjunction with manufacturers with the aim of supporting skilled professionals to install, service, replace or learn more about products so that they can confidently work with them and help consumers get the best outcome.

Find out more For more information about becoming a member of the CIPHE please contact Tim Sainty via email (tims@ciphe.org. uk) or call 01708 472 791.

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November/December 2018

40 PRODUCT Spotlight

Expanding market in gas fires With gas fires enjoying something of a revival, Flame Technology Manager Jonathan Smith for Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, which includes the Valor brand, gives five reasons why installers may want to consider adding this service to their repertoire.

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or years, many homes 1. Stylish designs have missed out on A modern gas fire is not the the benefits of a same appliance as those modern gas fire, choosing which proved so popular to stick with an outdated in the 1980s and ‘90s. The and inefficient fire simply latest models have evolved to because it is still working. include more stylish designs, Others have boarded over greater heat output, and a their fireplace or chosen to host of installation choices – install an electric fire. features that simply weren’t However, with interior there 20 years ago. design increasingly favourModern gas fires offer ing the fireplace as the enhanced control over the centrepiece of a modern home, flame picture and are safer gas fires are currently in the too, thanks to the addition throes of a resurgence thanks of a flame safety device Jonathan Smith, Dimplex to stylish new design features, that cuts off the gas in the enhanced controllability, lower running costs unlikely event that the pilot light becomes extinguished. and flexibility of installation.

The latest models also include a host of As more and more households are now features designed to make things easier putting gas fires back at the heart of the for installers too, from optional extras home – and with 11 million homes in the UK like gather hoods to innovative burner that have a gas point at or very close to the assemblies which make servicing easier. original fireplace – here are five reasons why With benefits for installers and homeowners installers ignore this fantastic opportunity alike, it is no surprise modern gas fires are at their peril. proving popular.

The Valor Homeflame Excelsior Slimline inset gas fire in black nickel

2. Improved efficiency

4. Restoring a gas point

We all know the old saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But in the case of gas fires, it’s not true. Although it’s clear that many fires were built to last, the phenomenon has given rise to the term ‘zombie fires’ – models with outdated technology that refuse to die, thus never get replaced.

And with some models still going strong after nearly 30 years, ultimately it means that many households are missing out on the lower running costs through the greater efficiency of a modern gas fire.

Running a typical 1980s decorative gas fire with 25% efficiency for an average of seven hours per day, 125 days per year, would cost £315 per year at today’s gas prices, using a standard variable tariff on direct debit.

In contrast, running the latest Valor Homeflame full depth gas fire with 85% efficiency for the same period would cost £157.50 – exactly half the cost of a decorative gas fire. That could mean an annual saving of more than £150 – and a potential payback period of fewer than four years. It’s an important message to reinforce to customers.

A growing number of householders are seeing the benefits of returning their original gas points back to service, and enterprising installers are well placed to capitalise on this by adding another string to their bow. In most cases, even for points that have been sealed for decades, the gas supply can be easily converted back into use using a few simple steps.

It is also worth bearing in mind that most independent fireplace retailers are happy to undertake a survey and will recommend the work required to restore the chimney and gas supply back into use. As such, they will always recommend the work is carried out by a Gas Safe registered installer – presenting the perfect opportunity to become their go-to contact.

3. Secondary heat source As fuel poverty continues to blight the lives of many families across the UK, according to latest research, there are considerable savings to be made from heating a single room using a gas fire. A recent report revealed that homeowners can make a saving of more than £300 over a nine month period – simply by reducing the temperature of a central heating room thermostat from 21°C to 18°C, and using a gas fire to maintain a temperature of 21°C in the living room.

For installers, this is a chance to take a more consultative approach to home heating.

By showcasing your expertise and knowledge on the subject and educating customers on the huge potential of gas fires as a viable, cost-effective secondary heat source, will no doubt translate into greater customer loyalty.

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5. Added value service Despite the expanding market for gas fires, our own research shows that not enough installers are taking advantage of the business opportunities presented by gas fires, including high margin installation opportunities and regular servicing jobs.

More than 60% of those registered to work with gas fires have completed more than ten jobs in the last three years – and more than 40% had turned down a gas fire job in the last 12 months. However, only 52% of the Gas Safe register are certified to work on gas fires.

Consequently, what many installers may fail to realise is the boost in income gas fire installation can add to ‘bread and butter’ jobs such as boiler servicing, which presents the ideal opportunity to talk to customers about replacing their outdated gas fire model.

Therefore, it’s not just a case of staying ahead of the curve to leverage the latest opportunities but also about protecting existing business from all-round installers who can provide the growing breadth of services that customers are now after. www.gdhv.com

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November/December 2018

42 SPECIAL Report

Are you doing enough to secure your van?

People who depend upon their tools for their livelihoods will be familiar with the threat of theft, but they may not be doing enough to protect themselves. PHAM takes a look at this growing problem.

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ollowing on from our front page story about the rise in tool thefts from vans (October PHAM News), more research is revealing the scale of the problem plaguing tradespeople across the country. With thefts amounting to more than £46million in stolen tools over the last thee years, latest reports from Powertools2u.co.uk have shown that a van is broken into every 23 minutes in the UK – that’s around 62 thefts per day. This totalled nearly 23,000 thefts in 2017 alone.

Insurers are also reporting a rise in the number of claims – up by 15% – and the claims themselves have risen too, now averaging around £1700 each. In another survey, Simply Business found that over 50% of workers had been victims of tool theft more than once, and a majority of those knew someone else who had suffered a similar fate.

Counting the cost Theft is an ongoing problem faced by selfemployed plumbers, builders and other tradespeople – and one that certainly isn’t cheap. Trade Direct Insurance says that in 2016 tool theft cost the UK’s tradespeople just under £100 million, due not only to the loss of the tools themselves but associated costs such as repair of their vehicle, increased insurance rates and loss of income due to the inability to perform their job without the necessary equipment.

In the most extreme cases, some workers have found themselves over £14,000 out of pocket after just one break in.

Another factor to consider is the psychological impact. If a tradesperson has no tools, then they cannot work, and this can affect relationships with customers. If a customer isn’t sympathetic to the tradesperson’s plight, they might leave a negative review online, leading to further stress and anxiety.

So why do so many tools get pinched?

Powertools2u says it appears to be down to the fact that thieves get away with it.

The Press Association carried out research

There are 62 tool thefts from workers’ vans on average per day

50% of workers have had their tools stolen more than once

The best solution to tool theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place, and while there is no silver bullet, there are a lot of tips and tricks that can help you lower the risk. Here we provide some advice from LeaseVan.co.uk and Powertools2u.co.uk:

into the ‘unauthorised taking’ of motor vehicles from 43 police forces in England and Wales, as well as the British Transport Police, and found that on average Police end up closing investigations without identifying the suspect in 75% of thefts reported, with some regions being as high as 95%. This is the highest tally since 2009/10.

Criminal minds So what tactics do criminals use to get into your vehicle? According to Powertools2u, there are two main routes. One is very modern and technical, the other, not so much. The first way is called a relay attack.

This involves criminals intercepting your vehicle’s fob signal by using a relay box.

This box then transfers the signal to the vehicle’s own relay box, which consequently unlocks the vehicle and then the thieves simply hop in and help themselves.

The other tactic is slightly more brutish.

Thieves simply grab hold of the top of a van’s door and, by pressing their knees against it and using their body weight, bend the door outwards enough to crawl through.

New research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has found that more than half of builders have had their tools stolen, and among them, 46% had

More than 70% of workers are likely to know someone who has been stolen from

The average value of theft claims has risen to £1692

The average tool theft claim went up by over 15% between 2016 and 2017

All graphics courtesy of Powertools2u.co.uk

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TOP 10 CITIES BY NUMBER OF CLAIMS* 1 London 2 Sheffield 3 Birmingham 4 Leicester 5 Chelmsford 6 Tunbridge Wells 7 Bristol 8 Nottingham 9 Northampton 10 Reading

* based on Simply Business claims in 2017

Tool Theft: Shocking Stats from Powertools2u

A van is broken into and tools stolen every 23 minutes in the UK

UK Tool Theft Hot Spots

their side panel or door pierced or prised open; 23% had their windows smashed and doors opened from the dashboard; and 22% had their locks picked.

Commenting on the research, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, says: “Tools are being stolen from vans and directly from construction sites, with some even being assaulted by would-be thieves. The impact on smaller firms is particularly disruptive. Not only is there a high cost in terms of both time and money spent replacing these expensive tools, and to fix the damage caused, but without the right tools, firms are simply unable to work.”

Tim Alcock from LeaseVan.co.uk points out that van theft can become more prevalent in the winter when darkness falls earlier. “Anyone who has suffered a breakin or who has had valuables stolen will know how devastating it can be,” he says.

“It’s even worse if the perpetrator causes damage to your vehicle in the process, as it’s a further expense and can hinder work.”

#noVANber While the scourge of tool theft rages on, little is being done at government level to deter this kind of crime, which is why heating engineer Peter Booth (well known as @pbplumber on Twitter) has mounted a campaign using the hashtag #noVANber calling for harsher penalties on the perpetrators.

Peter has created an online petition that asks Government to consider what more can be done to tackle this problem, whether it’s introducing new legislation, additional sentencing guidelines, or regulations on the reselling of tools. If this petition, which is backed by Nicky Morgan MP, achieves 100,000 signatures, then it may be introduced into Parliament for debate. Check out @pbplumber on Twitter for details on how to add your name to this important initiative, or visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/231177

Bring tools inside at night. It can be a chore, but it’s worth putting them inside if it means they’re protected. If it’s not possible to remove all tools, then just take the most expensive ones out and store them overnight.

Install extra locks. Hand brake locks, heavy-duty steering wheel locks, locking wheel nuts, and lockable fuel ÿller caps are just some of the simple and affordable measures you can buy to boost your van’s security.

Plastic window tints and upgraded deadlocks and slam locks for doors are also worthwhile add-ons for commercial vehicles that can be adapted to suit different needs.

Consider your parking spot. Where possible, park in a garage or on a driveway, but if you can’t get a spot close to your home or if you have street parking, aim to get it as close to your front door as possible in a well-lit area covered by CCTV. This way you can keep an eye on your van and it will also deter thieves if they can be seen – they are likely to go for darker, hidden spots where they won’t be noticed. If you’re parking your van at home, consider adding extras such as motion-detecting security lights, lockable gates or even rising bollards.

Install safes in the van. Lockable toolboxes are perfect for storing all equipment or just the valuables – if the toolbox has another feature to unlock this may mean thieves will be discouraged.

Install CCTV and advertise its use. The latest cameras can be connected to your local Wi-Fi network to stream images directly to your smartphone or computer. They can also be set to activate when they detect movement.

Install extra alarm systems in the van.

Check out the more advanced electronic alarms and vehicle tracking devices too – electronic GPS trackers can vastly improve the chances of recovering your van if it is stolen, and advanced systems can alert police when a vehicle is stolen too.

Register serial numbers of tools on an online database and mark tools with an address and phone number.

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WATER & System Treatment 45

Measures to maximise system performance Whether you’re ÿtting a new system, working on a replacement boiler installation, or simply carrying out maintenance, it’s essential that the quality of the water in the system is checked. Kevan Peaker, UK Business Unit Director at Spirotech, discusses ways to ensure that any efÿciency-improving measures can perform at their best.

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o help ensure a heat ing system will run at its most efficient and to maximise its lifespan, water quality needs to be well maintained and monitored. It is generally advised that installers should carry out a water analysis to determine the nature and cause of any problems, to check pH levels and to identify any types of dirt present, before then deciding on the action necessary to correct the situation.

Kevan Peaker, Spirotech It is certainly the case that some chemicals are required to perform important system maintenance functions – to kill bacteria, for example – and many boiler manufacturers now state that the use of chemicals and inhibitors must be used in order to validate the warranty. But the decision on which chemicals to apply, and how frequently system flushing is undertaken, needs to be made in consultation with someone who can provide detailed system water analysis and has the wherewithal to recommend an appropriate chemical dosing regime, as well as other system protection measures.

A new boiler is often installed onto an existing system that features old radiators and pipework, therefore it is vital that any historic problems within the system are treated appropriately to allow the boiler to operate to its full potential. It is also beneficial to treat older systems as part of regular servicing and maintenance – especially if they are displaying common signs of poor system water quality and underperforming due to dirt and air build-up.

Additional measures Flushing alone will only remove a certain amount of dirt and debris, without preventing future accumulations, while using a purely magnetic filter can leave behind non-magnetic debris, such as copper filings and flux.

This is where dirt separators such as our SpiroTrap MB3 come into effect. A reduction in flow velocity facilitated by the Spirotube, together with a laminar ‘no-flow-zone’ and external magnet, ensures that any magnetite caused by corrosion, along with non-magnetite particles, settle downwards and are stored in a separation chamber fitted at

Spirotech can provide training for heating installers

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Analysing water samples at the SpiroCare ProLab

SpiroVent RV2 removes microbubbles from a heating system

the bottom of the unit. Using the drain valve, the installer can periodically remove the dirt particles to maintain a clean system.

For even greater protection, a deaerator such as the SpiroVent RV2 should be installed. By removing air in the form of microbubbles from the water before it travels around the heating system, installers can reduce the possibility of corrosion taking place around the pipework. This limits the formation of magnetite that can have such troublesome effects on the performance of the heating system.

and additives that are designed to bring and keep system fluid and the system itself in top condition.

For those looking for further guidance, experts working at our specialised lab can offer the best possible advice in every situation. The easy-to -use SpiroCare ProLab Analysis service offers a clear overview of system and filling water quality. Installers can simply send a sample of water taken from the heating system and get a full analysis report. They will also receive recommendations regarding measures that could be taken to maximise system performance and the report can be used as proof of water quality.

If the water isn’t of sufficient quality, fitting a dirt separator and/or deaerator will not result in the same improvements that you would see in a system with good water. This is why it’s important for installers to consider the water in the heating system before these efficiency-improving measures are installed, and any chemicals or inhibitors are used.

Trapped air If a system is left unprotected and air in the system isn’t removed, dirt will develop, air will become trapped, and the heating system will suffer, resulting in system noise as well as radiator cold spots and reduced system flow.

Eventually, this can lead to system breakdowns and expensive heating bills.

As we recognise the role that chemicals play as part of a wider strategy, we also offer the SpiroPlus range of agents

www.spirotech.co.uk

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Limescale controllers put to the test The maintenance team at Canford School, an independent boarding school in Dorset, has tested numerous water conditioners and softeners over the years and is now in the process of adopting KalGUARD across its property portfolio.

Available from Sentinel Commercial, the WRASapproved KalGUARD is an electrolytic scale inhibitor kit for commercial hot water systems, designed to provide a low-maintenance way to protect against the damaging impact of limescale.

The school’s maintenance team has previously installed different types of water

conditioners and softeners with varying, but generally unsatisfactor y, results.

For example, softeners, while largely delivering reliable limescale control, did not meet the school’s targets of waste water and maintenance reduction, while other products have

simply failed to adequately control limescale formation.

In its most recent trial, the school organised a site test to compare the performance of KalGUARD against a wellknown device that uses an alternative technology. The products were installed in two separate plant rooms

each servicing different halls of residence of almost exact occupancy levels.

Both systems were set to run in early 2017 and were subsequently inspected a year later.

After a year in service, it was evident that the water heaters protected

by KalGUARD were much cleaner than those paired with the alternative device.

KalGUARD’s low maintenance and compact size are viewed as two other key benefits and the school has now decided to use the product on all of its plant rooms.

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November/December 2018

46 WATER & System Treatment

Which filter is best for the job?

With a wide variety of magnetic filters now available Francine Wickham, Global Marketing Director at Fernox, looks at the beneÿts from the most appropriate fi ÿlter. latest innovations and advises on how installers can ensure that every project benefi

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which could lead to damage or most installers, and premature boiler failure. ensuring that the More recent alternatives boiler and central are hydrocyclonic and hydro heating system are protected particle separation (HPS) long-term is a vital part of technology. Hydrocyclonic any project. In-line system technology directs the system filters are now seen to be as water around the exterior crucial as chemical water wall of a filter, creating a treatment in maintaining cyclone effect that in turn the energy efficiency of a creates a ‘dead zone’ – a system and reducing the space where heavy debris risk of premature boiler is deposited for containment replacement.

However, and subsequent removal. different applications may In a similar manner, HPS need different solutions – technology directs water flow and there are several factors to hit a baffle (a device used to to consider when choosing Francine Wickham, Fernox restrict the flow of fluid). This which filter fits best.

Gobal Marketing Director removes its energy and results There are currently four key options in the market: mesh or barrier, in suspended debris being dropped to the magnetic, hydrocyclonic, and hydronic bottom of the filter, where it is contained particle separation (HPS) combined with for safe removal. magnetic action.

Easy access Mesh filters use a fine material barrier to capture dirt and debris above a certain Other crucial factors to take into account are size and prevent it from moving through the access and space available for installation, central heating system. Although efficient in as well as filter flexibility. Responding to collecting unwanted debris from a system, sector demand for such versatility, today these filters do require regular maintenance there is a filter option available to suit to prevent blockages that could restrict the almost every installation scenario. Many water flow – this is more common in older boilers are situated in tight cupboards or closets with limited space around them, and systems.

Magnetic filters on the other hand are therefore installers must select filters that specifically designed to capture debris made are not only available in a compact design, up of iron or steel that has corroded because but can also be installed in a variety of of electrolytic corrosion, as well as any metal orientations – including horizontal, vertical, fragments unintentionally introduced when or with the capability of being installed up to new components or pipework have been 45° orientation without adversely affecting installed. Although effective at trapping performance.

In addition to the initial installation, it these materials, magnetic filters do allow is also important to consider the cleaning other potentially harmful non-magnetic process of a filter, and how quick and easy debris to remain within the system water,

Protect against freezing damage Part of the Everad range of system treatment additives from Wiseman Industries, the Everad Corrosion Inhibitor has been reformulated with antifreeze ER60 for added protection.

The company says that the inhibitor will be particularly welcomed by owners of vacant properties, such as static caravans and holiday homes. There are currently estimated to be over 365,000 static caravans in the UK and most of these will not be used or monitored throughout the winter.

The advantage of putting a corrosion inhibitor with antifreeze in a heating

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system is two fold: it helps to cope with rapid drops in winter temperatures, while also protecting the system from internal corrosion and from preventable damage caused by water freezing in the pipes. Importantly, it also helps to avoid the potential cost implications from any water damage.

Available in 5, 25, 200 and 1000 litre containers, the Everad Corrosion Inhibitor with antifreeze ER60 contains a unique corrosion inhibitor formula with the addition of the latest nontoxic antifreeze. ER60 fully protects the system from corrosion and offers freezing

it is to maintain. Almost all filters in the current market utilise a removable lid, which is the access point to remove debris captured by the filter. On such filters, an ‘O’ ring sits between the filter and the lid to ensure a tight seal and reduce the chance of leaks.

However, after the cleaning process – where it is necessary to remove the lid – the ‘O’ ring must be replaced before the lid is reattached.

This is because a compression set may have formed, causing permanent deformation to the seal and rendering it unsuitable for future sealing because of the risk of leaking.

With cleaning a filter being essential to maintaining its efficiency, and it being mandatory to replace the ‘O’ ring after every service because the lid has been removed – there is a regular maintenance cost to be considered when choosing a lidded filter.

Therefore, perhaps one of the biggest innovations to hit the market are filters that have been designed without a lid.

This means there is no need to dismantle or interfere with the filter when cleaning, making the process as quick, efficient and mess-free as possible. By simply turning off the system, placing a container under the drain valve and opening the valve slowly before removing the magnet, dirt will filter out until the water runs clear – saving valuable time when carrying out maintenance checks and servicing.

Sealed unit The newest addition to the Fernox in-line TF1 system filter range that benefits from this innovative technology is the TF1 Sigma Filter.

The first sealed composite plastic filter on the market, the new filter combines a powerful neodymium magnet with hydronic particle separation technology and is available with quality valves or with 22mm slip socket

The Fernox TF1 Sigma Filter is the first sealed composite plastic filter on the market

connection. With no need to remove a lid or dismantle the unit when extracting dirt collected by the filter, the requirement to replace the ‘O’ rings is also eliminated.

With such a wide range of filters now available, when it comes to selecting filter technology it is important for installers to remember there is no single solution for all heating systems. Best practice would be to look to leading manufacturers’ filter ranges, which can provide an extensive choice of unit size, installation flexibility and aesthetic finish to ensure each project’s needs and preferences are met.

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Taking care of limescale

protection down to -25°C. The inhibitor is compatible with multi-metal central heating systems and can also be used to treat solar systems and cooling water systems and is available now from Plumbase, Wolseley, City Plumbing, Graham and all good plumbers merchants.

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Providing a solution for the 13 million UK households that suffer from the negative effects of hard water, the Scaleout XP from Monarch Water is claimed to offer ongoing protection against the damage caused by limescale.

The Scaleout XP CBT resin treats both Cations and Anions in water by passing it through a media bed of food grade ceramic beads within the unit.

This transforms them into non-scale causing crystals, removing their scale-causing properties from the water and preventing scale from forming inside pipes, on heating coils or elements.

As scale will no longer build up within the system,

the newly created crystals can be visible in areas with high levels of water hardness in the form of a white dust on surfaces, but these crystals can simply be wiped away with a cloth.

Monarch says that Scaleout XP offers a number of benefits to homeowners, including lowering utility bills by up to 25%, significantly increasing the working life of boilers and other appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and kettles.

With the composition of the water changed, savings can be made on toiletries and detergents too.

Providing whole house protection, the compact, environmentally friendly units are easy to install and come in three sizes (15, 22 and 28mm) and are supplied complete with an installation kit.

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48 WATER & System Treatment

Protection after a boiler repair Fitting a magnetic ÿlter with a new boiler installation is now simply a matter of course for many installers, but research from ADEY highlights why they should also consider it a retroÿt solution. Dr Neil Watson, the company’s Chief Technical Ofÿcer, explains more.

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he popularity of magnetic filtration technology has soared in recent years, with filters now installed in more than five million UK homes and many more around the globe. Although installers are undoubtedly much more switched on to the benefits of magnetic filters, research suggests that their adoption has largely been driven by its inclusion as a condition of extended boiler warranties.

In a recent survey of 100 Dr Neil Watson, ADEY’s Chief installers, commissioned by Technical Officer ADEY, 91% of respondents said they recommend protecting new boiler performance with an effective magnetic filter. When asked their reason for doing so, more than half said it was to extend the customer’s boiler warranty.

In comparison, just 19% said they recommend fitting a filter when undertaking a boiler repair. As such, it seems that many installers could be missing a critical maintenance message and in turn, homeowners could be missing the opportunity to save money on household bills.

Cost of repairs Recent research by the consumer Association Which? identified the cost of the most common boiler repairs.

We estimate that five out of ten of these common repairs – diverter/zone valves, pressure relief valves, water pump, automatic air vent and overheat thermostat – are likely to be a consequence of damage from corrosion and a poor quality system. Our survey mirrored these findings with installers citing diverter valves (57%), circulating pumps (34%) and cold radiators (31%) as the most common reasons for repair. Which? also suggests that repairing these issues would each cost a homeowner between £98 and £211.

We believe the need for such expensive repairs could be prevented if all systems were protected with a magnetic filter and chemical water treatment programme. As an industry, we must rely on installers to spread the message about the benefits of preventative maintenance and this

means using repair jobs as an opportunity to ensure every system is protected with an effective magnetic filter.

Why not?

Our survey also revealed the different reasons why installers might not recommend a filter. The most common barrier identified was a lack of space, with 46% highlighting this as an issue. Interestingly, this is currently being addressed by many manufacturers with a number of space-saving filters hitting the market. Our MagnaClean Atom, for example, is a super compact filter developed with installers to provide effective magnetic filtration in the tightest of installation spaces. The design of the new filter carries all the quality hallmarks installers have come to expect from the pioneer of magnetic filtration technology, such as its slip socket which enables installation in just under two minutes.

The second most common reason given for not recommending a filter was that the installer didn’t think that their customer would be willing to pay for it. However, we commissioned a survey of 1000 UK homeowners and 88% of respondents said that they will act on the advice they’re given by a professional installer. Indeed, almost one in three homeowners said that their installer had recommended having a magnetic filter fitted and three-quarters had agreed. This suggests that the best approach is always to ask the customer rather than assume.

Combating corrosion Finally, 19% of installers said that they hadn’t recommended a filter because it was a completely new system and so didn’t need one. Corrosion is a natural occurrence and build-up of magnetite is the single biggest threat to heating system performance, so if a The new compact-sized MagnaClean Atom brand new system is

The impact of corrosion if a system is left unprotected

left unprotected it will easily start to take hold and affect efficiency. Arguably, prevention is better than cure so protecting a system from the moment of installation will always pay dividends in the long term.

Simply put, every domestic heating system will benefit from effective magnetic filtration whether it’s new or old. If installers switch on to the benefits of adopting the technology as a retrofit solution, more homeowners will also reap the rewards.

A MagnaClean Professional2 filter has been independently proven by Kiwa Gastec to save 7% on heating bills year on year, therefore negating much of the additional cost added to the average bill by the price rises announced earlier this year. It’s also likely that more could be saved if an installer fits an effective filter as part of our recommended Best Practice approach of clean, protect, test and maintain.

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Why we should be clear about softeners ‘Softeners’ is a term often used to describe an array of water treatment products used to tackle the problems caused by limescale.

Here Steve Sperring, the Technical Director at BWT, explains the basic differences between the two main groups of products: water softeners and water conditioners.

Simply put, water softeners soften water, water conditioners condition water, and scale inhibitors inhibit scale.

If you take, for example, the BWT Luxury Water Softener, it works by using ion exchange to remove the minerals that cause hard water. With the hardness minerals removed, the water is physically softened and if you were to test it, the results would conÿrm either no or little hardness in the treated water. This softened water not only protects the home from limescale but brings a wide range of lifestyle beneÿts too. Homes

48.indd 1

ÿtted with a softener can look forward to water that is gentle on your skin and hair, a reduction in the use of shampoo, soaps, conditioners and detergents.

In contrast, water conditioners and scale inhibitors do not remove the hardness minerals. Instead, they simply alter the structure of the water using a variety of different technologies. When the treated water is heated, scale deposits can be noticeably reduced and what scale there is often takes a form that is more easily washed away. As good as these devices are at protecting boilers and other heating elements like those found in showers, they do not soften water.

So, while to some the term ‘softener’ might only be a name, consumers are likely to be disappointed if a poorly described scale conditioner doesn’t deliver the beneÿts of

softened water. While it is not unusual to give the products we sell a generic name, we all have a duty to describe the goods we sell honestly. Installers in turn should be able to choose products knowing they are described and labelled correctly.

BWT offers free training to Installers who are keen to learn more about water treatment where the differences between each product group is fully explained and the installer can see ÿrst-hand how each one works. This knowledge is invaluable to the installer when explaining and describing this part of their quote to the customer.

Whilst it might be just a name to some, to the BWT-trained installer it is about future prooÿng their business through building credibility and a satisÿed customer base.

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Tablet system takes better care With the launch of a new water treatment system, Flamco claims to have found a way to provide effective care for domestic heating systems and address environmental concerns. So how does it work and what are the key benefits for installers and end users?

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or many years the heating sector has been developing new products that save energy, reduce emissions and contribute towards a better environment for us all, as well as making heating products that are easier to install and capable of carrying longer and more comprehensive warranties. The boiler revolution that saw the arrival of condensing boilers with energy efficiency levels of 90% and above is now the norm, and warranties for five and seven years and even longer are now commonplace.

More and more householders are also benefiting from the ability to control their heating and their energy use via Wi-Fi controls. And there is now much greater awareness that water treatment is vital to any wet heating system, driving the requirement for a filter on new and existing heating systems.

Environmental concerns are one of the key drivers behind product development at Flamco. Responding to current concerns about the use of plastics, the company has looked for

ways of reducing plastics and packaging – and improving recyclability – in the development of its latest product – the RedProtect water treatment system.

Compared to traditional liquid domest ic heating chemicals, the RedProtect system A cutaway of the is claimed RedProtect filter to offer an 84% reduction in plastic packaging when compared to a traditional one litre chemical jerrycan, and an approximately 77% reduction in plastic when compared to a standard 0.5 litre chemical bottle – and all the plastic used is 100% recyclable.

Unlike other water treatment products that come as liquids or gels, the RedProtect chemicals come in a solid tablet format, thereby avoiding any risk of spillage or leaks.

As a concentrated range, Flamco has also been able to minimise the dimensions and weight of the products. One dose of RP1 Corrosion Inhibitor weighs less than 100g

compared to over 500g for a typical 0.5 litre bottle or over 1kg for a one litre alternative.

RedProtect is therefore a compact product to transport and store, so significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Genuine benefits “We’re proud to be able to launch a new water treatment system that offers a range of genuine benefits over the existing options that installers and specifiers have been using to date,” says John Lynch, Sales Manager – Domestic for Flamco. “From the reduced energy consumption of the circulating pump – up to an 8% saving – to the simplicity of the system, the cleanliness, the reduced weight and the significant environmental benefits, RedProtect is a winner from every angle. It’s easier and lighter to transport and is already proving to be a popular option in the merchants and in installers vans, contributing to so many companies own environmental programmes.

“The significant reduction in the use of plastic and the fact that what is used is totally recyclable makes it an environmentally friendly product from purchase to disposal

Inserting the tablet basket into the filter

of the packaging, which we feel should be the basis of any new products brought to market. It entails a little more thought, but it shouldn’t be beyond the wit of heating sector companies to follow our lead and do everything possible to make the products used as environmentally friendly as possible, whilst reducing energy usage and combining all these benefits with easy installation techniques. It’s a no brainer for the industry and we’re delighted to be taking a lead.” www.flamcogroup.com

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50 WATER & System Treatment

Dealing with water scarcity Could we be doing more to conserve our water supplies? David Spragg, Business Manager at Xylem Water Solutions, considers how having a treatment and reuse solution is one way to help prevent future shortages.

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e are told time and time again of the very simple ways in which we can reduce our personal water consumption, yet habits speak louder than words and it seems most of us still have a relaxed attitude to water usage. In fact, the average UK homeowner uses approximately 150 litres of water a day, which is around a tonne a week.

It’s clear that attitudes need to change, but perhaps so too does the approach. Making small tweaks to our daily habits is a brilliant place to start, but a more permanent change would help even further to prevent the anticipated shortage. There are supplies of water that could be used to help relieve the water stress, and one area less frequently considered in a residential environment is

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to deliver UV treatment, ozonation and filtration.

The fully-integrated solution is the first of its kind and the only chemical-free water purification system available that inactivates all pathogenic organisms from the water supply, including E.coli, Salmonella, Legionella bacteria and the Cryptosporidium oocyst.

David Spragg, Xylem

How it works

water treatment and reuse.

This is where a solution like our HydroInfinity Residential system can make all the difference.

The complete water treatment and booster system for private and shared water supplies, including schools, offices and medical practices, treats water to independently verified drinking standards using patented technologies

It works by collecting, purifying, storing and distributing water from a variety of sources, including rainwater, wells, surface water, boreholes and municipally supplied water.

Only the purest water is delivered, with bacteria levels below that of bottled water.

The electric sensors, remote control systems and software automatically monitor and

ensure that no compromised water enters or exists in the system.

Firstly, water is harvested and collected through a washable stainless inlet pre-filter at the top of the system. It then flows to a second inlet filter, which traps any particles larger than five microns. Next, the water passes through the ‘Helical’ UV chamber, where all pathogens are deactivated.

Thanks to the unique design, the speed of the water can be controlled to ensure it is fully treated and sterilised before being moved to the ozonation stage.

The ozone is generated and passed through a diffuser, where it comes into contact with the stored water in the tank. It is then pressurised in the piping network, where it is maintained up to 4.5 bar.

The treated water is stored in the tank until needed.

During this time, the ozone will keep the water clean and fresh, and the Oxidation Reduction Potential probe will monitor levels. In addition, the tank is fitted with a water level sensor, which will alert the machine when levels fall below 160 litres, and automatically refill to its capacity of 220 litres.

The system takes less than two hours to install and also has a Wi-Fi and 3G option, which allows 24/7 remote access monitoring and provides full visibility to the pump and tank’s operation, as well as offering predictive analysis. A further added benefit is that the system has an inbuilt pump, so for those who suffer with low water pressure, it provides

Xylem’s HydroInfinity system

an added boost for the house.

While a system like this won’t eradicate all water shortage woes, being responsible and making best use of the water available through treatment and reuse is certainly a step in the right direction.

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November/December 2018

WATER & System Treatment 51 Cleaning up social housing The Vortex300 filter from Sentinel is claimed to collect more magnetic debris on a continuous pass than any other compact filter on the market.

The superior performance is thanks to the filter’s Vortex Core and powerful neodymium magnet assembly. Circulating water inside the filter flows around an axis to reduce water flow rate and turbulence,

improving magnet separation, increasing retention, and enabling non-magnetic debris to fall out of flow.

Gregg Cole, Commercial Director, comments: “The design of the Vortex300 filter is based on extensive research with our customers, who reported leaks and installation and servicing space to be the biggest issues they face with

other filter brands.”

Launched in November last year, the product has helped to double Sentinel’s share of the social housing sector in just six months. The company says that its products are now installed in one third of all social housing properties across the UK. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Providing commercial protection The latest addition to ADEY’s magnetic filter range, the MagnaClean DRX, has been launched to help provide protection for commercial plant rooms. The DRX includes a magnetic belt which contains highperforming neodymium magnets wrapped around a stainless steel case. For easy servicing, the belt is simply released and the black iron oxide sludge emptied via a drain valve. The magnets are also sprungloaded to ensure they align with the canister to achieve maximum capture of both large and small particles, while the patented design ensures low pressure loss.

Crucially, the MagnaClean DRX can be fitted in-line or side stream to offer increased flexibility at installation.

Go with the flow

It is available in 2, 2½, 3 and 4in. pipe dimensions to meet demand from a variety of different applications and can be installed in any orientation.

“We developed the MagnaClean DRX as a cost-effective solution for protecting commercial heating systems that will help improve performance, efficiency and reliability,” says Keith Thompson, Commercial Sales Director. “The innovative magnetic belt technology ensures the effective capture of magnetite and is based on comprehensive research and development that started with the very first MagnaClean filter 15 years ago.”

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Described as a cost-effective alternative to water softeners, the Inta ActivFlo water conditioner is a compact unit for both domestic and commercial environments that can improve the water quality in hard water areas.

The device can be retro fitted to water pipes and works by changing the chemical structure of limescale-forming calcium carbonate in water, converting calcite, a form of calcium carbonate that causes hard water, into aragonite.

These aragonite crystals remain suspended in the water and flow through the system, out to the drains.

“The ActivFlo is designed to be a reliable and effective alternative to treating hard water, with no ongoing maintenance costs,” explains Stuart Gizzi, Director of Inta. “It is a true fitand-forget product that treats the water directly, so all the minerals are retained and there is no need to worry about things like water waste or added sodium.”

The WRAS-approved ActivFlo Lite and the original ActivFlo are both suitable for domestic applications, while the ActivFlo Pro is designed for commercial installations. www.activ-tec.com

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CASE Study

HeatStream – an installer’s view The HeatStream vented hot water cylinder has been designed to deliver mains-pressure hot water without the equipment normally associated with an unvented cylinder. Here, one installer gives his verdict on the product following his first installation.

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hen a customer calls about their hot water cylinder splitting, they don’t want to be without hot water for long. The British Gas customer, living in a ground-floor flat in the Battersea area of London, needed their hot water cylinder to be replaced with a new one immediately. Luckily, the customer had a British Gas insurance policy for boiler and heating repairs and British Gas wasted no time in getting in touch with one of its network of plumbing companies – Dyno Plumbing – to fix it.

Dyno sent out one of their engineers, Connor Shaw, to do the job. The customer had a vented hot water cylinder with low pressure, so wanted a system that can deliver mains-pressurised hot water with very good heat recovery times. Connor recommended installing a Harlequin HeatStream and the customer was more than happy with his proposal when told that this product could solve his challenges of low pressure and poor heat recovery times. Since the customer had a family of five, he was keen to have a system with super-fast heat recovery times.

Dyno Plumbing says the customer was very satisfied with the product and has not come back with any issues after the installation.

The installer’s view Connor was happy to provide Harlequin with his own feedback following what was his first HeatStream installation and he has since gone on to fit four more.

The Pros: r )BSMFRVJO )FBU4USFBN JT WFSZ FBTZ UP install as all the connections are on the top of the system. r 5IF TJ[F PG UIF VOJU JT QFSGFDU *U FBTJMZ GJUT into a standard cupboard. r 0ODF JU JT JOTUBMMFE JU MPPLT RVJUF OFBU BOE UJEZ *U JT BMTP WFSZ FBTZ UP NBJOUBJO since it has a plastic body. r *U UPPL FJHIU IPVST UP JOTUBMM UIF TZTUFN since the pipework was very complex, and a lot of work had to be done. But subsequent jobs have been straightforward and have not taken more than two hours to install. r 5IF IFBU SFDPWFSZ UJNF JT TVQFS GBTU 8F tested it ourselves by installing a unit in the PGà DF *G UIF TZTUFN JT JOTUBMMFE JO B IPVTFIPME with five to six members, the entire family can easily finish their shower routine in less than two hours without having to cut down on their time in the shower. The hot water got to the taps quickly. r 5IF PQFSBUJPOT BOE NBJOUFOBODF NBOVBM that comes with the product is great. But the product itself is so easy to install that it doesn’t need a manual. r 'SPN B MPOH UFSN QFSTQFDUJWF UIFSF won’t be a need to replace the parts often since there are so few of them.

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Dyno Plumbing engineer Connor Shaw installing the HeatStream cylinder

r * EPO U TFF BOZ GBVMUT XJUI UIJT QSPEVDU *U has been manufactured in such a way that JU KVTU DBOOPU CSFBL EPXO * TQFOE B MPU PG my time fixing unvented hot water cylinders that have lots of components and require regular attention. r 5IJT QSPEVDU XJMM CF QSFGFSSFE CZ MBOE lords for two reasons: (1) The capacity of potable water stored in the tank is much reduced (compared to unvented hot water storage tanks) while producing large amounts of hot water, essentially reducing the risk of Legionella. (2) There would be no requirement for the annual service that is required with unvented cylinders.

The cons: r * DBO POMZ UIJOL PG POF OFHBUJWF 5P ESBJO the HeatStream down you need to remove the body of water using a pump. But this JT XIBU * EP GPS NPTU DZMJOEFST BT UIF ESBJO off valves tend not to reseal. However, this needs to be done only when the system is being replaced. This can be done easily, as everything is accessible from the top without having to drain it down.

Biggest USP The biggest USP is that the system can deliver mains-pressurised hot water at a fast rate coupled with its super-fast recovery rates, overall speed and ease of installation.

Since all the connections are on the top of the unit, there is no requirement for D3 discharge or associated equipment such as an expansion vessel and T&P relief valve.

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VENTILATION & Heat Recovery 53

Fitting MVHR systems in smaller properties Any property can benefit from the installation of a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system, but extra thought may be needed when fitting such a system in a smaller home. Penny Jones, Product Manager at Domus Ventilation, highlights three key things to consider.

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echanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems have never been so popular. Look at any of the property shows on TV these days and you can bet a mechanical ventilation system will be part of the house spec in one form or another.

For house builders, MVHR systems have become an important means of addressing the issues borne out of making homes more air tight and are even considered a useful marketing tool – something that will add value to the property. For homeowners, up to 50% savings on energy bills can be achieved due to the reduced heating demand but, more importantly, there’s a considerable benefit from improved indoor air quality (IAQ). Poor IAQ not only makes for an uncomfortable home environment but has known links to allergies, asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and even dementia.

With IAQ now making it on to the national news agenda, and organisations such as BEAMA lobbying the Government to introduce policies in relation to ventilation and IAQ (see the BEAMA white paper, ‘Better Ventilation, Better Homes, Better Health’), the uptake of MVHR systems is on an upward trajectory.

Potentially all new homes can benefit from MVHR, including smaller properties and especially those in inner-cities where air pollution is a major problem. Some people associate MVHR systems with larger houses due to the size of the unit and the amount of ducting needed, but that isn’t the case.

There are, however, certain criteria that you do need to take into account for a successful MVHR installation in a smaller property.

Fitting a radial semi-rigid duct system makes installation easier in smaller properties

On the run

The space-saving Domus HRXE system

The Domus Supertube duct silencer

Size matters

Silence is golden

It might sound obvious, but the smaller the property, the smaller the spaces available to fit an MVHR system. Installation of the main MVHR unit in the loft used to be common practice, but with access issues and potential problems caused by lower temperatures in the loft, most units are now wall mounted within the envelope of the property – most commonly in a cupboard.

The size of the MVHR unit therefore needs to be compact, especially when it comes to height. Our HRXE system, for example, is just 507mm in height. Where installation in a cupboard is not an option, then a ceiling void should be a consideration. Here the depth of the unit and weight are key factors.

The Domus HRX-aQ is the shallowest in the marketplace, measuring down to 199mm in depth and weighing from just 7.9kg, making it compact and light enough to be easily installed in the most restrictive of ceiling voids.

A well designed and correctly installed MVHR system shouldn’t cause unnecessary noise during everyday activities. Look for a system that generates less than 24dBA (typically whisper quiet) at a distance of more than 1m away from the air valve.

To avoid any chance of disturbing residents, it’s still advisable to locate the MVHR unit well away from bedrooms and main living spaces. In a larger property there is of course greater scope for this, but with smaller dwellings this isn’t always possible.

Consider the use of an anti-vibration tray, which isolates the unit from the wall to reduce any low levels of vibration-induced noise which can be distracting to residents.

There remains potential for sound to travel down the ducting from the fan, or from traffic noise or room-to-room crosstalk. It would therefore be sensible to include duct sound attenuators which effectively absorb sound over a range of audible frequencies.

An MVHR system is only as good as its ducting. Poor ducting (and that relates to the product quality, the duct run design and installation) impacts the air flow, sound and overall effectiveness of an MVHR system.

Ducting for MVHR systems is normally Ø125 or 150mm (or the equivalent in rectangular). To maximise air flow and reduce air leakage, sharp bends need to be avoided. This has an impact on where the duct runs go. In smaller properties this can be a real issue.

If this is the case, then opt instead for a radial semi-rigid ducting system. Unlike traditional branch based ducting systems, radial systems allow each room vent to be served by single or twin duct runs which connect directly to the central distribution system, evenly splitting the air from the MVHR unit. This can work better in small spaces. It’s also much easier to install!

Whatever the size of a new build property, there’s more than likely an MVHR system that will be suitable. You must be able to extract 13 litres/sec from the kitchen, 8 litres/sec from each bathroom/utility area and supply at the same rate. This is easily achievable in a modern home built for air tightness, as long as you take into account the three main points above: size, audibility and ducting.

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54 VENTILATION & Heat Recovery

Protecting against pollutants Ventilation has a key role to play in creating a healthy home. Lee Caulfield, Sales Director, Titon Ventilation Systems Division, looks at how ventilation products have evolved, explaining how they can be used to help create a healthier indoor environment.

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ndoor air quality (IAQ) is evidence suggesting it can refers to the air quality have a serious impact. Indeed, within and around statistics revealed to coincide buildings and structures, with ‘Clean Air Day’ in June especially as it relates to earlier this year attributed the health and comfort of 9000 of the estimated 40,000 occupants. When it comes to annual deaths from air ensuring a good standard of pollution in the UK to indoor IAQ, ventilation is important air pollution. in terms of reducing Healthy option condensation and associated In terms of ventilation, there mould growth, both of which are many existing strategies in have been linked to allergies place for new build properties, and illnesses, like asthma.

Inside a home, IAQ can Lee Caulfield, Sales Director with mechanical ventilation be inadvertently affected with heat recovery (MVHR) by pollution from a variety of sources, being the best approach regarding long term including gas stoves, wood burners, home energy efficiency requirements. This is the cleaning products and even personal care only option that can actually recover heat products like nail varnish and deodorant. from exhaust air and, by specifying MVHR As Europeans spend an estimated 90% of System 4 in a home, moisture and airborne their time indoors, it is clearly important con-taminants can be removed, leading to a to ensure the air inside a property remains healthier indoor environment for occupants. as clean and healthy as possible.

With demand for new homes continuing While the health effects of outdoor or ambient to rise, properties are being built in a variety air pollution have been well-documented, less research has been undertaken on the of different environments, ranging from impact of indoor air quality – although there brownfield sites to inner city areas, each

with their own unique surroundings and complications. As a result, in some instances, extracting moisture and airborne contaminants using MVHR is not enough – and the actual air quality coming into a property also requires careful consideration.

Filter protection Currently, MVHR systems offer different grades of filters that can be placed within the ventilation unit to combat PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, depending on the type of filter used (F7 or G4). PM2.5 particulates are particularly nasty; measuring less than 2.5 micrometres, they are too small to see with the eye, yet pose a significant health risk, as they can easily find their way into people’s lungs and then their bloodstream.

However, there are also numerous other external contaminants posing a threat to IAQ. These include sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, ammonia odours, volatile organic compounds, solvents and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – all of which can be found in urban and highly polluted areas.

This has led to the introduction of specially designed NO2 filters that can be added to an Fitting an MVHR filter will help to protect building occupants against the risk to MVHR system to remove these pollutants, health from indoor pollutants the majority of which are produced by diesel engines. Any installed NO2 filters must demonstrated such units to absorb 98% conform to the EU Directive 2008/50/EC (AKA of NO2 not only in normal, continuous the Clean Air for Europe programme, or the ventilation mode but also at boost or CAFE Directive), which was introduced to higher ventilation rates.) These filters can protect against significant negative effects be installed in both inlet and supply ducting, of air pollution on human health and the as well as used in small to large, multienvironment. Filters also need to comply storey dwellings – provided they are able with Part F (ventilation) of the Building to operate with variable airflow.

Regulations, especially the pages relating The Trimbox NO2 Filter offers a compact to ADF’s performance criteria for dwellings, design and benefits from a pre-filter stating that exposure to nitrogen dioxide option which increases protection from should not exceed 288 μg/m over a one- external contaminants while helping to hour average, and 40 μg/m over a long-term create a healthy home. These units also average. boast exceptional acoustic It is also worth noting that, properties, ensuring occu“Ventilation has a as of July this year, the new pants are not disturbed by ISO16890 standard ‘Air Filters vital role to play in unwanted noise. for General Ventilation’ ensuring modern Healthy homes became mandatory, reSo, with pollution in cities homes remain placing EN779:2012. This and urban areas on the amendment has presented healthy” rise, coupled with people a significant change in spending more time indoors, terms of how air filters are evaluated. ISO16890 focuses on filtration ventilation has a vital role to play in ensuring performance to the classes of particulate modern homes remain healthy. Plus, matter sizes, looking at test data more with more properties being built in urban realistically than the theoretical basis of environments, it is more important than EN779. The new ISO standard is based on ever to utilise effective MVHR systems in particulate matter evaluation parameters conjunction with a suitable NO2 filter. as used by the World Health Organisation A combined MVHR and filter system (WHO) and other authorities. Using these will safeguard against pollutants – and parameters will make it easier for users predominantly exhaust gases from diesel to select the right air filter based on their engines – from entering a property. The individual requirements. installation of such ventilation products and systems will certainly help to create healthy Balanced flow Modern NO2 filters, such as our own award- homes for occupants, while simultaneously winning Trimbox NO2 Filter, incorporate ensuring a high standard of indoor air balanced flow technology to reduce NO2 to quality. an acceptable mean concentration level of 40μg/m3. (Indeed, independent tests have

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56 VENTILATION & Heat Recovery

Tips for fitting ductwork Ductwork is a vital part of any whole house ventilation system. Christian Rehn, National Project and Design Manager at National Ventilation, talks through the process and gives us his tips on successful installation.

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o install a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system, you need to be familiar with the design and specification of whole house ventilation technologies and the ducting that goes with it.

While it’s essential to select the right MVHR unit for the job, it’s also important to choose the right ductwork and to install it correctly.

Here are seven tips for achieving a good ductwork installation:

(2) Decide where best to locate all the elements of the MVHR system.

MVHR units are often located in lofts, however, if there is a vaulted ceiling an alternative location is needed, such as a utility room. Next it is important to work out where to locate risers and ducting. If there is a vaulted ceiling there will be no ceiling voids to run ducting. As an alternative, ducting can be run through webbed eco joists, between floors or within stud walls.

(1) Design the ventilation early in the project so that the ductwork is planned in. The first step in ventilation design is to use an architect’s drawings and property details to input data into an airflow calculator to ensure the ventilation specified meets the airflow demands of each room.

The correct size ventilation unit and the correct type of ducting can then be specified, whilst ensuring it complies with Building Regulations.

(3) Specify ducting that is easy to install and right for the job.

Larger projects generally use traditional rigid ductwork which requires experience and time to install correctly with a number of connections needed. For smaller developments semi-rigid ducting is a careful, simple alternative that is easy and quick to install.

Semi-rigid ducting is available in lengths of up to 50m, meaning far fewer connections and easy routing

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and supporting of the duct, when compared with traditional rigid ductwork. This type of ducting also means fewer mistakes, since even a novice can install it to a high standard, minimising air leakage so that the fan performs as intended.

Plus, it can further help improve indoor air quality with options that include an antibacterial coating that is also anti-static so it doesn’t collect dust.

(4) Minimise the amount of connections needed. Each ducting connection needs to be sealed and with each seal there is a greater risk of a leak in the system. Traditional rigid ductwork runs down a central spine with ducting feeding from it, meaning there are lots of connections that need sealing. With flat ducting you also need to make connections every metre and then add another length of ducting. This can make installation tricky while working at height.

(5) Avoid bends. Bends affect the airflow. Using semi-rigid ductwork means fewer bends, so resistance is minimised, improving air flow, making the system more energy efficient and quieter.

(6) Use an induct humidistat fitted in the ducting. Traditionally MVHR is often boosted on bathroom lighting but not every bathroom visit is a shower or a bath and so systems can boost unnecessarily.

As an alternative, an in-duct humidistat fitted in the ducting means the boost only triggers when humidity rises. An in-duct humidistat also takes less time to install and is more cost effective since less wiring is needed.

(7) Commission the system to check the airflow. Once the install is complete, installers should run a final check of the ducting and then commission the MVHR unit to check the airflow is correct. Some of the latest MVHR units, such as

Semi rigid ductwork, such as National Ventilation’s Monsoon Radial system, is ideal for smaller developments

our IntelliSystem, feature app controlled commissioning which saves installers time on site and helps to avoid costly call backs.

Helping hand National Ventilation specialises in offering a full design service.

The free service supplies a full design and quotation including unit calculations, a full kit list, recommended duct routes as well as ensuring that it meets Building Regulations.

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VENTILATION & Heat Recovery 57 PIV units for fresh clean air

Ideal solution for air-tight homes A new housing development in Glasgow is benefitting from the installation of 94 whole house ventilation units from Vent-Axia. The Botanics is a £45m scheme that overlooks the River Kelvin and the botanic gardens, sited on the grounds of the former BBC Studios in the west end of the city.

The David Wilson Homes development – which includes

19 townhouses and 75 apartments – has been fitted out with 90 Sentinel Multivent continuous mechanical extract ventilation (MEV) units and four Sentinel Kinetic Advance S Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units.

The Sentinel MEV units were specified due to their high performance, coupled with low noise levels and aesthetics, with the unit only

featuring one external grille.

The Sentinel Kinetic Advance S MVHR was selected for use in four of the properties where the windows do not open. As well as near silent operation, the Advance improves indoor air quality and helps avoid any overheating issues thanks to a programmable 100% summer bypass feature.

Ideal for air-tight, thermally efficient new builds, such as The Botanics, the Advance also features time-saving commissioning and control via a web-enabled app.

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Available with a number of new features, the Atmos range of Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) units from EnviroVent now comes in five different options to improve indoor air quality and eradicate the problem of condensation and mould growth in all types and sizes of homes.

The range includes the original Atmos unit that gently ventilates the home from a central position on a landing. It features an intelligent comfort heater built-in, so the air entering the home is at a comfortable temperature.

Atmos Air is a PIV unit that is ideally suited for use in a loft space. When summer temperatures start to rise above 25°c in the loft, the unit sources colder air from outside. This not only provides perception cooling into the property but also maintains continuous ventilation.

Atmos Dual is designed for homes that require a little extra help with dealing

with condensation and mould throughout several rooms.

With two outlets, the unit provides fresh, clean air into multiple areas, even when the rooms are not connected to the central hallway.

The range also includes the Atmos Air Dual which offers all these benefits and also draws in cooler air from outside if the loft temperature hits 25°C. Completing the range, there is a wall mounted

Atmos unit suitable for apartments and flats that do not have a loft space.

For easy control by the homeowner, the units can be operated via the new myenvirovent app, accessed via most smartphones, which can be used to adjust boost functionality, airflow, heater and control summer mode, as well as monitoring filter performance.

Another option with the Atmos range of PIV units is the facility to link to the EnviroVent’s AirSens range of air quality sensors.

These are available in three different versions to enable the occupant to monitor carbon dioxide levels, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or relative humidity. When AirSens detects an increase in these levels, Atmos reacts automatically by instantly supplying more fresh air into the property to maintain a healthy environment.

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MVHR solution Hands up for improved air quality for larger houses With over 30 years experience of manufacturing MVHR systems, Rega specialises in the self-build market and offers a free full design service.

Recently added Rega’s to the Regavent new 600R MVHR unit range is the new 600R unit, specifically designed to handle larger houses of up to 360m2.

Said to be one of the most efficient MVHR units on the market, the 600R is available with a fully automatic summer bypass to provide summer heat exchange operation and an F7 grade filter to assist with allergy and asthma sufferers.

A manual control unit provides boost operation, as well as a built-in humidity sensor providing an automatic boost function, allowing the system to promptly deal with any excess moisture created using showers or baths. www.rega-uk.com

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The new Susurro, a ceiling mounted heat recovery unit from Airflow Developments, has been designed to provide continuous decentralised ventilation for schools and office environments. Said to provide a hassle-free option to achieve fresh and healthy indoor air quality, the units can contribute positively to an environment that aids concentration and productivity.

The Susurro is claimed to be ultra-quiet in operation (with a virtually inaudible noise level of just 35dB(A) at nominal air flow) and features the latest energy saving technology. It features an aluminium cross counter flow heat exchanger and has a heat recovery efficiency of up to 90%.

In accordance with the ErP Ecodesign directive, the unit

also features a 100% summer bypass facility to prevent heat recovery from taking place in hot weather, thereby reducing the risk of overheating.

A capillary tube system at the air outlet ensures that fresh air is supplied into the room near the ceiling. This supply air mixes with the ambient air before slowly

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filter options which help ensure that even buildings in heavily urbanised areas can filter out most impurities, including damaging PM2.5 particles.

Flow sensors detect filter resistance when filters need changing and will notify households via the app or controller when filters need to be replaced.

Offering high thermal efficiency and low energy consumption, the IntelliSystem continuously extracts warm, moist air from wet rooms through ducting which passes through the heat exchanger before being exhausted outside. Fresh incoming air is preheated via an integral heat exchanger which recovers up to 93% of the heat energy that would otherwise be wasted.

Compact and lightweight, the unit is suitable for mounting vertically in a plant room or utility room with both left and right-hand options.

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An easy inside job

Improved monitoring and control Said to represent a smarter way to deliver whole house ventilation, the Monsoon Energysaver IntelliSystem Heat Recovery Unit from National Ventilation offers easy control via its touch screen or Wi-Fi linked app. Via the app, residents can select operating modes, view unit speeds, efficiencies and temperatures and set schedules.

Households can also link the unit to their home router via a remote server and then control the unit on their home network. Alternatively, the IntelliSystem can be controlled via the touch screen control panel on the unit which comes with a manual boost switch that is designed to provide an increased level of ventilation when required to eradicate odours or during hot periods during the summer.

Indoor air quality is further enhanced thanks to ISO ePM2.5 and ISO ePM10

descending into the room, avoiding any uncomfortable draughts.

Easy to fit, no air ducts are required for installation. The unit is suitable for both new and refurbishment projects and there is no need to design a detailed ventilation system, as the unit is installed through the wall. It comes

with a digital touch screen controller and also offers automated control to optimise performance.

Marketing Manager John Kelly comments: “Our new Susurro heat recovery unit is a testament to our knowledge and capability within the complex field of ventilation.

It delivers precisely what is needed: a highly efficient, low energy, low noise heat recovery unit that can make a positive difference to the wellbeing of office workers.”

The unit is available with a three-year warranty and energy efficient EC motors.

There is a choice of two ranges: standard and design, with air flow rates of 400, 700 and 1000m3/h, providing an ambient temperature range of +5°C up to 40°C.

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Using patented technology, the Deluxe Quick Internal Fit Wall Kit from Manrose can be installed entirely from the inside of a property. It has no loose parts and the external grille is fixed to the wall liner, eliminating the risk of dropping grilles from scaffolding or falls from height, reducing installation time and removing the need for costly and time-consuming external grille fitting involving scaffolding or ladders.

Ideal for high-rise applications, first floor bathrooms and anywhere that is not readily accessible from the outside, the Wall Kit simply pushes through a hole from the inside of the building. An external grille is then deployed that doesn’t require the installer to reach through the entire length of the wall tube, and spring pins hold the wall kit securely in place. www.manrose.co.uk

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PRODUCTS in Action Drastic cut in heating and hot water bills with ASHP A distributor of LG heating products, Bublshop based in Gillingham in Dorset, has recently provided the design, technical support and the equipment for an MCS registered installer customer who transformed a rural home on the Dorset/Wiltshire border with a system that in its first year had running costs of just £34.

The Therma V air to water heat pump is ideal for projects where replacement of an older heating system with an air source heat pump is required. The LG High Temperature combines with hot water cylinders or thermal stores and is linked with solar PV in this project.

The owner of the property says: “I keep a spreadsheet of the meter reading, the units used and their cost, and the average maximum outdoor temperature and the average minimum temperature. On the basis of energy used and the RHI payments we received, the first year cost us a total of £34 to run our heating and hot water system.” partner.lge.com/uk

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Savings from the ground A ground source heat pump system from Kensa will help 12 Flagship Group homes in Suffolk to lower energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and provide a better quality heating system and living conditions for residents. It is also estimated the sustainable system, completed in October at Airey Close in Sudbury, will save each household just under £500 per year.

Featuring one Kensa Shoebox heat pumps in each house connected to clusters of shared ground loop arrays, the scheme qualifies for the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), generating a guaranteed income

to allow Flagship to roll out the much-improved heating system into more homes in the future.

Project managed by Kensa Contracting, the

retrofit scheme features ground source heat pumps from Kensa, fitted by local company Gasway Services.

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Cool fit for brewing company A growing craft beer specialist, Fourpure, has chosen the COOL-FIT 2.0 system from GF Piping Systems, to carry coolant around its main building in Rotherhithe, south-east London, making use of the system’s fail-safe fusion welded joints and excellent insulation performance.

Fourpure’s own technical team investigated the system’s physical characteristics – including composition, working temperature range, resistance to chemicals and installation method – before undergoing product training with a GF Area Sales Manager.

The owners first saw COOLFIT 2.0 pipework installed at a brewery in the USA and realised the system’s benefits. The company decided to purchase the 63mm diameter pipe size, together with fittings, and also organised the purchase of a custom-built buffer vessel through George Fischer. These have now all been successfully installed to connect a chiller unit, external to the building, with the large capacity stainless steel vessels where the beers are brewed.

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Design trends – why it pays to go with the flow As much about style as function, new brassware can provide a finishing touch to both contemporary and traditional bathrooms and kitchens. Richard Easton, Brassware Product Manager for PJH, looks at some of the latest trends and innovations that are helping to inspire consumers.

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rassware – whether for bathrooms or kitchens – is one product area that is seeing month-on-month growth and as such represents a tremendous opportunity for the installer. Being able to advise and recommend to customers ‘on-trend’ products is not only helpful but can also be a great valueadded sell too.

The brassware sector continues to play a major role in both bathroom and kitchen design with as many styles, materials, finishes and price points now available to meet pretty much all customer tastes. In kitchens, for example, there is already a digression into different finishes such as rose gold, industrial greys, and coppers, but this is still relatively niche.

Innovation is also present and there is an emerging number of digital products out there offering temperature readouts or smartphone controllability, and demand for these is likely to increase in the near future. There is also a trend towards higher value products as the consumer is becoming far more discerning in their choice of brassware, knowing what is out there and what they want, fuelled through visual social media such as Pinterest and Instagram.

Right price Manufacturers have kept pace with this growing consumer demand too, bringing to market products that not only look good, but have the quality and durability to last. At PJH, through our Bathrooms to Love, Prima and Teka brands, we’ve boosted our brassware ranges to reflect this with new introductions, and it is worth noting that good design is not just limited to high value products, because improved manufacturing has brought aspirational styles to all price points.

However, trends come and go, and brassware is just as fickle to the whims of fashion as any other product. It should come as no surprise that chrome is still the finish of choice for the majority of customers, although other finishes such as brushed steel are gaining in popularity as well as more matt coloured options, especially matt black and striking monochrome taps, such

as the IC915 kitchen mixer tap from Teka (pictured at the bottom of the page), which is available in either black or white.

In fact, this monochrome styling can deliver a point of focus to a kitchen or bathroom design and both complements and contrasts well with the many sinks, basins, baths, showers and radiators available, and clever innovations like fingerprint-resistant treatments also ensure they keep their stylish appearance.

Less is more Minimalist seems to be making a comeback, which has been apparent at the many industry shows. A simple round body with peg format is proving popular and can be seen in Pesca, from our Bathrooms to Love Collection (pictured below), as an example. As well as minimalism, contemporary styles with sharp lines are on the ascent, delivering that much in demand semi-industrial-chic and can help bring even the simplest kitchen or bathroom design to life. A good example is the Sebatta tap, a new addition from our Bathrooms to Love Collection, which with its bold stance and smooth rounded edges, it is a natural attention grabber.

In fact, soft edges are still extremely popular, but equally is the traditional square look and those taps that are able to combine the two are clear winners with customers.

household and in most family homes are often subject to quite a bit of abuse. For this reason, taps that are durable and robust, as well as design-led, still trump style alone, so look for taps that carry at least a 10-year guarantee, as well as those with premium cartridges for ultra smooth movement and long lasting performance.

Making it easy Ease of installation should be a major consideration too – and whilst the usual plumbing precautions and considerations are adhered to, it is worth looking to some of the latest innovations that make life that bit easier. For example, our Teka Top Mount Taps range can be installed entirely from above the worktop, once flexi tails are secured, with patented technology making installation far faster and easier.

The Pendio deck mounted basin mixer from PJH’s Bathrooms to Love collection

Consumer confidence means the days of ‘just a tap’ are long gone from the want list of bathroom and kitchen design, and with a little understanding of what products and styles are out there then this confidence can mean they are a good source of profit.

For further information about the latest brassware from PJH, simply enter the number below on our freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this issue.

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Off the wall Wall mounted brassware continues to be popular as well as mono basin mixers, ideal for cloakrooms or ensuites, where a smaller size casts a subtler impact in an often-smaller space. Tall basin mixers, such as our Sebatta tap (pictured top left) are also in demand, as they team up perfectly with vessel washbasins and bathroom cabinetry.

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62 TAPS & Showers

Concealed showers made smarter More consumers are looking to enjoy the space-saving beneÿts of a concealed shower and, with smart systems designed to make installation easier, there’s nothing to stop installers from meeting demand – says Adam Logan, Technical Services Manager at Grohe UK.

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oncealed shower systems are increasingly being specified by customers and it is likely that they will become the preferred shower system in the modern home over the next few years. Concealed systems offer a multitude of benefits to the end user, such as a minimalist A cut-out view of the Smartbox shower installation system from Grohe appearance, easier cleaning and maintenance, more space in the shower area, plus the the tiled wall of the shower space ability to create a bespoke system that perfectly suits their and, because cavity wall space varies bathroom space and requirements. And now this next from one property to another, it is generation of showering is much more accessible to both often impossible to know whether a Smartbox makes installation easier and results in a neat finish for the consumer installers and customers thanks to a more straightforward customer’s home will accommodate a There are also trim sets that can be adjusted after concealed system until the installation process is underway. installation process.

Typically, 100mm of depth is required for installation and, installation to ensure perfect alignment to tiles and tile Concealed systems can offer much more than just simple bath/shower combinations, allowing multiple outlets to work where this is not achievable, a false wall would be needed. joints, with no need for drilling. Finally, adapters can be simultaneously, from head showers to hand showers and This is not an ideal solution for either the installer or the made practically redundant with the Smartbox, thanks to even body jets, for that premium shower experience. For homeowners, so in response to this some manufacturers ½in connections made to fit all standard pipes. Many other example, our Rapido Smartbox system offers three outlets are starting to develop methods to reduce installation rough-ins with ¾in outlets are only designed to work with depth. Some systems can now be fitted in spaces as small the exception, not the rule, whereas a rough-in with ½in from one rough-in and one trim set. as 75mm, meaning even the narrowest of walls are suitable connections is designed to fit 90% of all pipes.

Multiple sprays for installation.

Exposed options The trend for spa-inspired bathrooms and wetrooms has A key benefit of the Rapido Smartbox is that it offers meant that customers are looking for a more premium shower quicker and easier installation into a variety of building While concealed shower systems offer such a bespoke and experience with multiple shower sprays such as head shower, materials such as wood, brick and even walls containing premium performance that certainly looks set to pave the hand shower and body jets, all from one system. Previously, studs. This is thanks to multiple fixing points which make way forward, there are similar models with exposed piping available if a simpler retrofit install is desired, or where such an extensive range of shower options would have for flexible installation within a project. a concealed system cannot work within a space. These required two rough-ins, so this new innovation is allowing systems offer the same functionality – multiple outlets installers to offer their customers the premium showers Front of mind they want, with significant savings in labour time.

Manufacturers are putting installers front of mind when available from one thermostat, and precise control over Whilst the installation criteria and process is seemingly developing these concealed shower products and are pressure and temperature, and they also come equipped more complex than traditional exposed systems, forward- consistently refining the installation process with new with easy installation benefits for installers. On our Euphoria thinking brands in this sector are introducing new features to make these products more appealing to work SmartControl system, for example, the upper bracket is functionalities and concepts that make installation easier with. Other features that are making these products more adjustable, so minimal adaptation to existing drilled holes than ever before, and thus a more mass market product. accessible for installers are using bottom inlets to the rough- is required. This means less fuss and mess for all involved.

One of the reservations some installers have against in to enable a direct connection to the hot and cold water PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.grohe.co.uk 150 concealed systems is that they require a recess behind supply. This eliminates the need for 90º fittings.

Adding style to any bathroom Two new mixer showers – Virtue and Honesty – have been launched by Mira, to complement the company’s Aspects taps collection.

Designed for traditional themed interiors, the Mira Virtue (pictured) is said to be suitable for all systems and pressures. Combining a heritage style with modern technology, there is a choice of two models: Virtue ER, with a 210mm overhead and Virtue ERD which comes with an additional 80mm and held showerhead.

The Mira Honesty mixer shower has been designed to combine hard angles with soft edges for a contemporary take on cubist design.

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The Honesty EV hand shower offers a 110mm showerhead with an easy glide clamp bracket, while Honesty ERD features a 250mm overhead shower for a more luxurious feel.

Both models also come with fast fix kits for easy installation.

Both the Honesty and Virtue showers feature Mira’s Magni-flo technology, which delivers a powerful flow of water, while ‘CoolShield’ ensures that the valves do not get too hot during showering.

Both mixer showers are exclusively available from online retailers, including Better Bathrooms and Victoria Plum.

New design for the Quartz

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The Quartz smart shower range from Aqualisa has been updated with improved control, a modernised control fascia, and chrome finish.

The new Quartz range features a flush, finely contoured control with clean edges in a striking bright chrome finish. Laser etching has also replaced printed graphic icons to create a more durable design and finish.

With regards to function, improved engineering on the temperature bezel ensures a smoother glide rotation for ease of operation. The blue LEDs that have become synonymous with the Quartz range still feature, alongside new responsive, one-touch buttons.

The range can be paired

with a single or dual outlet and both wall and ceiling fixed shower head options, or bath fill. It is also compatible with both high pressure and

gravity pumped systems and features Aqualisa’s smart valve, which can be located up to 10m from the shower controller.

“Quartz was the first digital shower range in the UK and has an unrivalled status with installers,” comments Sian Brink, Senior Product Manager. “As the original, installers completely trust the Quartz and appreciate its easy installation and reliability. We think that homeowners will love the new design and that installers can continue to promote the range as the ideal smart shower solution, with features that make showering more pleasurable and convenient.”

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64 TAPS & Showers

Brushed stainless steel three ways

Switch to aerators The range of basin mixer taps from Bristan now includes Neoperl 5 litre/min aerators which ensure that the amount of water delivered by the ˜ ow regulators is now completely in alignment with BREEAM requirements. With the change applying to all stock, Bristan basin mixers can be selected when using the The Green Guide Calculator to ensure they are meeting daily water usage targets as deÿned by water authorities and the Water Label scheme. www.bristan.com/specifiers-home

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of the Lanora-S which make them perfect for filling and washing larger saucepans or vases. The Candor tap features a concealed pullout spray whilst the Lanora-S has a retractable hose from mid-way down the tap’s neck. With a vertical ‘off’ position of the lever, both the Candor and Lanora-S can easily be fitted against a wall, allowing space for splashbacks and various sink models. Both the Candor and Lanora taps have a default cold-start setting to save energy.

New to Blanco is a range of brushed stainless steel taps designed for today’s busy home. The Ambis, Candor and Lanora-S have been designed to complement any design scheme, be it traditional or modern, and all stainless steel sink models from the company.

The Ambis (pictured) is an angular tap with a spout which can be swivelled by 360º, making cleaning, washing up and food preparation simple.

Equally practical are the towering curved spout of the Candor tap and the high arched L-shape spout

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www.blanco.co.uk

Pressure Shower’s controls Wireless tech for drainage affects deliver euphoria attitude

Recent statistics from Salamander Pumps have revealed that low water pressure is a source of more than mere mild frustration. 40% of the UK says that poor water pressure – resulting in trickley showers, slow filing cisterns and painfully slow filling baths – has an impact on their daily lives.

Furthermore, 43% of those questioned say that their lacklustre water pressure has a negative impact on their mental state.

When questioned about how they feel when they emerge from their ‘low pressure’ trickle of a shower, almost a quarter admitted they become ‘frustrated’ (23%), a fifth are ‘annoyed’, and 11% said they felt ‘unclean.’

The five areas in the UK with the worst pressure are London (51%), West Midlands (43%), Yorkshire (41%), North West (40%) and Wales (40%).

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The Euphoria SmartControl from Grohe is a surface mounted unit with a slimmer form and fast acting temperature regulation that prevents the risk of scalding. The smart shower’s centrepiece is the front mounted push and turn control unit. Pictograms provide intuitive operation, while a turn of a button can regulate the water pressure, ranging from a gentle shower to a more vigorous flow.

Individual adjustments can be made to the upper bracket of both models in the range, which makes the drilling of additional holes unnecessary.

It also serves as a retrofit solution because it is possible to swing the arm of the head shower 180º.

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The Saniflo Sanifloor shower pump range is now available as a wireless product and has been renamed Sanifloor+.

Designed for areas where floor drainage is an issue and space underneath is very limited, this pump both sucks the waste water from the gully and pumps it away. The wireless models allow for easier installation and facilitates wireless communication between the pump and the shower waste.

The gully and drain include a detection system that controls the pump.

Water entering the gully or drain automatically activates the pump through the integrated detection system. The water is then sucked and discharged to the main line. Sanifloor+ features a powerful shower

Tap into an array of styles A number of new tap styles have been added to Abode’s newest collection.

Included in the latest launch is the Loop (pictured), a contemporary solution featuring a single lever and a tapered spout for high-end appeal at a competitive price.

Also modern in style, the Squire is another new single lever option with a sleek design for the bath or basin, while Flux is a slimline contemporary option that offers a versatile solution that will team with an array of bathroom decors.

Classically styled bathrooms are also catered for with the new Abode brassware range, with Sentiment, a traditional pillar tap with statement crosshead handle and detailed body styling.

Each of the new ranges, all in a chrome finish, enable the latest designs to be used in the bathroom on a budget.

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waste pump and a choice of gully designs so that it can be used to achieve a totally flat floor surface with either a tiled or vinyl wetroom floor, depending upon the base surface used and a further third choice of

gully works with low level shower trays of just 2cm. The Sanifloor+ can handle the most powerful rain heads and power showers thanks to its higher flow rates.

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www.saniflo.co.uk

New name points to new frontiers The Bluetooth enabled electric shower from AKW has been rebranded as the AKW SmartCare Plus. The decision has been taken so that AKW SmartCare Plus can be positioned as the flagship product in a new range of AKW ‘smart’ products set to be launched.

Ruth Ingledew, AKW’s MD, says: “This rebranding creates a foundation on which we can build our future ‘smart’ range of products. AKW is committed to the design of inclusive and care bathroom products that include features approved by occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals, and which increase the safety and independence of those with reduced mobility or sensory impairments.” www.akw-ltd.co.uk

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66 STEP by Step

Installing an inclusive shower The new Omnicare range from Triton has been developed to offer an inclusive shower that can be comfortably used by all. Here, Steve Saunders, Triton Showers’ Senior Technical Manager, provides a step-by-step guide to installing this safe, stylish unit.

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s Britain’s population continues to grow, bathrooms are increasingly being designed with inclusivity at the forefront. Triton Showers’ Omnicare range is BEAB care approved and incorporates a number of features that can assist those needing additional help using the shower, while also easily adapting to those who can shower independently.

The thermostatic technology provides added reassurance as it regulates the water to within +/-1°C of its intended

temperature and will cut out completely in the event of a loss of flow from the cold water supply.

The model in this step by step includes RNIB approved features for the partially sighted. Users will benefit from audio feedback and tactile temperature dial. Additional options include a grab rail for extra stability, a remote start/stop button for use outside of the wet area, an extendable shower rail, soft press buttons and a looped lever handle for those with limited dexterity.

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Adjust the Safe-set controls to allow a maximum temperature of 41ºC (in compliance with the BEAB CARE standard) by rotating the spindle so that the inner arrow is aligned with the 41ºC marking line.

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To commission, simply leave the cover connecting cable disconnected from the main PCB, turn on the electric supply and the shower will fill with cold water. When water flows from the shower hose, commissioning is complete and the connecting cable can be connected to the main PCB.

Using the supplied templates, 1 mark out the entry points and routing of the water and electric supplies into the shower. There are three entry points for 15mm pipe and four entries for 10 or 16mm cable.

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If the optional wired remote start/stop button is selected, connect the control cable into the cover.

Secure the cover with three screws.

Locate the wallmounted start/stop control within 5m of the Omnicare. This will make it easy for users to operate the shower from outside the wet area.

Attach the fi xed showerhead parking holder, which is supplied. This is useful for users, carers and parents, it allows the showerhead 8 as to be positioned at a lower height while keeping it firmly and safely in place.

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Mount the shower unit either side of the riser rail.

The grab rail has five screw fixing holes for the top and bottom brackets. Providing extra assistance to the less mobile, the dual purpose riser rail can withstand a load of up to 150kg, offering an essential supportive aid. Appropriate screws and wall plugs must be selected depending on the wall construction.

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The finished Omnicare shower will provide audible feedback and a tactile temperature dial with soft grey tones, which helps visually impaired users.

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LPG Heating 67

How do eco-friendly fuels measure up?

With more consumers concerned about their impact on the environment, installers can benefit from being able to recommend greener energy options. Karl Bateman, National Speciÿer Manager at Calor, discusses the advantages of the company’s new bio fuel.

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wareness about the environment and the implications of climate change have been increasing with consumers over the last decade, and now more homeowners than ever are becoming more eco-conscious. That could mean trying to reduce the amount of plastic they use, car-sharing to reduce vehicle emissions, or taking into consideration the impact their home energy has on the environment.

Karl Bateman In addition, off-grid homeowners in rural areas are more likely to be considering the longevity and environmental impact of their fuel choice following the announcement of the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why renewable domestic heating systems and cleaner, lower carbon fuels are becoming preferable, with installers ideally placed to advise on greener alternatives and benefit from any conversion installation work.

Installers have a key role to play in providing information on BioLPG and other ways customers can reduce their carbon footprint

available exclusively from Calor. BioLPG is made from the ability to ‘go green’. When it comes to fuel storage renewable materials and can reduce your customer’s there’s a range of options available, including above carbon footprint for home heating by up to 38% compared ground tanks, underground tanks, or cylinders. to heating oil.

Some suppliers also retain ownership of the tank and BioLPG is chemically identical to standard LPG but is look after its maintenance for a small monthly fee, so created from a mix of renewable and waste materials. It’s if the tank needs repairing or replacing customers will also classed as a ‘drop in’ fuel, so it has the exact same not be hit with a large bill. chemical composition as Cost savings conventional propane.

“BioLPG and LPG can also be used as a In addition, an LPG boiler This means it’s compartner fuel for hybrid systems” can often be a more lowGreen alternatives patible with current LPG cost option to buy and fit, However, while rural homeowners may want a greener fuel heating systems and appsource, they could be apprehensive about the reliability liances, and the system requires no additional upgrades costing significantly less than an oil boiler. Aside from and the installation cost of such a solution. Systems like or adjustment. Therefore, if your customer is currently savings on the initial outlay, thanks to the increased solar PV and air source heat pumps require significant using conventional LPG, they can easily switch to the efficiency LPG can offer, there are also savings on long term energy costs. investment and specific environmental conditions to new fuel.

Switching to a new efficient LPG boiler can also help perform most effectively.

Because BioLPG works with standard LPG systems, homeowners to lower fuel consumption. LPG gasFortunately, there is an alternative. BioLPG is a new it can be a more cost-effective option to install than condensing boilers can achieve efficiencies of 90% or eco-friendly fuel that has recently come to market, other renewables, while still giving the homeowner more, an especially attractive option for those who have old oil boilers that are less efficient and cost more to run.

Alternatively, BioLPG and LPG can also be used as partner fuels for hybrid renewable systems, offering a reliable secondary energy source should the other Matt Dunford, National Field Sales Manager at Calor, offers a guide to the qualiÿcations element of the system not be able to function effectively heating engineers need before they can work safely on LPG installations. due to climate conditions.

Training and assessment for installers

There are currently two key qualiÿcations on offer to installers, the ÿrst of which is CCLP1: Core LPG Safety Training and Assessment. This is a Gas Safety qualiÿcation and is required for any engineer wishing to work on LPG installations or further their training.

Most candidates should be able to complete the course in a few days, covering the basics of working safely with LPG, as well as all relevant safety legislation and standards.

The second important qualiÿcation is CONGLP1

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Experienced gas engineers should be able to gain an LPG qualification in just a few days

(PD): Conversion of Natural Gas to LPG. This allows an installer to convert all of their existing natural

gas qualiÿcations to their equivalent LPG counterparts.

For example, if you are qualified to safely work

on natural gas cookers, this will allow you to work on cookers fuelled by LPG. Once installers are qualiÿed to work safely with off-grid gases, Calor supports members of our Installer Community with a range of tools, services and incentives. Just one phone call and we will provide expert, on-site advice with tank speciÿcation and siting in order to ensure the highest levels of safety when undertaking the switch to LPG. To ÿnd out more, visit www.calor.co.uk/installer or call 0800 121 7828.

Installer benefits Throughout the switch to BioLPG, we will be offering a range of support and incentives to our Installer Community. The scheme rewards installers with up to £250 for every successful Calor LPG conversion.

There is also a ‘Find an installer’ tool on our website that helps potential customers find a local LPG gas engineer for their boiler service, installation and maintenance, generating valuable warm leads for rural gas engineers.

What’s more, we also recently upgraded our online LPG tariff quote tool to now include BioLPG, making it easier for installers to offer this greener option to customers.

Ultimately, installers play a vital role in providing information on new fuels such as BioLPG to homeowners, and with a range of tools, services and incentives available, there’s no excuse for rural installers to not get on board with the greener gas. www.calor.co.uk/installer

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68 LPG Heating Boilers booked in Helping customers prepare for winter at holiday parks

Two Alpha combi boilers – the E-Tec 28 and InTec 40GS2 – are being fitted by Tingdene Homes for its residential park homes and holiday lodges.

Both boilers can easily be converted to run on LPG, a necessity at certain park and holiday home locations, and have been selected for their competitive price and length of warranty, as well as additional benefits such as small footprint and energy efficiency.

Based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, the company has been installing Alpha boilers in its units for the last 18 months. For its smaller standard units, Tingdene Homes installs Alpha’s most compact combi boiler, the E-Tec, which is available in both 28 and 33kW models.

Fitting easily into a standard kitchen cupboard, the E-Tec is said to be ideal for homes that have a low level of hot water and heating demand.

It features a stainless-steel heat exchanger and comes with a five-year warranty as standard, which can be increased to seven years with the addition of a PremierPack Pro. Tingdene Homes also recommends the larger

InTec 40GS2 combi boiler for park homes fitted with a hot tub, as it can supply hot water at a faster rate to meet this additional demand.

With built-in flue gas heat recovery, the InTec 40GS2 can deliver a 35% reduction in gas use.

The company uses a team of in-house installers who operate as part of the park home production line, producing an output of around 400 park homes and holiday lodges per year.

“After an initial trial, we have rolled out the boilers across our range of homes and have been very happy with the results,” says Luke Wilkins, Operations Manager at Tingdede Homes.

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LPG combi launch Launched at the start of the heating season, the 624 and 630 Combi LPG boilers from Baxi follow on from the success of the company’s 600 Combi. Baxi says it has responded to demand for a more powerful outputs and for LPG versions so customers in off-mains gas areas can reap the beneÿts of the range.

Despite having robust brass components, the lightweight boilers weigh in at less than 30kg and are small enough to ÿt into a standard kitchen cupboard. For ease of maintenance, they also come with Baxi’s Easy-Fill accessory, which allows consumers to repressurise their boiler themselves.

Mike Parsons, Head of Product Management, comments: “We want to make life easier for installers, so with these new additions they can be assured of the highest integrity of product, unrivalled reliability, exceptional ease of installation and, of course, high efÿciency each and every time.” www.baxi.co.uk

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UKLPG, the trade association for liquefied petroleum gas, is encouraging installers to help their customers get ahead for winter with some advice on how to prepare for the colder months that lie ahead.

Chief Executive Peter Westwood explains: “We appreciate that during the colder months a reliable and consistent source of energy is essential, therefore it’s important LPG customers act now to ensure their equipment is working efficiently.

“We are encouraging installers to spread the message on the importance of ensuring that customers get their boiler and other gas appliances serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and if the boiler is more than 15 years old, to consider a replacement to ensure ultimate efficiency. An energy-efficient condensing boiler will not only significantly cut heating bills but could also achieve

up for winter. However, customers who don’t have this facility and order LPG themselves should be reminded to look at the tank level as soon as possible and consider ordering from their supplier to provide peace of mind.”

Join up

running efficiencies of 90%.

“By taking their energy consumption into their own hands and using a programmer that allows them to set when the heating and hot water comes on and goes off based on their personal routine, they could also save both energy and money.”

With LPG fuel usually delivered via road tanker, unexpected and severe weather conditions can

cause disruption to normal delivery patterns. UKLPG is urging installers to remind customers to check that they have a full tank of fuel as the colder months approach to minimise the chance of disruption to supply.

Westwood continues: “Many LPG suppliers provide customers with monitoring systems which automatically transmit details of the customer’s fuel levels to ensure each tank is topped

To support installers working with, or looking to work with, LPG customers, UKLPG now has an exclusive membership category for Gas Safe registered installers who hold the LPG qualification.

As well as promotion via the LPG installer listing on the UKLPG website, members can access informative LPG literature and display a UKLPG member sticker to display on their vehicles or tool sets.

For more information on joining UKLPG, please visit www.uklpg.org/installers/ b e c o m e - a n - i n s t a l l e rmember-of-uklpg

Boiler duo meets clubhouse demand Embedded in 157 acres of landscaped grounds, the Welcombe hotel in Stratfordupon-Avon offers a relaxing retreat for its guests and day members, but with old boilers becoming unreliable and nearing the end of their serviceable life, the delivery of heating and hot water was starting to become an issue.

Over the course of two years, Danny Bulch, Director at Cedar Green Projects Ltd, has replaced the boilers, gas fired water heaters and calorifiers in the hotel, spa and golf club with varying products from the Hamworthy range.

The hotel’s clubhouse with function rooms and sports bar was the last part of the refurbishment project. The old boilers were installed in a loft space plant room with awkward access.

“We wanted a Hamworthy product which is wall hung and made of stainless steel.

LPG was required as there is no mains gas to this part of the estate,” explains Danny.

We opted for two boilers, as these are smaller and lighter than a big model and provide back up for servicing and maintenance. Making use of multiple boilers means we can benefit from better

load matching thanks to the combined higher turndown ratio.”

On the double The chosen new boilers were two Stratton mk2 S270 stainless steel wall hung condensing boilers with a five-year warranty and 154kW total output. Additionally, the two boilers have a combined turndown ratio of 10 to 1 for flexible load matching from as little as 15.4kW up to its full output of 154kW. Cedar Green’s long-standing partnership with Hamworthy Heating allowed the company to become familiar with the complete product range, from technical specification

to installation and servicing.

For this reason, it was easy for Danny to choose the right product for each application.

“I’ve been working with Hamworthy for a long time and I like their products because they are reliable,” says Danny.

The hotel boilers are now all Hamworthy models across the board, simplifying aftercare.

The installation of multiple boilers ensures a backup is available should a boiler need servicing or maintenance.

Additionally, the combined turndown ratio of several boilers also lowers operational costs and saves on fuel.

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PRODUCTS in Action 69 Covers keep radiators safe and clean

Ventilation a breeze National Ventilation has designed and supplied a whole house ventilation system to a two-storey home being built in Taunton, Somerset. The project, consisting of a ground floor and first floor, was already well underway when National Ventilation came into the project with its free design expertise to work with the existing build.

A team from the company worked with the owner and designer to create a system that would provide the correct levels of ventilation and work within the existing structure.

A mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) unit was required to improve indoor air quality and reduce space heating costs. The Monsoon HRU/330-100 MVHR was selected to meet these requirements and for its ability to work with the extra pressure created by using the existing underfloor pipework as the supply and extract pipe. Monsoon radial ducting was also specified as it offers simplified installation and on-site flexibility for any variations that arise in a project compared to design plans. www.nationalventilation.co.uk

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Safe surface temperature specialist, Contour, has completed a project with Walton Hall Academy, a special education needs school in Staffordshire, to provide LST safety radiator guards to protect students from burns and reduce the risk of injuries around their radiators. Contour provided 19 DeepClean LST radiator covers with radius edges and bullnose corners, which eliminate the risk of injury on sharp edges. The DeepClean design also features pencil proof grilles, which addressed another of the school’s problems.

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Shower gets to workout Westerham-based MoorEnergy Fitness Club was seeking a replacement for its existing shower that improved the appearance of the communal changing areas and was simple and quick to install.

Aqualisa’s Siren exposed mixer shower provided the solution.

Owner and personal trainer Nigel Moore comments: “We’ve been open for 15 years, so it was time for a refurbishment. It was great to work with Aqualisa, as the company is based down the road from us, so we were lucky to be able to

source local products that are also of an outstanding quality.

“Aqualisa showers are really user-friendly.

My customers can sometimes spend a long time in the shower, refreshing themselves after an intense workout period. This product maintains a nice temperature throughout and offers a consistent water pressure for the duration of the shower.

The Siren Exposed mixer valve also looks brilliant – I like its sleek aesthetic and how it has modernised the space.”

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70 WHAT’S New Keeping the noise down Two new air source heat pumps have been introduced by Viessmann – the Vitocal 200A and Vitocal 222-A. Featuring new noisereduction technology, the new units are said to be suitable for densely built-up areas such as terraced housing estates, and both have high energy efficiency with low operating costs.

With outputs of 2.3 to 11.8 kW, and with a reversible circuit within a single unit to enable switching between heating and cooling, the Vitocal 200-A and 222-A are identical except that the 222-A has an integrated 220-litre domestic hot water cylinder.

The heat pumps come with separate indoor and outdoor units connected by water pipes.

The outdoor unit contains one or two fans (depending on power output), while the wall-mounted indoor unit is quiet enough to be installed close to living areas. For ease

Control for easy compliance

of installation, no refrigeration leak test is required because the cooling circuit is hermetically sealed, and no F-gas certificate is needed because the connecting pipes to the outdoor unit are filled with water.

ENQUIRY No. 168 www.viessmann.co.uk

The RT520 series is a cost-effective thermostat range from Salus that has been designed to enable installers to meet the requirements of Boiler Plus without having to install smart controls.

Featuring OpenTherm load compensation – one of the four energy saving features that makes a system Boiler Plus compliant – the RT520 is a simple batteryoperated digital display room thermostat with a large, easy-to-read LCD. It is available as wired and wireless RF versions and saves energy by ensuring that the boiler only uses the necessary amount of gas to heat water to the required temperature.

Both models also feature a new suite of

additional operational and efficiency functions.

These include a notification that the boiler requires servicing, and a PIN option that enables landlords and building owners to only access certain settings and menus on the boiler.

The thermostats also boast an improved ErP rating that verifies the overall efficiency of system.

Salus European MD Dean Jepson comments: “The RT520 is the most cost-effective fully compliant thermostat option on the market, and it appeals to users who are not up to speed with technology or who don’t have internet access, as well as those who prefer a quick and simple installation.”

ENQUIRY No. 169 www.salus-controls.com

Time saving transparent connector Alarm warns when the pressure drops

Promising to make a complex job much quicker and easier, a transparent pushfit connector for underfloor heating manifolds is now available from Inta. Part of the company’s new ‘PresBloc’ product range, the connector can be used with any manifold, including polymer, stainless steel and brass, and enables installers to be confident that it is properly in place and secure before it is switched on and pressure tested, thus avoiding leaks.

Inta has also introduced a range of energy saving low

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voltage actuators for UFH manifolds, for which the power consumption is just 1 watt.

“We are always looking

for products that meet our stringent quality standards and that we are confident will make professional

installers’ lives easier,” says Inta Director Stuart Gizzi.

“We were very impressed by the transparent pushfit connector because it really makes a significant difference to the installation time, while our new actuators are a winner for consumers thanks to the money-saving aspect.”

Inta also has a complete range of manifold accessories including ball valves, end groups, eurocones and thermo-electric actuators.

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170 PressureSentry is the name of a new low-pressure warning device from Teddington that is designed to prevent unnecessary boiler shut-downs and heating system damage.

It can also help heating engineers and plumbers that provide domestic heating maintenance contracts to save money on unnecessary call outs.

The low-cost device is ideally suited for combi boiler heating systems.

It screws into the top of a standard domestic radiator to monitor the system pressure and can be quickly installed by engineers during routine service calls without draining the heating system.

When the pressure falls below a pre-set level (1 bar), the battery-operated device emits an audible and visual alarm. The sound can be muted, but the flashing indicator stays on until the

system pressure has been reinstated. Homeowners can then arrange for the system to be re-pressurised as part of a routine call-out.

Sales Manager Kenny Maxwell says: “PressureSentry offers several benefits to installers. For engineers providing domestic heating maintenance contracts it can reduce the number of emergency call outs – helping to save money by allowing them to schedule system re-pressurisation visits. For others, it’s a great opportunity to upsell – helping to improve client retention by demonstrating a superior level of customer service.”

Installation takes less than 10 minutes. The device connects to a radiator using a standard ½in BSP screw thread and uses a small battery for the alarm.

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November/December 2018

COMPETITION

WHAT’S New

FIVE to be won

Efficient air conditioning Bosch Commercial and Industrial has launched a new range of high-efficiency Single Commercial Air Conditioners (SCAC): The Bosch Climate 5000 SCAC Split concealed ceiling mounted range, and the Bosch Climate 5000 SCAC Split cassette range.

The SCAC solutions are fully compliant with the European ErP 2013 standard which governs both air conditioning equipment and its subsequent installation. With both ranges being A++ rated for cooling, they are suited to new and retrofit installations in both small commercial and large domestic properties.

Both ranges come with a

three-speed fan and a sleep function ,which controls the ambient temperature during nighttime use.

The SCAC range has five operating modes as standard: auto, cold, heat, ventilation, and dehumidifier. Both SCAC solutions have capacity for wired control operability, while the Bosch Climate 5000 SCAC Split cassette range has remote control usability.

The Climate 5000 SCAC Split

concealed ceiling mounted range is available in 5 and 7kW single-phase outputs; 10.5kW single and 3-phase outputs; and 14kW 3-phase output.

The Climate 5000 SCAC Split cassette range is available in 3.5, 5.3 and 7kW single-phase outputs; 10.5kW single and 3-phase outputs; and 14kW 3-phase output.

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Pure and simple performance The new ErP-compliant Purewell Variheat cast iron condensing boiler from Hamworthy Heating features the advanced Siemens LMS controls platform – already used in all condensing, premix Hamworthy boilers.

It allows cascade options controlling multiple boilers and hot water at the same time, providing energysavings and allowing flexible control regimes. This new version is also equipped with full spark ignition, updated from the previous hot surface ignitor.

The core of the boiler remains the same – a cast iron heat exchanger with large waterways, making it tolerant of older heating

systems. A 6 bar pressure rating makes the boiler suitable for high rise buildings.

A secondary heat exchanger with copper tube and aluminium fins allows the boiler to condense, which means it is not only highly efficient but also compliant with all Building Regulations and the Energyrelated Products (ErP) directive. Thanks to low NOx performance (>40mg/ kWh, European Class 6), the Purewell Variheat mk2 also scores well on assessments for future-proof heating system design and building performance.

The Purewell Variheat mk2 comes with a 10year warranty on the heat exchangers.

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VitrA’s wall-hung frame and flush plate This month we’ve teamed up with VitrA to give away FIVE sets of the company’s frames and flush plates, which combine beauty and practicality. Designed with ease of installation and maintenance in mind, they rival the market leaders for quality and reliability, – which is both cost effective and user-friendly.

t e g r o F & t i F

part of the ‘Easy Living’ range, alongside complementary accessories and parts.

The Vestra bath is 945 x 170mm, including a screen and an electronically-operated glass door that remains locked

Quality, flexibility and durability.

The choice of VitrA wall-hung frames, flush plates and wall-hung WCs ensure there is a design to suit every customer and every budget.

Designed to function after 200,000 consecutive operations, VitrA frames are tested above and beyond European standards, all backed by a five-year guarantee.

The frames feature cisterns with a built-in overflow which drains water into the WC pan should the cistern overfill. The hassle-free unit can be rapidly fitted into any structural situation and can be installed using up to eight fixation points, which enables them to support 400kg.

VitrA also offers a wide range of flush plates that operate on either a mechanical, pneumatic or electronic panel system. To save water, all the flush plates use a dual flush system.

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until all water has been drained, providing peace of mind for the buyer that leaks will be avoided. The lowthreshold height also gives the user easy access.

The Truo unit has similar features, but is also available in high gloss black. Munro is the smallest unit in the range, at 650 x 900mm, with an inward-opening door and a moulded seat.

Neil Bell, Head of Retail at Easy Bathrooms, says: “These baths are designed specifically to help the end user to live a more comfortable life, while ensuring the fitter maximises the use of space, even in the tiniest of rooms.”

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Once reserved exclusively for luxury hotels, wall-hung fittings are now available to homeowners wanting a sleek, wall-mounted WC. By choosing from a range of VitrA frames, it allows them to move away from the traditional styles and into statement sanitaryware.

Why VitrA?

Baths provide easier access Bathroom and tile supplier, Easy Bathrooms, has launched a range of accessible baths and accessories that allow safe, easy access for small en-suites or large master bathrooms. Six baths have been introduced as

Revolution in design

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 ‘350kg’, you should write 101 on the card. Only one entry allowed per person and the winner will be drawn from all correct entries received before the closing date of 4th December 2018.

VitrA frames are tested beyond European standards, but what load can a VitrA frame support?

350kg

101

400kg

102

550kg

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72 WHAT’S New Easier to fit kitchen sinks Powerful combi for new build Designed to make life easier for installers, a new range of kitchen sinks has been launched by Bristan featuring the company’s Easyfit technology. The sinks come with an Easyfit base already pre-installed, along with pre-fitted flexi tails.

This means that an Easyfit tap body can be fixed to the sink with minimum fuss – all the installer needs to do is hook up the hose tails, push on the tap and tighten the grub screw.

Bristan says that every aspect of the installation process has been carefully considered, with everything needed supplied with the sink – even down to the handy full-scale worktop template included with every product in the range.

Each sink comes with strainer waste, overflow, pipework and fixings and, for extra peace of mind, they are backed by a 25year guarantee, along with a five-year guarantee on the accompanying Easyfit taps, and a three-year guarantee for the pipework.

The sink collection includes four key designs, Glacier, Ingot, Quartz and Index &

Inox, offering 28 variations across eight ranges, covering glass, composite quartz and stainless-steel finishes. All sinks are available in 1.5 and 1.0 bowl variants and feature a modern satin finish.

Alongside the mix and match options, Bristan will be offering four pre-defined sink and tap bundles.

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A 36kW combi boiler built specifically for new-build properties has been added to the Assure range from Potterton. The Assure 36 delivers a flow rate of 15 litres per minute and its larger output means it can be used in homes with more than one bathroom.

Described as the perfect choice for residential developers, the new boiler has a first-class SAP rating and is claimed to be the lightest 36kW model on the market. It fits into the space of a standard 290mm cupboard and pipework can be concealed within the footprint of the boiler, saving on valuable wall space.

Bill Jones, Business Development Director, says: “We know that meeting SAP

requirements is a crucial part of any new build project, and we want to help developers maximise their ratings.

It’s crucial that any new property is sustainable in order to meet current and

future efficiency targets and, most importantly, drive down energy bills for residents.

“The Assure is a low-cost, simple way for developers to boost their SAP rating and supply residents with a dependable and efficient heating solution.”

Launched in 2017, the development of the Assure range was based on feedback from contractors and installers. The range is available as a combi (with outputs of 25 and 30 and now 36kW), system (with outputs of 15 and 18kW) and heat only (with outputs from 13 to 30kW), ensuring that there’s a model to suit most property sizes.

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Service intervals Compact solution for new properties

Time saving panels Launched as an effective alternative to tiles, a portfolio of panelling products has been unveiled by Abacus Bathrooms.

The new collection currently comprises two brands – the M1 series PVC panels and the scratch-resistent Lustrolite glass effect panels. Said to be quick to install and easy to clean, all the panelling solutions are scratch resistant, 100% waterproof and come with a 10-year guarantee. Both ranges come in a wide choice of classic and contemporary designs in different colours and sizes, with options suitable for both domestic and commercial applications. www.abacus-bathrooms.co.uk

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With the aim of meeting the needs of local authorities, Drayton has introduced a new range of its Digistat prog rammable thermostats with a Service Interval feature.

The new versions will be available on Digistat+2 and Digistat+3, in both hard wired (mains and battery) and RF versions. The service interval mode offers three options and adjustable warning/service periods – reduced comfort setting, completely off setting and no effect setting. Also included is a selectable audible alarm and boost feature.

Simon May, Product Manager at Drayton, says: “The Digistat range is hugely popular amongst installers, boasting nearly 25 years of success and millions of installations across the UK. We are always looking to evolve our products, adding new features where required, and we know many of our installer customers are heavily involved with Local Authority contract projects.” www.draytoncontrols.co.uk

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Connected alarms will calculate risks FireAngel Predict is a new connected homes proposition from the manufacturer of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detector suppliers. Designed to protect lives and prevent costly fire damage, the patented technology identifies patterns of potentially dangerous behaviour that then triggers an alert.

Accessible to homeowners, tenants and landlords via an administration system on a PC or mobile, the easy-toinstall technology is able to calculate the risk of a future fire by using data sent from FireAngel’s Wi-Safe 2 range of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.

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The Wi-Safe 2 wireless technology connects all FireAngel Wi-Safe 2 alarms throughout the home so that they constantly monitor and communicate with other alarms in the network. The Wireless Gateway technology connects to the internet to push alerts externally,

and real time alerts from a network can be sent via a personalised management dashboard, email or mobile. All devices can be then remotely monitored by the FireAngel Connect Administration system.

Nick Rutter, Chief Product Officer for FireAngel, says: “It completely revolutionises how individuals are protected from potential fire and carbon monoxide incidents. FireAngel is dedicated to creating safety solutions that are based on innovation, quality and reliability and our latest predictive technology takes this to the next level.” www.fireangel.co.uk

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The new ecoFIT sustain range of combi, system and open-vent boilers from Vaillant have been designed to meet the requirements of new build developments.

With a compact design, the ecoFIT sustain is suitable for a range of homes and can easily fit in most kitchen cupboards. For ease of installation and siting flexibility, they also come with both rear and top flue options using existing Vaillant flue systems.

The new boilers offer a high SAP rating and are fully compatible with the company’s wired and wireless controls, including the vSMART app-based control which possesses both load and weather compensation. The vSMART intelligently learns from a home’s thermal behaviour as well as outside weather conditions and adjusts

accordingly to maximise both efficiency and comfort levels.

UK MD Klaus Jesse says: “We are the leading premium brand for high performing and responsible solutions for specification. Our products have high efficiency ratings and low emissions, with an enviable reputation for performance, quality and reliability. This comes from proven German engineering combined with award winning UK manufacturing.

“The ecoFIT sustain expansion brings with it a variety of added benefits specifically for housebuilders. The range’s flexible spec ensures ease of installation into new homes, while its running efficiency make for an attractive addition to any new build property.”

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WHAT’S New 73 Commercial boilers Fan convectors for schools can be sited outside Two new ranges of fan convectors have been added to the line-up from Dunham-Bush. They are designed specifically for use in educational establishments where safety, efficiency and siting versatility are required.

The SL Slimline range is designed to provide a neat finish where space is limited, fitting into areas where more conventional units may prove difficult to install. They are available with either a top air discharge (SLTD) or a front discharge (SLFD), a stand-

ard height of 550mm and a range of lengths from 700 to 1500mm. Depth of all models is a standard 170mm.

The other new entry, the SmartVector, has been developed to provide a solution for installation in classrooms, particularly when Building Bulletin 101 is a requirement.

These models help deliver the highest standards of air quality, essential for the wellbeing and productivity of the classroom occupants.

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Pipe Snug goes large for more jobs Having launched into the UK its range of commercial burners and boilers, Baltur has announced the arrival of boilers designed for installation outside a building.

The Baltur MCS external IP5XD rated weatherproof boilers work either as standalone or in modular cascade in outputs up to 2000kW. Banks of modular units can be connected to provide a virtually limitless heating output, all sited externally at ground level or on the roof, saving or creating valuable floor space within the building.

Technical Director Martin Cooke says: “With increasing constraints on space in buildings for the boiler plant and demands for improving efficiency, the traditional location of the boiler room in the basement or elsewhere inside the building is becoming more problematic.

“Our MCS commercial boilers, with fully weatherproofed casings and purposedesigned for external siting, provide a simple solution for plant replacement projects and new build applications where internal space is at a premium.”

Baltur’s MCS range can be used with natural gas and LPG, the latter providing an alternative to oil boilers which, to date, has been the only option if the boiler room is below ground level. Moving to an outside location removes this restriction.

The MCS high efficiency condensing boiler range offers an advanced specification such as pre-mix low NOx burners with turn down ratios of up to 20 to 1 to deliver load matching to meet the majority of building requirements, from 210kW up to 10MW. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.dunham-bush.co.uk

Safety in style

Keep a low profile

www.grohe.co.uk

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COMPETITION

Sm

ile with Si

e m

Win a Murelle Advanced HE ErP combi!

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Now available from Grohe is a new range of extra-low profile shower trays which offer a slim and minimalist design that matches the company’s three sanitaryware design lines – Grohe Bau, Euro and Cube. The trays feature an Alpine White finish and a non-porous, smooth surface with increased slip resistance. They have a depth of just 3cm and come in a choice of square or rectangular designs with sizes from 80 x 80cm up to 90 x 140cm. Seven different dimensions help to ensure that there is a model to suit most bathrooms.

efficiency of the property by tightly filling in any gaps where heat would otherwise escape. This helps installers to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations and keeps the risk of heat escaping from a building to a minimum.

PipeSnug works as a time and money saving solution by preventing callbacks and pest infestation. It can be simply pulled out and replaced to remove any blockages. pipesnug.co.uk PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 182

Snug Solutions has launched a 110mm version of its PipeSnug product. This larger version of PipeSnug is suitable for soil and waste pipes and will fit both solvent-weld and push-fit versions of all major pipe manufacturers.

Quick, cheap, and clean to use, PipeSnug’s range can be used in all weathers on any plumbing or construction project for a smart finish. The snug fit also means that PipeSnug helps to maintain the energy

The new Onyx range of bathroom accessories from AKW provides a set of design-led solutions for inclusive bathrooms. With minimalist design, tactile ÿ nishes and chrome, black and white colour options, mobility aids can be inconspicuously ÿtted to deliver safety in style.

The range includes rails and shower seats that fold away when not in use and grab rails that blend discreetly into the wall. Other matching accessories in the range include acrylic and chrome shelves, soap dishes, robe hooks, toilet roll holders and towel rails.

PHAM NEWSENQUIRY No.

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PHAM News has teamed up with boiler manufacturer Sime to give away a Murelle Advanced HE ErP boiler each month to one lucky reader.

Available in 30 and 40kW combination boilers, the Murelle Advanced HE ErP is among the most intelligent, practical and comforting combination boilers on the market. With its three star domestic hot water delivery, active combustion control, large user display and built-in service reminder, the Advanced is packed full of technology to effectively and efficiently deliver its users’ heating and hot water demands.

Sime is so confident with the reliability of the product that it offers extended warranties of up to ten years. For more details visit sime.co.uk

Who’s behind the famous smile?

To be in with a chance of winning a Sime Murelle Advanced HE 30 ErP combi, simply identify the famous person behind this smile.

Please send your answer to via email to editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk with ‘Smile with Sime’ in the subject line and including the following: Your name and business name Phone number Type ‘Yes’ in the body of your email if you are happy to receive offers from Sime via email.

All correct answers received before the closing date of 5th December 2018 will be entered into the prize draw. Only one entry will be allowed per person.

Working in an office made him happy

Last month’s winner

Congratulations to Steve Clifton who correctly identified David Bowie in last month’s issue and won the prize draw.

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November/December 2018

74 DIRECTORY Training & Assessments

Radiators

Controls

FREE INSTALLER TRAINING

BOOK NOW

TRAINING@AQUALISA.CO.UK 01959 560042 AQUALISA.CO.UK/TRAINING

Pictured: Adam (loves installing Aqualisa products) AQUALISA

BANICO CONTROLS

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10

Heating Controls

Elegance E legance & S Style t yle 2017 www.apolloradiators.co.uk

made m ade in the UK and urope urro ope

APOLLO RADIATORS

HEATING CONTROLS ONLINE

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Safety Products

MR COMBI

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MIDLANDS GAS ASSESSMENTS

Unit 1, Mainstream Way, Nechells, BIRMINGHAM B7 4SN email: mgabrum@tiscali.co.uk www.mgabrum.co.uk Domestic Natural Gas & LPG Changeover, Energy EfďŹ ciency and Water Regulations.

Un-vented, Part P Electrics, Training & Assessments.

0121 333 3903

MIDLAND GAS ASSESSMENTS

GOTEC

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12

Taps (Water Heating & Chilling)

PALADIN

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further your ambitions, telephone 023 8066 8900 for information and application pack.

www.idhee.org.uk The professional body We are not a trade association, and we the the Domestic Heating Engineer. recognised forms of study and achievement.

HYCO

SOUTH WEST PENINSULAR TRAINING LTD

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IDHEE

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STEVE WILLIS TRAINING

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November/December 2018

INFORMATION Centre 75 Central Heating Wiring & Controls Book

Central Heating combination boilers fault finding & repair

For years electricians and heating engineers have commented that wiring heating controls is a difficult subject to learn, existing diagrams are not always easy to follow.

Mr Combi® Training has developed a fantastic set of easy to follow coloured wiring diagrams for central heating wiring and controls, 2 / 3 port systems, Faults, Frost stats, testing components, everything you need in one handy A5 book.

John Reginald has released his easy to read, easy to understand book that takes the reader through the background and operation of each major component within combi boilers past and present.

The comprehensive fault finding logic guides provide professional solutions helping you to achieve professional standards.

Priced at £26 this Industry leading book is available from all High Street and Online Book Stores.

COPPERJOB

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Please order from www.mrcombi.com or enter the PHAM No.

371

CIBSE DBSP

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Snickers Climate Control Workwear

Chrome has long been the go-to finish for bathroom brassware and its sheer versatility and ease of maintenance ensure that this is unlikely to change any time soon. However, there are new finishes on the block that are equally as versatile and can be chosen to create a striking impression.

Matt Black is an increasingly popular option, seen on the Abode Harmonie range, that offers a striking contrast against natural tiles and lighter shades in the bathroom.

For more details visit www.abodedesigns.co.uk call 01226 283434 or enter the PHAM No.

Snickers Workwear Baselayer clothing uses high-tech breathable fabrics for ventilation and body moisture transport for consistent warmth and comfort.

The cutting-edge FLEXIWork and LITEwork designs and fabrics will keep you warm and dry.

All the garments are made from quick drying, lightweight fabrics that come with special ventilation features to control and regulate the heat from your body.

Snickers Workwear is the brand of choice for working outside in the winter.

Visit www.snickersworkwear.com or enter the PHAM No.

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Cistermiser and Keraflo launch new corporate website Both Companies are jointly presented in a brand new corporate website which reinforces a shared commitment to producing smart, efficient water management solutions that optimise control, deliver savings and help to ensure the safety and preservation of the earth’s most precious resource.

The new website includes a handy Downloads resources section where the very latest specification catalogues can be accessed.

To find out more visit www.ourworldiswater.co.uk Or enter the PHAM No. CISTERMISER

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SNICKERS

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Lakes new brochure

Matt Black finishes from Abode

ABODE

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Lakes’ new brochure ‘Designed for Life’ puts the emphasis on the showering experience and what makes showering possible. New and engaging lifestyle images help to form a story about how we now view our bathroom space and the growing importance of good showering. The brochure demonstrates the benefits of PureVueHD and AllClear® glass innovations, and how to create more light and space with Lakes’ innovative Mirror Collection.

For a copy of Lakes’ new brochure call 01684 853 870 visit www.lakesshoweringspaces.com Or enter the PHAM No. LAKES

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REHAU introduces New Guide

Saniflo launches new website

The Sound of Silence is the M&E contractor’s essential guide to acoustic drainage.

It discusses the need for high performance internal drainage in multi-storey buildings to mitigate noise and keep building users happier.

The guide also looks at common mistakes – such as the incorrect matching of pipe to bracketry and poor water flow – and discusses how to reduce noise and vibration to make internal drainage systems more quiet in operation.

To download your guide or to find our more information please visit www.rehau.uk/buildyourlegacy or enter the PHAM No.

Saniflo UK – the country’s leading designer and manufacturer of macerators, pumps and shower cubicles has launched a new website.

Selecting the right product can be achieved in a number of ways and a range of installation videos are available on the home page. Brochures can be downloaded from the customer service section and you can also register purchase details here too to ensure you benefit from the generous 5-year warranty protection on the domestic product range.

Find out more by visiting www.saniflo.co.uk or enter the PHAM No.

REHAU

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SANIFLO

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Plumbing Products

PLUMBPAL

Advertiser’s Index Advance Appliances Ltd Airfl w Developments Ltd Alpha Heating Innovation Anton Industrial Services Ltd Armstrong Fluid Technology BES Ltd Baxi Heating UK Ltd - Main Heating Bristan Group Ltd Brymec CMR Controls Ltd Calor Gas Ltd Carrara & Matta (EMEA Bemis Ltd) Cistermiser Ltd Domus Ventilation

10 54 8 6 34 3 23 60 44 58 76 41 51 55

Firebird Products Ltd Flakt Group Ford Motor Company GasApp Uk Gastec Training Gledhill Building Products Ltd Grant Engineering (UK) Ltd Grohe UK Harlequin Manufacturing Ltd Hikoki Power Tools UK Ltd (Hitachi) Honeywell Analytics Honeywell Control Systems Ltd Ideal Commercial Boilers Intatec Ltd

29 53 9 59 32 40 27 65 18 22 25 47 12 11

John Guest Speedfit Ltd Kamco Ltd Kingspan Environmental Ltd Knipex - Werk LG Electronics UK Ltd MV Fluids Handling Ltd Navien UK Nest NuAire Group Nu-Heat UK Ltd OFTEC Pegler Yorkshire Group Ltd Pipelife Ireland Ltd Spirotech UK Ltd

33 50 28 20 19 5 38, 39 Front Cover Wrap 56 14 69 31 52 49

TPI Europe Ltd Titon Testo Triton Showers Vaillant Group Viessmann Ltd Vitra (UK) Ltd Westco Wirquin Ltd Worcester, Bosch Group Wunda Group plc Xylem Water Solutions UK Ltd

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