March 2020

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MARCH 2020 | VOLUME 58 | ISSUE 3

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MARCH 2020 | VOLUME 58 | ISSUE 3

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Pressure builds on government to address payment abuse

The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group is campaigning for legislation to bring an end to late payments, mandate the use of project bank accounts and protect cash retentions. The umbrella group, which is made up of several organisations representing specialist contractors, says that an average of £˝̍˞bn of cash retentions are held over the course of one year. Most of this cash is withheld from smaller businesses, with over two-thirds of them experiencing late or no payment.

Rudi Klein, chief executive of the SEC Group, says a resolution to this issue is long overdue.“While government remains undecided, small firms continue to lose their retentions, which could instead be used to grow their business and train more people. This is not sustainable, which is why we campaign for the system to change.”

According to a recent YouGov poll commissioned by BESA and the ECA, almost four in ˚˙ small and medium-sized businesses have staff who are suffering from

mental health issues as a result of unfair payment practices. These include stress (˛ˢ%), depression (˚˝%) and suicidal feelings (˜%).

The same survey also found that ˛˛% of SME owners have had to reduce their salary, or stop taking a salary for a period of time, as a result of a late or unfair payment.

BESA and ECA are calling on tougher powers to sanction late payers across every sector, as well as legislating for a retentions deposit scheme to protect construction SMEs from systemic abuse of cash retentions and upstream insolvency.

“This poll confirms a dual crisis of mental health problems and unsustainable business practices,” says Debbie Petford, BESA director of legal and commercial. “With this growing evidence of the huge social and economic damage caused by systemic unfair payment practices, the question should no longer be what is the cost of reforming the status quo, but how can we afford not to?”

Report shows rapid growth of market for UFH systems

ŶĞā ĿÖũĴāŶ ĞÖŭ ũāƪāóŶāù ðŽŋƘÖłŶ activity in some sectors of the nonresidential construction industry, and relative stability in residential applications, both new build and ũāŶũŋƩŶ̵̍ The increasing focus on energy efficiency and the environment has supported demand for UFH systems. It is estimated that waterbased UFH is around ˛˞% more āƧóĢāłŶ ŶĞÖł ũÖùĢÖŶŋũŭ ƒĞāł Žŭāù with a condensing boiler and up to ˝˙ͮ Ŀŋũā āƧóĢāłŶ ƒĞāł Žŭāù ƒĢŶĞ a heat pump.

A growing number of installers have been trained in UFH installation, according to the

report, which says their greater awareness is likely to boost recommendations to customers.

Online sales has also seen rapid growth. Although end-users account for the bulk of online customers, an increasing number of installers are also purchasing ­DN ŭƘŭŶāĿŭ ƑĢÖ ŶĞĢŭ óĞÖłłāķ̵̍ Consumer awareness of UFH is increasing, a factor which is likely to result in further penetration in domestic properties and hence market growth.

Product developments have ĿÖùā Žłùāũƪŋŋũ ĞāÖŶĢłė ŭƘŭŶāĿŭ easier to install, broadening their appeal for the retrofit market.

With the backing of a number of MPs, industry bodies aim to bring pressure on the government to reform unfair payment practices within the construction industry

The underfloor heating market continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK heating industry, accounting for around ˠ̍ˠ% share by value in ˛˙˚ˢ̇ ÖóóŋũùĢłė Ŷŋ ŶĞā ķÖŶāŭŶ ­łùāũƪŋŋũ Heating Market Report from AMA Research. In the last five years,

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The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) is encouraging its members to get their local MPs involved. Fiona Hodgson, chief executive, says: “After years of discussions and consultations, it’s now time to do something about this problem. Setting out a timetable would certainly focus minds on reaching a resolution sooner rather than later.”

Abuse of retention payments in the construction industry was the subject of a recent Westminster Hall debate by MPs who argued for reform of industry payment practices. Scottish MP Alan Brown who initiated the debate has called on the government to set a definitive timetable to bring an end to the current system.

Immediate government action appears unlikely, however, with BEIS junior minister Nadhim Zahawi arguing that legislation would be premature as there was a lack of consensus for a preferred solution.

This has led to the emergence of systems (both water-based and electric) which can be laid over existing floors, thereby minimising disruption and speeding up installation.

Growing consumer awareness of the benefits of UFH, coupled with the ongoing emphasis on low carbon heating systems, is expected to keep annual growth rates at ˝̟˟% to the end of ˛˙˛˝.

Further analysis can be found Ģł ŶĞā ­łùāũƪŋŋũ NāÖŶĢłė mÖũĴāŶ Report – UK ˛˙˛˙-˛˙˛˝̇ published

by AMA Research. It is available to purchase at www.amaresearch. co.uk

Inside this issue Hydrogen heat Is hydrogen the fuel of the future?

See page 21

Safety footwear Stay safe in style and comfort See page ˝ˡ

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Inside this issue 5 MARCH 2020 VOLUME 58 ISSUE 3

Editor’s Viewpoint

by Chris Jones

Hedging our bets The recent anxiety and uncertainty triggered by global ťÖłùāĿĢóŭ̇ ƪ ŋŋù ùĢŭÖŭŶāũŭ Öłù ĢłŶāũĿĢłÖðķā ŶũÖùā ŶÖķĴŭ ŭŽėėāŭŶ ŶĞÖŶ ĢŶ̪ŭ ðāŭŶ łŋŶ Ŷŋ ķŋŋĴ Ŷŋŋ ĕÖũ ÖĞāÖù ƒĞāł ĿÖĴĢłė ťķÖłŭ ĕŋũ ŶĞā ĕŽŶŽũā̍ ¦Ğā ÖðĢķĢŶƘ Ŷŋ ùāÖķ ƒĢŶĞ ŽłťũāùĢóŶÖðĢķĢŶƘ ĞÖŭ ĕÖŭŶ ðāóŋĿā Ö óũĢŶĢóÖķ ÖŭŭāŶ ĕŋũ ðŋŶĞ ĢłùĢƑĢùŽÖķŭ Öłù ðŽŭĢłāŭŭāŭ̇ Öłù ĢŶ Ģŭ ŶĞŋŭā āłŶāũťũĢŭāŭ ŶĞÖŶ Öũā ķĢėĞŶ ŋł ŶĞāĢũ ĕāāŶ ŶĞÖŶ Öũā ĿŋŭŶ ķĢĴāķƘ Ŷŋ ŶĞũĢƑā Ģł ŶĞāŭā ƑŋķÖŶĢķā ŶĢĿāŭ̍ DŋũāóÖŭŶĢłė ŶĞā ĕŽŶŽũā ŭĞÖťā ŋĕ ŶĞā ­b̪ŭ ùŋĿāŭŶĢó ĞāÖŶĢłė ĿÖũĴāŶ ÖťťāÖũŭ Ŷŋ ðā ıŽŭŶ Öŭ ťũāóÖũĢŋŽŭ̍ 'āŭťĢŶā ŶĞāĢũ ùĢŭÖťťŋĢłŶĢłė ŶÖĴā Žť Ģł ũāóāłŶ ƘāÖũŭ̇ ĿŋŭŶ āƗťāũŶŭ ťũāùĢóŶ ŶĞÖŶ ĞāÖŶ ťŽĿťŭ ƒĢķķ ŭāā Ö ŭŶāāť ũĢŭā Ģł ùāĿÖłù Ģł ŶĞā óŋĿĢłė ƘāÖũŭ Öŭ ŶĞā ėŋƑāũłĿāłŶ ķŋŋĴŭ Ŷŋ ĿāāŶ ĢŶŭ óŋĿĿĢŶĿāłŶ Ŷŋ ũāùŽóā ŶĞā óŋŽłŶũƘ̪ŭ óÖũðŋł āĿĢŭŭĢŋłŭ ðƘ āĿðũÖóĢłė óķāÖłāũ āķāóŶũĢó ĞāÖŶĢłė̍ ŭ ƒā Ĵłŋƒ̇ ėÖŭ ðŋĢķāũŭ Öũā ŭāŶ Ŷŋ ðā ŋŽŶķÖƒāù ĕũŋĿ łāƒ ðŽĢķù ťũŋıāóŶŭ ðƘ ˛˙˛˞̇ ðŽŶ ùāóĢŭĢŋł ĿÖĴāũŭ Öũā Öķŭŋ Žłùāũ ťũāŭŭŽũā ĕũŋĿ óķĢĿÖŶā óĞÖłėā óÖĿťÖĢėłāũŭ Ŷŋ ĕŋķķŋƒ ŶĞĢŭ Žť ƒĢŶĞ Ö ŭóĞāĿā ŶĞÖŶ ƒŋŽķù āƑāłŶŽÖķķƘ ŭāā ŶĞā ũāťķÖóāĿāłŶ ŋĕ Öķķ āƗĢŭŶĢłė ðŋĢķāũŭ̍ ŽŶ ùāóÖũðŋłĢŭÖŶĢŋł óŋŽķù óŋĿā Ģł ĿÖłƘ ĕŋũĿŭ Öłù ŭŋĿā ŭŶÖĴāĞŋķùāũŭ Öũā ĢłóũāÖŭĢłėķƘ ŋťŶĢĿĢŭŶĢó ŶĞÖŶ ŶĞā ėŋƑāũłĿāłŶ ƒĢķķ ĕÖķķ Ģł ðāĞĢłù ŶĞā ťŋŶāłŶĢÖķ ũŋķķ-ŋŽŶ ŋĕ ĞƘùũŋėāł-ũāÖùƘ ðŋĢķāũŭ̍ ÂĢŶĞ ķāŭŭ ùĢŭũŽťŶĢŋł ĕŋũ ĞŋŽŭāĞŋķùāũŭ Öłù ŶĞā ũāķÖŶĢƑāķƘ āÖŭƘ óŋłƑāũŭĢŋł ŋĕ ŶĞā óŋŽłŶũƘ̪ŭ ƒĢùāŭťũāÖù ėÖŭ łāŶƒŋũĴ̇ ĢŶ ƒŋŽķù ðā ĞÖũù Ŷŋ ŋťťŋŭā ŭŽóĞ ÖũėŽĿāłŶŭ Ģĕ ťķÖłłāù ŶāŭŶŭ Öłù Ʃ āķù ŶũĢÖķŭ ùāķĢƑāũ ťŋŭĢŶĢƑā ũāŭŽķŶŭ̍ Rł ŶĞĢŭ ĿŋłŶĞ̪ŭ ĢŭŭŽā ƒā ķŋŋĴ ÖŶ ŭŋĿā ŋĕ ŶĞā ķÖŶāŭŶ ÖùƑÖłóāŭ Ģł both heat pump and boiler technology – including the potential ĕŽŶŽũā ĕŋũ ĞƘùũŋėāł̍ łƘ ùŋĿāŭŶĢó ĢłŭŶÖķķÖŶĢŋł ðŽŭĢłāŭŭ ŶĞÖŶ ťķÖłŭ to be around in ˚˙ ƘāÖũŭ ŶĢĿā ƒŋŽķù ðā ƒĢŭā Ŷŋ Ĵāāť ŋł Ŷŋť ŋĕ Öķķ ÖƑÖĢķÖðķā ŋťŶĢŋłŭ̍

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zŽŶķĢłĢłė Ö ƑĢŭĢŋł ŋĕ Ğŋƒ ŶĞā ­b industry can help customers transition Ŷŋ óķāÖłāũ̇ Ŀŋũā ŭŽŭŶÖĢłÖðķā ĞāÖŶĢłė̍

Nŋƒ ĞāÖŶĢłė Öłù ťķŽĿðĢłė āłėĢłāāũŭ óÖł ðāŭŶ ĿÖłÖėā ŶĞā ũĢŭĴŭ ŋĕ ƒŋũĴĢłė Ģł ÖũāÖŭ ƒĢŶĞ ÖŭðāŭŶŋŭ̍

Some important things to consider ƒĞāł ťķÖłłĢłė Ö ðÖŶĞũŋŋĿ ĕŋũ ÖłƘŋłā ƒĢŶĞ ĿŋðĢķĢŶƘ ĢŭŭŽāŭ̍

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

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News Review Government must invest in skills as it pares down immigration

Guide clears up escape of water risks ¦Ğā !ĞÖũŶāũāù RłŭŶĢŶŽŶā ŋĕ ķŽĿðĢłė Öłù NāÖŶĢłė 1łėĢłāāũĢłė ̛!R N1̜ Ģŭ ĞĢėĞķĢėĞŶĢłė ŶĞā ũāóāłŶ ũāķāÖŭā of a best practice guide, ‘Managing escape of water risk on construction sites’, published by the Construction RłŭŽũÖłóā ĢŭĴ 1łėĢłāāũŭ FũŋŽť ̛!R 1F̜̍ !R N1 óŋłŶũĢðŽŶāù Ŷŋ ŶĞĢŭ ƩĕŶĞ āùĢŶĢŋł̇ ƒĞĢóĞ ŋŽŶķĢłāŭ ŭŋĿā of the ways the industry can tackle the root causes of ŶĞā āŭóÖťā ŋĕ ƒÖŶāũ̍ óóŋũùĢłė Ŷŋ !R 1Ḟ ĢłŭŽũÖłóā claims for escape of water occurrences have increased substantially both in frequency and severity since ˛˙˚˞̍ The free guide also suggests ways in which ŋũėÖłĢŭÖŶĢŋłŭ Öłù ĢłùĢƑĢùŽÖķŭ óÖł ĿĢŶĢėÖŶā ŶĞā āƦāóŶŭ ŋĕ ƒÖŶāũ ùÖĿÖėā̇ ŭĞŋŽķù Öł ĢłóĢùāłŶ ŋóóŽũ̍ bāƑĢł ÂāķķĿÖł̇ !1z ŋĕ ŶĞā !R N1̇ óŋĿĿāłŶŭ̆ “Whilst the rise in escape of water claims is a worrying Ŷũāłù̧̇ Ğā ŭÖƘŭ̇ ̦ĢŶ Ģŭ ŽłķĢĴāķƘ Ŷŋ óĞÖłėā ƒĢŶĞŋŽŶ action on recognising the skills and competence of ťũŋĕāŭŭĢŋłÖķķƘ ũāėĢŭŶāũāù ĢłùĢƑĢùŽÖķŭ̍ ¦Ğā ũĢŭĴŭ ƒĢŶĞ regards to safety and the cost implications when things go wrong mean water management should absolutely ðā ÖŶ ŶĞā Ŷŋť ŋĕ ÖłƘ ťũŋıāóŶ̪ŭ ũĢŭĴ ũāėĢŭŶāũ̍ ̦ Ŷ ŶĞā !R N1̇ ƒā ÖķƒÖƘŭ Žũėā ťķŽĿðĢłė professionals to follow best practice and ensure that a thorough assessment of all possible risks is undertaken at the start of any works, and updated throughout the ťũŋıāóŶ̍ Dŋũ āƗÖĿťķā̇ ƑĢŭŽÖķ ķāÖĴ ùāŶāóŶĢŋł Ģŭ ŭĢĿťķƘ łŋŶ āłŋŽėĞ̍ 1łėĢłāāũŭ ŭĞŋŽķù ðā ŽłùāũŶÖĴĢłė Ö comprehensive approach, with thorough pressure

ŶāŭŶĢłė ŋĕ Öķķ ťķŽĿðĢłė ŭƘŭŶāĿŭ ŽłùāũŶÖĴāł ŋł ťũŋıāóŶŭ̍ Those responsible for oversight of projects should be āłŭŽũĢłė ŶĞÖŶ ŭĢėłāù óŋĿĿĢŶĿāłŶŭ óŋłƩũĿĢłė ŶāŭŶĢłė ĞÖŭ ŶÖĴāł ťķÖóā Öũā ŋðŶÖĢłāù Öŭ Ö ĿĢłĢĿŽĿ̧̍ ¦Ğā !R 1F āŭŶ ũÖóŶĢóā FŽĢùā ũÖĢŭāŭ ĿÖłƘ ĢŭŭŽāŭ when it comes to identifying and avoiding incidents, right from the design phase through to hand-ŋƑāũ̍ ¦Ğā ĢŭŭŽā ŋĕ óŋĿťāŶāłóā Öłù āƗťāũĢāłóā ĕŋũĿŭ Ö ĴāƘ ŶĞāĿā ƒĞāł ĢŶ óŋĿāŭ Ŷŋ ĢłŭŶÖķķÖŶĢŋł̍ The free guide is available from the Construction RłŭŽũÖłóā ĢŭĴ 1łėĢłāāũŭ FũŋŽť Öłù óÖł ðā ùŋƒłķŋÖùāù ðƘ ŽŭĢłė ŶĞā ũāÖùāũ ķĢłĴ ðāķŋƒ̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˙˜

!Öũù ŭóĞāĿā óķÖũĢƩāŭ ťũŋùŽóŶ ŶũÖĢłĢłė !ŋłāƗ åłłĢłėāũ ĞÖŭ ĢłŶũŋùŽóāù Ö !āũŶĢĕĢāù RłŭŶÖķķāũ ŭóĞāĿā ŶĞÖŶ ĿÖĴāŭ ĢŶ easier for installers to show they have the ũāķāƑÖłŶ ŭĴĢķķŭ ŋł óŋłŭŶũŽóŶĢŋł ŭĢŶāŭ̍ RŶ Ģŭ ùāŭĢėłāù ĕŋũ ĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭ ŽŭĢłė ͜ ͝ ũāŭŭ óŋťťāũ ƩŶŶĢłėŭ̇ ƒĞĢóĞ Öũā ŭŽĢŶÖðķā ĕŋũ ĞŋŶ and cold water applications, including ùũĢłĴĢłė ƒÖŶāũ̍ ¦ŋ ŨŽÖķĢĕƘ Öŭ Ö !āũŶĢĕĢāù RłŭŶÖķķāũ̇ ŶĞā ĢłùĢƑĢùŽÖķ ĿŽŭŶ ĞÖƑā óŋĿťķāŶāù ͜ ͝ ũāŭŭ ŶũÖĢłĢłė̍ ŽóóāŭŭĕŽķ óÖłùĢùÖŶāŭ Öũā ÖƒÖũùāù Ö ťāũŭŋłÖķĢŭāù RłŭŶÖķķāũ !Öũù showing the date of completed training Öłù Öł āƗťĢũƘ ùÖŶā̇ Öķŋłė ƒĢŶĞ Ö ťĞŋŶŋ ŋĕ ŶĞā óÖũù óÖũũĢāũ̍ ¦Ğā óÖũù Ģŭ ƑÖķĢù ĕŋũ ƩƑā years, after which the installer must attend top-Žť ŶũÖĢłĢłė̍ Dan Wild, business unit director for the ­b Öłù RũāķÖłù̇ ŭÖƘŭ̆ ̦!ŋłŭŶũŽóŶĢŋł ŭĢŶāŭ across the UK are increasingly requesting that the trades working there have received appropriate training in the ťũŋùŽóŶŭ ŶĞāƘ Öũā ĢłŭŶÖķķĢłė̍ Ƙ ĢłƑāŭŶĢłė in this scheme, we are providing installers with an easy way to show they have the ũāķāƑÖłŶ Ĵłŋƒķāùėā Öłù ŭĴĢķķŭ̧̍ To find out more about the Certified RłŭŶÖķķāũ ŭóĞāĿā̇ ŋũ Ŷŋ ÖŭĴ ÖðŋŽŶ Ö ŶũÖĢłĢłė ŭāŭŭĢŋł̇ āĿÖĢķ̆ ŶũÖĢłĢłėͼĢðťėũŋŽť̍óŋĿ

Apprentice hiring stalled by red tape Tradespeople are missing out on growth opportunities from hiring an apprentice because of perceived costs and red tape, new research ĕũŋĿ óũāƒƩƗ ĞÖŭ ũāƑāÖķāù̍ Despite two thirds (˟˟%) of builders, plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople turning down work because they are too busy, just ˞% of those surveyed

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Government plans to restrict ĢĿĿĢėũÖŶĢŋł ĕũŋĿ łāƗŶ ƘāÖũ ĞÖŭ prompted the CEO of Scottish Öłù pŋũŶĞāũł RũāķÖłù ķŽĿðĢłė 1ĿťķŋƘāũŭ̪ DāùāũÖŶĢŋł ̛ pR 1D̜ to renew the trade body’s call for increased funding for apprenticeships and support for ŽťŭĴĢķķĢłė āƗĢŭŶĢłė ťķŽĿðĢłė Öłù ĞāÖŶĢłė ťũŋĕāŭŭĢŋłÖķŭ̍ Fiona Hodgson says that demand for skilled plumbers is already outstripping supply amid a growing shortage, which may affect the government’s ability to achieve its objectives on housing stock and óķĢĿÖŶā óĞÖłėā̍ !ŋłŭŶũŽóŶĢŋł óŋŭŶŭ ŋł ŶĞāŭā ťũŋıāóŶŭ ƒĢķķ ̦óāũŶÖĢłķƘ̧ ĢłóũāÖŭā̇ ŭĞā ŭÖƘŭ̍ ̦ ķŽĿðĢłė Ģŭ Ö ŭĴĢķķāù ŋóóŽťÖŶĢŋł and only those who have undergone a recognised apprenticeship should ðā ÖóĴłŋƒķāùėāù Öŭ Ö ťķŽĿðāũ̧̇ ŭÖƘŭ DĢŋłÖ̍ ̦Âā ĞÖƑā ķŋłė campaigned for the upskilling and āƗťÖłŭĢŋł ŋĕ ŶĞā āƗĢŭŶĢłė ƒŋũĴĕŋũóā̍ With the new immigration rules set to take effect in less than a year, urgent action is needed to support employers in bringing new ÖťťũāłŶĢóāŭ ĢłŶŋ ŶĞā ŶũÖùā̧̍

Fiona Hodgson, CEO at SNIPEF

ķŽĿðĢłė Öłù ĞāÖŶĢłė ÖťťũāłŶĢóā levels have not recovered from those of pre-recession, after which ŶĞāƘ ĕāķķ ðƘ ĞÖķĕ̍ ÂĢŶĞ ŶĞĢŭ Ģł ĿĢłù̇ pR 1D ŭÖƘŭ ėŋƑāũłĿāłŶ ŭĞŋŽķù provide incentives to employers to employ apprentices and financial ŭŽťťŋũŶ ĕŋũ ŋķùāũ łāƒ āłŶũÖłŶŭ̍ ũāóāłŶ ŭŽũƑāƘ ðƘ ÂÖŶāũ Öĕā̇ the national accreditation body for plumbers in the UK, found that less than a third of people in Scotland were aware that plumbers should have particular qualifications to work on pipes and fittings that ŭŽťťķƘ ùũĢłĴĢłė ƒÖŶāũ̍ mŋũā than two-thirds (˟ˡ%) strongly favoured a compulsory minimum ŭāŶ ŋĕ ŨŽÖķĢƩóÖŶĢŋłŭ ĕŋũ ťķŽĿðāũŭ̍ “Skills are at the core of our industry – there will be serious long term consequences for the plumbing trade and the wider construction sector if we don’t address this issue łŋƒ̧̇ óŋłóķŽùāŭ DĢŋłÖ̍

Funds for cancer cause Following a series of fundraising and sponsorship activities carried ŋŽŶ ðƘ ĢŶŭ āĿťķŋƘāāŭ̇ ÂÖũĿƪŋƒ Home Heating Solutions has presented a cheque for £˛˙̇˙˙˙ to the Cancer Centre along with a pledge for a further £˛˙̇˙˙˙ in ˛˙˛˙̍ ¦Ğā ĿŋłāƘ ƒÖŭ ũÖĢŭāù Ģł Ö variety of ways, including colleagues taking part in the charity’s Take On the Tower ðŭāĢķ Öłù ŶĞā ķĢāƑā 'ŋłÖũù !ĞÖķķāłėā āƑāłŶ̍ ¦Ğā !Öłóāũ Centre is a local cancer charity serving patients and their families Öóũŋŭŭ pŋũŶĞāũł RũāķÖłù̍

óŽũũāłŶķƘ āĿťķŋƘ Öł ÖťťũāłŶĢóā̍ NÖķĕ ŋĕ ŶĞŋŭā ŭÖĢù ĞÖƑĢłė Öł āƗŶũÖ pair of hands has helped them take ŋł ÖùùĢŶĢŋłÖķ ƒŋũĴ̍ Research has found that the top reasons for not employing an apprentice were due to cost ̛˜˜%), too much red tape (˛˝%) and concerns about finding the right person to work with the team (˚ˠ̜ͮ̍ `ŋĞł māƒāŶŶ̇ !1z ŋĕ óũāƒĕĢƗ̇ comments: “These results show there is much more to do to help tradespeople overcome perceived óĞÖķķāłėāŭ Ŷŋ ĞĢũĢłė Öł ÖťťũāłŶĢóā̍ “We know from our customers

HR manager Joanne Morrow with Trevor Johnson, production manager

that having an apprentice on site can be a real opportunity and ŭŽťťŋũŶ ðŽŭĢłāŭŭ ėũŋƒŶĞ̍ RŶ Öķķŋƒŭ tradespeople to take on more work while investing in the future generation, who will hopefully go ŋł Ŷŋ ðāóŋĿā ķŋłė ŶāũĿ āĿťķŋƘāāŭ̍ “What’s more, apprentices can earn while they learn and avoid óŋŭŶŭ ÖŭŭŋóĢÖŶāù ƒĢŶĞ ŽłĢƑāũŭĢŶƘ̍ RŶ̪ŭ Ö ėũāÖŶ ƒÖƘ Ŷŋ ŭŶÖũŶ Ö ĕŽķƩķķĢłė óÖũāāũ̍ ÂĢŶĞŋŽŶ ŋťťŋũŶŽłĢŶĢāŭ ĕŋũ apprentices we will face a potential ŭĴĢķķŭ ėÖť Ģł ŶĞā ­b̍ ŭ Ö óŋĿťÖłƘ̇ we’re dedicated to supporting both the future generation and the ŭāÖŭŋłāù ťũŋĕāŭŭĢŋłÖķŭ̧̍

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News Review Boilers run better in Scotland A new study from Boiler Guide, a boiler repair comparison website, has found that boilers in Scotland are the most resilient against breakdowns, despite the average temperatures across Scotland being markedly lower compared to the rest of the UK mainland.

The ˛˙˛˙ UK Boiler Breakdown Study examined the number of properties in Great Britain and incidence of boiler breakdowns to establish the best and worst locations ĕŋũ ðŋĢķāũ ũāķĢÖðĢķĢŶƘ̍ RŶ ĕŋŽłù ŶĞÖŶ ıŽŭŶ ˚̍ˠˢ% of properties in Scotland reported boiler problems in ˛˙˚ˢ – the lowest in the UK. In ˛˙˚ˢ̇ ŶĞā ÖƑāũÖėā ŶāĿťāũÖŶŽũā łŋũŶĞ ŋĕ ŶĞā ðŋũùāũ ƒÖŭ ıŽŭŶ ˠ̍ˢºC, compared to England (˚˙̍˝ºC) and Wales (ˢ̍ˠºC), suggesting that Scottish boilers are more resilient to the colder conditions, or perhaps that Scottish residents are more reluctant to turn them on when it gets cold. ¦Ğā ƩėŽũāŭ̇ ƒĞĢóĞ ƒāũā óŋĿťĢķāù ðƘ ŋĢķāũ FŽĢùā̇ ĕŋŽłù ŶĞÖŶ ťũŋťāũŶĢāŭ Ģł dŋłùŋł experienced the largest amount of boiler-related problems over the course of last year, with almost three in ˚˙˙ experiencing problems. The West Midlands (˛̍ˠ˞%) and the North East (˛̍˝˛%) followed close behind.

Northern regions faired well when compared to the rest of the UK when it came to reliability; behind Scotland was the North West (˚̍ˢ˛%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (˚̍ˢˠ%), which incidentally are also the softest water areas of the country.

The report found a clear link between hard water areas and the frequency of boilers breaking down, as well as links to the percentage of home ownership. Areas dominated by rental properties – such as in London, the North East and the West Midlands – correlated with homes that are more likely to experience a breakdown. This is thought to be due to tenants not keeping a close eye on the condition of their boiler, or not living in a property for a long enough time to notice any changes.

Van prize delights

PLUMBERS IN THE NEWS

ͻ A West Yorkshire plumber was reunited with his missing tools last month after police appealed for information on social media. A member of the public saw the call for help and handed into Halifax Police Station two bags containing the plumber’s tools, along with identifying items including a card machine. ͻ Who says Nigerian princes aren’t for real?

Prince Akeem Adenuga, brother of King Asunmo Aderibigbe of Odo-Ayandelu, gave up his royal life in Lagos to become a plumber in London, where he became a trainee leakage technician at Thames Water in ˛˙˙˙. The ˟˛-year-old prince says he loves his job and is proud to be the leader of an engineering team that finds and fixes subterranean leaks across the capital. ͻ Amazon USA has moved into the plumbing ðŽŭĢłāŭŭ Öłù Ģŭ łŋƒ ŋƦāũĢłė óŋłŭŽĿāũŭ ðÖŭĢó plumbing services from third-party partners, ŭŽóĞ Öŭ ƩƗĢłė ķāÖĴƘ ĕÖŽóāŶŭ̇ ŽłóķŋėėĢłė ùũÖĢłŭ̇ changing out old toilets, and installing garbage ùĢŭťŋŭÖķŭ̍ ķŽĿðĢłė Ģŭ ıŽŭŶ ŶĞā ķÖŶāŭŶ ŶũÖùā Ŷŋ be co-opted by Amazon.com, sitting alongside other professional services for sale from mechanics, electricians, and gardeners. ͻ Plumbers across the English speaking world are warning against a cleaning ‘hack’ that went viral on Facebook. A poster in the group, Mums Who Clean, claimed that pouring fabric softener in the cistern would keep the loo smelling fresh and clean all day. But plumbers from America to the UK to Australia are calling foul on the hack, saying it could damage pipes over time. One plumber who was a member of the FB group said they’d never do it and compared the hack to pouring cooking grease down the drain.

A plumber in Chesterfield has been named the winner of Wirquin’s Win a Van competition. Bryan Wibberley took delivery of a Ford Transit Connect in Wirquin’s biggest ťũŋĿŋŶĢŋł Ŷŋ ùÖŶā̍ ¦ŋ ŨŽÖķĢĕƘ̇ ĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭ ıŽŭŶ łāāùāù Ŷŋ purchase a Wirquin product and then submit their receipt.

Bryan purchased his Wirquin products from Plumco in Chesterfield, where the keys to the van were handed over

by Nick Richards, Wirquin’s commercial director (pictured above, left, with Bryan Wibberley).

Commenting on his win, Bryan says: “As a new business, the new van means I now have the reliable transport I need to get to customers. This will enable me to drive the company forward and succeed. A massive thank you to Wirquin!”

Nick Richards adds: “The Win a Van competition has been our most successful promotion to date, with great engagement from customers and plumbers. I could not be more delighted for Bryan. Keep your eyes peeled for our ˛˙˛˙ promotion.”

Dinner and lecture The annual Worshipful Company of Plumbers Lecture is set to take place at the Royal College of Physicians in London on Monday ˚ˡ May. The keynote speech will be delivered by the current Master of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, Dr Peter Rumley FSA, who will draw on his expertise in art history, archaeology and historic buildings to consider the early role of The Royal Plumbers and the part they had to ťķÖƘ Ģł ŭŋĿā ŋĕ ŶĞā ƩũŭŶ ƒÖŶāũ āłėĢłāāũĢłė ťũŋıāóŶŭ Ģł ŶĞā City of London. Tickets are available for the lecture only or for both the lecture and dinner. For more information about the event and how to obtain tickets, please visit the website: www.plumberscompany.org.uk

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ͻ A British Gas engineer who was called in to install a new smart meter has been collared after stealing a £˚˟̇˙˙˙ Rolex watch from a home he was working in. Cameron Beard pocketed the watch in an unguarded moment, but put his contact details on the paperwork left with the ƑĢóŶĢĿ̇ !ÖũŋķƘł ÂÖķĴāũ ŋĕ ­óĴƩāķù̍ āÖũù ŭŋķù the watch for £˜˙˙˙ Ŷŋ Ö ıāƒāķķāũ̍ Nā łŋƒ ÖƒÖĢŶŭ sentencing in Lewes Crown Court this month.

Bigger venue for this year’s WIT event The next Women Installers Together (WIT) conference has moved to a new venue at London Met University to accommodate increasing numbers of delegates. WIT is designed to celebrate women working on the tools in the plumbing and heating industry and to strengthen this community. ťāÖĴāũŭ ÖķũāÖùƘ óŋłƩũĿāù ĢłóķŽùā āƑāłŶ ĕŋŽłùāũ Hattie Hasan MBE and special guest, Bonita Norris, the youngest woman to climb Everest.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Hattie Hasan says: “Women are very keen to come into the heating and plumbing industry. This needs to be encouraged by all sectors by showing them how welcome they are.”

WIT takes place on ˚st July in the Great Hall at London Met University. To reserve a ticket, visit the reader link below. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˙˝

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News Review Conference looks at changing industry

Public health depends on plumbers In the lead-up to World Plumbing Day on ˚˚ March, the CIPHE is highlighting the annual event’s key message that plumbers play a vital role in protecting public health. World Plumbing Day was initiated by the World Plumbing Council (WPC), which the Chartered Institute is a member of.

CIPHE CEO Kevin Wellman comments: “Good plumbers really do protect the health and welfare of the nation, and it is high time that plumbing professionals got the recognition they deserve. With the CIPHE’s manifesto highlighting to politicians the role plumbing plays in protecting the health and wealth of the nation, we see World Plumbing Day as an important aspect in raising the profile of professional plumbers.”

The Institute points out that each year hundreds of people, many of whom are considered ƑŽķłāũÖðķā̇ Öũā ÖƦāóŶāù ðƘ ťŋŋũķƘ

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Gas industry professionals are invited to join IGEM (the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers) for its Gas Utilisation conference ‘Forces for Change’ – its sixth such event for the downstream gas sector.

Taking place at Solihull’s National Conference Centre on ˜˚ March, the event will address major shifts in the gas industry as the hydrogen economy begins to take shape. ¦ĞĢŭ āƑāłŶ Ģŭ ŭťāóĢƩóÖķķƘ ŶÖĢķŋũāù designed, installed and maintained plumbing systems. For this reason, it continues to argue the case for an industry licensing scheme.

“At the CIPHE we are currently working in partnership with other leading industry bodies to help raise standards of education and raise concerns directly with government on skills, compliance and safety issues,” adds Kevin.

“As an educational charity we encourage consumers to make the right choices when it comes to employing a tradesperson.

However, we recognise that in the current climate, more needs to be done to make all plumbing systems safe and sustainable. This is why we continue to back the introduction of a licence to practice, something which is prevalent in many countries across the globe.”

Big boiler milestone for Ideal The three millionth Logic boiler has rolled off the line at Ideal Boilers’ factory in Hull. The milestone has been reached after a year which saw the manufacturer sell more than ˝˞˙̇˙˙˙ domestic boilers in the UK and ROI markets, meaning that one in every four new domestic boiler currently being installed across the country bears the Ideal name.

Shaun Edwards, chief executive

for downstream gas professionals in recognition of the myriad changes taking place across the sector, driven by carbon emissions reduction targets and amendments to Building Regulations.

The programme of speakers will guide delegates through the changing landscape of gas regulation and innovation, covering the knowledge required to take on an increasingly integrated

gas/energy network.

This year’s conference will deal with the core areas of skills, regulation and new technologies.

Expert speakers will also be looking at the innovative appliances facilitating the transition to low carbon fuels, such hydrogen boilers.

For further information and to reserve a place at the conference, use the reader link below. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˙˞

officer at Groupe Atlantic, the parent company of Ideal Boilers, says: “This milestone follows an incredibly successful ˛˙˚ˢ for Ideal Boilers. We’ve increased our market share to more than ˛˞% by adopting new techniques, increasing efficiency on our production line, and demonstrating our ongoing commitment to innovation.

“In the process, we’ve strengthened our teams with more local talent and we’ve more than tripled our overall manufacturing output, all without increasing the footprint of the business. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in the last ˚˛ months and look forward to building on this in ˛˙˛˙̵̧̍

28/02/2020 12:28

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Your Views 11 The Tweet Spot ...

Recent tweets that caught our attention Follow us on Twitter @PHAMnews

Interesting use of the drain off by the mains stop tap.

You guessed it. Outside tap installation!

Got to love @BristanPro upgrade.

Definitely brought this sink into 21st century.

Too many disincentives to employ people With regards to Fiona Hodgson’s Point of View article in the February edition of PHAM News: I must agree with her views. As an older plumbing and heating engineer, with more than 50 years experience in the trade, 38 years self-employed, I have seen a great many changes, more so with regulations.

We have all heard about the larger companies that go bust such as Carillon. More important is what we do not hear – we do not hear about all the smaller companies in the larger cities and towns in the UK. We do not hear what happens to the skilled labour who find themselves unemployed. A lot of them go self-employed, and every one of these new companies are capable of employing apprentices and other tradesmen.

I have recently been working on renovations where there have been joiners, plasterers, and electricians. When asked if they would take on apprentices or other tradesmen, the answer is always the same: an emphatic ‘no’.

Too much regulation. With regards to Section 75, if this is to be forced, then many potential employers will take the easy option: do not employ, just use sub-contracted labour. This must reflect on the employment market.

Richard Watt Aberdeen

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This month’s £100 letter

Share your views and you could win £100 for writing the star letter

Gas safety alert needs attention In February 2019 Intergas Heating issued a Technical Bulletin (TB) requiring the front plate gaskets to be changed every three years.

As we all know from many surveys, not all boilers are serviced on an annual basis – in fact it’s been suggested that only 50% are serviced annually. Whilst registered gas engineers can follow this technical bulletin and keep their customers safe, what happens to the other 50% of owners of Intergas boilers that are not serviced?

Since 2005 all heat producing appliances have to be notified to Local Authority Building Control (LABC) through Gas Safe Register (GSR). And, as I understood at the time, this would facilitate any appliances being subject to safety alerts or technical bulletins being known so that the public could be informed. Yet this is not happening; neither are Intergas informing their boiler owners, even though they have been registered for extended warranties.

I have been an Intergas boiler installer for the past seven years, yet not one of my customers has been informed by either the manufacturer or Gas Safe of the potential problems that has initiated the need to issue this TB. Looking at the Heath & Safety website I find ‘The performance of the Gas Safe Register is measured against a series of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that monitor the key aspects of delivery of the scheme, such as consumer awareness of gas safety risks’. Does the need to replace the front plate seal on a regular basis not constitute a ‘gas safety risk’ if it is not carried out?

I believe GSR and the manufacturer are letting down the public by not contacting Intergas boiler owners

We invited Intergas to respond to Barry Matthews’ letter and technical operations manager David Stanley provided this reply : Mr Matthews is highlighting three specific issues. The first is to do with gas safety, the second with keeping boiler owners in the loop, and the third with failing O-rings.

Please be aware, gas safety is of paramount importance to us and is not something we take lightly, which is why we support and are members of the Association of Gas Safety Managers; we also support its Association of Safety & Compliance Professionals. We always work with the Gas Safe Register when writing our Technical Bulletins, and do not publish them until we have their approval.

In terms of alerting owners of the specific boiler models that may need a new front seal, we sent letters to all of them to arrange a date to carry out a front plate seal upgrade. If any of these boilers had not been registered with the local authority, via Gas Safe or our MiREG app, then unfortunately we would have been unable to contact those owners. We obviously informed all our installers about the front plate seal issue via email, letter, our newsletter, website and, of course, the Safety Alert 029, which was issued on 28 February 2019. This information is also on our website.

As far as the O-ring replacement on the fan is concerned, we are puzzled by Mr. Matthews’ comments.

The fan manufacturer Torin-Sifan does not supply a replacement O-ring as it is an integral part of the fan and a non-serviceable item; if that part has failed, then the fan should be replaced in its entirety. If installers have manufactured their own O-rings these would not

to inform them of the possible consequences of not complying with the TB and thus not complying with their KPIs. As a separate issue, as chairman of the Organisation of Professional Gas Operatives, it came to my attention a while back that RGEs working on Intergas boilers were finding that the O-ring separating the two halves of the fan were failing, thereby leaking a gas/air mixture into the boiler casing.

I asked those engineers to supply me with evidence so that I could raise the issue at the next meeting of the Gas Industry Liaison Group (GILG). I was subsequently sent about 20 O-rings in various states of deterioration, one being from one of my customer’s boiler that had a piece of the O-ring missing.

I was informed in that meeting by GSR that Intergas didn’t see these O-rings as a problem.

OPGO members ask, if we are having to change the front pate seal why are we not changing the fan O-ring at the same time? Most have not come across a failed front plate seal, yet have found failures in the fan O-rings.

Anyway, it transpires that neither Intergas nor the fan manufacturer, Torin-Sifan, will supply these O-rings. But luckily one of our Intergas installers was able to ascertain the specification, so as an organisation we have had them made and they are now available to our members and RGEs to purchase either directly through us or on eBay. Intergas’s alternative is to buy a new fan.

OPGO are committed to looking out for our members and the public, so we would urge anybody working on Intergas boilers that are five years or older to use an electronic gas detector around the seam of the fan so they do not leave any gas leaks, which could result in a RIDDOR being raised.

Barry Matthews Caradon Gas Services Limited Chairman, OPGO

be CE approved or tested to the key performance criteria on critical parts, as would have been the case when the fan was originally manufactured. If these O-rings are used, they would be classed as counterfeit parts and that would invalidate the warranty – most importantly, this would constitute a safety issue.

Mr Matthews, a former Intergas service engineer, has not contacted anyone at Intergas to discuss his concerns.

Had he done so, we would have forewarned him of the deleterious effect his actions would have on safety and warranty validity.

David Stanley Technical operations manager Intergas

Let us know what you think...

We welcome 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.

Please address your letters to: The Editor, PHAM News 1b Station Square, Flitwick, Beds MK45 1DP or email to: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk

26/02/2020 11:11

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

People on the Move ONLINE For further information about any of the stories featured in this issue, simply enter phamnews. co.uk/320/ followed by the relevant enquiry number.

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!

Grundfos has announced the appointment of Glynn Williams as its new managing director. With over 20 years at the company, Glynn previously served as the company’s sales director for commercial building services. He takes over the role from Peter Reynolds, who recently announced his plans to retire.

Two new appointments at Hamworthy Heating have seen Kevin Potter (pictured) appointed as national sales manager and Gary Banham as senior area sales manager for London. Both have been promoted from within, Kevin having been with Hamworthy for 10 years and Gary for just over one year.

OSO Hotwater UK has announced the appointment of Ashley Langran as area sales manager for Greater London and the South East. Ashley joins the company from Heatrae Sadia, where he served for three years. He says he is looking forward to delivering first class service to his customers.

The training arm of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has appointed Helen Yeulet as its new director. Helen was previously skills director at the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS) – the trade body for the interior fit out industry – and is a director of the charity YouthBuild Ventures for young people not in education, employment or training.

The new area sales manager at Lakes – the manufacturer of shower enclosures and walk-ins – is Rebecca Bennett, who has worked in the bathroom sector for nearly 25 years. Rebecca comes to the role with strong experience in building and strengthening customer relationships and has extensive industry knowledge.

The sales team at Samsung has been enhanced with the addition of Andy Burt as southern regional sales manager, Andy Burrows (pictured) as northern regional sales manager and Ian Press as sales account manager. They each bring a wealth of experience to the company, totalling more than 48 years combined.

PJH has strengthened its sales division by welcoming three new sales development mangers to its team. Paula Wilson (pictured) joins PJH as sales development manager for the Northern & Scotland region, Darren Turner joins the Southwest team, and Charlotte Hall joins the company’s Northern sales team.

To join the Gas App community for FREE, simply visit the Apple or Google store and search for Gas App Uk

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The specification team at Altecnic, part of the Caleffi Group, has been strengthened with the addition of Lee Cousins as the new south eastern specification manager.

Lee has been in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry for five years selling through the specification channel.

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Energy Matters

Hydrogen boilers ũāÖùƘ ĕŋũ Ʃ āķù ŶũĢÖķŭ

Two leading gas boiler manufacturers have revealed the latest advances in hydrogen boiler technology. Baxi and Worcester Bosch have both developed a prototype boiler that can run on ˚˙˙ͮ ĞƘùũŋėāł ėÖŭ̇ ƒĢŶĞ Ʃ āķù trials set to take place later this year.

With ˡ˞% of UK homes connected to the gas grid, it is argued that replacing natural gas boilers with hydrogen gas may be the simplest solution to the nation’s heating problems. The main by-product of burning hydrogen gas is water, which means that it is a carbon-free fuel ŭŋŽũóā̍ ŋŶĞ ŶĞā ÖƗĢ Öłù ÂŋũóāŭŶāũ ťũŋŶŋŶƘťāŭ Ʃ Ŷ ĢłŶŋ the same footprint as current boilers and will require similar installation and commissioning.

Both companies back the development of ‘hydrogenready’ boilers, which means they can burn natural gas up until the point hydrogen comes on line, and switch over without the need for an entirely new system.

For more on the potential market for hydrogen boilers see page ˛˚ of our Domestic Boilers feature.

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Wet wood and house coal to be phased out Following the recent announcement by Defra of its plans to phase out the sale of wet wood and house coal for domestic burning between ˛˙˛˚ and ˛˙˛˜, the Stove Industry Alliance says that it welcomes the government’s plans to encourage the use of cleaner fuels. The SIA accepts that coal and wet wood are the two most polluting fuels and that a ban on them will help tackle air quality issues.

However, the Alliance emphasises that modern Ecodesign-compliant wood burning stoves continue to be a sound environmental heating solution and that wood burning stoves will not be banned.

Ecodesign-ready stoves produce ˢ˙% ķāŭŭ āĿĢŭŭĢŋłŭ ŶĞÖł Öł ŋťāł Ʃ ũā Öłù the SIA encourages the public to burn approved dry wood and smokeless fuel in an Ecodesign Ready appliance.

Morley Sage, chair of SIA, comments: “We welcome Defra’s announcement, but as an industry that employs over ˛˞̇˙˙˙ people across manufacturing, retailing, installation and servicing,

headlines that suggest that wood burning stoves are being banned are not only categorically untrue, they are also damaging to jobs and livelihoods.” ¦Ğā ķāėĢŭķÖŶĢŋł ŭťāóĢƩ óÖķķƘ ŭāāĴŭ to stop the sale of all pre-packaged traditional bituminous house coal, with a ban on loose sales via coal merchants to be applied at a later date. It also aims to ensure that wood sold in single units under ˛m˜ (loose stacked) must have a moisture content of ˛˙% or less. Finally, the legislation will implement a national ũāŨŽĢũāĿāłŶ ĕŋũ óāũŶĢƩ āù óŋłŶũŋķķāù sulphur content and a smoke emission limit on manufacturers’ solid fuels (as currently applies in smoke control areas).

SIA operates its own Ecodesign Ready ŭóĞāĿā ŶĞÖŶ ĢùāłŶĢƩ āŭ ÖťťķĢÖłóāŭ that already meet the standards that come into force in ˛˙˛˛. For further information, please use the link below: ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˙˟

Gas infrastructure will continue to serve a purpose The Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) has refuted claims that householders may see their central heating ripped out of their homes, following the recent release of Ofgem’s Decarbonisation Action Plan. Some news outlets had reported Ofgem’s Plan as mandating the elimination of all gas central heating systems to meet the government’s climate change commitments. However, IGEM points out that the ùŋóŽĿāłŶ ŭŶÖŶāŭ ŶĞÖŶ ŶĞā ­b ƒĢķķ ùāťķŋƘ Ö ũÖłėā ŋĕ ùĢƦ āũāłŶ pathways to decarbonise heat, some of which can use the infrastructure used to deliver gas.

IGEM chief executive Neil Atkinson says: “Hydrogen and other low carbon gases such as biomethane will provide clean, green energy to the home. Heat networks and hybrid heat pump solutions will also play a role in the transition from natural gas to hydrogen. This does not mean ripping out gas central heating from every home. Whatever paths we choose, our decisions must be balanced against their feasibility and resilience, their acceptability to the consumer and their cost, especially for the poorest customers, many of whom already struggle to heat their homes within their budgets.”

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Energy Matters 15 Mission to support transition to low carbon With the aim of helping customers on the journey to low carbon heating solutions, Grant UK has outlined its vision of the future in a new publication. ¦Ğā ŋƦ -gas heating solutions specialist has issued ‘Grant UK ˛˙˜˙ Vision: heating homes sustainably for future generations’ which lays out the company’s mission to provide āƧ óĢāłŶ̇ ŭŽŭŶÖĢłÖðķā and cost-āƦ āóŶĢƑā home heating, from traditional systems to renewable technologies.

In line with the government’s target of net zero carbon by ˛˙˞˙, Grant UK’s goal is to take the lead on decarbonising home heating with either a focus on biofuels, renewable technologies such as heat pumps, or hybrid heating systems.

FũÖłŶ ũāóŋėłĢŭāŭ ŶĞÖŶ ŋƦ -gas homes and businesses ƒĢķķ ĕÖóā ŭĢėłĢƩ óÖłŶ ðÖũũĢāũŭ Ģł ĿŋƑĢłė Ŷŋ Ö óÖũðŋł neutral energy supply, including potentially crippling costs. With that in mind, the company has outlined changes that must be made to help the industry decarbonise, such as new legislation, scrappage schemes, Öłù Ʃ łÖłóĢÖķ ŭŽťťŋũŶ ĕŋũ ĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭ̍ “Installers will be so important to deliver the change that is required to move away from a reliance on fossil ĕŽāķŭ̇ āŭťāóĢÖķķƘ ŶĞŋŭā Ģł ŋƦ -gas areas,” says MD Paul ÂÖĴāƩ āķù̍ ̦zŽũ ÖĢĿ Ģŭ Ŷŋ ŭŽťťŋũŶ ĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭ Öŭ ĿŽóĞ Öŭ possible to enable this to happen.”

See also Point of View on page 16

Task force advocates for liquid biofuel progress ¦Ğā ŶũÖùā ÖŭŭŋóĢÖŶĢŋłŭ zD¦1!̇ ŶĞā ¦ÖłĴ Storage Association (TSA) and the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) have launched a paper, ‘Supply Chain Strategy for Liquid Fuels’, which details the steps to be taken toward a transition to ˚˙˙% biofuel to replace ĞāÖŶĢłė ŋĢķ Ģł ŶĞā ­b Öłù RũāķÖłù̍ ̵ The three associations along with other industry representatives will join forces to run the ‘Taskforce for dĢŨŽĢù ĢŋĕŽāķŭ̪̍ ¦Ğā ÖĢĿ Ģŭ Ŷŋ āƦ āóŶ Ö ŶũÖłŭĕŋũĿÖŶĢŋł Ģł ŶĞā ŋƦ -grid heating market and enable government

to maintain a technology-neutral approach, while encouraging all ĢłùŽŭŶũĢāŭ Ŷŋ Ʃ łù ŭŋķŽŶĢŋłŭ̍ All three trade associations say that the industry is committed to creating a supply chain capable of distributing a ˜˙% biofuel ˠ˙% kerosene blend from ˛˙˛ˠ and ˚˙˙% low carbon liquid fuel by ˛˙˜˞. Together, they are calling on the government to work ƒĢŶĞ ĢłùŽŭŶũƘ Ŷŋ̵ŭŽťťŋũŶ Öłù ðāłāƩ Ŷ rural communities across the country and set out a clear roadmap to the decarbonisation of heat with regulation

ŶĞÖŶ ƒĢķķ ťũŋƑĢùā óŋłƩ ùāłóā Ŷŋ ŶĞā market by providing a clear trajectory to work towards. zD¦1! !ĞĢāĕ āƗāóŽŶĢƑā ÖŽķ ŋŭā óŋĿĿāłŶŭ̆ ̦zŽũ ̨ ŽťťķƘ !ĞÖĢł ŶũÖŶāėƘ for Liquid Fuels’ is a clarion call to government to respond to the huge environmental challenges we face with practical and inspiring policies that could help the ˛̍˛m oil heated homes in the UK and Ireland switch to a low carbon liquid fuel. Low carbon liquid ĕŽāķŭ ŋƦ āũ ŶĞā ĞĢėĞāŭŶ óÖũðŋł ũāùŽóŶĢŋł impact for the lowest cost.”

Scotland to escalate housing standards Elmhurst Energy, which operates the UK’s largest accreditation scheme for energy assessors, has welcomed the Scottish government’s consultation, ̨RĿťũŋƑĢłė āłāũėƘ āƧ óĢāłóƘ Ģł ŋƒłāũ ŋóóŽťĢāù ĞŋĿāŭ̪ which proposes that all homes sold in Scotland should be ‘C’ rated from ˛˙˛˝. The proposals would bring this housing sector into line with the standards set for private and social landlords. Currently, ˟˛% of homes in Scotland are owner-occupied, but only ˜ˡ% have an 1łāũėƘ āũĕŋũĿÖłóā !āũŶĢƩ óÖŶā ũÖŶĢłė ŋĕ ̨!̪ ŋũ ÖðŋƑā̍ RŶ is argued that improving the energy rating of these ĞŋĿāŭ ƒĢķķ ťķÖƘ Ö ŭĢėłĢƩ óÖłŶ ũŋķā Ģł ũāùŽóĢłė āĿĢŭŭĢŋłŭ in the residential sector.

“We welcome this statement of intent from Scotland,” says Stuart Fairlie, technical and operations director at Elmhurst. “This is a massive sign of policy intent, and it really sets Scotland’s vision apart. There ƒĢķķ ðā ŭŋĿā óĞÖķķāłėāŭ Ŷŋ ùāķĢƑāũ ŶĞĢŭ̇ ðŽŶ ĢŶ Ģŭ ùāƩ łĢŶāķƘ in the right direction if Scottish homes are to be warmer and cheaper to run. We look forward to working with the Scottish government and our members to make this happen.”

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Point of View

The journey to net zero starts here With the aim of helping customers on the journey to low carbon heating solutions, Grant UK has outlined its vision of the future in a new publication: ‘Grant UK ˛˙˜˙ Vision: Heating homes sustainably for future generations’. m' ÖŽķ ÂÖĴāƩ āķù āƗťķÖĢłŭ Ŀŋũā ÖðŋŽŶ ŶĞā óŋĿťÖłƘ̪ŭ ŶĞĢłĴĢłė̍

I

n line with the UK’s target of net zero carbon by ˛˙˞˙, the clear goal for us at Grant UK is to take the lead on decarbonising rural home heating, helping installers and their customers make the transition to cleaner, more sustainable domestic heating systems.

Installers will be so important to deliver the change that is required to move away from a reliance on fossil-fuels, especially ŶĞŋŭā Ģł ŋƦ -gas areas. Our aim is to support installers as much as possible to enable this to happen.

To help begin the journey, we have recently outlined our vision ĕŋũ Ğŋƒ ŋƦ -gas heating could look ˚˙ years from now in ˛˙˜˙.

We are well positioned to play this key role in the transition towards greener technologies because for over ˛˙ years we have been helping homeowners consider and adopt more sustainable approaches to home heating, especially those in older, ĢłāƧ óĢāłŶ̇ ĞÖũù-to-heat homes that are costly to upgrade.

We also continue to manufacture incredibly energy āƧ óĢāłŶ ŋĢķ ðŋĢķāũŭ̇ ŭŽóĞ Öŭ ŶĞā award-ƒĢłłĢłė FũÖłŶ ÁŋũŶāƗ condensing boiler range, available in outputs from ˚˛ to ˠ˙kW. The boilers have won accolades such as Which? Best Buys in recent years, are endorsed by the Energy Savings Trust and are currently

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Paul Wakefield Managing director of Grant UK

Our hope is that both new and āƗĢŭŶĢłė ŋƦ̟ėÖŭ homes will no longer be solely dependent on fossil fuels for heating

ŭŋĿā ŋĕ ŶĞā ĿŋŭŶ āƧ óĢāłŶ ŋĢķƩ ũāù ðŋĢķāũŭ ŋł ŶĞā ĿÖũĴāŶ̍ Our hope is that both new Öłù āƗĢŭŶĢłė ŋƦ -gas homes will no longer be solely dependent on fossil fuels for heating but ĞÖƑā Öóóāŭŭ Ŷŋ ÖƦ ŋũùÖðķā Öłù sustainable biofuel substitutes, or alternatively, can transition to hybrid or renewable solutions.

Hybrid systems are a ŭĢėłĢƩ óÖłŶ Öłù ĢĿĿāùĢÖŶāķƘ available solution to transitioning ŶĞā ŋƦ -gas market towards low carbon heating, as they combine a traditional boiler with a renewable technology like a heat pump. This approach prioritises the renewable technology, with the boiler providing back-up when required and is ideal for ũāŶũŋƩ Ŷ ĞÖũù-to-heat homes. A typical carbon reduction of up to ˠ˙% can be achieved with this method of heating and even more when using a biofuel alternative for the boiler.

Vision on Acknowledging the current ŭĢŶŽÖŶĢŋł Ģł ŋƦ ėÖŭ Öłù ũŽũÖķ areas, what needs to change to help us achieve our ˛˙˜˙ vision?

This is our manifesto for change to help the industry decarbonise:

˚̍

The government policy to support renewable technologies including hybrid heating solutions should be reinforced after the cessation

¦Ğā óŋƑāũ ŋĕ ̨FũÖłŶ ­b ˛˙˜˙ Vision’ – Ŷŋ ùŋƒłķŋÖù Ö óŋťƘ̇ ťķāÖŭā Žŭā ŶĞā ķĢłĴ ÖŶ ŶĞā āłù ŋĕ ŶĞā ÖũŶĢóķā

of the RHI to continue to bridge the gap between fossil fuels and renewable technologies, āŭťāóĢÖķķƘ ƒĢŶĞ ũāŶũŋƩ Ŷ installations. There needs to be clear market direction and encouragement for end-users to update their houses and make the move to greener heating alternatives.

˛̍ Future legislation needs

to consider how to make older ĞŋŽŭāŭ Ŀŋũā āłāũėƘ āƧ óĢāłŶ̍ This must cover properties that are in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and possibly listed buildings to enable solutions for improving ŶĞāũĿÖķ āƧ óĢāłóƘ̍

˜̍

Government needs to agree to support industry in the move to bio-liquid fuels with a clear timetable for implementation (with the caveat of the use of sustainable palmfree feed stocks).

˝̍

A scrappage scheme should be introduced for ŋķùāũ ĢłāƧ óĢāłŶ ÖťťķĢÖłóāŭ Ŷŋ encourage homes to switch to greener heating methods.

˞̍

Financial support should be considered for installers to encourage them to train on renewable technologies. This will increase uptake, ensure installations are carried out correctly and provide a higher standard of workmanship for consumers.

˟̍

A Competent Persons Scheme is required for heat pump installers to ensure standards are maintained and the technology performs to its potential.

ˠ̍

New homes today should be future-proofed to ensure an adequate electrical and plumbing ĢłĕũÖŭŶũŽóŶŽũā Ģŭ Ʃ ŶŶāù̇ ÖķķŋƒĢłė for the move to renewable technologies in the future.

Growth opportunity At Grant UK we are already ĢłƑāŭŶĢłė ĞāÖƑĢķƘ Ģł āƗŶāũłÖķ ŶũÖĢłĢłė ĕÖóĢķĢŶĢāŭ Öłù ŭŶÖƦ ŭŋ ƒā can not only improve awareness and product knowledge in the marketplace, but also help heating engineers diversify and grow their own businesses to take advantage of these opportunities. ͻ ťĞÖĿłāƒŭ̍óŋ̍ŽĴ̓˜˛˙̓˙ˠ

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Health & Safety cases are often rapidly fatal following diagnosis.

To safeguard people’s health and safety at work there is overarching legislation – the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. ˚ˢˠ˝. This places a duty on every employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work for all employees and nonāĿťķŋƘāāŭ ƒĞŋ ĿÖƘ ðā ÖƦ āóŶāù by the employer’s activities.

Raising awareness

Dealing with the danger of asbestos Asbestos is the greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, with some ˞˙˙˙ related cancer deaths each year. With plumbing and heating engineers among the workers most at risk, Steve Sadley from the Asbestos Removal !ŋłŶũÖóŶŋũŭ ŭŭŋóĢÖŶĢŋł ̛ ! ̜ ŋƦ āũŭ ÖùƑĢóā ŋł Ğŋƒ ðāŭŶ Ŷŋ ĿÖłÖėā ŶĞā ũĢŭĴŭ̍

T

oday, asbestoscontaining materials can still be found in a huge number of commercial buildings throughout the UK, including shops, hospitals, schools, and factories, as well as domestic properties, even though the use of asbestos was banned in the UK in ˚ˢˢˢ.

Within a building, asbestos can be found in numerous materials, which can be found in a number of ùĢƦ āũāłŶ ťķÖóāŭ̇ ŭŽóĞ Öŭ ķÖėėĢłė on boilers and pipes, insulation ðŋÖũù̇ ƑĢłƘķ ƪ ŋŋũ ŶĢķāŭ Öłù thermal insulation.

Due to the nature of your work

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the risk of exposure to asbestos must be taken seriously.

Related diseases ¦Ğā ĢłĞÖķÖŶĢŋł ŋĕ ÖŭðāŭŶŋŭ Ʃ ðũāŭ can cause a number of serious ùĢŭāÖŭāŭ̇ ĿŋŭŶ ŋĕ ƒĞĢóĞ ÖƦ āóŶ ŶĞā lungs or pleura (external lining of the lung). These include a number of cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening.

All of these diseases have a long latency, meaning it typically takes a long time for symptoms to occur following exposure to asbestos.

However, for cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer,

Managing and working with asbestos is covered by the Control of Asbestos Regulations ˛˙˚˛ (CAR ˛˙˚˛). Within this, regulation ˚˙ states that employers need to make sure that anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work, or who supervises such employees, receives the correct level of information, instruction and training to enable them to carry out their work safely and competently, and without risk to themselves or others. ķŽĿðāũŭ Öũā ŭťāóĢƩ óÖķķƘ ĢùāłŶĢƩ āù Öŭ ũāŨŽĢũĢłė ÖŭðāŭŶŋŭ awareness training, as this should be given to those employees whose work could foreseeably disturb the fabric of the building and expose them to asbestos.

Also, regulation ˞ states that employers must not undertake work which exposes or is liable to expose employees to asbestos in any premises unless a suitable Öłù ŭŽƧ óĢāłŶ ÖŭŭāŭŭĿāłŶ Öŭ Ŷŋ whether asbestos is present and in what condition, e.g. asbestos survey.

containing materials (ACMs) and the condition, including a drawing of the premises. It should be dated, as periodic reviews should be carried out, so an up-to-date record is available on the location and condition of all ACMs. Work at a premises should only start once the duty holder Ģŭ ŭÖŶĢŭƩ āù ŶĞÖŶ ŶĞā ĢłĕŋũĿÖŶĢŋł in the asbestos register is known and understood by the workers who are doing the work on-site and is easily accessible for anyone who needs to use it.

Worker training Plumbers and heating installers should undertake asbestos awareness training and receive good communication from employers/duty holders of premises as to where ACM is in a building.

When armed with all this information they should know not to disturb or remove asbestos-containing material.

For example, do not drill into asbestos insulation board and do not remove asbestos pipe lagging. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˙ˡ

Managing risks

Steve Sadley Chief Executive of ARCA

Regulation ˝ of the CAR ˛˙˚˛ covers non-domestic premises (e.g. shops, factories, hospitals and schools) and the common parts of domestic premises such as corridors, garages, boiler rooms, and guest accommodations, such as hotels and halls of residence.

The duty holder needs to create an asbestos register. This is a record of the location of asbestos-

ARCA The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association provides guidance documents as free downloads. Please visit [[[ EVGE SVK YO XS Ƽ RH SYX more.

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Training Update

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demonstrate they attended the APHC Safe Electrical Isolation Workshop.

Finally, the Association will provide a technical overview on working compliantly with the Water Fittings Regulations and Byelaws and explain how installers can benefit from the WaterSafe Contractor Scheme, which can be free to join.

The first workshop takes place on Tuesday 17 March in York. To see the full schedule of events, and to reserve your place, please use the reader link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/11

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and other alternative heat technologies as the industry develops to assist the country to meet carbon neutral targets.

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01708 463 116

For more information on the source of these statistics, or if you would like to become a member of the CIPHE, please contact 19.indd 1

2,010 An Overview 2,010 2,010

Confirmed Cases

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The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) has teamed up with Travis Perkins to host a series of free workshops across England and Wales designed to update plumbing and heating engineers on a number of key industry developments.

APHC CEO John Thompson comments: “Installers will learn how the heating market is already changing in terms of alternative heating technologies and how their knowledge and skills will have to develop to keep up with the industry.

“Plus, attendees will learn about new legal requirements for the safe isolation of electrical products which employers and sole traders need to be able to demonstrate they are compliant.”

Travis Perkins will be providing a valuable insight into how the market is developing from a regional perspective with regards to the sales of heat pumps

An Overview

of

Industry information workshop

The Bare Facts

of

A new partnership between training provider JTL and Central Bedfordshire College will deliver electrical and plumbing apprenticeships, providing both classroom and workshop-based learning. Each apprentice will be allocated a dedicated JTL Training Officer who will assist them through their learning process, as well as providing support to employers who have a JTL apprentice attending the college.

JTL is working with the college on the development of brand new workshops, which are set to open this Spring.

It is hoped that the partnership will provide local young people with the opportunity to develop career-ready skills, which in turn will benefit local employers by giving them access to a home-grown talent pool.

A launch event will take place at the college in the spring, giving employers and their trade representatives the opportunity to look around. Attendees will be introduced to JTL, Central Bedfordshire College staff and its apprentices. They will be able to see how both partners work pro-actively together to help meet the skill needs of employers For more information about the apprenticeship opportunities at Central Bedfordshire College please use the reader link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/10

An Overview

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Apprentice opportunity

The Bare Facts

’ es

Now entering its fifth year, the Impey ‘We Are Wetrooms’ installation training tour will be heading to nine locations across the country, starting at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 18th March. The sessions give learners the opportunity to develop or expand their wetroom fitting expertise, combining extensive training on all of Impey’s wetroom solutions. New for 2020 is a spotlight on pumped waste options including information, training and demos from Whale Pumps.

Small group sizes, hands-on demos and one-to-one Q&As with the Impey training team ensure that the day can be tailored to individual skill levels and requirements. The day runs from 9.30am to 3pm and includes a warm lunch. A one-off registration fee of £15 secures a space on the date of your choice. To see a full list of venues and dates, visit the website below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/09

THE CHARTERED We've teamed up with the CIPHE toINSTITUTE produce OF a series of PLUMBING AND HEATING ENGINEERING infographics that will highlight the core problems facing the industry, particularly from a public health THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OFand safety perspective. These bare facts present a concerning picture PLUMBING AND HEATING ENGINEERING and indicate the level of progress that needs to be made.

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Wetroom roadshow on the move

THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PLUMBING AND HEATING ENGINEERING

Tim Sainty

tims@ciphe.org.uk

or call (the Membership Department)

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Domestic Boilers 21

Is hydrogen the fuel of the future?

Could hydrogen gas represent the best solution for the heating industry to reduce its carbon emissions? Martyn Bridges from Worcester Bosch provides an insight into some of the latest developments which could soon see the installation of hydrogen-ready boilers in UK homes.

M

omentum is growing around the government’s plans to make the country ‘net-zero’ on carbon emissions by 2050.

Companies are continuing to join the commitment by the day, with oil giant BP the latest to commit to reinventing itself with the 2050 goal in mind.

The bold targets are ones that require new technology and industry changes across a number of sectors in order to become a reality. Steps are already being taken, for example in transport, where electric and hybrid cars have become more common and accessible.

However, the existing infrastructure in our industry poses a more significant challenge, with the majority of UK homes using natural gas for heating. Yet, with a third of UK greenhouse gases coming from our homes, it is quite clear that the UK will not meet its climate change targets without a change in home heating technology and fuel.

Replacing natural gas boilers with hydrogen gas may be the simplest solution to the nation’s heating problems. The main by-product of burning hydrogen gas is water, meaning that it is a carbon-free fuel source and could be a key method to help decarbonise heating and hot water in UK homes.

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Ready made

Martyn Bridges

Director of technical communication and project management at Worcester Bosch

At Worcester, with these targets in mind, we’ve developed a prototype boiler that is ‘hydrogen-ready’. This means it is designed to run on pure hydrogen, if a gas grid switchover to hydrogen from methane were to take place.

They will look and run almost identically to the natural gasfired systems we use today.

This means the boiler can be installed on natural gas and then easily changed to run on hydrogen when the gas network is converted, therefore decarbonising domestic heat without having to change the way we live. The gas network is also in place, so homeowners won’t experience any major infrastructure disruption.

Less disruption

The boiler can be installed on natural gas and can then be easily changed to run on hydrogen when the gas network is converted

A hydrogen boiler, in theory, can fit into a current boiler’s physical space in the home with hardly any disruption to the homeowner. With a similar build to existing gas boilers, installers will already have most of the skills necessary to fit these products too, and only a few simple parts would be required to ‘switch’ it over to the new fuel. There is likely to be an additional ACS element covering hydrogen, just like there is today with LPG and non-domestic installations.

Given that any answer to the nation’s heating problems will require the majority of homes to change over to a new system,

p Worcester Bosch has developed a hydrogen-ready boiler, which will soon undergo various field trials

we believe that ‘hydrogenready’ could be the simplest solution.

The beauty of hydrogen is that the challenges involved in transitioning households to a new heating system are reduced. This contrasts heavily to an alternative, such as a widespread switch to heat pumps, whereby to ensure efficiency houses would need to have improved insulation and extra space, meaning that a lot of costly and disruptive retrofitting may be required.

This would be much more expensive for homeowners, compared to a simple boiler replacement.

Gas is also significantly cheaper than electricity, so hydrogen would avoid a heavy increase in energy costs and there is even the possibility that consumers would see reduced bills in the long term.

Next steps

Crucially, we now need to work as an industry to inform decision makers and prove that hydrogen can be a solution to decarbonising the UK. If we don’t achieve this, then net zero 2050 could well become a pipe dream.

Here at Worcester, along with the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), we’re suggesting to the government that it would be a ‘no regrets’

policy move to mandate that only hydrogen ready boilers can be installed from 2025. Even if hydrogen was to never actually come into place, our ‘hydrogenready’ boiler will work perfectly fine for its lifespan running on natural gas.

We are currently involved with a hydrogen trial at Keele University where a 20% blend is being used and we will then participate in trials run by the government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), for which locations are yet to be decided on, as well as the SGN trial which is planned to take place in Fife in 2021.

The SGN trial in Scotland will involve 300 homes which will be heated purely using 100% hydrogen. We expect these trials to show the government and other decision makers that they can put their faith into hydrogen, like we have at Worcester.

Clear direction

A technology roadmap is set to be published by BEIS in the middle of next year which should reveal the favoured solutions to help us reach our targets.

We hope this will help to answer many of the questions the industry has and provide a clear direction towards creating a feasible solution for decarbonising heating and hot water in the UK. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/12

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22

Domestic Boilers

How to get the flue right Correct siting and sizing of a boiler flue and terminal is essential to avoid poor performance and bother to neighbouring properties. Here, Graham Collins from Baxi Heating takes a look at the different issues and best practice solutions to fit the perfect flue.

W

hen the minimum efficiency requirements for gas fired boilers changed in 2005, as part of the revision to Part L of the Building Regulations, the market switch to condensing boilers was quick to follow.

However, as condensing boilers emit a plume of condensate (particularly in the colder months) it places an increased importance on the location of the flue terminal. Installers therefore need to consider all possible issues and solutions available to them.

Sizing things up

Minimum and maximum lengths vary depending on the boiler make, model and output. You can find out this information with the purchase of a unit or by contacting the manufacturer for help and assistance if ever unsure.

A current production Baxi, Main or Potterton system or combi boiler with a 60/100mm concentric flue fitted, for instance, can be up to a maximum length of 10m. For those installations that require the flue run to be longer, the flue size can be increased to 80/125mm, providing a maximum flue length up to 20m.

Calculating the equivalent flue length is a fairly straightforward process – you simply have to remember that for current production Baxi, Main or Potterton boilers the first elbow on a concentric flue is free. From there,you will need to make a one meter reduction for each 90º bend and a half meter reduction for every 45º bend.

It is important only to use those flue components as shown in the installation instructions.

Should the decision be made to operate the boiler with a nonspecified flue, then the boiler may not function as it should.

In cases of improper sizing, you may find that the ignition is

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delayed and the combustion is affected, which could result in serious damage to the boiler.

Site it right

Graham Collins

Training support manager at Baxi

CUT TO THE CHASE  It is important to only use flue components as advised by the manufacturer  300mm is the minimum distance required when installing a horizontal flue near a window  Flues should be supported throughout their length, at least once ever meter  A correctly fitted flue can be largely forgotten about until the next annual service

 Baxi’s plume displacement terminal kit with 1m extension and brackets

Alongside the sizing, siting the flue terminal correctly is of the utmost importance. As specified

in BS 5440 - 1, there are a number of siting considerations that must be made when installing a flue to prevent the products of combustion from entering a homeowner’s property or that of their neighbour’s. Leaving enough distance between the window of a property and the flue terminal is crucial to do this – 300mm is the minimum distance required when installing a horizontal flue that is adjacent to an opening window.

Importantly, though sometimes overlooked, if a Baxi Multifit plume displacement kit is utilised the flue terminal air intake can be sited a minimum of 150mm from an opening window or door. To avoid causing a nuisance or putting neighbouring homeowners at risk, the distance from a fanned draught appliance terminal installed next to the boundary line must not be less than 300mm. However, the use of a Baxi Multifit plume deflector can reduce this minimum to 25mm.

While manufacturers, such as Baxi, provide detailed guidance on permissible lengths of the flue and BS5440 Part 1 gives minimum clearances for flue terminal siting, every installation is different.

Therefore, it is always worth paying close attention to the siting of the flue terminal to avoid putting the homeowner

in the unenviable position of having to get the nuisance flue re-sited.

Options are available when re-siting the flue is not a viable option. Flue accessories, such as plume displacement kits and plume deflectors can be used to point the pluming away from the area that it is likely to cause a nuisance.

Giving support

Just as a boiler must be properly hung and supported on a homeowner’s wall, the flue also requires adequate support.

BS5440 requires that installed flues are supported throughout their entire length, and at Baxi we specify that they are supported at least once every meter.

Without the required support, a horizontal flue-run may dip, leading to an accumulation of condensate water in the flue pipework which could prevent proper boiler function.

Most manufacturers will provide installers with a means of complying with these requirements. For instance, all Baxi Multifit flue components are supplied with support brackets where necessary, meaning there really is no reason not to comply.

Good outcomes

A boiler flue that meets the manufacturer’s sizing and siting requirements and legal regulations shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Once installed correctly the flue can then be largely forgotten about until the next annual service, which is the best outcome for both installers and their customers. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/13

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Domestic Boilers

Why a new boiler is a change for the better It is estimated that nearly 50% of oil users have oil boilers that are over 12 years old, but if they are functioning perfectly well can an investment in a more modern, energy efficient model be justified? Gary Davies from Firebird highlights some of the key benefits of an upgrade.

I

n the UK and Ireland there are currently 2.2 million homes that rely on oil heating; and of this 2.2 million, it is estimated that nearly 50% have heating systems that are over 12 years old. It could be argued that there is no reason to replace an oil boiler that still functions perfectly well, but there are clearly many benefits of upgrading to the next generation of high-efficiency low NOx boilers.

As a general rule of thumb, the older a boiler the less efficient it is, which will consequently result in higher energy and maintenance bills. Coined as ‘Zombie Boilers’ by the gas heating industry, these aging, inefficient and unreliable boilers can be a financial drain on many households, but particularly those living in rural areas. Often referred to as ‘hard to heat homes’, many properties in this housing sector would be transformed by a replacement heating system. According to the Energy Saving Trust, heating accounts for approximately 55% of what is spent annually on energy bills – an efficient boiler can therefore make a big difference financially. Modern boilers are more efficient for many reasons, but their main advantage is that they are all now condensing boilers.

In 2005 all central heating boiler installations fell under the control of Building Regulations which introduced a minimum SEDBUK efficiency (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK) of 85% for new installations and replacement boilers. It then became mandatory in April 2007 to only install condensing boilers with a SEDBUK efficiency of 86%.

Some older non-condensing boilers can be as inefficient as 50%, meaning that half of the fuel your customer pays for is not actually used to heat their home.

Even if a non-condensing boiler is well-maintained, by the nature of its design it will inevitably lose heat in the hot gases that escape through the flue.

The latest modern condensing oil-fired boilers can convert at least 90% of fuel into heat and,

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as a result, waste significantly less energy. Subsequent advances in technology have seen the development of boilers with even greater levels of performance and efficiency. For example the Blue Supreme range from Firebird has a seasonal efficiency of 97.4% (SAP 2005). Installing this boiler will ensure that at least 97p of every £1 spent on oil is converted into useable heat.

Renewable options

Gary Davies

National sales manager at Firebird

BY NUMBERS

50% Some older oil boilers are operating at 50% energy efficiency

97p At least 97p of every £1 spent on oil can be converted into useable heat with Firebird’s Blue Supreme range

£618 The estimated savings in running costs of an oil based heating system compared to an air source heat pump

60

The latest generation of low NOx burners offer emission levels as low as 60mg/kWh

Recent government proposals have advocated the installation of air source heat pumps in off-grid areas as a way of meeting future carbon reduction targets. While there is no doubt that installing an air source heat pump can provide a cost-effective, low carbon heating option for highly insulated new build properties, this approach could never be viable for the majority of off-grid homes – particularly those that are classed as ‘hard to heat’.

Data from the 2018 Sutherland Tables estimates the annual cost for space heating and hot water requirements for a typical three bedroom house at £1751 with an air source heat pump. Compare this to a cost of £1133 for oil and it’s no wonder oil has been relied on as the most economical way of providing heating in off-grid areas.

Size does matter The design of a heating system has never been more critical as it can not only reduce the amount of energy used (and consequently lower running costs), but can also help to reduce carbon emissions.

Bigger however is not always better and opting for the highest output boiler isn’t always the most cost-effective and efficient way of providing space heating and domestic hot water.

A boiler that is too large for a building’s heating and hot water requirements will not only be more expensive to buy, but will also operate less efficiently than a correctly sized model. By taking advantage of the design services available from boiler manufacturers, the heating and hot water requirements

 Firebird’s Envirogreen Combi HE high performance condensing boiler

of a property can be accurately calculated and the upgraded boiler correctly sized.

Cleaner air In 2018 new legislation was introduced under the Ecodesign Directive placing stringent new limits of 120mg/kWh on harmful nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions.

This meant that traditional yellow flame boilers which typically produce levels of 160mg/kWh were now obsolete. As all oil boilers over 12 years old fall into this category, they now fall well short of the current legislative requirements surrounding these emissions.

On the flip-side, this change in legislation has seen the development of new cutting-edge burner technology which has not only reduced NOx emission levels, but has also resulted in even greater performance in terms of efficiency. For example our Envirogreen range, which was designed in conjunction with Elco, has NOx emission levels of less than 60mg/kWh.

Easier maintenance A new boiler is not only costsaving in terms of efficiency, but also from a servicing and maintenance point of view, due to the long life of serviceable components. Our low NOx Envirogreen boiler range not only offers unbeatable reliability due to the absence of error-prone parts,

but is also designed to streamline installation and servicing for the heating engineer.

Maintenance and commissioning tasks can be carried out quickly and easily using the 4mm Allen key provided in the burner pack. Burner components can be quickly removed and replaced, and each component is supplied with its own unique clipped plug to prevent any errors occurring when re-connecting components after servicing.

Looking ahead So, the decision has been taken to upgrade a boiler, but what does the future actually hold for oil heated homes? Large scale electrification through the use of heat pumps would result in high installation and running costs for off-grid homeowners. For this reason, we would argue that an oil-fired type heating system is the only viable option and the development of sustainable low carbon liquid fuels offers the perfect solution to the decarbonisation of oil heated homes.

Upgrading an aging and inefficient oil-fired boiler really is a win-win situation for all concerned. Not only will the financial rewards associated with performance and efficiency be reaped, but in the majority of cases, new boilers can be upgraded as part of the normal servicing cycle well ahead of the deployment of low carbon liquid fuels. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/14

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26

Domestic Boilers

Advising the customer Most customers are interested in their boiler only to the point that it keeps the house warm and water hot, so it’s up to the installer to recommend what’s best for them. Here, Jonathan Kidner from Alpha makes some suggestions that will help to smooth that recommendation process.

M

ost gas boilers probably look the same to the average customer, but they need to benefit from what lies beneath the skin. Installers should consider the size of the boiler and its output. An energy hungry boiler, for example, will be unsuitable for a onebedroomed house, and it makes no sense choosing a boiler with insufficient kW output to cope with the heating and hot water requirements of a family home.

Under-specifying will lead to the boiler being unable to match the demands of the household; but be careful not to over-specify either as this will waste energy.

heated when needed, saving energy and money in the long run.

Low carbon options

Jonathan Kidner

Product Engineer at Alpha

Under control

Smart thermostat controls can make it easier than ever for homeowners to control their heating from anywhere. A smart control allows homeowners to use a smart device to talk wirelessly to their heating control unit. It means a home can be monitored 24/7 and only

Simple solutions for electric homes Targeting homes relying on electric heating, Trianco offers the Aztec range, designed to meet the need of a range of applications.

The Aztec Mini Combi is aimed at small projects such as apartments or garden rooms. Compact for easy installation into small spaces, this model will fit inside a kitchen wall cabinet. It is fully controlled by a combined room thermostat/programmer which can be managed by an app. It has a 12kW water output with optional heating outputs of 8, 10, or 12kW. There is also an Aztec Mini System version that acts as an all-in-one boiler that packs in all the components required to create a full heating system.

It’s available in 8 or 12kW outputs.

The Aztec Classic (pictured) is a compact wall mounted unit with a slim vertical design that can be installed almost anywhere, such as in a small airing cupboard alongside a cylinder. Described as virtually maintenance-free, it has a self-diagnostic function and features a resettable thermal safety cut-out. It is also compatible with solar power input. The Classic comes in five outputs, ranging from 2 to 12kW. Finally, the Aztec Instant Water Heater is a simple solution for hot water delivery. It features a touch screen control and compact design.

The company believes that as the electricity grid becomes greener with increased use of renewable generators, it is inevitable that electric heating will become the cleanest heat source, enabling the move towards zero carbon. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/16

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With heating accounting for approximately 55% of the total spend on energy bills each year, the energy efficiency of a boiler is a key consideration for any customer. There are plenty of low carbon options in the marketplace, but instead of a radical overhaul of a traditional heating system, products such as Alpha’s GasSaver, FlowSmart and SolarSmart maximise domestic heating and hot water system performance to achieve significantly improved energy efficiency and carbon emissions levels.

Extended warranty

While a standard one-year warranty is a given with all boilers and can often be extended, many leading manufacturers are now offering extended warranties of up to 10 years on premium boiler models.

A yearly service is a requirement

of a warranty, but this will keep a boiler in good repair so that in the event of an internal fault, the customer will be protected and will have any problems rectified in a timely and satisfactory manner.

Giving support

Technical support is often much under-valued and is a service which goes beyond answering the phone to queries and complaints. Most manufacturers offer pre-sales and aftersales support, including on-site support for those tricky installations. They can also provide the most up-to-date information regarding new products, legislation and general design/installation advice.

That’s why at Alpha we place

so much value on the technical support we provide boiler installers and their customers.

Customer care

For the customer, choosing a new boiler can be a big and sometimes stressful decision.

For any successful heating and plumbing business, the ability to understand a customer’s needs will go a long way when it comes to the selection of the most appropriate heating systems.

Lastly, always encourage your customer to register their boiler once it has been installed so it is traceable. It will reflect badly on the installation company if the homeowner rings to inform their boiler isn’t working and the manufacturer has no record of it. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/15

Low NOx burners contribute to cleaner home heating The Vortex Pro Utility oil boiler range from Grant includes models with outputs ranging from 15 to 70kW, and each incorporates the latest low NOx burner technology.

The boilers also feature Grant’s patented Vortex stainless steel heat exchanger, delivering cleaner home heating and helping to drive down fuel costs. The range can achieve gross seasonal efficiencies of up to 93.3% (SAP 2009) and, with the smallest model being just 348mm in width, these Vortex boilers are a suitable direct replacement for older oil-fired boilers.

This boiler range has been awarded Which? Best Buy status, making 2019 the third year it has achieved this accolade.

MD Paul Wakefield comments: “Grant Engineering is very proud that these oil-fired boilers have once again performed so well in the latest Which?

Boiler Report. Since the company was founded, Grant has strived to listen to customers and develop innovative heating products in response to the needs of engineers and householders.

“In particular, we are thrilled that Grant is the only oil boiler manufacturer to achieve Which? Best Buys for the past three years.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/17

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28

Domestic Boilers

mÖƗĢĿĢŭĢłė āƧ óĢāłóƘ Gas boilers might not be around for ever, but how can we use existing technology Ŷŋ āłŭŽũā ŶĞÖŶ ŶĞāƘ Öũā ũŽłłĢłė ÖŶ ĿÖƗĢĿŽĿ āƧ óĢāłóƘ̎ āÖł bāķāĞāũ̇ ŶāóĞłĢóÖķ ùĢũāóŶŋũ ÖŶ ¦ Ḟ ĞĢėĞķĢėĞŶŭ ŶĞā ðāłāƩ Ŷŭ ŋĕ ťÖŭŭĢƑā ƪ Žā ėÖŭ ĞāÖŶ ũāóŋƑāũƘ ùāƑĢóāŭ̍

T

he future of the boiler is the subject of intense debate right now, with government, ťũāŭŭŽũā ėũŋŽťŭ Öłù the industry all weighing in with ŶĞāĢũ ŋťĢłĢŋłŭ̍ NŋƒāƑāũ̇ Ö Ŀŋũā immediate concern for many boiler owners in these energy conscious times is how to make their devices ŋťāũÖŶā Ŷŋ ŶĞā ťāÖĴ ŋĕ ŶĞāĢũ āƧ óĢāłóĢāŭ̍ We all know that existing boiler technologies are going to undergo massive change in the next ˚˞ years, but as an industry we cannot wait ˚˞ years for these changes Ŷŋ ŶÖĴā ťķÖóā̍ Âā łāāù Ŷŋ ťŽŭĞ forward with innovation now to ĿÖĴā ùāƑĢóāŭ ŋťāũÖŶā Öŭ āƧ óĢāłŶķƘ Öŭ ťŋŭŭĢðķā̍ ŭ ĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭ̇ ŶĞāũā Öũā ťķāłŶƘ ŋĕ ðÖŭĢóŭ ƒā óÖł ÖķũāÖùƘ advise customers on – have your device serviced annually, bleed ƘŋŽũ ũÖùĢÖŶŋũŭ̇ ùŋ ũāėŽķÖũ ťŋƒāũ ƪ ŽŭĞāŭ̇ āŶó̇ ðŽŶ ƒĞÖŶ ÖðŋŽŶ ŶĞā ŶāóĞ Ģł ŶĞā ðŋĢķāũ ĢŶŭāķĕ̎

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Sean Keleher Technical director at ATAG

The biggest recent innovation ĞÖŭ ðāāł ŶĞā ĢłóķŽŭĢŋł ŋĕ ťÖŭŭĢƑā ƪ Žā ėÖŭ ĞāÖŶ ũāóŋƑāũƘ ùāƑĢóāŭ ̛ DFN '̜ ƒĢŶĞĢł ŭŋĿā ùŋĿāŭŶĢó ðŋĢķāũŭ̍ NāÖŶ ũāóŋƑāũƘ Ģł óŋĿðĢ boilers is still fairly new, so for the uninitiated here’s what you need to know: Rł ťũĢķ ˛˙˚ˡ, Boiler Plus legislation was introduced which required an additional energy āƧ óĢāłóƘ ĿāÖŭŽũā Ŷŋ ðā ĢłŭŶÖķķāù ƒĞāł Ö ėÖŭ ðŋĢķāũ Ģŭ Ʃ ŶŶāù Ģł Ö ĞŋĿā Ģł 1łėķÖłù̍ złā ĢłłŋƑÖŶĢŋł ŶĞÖŶ óÖł ðā Žŭāù Ŷŋ óŋĿťķƘ ƒĢŶĞ ŶĞĢŭ Ģŭ ŶĞā ťÖŭŭĢƑā ƪ Žā ėÖŭ ĞāÖŶ recovery system – enabling heat from a boiler that would ŋŶĞāũƒĢŭā ðā ƒÖŭŶāù Ŷŋ ðā ũāŽŭāù̍ NŋƒāƑāũ̇ ĕŋũ Ö ŶāóĞłŋķŋėƘ ŶĞÖŶ has been around for more than a decade, awareness of the ŶāóĞłĢóÖķ ťũŋóāŭŭāŭ ĢłƑŋķƑāù Ģŭ ŭŶĢķķ ƑāũƘ ķŋƒ̍ RłŭŶÖķķāũŭ ťķÖƘ Ö óũĢŶĢóÖķ ũŋķā Öŭ ÖùƑŋóÖŶāŭ Öłù ťũŋĿŋŶāũŭ of environmentally-friendly

ťũÖóŶĢóāŭ̍ Ƙ ĴłŋƒĢłė Ŀŋũā about how it works, installers can then advise customers on Ğŋƒ Ŷŋ ũāùŽóā ėÖŭ óŋłŭŽĿťŶĢŋł̇ ĢĿťũŋƑā ùŋĿāŭŶĢó ĞŋŶ ƒÖŶāũ āƧ óĢāłóƘ Öłù ėÖŭ ðĢķķ ŭÖƑĢłėŭ̍

Energy saver ¦Ğā ŶāóĞłŋķŋėƘ Ģŭ ƑāũƘ ŭĢĿťķā̍ NŋŶ ƪ Žā ėÖŭāŭ ŶĞÖŶ ķāÖƑā óŋĿðĢ ðŋĢķāũŭ are between ˞˙°C and ˠ˙΅!̍ NāÖŶ recovery systems reclaim even more heat from these gases and use the heat to warm incoming water which means a lot less energy is Žŭāù Ŷŋ ťũŋƑĢùā ĞŋŶ ƒÖŶāũ̍ zķùāũ ðŋĢķāũŭ ťũŋùŽóāù ŶĞāŭā gases at between ˚˛˙°C and ˛˙˙΅!̍ 1Ƒāł ŶĞŋŽėĞ ƪ Žā ėÖŭāŭ Öũā óŋŋķāũ in most newer boilers, making ŶĞāĿ Ŀŋũā āƧ óĢāłŶ Ģł óŋłùāłŭĢłė mode, there is still leftover heat ŶĞÖŶ óÖł ðā óÖťŶŽũāù Öłù Žŭāù Ŷŋ ĞāÖŶ Žť ĿÖĢłŭ óŋķù ƒÖŶāũ̍ Before these gases go outside, ŶĞāƘ ėŋ ŶĞũŋŽėĞ Ö DFN ' ĞāÖŶ exchanger, where incoming mains ƒÖŶāũ ėāŶŭ ŶĞā ðāłāƩ Ŷ ŋĕ ŶĞā ĞāÖŶ̍ Rł Ö ŭĞŋũŶ ťũŋóāŭŭ ŋĕ ťÖŭŭĢłė ŶĞũŋŽėĞ the exchanger, incoming water rises from around ˚˙°C to between ˛˙°C and ˝˙΅!̍ ¦ĞĢŭ ƒÖŶāũ ŶĞāł ťÖŭŭāŭ ŶĞũŋŽėĞ ŶĞā ðŋĢķāũ̇ ƒĞāũā ĢŶ Ģŭ ũÖĢŭāù Ŷŋ ŶĞā ťũā-set hot water ŶāĿťāũÖŶŽũā̍ NŋƒāƑāũ̇ ðāóÖŽŭā ĢŶ Ģŭ ÖķũāÖùƘ ũÖĢŭāù Ģł ŶāĿťāũÖŶŽũā̇ the amount of energy required

Ŷŋ ðũĢłė ĢŶ Ŷŋ ŶĞĢŭ ŶāĿťāũÖŶŽũā Ģŭ ėũāÖŶķƘ ũāùŽóāù̍ ¦ĞĢŭ ĞāÖŶ ũāóŋƑāũƘ ťũŋóāŭŭ ŶÖĴāŭ ťķÖóā ĢłŭĢùā Ö ŭāÖķāù ðŋƗ̇ ŭŋ ŶĞā óŋĿťŋłāłŶ Ģŭ maintenance free – there are no ĿŋƑĢłė ťÖũŶŭ ĕŋũ ĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭ Ŷŋ óĞāóĴ ùŽũĢłė Ö ŭāũƑĢóā̍ RłùāťāłùāłŶ ŶāŭŶŭ ĞÖƑā concluded that if half a million heat recovery systems were installed in homes, over ˞˟ million cubic meters of gas would be saved and over ˚˚˝ million kg of carbon ùĢŋƗĢùā āĿĢŭŭĢŋłŭ ŭÖƑāù̍ Integral systems, such as our iC economiser combi boiler, ĿāÖł ŶĞÖŶ ĕŽķķ āƧ óĢāłóĢāŭ Öłù ŭÖƑĢłėŭ Öũā ťÖóĴÖėāù ĢłŭĢùā ŋłā ÖťťķĢÖłóā̍ ŽóĞ ĢłłŋƑÖŶĢŋł Ģł boiler technologies has enabled ŶĞā ðāłāƩ Ŷŭ ŋĕ ťÖŭŭĢƑā ƪ Žā ėÖŭ heat recovery to be delivered in Ö óŋĿťÖóŶ óÖŭā łŋ ðĢėėāũ ŶĞÖł Ö standard boiler, making them more attractive to installers and ĞŋĿāŋƒłāũŭ̍ ¦Ğā DFN ' Ģł ŶĞā ¦ F iC range of combis mean that installers can meet Boiler Plus regulations without the need for ÖùùĢŶĢŋłÖķ ĿāÖŭŽũāŭ̍ NŋƒāƑāũ̇ it also comes with weather óŋĿťāłŭÖŶĢŋł Öŭ ŭŶÖłùÖũù̇ ėĢƑĢłė ĞŋĿāŋƒłāũŭ ťāÖóā ŋĕ ĿĢłù ŶĞÖŶ they are doing all they can to ĿÖƗĢĿĢŭā ðŋĢķāũ āƧ óĢāłóƘ̍

ͻ phamnews.co.uk̓˜˛˙̓˚ˡ

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Domestic Boilers

Lower price, higher sales After just a few months on the market, Worcester is reporting that its new ˛˙˙˙ entry-level boiler is enjoying healthy sales.

The boiler was ĢłŶũŋùŽóāù Ŷŋ ŋƦāũ Worcester’s brand at an accessible price to homeowners, and installer Luke Beard has shared his love for the new product with the company, saying: “From a user’s point of view, the ˛˙˙˙ Ģŭ ŭŶƘķĢŭĞ̇ ÖƦŋũùÖðķā̇ āóŋłŋĿĢóÖķ Öłù āÖŭƘ Ŷŋ Žŭā̍ ŭ an installer, it’s a great product too! Not only is it compact and light, it also has great engineering software and is highly ƪāƗĢðķā ƒĢŶĞ ĢŶŭ ƪŽā ķāłėŶĞŭ Öłù ťÖłāķ ũāĿŋƑÖķ ŋťŶĢŋłŭ̧̍ The ˛˙˙˙ óŋĿāŭ ƒĢŶĞ Ö ƩƑā-year warranty, which can be āƗŶāłùāù Ŷŋ ŭĢƗ ƒĞāł ƩŶŶāù ƒĢŶĞ Ö ŭƘŭŶāĿ ƩķŶāũ̍ Dominic Sarkar, senior category manager at Wolseley, has commended Worcester Bosch for its decision to bring a more price competitive boiler into the market. He says: “With its entry level price, the Worcester ˛˙˙˙ provides us with a more accessible choice when dealing with customers. The opportunity to have a high-quality heating system and aftercare support synonymous with the Worcester Bosch brand at a competitive price has been well ũāóāĢƑāù ðƘ ŶĞā ĿÖũĴāŶ ŭŋ ĕÖũ̧̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˚ˢ

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Boiler Plus ready out of the box The Alteas ONE Net and Genus ONE Net from Ariston are highperformance gas condensing boilers featuring built-in WiFi and digital timer programming. ¦Ğā ķŶāÖŭ zp1 pāŶ ðŋÖŭŶŭ Ö ðāÖŽŶĢĕŽķ ðķÖóĴ ƩłĢŭĞ Öłù ėķÖŭŭ panel, while both boilers are supplied with Ariston’s Cube RF control, ready for connection to the Ariston Net smartphone app. Plus, using the boilers with the supplied controls also āłŭŽũāŭ ŶĞāƘ Öũā ̨ ͖̪ 1ũ ũÖŶāù ĕŋũ ŋťŶĢĿŽĿ āłāũėƘ āƧóĢāłóƘ̍ ÖũŶ ŋĕ ũĢŭŶŋł̪ŭ zp1 āũĢāŭ ũÖłėā̇ ŶĞā ðŋĢķāũŭ ðāłāƩŶ ĕũŋĿ a patented stainless steel, continuous coil XtraTech heat exchanger, alongside low NOx ratings (from ˜˜Ŀė̓ĴÂĞ̜̍ Rł addition, all units are Boiler Plus-ready straight out of the box, thanks to a number of features including a built-in ‘auto’ ĕŽłóŶĢŋł ŶĞÖŶ ĿŋłĢŶŋũŭ ťāũĕŋũĿÖłóā Öłù ũāùŽóāŭ ťāÖĴŭ Ģł ƪŋƒ temperature.

For full ƪāƗĢðĢķĢŶƘ̇ ðŋŶĞ boilers have a combustion control system, allowing the boilers to operate from either mains gas or LPG. They are also supplied with a ˚˛-year manufacturer’s warranty as standard. ͻ phamnews. co.uk/˜˛˙̓˛˙

Electric solution Available from EHC – the Electric Heating Company – is a range of electric boilers for the needs of various applications in domestic properties large and small. The range includes the Comet Electric Combi Boiler (pictured) designed to ƩŶ ĢłŶŋ Ö ŭŶÖłùÖũù ÖĢũĢłė cupboard. Enclosed within the case is a ˚˝˙ litre indirect stainless steel hot water cylinder and an in-built ĿÖėłāŶĢó ƩķŶāũ̍ RŶ Ģŭ also supplied with an external tundish and DHW control valve and a fully programmable twin channel controller and room thermostat.

For applications where space is at a premium, the SlimJim boiler can be supplied as boiler only ŋũ óŋĿťķāŶā ƒĢŶĞ Ö óĞŋĢóā ŋĕ ĞāÖŶ ťÖóĴŭ̍ RŶ óŋĿāŭ with a user-friendly control panel which provides ĞāÖŶ Ŀŋùā Öłù ĕÖŽķŶ ƩłùĢłė ĢłùĢóÖŶŋũŭ̇ ŶŋėāŶĞāũ with a power switch and temperature settings.

The boiler temperature range can be set between ˜˙ and ˡ˙°C, which means that it can be used with Žłùāũƪŋŋũ ĞāÖŶĢłė ÖťťķĢóÖŶĢŋłŭ̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˛˚

02/03/2020 15:37

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Merchant & Distributor News 31 fundamental level merchants will take steps such as ensuring that as many staff as possible are available on the counter during busy times. Good merchants can also often provide delivery direct to site or to a customer’s home if necessary, saving the installer valuable time collecting the products from the branch.

Of course, a key part of providing good customer service is ensuring staff have the right knowledge to be able to provide the best advice to tradespeople. Merchant branch teams are an important source of product and technical information and can help installers to select the right product for the current job. They also have a role keeping installers up to speed with current legislation, technological advancements and best practice. I think it’s important to have members of staff that are specially trained in areas such as spares and smart home technology. The teams can also provide help over the phone, whether it is a question about the product or just needing to check the availability of the required part.

Specialist staff

Care at the counter What can a merchant do to increase the speed and quality of customer service? Ian Kenny looks at some of the steps being taken at Graham Plumbers’ Merchant to ensure installation businesses are never let down at the counter.

T

o improve customer service merchants must establish what it is that customers value and what helps make their work easier. This is why it is crucial for merchants to carry out in-depth research and make this an ongoing process to ensure that the best possible service is always provided. We have conducted a series of focus groups across the country with local installers to understand their views and what they would like from their local merchant. This was followed by the launch of TellGraham towards the end of the year to provide ongoing customer feedback. The online survey gives customers the opportunity to answer some simple questions about their experience and rate the service they receive from their local branch.

Understanding the needs and preferences of the customer allows merchants to make alterations in a range of different areas, such as introducing more staff at busy times and adjusting opening hours to ensure customers can access the trade counter when it is most convenient for them. Our research revealed an interesting move away from the traditional merchant pricing model, with customers stating they are increasingly frustrated by the need for constant price negotiations. For many it makes it hard to cost a job and installers would much rather spend time completing the work that will earn them money than haggling over prices. In response, we have introduced fixed pricing on all our product lines

Plenty of choice

The customer feedback can also contribute to improving the mix of products that the merchant stocks, meaning customers can get what they need. While a significant part of the decision of which products to stock can be made by analysing the sales of each product, this does not capture what is missing.

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A good example of this is our ‘Always Available’ range, which was introduced as a result of customer feedback. This carefully selected group of products is guaranteed to be in stock. If the item is not available, the account customer will receive £10 off their next purchase. A localised product mix is also crucial as it ensures that any differences across the country are taken into account and customers in the local area are able to get the products they prefer.

In addition to receiving feedback from customers, ideas for improving the customer experience can also come from the branch staff who speak to customers on a daily basis and are most familiar with how tradespeople are using the branch. This was the concept behind the survey that was sent out to our branch managers and showroom colleagues.

The speed of service is also an important factor and choosing a merchant that can streamline the buying process is crucial. For installers, any unnecessary time spent getting the parts and materials they need is time that cannot be spent completing work for customers. At the most

At Graham we work closely with our suppliers to ensure staff are trained across all product ranges. We have an extensive staff product training programme, including both face to face sessions with suppliers and online modules to keep staff knowledge up to date. A recent example of this was a programme we created with Roca where showroom consultants must work their way up completing the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of training and in the process, developing an excellent level of product knowledge. We understand that the relationship we have with customers is the most valuable part of the business. As such, staff are encouraged to provide a more personal, responsible and tailored service to the customers in their area.

For those in the trade, choosing the right merchant is important to help make their work easier and provide a better service to their customers. Investing in ongoing research to get feedback from customers is one important way that we can ensure we meet our trade customers’ needs. The technical and product knowledge of the in-branch teams is also a valuable resource and a factor that should be considered when deciding where to source products. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/22

Ian Kenny

Marketing director at Graham Plumbers’ Merchant

Choosing the right merchant is important to help make work easier and provide a better service to your customers

02/03/2020 12:21

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Merchant & Distributor News Transparent price and availability

Customer feedback helps win award Plumbase has won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service award, an independent seal of āƗóāķķāłóā ŶĞÖŶ ũāƪāóŶŭ reviews for the heating and plumbing merchant as rated by plumbers, heating engineers, and homeowners.

The award was granted based on maintaining an āƗóāķķāłŶ ŭāũƑĢóā ũÖŶĢłė ŋĕ between ˝̍˞ and ˞ in ˛˙˚ˢ.

The rules stipulate that a minimum of ˞˙ reviews must be received during the year to be considered for the award – Plumbase received

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ˠ˚˚ reviews in ˛˙˚ˢ. dĢÖĿ FĢðŭŋł̇ ĞāÖù ŋĕ marketing at Plumbase, comments: “The Feefo Gold award is a huge achievement for Plumbase because it’s based on the feedback of real customers. The voices of our plumber, heating engineer, and homeowner customers are what really matter and only by listening to them can we continue to improve and set the bar even higher when it comes to the overall customer ŭāũƑĢóā̧̍

¦ŋ ĿÖĴā ĢŶ āÖŭĢāũ Ŷŋ ŨŽĢóĴķƘ Ʃłù ŋŽŶ the price and availability of a product, Graham Plumbers’ Merchant has recently launched a new userfriendly website – Graham Direct. ¦Ğā ŭĢŶā ėĢƑāŭ ŶĞā ƩƗāù ťũĢóāŭ ŋĕ Öķķ of Graham’s Always Available range of products, meaning users are guaranteed that any product they

view can be ordered for delivery or collected immediately.

With an emphasis on providing transparency of pricing, Graham 'ĢũāóŶ ķĢŭŶŭ ŶĞā ťũĢóā āƗóķŽùĢłė Á ¦ ŋĕ all products in the Always Available range, with new products added regularly. Once a user has found the product they want online, they can email their requirements by adding to a wish list, call the central helpline or contact their local branch to complete their order.

The website also includes a search tool and downloadable ťũŋùŽóŶ ŭťāóĢƩóÖŶĢŋł ŭĞāāŶŭ̇ Öŭ

well as detailed product summaries accompanied with images.

As part of the Always Available guarantee, if a product isn’t in stock on ordering, customers will receive a voucher that entitles them to £˚˙ ŋƦ ŶĞāĢũ łāƗŶ ťŽũóĞÖŭā ĕũŋĿ ŶĞā ķƒÖƘŭ Available range.

“With Graham Direct as an online platform, our aim is to highlight the certainty that comes with the Always Available range. Every product on the site is guaranteed to be in stock at the price shown at every Graham ðũÖłóĢ̆̇ óŋĿĿāłŶŭ RÖł bāłłƘ̇ marketing director at Graham.

Bathroom showroom takes a bow in Stockton The Stockton branch of Flame Heating Group has opened the doors on a new bathroom showroom. Open to both the trade and the public, the showroom features three bathroom suites from Flame’s own-brand, Azure, plus a variety of furniture and accessories including mirrors, towel rails and radiators. ̵ ũÖłóĞ ùĢũāóŶŋũ ŶŽÖũŶ dÖƑāķķā ̛ťĢóŶŽũāù̜ ŭÖƘŭ ŶĞā showroom represents an investment in the future of the ŋÖŶĞŋŽŭā dÖłā ðŽŭĢłāŭŭ Öłù Ģŭ ÖķũāÖùƘ ÖŶŶũÖóŶĢłė ĢłŶāũāŭŶ from both the trade and public. “This latest investment showcases a greater range of products and services that DķÖĿā Ģŭ Öðķā Ŷŋ ŋƦāũ̧̇ Ğā ŭÖƘŭ̍ ̦ ŭ Ö ùĢũāóŶ ũāŭŽķŶ̇ ƒā̪Ƒā already supplied a number of bathroom suites to one local housing developer, while it’s already attracting a great deal ŋĕ ĢłŶāũāŭŶ ĕũŋĿ ķŋóÖķ ťķŽĿðĢłė ƩũĿŭ̍ ¦Ğā ŭĞŋƒũŋŋĿ Ģŭ Öł ĢĿťŋũŶÖłŶ ÖùùĢŶĢŋł Öłù R̪Ŀ óŋłƩùāłŶ ĢŶ ƒĢķķ óŋłŶũĢðŽŶā Ŷŋ ŶĞā ėũŋƒŶĞ ŋĕ ŶĞā ðŽŭĢłāŭŭ̧̍

28/02/2020 16:17

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Heat Pumps 33

Progress on the road to low carbon In November 2019 the Heat Pump Association launched its vision report on the role heat pumps can play in a low carbon future. Here, HPA chairman Graham Wright goes into detail on why installers will play a crucial part in affecting a wide-scale move towards low carbon heating systems.

A

ccording to a recent study, almost every climate model from the past 50 years has accurately predicted the global temperature changes we have experienced so far. Not only does this highlight society’s long held apathy towards one of humanity’s greatest challenges, it also suggests that projections of future changes are likely to be fairly reliable as well. A glance at the latest climate model projections indicates that even if all countries honour their climate policy commitments and pledges, we are still facing global temperature rises around 3ºC above preindustrial temperatures by 2100, a catastrophic scenario according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The UK has demonstrated a commitment to tackling the issue by becoming the first major economy to target net zero emissions by 2050, an ambitious but necessary step that must succeed if we are to inspire others to follow suit.

Breaking habits A critical part of the plan to deliver a low carbon society and break our dependency on fossil fuels will be the decarbonisation of heating, and this is where heat pumps will undoubtedly play a major role. Long established as an effective and reliable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems, heat pumps offer substantial carbon emission reductions and can recover heat that would otherwise be wasted.

Despite the notable benefits, the number of heat pumps being deployed in the UK heating market is currently too low to make the necessary impact and trigger the much-needed sea change in consumer habits.

In the HPA’s recently launched vision report, ‘Delivering Net

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Current heating engineers can upskill to install low carbon heating systems

installers will find a need to retrain. While these workers already have many of the skills needed to install such systems, there will be a need to upskill to ensure that the installation of heat pump technologies is carried out to a high standard.

Training pathways

Graham Wright HPA chairman

Decarbonising domestic heat will require buy-in from consumers

The expectation is that the majority of installers will need to come from the current boiler installer base CUT TO THE CHASE The UK aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 

 Heat pumps are an effective alternative to fossil fuel based heating systems  Consumers will need to be at the heart of change in the way homes are heated  Heating engineers can upskill to be heat pump installers  Government commitment to low carbon heating will hasten uptake of heat pumps

Zero: a roadmap for the role of heat pumps’, we stated that the industry’s efforts to establish widescale deployment of heat pumps in the UK would be delivered through three key pillars: • putting the consumer at the heart of change • upskilling the installer base to create a cohort of highly skilled low-carbon heat installers • working with government to ensure a supportive policy mix

Crucial role We have placed an emphasis on the role of installers as they will play a crucial role in increasing awareness among their customer base, and there needs to be a concerted effort to introduce thousands more fully trained and knowledgeable installers in order to push take-up to the next level, beyond off-grid properties and new builds and into the mainstream.

This clearly won’t happen overnight, but additional training and development programmes need to be put in place without delay if the industry is to put

itself in a position to deal with a significant increase in demand.

The HPA is leading the way in its efforts to ensure schemes are available.

Upskill urgency A high proportion of current heating installers are likely to need to upskill to be able to install low carbon heating systems.

Heat pump installations require additional considerations on top of those typically carried out for traditional heating systems, such as gas boilers. There is, for example, a need to size heat pumps more carefully according to the heat demand of a building.

Heat emitters often need to be upgraded to work with lower flow temperatures, and hydraulic balancing carried out to ensure that the distribution of water in heating systems is optimised.

Though there will be new entrants to the industry, the expectation is that the majority of installers will need to come from the current boiler installer base. As more traditional methods of heating are phased out, these

In addition to current installers, there is also a responsibility to ensure that new entrants to the installer base are adequately trained and possess the skills that they will need in the long term.

The HPA supports apprenticeships to encourage the younger generation of installers to develop their skill base and ensure that the quality of heat pump installations is high, the knowledge of the benefits that the technology can bring is commonplace, and there are sufficient installer numbers to scale up deployment to the levels required to meet net zero by 2050.

While the industry as a whole is confident that suitable training pathways can be put in place through the development of qualification schemes, there is another crucial element that can’t be overlooked: a firm commitment on low carbon heating from the government. This is something that will give potential installers the confidence to invest their time and effort into training.

If we are to significantly reduce heating emissions and make the switch to a decarbonised society, government and industry must come together to offer incentives for change, grow the installer base and deliver a strong message to consumers and industry professionals. This will make it clear that efficient solutions such as heat pumps are the key to a low carbon future. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/23

28/02/2020 16:19

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

34

Heat Pumps

On the right grounds Are ground source heat pumps the answer to the electrification of heat?

PHAM News asks James Standley from UK manufacturer Kensa about the potential of GSHP technology to become part of the mainstream.

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ased in Truro in Cornwall, Kensa Heat Pumps is a privately-owned business that has been manufacturing ground source heat pumps for over 20 years.

James Standley has been with the company for 12 years and was appointed managing director in January last year.

With the current drive to decarbonisation, do you expect the UK heat pump market to see significant growth in the next 10 years?

“Absolutely. Heat pumps will be an important piece of the net zero carbon puzzle and we are expecting very significant growth as we phase down the use of fossil fuel heating like wet wood burning and gas.

“All stakeholders now accept there needs to be a rapid and sustained increase in the number of heat pumps installed in the UK. Most credible forecasts predict around 3m heat pumps by 2030, which is a significant uplift on the present installed estate of around 250,000 units, especially as 2019 sales were only around 25,000 units.”

Do you think growth could be achieved without government legislation and incentives?

“Some growth would be achieved without government intervention but nowhere near enough to achieve our carbon targets, and growth would be limited to the cheapest solutions that aren’t necessarily best for the whole UK energy system.

“Given the requirement for growth, it is concerning that the government has yet to make any

James Standley

Managing director of Kensa Heat Pumps

People want low cost heat but they also want to safeguard the planet and that should become the political priority. A ground source heat pump delivers both outcomes.  The installation of Kensa’s spacesaving Shoebox heat pump system

announcement on the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is scheduled to close in March 2021. Meantime, over half the UK’s local authorities have declared some form of climate emergency, with most setting a net zero target for 2030. This hugely challenging ambition reflects public opinion, but politicians simply cannot ignore the issue any longer.

“Local authorities and the devolved assemblies should impose planning conditions which mandate the use of low carbon heating systems.

Ground source heat pumps will provide lower running costs and dramatically lower carbon emissions, so there is no need to fear the change, provided that suitable subsidies are available to handle the upfront costs.”

Kensa has been involved in the installation of a number of shared ground loop systems in recent years, providing heat pumps for multiple properties.

Do you believe this to be the biggest growth opportunity for ground source?

“The durability of ground arrays means there is a fabulous legacy for any subsidy spend so there is a need to install this vital national infrastructure in a street-bystreet, town-by-town fashion, which mimics the roll-out of the gas mains in years gone by.

“Almost certainly, as volumes increase and costs are reduced, new business models will emerge which will offer heat-as-a-service contracts. These asset owners will favour ground source heat pumps as the more efficient, more reliable and more durable heat pump variant, especially as there will be increased opportunity to run the heat pump at times when electricity is both low cost and low carbon, and store heat in thermal stores featuring phase change material.”

What do you think are the main obstacles to heat pumps becoming the primary source of heating in UK homes?

“The combination of taxes, levies and subsidies on electricity and gas are stacked against the electrification of heat. In order to expedite deployment, there is a need to lobby government for a fairer distribution of the cost

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of social levies across fuel bills.

Right now, the cost of electricity is inflated by around 18% to cover these costs; the price of gas is hardly affected at all. It seems rather odd that no action has already been taken, but presumably there was political risk around inflating the cost of the country’s most common heating fuel. Times are changing.

People want low cost heat but they also want to safeguard the planet and that should become the political priority. A ground source heat pump delivers both outcomes.”

Could hybrid systems offer a viable way forward for those reluctant to see the end of their gas boiler?

“Hybrid solutions are a niche solution for only a tiny minority of houses. Hybrid (bivalent) systems lumber the consumer with twice the complexity and maintenance of a single technology solution.

“If the intent is to reduce running costs, when would the air source heat pump ever run given the relative cost of gas and electricity? They only make financial sense if the relative prices of gas and electricity are different from today.”

Is there more the industry can do to reduce installation costs?

“Kensa believes the design of the ground array should mimic the approach taken with the gas main. If heat pumps are installed at the same scale, then there are opportunities for reduced installation costs. This is what Kensa Contracting is currently doing across the UK with shared ground loop array installations.

“We don’t ask installers of gas boilers to design the gas infrastructure running down the street and the same should be true for ground array infrastructure. With shared ground loop arrays we are looking to take this complexity away from the installer, and enable the wide-scale adoption of fifth generation ground source heat networks.

“As market conditions improve, heat pump manufacturers who provide products which are designed to be straightforward to install will prosper as the market grows and new plumbing contractors seek to take advantage of the opportunity.

And those who offer the best design and technical back-up and take a genuine interest in the performance of the installed system will hopefully prevail over those who are only interested in shifting a box.”

Are you concerned that there are not enough skilled installers to meet the potential increase in demand?

“Designing a heating system to work with a ground source heat pump is exactly the same design as required for a condensing gas boiler that actually condenses, i.e. runs at 50°C. So installers who can design and install a gas heating system that runs at the temperatures required for the boiler to condense (and not at the higher, less efficient temperatures) have all the skills they need to install a ground source heat pump. And the best will provide them with all the necessary support to cover the installation of the ground array.”

As a manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, what do you consider to be their key benefits over other heat pump alternatives?

“To achieve the required widescale electrification of heat with heat pumps at scale, running a large fleet of air source heat pumps will impose a need for more generating assets due to their lesser efficiency, and that will be financially and environmentally costly. That need will be magnified once it is generally recognised that air source heat pumps are not suited to operate when winter electricity is most available – through the night. The temperature is typically cooler at 2am, which further impacts their efficiency.

Worse, most of us are also trying to sleep at that time so won’t want to be disturbed by the circulating fan.

“There are too many myths around heat pump design and performance. Too often, fossil fuel boiler manufacturers suggest that heat pumps cannot heat older properties which don’t benefit from excellent insulation.

This is dishonest. Very simply, any heat pump can deliver a flow temperature at 50°C, which is exactly the requirement for a condensing gas boiler that condenses.

“Of course, the gas boiler lobby will argue that a heat pump operating at a 50°C flow temperature is not maximising efficiency, but the pursuit of optimum efficiency is no longer the key metric. Instead, it is all about running costs and carbon emissions and this places a far greater emphasis on when the heat pump operates rather than the operating efficiency. It is far smarter to accept a little loss in efficiency if the outcome is significantly lower running costs and carbon emissions.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/24

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The alternative to high carbon heating Could the UK’s love affair with the boiler stand in the way of the government’s carbon reduction targets? Andrew Hooper from LG looks at the potential of heat pumps to replace high carbon heating systems.

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he Committee on Climate Change says that 19 million heat pumps need to be installed in the UK by 2050. Despite the benefits that heat pumps deliver, their deployment in the UK remains painfully low, with just 27,000 heat pumps installed in 2018. The UK has become dependent on boilers to provide heat and hot water, and it’s a love affair that is proving difficult to end.

As a well established renewables technology, heat pumps are ready to step in to replace high carbon

Andrew Hooper

UK and Ireland heating manager, LG

Heat pumps are ready to step in to replace high carbon systems, but we need to train a significant number of installers  The Therma V high temperature air source heat pump indoor unit

systems, but we need to train a significant number of installers to be able to install heat pumps and increase knowledge levels.

There are three key areas that LG is concentrating on in an effort to increase the number of heat pump installations in the UK. The first is upskilling installers on this technology.

The second is driving consumer acceptance of the technology, and the third is in working with government to meet the 2050 target of zero carbon from heating in the UK.

Path forward We have stepped up our efforts to get more installers trained and ready to begin the heat pump revolution. Training takes place at two training centres – at our head office in Weybridge and at GREenergy training centre in Chesterfield. A minimum of two training courses a month have been taking place for a year now and more are planned throughout 2020.

UK heating engineers are extremely important to the decarbonisation of domestic heating and that’s why we will continue to provide free training on our Therma V heat pump. The Therma V series of air to water heat pumps offers a full suite of

Inverter driven unit delivers on efficiency The Zeno air source heat pump from Warmflow makes use of the latest variable speed compressor technology. The inverter driven unit offers an efficient source of heating and hot water and boasts an ErP A++ rating, helping homeowners reduce their annual home heating bills as well as being environmentally friendly.

As an air source heat pump, the Zeno only requires electricity and water connections. Components include a Mitsubishi inverter driven compressor and a Grundfos circulating pump, and the range also features an easy-to-use touch

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screen controller and simple wiring centre designed to reduce installation time.

Consisting of three single phase models – 6, 11 and 17kW – each unit comes in a no-maintenance, weatherproof anthracite grey casing with a range of accessories included as standard. These accessories include a heated drip tray, Y strainer, flexi hoses, isolating valves plus additional fittings to ensure ease and speed of installation.

A ‘Tube In Shell’ heat exchanger as been designed to provide efficient heat transfer while

 The external unit for LG’s high temperature air source heat pump

options – monobloc, splits, and high temperature models – and come with a 7-year warranty if the installer has attended one of our training courses.

Self-build market One area where air source heat pumps have taken off significantly in the past few years is in the self-build market. That’s why we’ve taken a permanent presence at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in

Cost-effective

allowing maximum lubrication of the refrigerant circuit. This helps to maximise efficiency and ensure a long operational life of the unit.

The Warmflow Zeno heat pumps operate at high efficiencies even when the external temperatures are low, making for a cost-effective renewable alternative to traditional off-gas heating methods.

Monobloc in design, the heat pumps are suitable for use with S-plan and Y-plan heating control systems and have been designed with ease of installation and maintenance in mind.

The units also offer a number of extra energy saving features,

Swindon, with a permanent display area to give self-builders an opportunity to see how our equipment might contribute to their projects.

At any one time there are as many as 25,000 self-build projects underway across the UK. People building their own home are more open to the options available to them than major new-build developers tend to be. They do their research and are willing to invest in new technologies if they help them to develop an energy efficient, environmentally friendly home. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/25

including an ‘intelligent defrost method’ which calculates the best time to perform a defrost and the most efficient way to do it. In addition, the units feature a quiet operation mode which further reduces the noise of the units. This quiet operation mode is programmable and can be set at certain times of the day when lower noise is required, with all units acquiring the Quiet Mark accreditation.

An in house design team is available to advise and support engineers on planning their installation should that service be required and, for extra peace of mind, the new heat pumps come with a five-year parts and labour warranty. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/26

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Could try harder!

Nŋƒ ĞÖŭ ĞāÖŶ ťŽĿť ŶāóĞłŋķŋėƘ óŋĿā ŋł Ģł ŶĞā ķÖŭŶ ˚˙ ƘāÖũŭ̎ FũÖĞÖĿ NāłùũÖ ĕũŋĿ DũāāùŋĿ NāÖŶ ŽĿťŭ óŋłóāùāŭ ŶĞÖŶ ŶĞāũā Ģŭ ũŋŋĿ ĕŋũ ĢĿťũŋƑāĿāłŶ̍

I

run a heat pump distribution / wholesale business and, with this being our tenth year, I thought it would be a ėŋŋù ŶĢĿā Ŷŋ ũāƪ āóŶ Öłù Ŷŋ think about the future. ̵ÂĞāł R ŭŶÖũŶāù DũāāùŋĿ NāÖŶ Pumps, Mitsubishi – with their Ŀŋłŋðķŋó ĞāÖŶ ťŽĿťŭ ̞ ƒāũā ŶĞā market leader with ˞˙% of the UK heat pump market. Daikin, using ŭťķĢŶ ŭƘŭŶāĿŭ̇ ƒāũā Ģł ŭāóŋłù ťķÖóā with about ˛˞% of the market and the rest of us made up the last ˛˞%. ̵Dŋũ ŶĞā ŽłĢłĢŶĢÖŶāù̇ Ö Ŀŋłŋðķŋó ŭƘŭŶāĿ Ģŭ Ö ðŋƗ óŋłŶÖĢłĢłė Öķķ ŶĞā ũāĕũĢėāũÖŶĢŋł óŋĿťŋłāłŶŭ Öłù Ö ĞāÖŶ āƗóĞÖłėāũ ƒĞĢóĞ ťũŋùŽóāŭ the warm water. It’s just a boiler ŶĞÖŶ ķĢƑāŭ Ģł ŶĞā ėÖũùāł̍ NāÖŶĢłė engineers like these as the water ťĢťā óŋłłāóŶĢŋłŭ Öũā Öķķ ĕÖĿĢķĢÖũ̍ ťķĢŶ ŽłĢŶŭ ĞÖƑā Ö óŋłƑāłŶĢŋłÖķ ÖĢũ óŋłùĢŶĢŋłĢłė ŋŽŶùŋŋũ ŽłĢŶ óŋłłāóŶāù ðƘ ũāĕũĢėāũÖłŶ ťĢťāƒŋũĴ to an indoor mounted hydro box

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Graham Hendra Managing director of Freedom Heat Pumps

̞ ƒĞĢóĞ Ģŭ ıŽŭŶ Ö ĞāÖŶ āƗóĞÖłėāũ Öłù ťŽĿť̍ D-gas engineers like these as it’s like installing a split air óŋłùĢŶĢŋłĢłė ŭƘŭŶāĿ̵̍ ¦ĞāƘ ðŋŶĞ have their pluses and minuses, łāĢŶĞāũ Ģŭ ðāŶŶāũ ŋũ Ŀŋũā āƧ óĢāłŶ̍ Splits are good if you want the heat pump a long way from the house; Ŀŋłŋðķŋóŭ ĕÖƑŋŽũ ŭĞŋũŶ ùĢŭŶÖłóāŭ as pumping water is hard work. ̵ ķķ ŶĞā ŽłĢŶŭ ƒāũā ĞÖũù Ŷŋ Žŭā̇ ðÖŭāù ŋł ÖĢũ óŋłùĢŶĢŋłĢłė ŽłĢŶŭ̪ óŋłŶũŋķŭ Öłù ĞÖũùƒÖũā̍ ¦ĞāƘ ƒāũā ŽłłāóāŭŭÖũĢķƘ óŋĿťķĢóÖŶāù Ŷŋ ŭāŶ Žť and horribly expensive. Some of the ĿĢłŋũ ťķÖƘāũŭ ƒāũā ŭŶĢķķ ŽŭĢłė Ʃ Ɨāù ŭťāāù óŋĿťũāŭŭŋũŭ Öłù ðŽƦ āũ ŶÖłĴŭ̇ ŶāóĞłŋķŋėĢāŭ ƒĞĢóĞ ĞÖù been obsolete for ˛˙ years or so. ̵Âā óÖĿā ĢłŶŋ ŶĞā ĿÖũĴāŶ ƒĢŶĞ a split system. It was really hard ƒŋũĴ Ŷŋ ŭāķķ ðāóÖŽŭā ŶĞā ťķŽĿðāũŭ ùĢŭķĢĴāù ĢŶ Öłù ŶĞā ÖĢũóŋł āłėĢłāāũŭ ƒāũāł̪Ŷ ĢłŶāũāŭŶāù̍ Âā ťŽŭĞāù ÖĿŭŽłė ķĢĴā ĿÖù ĕŋũ Ö Ŀŋłŋðķŋó system and our wishes were

granted in ˛˙˚˛̍ złóā ŶĞĢŭ ÖũũĢƑāù̇ we were away. The unit, like all the ŋŶĞāũŭ̇ ƒÖŭ Ö ĿŋùĢƩ āù ÖĢũóŋł ŽłĢŶ̇ but by simplifying everything and writing easy-to-Žŭā ĢłŭŶũŽóŶĢŋłŭ̇ we were number three in the market within two years.

What’s new?

So in ˛˙˛˙̇ ƒĞÖŶ̪ŭ óĞÖłėāù̎ ¦Ğā market has grown from about ˚˙̇˙˙˙ units a year to ˜˙̇˙˙˙. ķĿŋŭŶ Öķķ ŋĕ ŶĞāĿ Öũā Ŀŋłŋðķŋóŭ and heat pumps are installed predominantly by heating āłėĢłāāũŭ̇ łŋŶ D-gas engineers. ̵¦Ğā ŽłĢŶŭ Öũā ŭŶĢķķ ðĢė ðāĢėā boxes with fans in them – in ĕÖóŶ̇ ŶĞāƘ ķŋŋĴ āƗÖóŶķƘ ŶĞā ŭÖĿā as they did ˚˙ or even ˛˞ years Öėŋ̇ ÖķŶĞŋŽėĞ̵ŶĞāƘ Öũā Ö ŶĢłƘ ðĢŶ ŨŽĢāŶāũ̍ Âā ĞÖƑā̵ ùũŋťťāù ˝˚˙a as Ö ũāĕũĢėāũÖłŶ Öłù ũāťķÖóāù ĢŶ ƒĢŶĞ ˜˛̇ ðŽŶ ŋłķƘ ðāóÖŽŭā ƒā ƒāũā ĿÖùā Ŷŋ ðƘ ķāėĢŭķÖŶĢŋł̍ ˜˛ ŋƦ āũŭ us the opportunity to run at higher temperatures (now up to ˟˞° C) Öłù ėĢƑāŭ Ö ŭĿÖķķ āłāũėƘ āƧ óĢāłóƘ ĢłóũāÖŭā̍ ¦Ğā óŋĿťũāŭŭŋũŭ Öũā the same, the PCBs and inverters the same and the wiring hasn’t óĞÖłėāù̍ ¦Ğā ŋłķƘ ŭĢėłĢƩ óÖłŶ óĞÖłėā ĞÖŭ ðāāł ŶĞā óŋłŶũŋķŭ Öłù ĢłŶāũłāŶ óŋłłāóŶĢŋł̍

The one big advantage of online óŋłŶũŋķ Ģŭ ŶĞā Öťťŭ Öũā Öķķ ũāÖķķƘ āÖŭƘ Ŷŋ Žŭā̍ ¦Ğā ÖóŶŽÖķ óŋłŶũŋķŭ ŋł ŶĞā front of the units are still horribly óŋĿťķĢóÖŶāù ŋł āƑāũƘ ŽłĢŶ R̪Ƒā looked at. In the ˚ˢˡ˙s we all had ŭŶāũāŋŭ ƒĢŶĞ ėũÖťĞĢó āŨŽÖķĢơāũŭ̍ ­ŭĢłė ŶĞāŭā̇ ƒā óŋŽķù ťũāŭŭ Öķķ the buttons, oblivious to what ŶĞāƘ ÖóŶŽÖķķƘ ùĢù̇ Öłù ŭāŶ ĢŶ Žť Ŷŋ sound awful! Thankfully that fad ùĢāù Öłù ƒā ƒāłŶ ðÖóĴ Ŷŋ ŭĢĿťķā̇ ðŽŶ āƦ āóŶĢƑā̍ Rł ĞāÖŶ ťŽĿť ķÖłù ŶĞā óŋłŶũŋķŭ Öũā ŭŶĢķķ Ģł ėũÖťĞĢó āŨŽÖķĢơāũ ŭŶÖėā̍ RŶ ėĢƑāŭ ŶĞā Žŭāũ the opportunity to have a dabble Öłù ũŽĢł ƒĞÖŶ ƒÖŭ Ö ťāũĕāóŶķƘ ėŋŋù ĞāÖŶĢłė ŭƘŭŶāĿ̇ ðŽŶ óŋłłāóŶĢłė ŶĞā unit online does at least enable the ŭŽťťķĢāũ Ŷŋ ťŽŶ ŶĞĢłėŭ ðÖóĴ Öŭ ŶĞāƘ should be.

I really love heat pumps, but a Ʃ łÖķ ƒŋũù Ŷŋ ŶĞā ĿÖłŽĕÖóŶŽũāũŭ ̞ ŶĞā ťũŋùŽóŶŭ łāāù Ö ŭĞŋŶ ŋĕ ÖùũāłÖķĢłā̍ ÖĢłŶĢłė ŶĞāĿ ðķÖóĴ Öłù óķÖĢĿĢłė ŶĞÖŶ̪ŭ Ö ĿÖıŋũ ķāÖť ĕŋũƒÖũù Ģŭ ũĢùĢóŽķŋŽŭ̍ Âā łāāù major leaps in quietness, design and user friendliness – and don’t ėāŶ Ŀā ŭŶÖũŶāù ŋł ŶĞā ťũĢóā̉ Rł óŋłóķŽŭĢŋł̇ ĿƘ ˚˙ year report ŋł ŶĞā ĞÖũùƒÖũā ƒŋŽķù ũāÖù̆ óŋŽķù try harder, B minus. ͻ phamnews.co.uk̓˜˛˙̓˛ˠ

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Heat Pumps

Installation packs bring components together With the aim of simplifying the order process for installers, Grant UK has launched three new installation packs that contain all the essential accessories for the company’s Aerona³ air source heat pump range.

Each pack is made up of eight core accessories: AC isolator, ˚8 litre sealed ŭƘŭŶāĿ ĴĢŶ̇ ƪ āƗĢ ĕŋŋŶ ĴĢŶ̇ mÖė złā Ʃ ķŶāũ̇ through-wall insulation kit, ˛˞ litre antifreeze, domestic hot water boost kit, and hot water priority relay.

Installation pack ˚ ̛N R' ˜˛ !b˚̜ is the standard pack which contains the eight core accessories listed above. Installation pack ˛ ̛N R' ˜˛ !b˛̜ comprises the eight core accessories plus a ˜˙ litre insulated volumiser, while installation pack ˜ ̛N R' ˒ˑ !b˒̜ ĢłóķŽùāŭ ŶĞā āĢėĞŶ core accessories plus a ˞˙ litre insulated ðŽƦ āũ ƒĢŶĞ ĢłŶāėũÖŶāù ˜kW immersion.

The packs provide customers with a óĞŋĢóā ŋĕ ùĢƦ āũāłŶ óŋĿťŋłāłŶŭ̇ ÖķķŋƒĢłė installers to select the pack which is best suited to their installation requirements, which can be ordered from their local

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Monobloc design aimed at commercial applications New from Adveco, and in partnership with Italian heating manufacturer Cosmogas, is the FPi range of commercial-grade air source heat pumps comprising two variants: the FPi-ˢ and FPi-˚˜.

FPi delivers a solution for commercial sites needing to achieve lower cost water heating or cooling. The compact monobloc design is capable of providing domestic hot water (DHW) at up to ˞˞°C, or cool water to -ˠ΅! ĕŋũ Žŭā Ģł ĕÖł óŋĢķŭ̵̍ ̵ merchant under one code. Furthermore, customers will be able to save ˚˙% compared to buying the individual components on their own (based on FũÖłŶ̪ŭ Ģł `ÖłŽÖũƘ ˛˙˛˙).

Kevin Ellis, renewables sales manager at Grant UK, says: “For several years, we have supplied component packs to complement our Aerona³ heat pump range but these new installation packs deliver even more ðāłāƩ Ŷŭ Ŷŋ ŋŽũ óŽŭŶŋĿāũŭ̍ Âā ÖťťũāóĢÖŶā ŶĞÖŶ āÖóĞ ĢłŭŶÖķķÖŶĢŋł Ģŭ ùĢƦ āũāłŶ ŭŋ ŶĞĢŭ Ģŭ why we have redesigned the packs – rather than choosing a pack based on the heat pump size, customers can now choose a pack depending on the components they actually require, helping them to save both time and money.” ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˛ˡ

Bill Sinclair, technical director at Adveco, says: “The FPi range of ASHPs is perfect for combining with a traditional gas water heater and controls Ŷŋ óũāÖŶā Ö ĞƘðũĢù ŭƘŭŶāĿ̇ ŋƦ āũĢłė better compatibility with existing DHW distribution systems and the demands of higher thermal requirements. This approach provides the versatility to reduce operational costs while maintaining the higher water temperatures demanded by commercial DHW operations.”

Due to advanced vector control technology which provides accurate response to variable operational cycles throughout the year, the FPi range is able to achieve an above-average óŋāƧ óĢāłŶ ŋĕ ťāũĕŋũĿÖłóā (CoP), ranging up to ˝̍ˠ̵̍​̵ The FPi range is low maintenance, requiring simple, regular cleaning of ŶĞā óŋĢķ Öłù Ʃ ķŶāũ̍ āłŭŋũŭ constantly check pressure and each unit is equipped as standard with frost protection, enabling them Ŷŋ ŋťāũÖŶā āƦ āóŶĢƑāķƘ āƑāł if temperatures drop as low as -˛˞°C. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˛ˢ

28/02/2020 16:24

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Inclusive Bathrooms 41

Specifying the right kit for safe spaces

showers generally using less water than baths, there’s a cost and energy saving angle too.

Wetroom option

Installers have a big role to play in making bathrooms safer and more accessible for elderly people wishing to stay in their own homes.

Richard Harvey from Wolseley explores the ways to tap into this growing market.

T

he idea of an accessible bathroom conjures up images of functional and unsightly fixtures and fittings which put safety before style.

Modern solutions manage to offer a happy marriage of both, offering convenience and style, form and function, safety and substance. Installers working with older customers may want to familiarise themselves with ranges from major manufacturers that have been designed with the elderly in mind. These ranges may provide installers with an opportunity to upsell to existing clients – encouraging them to think longer term when upgrading their bathrooms and challenging perceptions about style and accessibility.

Falls are estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3 billion per year. Finances aside, the cost to people includes pain, loss of independence and, in some cases, even death. Yet even the simplest of modifications can make a difference. Gone are the days when grab rails, bath grips and mobility supports were ugly and merely functional.

Some of our key suppliers now offer grab rails with a contemporary chrome finish, styled to complement the sleek lines of even the most modern bathroom while keeping safety and accessibility centre stage.

Getting around

Problems associated with aging can affect a person’s mobility.

Those who come to rely on mobility aids such as sticks, frames or wheelchairs need to have the space to be able to use them safely. This is especially true in the bathroom, where hard and often slippery surfaces can give rise to an increase in slips and falls.

By making some simple modifications, installers

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 Grab rails are available in stylish finishes, such as chrome

backs or joint issues, there is undoubtedly a market out there for raised height toilets.

Raised height WCs offer an ideal solution, minimising the amount that people have to bend to use the toilet. Installers will find that these products are similar in price to their standard counterparts - meaning it is not a huge price hike for those wishing to spend a penny in comfort.

Richard Harvey

Category director for plumbing and heating at Wolseley

BY NUMBERS

25

Bath access

Number of years over which the UK will see a doubling of the over 85s

200k Number of hip and knee replacements each year

£2.3b Estimated cost to the NHS per year related to falls

15 Average number of pensioner deaths each year related to hot bath water

 Raised height toilets provide easier access and minimise the need to stoop or bend

can free up space, making a previously cramped bathroom far more accessible and easier to navigate. Opting for toilets with hidden cisterns, redirecting pipes to sit within walls, or even replacing bulky radiators with underfloor heating can increase the amount of space available to manoeuvre accessibility aids.

Easy refits like lever taps over pillar taps or adding elongated handles can also help those who struggle with strength or grip.

Height advantage

With over 200,000 hip and knee replacements taking place in the UK each year, and countless other people experiencing bad

Let’s face it, clambering into a bath isn’t going to be easy for anyone with even the slightest of mobility problems. Yet there are plenty of options available - from baths with inbuilt steps, a lower height profile or doors, to hoists and seats which help people to get in and out of the bath more safely.

For those needing more accessibility, installers can assess the benefits of walk-in showers versus wetrooms.

Walk-in showers are the less expensive option, allowing the installer to retrofit an accessible, low level shower tray, complete with a seat and grab rails, with minimal disruption.

The savvy installer can also tap into options which will minimise the time spent on the job and meet a keener budget. By opting for larger shower trays which fit within the footprint of the current bath, installers can reduce the likelihood of having to re-tile the space by simply swapping one for another. With

For those looking to truly maximise space and make a bathroom as accessible as possible, a wetroom offers the ideal solution. Wetroom panels help to divide the space if needed, while underfloor heating offers a way to keep the room warm while maximising space.

According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), hot bath water is responsible for an average of 15 deaths amongst pensioners every year. Fitting a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) overcomes the threat of scalds, blending hot water with cold to ensure water comes out of the tap at a safe temperature.

By the same token, installing a thermostatic shower can offer an additional level of protection.

Smart choices

In the age of smart technology, every room in the house can benefit from connected tech, with the bathroom being no exception. For the elderly, embracing smart technology can improve accessibly even further, from remote controlled bath lifts to automatic toilets flushers, which are ideal for those with reduced mobility in their hands.

Smart showers can also help to reduce the risk of burns and keep temperatures comfortable, using a digital thermostat to set the temperature and turn on the shower before entering.

Trusted resource

For many people, not least the elderly, the thought of letting someone unfamiliar into your home and spending lots of money is stressful. To tap into this growing marketplace, installers must earn the trust of their potential customer base.

Having the knowledge to be able to offer advice and assistance is crucial, but credentials can help reinforce your position as someone who can be trusted to do a good job. If working with this vulnerable group, consider signing up to Age UK’s Trusted Trader Scheme.

Find out more

With an aging population and a strain on social care, installing the latest accessible bathroom products can help people stay in their own home and live independently for longer.

Find out more about products for accessible bathrooms by visiting the website below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/30

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Inclusive Bathrooms

Easy access for everyone Adapted washrooms in public areas no longer need to compromise on design or aesthetics.

Carole Armstrong from Delabie looks at some of the latest solutions which can ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all users.

I

nclusive washrooms design in the commercial sector are subject to much higher levels of constraints compared to domestic settings. Typically, the emphasis is on compliance, with aesthetics taking a secondary role. However, design, comfort, safety and hygiene are equally important, especially for buildings that must cater for the masses, not just the individual.

The obvious solution is to design washrooms that are accessible to all regardless of age, level of mobility or independence.

This means creating a neutral environment which is discrete, non-stigmatising, aestheticallypleasing and comfortable. Every user will then feel more at ease, whether they are able-bodied, ambulant disabled, wheelchair users or fully dependent on a carer.

Product appearance is just as important as technical performance and good aesthetic design will remove the medicalised aspect of accessible washrooms. Smart manufacturers

łŋƒ ŋƦ āũ Ö ũÖłėā ŋĕ ŭŶƘķāŭ Öłù Ʃ łĢŭĞāŭ ŭŋ ŶĞÖŶ ŶĞāĢũ ťũŋùŽóŶŭ łŋŶ only comply with current building regulations, but also complement the overall decorative style and provide a good visual contrast ƒĢŶĞ ƒÖķķ Ʃ łĢŭĞāŭ̍ ĕŽũŶĞāũ advantage of installing products with sleek, stylish lines is that they are easy to keep clean and maintain, guaranteeing the aesthetic is maintained and ensuring good hygiene standards.

washrooms, the accessories are often overlooked. Electronic or soft-touch soap dispensers can be operated by any user.

1ũėŋłŋĿĢóŭ ťķÖƘ Ö ŭĢėłĢƩ óÖłŶ part too, so installing toilet brushes with a long ergonomic handle can be a small detail that improves the user’s experience.

Similarly, tilting mirrors that can be adjusted by wheelchair users contribute to equality of experience in the washroom.

Flexible solution Adaptability is also important for those facilities providing short-term accommodation for people with reduced mobility, for example guest houses, hotels or even spa centres. Showering and changing facilities can be designed to adapt according to the user’s level of independence. For example, a removable shower seat can be installed when required, then replaced with a utility shelf when not required. The room can be adapted according to demand, providing building owners with ėũāÖŶāũ ƪ āƗĢðĢķĢŶƘ̍ When designing inclusive

placing unnecessary strain on the user.

Likewise, taps, showers and WCs should also be easy to operate e.g. non-contact, electronic controls or ones with long levers ƒĞĢóĞ óÖł ðā ŋťāũÖŶāù ðƘ Ö Ʃ ŭŶ or elbow. Inclusive washrooms ŭĞŋŽķù āóŋłŋĿĢŭā ŋł Žŭāũ āƦ ŋũŶ while maximising user safety.

Hygiene hazards Intensive use

Carole Armstrong Marketing & communications manager at Delabie

Specifying for accessibility in the domestic setting is comparatively simple, as the household is relatively small with regular but light usage. In public buildings inclusive washrooms need to provide a safe space for vulnerable people, but they may also be subject to heavy-handed use and even abuse. Installing commercial accessories will ensure that the washroom can withstand regular and intensive use on a daily basis.

The primary role of grab bars and shower seats is to support the static weight of any user and assist their movement within the washroom. The elderly or people with reduced mobility can easily lose their balance and fall. If they reach for the nearest hand hold, whether this is a bar, a riser rail or even a shower mixer, it must support the additional force required to arrest their fall.

Recessed shower mechanisms and óŋłóāÖķāù Ʃ ƗĢłėŭ ĕŋũ ėũÖð ðÖũŭ provide the ideal solution. Not ŋłķƘ óÖł ŶĞā Ʃ ƗĢłėŭ ðā óŋĿťķāŶāķƘ hidden, they also prevent unwanted removal.

To provide full support, the ťũŋƩ ķā ŋĕ ŶĞā ėũÖð ðÖũ ŋũ ŭŽťťŋũŶ ũÖĢķ ĿŽŭŶ Öķķŋƒ Ö Ʃ ũĿ̇ łÖŶŽũÖķ Ğŋķù̍ Rĕ ŶĞā ðÖũ̪ŭ ťũŋƩ ķā Ģŭ Ŷŋŋ angular, the hand cannot grasp the bar properly. Similarly, if the diameter is too small or too large, the forearm muscle is activated rather than the shoulder muscle, W A removable shower seat can be installed when required

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S An inclusive shower needn’t compromise on style

Hygiene in inclusive washrooms is primordial, especially for those in constant use. Taps, WCs, grab bars and even soap dispensers should have simple designs with hardwearing surfaces with minimal joins where dirt and bacteria can accumulate. Sanitaryware and accessories that are manufactured in one-piece have a distinct hygiene advantage over complex designs.

The straight sections of grab bars should be extruded in one piece to avoid seams where the hands have most frequent contact.

Smooth, uniform surfaces such as stainless steel or highùāłŭĢŶƘ pƘķŋł ŋƦ āũ āƗóāķķāłŶ hygienic properties. They will both withstand intensive use and regular cleaning so the surface remains smooth and bright.

Design also plays an important role in hygiene. Complex shower seat structures have multiple niches where dirt can build up, allowing bacteria to develop.

Simple, clean lines reduce such niches and facilitate cleaning. The ŭāÖŶ ťũŋƩ ķā Ģŭ āŨŽÖķķƘ ĢĿťŋũŶÖłŶ Öŭ water must be able to drain away to avoid pooling.

So it is possible to incorporate stylish designs that will withstand intensive use while upholding user safety and hygiene standards.

There is no need to compromise on functionality or ergonomics, ensuring safety for all users of accessible washrooms in the care sector.

ͻ phamnews.co.uk̓˜˛˙̓˜˚

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Inclusive Bathrooms

Accessibility at any age Designing a bathroom that meets the needs of an aging population requires special considerations for this growing demographic. Here, Margaret Talbot from VitrA reports on some recent research from Lab4Living that advises on how to specify for age-related impairments.

U

nderstanding the needs of the growing population and increased life expectancy is a key at VitrA and one of the reasons we initiated research with Hallam University’s Lab4Living (2017), which aims to identify critical elements for inclusive design.

 The Nest Bathroom includes storage (pictured under sink) that doubles as a stool for all generations

Inclusive approach

The research with Lab4Living involved older people who helped pinpoint the challenges of bathroom use. For example, getting in and out of the bath or shower requires strength, mobility and balance, all of which can deteriorate throughout our lives. Finding a solution that makes life easier for older people often works better for all.

One of the difficulties identified by the research is diminishing strength. As people age, muscle mass is lost, leading to inadequate control of both large and small movements.

Products that require more complex dexterity or that

 The VitrA Origin basin mixer includes an easy to use lever for those with reduced strength in grip

Margaret Talbot

Marketing manager VitrA

Older people are sensitive to the effects of temperature extremes so thermostatic water delivery at all points is critical

are physically demanding can become difficult or even impossible to use.

One of the solutions to these issues are shower toilets, like our V-Care Shower WC, which makes personal hygiene easier and more comfortable. Userfriendly remote controls can be used to activate washing and drying functions, reducing the need for assistance.

Another issue older people may struggle with is grip, which will affect their use of controls such as tap handles. They should be within easy reach at both standing and sitting levels and they should not require excessive force to operate.

Seeing is believing

As time goes on vision deteriorates and we need more light to see clearly. By age 60 we need three times the amount of light to see as well as a 20-yearold, and at 70 we need four times as much. Adding furniture with LED lighting can make life easier. For example, our Nest Trendy washbasin cabinets and mirrors have a lighting feature that makes it easier for users to find their way. The range also  V-Care Shower WC can be used with a remote control to activate washing and drying functions

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includes a storage box that can double as a seat/support.

Balance will also become an issue as we age. Compromised balance can lead to an increased possibility of falls and injury, further exacerbated by often slippery and hard surfaces found in the bathroom. Wellpositioned weight bearing towel rails, or a seat or storage box that is strong enough to offer support, is an easy way of making the bathroom safer.

When cognition is affected by age, there are significant reductions in reasoning and spatial orientation. That’s why the design of an inclusive bathroom should take into consideration the placement of the major items. Consider the access of each item, but also look at the way they relate. In a caring situation, there may be more than one person in the space, so maximise the room around fixtures and fittings to allow a carer to stand or sit.

Spatial relations

Avoid placing items that are regularly used at the same time on the same wall or next to each other. For example, a toilet and basin are ‘paired’ items because people wash up after using the WC. Placing them in line with each other may encourage

sharp body movements when transferring from one to the other and this can lead to injury as a result of the loss of balance.

If possible, place such paired items opposite one another, or at least at 90º to one another, so that sharp body movements are reduced or eliminated.

Storage will help to avoid clutter that can create confusion, especially for people with dementia. It is also a good idea to display regularly used items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and shampoo on open shelving to aid memory.

Use of colour

It is more challenging to identify contrast as we age, especially at night, so it is a good idea to use colour, LED lighting and different materials to differentiate the edges and corners of the fixtures. If the toilet is next to the bath, it can be useful as a seat when getting in or out of a tub but for some, this proximity may act as a barrier.

Also, as people age, they find their body temperature gets harder to regulate, especially in their hands and feet because of age-related conditions or medication. Older people are more sensitive to the effects of temperature extremes.

Consequently, the control of temperature both in the bathroom and of water is important to maximise comfort and reduce risk and injury.

Thermostatically controlled water delivery at all points is critical.

At VitrA we believe that every user deserves the same level of comfort in the bathroom.

The Design for All principles in our design process ensure that our bathrooms achieve this by adapting to people’s evolving needs throughout their lives. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/32

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Inclusive Bathrooms Wall panels unify the wetroom

zƦāũĢłė Ö óĞŋĢóā ĕŋũ ƒāŶũŋŋĿ ťũŋıāóŶŭ̇ ŶĞā Origins wall panel range from AKW comes in both tongue and groove and square edge formats and is available in ˚˕ ùĢƦāũāłŶ colourways. Having the option of ˢ˙˙ and ˟˙˙mm widths or the ˚˛˙˙mm width square edge version means that no matter what the quality of the existing surface, there is a wall panel solution to suit. They are designed for internal use in areas that are exposed to water. From bathrooms, wetrooms and shower enclosures to commercial spaces that

require hygienic wall cladding, this solution is hard-wearing, low maintenance and quick and easy to install.

The ˚˚mm thick wall panels are made of WPS plywood substrate for ultimate strength and longevity. Fixtures such as shower ŭāÖŶŭ Öłù ėũÖð ũÖĢķŭ óÖł ðā ƩŶŶāù ŭāóŽũāķƘ Ŷŋ this, without impacting weight loading. A wide variety of corner, bottom and end cap extrusions are also available in chrome, white and satin anodised aluminium. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˜˜

Safety combined with style A new contemporary collection of shower seats, grab rails and bars is now available from Lakes.

The new Series 500, part of Lakes Additions, includes sleek, foldaway shower seats in a óĞŋĢóā ŋĕ óĞũŋĿā̓ėũāƘ Öłù óĞũŋĿā̓ƒĞĢŶā̇ Öłù smart, chrome grab rails and bars. This latest development is part of the company's drive to ťũŋĿŋŶā óŋĿĕŋũŶ̇ ŭÖĕāŶƘ Öłù óŋłƩùāłóā Ģł ŶĞā showering space.

Sales & marketing director Mike Tattam explains: ̦ ĿÖķķ ŶĞĢłėŭ óÖł ĿÖĴā Ö ðĢė ùĢƦāũāłóā Ŷŋ ŭÖĕāŶƘ and comfort. But traditionally, optional extras like shower seats and grab rails haven’t always been the most attractive additions to your bathroom, which may have inhibited sales. Our new Series 500, however, is smart, stylish and discreet, providing all the comfort people with limited mobility need without compromising on looks or design.” ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˜˝

Full choice from one source ViCare is the name of Villeroy & Boch’s accessible bathroom range which includes the company’s entire accessible product ũÖłėā̍ ÁĢ!Öũā Öķŭŋ ŋƦāũŭ ÖóóāŭŭŋũĢāŭ ĕŋũ comfortable and modern bathrooms from a single source.

The two ceramic series - O.novo Vita and Architectura Vita - comprise a wide selection of ceramic bathroom elements for designing intelligent accessible solutions in the vanity area and toilet. The ƒÖŭĞðÖŭĢłŭ ŋƦāũ ťķāłŶƘ ŋĕ óķāÖũÖłóā ĕŋũ knees, allowing comfortable body care while sitting, and easy passage underneath with the wheelchair.

The ViCare accessories comprise grab and support handles as well as shelves in the two series, Design and Function, that all meet the EU directive CE EEC ˢ˜̓˝˛ for medical products. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˜˞

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Products in Action Trench heating helps keep up appearances Dunham-Bush has supplied its Hydrocourse trench heating to the the £˞˝ million Devonshire Park transformation in Eastbourne. The redevelopment will create a high standard cultural, conferencing and sporting facilities known as the Devonshire Quarter.

The Hydrocourse trench heating ŭƘŭŶāĿ ĞÖŭ ðāāł ƩŶŶāù Ģł ŶĞā łāƒ Welcome Building that has been

Care home boiler installation Three XL˚˝˙ boilers from ATAG Commercial have been installed at Norman Lodge, a residential care home in Bradford, as part of a major renovation project, which included refurbishing the heating system. ¦Ğā ťũŋıāóŶ ŭÖƒ ŶĞā ðŋĢķāũŭ ƩŶŶāù ÖķŋłėŭĢùā Ö !N ŽłĢŶ̇ ĢłùāťāłùāłŶ ƒÖŶāũ ĞāÖŶāũŭ Öłù óÖķŋũĢƩāũŭ̇ ũāťķÖóĢłė ŶĞā ðŽĢķùĢłė̪ŭ ŋũĢėĢłÖķ̇ ˛˞-year old heating system.

Norman Lodge is managed by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The council has long been a customer of ATAG !ŋĿĿāũóĢÖķ̇ ƒĞĢóĞ ĞÖŭ ũāŭŽķŶāù Ģł ŶĞā óŋĿťÖłƘ̪ŭ ðŋĢķāũŭ ðāĢłė installed in a variety of locations throughout the Yorkshire area. ¦āũũƘ pĢóĞŋķŭ̇ ĿāóĞÖłĢóÖķ ƒŋũĴŭ ŋƧóāũ ÖŶ ŶĞā ùĢŭŶũĢóŶ óŋŽłóĢķ̇ ŭÖƘŭ̆ ̦Âā ĞÖƑā ðāāł ŽŭĢłė ¦ F !ŋĿĿāũóĢÖķ̪ŭ ðŋĢķāũŭ ĕŋũ ŋƑāũ Ö ùāóÖùā̍ XL boilers are usually the products of choice, as they are such reliable and economical units, their dual burners making them perfect for applications such as schools and care homes. They can also be used in cascade, which is a great advantage from an installation perspective.” ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙/˜ˠ

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created to establish a premier conference destination. ¦ũāłóĞ ĞāÖŶĢłė Ģŭ Öł āƦāóŶĢƑā solution for countering down draughts on cold surfaces, helping to prevent condensation on large

glazed areas and outside walls.

This makes it an ideal solution for buildings like this one, where extensive glazed areas are a common feature. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˜˟

1łāũėƘ āƧóĢāłŶ óŋŋķĢłė ĕŋũ ŋƧóā Ģł ŋŋķā Ethical cosmetics retailer Lush is now able to deliver energy āƧóĢāłŶ ÖĢũ óŋłùĢŶĢŋłĢłė Ŷŋ āĿťķŋƘāāŭ ÖŶ ĢŶŭ łāƒ ŋƧóā ŭťÖóā Ģł ŋŋķā ŶĞÖłĴŭ Ŷŋ ŶĞā ĢłŭŶÖķķÖŶĢŋł ŋĕ mĢŶŭŽðĢŭĞĢ 1ķāóŶũĢó̪ŭ !ĢŶƘ mŽķŶĢ Á D ĞāÖŶ ũāóŋƑāũƘ ŭƘŭŶāĿ̵̍ Lush expanded its business with a new unit at Dolphin Quays.

The units came equipped with running water and electricity, but Lush needed comforts for employees, including air conditioning, Ŷŋ ðā ĢłŭŶÖķķāù̵̍ ¦Ğā ŭŋķŽŶĢŋł óÖĿā Ģł ŶĞā ĕŋũĿ ŋĕ ˚˛ ceilingŭŽŭťāłùāù !ĢŶƘ mŽķŶĢ Á D Ģłùŋŋũ ŽłĢŶŭ Öłù ŋłā ƪŋŋũ-positioned unit, installed by Modern Facilities Services, a Mitsubishi Electric óóũāùĢŶāù RłŭŶÖķķāũ̵̍¦Ğā ŭƘŭŶāĿ Ģŭ Öðķā Ŷŋ ĿŋƑā āƗóāŭŭ ĞāÖŶ Ŷŋ other parts of the building which need heating, helping to deliver ĞĢėĞ ķāƑāķŭ ŋĕ āƧóĢāłóƘ̍ Two Lossnay mechanical ventilation with heat recovery units ƒāũā Öķŭŋ ĢłŭŶÖķķāù Ŷŋ ũāĿŋƑā ŭŶÖķā ÖĢũ ĕũŋĿ ŶĞā ŋƧóā̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙/˜ˡ

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Tools & Workwear 47

Looking after yourself ÂĞÖŶāƑāũ ŶĞā ŭĢơā ŋĕ ŶĞā ıŋð̇ ťāũŭŋłÖķ ťũŋŶāóŶĢƑā āŨŽĢťĿāłŶ ̛ 1̜ óÖł ėũāÖŶķƘ reduce the risk of injury while you are working. Chris Riley from Baxi explains how plumbers and heating engineers can minimise any risk of injury.

W

Handy work

hile the majority of tradespeople wouldn’t think twice about donning a hard hat, hi-vis jacket and safety boots when working on a building site, in other situations, such as in a customer’s home, PPE isn’t always front of mind – but accidents can happen when they’re least expected. Starting with ŶĞā ĞāÖù Öłù Ʃ łĢŭĞĢłė ƒĢŶĞ ŶĞā ĕāāŶ̇ ŶĞā following PPE options should help to ensure that you stay safe, wherever you happen to be working.

From the top When you consider that a head injury could cause a debilitating concussion and in worst case scenarios severe brain injuries, or that debris could damage your eyesight or even cause blindness – PPE for your face and head shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Hard hats are often more suitable for construction sites where there is risk of falling objects, but bump caps are perfect to use when doing work in a customer’s home. Low hanging shelves, pipework underneath sinks or beams in a loft are all domestic hazards you could bang your head against.

To protect the delicate eye area wearing safety glasses is a must. With appropriate safety glasses, eye injuries óÖŽŭāù ðƘ ĿĢłŋũ ùŽŭŶ óĞĢťŭ ŋũ ƪ ƘĢłė particles that may be in the air when you are doing routine work in a customer’s home can be avoided. When working with chemicals such as inhibitors it is also wise to wear safety glasses with allround shielding protection to prevent hazardous substances from splashing back into your eyes.

Chris Riley

National operations manager at Baxi

Knees and toes ÂĢŶĞ ĿÖłƘ ıŋðŭ ũāŨŽĢũĢłė Öóóāŭŭ Ŷŋ ķŋƒ spaces, there is comprehensive PPE available for your lower body. Knee pads and kneeling mats, for instance, can be Žŭāù ƒĞāł ƒŋũĴĢłė ÖŶ ƪ ŋŋũ ķāƑāķ Ŷŋ Ğāķť cushion your joints and prevent future ligament damage, often caused by repetitive bending and muscle strain. It Ģŭ óŋĿĿŋł ĕŋũ Ĵłāā ťũŋðķāĿŭ Ŷŋ ÖƦ āóŶ tradespeople, especially later in life, so it is worth investing in preventative PPE measures to prevent any knee issues from becoming worse over time.

Safety shoes are another extremely important part of your PPE toolkit.

Steel reinforced toe caps and puncture resistant soles prevent foot injuries from heavy falling objects and things like hidden nails. Remember to keep a stock of non-slip overshoe protection covers so that if you are asked to remove your footwear before entering a customer’s home you can still wear your shoes and protect the carpets at the same time.

Dust protection One of the most common PPE mistakes made by plumbing and heating engineers is not wearing a dust mask.

A dust mask will protect you from inhaling dust and debris, which can be common when removing older heating appliances. It might seem unnecessary, but over time all of the dust you are exposed to could lead to bigger respiratory issues further down the line. Just make sure that you do not reuse disposable masks and, if possible, purchase a reusable one for reliable protection time and time again.

Before you even step out of your vehicle, a high-vis jacket is essential to make sure you are visible to motorists driving past, particularly in heavy ŶũÖƧ ó ÖũāÖŭ̍ mÖłƘ ŶũÖùāŭťāŋťķā óÖł become complacent about this and have ŭŽƦ āũāù ŶĞā óŋłŭāŨŽāłóāŭ ŋĕ ðāĢłė ĞĢŶ by a vehicle when exiting a van or when unloading or loading tools.

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When it comes to working on plumbing and heating appliances, using protective gloves is the best way to protect hands from cuts, scrapes, punctures, chemical erosion and heat burns. A good pair of safety gloves will be made with dexterity in mind however, so it is worth trying on Ö ĕāƒ ùĢƦ āũāłŶ ùāŭĢėłŭ Öłù ŭĢơāŭ Ŷŋ ėāŶ ŶĞā ðāŭŶ Ʃ Ŷ ĕŋũ ƘŋŽ̍ Safety gloves are rated based on the ķāƑāķ ŋĕ óŽŶ ťũŋŶāóŶĢŋł ŶĞāƘ ŋƦ āũ Ŷŋŋ̇ ƒĢŶĞ ŋłā ðāĢłė ŶĞā ķŋƒāŭŶ ťũŋŶāóŶĢŋł Öłù Ʃ Ƒā the highest. It is recommended that level Ʃ Ƒā ėķŋƑāŭ Öũā Žŭāù ðƘ ťķŽĿðĢłė Öłù heating engineers to ensure maximum protection. When coming into contact with system water, chemicals or contaminated surfaces, nitrile gloves can also be worn over safety gloves to stop them becoming wet or contaminated.

Finally, for heavy lifting jobs such as moving an appliance or heat exchanger, rigger gloves will provide more heavyduty protection.

Don’t forget that your arms can also need PPE, especially when reaching into boiler systems or hard to access spaces to reach pipes. In these scenarios, armlets can be worn in conjunction with gloves.

Don’t risk it

S Bump caps, eye protection, dust masks and knee pads can all help to ensure that you and your employees stay safe

pŋŶ ŋłķƘ Ģŭ āƦ āóŶĢƑā 1 Öł ĢłƑāŭŶĿāłŶ into your own health and safety, but it could also protect your future earnings by reducing the risk of having to take unpaid ŶĢĿā ŋƦ Ö ıŋð Öŭ Ö ũāŭŽķŶ ŋĕ Ö ƒŋũĴ-related injury. Also, if you’re an employer, don’t forget that you could face litigation if you don’t supply appropriate PPE for your workers. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˝˛

28/02/2020 16:33

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

48

Tools & Workwear

High-tech for safety and style Shoes and boots that look the part but also deliver the required protection are not incompatible goals, so says Peter Dumigan of the Hultafors Group.

S

afety footwear has evolved enormously over the last two hundred years. While clogs and heavy leather boots were used by factory workers and miners in the 19th century, steel toe-cap and hob nail boots came to the fore in the first half of the 20th century, while army surplus footwear and rigger boots were some of the products used in the years that followed.

Protective footwear has obviously moved on in light years since those times, but some of today’s poorly designed and noncompliant safety footwear is as uncomfortable and damaging as stiff leather hob-nail boots.

There’s no reason safety footwear can’t be sporty and comfortable, like the Solid Gear Hydra GTX (above) and Revolution Safety Trainer (left)

modification’ approaches to safety product development, which involve the clear understanding of, and defining attitudes to safe or unsafe behaviour at work.

For many employers, it’s a key issue given that so many accidents and injuries are reported to be attributable to inappropriate or sloppy attitudes at work. In terms of the overall management of health and safety practices at work, effective behavioural awareness among the workforce – which comes from a good understanding of health and safety issues – reduces risk and injury.

Peter Dumigan

MD of the Hultafors Group UK

Modern times

The design, development and manufacture of safety footwear in the 21st century is controlled by the regulatory framework provided by the European directives for personal protective equipment (CE EN 20345:2011), which ensures that every safety footwear product is designed to offer the right protection in compliance with these standards.

While regulations control safety footwear design and development, product innovation is influenced by advances in materials technology, the uses and applications of which are driven by safety and user attitudes to style, design and comfort.

Modern safety footwear can be lightweight with sporty looking designs if they are made from state-of-the-art materials

Safety first

For the leading safety footwear brands, these are the key drivers in product design and development – as well as the fact that men and women have different on-site requirements.

In recent years there has been an increase in the use of ‘behavioural safety’ or ‘behaviour

For safety footwear manufacturers this issue is compounded by design and fashion influences. Product comfort, aesthetics and style are key factors in encouraging workers to use safety footwear – and by association ensuring they understand the benefits of keeping their feet comfortable and protected.

It’s a highly efficient vehicle for increasing workforce participation

in health and safety programmes.

Thus the resulting behaviour and individual actions can positively influence the overall health and safety culture in an organisation.

Performance through innovation is a key philosophy in continually modernising safety footwear as well as satisfying regulatory requirements and a user’s safety needs.

By using high-tech materials in product design, 21st century health and safety is moving away from the old idea that highprotection safety footwear can come from simply having a heavy boot. While there will always be ‘traditional’ work boots in any safety footwear range, the most modern safety footwear can be lightweight with sportylooking designs if they’re made from state-of-the-art footbed materials complemented by the most modern technical fibres and quality materials in the uppers.

Material matters

In terms of what inspires our product development, it’s ultimately the specific needs of professional craftsmen and women on site which have been thoroughly researched and tested.

Our objective is simply to deliver the best quality safety footwear on the market.

That is why we work with suppliers known for their stateof-the-art material, such as Gore-Tex for water protection and its ability to breathe; Vibram soles for grip and durability; the BOA Closure System for easy adjustments; and rip-stop Cordura fabric for hard-wearing durability.

While quality materials and technologies are at the heart of our product range, product design and choice has to reflect the environments in which products are worn – whatever the working environment or weather condition – to deliver safety and protection wherever our customers are. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/43

The safety shoe

The athletic safety trainer

The safety boot

The newest safety shoes with an E-TPU sole will deliver superb cushioning and comfort all day. In effect, it returns a ‘bounce back’ which gives a 55% ‘energy return’ that will put a real spring in your step to reduce fatigue and stress on your back, legs and feet.

This kind of shoe should have a stretchable upper with Cordura for water-resistance. This will also give amazing performance when it comes to breathability, fit and flexibility. Importantly, this kind of shoe should have a non-slip sole plus a composite midsole and ideally a heel counter for foot stability.

Naturally the shoe has to have a toe-cap, but look for the new Nano toe-cap. It’s 40% stronger than fiberglass, lighter than other materials, and thinner than other non-metallic toe-caps.

Ideal for workers who are constantly on the move, this kind of safety shoe should have a lightweight athletic look and fully compliant safety features.

The shoe’s midsole should be made of a poured PU rather than a traditional injected PU to give a more cushioned feel underfoot. A thick rubber outsole will provide a high level of anti-slip protection.

Boa comfort fastening and lightweight but durable uppers will deliver a better overall fit, making it easy to take the shoe on and off, especially when going in and out of people’s homes.

The shoe should also have a fibreglass toecap which, together with the ballistic midsole, will combine with the other protection features and antistatic properties to deliver S3 protection.

Given the wear and tear they have to put up with, feet deserve better than a cheap boot. For maximum comfort, protection, and durability look for a technical safety boot that integrates modern design to deliver water protection, comfort and a sporty look.

A waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex lining will keep feet dry and comfortable, while a Vibram outsole and Cordura Ripstop fabric in the uppers offer great protection and ruggedness. A fibreglass toe-cap will also ensure fully compliant protection. The BOA closure system means pressure will be distributed evenly across your feet for maximum comfort, ensure a glove-like fit and keep feet dry, warm and comfortable.

Toe Guard’s Sprinter safety shoe

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Solid Gear’s Revolution safety trainer

Solid Gear’s Phoenix safety boot

28/02/2020 16:34

PHAM MAR20:Layout 1 02/03/2020 08:38 Page 49

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Tools & Workwear 49 NÖłùƘ ŽłĢƑāũŭÖķ ĴāƘ The Control Cabinet Key ‘Double Joint’ from Knipex is designed Ŷŋ ƒŋũĴ Öóũŋŭŭ Ö ũÖłėā ŋĕ ŽŶĢķĢŶƘ Öłù óŋłŶũŋķ óÖðĢłāŶŭ̇ ƩŶŶĢłė ķŋóĴŭ ĿÖùā ðƘ ùĢƦāũāłŶ ĿÖłŽĕÖóŶŽũāũŭ̍ 'āŭóũĢðāù Öŭ Ö ŽłĢƑāũŭÖķ swivel head wrench, it has four rotatable closing heads and three closing heads with a double function. There are three ťũŋƩķā ŶƘťāŭ ÖƑÖĢķÖðķā̆ ŋŽŶŭĢùā ŭŨŽÖũā ̛˞-ˡmm), triangle (ˠ-ˢĿĿ̜ Öłù ùŋŽðķā ðĢŶ ̛óĢũóķā ƒĢŶĞ Ʃłŭ ˜-˞mm).

The tool contains strong magnets to open and close easily and ŭŶÖƘ ƩũĿķƘ Ģł ťķÖóā̍ RŶ óÖł ðā ŋťāłāù ĕŽķķƘ Ŷŋ ˚ˡ˙º or held at 90º giving it an easy-to-use handle. When folded back together, the key measures just ˟˛mm and weighs just over ˚˙˙g. ͻ phamnews.co.uk̓˜˛˙̓˝˝

¦ũŋŽŭāũŭ ŭŶũāŶóĞ Ŷŋ ƩŶ āƑāũƘ ƒĞĢóĞ ƒÖƘ 'āŭĢėłāù Ŷŋ Öķķŋƒ Öŭ ĿŽóĞ ƪāƗĢðĢķĢŶƘ Öŭ ťŋŭŭĢðķā whilst kneeling or bending, the X-Treme ˝-way stretch work trousers from Engel are made with a breathable, cooling fabric which absorbs and dries light perspiration.

The knee pad pockets are reinforced with hard wearing Kevlar Teramid and have two options for pad height adjustment. In addition to the many useful pockets for keeping essential tools and accessories immediately to hand, some of which have either Velcro or zip closures, optional hanging tool pockets can be attached to the waist. The trousers also have extra deep hems so that lengths can be increased if required.

The X-Treme ˝-way work trousers are available in a variety of colour combinations and sizes. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˝˞

óóŽũÖŶā ũāťŋũŶĢłė ƑĢÖ 1ƗťāũŶ Öťť With the aim of saving installers time and reducing the chance of error, TPI Europe has teamed up with 1ƗťāũŶ ¦ũÖùāŭ Ŷŋ ŋƦāũ Öł āÖŭƘ Öłù reliable way of recording data from its ŭóũāāłķāŭŭ ƪŽā ėÖŭ ÖłÖķƘŭāũ̍ The TPI DCˠ˚˙ Smart Screenless ķŽāŶŋŋŶĞ ƪŽā ėÖŭ ÖłÖķƘŭāũ Ģŭ łŋƒ integrated with the Expert Trades zƧóā Öťť̇ ƒĞĢóĞ ĿāÖłŭ Žŭāũŭ óÖł connect the DCˠ˚˙ to the app, where

¦ĞāũĿÖķ ĢĿÖėāũ Ʃłùŭ ĿŋĢŭŶŽũā

NEW 49.indd 1

ŋĕŶŭĞāķķ Öķķŋƒŭ ĕŋũ ĕũāāùŋĿ ŋĕ ĿŋƑāĿāłŶ Keep warm when the temperatures dip with Dickies’ Winter Softshell Jacket. It features stretch fabric for ease of movement without the restrictive, bulky feel of some winter jackets.

Easy to embroider with company logos, the jacket is available in six colour ways, making it simple to coordinate as part of a uniform.

Another jacket in the ũÖłėā ðāłāƩŶŭ ĕũŋĿ ŨŽĢķŶāù lining for added warmth on particularly cold days, plus Ö ƪāāóā-lined chin guard for extra comfort. Both jackets are waterproof and breathable Öłù ĢłóķŽùā ũāƪāóŶĢƑā ùāŶÖĢķŭ̇ ťķŽŭ ÖùıŽŭŶÖðķā óŽƦŭ Öłù hems to retain warmth.

“Our clothing has been used to protect tradespeople in some of the world’s harshest working environments and these new jackets are designed Ŷŋ ŋƦāũ ƒÖũĿŶĞ Öłù ťũŋŶāóŶĢŋł from the elements in the cold, dark days of winter,” says James Whitaker, marketing

director at Dickies Workwear.

“Both jackets are waterproof Ŷŋ Ö ĞĢėĞ ķāƑāķ̇ ƒĞĢķā ŋƦāũĢłė insulation and breathability – allowing the wearer to remain warm, dry and comfortable whatever the weather this season.” ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˝˟

analyser readings will be logged directly into a Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Service Maintenance Record. The live readings are displayed in real time.

The TPI View app is compatible with a number of smart devices (both iOS and Android) and features colour coded readings, GPS tagged reports, gas rate calculator, boiler manuals and much more.

The integration of the TPI’s DCˠ˚˙ and the Expert Trades app delivers other advantages to users to make admin easy, including quotes, invoicing, automatic payment, service and booking reminders, etc. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˝ˠ

Combining a built-in thermal imager with moisture hygrometer, the MR˛ˠˠ from Flir is a multi-spectral dynamic imaging device that helps users quickly troubleshoot moisture issues This building inspection system features a moisture meter with infrared ėŽĢùāù ĿāÖŭŽũāĿāłŶ ̛RFm̜ Ŷŋ ŋƦāũ multi-spectral dynamic imaging (MSX) technology. As an all-in-one thermal-enabled moisture meter with hygrometer, users will gain a full understanding of problem areas by enhancing IGM thermal images with ƑĢŭŽÖķ ùāŶÖĢķŭ ŭŋ ŶĞāƘ óÖł ŨŽĢóĴķƘ Ʃłù moisture, air leaks and insulation voids.

The MR˛ˠˠ includes an MR˙˛ removeable pin probe in addition to the built-in pinless sensor. The MR˚˜ moisture hygrometer is also included – this humidity and temperature sensor measures relative humidity and is Ʃāķù-replaceable, thereby minimising downtime on the job. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˝ˡ

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PHAM MAR20:Layout 1 02/03/2020 08:38 Page 50

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

50

Tools & Workwear Keep connected with Bluetooth

Kits unite essential tools The new D˛˙ series of cordless power tools from Draper Tools features a convenient multi-tool battery system – where one interchangeable battery system powers every tool in the range.

Most of the D˛˙ range features a brushless motor for improved performance and durability, and there’s a range of battery sizes and charger options available. ¦Ğā DĢƗ ̨p̪ Fŋ bĢŶ ĕāÖŶŽũāŭ Ö

brushless combi drill, brushless impact driver, D˛˙ twin port USB adaptor, ˛ Ɨ ˛̍˙Ah batteries, charger and an impact screwdriver bit set. This handy kit comes stored in a ˝˝˙mm hard bottom tool bag for easy transportation and storage.

Also available is an eight-

Environmentally friendly solution New from Hilton Banks is the HB˝˛ All-in-One ‘Eco-Foils’ starter pack, with three Eco-Foils and a sealant gun, removing the environmental problem of disposing of the single use plastic cartridge normally associated with these type of products.

They produce ˢ˞% less waste than the single use tubes and users get ˜ˡ% more sealant than in the ˛ˢ˙ml plastic tube. The product seals, sticks and Ʃ ķķŭ̇ Ģŭ ƪ āƗĢðķā Žť Ŷŋ ˛˜˙%, can be over-painted, and works in the wet. It is low in VOCs and bonds to almost anything, fully curing in ˛˝ hours. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˞˚

piece D˛˙ Workshop kit. This set comes with a brushless combi drill, brushless impact wrench, brushless ˚˚˞mm grinder, D˛˙ DķāƗĢ ĢłŭťāóŶĢŋł ķÖĿť̇ ˜̍˙Ah battery and ˝̍˙Ah battery, charger, durable storage case and a tin of ten metal cutting discs. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˝ˢ

The latest addition to Makita’s radio range is the DMR˚˚˞ Job Site Radio with Bluetooth functionality and a light weight of ˝̍ˡ̟˞̍˞kg.

This robust unit includes DAB/DAB+ radio and is IP˟˞ rated. Elastomer bumpers protect the unit against tough jobsite conditions.

It also has a powerful Bluetooth sensor to connect wirelessly for audio streaming from mobile devices up to a range of ˚˙m away, and includes two stereo speakers and an additional subwoofer to produce high quality sound. In addition, the Multi- ĿťķĢƩ āũ provides clear hi-Ʃ ŭŋŽłù ũāťũŋùŽóŶĢŋł without decreasing sound quality even when the volume is high. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˞˙

Better way to take a look ¦āŭŶŋ Ģŭ ŋƦ āũĢłė Ŷƒŋ ŋĕ ĢŶŭ ŶĞāũĿÖķ imaging cameras as part of a valueadded product bundle. The Testo 868 and the ˡˠ˛ are suitable for carrying out heating or building inspections.

The Testo 868 is a diagnostic instrument for heating engineers.

RŶ ŋƦ āũŭ ĢłĕũÖũāù ũāŭŋķŽŶĢŋł ŋĕ ˚˟˙ Ɨ ˚˛˙ ťĢƗāķŭ ̛ĢłóũāÖŭĢłė Ŷŋ ˜˛˙ Ɨ ˛˝˙ ťĢƗāķŭ ƒĢŶĞ ¦āŭŶŋ Žťāũ āŭŋķŽŶĢŋł̜ and a temperature measuring range from ̟˜˙ °C to ͖˟˞˙°C. Bluetooth connection to the free Thermography App makes it simple to write and send reports.

Automatic hot/cold spot detection and the integrated digital camera make measurement and analysis quick and easy. Thermal imaging cameras can help in everyday measurement tasks, such as checking ŭĢķŶ ðŽĢķù Žť Ģł ũÖùĢÖŶŋũŭ̇ ùāŶāóŶĢłė ķāÖĴŭ Ģł ťĢťāŭ Öłù Žłùāũƪ ŋŋũ heating, and electrical testing For building inspectors, the ˡˠ˛ kit is now supplied with a Testo ˟˙˞i Smart Probe thermohygrometer, which together can be used to accurately detect and visualise mould risk. ͻ phamnews.co.uk̓˜˛˙̓˞˛

Power from the ports Avoid being powerless on site with HiKOKI’s new ˝-port charger, which quickly and simultaneously can charge ˚8 and ˜˟V power tool batteries – including Multi Volt. Rapid mode charge times are just 20 minutes per ˜̍˙Ah battery, ˜˛ minutes per ˞̍˙Ah battery and ˜8 minutes per 6.˙Ah battery.

Simultaneous mode charge times are 80 minutes for ˝ Ɨ ˜̍˙Ah batteries, ˚˛ˡ minutes for ˝ Ɨ ˞̍˙Ah batteries and 152 mins for ˝ Ɨ ˟̍˙Ah batteries.

This charger also includes two USB charger points for added convenience, so mobiles can be topped up through the working day too. It also has a three-pin ŋŽŶķāŶ̇ ŭŋ ĢŶ óÖł ðā Žŭāù Öŭ Öł āƗŶāłŭĢŋł ķāÖù̍ A high visibility charge indicator lamp is included, and the charger operates at low temperatures and is compatible with petrol generators. A folding carry handle means that it is also easy to transport. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˞˜

Keep tools close to hand The Plano brand of pouches, bags and belts, now available from Hyde, are all made from heavy duty reinforced material that can be attached to a toolbelt.

The Multi-Tiered tool pouch, ĕŋũ āƗÖĿťķā̇ ĞÖŭ ŶĢāũāù ťŋóĴāŶŭ ĕŋũ óÖũũƘĢłė Ö ƑÖũĢāŶƘ ŋĕ tools, while smaller pouches are available for carrying items such as nails, drills and hammers.

Suitable for tradespeople who frequently work at ground level, the Plano pouch with kickstand can be ťŋŭĢŶĢŋłāù ŋł ŶĞā ƪ ŋŋũ ĕŋũ āÖŭƘ ũāÖóĞ̇ ƒĞĢķā ŶĞā ķÖłŋ pouch with shoulder strap is one of the largest items in the range and makes it easy to carry tools around site in comfort, while keeping nicely organised. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˞˝

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28/02/2020 16:38

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Product News 51 Magnetic low loss header and insulation kits join the line-up Designed for use with the Evomax 2, Ideal Commercial has enhanced its range of cascade accessories with the introduction of Magnetic Low Loss Header and Cascade Insulation kits.

The new kit is available in four different sizes to match Evomax 2 header kits. The magnetic low loss header offers an additional approach to hydraulic separation whilst providing a solution that is space efficient by combining a low loss header and a magnetic filter. Butterfly valves for system isolation are available as an optional extra. The new header supplements the low loss header and brazed plate heat exchanger hydraulic separation options already available for Evomax 2 cascade installations.

Ideal Commercial says insulation on a cascade installation does improve operational efficiency.

Following feedback from customers, its new insulation kits improve on the insulation previously offered on Evomax and Evomax 2 header kits. Made from robust expanded polypropylene, the insulation kits consist of

For further information about any of the products featured on this page, simply enter phamnews.co.uk /320/ plus the relevant enquiry number.

Lighter boards make for lighter work modular sections which are combined to encase a range of headers, including the low loss and magnetic low loss headers. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/55

Retrofit to improve tap performance The latest PCA Dual Core Aerators from Neoperl have been designed to ensure a consistent flow in both high and low pressure environments. They can be retrofitted to a variety of taps to improve performance.

The aerators shape the water to produce a non-splashing stream and add air to make

ONLINE

the water pleasantly soft. Combined with a flow regulator, they have been designed to control the flow of water, reduce plumbing noise, and save water and energy.

They work by using two dynamic control O-rings within the flow regulator, enabling high performance at both low and high pressure, particularly beneficial for the UK market. At low pressure they encourage a high flow rate due to a larger bypass section, and at high pressure the O-rings are pressed into the gaps between the teeth of the core, thus reducing the size of the opening for the water, leading to pressure independent flow rates.

All standard sizes are available in the new PCA Dual Core Aerator plus 1.2 gallons per minute (gpm), 1.5pgm and 2.1gpm, with further less popular specifications currently in preparation for launch later this year. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/57

Aiming to make underfloor heating installation faster and easier, Polypipe Building Products has introduced its Overlay Plus system, which is eight times lighter than the standard gypsum board currently used (1.2kg vs 10kg per board).

Apart from the low weight of the product, installation is also made easier as there is no need for any power tools – a Stanley knife is enough to cut the flooring to shape. This means less dust and mess produced during installation, and tiles can be fitted directly on top of the Overlay Plus boards. The boards are also larger in area and include an insulation core and aluminium lining.

Overlay Plus can be used on new-builds, refurbishments or extensions and is designed to give a robust and reliable finish.

Underfloor heating product manager Giles Coombes says: “Polypipe is continually striving to overcome the issues faced by installers and, with this market-leading innovation, we believe we have done it again.

“This new technology means that underfloor heating can be fitted more easily, less expensively and much faster. This will be a boon for installers and reduce installation time to keep customers happy.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/56

Saving time and space with manifold

Upgraded range of MVHR units Indoor climate solutions specialist, Zehnder Group UK, is re-launching the Greenwood Vireo MVHR unit as the Zehnder ComfoAir in a move to bring all MVHR products under the Zehnder brand. The newly launched ComfoAir features a number of improvements and upgrades, such as quieter running levels, optional third speed and spare parts available on request.

The range is now available in four variants, three of which replace former Vireo models. The fourth variant, the ComfoAir 155 WMe, is a brand new model featuring a high flow heat exchanger for enhanced performance.

The new units have a number of hardware changes, including new motors, a new flying lead and a new PCB. Software changes include an optional third speed.

Rupert Kazlauciunas, technical product manager, ventilation products and systems, says: “We know that unit performance, ease of installation and manageable unit size, all rank

NEW 51.indd 1

highly when choosing and fitting MVHR. The new ComfoAir models deliver improvements in each of these areas, whilst also offering end users a quieter experience.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/58

The Smart Link plumbing manifold from Rehau is suited for use in areas of limited space, such as within utility cupboards.

The company says that the product’s low cost and flexibility will help to deliver a quick, easy and effective plumbing system installation, saving contractors time and money when building new developments.

For example, when used in a point-to-point plumbing configuration, the Smart Link manifold allows for up to 70% fewer joints compared with traditional branch plumbing. By connecting radiators, taps and outlets to the supply using piping from a central manifold, this point-to-point plumbing delivers fewer potential leaks and much faster installation time thanks to the reduction in joints required in the system.

Furthermore, the Smart Link’s nine individual outlet isolation valves, made up of four hot and five cold water valves, simplify and centralise all of the isolation points.

Because of this, it requires no installation of additional isolation valves in the system, meaning contractors can enjoy further reductions in time savings and material costs. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/59

28/02/2020 16:40

COMPETITION

4

Product News

TO BE WON!

Easy replacement fan meets regs

We've teamed up with controls specialist SALUS to offer four lucky readers the new Quantum thermostat, designed to be multifunctional, yet simple to install and operate.

QUANTUM LEAP

The new SALUS Quantum thermostat, now available across the UK, is available in four versions (WQ610, WQ610RF, SQ610 and SQ610RF) offering both 230V mains powered and Li-ion rechargeable battery powered radio frequency (RF) options for use with both underfloor heating and radiator systems.

With an intuitive menu and a large backlit screen, this stylish and ultra-slim control has been described as the most complete thermostat on the market. The SALUS Quantum SQ Version features a built-in humidity sensor, operates with underfloor heating and smart radiator systems and is fully compatible with SALUS Smart Home and Amazon Alexa. It also features an innovative warm floor feature with three different comfort levels.

The WQ thermostats are said to be the perfect choice for any radiator system, with the option of easy OpenTherm connection.

The RF version comes with a magnetic wallplate, attachable via screws or with an adhesive sticker.

THE PRIZE

List of key features:

The winners of this competition will get the WQ610RF model. This sleek and stylish thermostat is the slimmest on the market at only 10mm thick. It has a long battery life, thanks to its built-in rechargeable lithium battery. All WQ610RF thermostats include a pre-paired receiver and are linked via Zigbee 2.4 GHz communication. With innovation, science and quality, the new Quantum WQ610RF thermostat is feature packed to ensure that your clients have perfect control over their heating system.

• • • • • • • • • •

Walk-through setup Optimisation features Smart Home integrated PIN lock (suitable for landlords) Valve protection Comfort settings Humidity sensor Fully programmable 7 days External sensor connection support 5-year warranty

HOW TO ENTER For a chance to Win a Quantum thermostat, all you have to do is answer the following question:

How thick is the SALUS Quantum thermostat?

A. 1mm

B. 10mm

C. 100mm

All correct answers received before the closing date of 31st March 2020 will be entered into the prize draw. Only one entry per person will be allowed.

Email your answer to editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk with ‘QUANTUM’ in the subject line. Please make sure you include the following:

* Your name * Your company’s name * Contact telephone number * Please type ‘YES’ in the body of your email if you are happy to receive email offers from SALUS

www.salus-controls.com NEW 52.indd 1

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

To help landlords and installers comply with Building Regulations, Elta Fans has expanded its de-centralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV) fan range with the introduction of the MORI dMEV II 150HT. Part of Elta’s dMEV range, it provides ultra-quiet, low-energy ventilation for use in kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms and shower rooms.

These continuously running units are designed to provide improved performance over intermittent extract fans for the existing homes market, as they are able to provide a guaranteed ventilation rate and do not have a high dependency on background ventilators, such as trickle vents in windows.

The 150mm dMEV can be used as a direct replacement to existing 150mm extract fans, allowing for a quicker and cleaner installation. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/60

Adjustable head facility The new RDB…BX from Riello has been designed to include many features which precisely control and drive the air flow through the burner to achieve low NOx combustion that meets the latest ErP regulations. There is also the additional feature of an adjustable head.

Adjustable head technology is normally found on larger commercial and industrial burners. It is used to control the secondary air flow around the flame and is adjusted when setting the burner at differing outputs within its range. It can also be used as an aid to help ‘trim’ the burner by making minor adjustments to the position to suit specific installation requirements, such as draught conditions.

All Riello RDB…BX burners are fully tested and pre-set to the relevant boiler specifications prior to leaving the factory. However, due to the critical nature of low NOx combustion, variable installation factors such as environmental and field conditions can have a greater influence on performance than on previous RDB ‘T’ series burners. To address this, the RDB…BX’s adjustable head can be used by the installer to slightly increase or decrease the secondary air flow within the blast tube and thus improve performance/emissions. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/61

New models check in at the Dorchester The Dorchester range of direct fired water heaters from Hamworthy has been extended to include the DR-LL and DR-XP. The Dorchester DR-LL is an atmospheric low NOx water heater specifically designed to meet the requirements of ErP regulations. The integral stainless steel burner produces low NOx emissions (34-45 mg/kWh) and benefits from an automatic gas/air premix burning system for increased efficiency. The water heater is available as three models with continuous outputs (50°C ∆T) of 85º to 1600 litres/hour, recovery rates from 12 to 23 minutes and a working pressure of up to 8 bar help to meet the demands of bigger buildings.

The Dorchester DR-XP is a condensing water heater with stainless steel tank available in two models (38-50kW input) of 184 litres. With an ErP efficiency of 91% - 93% and NOx emissions ≤ 53 mg/kWh, it is compliant with the latest ErP regulations that were further restricted in 2018.

Thanks to the grade 444 stainless steel tanks, no anodes are required to protect it from corrosion, suiting it for soft water areas. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/320/62

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Product News 53 Mini modular valves

Ecodesign stoves Two new freestanding stove models under the Dik Geurts brand have been launched by DRU. The Lars ˚˙˙˙ is a ˚m high replacement for the existing 800 and ˢ˙˙ models. Features include a useful built-in ƒÖũĿĢłė ŋƑāł ÖðŋƑā ŶĞā Ʃũā óŋĿťÖũŶĿāłŶ ĕŋũ bread, pizzas and other snacks. Lars ˚˙˙˙ has a ˟kW heat output with ˡ˛ͮ āłāũėƘ āƧóĢāłóƘ Öłù an A+ energy rating. It is designed for freestanding use in many locations around the home.

The Jannik Large (pictured) is a new version of this compact range of stoves, designed for freestanding or chimney installation. A new feature is the elegant, slimline handle which can be ordered as an optional accessory. It has an ˡkW heat output with ˡˠͮ āłāũėƘ āƧóĢāłóƘ Öłù Öł ͖ energy rating.

Both stoves are Ecodesign ˛˙˛˛ ready and have the option of external air connection for clean ðŽũłĢłė Öłù ĞĢėĞ āƧóĢāłóƘ̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˟˜

Following on from the launch of its bespoke valve óŋłƩėŽũÖŶĢŋł ŭāũƑĢóā̇ Pegler has launched a mini modular valve solution (MVS) to support contractor āƧóĢāłóĢāŭ ƒĢŶĞĢł ĕÖł óŋĢķ ŽłĢŶŭ̍ The mini MVS is part of a standard range by Pegler and has ˚˛ óŋłƩėŽũÖŶĢŋłŭ̍ RŶ Ģŭ ÖƑÖĢķÖðķā Öŭ ķāĕŶ ŋũ ũĢėĞŶ ĞÖłùāù̇ ƒĢŶĞ ŭŶũÖĢłāũ ŋũ ƒĢŶĞŋŽŶ̇ Öłù óŋĿāŭ Ģł ŶĞũāā ƪŋƒ ƑÖũĢÖłŶŭ – low, standard and high. Also included is a choice of indicator either for ĞāÖŶĢłė ŋũ óŋŋķĢłė̍ Rł ÖùùĢŶĢŋł̇ Öłù ðāóÖŽŭā āėķāũ ŋƦāũŭ Öł ĢłŶāėũÖŶāù piping system solution, there are convertor kits available with the mini MVS for solder, compression male thread, or push and press connections.

The mini MVS range is manufactured from DZR brass with union joints to allow valve orientation to be changed onsite with a built-in test point to Öķķŋƒ ƪŋƒ ũÖŶāŭ Öłù ŭĢėłÖķŭ Ŷŋ ðā ĿāÖŭŽũāù Ŷŋ āłŭŽũā ŭƘŭŶāĿ ùāŭĢėł ƪŋƒŭ óÖł ðā ŭāŶ̵̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˟˝

Dirt and air separation combined units The SpiroCombi MB˜ range from Spirotech has been extended to meet demand in the light commercial sector for two-in-one air and dirt separators with a broader range of sizes.

Already available to suit ˛˛ and ˛8mm connections in domestic heating systems, the SpiroCombi MB˜ is now produced as a ˚˼, ˚˹ and ˛in unit, helping to meet demand for light commercial projects. ¦Ğā ťĢũŋ!ŋĿðĢ m ˒ ťũŋƑĢùāŭ āƦāóŶĢƑā Öłù óŋłŶĢłŽŋŽŭ ÖĢũ Öłù ùĢũŶ ũāĿŋƑÖķ ƑĢÖ ŋłā ŽłĢŶ Ŷŋ ŋťŶĢĿĢŭā ŭƘŭŶāĿ ťāũĕŋũĿÖłóā Öłù āƧóĢāłóƘ̇ ƒĞĢķŭŶ ĿĢłĢĿĢŭĢłė ùŋƒłŶĢĿā̍ ¦Ğā ŽłĢŶ óÖł ðā ƩŶŶāù ŋł āĢŶĞāũ ŶĞā ƪŋƒ or return, depending on the location, age and condition of the system.

The SpiroCombi MB˜ features a robust brass body with swivelling connection and drain valve, which can be used without the need for ĢŭŋķÖŶĢłė ŋũ ùĢŭĿÖłŶķĢłė ŶĞā ŽłĢŶ ƒĞāł óķāÖłĢłė̵̍ ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˟˞

PEX range for district heating Specialist pipe solutions provider, Flexenergy, has extended its range of preĢłŭŽķÖŶāù ƪāƗĢðķā ťĢťā ŭƘŭŶāĿŭ Ŷŋ ĿāāŶ the requirements of higher temperature and higher pressure community heating

schemes with the addition of PEX pipe to its PB (polybutylene) range.

Three new pipe products are HeatFlex, FibreFlex and FibreFlex Pro, all of which have a minimum service life of ˜˙ years.

HeatFlex is suitable for most applications up to ˢ˞ºC and 6 bar, while FibreFlex and FibreFlex Pro are designed for higher temperature and pressure environments.

FibreFlex operates up to ˢ˞ºC and ˚˙ bar, with FibreFlex Pro designed for applications of up to ˚˚˞ºC and ˚˙ bar.

All are insulated using CFC free bonded polyurethane (PUR) foam, which is claimed to provide outstanding thermal properties Öłù Ğāķťŭ ŋťŶĢĿĢŭā āłāũėƘ āƧóĢāłóƘ Ģł heating and cooling networks. ͻ phamnews.co.uk/˜˛˙̓˟˟

Information Centre Snickers’ New LiteWork Stretch Trousers

Central Heating fault finding & repair

These LiteWork 4-way stretch work trousers feature detachable holster pockets while the trousers themselves are made from fullstretch material for maximum mobility wherever you’re working, while the Cordura®-reinforced Kneeguard™ pockets o er additional comfort and protection.

For maximum functionality there’s also ruler, and cargo pockets for easy access to tools and fixings. They’re all Cordura® reinforced for durability.

Check out www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or enter the code shown below.

This 200 page book written by John Reginald, is designed to help the reader understand central heating and hot water systems. O ering a step-by-step guide to the fault finding and repair process of systems and components enabling the reader to achieve professional solutions to professional standards.

Priced at £26 this Industry leading book is available from all High Street and Online Book Stores.

phamnews.co.uk/320/150

VitrA dedicates New Brochure to Brassware, Accessories and Showers

The new brochure includes all taps, accessories and showers and is the ideal reference point for every need from a complete re-design to a fast facelift.

As well as looking good, VitrA brassware is tested above and beyond industry standards to ensure superior, trouble-free performance with a 10-year warranty on all brassware and 5 years on showers and accessories.

Download the new brochure www.VitrA.co.uk/brochures or enter the code shown below.

phamnews.co.uk/320/153

NEW 53.indd 1

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Features appearing in the April issue

Showers & Enclosures

Test & Measuring Instruments

Energy Efficient Products

28/02/2020 16:43

54-55 Pham MAR20:Layout 1 02/03/2020 11:26 Page 54

PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

54

Directory Calibration Services

Radiators

Radiators

GAS CALIBRATION ..EASY AS

we collect - we calibrate - we deliver Book online or call 01782 567 099

test 4 less www.test4less.co.uk

phamnews.co.uk/320/101

Controls

phamnews.co.uk/320/105

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. phamnews.co.uk/320/107 phamnews.co.uk/320/102

Safety Products

Heaters (Water)

phamnews.co.uk/320/108

phamnews.co.uk/320/103

The Copper King

Heating Controls Next day delivery available on 100s of controls

www.heatingcontrolsonline.co.uk phamnews.co.uk/320/104

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phamnews.co.uk/320/109

Plumbing Products

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PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2020

Training & Assessments 55 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 Efficiency and Water Regulations.

Un-vented, Part P Electrics, Training & Assessments.

0121 333 3903

phamnews.co.uk/320/116

To find out more about highlighting your Training Courses and availability to over 29,000* PHAM News readers, please contact Sharon classified@phamnews.co.uk 01889 577 222

*ABC Audited Circulation 29,033 Jan-Dec 2019 phamnews.co.uk/320/111

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Approved Training Courses in Gas, Electric, Plumbing & Heating & Renewable Energy Established in 1997 Basildon, Essex SS13 1EU

Small relaxed and friendly classes

For more information visit www.gas-training-and-assessment.co.uk Telephone 01268 727797 or Email gastraining@btconnect.com phamnews.co.uk/320/114

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Advertiser’s Index

AKW Medi-Care Ltd Alpha Heating Innovation Baxi Heating UK Ltd BES Ltd CMR Controls Ltd Cistermiser Ltd Delabie UK Ltd Ford Motor Company Ltd Gas App Uk Ltd Glow-worm Grant Engineering (UK) Ltd Heatrae Sadia Heating (Megaflo) Ideal Commercial Boilers Intatec Ltd Kamco Ltd Kensa Heat Pumps Ltd Kohler Mira LG Electronics UK Ltd Makita MV Fluids Handling Ltd Navien UK Nest Google Nu-Heat UK Ltd Pegler Yorkshire Group Ltd Polypipe plc Purmo Group UK Ltd - Myson Ravenheat Manufacturing Ltd Stiebel Eltron UK Ltd Surestop Ltd TPI Europe Ltd Testo The Electric Heating Company Ltd Viessmann Ltd Warmflow Engineering Co Ltd

42 29 27 3 16 14 45 56 17 5, 6 37 32 13 15 18 38 43 35 49 8 23, 25 Front Cover, 2 7 9 10 4 20 40 46 50 47 28 30 39

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