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SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOLUME 57 | ISSUE 8

phamnews.co.uk

Government-backed project to assess heat pump feasibility The government is inviting heat pump experts to help with a £ˢ˧̖˦m project aimed at investigating the potential for a largescale roll-out of heat pumps across the country by installing them in a representative sample of ˨˦ˡ homes. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has unveiled plans for a new project that will see heat pumps installed in a range of housing ŹƛŨăŰ̐ ŰŨŬăØû ØõŬŎŰŰ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ ŹƛŨăŰ of properties and social groups. The aim of the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project is to establish the feasibility of a largescale roll-out of heat pumps in the UK, alongside new products and services designed to overcome some of the perceived barriers to

deployment. The projects hopes to recruit enough participants to deliver 1800 home-suitability surveys, with the majority of properties on the gas grid. Following a study of those reports, 750 heat pumps will be fitted in a representative sample of households. Approximately £16.5m will be made available to finance the project, and BEIS is seeking to appoint a management contractor and three regional delivery

contractors. An independent evaluation contractor will also be appointed to evaluate the overall delivery of the project against the agreed performance indicators and metrics. The contract will be for an initial period of 29 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to a further 24 months, in order to continue monitoring properties. The three key objectives as laid ŎƀŹ òƛ 1R ØŬă̐ ƱŬŰŹĺƛ̐ ŹŎ ûăƔăĺŎŨ̐ test and evaluate innovative products and services that

increase the appeal of heat pumps and identify optimal solutions for a wide range of homes. Secondly, to demonstrate that heat pumps, including gas-electric hybrids, can deliver high consumer satisfaction across a wide range of consumers in Great Britain. Thirdly, to demonstrate the practical and technical feasibility of heat pumps, including gaselectric hybrids, across the country’s diverse housing stock. Members of the public will be able to participate in the project, which will involve the installation of free heat pumps and energy efficiency upgrades in eligible homes, although details of how they could apply have yet to be announced. BEIS is inviting bids from any organisation or consortium which can meet the expected criteria set out in the tender documents. The deadline to register interest is 25th September (2pm). For details on how to register interest, simply visit the website below. Ά ŨĠØłŅăƕŰ̖õŎ̖ƀķ̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡˢ

Inside this issue FØûęăŹŰ Έ §ŎŎĺŰ Get a better grip See page 23

NăØŹĤŅę !ŎŅŹŬŎĺŰ The latest in smart solutions See page 38

COMPETITION

Chance for installers to express their views UK heating engineers are being invited to take part in a survey organised by The Department for Business, Industry & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The results of the survey will help to provide the

government with a picture of the existing installer base and the scale of change required to meet the challenges of a low carbon future. ĤęŅĤƱõØŅŹ õĠØŅęăŰ ØŬă ăƚŨăõŹăû to impact the heating market as the UK works towards tackling climate change. The UK has a legal duty to be completely carbon free by 2050, which means that the fossil fuel gas, oil and coal currently used for heating will need to be replaced with low carbon fuels or technologies. It is thought that there are some ˥ˡ million buildings that will need to

decarbonise, with major changes occurring throughout the ˣˡˣˡs. The survey, which has been put together with input from a number of leading industry organisations including CIPHE, EUA and OFTEC, will help determine how to achieve this in a way that works for businesses. Thousands of companies employ well over 100,000 people who are installing fossil fuel heating systems, and ŹĠăƛ ƕĤĺĺ òă ØƫăõŹăû òƛ ŹĠă õĠØŅęă of direction. The survey is designed to give installers a voice and ensure

that government understands and listens to the opportunities and risks faced by installers in the transition to low carbon heating. The survey shouldn’t take more than ˢˡ minutes and covers five areas of enquiry. The questions seek both factual information and opinions on issues such as technologies, training, accreditation and industry standards. To take the survey, which closes at the end of September, simply visit the website below. Ά ŨĠØłŅăƕŰ̖õŎ̖ƀķ̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡˣ

ÃĤŅ Ø FĺŎƕ̪ƕŎŬł 1ØŰĤõŎł̒ See page 62


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Inside this issue 5 SEPTEMBER 2019 VOLUME 57 ISSUE 8

Editors Viewpoint by Chris Jones

Times of uncertainty It would be interesting to know if tarot card readers and crystal ball gazers have been enjoying a boost to business, but for those of us without mystic powers trying to predict the country’s future is now about as easy as forecasting the weekend’s football scores. It seems that the only certainty is uncertainty as businesses look to Ĺ°ĹšÄƒÄƒĹŹ ĹšÄ ÄƒĤŏ Ć•Ă˜Ć› ĹšÄ ĹŹĹŽĆ€Ä™Ä ĹšÄ Äƒ ŨĹŽĹšÄƒĹ…ŚĤĂ˜Äş ĹŹĂ˜Ĺ‚ĤƹþĂ˜ŚĤĹŽĹ…Ĺ° ĹŽÄ— Ă˜ Ĺ‚ÄƒĹ°Ĺ°Ć› divorce from Europe or, at the time of writing, the increasing likelihood of yet another General Election – the result of which is anyone’s guess. Planning for the future is no less problematic for the UK’s domestic heating sector. Decisions are still to be made about our primary sources of energy – will gas, or some kind of hydrogen mix, be warming our homes in 10/20 years time or will the þŎƀŅŚŏĆ› ĆąĹ…Ă˜ĺĺĆ› Ä Ă˜Ć”Äƒ ÄƒĹ‚òŏĂ˜ĂľÄƒĂť Ä ÄƒĂ˜Ĺš ŨƀłŨ ĹšÄƒĂľÄ Ĺ…ĹŽÄşĹŽÄ™Ć› ĹŽĹŹ Ĺ°ĹŽĹ‚Äƒ ĹŽĹšÄ ÄƒĹŹ Ă˜ĺŚÄƒĹŹĹ…Ă˜ŚĤĆ”ÄƒĚ— FĹŽĆ”ÄƒĹŹĹ…Ĺ‚ÄƒĹ…Ĺš ŨĺĂ˜Ĺ…Ĺ° Ä—ĹŽĹŹ ĹšÄ Äƒ ÄƒÄşÄƒþŚŏĤƹþĂ˜ŚĤĹŽĹ… ĹŽÄ— heat are far from dead, as seen by the launch of a large-scale feasibility project designed to evaluate the use of heat pumps in a range of property types (see this month’s cover story). Some might question whether such a scheme is really necessary, given that there are thousands of successful installations around the þŎƀŅŚŏĆ›Ě? òƀŚ ĹšÄ Äƒ ˞˜˗ Ä ĹŽĆ€Ĺ°ÄƒÄ ĹŽĺÝŰ Ć•Ä ĹŽ Ă˜ĹŹÄƒ Ĺ°ÄƒĹš ŚŎ òÄƒĹ…ÄƒƹŚ Ä—ĹŹĹŽĹ‚ Ă˜ free heat pump are unlikely to complain. In any time of uncertainty it’s all the more important to keep well-informed. Regular readers of PHAM News might notice that we have looked to freshen things up this issue, with a bright new look designed to make it even easier to pick out articles of interest and the most essential pieces of information. We’ve also introduced a new online reader enquiry service which we hope will make life easier for our busy installers (see page 12 for more details). As ever, your feedback is always welcome.

Follow us on twitter @PHAMnews

Special Features

29

Oil Heating

47

A snapshot of the UK radiator market, plus the benefits of fitting low temperature solutions

9C[U VQ KORTQXG VJG GHĆ’EKGPE[ QH QKN fired heating systems and the latest advances in boiler technology

37

Radiators & Towel Warmers

Heating Controls

57

Gas Safety Raising awareness of gas safety issues and the importance of using reliable flue gas analysers

Finding the right control to suit your customers’ needs and the changing face of commercial boiler controls

Regulars 06 News Review

35 Interview

35 Open to Question

13 People on the Move

36 Products in Action

16 Your Views

61 Product News

18 Point of View

62 Competition

20 Training Update

65 Directory

21 M&D News

67 Information Centre

22 Gadgets & Tools 24 Business Matters 25 Horror Show

Andrew Harrison, CEO of Travis Perkins’ Plumbing and Heating Division, responds to questions

Contributors Steve Owen

Paul Rose

Point of View

Oil Heating

18

29

What more can the heating industry do to address the issue of a declining workforce?

How oil technicians can help their ĂľĆ€Ĺ°ĹšĹŽĹ‚ÄƒĹŹĹ° òÄƒĹ…ÄƒƹŚ Ä—ĹŹĹŽĹ‚ Ă˜ Ĺ‚ĹŽĹŹÄƒ ăƏþĤÄƒĹ…ĹšĚ? ĺŎƕ ĂľĂ˜ŏòĹŽĹ… Ä ÄƒĂ˜ŚĤĹ…Ä™ Ĺ°Ć›Ĺ°ĹšÄƒĹ‚Ě–

#PF[ /CPUĆ’GNF Heating Controls

37 Responding to some of the questions installers are asking about the latest advances in heating controls.

PUBLISHING TEAM Managing Editor Chris Jones Assistant Editor Carol Hitchcock Publishers Chris Evans / Russ Jackson Design Consultant Tim Plummer SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES: Southern Advertisement Manager Nathan Wood Tel: 01889 577222 | Fax: 01889 579177 %NCUUKĆ’GF 5CNGU Sharon Nutter Email: circulation@phamnews.co.uk Magazine Administrator Helen Green Circulation Manager Sue Bethell

The Essential Magazine for Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement Professionals Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News Published by: Pinede Publishing, 16/18 Hawkesyard Hall, Armitage Park, Nr Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1PU Tel: 01889 577222, Fax: 01889 579177 Email: info@phamnews.co.uk www.phamnews.co.uk

'FKVQTKCN 5QWVJGTP 5CNGU 1HĆ’EG PHAM News, 1b Station Square, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1DP Tel: 01525 716143, Fax: 01525 715316 Editorial Email: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk Sales Email: nathan@phamnews.co.uk

29,040 ABC Audited circulation Jan-Dec 2018 Subscription Rates United Kingdom ÂŁ70.00 Overseas (Surface) ÂŁ95.00 Overseas (Airmail) ÂŁ120.00 ISSN 1368-9061

G G G G G G

Simple & Rapid Installations - in Minutes Joins plain-end Pipe - No Prep Required Reusable in Pipework Dis/Assembly Stress-Free Joining with Misalignment Problem Solver in Restricted Spaces WRc/WRAS Approved for Potable Water

0QTVJGTP 1HĆ’EG Pinede Publishing, Argyle Business Centre, 8 Leicester Street, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0EZ Tel: 01704 501090, Fax: 01704 531090 Printed by: Precision Colour Printing Ltd. Origination by: Design & Media Solutions Email: russ@phamnews.co.uk

Š Copyright 2019 Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement News All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without written consent from the publisher. Attributed articles represent the views of the Author(s) and are not the necessarily those of the Editor. The publishers accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers or advertisers. This magazine includes a number of colour editorial photographs paid for by suppliers.

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


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

06

News Review

Calls for delay to VAT reverse charge implementation The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has joined with SNIPEF and other key industry bodies to send a letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid calling for a delay to the proposed introduction of VAT Reverse Charging. HMRC plans to introduce VAT Reverse Charging on the majority of construction related services from 1 October 2019. Companies who are VAT registered and Construction Industry Scheme

registered will no longer pay VAT to the majority of their subcontractors. VAT will only be paid to firms who supply only labour (employment businesses) and to the merchants and businesses that sell building " #"! SNIPEF has described this new policy as having a significant negative impact on the industry, further increasing the burden on construction employers and "! # "

! # ! " late payment. BESA argues that the planned October introduction of the VAT changes, already expected to increase burden and restrict cashflow for many businesses, would pose a bigger shock to the industry because the timing would coincide with the UK leaving the EU and a possible no-deal Brexit. It is argued that businesses will need to understand and be prepared for these changes to

prevent being caught out during the transition, regardless of when it occurs. SNIPEF CEO Fiona Hodgson says: “We are extremely worried about the impact of the impending changes to reverse VAT and the subsequent affect it will have on SNIPEF members. “Many businesses in the construction industry are already suffering due to rising material prices, high labour costs associated with skill shortages, not to mention payment issues. The introduction of the reverse charge VAT will only add to this burden, particularly for small contractors that may be forced to shut down if they do not have the resources to cope with the proposed change in legislation.

“The Government has introduced this change with little or no consultation and need to listen to the industry and at the very least delay the implementation of the charge.� Head of legal and commercial services at BESA, Debbie Petford, adds: “We know keeping on top of changes can be challenging for many businesses which is why

" access to practical resources and advice from our legal team. “BESA members receive regular guidance through monthly tax bulletins as well as template letters and invoices we have prepared to ensure their supply chains are proactively informed well before October.�

Manufacturer left with tens of thousands unsold radiators

Legionella as a seasonal risk The CIPHE is urging installers to be vigilant when it comes to potential sources of Legionella bacteria while temperatures remain warm. Figures from Public Health England show a seasonal rise in cases from June to October when people are making use of facilities like hot tubs and spa baths. Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE, says: “While those of us in the industry know that all man-made hot and cold water systems can provide an environment ripe for the Legionella bacteria to grow, the average consumer has no idea it can thrive in places such as hot tubs, whirlpool baths, compost heaps and even garden hoses. “There is no legislation covering domestic hot tub installations,â€? adds Kevin. “The industry needs to be equipped with the knowledge and expertise to safely deal with potential legionella sources. It’s no surprise that poorly designed, installed and maintained systems are the most at risk.â€? The CIPHE has published ‘The safe water guide: scald prevention and legionella’ available for ÂŁ20.00 for members and ÂŁ35.00 for non-members. Call 01708 472791 to order a copy.

Two months after the shock announcement that Quinn Radiators was going into administration, The Times has reported that the Newport-based manufacturer has over 170,000 unsold radiators in stock. The business brought in administrators on 10th June, triggering the immediate termination of 280 jobs at the plant in Newport. Employees had no advance notice and many found out by showing up to work on a Monday morning, only to be handed a redundancy letter. The factory comprised two production lines with the capacity to produce some 3.5m domestic

radiators a year. In 2016, the Welsh Government gave the company a ÂŁ3m loan to help create and safeguard jobs. Originally part of Barlo, the radiator business was bought in 2004 by Quinn Group, which invested in the factory at Newport. Former Barlo chief executive Tony

Mullins led a buyout of the radiator company in 2014 as part of the break-up of Quinn Group. Administrator Alistair Wardell explained that the company had struggled to remain competitive in the face of increasing raw material prices and cheaper imported brands. Wardell said that in the months leading up to the business’s closure, “the directors actively sought a buyer for the company in " " " the business in the UK.â€? Their unsuccessful attempts led to the decision to appoint administrators. A statement of #" # " to be valued at over ÂŁ20m.

More consumers are thinking ahead Despite this summer having subjected the UK to some of the hottest temperatures on record, online installer directory Boiler Guide reported a record number of people enquiring about boiler replacements. Enquiries for new gas boiler installations rose by 44.5% over May to July compared to the same period in 2018. Boiler Guide says this suggests homeowners are now more aware of the potential savings of getting their #"! " # " # " David Holmes, founder of Boiler Guide, says: “It’s great to see that more homeowners are not waiting until winter to get their boilers replaced. We are all well aware of the high demands on repair people during winter and the potential implications of a broken boiler. In some areas of the UK you can save up to ÂŁ500 by replacing a boiler in August as opposed to November.â€?


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PHAM PH AM NEWS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

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News New ws Review

Confere Conference C f ence confro confronts f onts t the cha challenges allenges This Thi s year’s year’s BESA BESA National Nati N onal Conference Conference will take place place at at the Gloucester Millennium Gloucest ter Hotel in London on 21 November. Novem mber. Taking climate its overall theme as as ‘Competence, compliance and a change – turning theory theory into practice’, the Conference Confference will consider how the building buiilding engineering industry can n meet many challenges of the technical challe enges it is now facing. Among the topics to be covered are the government’s governme ent’s pledge achieve nett z zero carbon emissions and achieving to ach ieve ne ero car bon emi ssions by 2050 an nd a chieving an higher standards in pipework, ventilation and nd off-site off -site manufacturing. Health and wellbeing in buildings will also be a t experts considering th he impact of central theme, with technical the rheating and poor humidity cont trol. rising pollution, over overheating control.

New N w president id t promotes prom motes membership mem mbership The new The new president prresident of of APHC, APHC, Richard Richard his inaugural Perrins, delivered d address at the t president’s dinner with Ø ŨŬŎłĤŰă Ŏė ŨŬŎłŎŹĤŅę ŹĠă òăŅăƱŹŰ Ŏė ŨŬŎłĤŰă Ŏė ŨŬŎłŎŹĤŅę Ø ę ŹĠă ă òăŅăƱŹŰ Ű Ŏė membership membershi ip in the association. Speaking in July, Richard said: “This year in my industry i ambassador role, I will champion cham mpion the merits of APHC membership membersh ip for plumbers, heating engineers, industry manufacturers suppliers. and supplie ers. “APHC membership can “ APHC m embership ca n rreassure eassure customers regarding r professionalism and it can n assist with complying Building with Buil ding g Regulations g and regulations. lations. I know that APHC water regul

IN BRIEF Ά Renovattion week Ά National National Renovation will make its debut alongside Grand Designs Live e, taking Live, October. place from 7 to 13 Oc ctober. Ά Ά Stiebel s been Stiebel Eltron has named as a ‘Superb ‘Superbrand’ brand’ in Germany, a status based b on dominance, overall brand domi inance inance, customer loyalty, goodwill, g longevity and bran brand nd acceptance.

provides the best kind of profes p ssional professional s upport th at ca n hel p me mbers rrun un support that can help members s uccessful and prosperous busin nesses successful businesses in n what is an ever-competitive ever-competitiv ve and re egulated market.” regulated Fu rther iinformation nformation abo ut A PHC Further about APHC ØŅû ŹĠă òăŅăƱŹŰ Ŏė łăłòăŬŰĠĤŨ õØŅ Ø ØŅû ŹĠă òăŅăƱŹŰ Ŏė łăłòăŬŰĠ ĠĤŨ Ũ õØŅ b found at www.aphc.co.uk be

Ά Plumbing heating Ά ating expo Plumbing and hea PHEX Manchester is i set to ŬăŹƀŬŅ ŹŎ {ĺû §ŬØƫŎŬû ŹØûĤƀł ŬăŹƀŬŅ ŹŎ {ĺû §ŬØƫŎ ŎŬû ŹØûĤƀł October. on 16th and 17th Oc ctober. Ά h Ά Pland Pland Stainless has purchased a new 4m m Bystonic machine Fiber Laser machin ne to productivity improve productiv vity at its Leeds manufacturing manufacturiing unit. Ά Weekly Weekly earnings for Ά f self self-employed -employed plum plumbing mbing contractors rose to an average month of £1139 for the mon nth of July according to Hudson Hudso on Contract, a construction sche scheme eme provider. p Hot water and home Ά Hot Ά ho ome heating Rinnai manufacturer Rinn nai is celebrating its cent centenary tenary company this year. The comp pany was Nagoya, founded in Nagoya a, Japan in 1819.

Shower Show h wer wins i Qu Queen’s ueen’s ’ Awar Award rd d UK shower manufacturer m Mira Showers has been presented prresented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise E for the design of the comp pany’s Sport Max electric company’s shower. To perform p the honours, honours, the the the L ord-Lieute Lord-Lieutenant enant off Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Edward Gille espie OBE, and Councillor Gillespie Steve Jordan n, Leader of Cheltenham Jordan, Borough Co ouncil were invited to a ouncil, Council, celebratory event at the company’s Cheltenham production facility. This is th he second occasion that the the company compan ny has been awarded the Queen’s Awa ard for Enterprise, after the Award Mira Flight Safe S anti anti-slip -slip shower tray, nufactured at its dedicated which is man manufactured en nclosures factory in Hull, trays and enclosures a in 2017. scooped the award Speaking at a the presentation event, ers MD Craig Baker s aid: Mira Showe Showers said:

“This award highlights our commi “ itment commitment to o innovation and the hard wor rk and work le evel of detail we put into into the the research research level a design stages, which and which allows allows us us to to e nsure products we bring to mark ket are ensure market m meeting ever-changing demands the ever-changing dem mands frrom both consumers and inst tallers. from installers. A a forward As forward-thinking -thinking com company, mpany, o our focus on developing exc lusive exclusive te echnology is what has made Mira Miira the technology b biggest show wering contributor to the showering in industry ndustry in the last 90 years. “Our R&D team is always wo orking working c ollaboratively tto o llook ook k for for ways ways to to collaboratively o optimise experrience. the showering experience. In nstallers are are the voice voice o e us er, Installers off the user, a so holding regular meetings and meeting gs with o ur IInstaller nstaller C lubs g ives u sv aluable our Clubs gives us valuable in nsight to shape the design of products pro oducts insight a bring new technology to life. and life ” life.”

Countdown Coun ntdown to cashback c To celebrate e the launch of the Baxi 800 ran range nge of combi and system boilers boilers, s, Baxi ĤŰ ŎƫăŬĤŅę ĠƀŅûŬăûŰ Ŏė ŨŎƀŅûŰ ĤŅ õØŰĠòØõķ ØŅû ŨŬĤƤăŰ̖ ĤŰ ŎƫăŬĤŅę ĠƀŅûŬăûŰ Ġ Ŏė ŨŎƀŅûŰ ĤŅ õØŰĠòØõķ ķ ØŅû ŨŬĤƤăŰ̖ Baxi Work Works ks installers will have a chanc chance ce to claim hundreds of poun pounds nds for every e very tthree hree B Baxi axi 8 800 00 o orr 6 600 00 b boilers oilers tthey hey iinstall nstall a and nd rregister egister b by y2 2nd nd D December. ecember. Baxi will pay pa ay £300 straight into installers’ installe ers’ bank accounts for every y three registered. g The manu manufacturer ufacturer is also throwing a #B #BigBaxiBonanza BigBaxiBonanza to give installe installers ers the chance c hance of of winning winning one one of of 800 800 special special prizes. prizes. Plus, Plus, on on the the last last Friday Friday of of each each ru month thatt the Big Baxi Bonanza is running, unning, Baxi will be inviting invitin ng two o take part in a one one-of-a-kind installers to -of-a-kind game g show, live live-streamed -streamed on social media from a merchant’s premises. §Ŏ ƱŅû ŎƀŹ łŎŬă ØòŎƀŹ ŹĠĤŰ ŎƫăŬ̐ ėŎĺĺŎƕ ØƚĤ ŎŅ ĤŹŰ ŰŎõĤØĺ łăûĤØ õĠØŅŅăĺŰ̏ §Ŏ ƱŅû Ŏƀ ƀŹ łŎŬă ØòŎƀŹ ŹĠĤŰ ŎƫăŬ̐ ėŎĺĺŎƕ ƕ ØƚĤ ŎŅ ĤŹŰ ŰŎõĤØĺ łăûĤØ õĠØŅŅăĺŰ̏ Twitter: @baxiboilers, @b baxiboilers, Facebook: @baxiuk, @baxiuk k, and Instagram: @baxiboilers @baxiboilerrs

Don’t ’ wa want ant to miss Saig Saigon gon Installers hoping to claim a place on Glow Glow-worm’s -worm’s My Mystery ystery trip still have time to registe er their boiler register installations and put themselves in ŹŹĠă ŬƀŅŅĤŅę ŹŎ Ĵ㏠Ŏƫ ŹŎ ÂĤăŹŅØł ŎŅ Ġă ŬƀŅŅĤŅę ŹŎ Ĵ㏠Ŏƫ ŹŎ ÂĤăŹŅØł ŎŅ an all all-expenses -expenses paid holiday. h o tickets up With 80 pairs of for g ra b s , iinstallers n st a ll e r s a re g iv e n for grabs, are given pe rson alis ed targets tar ge ets based ba sed on personalised previous volumes to compete sized businesses. against similar sized g installers in The best performing ced in the Red each league are plac placed t all year, Zone – if they stay there ŹĠăƛ̵ĺĺ òă ŎŅ ŹĠă ƕØƛ ŹŎ ÂĤăŹŅØł̖ ŹĠăƛ̵ĺĺ òă ŎŅ ŹĠă ƕØƛ ŹŎ ÂĤăŹŅØł̖ Even those who miss out on e will still be a seat on the plane prizes of £100 rewarded,, with cash p per quarterly target and a further ta argets up for £300 for all four targets grabs. informattion and terms For more information visiit the website and conditions, visit below. Άp phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡˤ hamnews.co.uk//ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡˤ


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

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News Review

New showroom for Vokèra A new showroom has been opened by Vokèra at the company’s training centre at its head office in London Colney, Hertfordshire. The new facility offers specialist training courses for installers and continuing professional development (CPD) courses for ŰŨăõĤƱăŬŰ̖ The venue, which showcases Vokèra’s new and existing products for both the commercial and domestic heating sectors, also provides a space for meetings and presentations.

more should be done to help protect tradespeople’s tools and their vans. One way Screwfix is showing its support is through tool marking. Local authorities are ĠŎŰŹĤŅę ăƔăŅŹŰ ØõŬŎŰŰ õŬăƕƱƚ̵Ű 630 stores to drive awareness and provide tips to prevent thefts.

“The showroom really enhances our main product training centre for heating installers and specifiers,” says Neil Mattock, marketing director and head of training at Vokèra. “Whether you are a local community or commercial installer, college, plumber’s merchant or domestic installer, you can visit our London Colney centre to see our latest products and talk to our experienced team about the issues that affect your business and the wider industry.”

Tech solution

Tool theft is exacting a high cost Tradespeople who have been victims of tool theft are having to replace up to £5000 worth of tools and can lose up to two days of vital earnings, impacting both their professional and personal lives, a õŬăƕƱƚ ŰƀŬƔăƛ ĠØŰ ėŎƀŅû̖

The survey of Screwfix customers revealed that 46% of respondents have had their tools stolen, and 39% said they have had them stolen at least twice. When it comes to protecting their tools, the majority of tradespeople said they take measures to keep their tools safe, with the most popular methods being ‘removing tools from the van overnight’ (26%) and ‘installing CCTV’ (18%). There was also a strong feeling reflected by 56% who believe

The Milwaukee One-Key is a new product that may help tradespeople protect their tools. One-Key is a digital platform that has been integrated into several premium products and enables you to easily pinpoint missing tools quickly. The tool can be remotely locked when in range of the One-Key app, making it unusable, even if taken out of range. Screwfix’s survey showed that 60% of tradespeople surveyed would be interested in buying power tools with this type of functionality installed. Matt Compton, trading director at Screwfix, says: “This survey shows that our tradespeople are looking for solutions which help them protect their tools and ultimately their livelihood. Additions such as Milwaukee One-Key are an example of how we continue to develop our ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ŬØŅęă ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ƕă ŎƫăŬ what they need.”


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

News Review 11 MP checks in Plastic pipe manufacturer Wavin recently welcomed MP Michelle Donelan to its Chippenham site, demonstrating its ongoing investment in the facility. Michelle was welcomed to the site by Wavin’s territory director for UK and Ireland, Mike Ward, before being given a factory tour by site operations manager, David Ray. Speaking about her visit, Michelle Donelan commented: “Wavin is such an important company to our local economy, employing 500 people across a 42-acre site. They are growing from strength to strength and we spoke about the importance of their apprenticeship schemes giving young local people some fantastic career opportunities.”

APHC looks at the future of heating A series of free regional workshops has been organised by the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) in partnership with Altecnic. The workshops take place in September and focus on the future of heating and the new British Standard BS 7593:2019. Topics include the 2050 carbon neutral target and the government’s intention to end fossil-fuel heating systems in all new houses from 2025. John Thompson, CEO of APHC, comments: “We will dive into the practicalities of these announcements in terms of what new technologies will likely be available, what the likely types of alternative fuels will be, what this will mean for current boilers and central heating systems, what the future training requirements and skills development requirements will be, and ultimately what the potential threats and opportunities will be for installers.” Supplier Member of APHC, Altecnic, will present a workshop focusing on what installers need to know and do regarding the new British Standard BS 7593:2019 which is concerned with the preparation, commissioning and maintenance of domestic heating and cooling water systems. The workshops will run in September between 9am and 12pm as follows: Tuesday 17th – Devon, Wednesday 18th – Newport, Thursday 19th– Dartford, §ƀăŰûØƛ ˙˛ŹĠ ̩ ŹØƫŎŬû̐ ÃăûŅăŰûØƛ ˙˜ŹĠ ̩ Ź ŰØŨĠ̐ Denbighshireand, and Thursday 26th – Leeds. To book a place, please contact APHC on 0121 711 5030.

Pump revolution To celebrate the launch of the new Evosta 3 smart circulating pump, DAB Pumps is inviting heating and plumbing installers to ‘Join The Pump Revolution’ – giving professionals the chance to win £3000 in holiday vouchers or a t-shirt. To be in with a chance of winning, entrants simply need to visit: www.JoinThePumpRevolution.co.uk The competition coincides with the launch of the new Evosta 3, aimed at the pump replacement market (see page 61). The new pump has been designed to replace any existing circulating pump, thanks to its interchangeable power connector. It also has a smart user interface with illuminated display and sequential button that can be operated with just a push of a finger. Installers have until the end of November to enter the competition, with the winners scheduled to be announced in December. Country director Adam Ferneyhough says: “As the new Evosta 3 is the most compact and energy efficient pump DAB has ever produced, we’re excited at the benefits it offers to plumbing and heating engineers. Giving installers the opportunity to win £3000 in holiday vouchers, as well as some fantastic runner-up prizes, is the perfect way to celebrate the product launch and encourage installers to enlist with DAB as part of the Pump Revolution.”

Paul Collins, production manager, with MP Michelle Donelan


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

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Reader Services

New way to access further information For the 55 years and more that PHAM News has been printed we’ve included a reader enquiry card to provide readers with the opportunity to enquire about new products and gain further information about some of the technologies and issues covered in the magazine. Not surprisingly, with easy access to websites and online networks, the number of readers using this free postal service ĠØŰ ûĤłĤŅĤŰĠăû ŰĤęŅĤƱõØŅŹĺƛ in recent years. Although we recognise that there may be some readers out there who have been slow to embrace the digital age, there are clear advantages to gaining information via a few taps on a keyboard rather than taking a stroll to your nearest

ŨŎŰŹ ŎƬõă̖ ÃĤŹĠ ŹĠĤŰ ĤŅ łĤŅû̐ this issue sees the launch of a new non-paper based PHAM News enquiry service. For a quick and easy way to ƱŅû ŎƀŹ łŎŬă ØòŎƀŹ ŹĠă ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ and services that interest you,

PHAM NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOLUME 57 | ISSUE 8

| SEPTEMBER 2019

phamnews.co.uk

this issue Government-backed project to Inside FØûęăŹŰ Έ §ŎŎĺŰ a better grip assess heat pump feasibilityNew boileGet rs come

Product N ews 61

See page 23

ƕĤŹĠ łØę ŅăŹĤõ ƱĺŹăŬ

The government is inviting heat pump experts to help with a £ˢ˧̖˦m project aimed at investigating the potential for a largescale roll-out of heat pumps across the country by installing them in a representative sample of ˨˦ˡ homes.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has unveiled plans for a new project that will see heat pumps installed in a range of housing ŹƛŨăŰ̐ ŰŨŬăØû ØõŬŎŰŰ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ ŹƛŨăŰ of properties and social groups. The aim of the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project is to establish the feasibility of a largescale roll-out of heat pumps in the UK, alongside new products and services designed to overcome some of the perceived barriers to

deployment. The projects hopes to recruit enough participants to deliver 1800 home-suitability surveys, with the majority of properties on the gas grid. Following a study of those reports, 750 heat pumps will be fitted in a representative sample of households. Approximately £16.5m will be made available to finance the project, and BEIS is seeking to appoint a management contractor and three regional delivery

contractors. An independent evaluation contractor will also be appointed to evaluate the overall delivery of the project against the agreed performance indicators and metrics. The contract will be for an initial period of 29 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to a further 24 months, in order to continue monitoring properties. The three key objectives as laid ŎƀŹ òƛ 1R ØŬă̐ ƱŬŰŹĺƛ̐ ŹŎ ûăƔăĺŎŨ̐ test and evaluate innovative products and services that

increase the appeal of heat pumps and identify solutions for Withoptimal the aim of providing a wide range boileroftohomes. a gas meet the interface needthat Secondly, to demonstrate any custo s of almo for contr st mer, ol using a smartpho has intro heat pumps, includingBaxi gas-electric the new ne or table duced Baxi ˩ˡˡ t. rang Many acces hybrids, deliver high consumer e. Available atcan both sories are national to compleme andrange available indepof satisfaction across a wide merchant endent nt the rang s, the rang including e consumers Great Britain. cons of thein a rear pipew e, ists Baxi ˩ˣ˦ Combi, Baxi ork kit, ØŅ ăƚŹăŅŰĤ Thirdly, demonstrate the Combi,to Ɣă ŬØŅęă Ŏ 830 Baxi ˩ˤ˧ ė ƲƀăŰ ØŅû acces Com sories for practical and technical feasibility bi, Baxi ˩ˢ˩ Syste m and versatile the Baxi ˩ˣ˥ RD{ ĤŅ-Ʋ siting, of heat including Syste gas- m and pumps, ƀă ƕăØŹĠăŬ each mode ŰăŅŰŎŬŰ ėŎ easy comp s comp electric hybrids,l come across the ƕĤŹĠ ØŅ û Ŭ liance with lete ăƛ łØęŅăŹĤ Boiler Plus ØŅû ØƚĤ̵Ű õ ƱĺŹă country’s diverse housing stock. 10 year ƀ ăŅŰă Űł Ŭ ØŅû Ø warranty. ØŬŹ õŎŅŹŬŎĺ Sales direc Members of the public will be Described ̖ tor David as compact õŎłłăŅŹŰ̏ Cook ablelight to participate project, and weight, thein the ̱§Ġă Ņăƕ ØƚĤ ˩ˡˡ rang new boilers have been which will involve the installation e is desig strai ned in cons ghtforwar to install, d ultat with insta of free heat pumps and energy relia ion llers and to maintain. ble and easy featu brass hydr efficiency upgrades in eligible re tough It was desig aulic a self See 38 withpage ned installers ĺŎŎŨ ØŅû Ø -ƱĺĺĤŅ homes, althoughs,details of how ę in mind, õăŅŹŬØĺ Ʋƀ the with features have they could apply haveă̖ §Ġ yetă òŎĤĺ to be a simp they told ăŬŰ le us they ŨŬăėăŬ̖ §Ġ an optional hanging bracket, announced. ă ˢˡ-year stand warranty ØŅû łØęŅă discr BEISeet is insta inviting -Ŏƫ ė bidsŬØłă from ėŎŬ any ŹĤõ ƱĺŹăŬ ł llation and ăØŅ ŹĠăƛ õØŅ ŎƫăŬ Ź òăŅăƱŹ ėŬŎ or consortium organisation which also ĠăĤŬ õƀŰŹŎł ł ØŅ {ŨăŅ complete ăŬŰ ŹĠă §ĠăŬ can meet the expected criteria pack ł set Ά phamnews age. out in the tender documents. The .co.uk/ˡ˪ ˢ˪̜˨ˢ deadline to register interest is 25th

NăØŹĤŅę !ŎŅŹŬŎĺŰ The latest in smart solutions

September (2pm). For details on how to register interest, simply visit the website below. Ά ŨĠØłŅăƕŰ̖õŎ̖ƀķ̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡˢ

Power sh ower keep ÃĤŅ Ø FĺŎƕ̪ƕŎŬł s the peace COMPETITION

we’ve introduced a new online enquiry service that is designed to take you directly to the information you require. At the end of most articles and items on our editorial pages there will now be a web address with

Chance for installers to express their views UK heating engineers are being invited to take part in a survey organised by The Department for Business, Industry & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The results of the survey will help to provide the

government with a picture of the existing installer base and the scale of change required to meet the challenges of a low carbon future. ĤęŅĤƱõØŅŹ õĠØŅęăŰ ØŬă ăƚŨăõŹăû to impact the heating market as the UK works towards tackling climate change. The UK has a legal duty to be completely carbon free by 2050, which means that the fossil fuel gas, oil and coal currently used for heating will need to be replaced with low carbon fuels or technologies. It is thought that there are some ˥ˡ million buildings that will need to

decarbonise, with major changes occurring throughout the ˣˡˣˡs. The survey, which has been put together with input from a number of leading industry organisations including CIPHE, EUA and OFTEC, will help determine how to achieve this in a way that works for businesses. Thousands of companies employ well over 100,000 people who are installing fossil fuel heating systems, and ŹĠăƛ ƕĤĺĺ òă ØƫăõŹăû òƛ ŹĠă õĠØŅęă of direction. The survey is designed to give installers a voice and ensure

that government understands and listens to the opportunities and risks faced by installers in the transition to low carbon heating. The survey shouldn’t take more than ˢˡ minutes and covers five areas of enquiry. The questions seek both factual information and opinions on issues such as technologies, training, accreditation and industry standards. To take the survey, which closes at the end of September, simply visit the website below. Ά ŨĠØłŅăƕŰ̖õŎ̖ƀķ̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡˣ

Respondin g to consu mer appe ŨŎƕăŬ ŰĠŎ als for a quiet ƕăŬ̐ popular ASˣˡ §ŬĤŹŎŅ ĠØŰ Ŭă-engin eered its ˡˡ range to and achie ve Quiet Mark reduce noise levels the repla cement mark approval. Aimed at et, the new has been designed for low-press ASˣˡˡˡSR providing ure syste continuou ms, s running ƕĤŹĠ ƲŎƕ performan ŬØŹăŰ Ŏė ƀŨ ce ŹŎ ˢ˥ litres Said to be per minu ideal for famil the ASˣˡ y household te. ˡˡSR is fully s, thermostat a maximum ic and has temperatu accidental re stop to avoid any exposure to uncomfor ƕØŹăŬ̖ {ŹĠ tably hot ăŬ ėăØŹƀŬăŰ ĤŅõĺƀûă ØŅ ŰŹŎŨ̜ŰŹØŬŹ ăØŰƛ-to òƀŹŹŎŅ̐ Ø Ɣ -use ØŬĤØòĺă ƲŎ temperatu ƕ control re dial, an and anti-twist large three hose -mode, rub -clean show and a ÃĤŹĠ ĤŅŰŹØ er head. ĺĺØŹĤŎŅ Ʋăƚ new mode ĤòĤĺĤŹƛ ĤŅ ł l also featu ĤŅû̐ ŹĠă res ƕØŹăŬ ăŅŹŬ ƛ ŨŎĤŅŹŰ̐ ØŅ multiple cable and û ĤŅõĺƀûăŰ Swivel Fit ŹĠă §ŬĤŹŎŅ water inlet, enabling either top, insta rear Ά phamnews or bottom entry pipesllation to . .co.uk/ˡ˪ ˢ˪̜˨ˤ

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Self-learn ing HIU will save energy bi lls

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Featuring an interchan power conn geable ector so that inverter replace any which abso it can existing rbs the exact amou pump, the new Evos nt of energ ta ˤ smar y required. t circulatin pump has g been launc Commentin hed by DAB Pumps. Easy to set and the new prod g on new pump adjust, the uct, also has an country direc illuminate display and tor Adam d sequentia DăŬŅ ăƛĠŎ l that can button ƀęĠ ŰØƛŰ̏ ̱ be opera Ãă have inves ted with ƱŅęăŬ̖ just one ted in smar t technology A stainless to ensure steel moto all Evosta has been r casing ˤ pumps designed are manufactu to preserve the durab red to the ility same quali of the pump and longevity ty standards , while an robotised on a air vent plug allow productio s any trapp n line, with our intell ed be vented igent contr from a syste air to ol systems guaranteei m, as well as providing ng each unit direct acces and fault is reliable shaft in the s -ėŬăă̖ §Ġă ă event of seizu to the Ņû ŬăŰƀĺŹ is our smal Said to be re. lest, smar one of the test, most ăƬõĤăŅŹ õ most õŎłŨØõŹ ØŅ ĤŬõƀĺØŹĤŅę Ũ û ƲăƚĤòĺă õ ƀłŨ ăƔăŬ̖ ƀŨŨĺĤăû ƕ ĤŬõƀĺØŹĤŅę pumps avail ̲ ĤŹĠ Ø ƱƔă ƛ able on the warranty ăØŬ it also helps market, as standard, to save energ all ˤ pumps have an opera Evosta y via an range of ting ˡ̖˥-˥̖ˣ m 3 /h with a

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ONLINE

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maximum head to 8m, a pump of up ed liquid temperatu re range from -ˢˡ°C to +ˢˢˡ° C and a working pressure of ˢˡ bar. phamnews .co.uk/ˡ˪ ˢ˪̜˨˥

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PHAM NEWS SEPT19:Layout 1 05/09/2019 15:19 Page 13

PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

People on the Move

Grässlin, specialist in time switch technology, has made Noel O’Donnell head Ŏė ĤŹŰ ŰØĺăŰ ŎƬõă ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c̖ ÃĤŹĠ Ø ęŎŎû understanding of the British market, Noel will be tasked with growing the company’s òŬØŅû ŨŬăŰăŅõă ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c̖ Nă ŨŬăƔĤŎƀŰĺƛ worked as head of sales at Surestop Ltd, a manufacturer of valves for the heating and sanitation market.

Ground source heat pump specialist, The căŅŰØ FŬŎƀŨ̐ ĠØŰ ØŅŅŎƀŅõăû Ø ŅƀłòăŬ Ŏė senior management promotions as part its expansion plans. A key appointment is David Billingsley who has been promoted to director of sales to boost demand for the Eco Series and opportunities for the mass uptake of the Shoebox heat pump ėŎŬ ƲØŹŰ ØŅû Ņăƕ òƀĤĺû ĠŎƀŰĤŅę̖

The new national account manager at Aqualisa is Sarah Robinson, who brings 10 years of experience in account management to the role, having previously worked for Arctic Hayes in that capacity. Her role within Aqualisa’s sales team will be focusing on the õŎłŨØŅƛ̵Ű ØƬĺĤØŹĤŎŅŰ ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠă ®c̵Ű ĺØŬęă national merchants.

ÃĤĺŎ ®c ĠØŰ ØŅŅŎƀŅõăû ŹĠă ØŨŨŎĤŅŹłăŅŹ of Lee Tebbatt as its new managing director. Lee had been a sales manager for the company from 2004 to 2005, but most recently served as new business ûĤŬăõŹŎŬ ėŎŬ 1ŬĤķŰ ®c̐ Ø ƱŬł òØŰăû ĤŅ the Netherlands. Prior to that he was łØŅØęĤŅę ûĤŬăõŹŎŬ Ŏė ®ŨŎŅŎŬ ƀĤĺûĤŅę 1ŅăŬęƛ eĤłĤŹăû̐ ėŎŬłăŬĺƛ ÂăĺŹØ ®c̖

Commercial boiler manufacturer Hamworthy has expanded its technical team to include two new engineers, Jason Crowne (pictured) and Mark Hewer, bringing ŹĠă ŹăØł̵Ű ŅƀłòăŬ ŹŎ ƱƔă ØŨŨĺĤõØŹĤŎŅ engineers. Jason comes to the role with 20 years experience in the gas industry, while Mark joins with over 30 years experience as a heating engineer.

Grohe has announced the appointment of Simon Andersen ̦ŨĤõŹƀŬăû̧ ØŰ ®c ęăŅăŬØĺ manager. Simon will take over from the õƀŬŬăŅŹ ęăŅăŬØĺ łØŅØęăŬ ėŎŬ ŹĠă ®c̐ Ina Sielemann, who heads to the company’s headquarters in Germany to take on the position of head of projects for Central Europe. Simon will work to strengthen ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ̵Ű òŬØŅû ŨŬăŰăŅõă ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c̖

National plumbers’ merchant, Plumbase, has reinforced its sales team with the appointment of Matthew Longford as head of sales and operations for the 160 branch-strong supplier. Matthew will be focusing on driving sales and margin growth. He comes to the role with a wealth of experience, including having served as general manager for Ravenheat Manufacturing.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Fluid conditioning specialist Spirotech has promoted Steve Simmonds to the new role of special projects engineer. The position has been created to enable DnŰ ØŅû õŎŅŹŬØõŹŎŬŰ ŹŎ òăŅăƱŹ ėŬŎł Steve’s more than 30 years experience in construction, which includes 20 years experience of pressurisation and air and dirt removal.


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§Ĥõķăû Ŏƫ òƛ Ŭăû ŹØŨă With regards to Mr John Martin’s article in the July/August issue of PHAM News, ‘Time for assessment overhaul’: I was not surprised at the ûăŹăŬĤŎŬØŹĤŎŅ Ŏė ūƀØĺĤƱõØŹĤŎŅŰ̖ R ƕØŰ ŰĠŎõķăû̐ ĠŎƕăƔăŬ̐ ŹŎ ŬăØĺĤŰă ŹĠØŹ ŨƀòĺĤõ ŰØėăŹƛ ĠØû òăăŅ ŹĠŬŎƕŅ ŎƀŹ Ŏė ŹĠă ƕĤŅûŎƕ ØŅû ĤŅ ĤŹŰ ŨĺØõă ĠØŰ òăăŅ ŹØķăŅ ŎƔăŬ òƛ ŹĠă ęŬăăû ėŎŬ łŎŅăƛ̖ qŎ ûŎƀòŹ ĤŹ ƕĤĺĺ ŹØķă ØŅŎŹĠăŬ ŹŬØęăûƛ ƕĤŹĠ ŰŎłăŎŅă òăĤŅę ķĤĺĺăû òăėŎŬă ØŰŰăŰŰłăŅŹŰ ØŬă ŎƔăŬĠØƀĺăû ØŅû ŹĠă N 1 ŹØķă ØõŹĤŎŅ̖ R Øł Ø ƛŎƀŅę ŨĺƀłòĤŅę ĠăØŹĤŅę ăŅęĤŅăăŬ ̦˟˘̧̖ R ĠØƔă òăăŅ ĤŅ òƀŰĤŅăŰŰ ėŎŬ łŎŬă ŹĠØŅ ˚˟ ƛăØŬŰ ØŅû òăăŅ ƕŎŬķĤŅę ŹĠă ŹŎŎĺŰ ėŎŬ ØĺłŎŰŹ ˜˗ ƛăØŬŰ̖ R ƕØŰ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺĤŅę ęØŰ òŎĤĺăŬŰ òăėŎŬă !{ FR òăõØłă łØŅûØŹŎŬƛ̖ ÃĠăŅ R ûĤû ŹØķă ăƚØłŰ ŹĠăŬă ƕăŬă ŅŎ òŎŎķŰ ØĺĺŎƕăû ĤŅ ŹĠă ăƚØłĤŅØŹĤŎŅŰ̖ RŹ ƕØŰ ŨØŰŰ ŎŬ ėØĤĺ̖ R òăõØłă {D§1! ƀØĺĤƱăû ĤŅ ˙˗˗˗̖ §Ġă ęŎƔăŬŅłăŅŹ õØłă ĤŅ ƕĤŹĠ 1!{ ̦1ŅăŬęƛ !ŎłŨØŅƛ {òĺĤęØŹĤŎŅ̧̐ ėŎŬ ƕĠĤõĠ R ØŨŨĺĤăû̐ ŎŅĺƛ ŹŎ òă ŹŎĺû ŹĠØŹ R ĠØû ŹŎ òă ˙˗˚˗ õăŬŹĤƱăû̖ ÃĠƛ̗

The role of the traditional plumber is going to change The Star Letter in the July/August issue raised many issues which should be at the top of the tree for debate. R ƕŎŅûăŬ Ĥė ŹĠŎŰă ĤŅ ęŎƔăŬŅłăŅŹ ƕĠŎ ØŬă ŬăŰŨŎŅŰĤòĺă ėŎŬ ŹĠăŰă ĤŰŰƀăŰ ăƔăŬ ŹØķă ØûƔĤõă ėŬŎł ƀŰ ėŎĺķ ƕĠŎ ĠØƔă ŹŎ ăØŬŅ Ø ĺĤƔĤŅę ėŬŎł ŹĠă ĤŅûƀŰŹŬƛ̖ R ŨŬăûĤõŹ ŹĠØŹ ęØŰ ĤŰ ęŎĤŅę ŹŎ ŬăŨĺØõăû òƛ ăĺăõŹŬĤõĤŹƛ ėŎŬ Øĺĺ ƕØŹăŬ ØŅû ØĤŬ ĠăØŹĤŅę ĤŅ ŹĠă ŅăƚŹ ˚˗ ƛăØŬŰ̖ Point-of-ƀŰă ƕØŹăŬ ĠăØŹăŬŰ ƕĤĺĺ ŬăłŎƔă ŹĠă Ņăăû ėŎŬ ŨĤŨă ŬƀŅŰ ØŅû łŎŰŹ ûŎłăŰŹĤõ ŨŬăłĤŰăŰ ƕĤĺĺ òă ėØõŹŎŬƛ òƀĤĺŹ̖ 'ŎłăŰŹĤõ ̜! ŰƛŰŹăłŰ ƕĤĺĺ ŹØķă ŎƔăŬ ėŬŎł òŎĤĺăŬŰ̐ ØŅû ŨĺƀłòăŬŰ ƕĤĺĺ òă ŬăĺăęØŹăû ŹŎ õŎĺû ƕØŹăŬ ŰƀŨŨĺĤăŰ̐ ƕØŰŹă ØŅû ŰØŅĤŹØŬƛ ƕŎŬķ̖ §Ġă Ņăăû ŹŎ õŎŅŰăŬƔă ƕØŹăŬ ŎƀęĠŹ ŹŎ ŨŬŎłŎŹă ŬØĤŅ ƕØŹăŬ ĠØŬƔăŰŹĤŅę ĤŅ ăƔăŬƛ

§Ŏ ŨŬŎƔă R ƕØŰ ūƀØĺĤƱăû̗ ėŹăŬ ƕŎŬķĤŅę ėŎŬ ˙˗ ƛăØŬŰ ƕĤŹĠ ŎĤĺ ĠăØŹĤŅę̐ ƕĠØŹ ŎŹĠăŬ ūƀØĺĤƱõØŹĤŎŅŰ ØŬă Ņăăûăû̗ §Ŏ ŰŨăŅû łŎŬă łŎŅăƛ ŎŅ ƀŰăĺăŰŰ Ŭăû ŹØŨă̗ Ŭă ŹĠăƛ ŰŹĤĺĺ ŹŬƛĤŅę ŹŎ ŨƀŹ ŹĠăĤŬ ĠØŅûŰ ĤŅ ŎƀŬ ŨŎõķăŹŰ̗ ÃĠăŅ ŹĠă FŬăăŅ 'ăØĺ ƕØŰ ØŅŅŎƀŅõăû R ØŨŨĺĤăû łŎŬă ăƚŨăŅŰă ØŅû Ŭăû ŹØŨă̖ RŹ ĤŰ ŅŎ ƕŎŅûăŬ ĤŹ ėØĤĺăû̖ 'ƀă ŹŎ ĺØõķ Ŏė ŹØķă-ƀŨ̐ ăƔăŬƛ Ņăƕ ĤŅĤŹĤØŹĤƔă ăĤŹĠăŬ õŎŰŹŰ łŎŅăƛ ŎŬ łŎŬă Ŭăû ŹØŨă̖ qŎ ûŎƀòŹ õăŬŹĤƱõØŹăŰ ØŅû ūƀØĺĤƱõØŹĤŎŅŰ ƕŎƀĺû òă ăØŰĤĺƛ õŎłă òƛ Ĥė R ƕăŬă ŹŎ ŨØƛ ŹĠă łŎŅăƛ ĤŅŹŎ ŰŎłă ƀŅŰõŬƀŨƀĺŎƀŰ õŎĺĺăęă̖ §Øķă ŹĠă Ņăƕ ˙˗˚˜ ėŎŬ ăƚØłŨĺă̖ nŎŬă õŎŰŹŰ ØŅû Ŭăû ŹØŨă̖ Rė ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ƕăŬă ŨƀŹ Ŏƫ òƛ ŰŎ łƀõĠ òƀŬăØƀõŬØõƛ ØŅû ăƚŨăŅŰă̐ ŹĠăŰă ŰõĠăłăŰ ƕŎƀĺû ŅăƔăŬ ę㏠Ŏƫ ŹĠă ęŬŎƀŅû̖ ÃĠƛ ŅŎŹ ĴƀŰŹ ŨØŰŰ ØŅƛòŎûƛ ƕĠŎ ƕØŅŹŰ ŹŎ òă Ø ęØŰ ăŅęĤŅăăŬ ŎŬ ŎĤĺ ăŅęĤŅăăŬ ėŎŬ Ø ŰłØĺĺ ėăă̗ ăõØƀŰă ŹĠĤŰ ĤŰ ƕĠØŹ ĤŰ ĠØŨŨăŅĤŅę ØŹ ŹĠă łŎłăŅŹ̐ ûƀă ŹŎ ŎŨăŅ òŎŎķ ØŰŰăŰŰłăŅŹŰ̖

Caught short I read in a recent survey that more than half of customers wouldn’t let a tradesperson use their toilet. §ĠØŹ ƱęƀŬă ŰŎƀŅûŰ ŬĤûĤõƀĺŎƀŰĺƛ ĠĤęĠ̐ òƀŹ ĤŹ ŬăłĤŅûŰ łă Ŏė Ø ŹĤłă ƕĠăŅ R ƕØŰ õØĺĺăû ŎƀŹ ŹŎ Ʊƚ Ø òĺŎõķăû Ã! ØŅû ŹĠă òŎŎŹ ƕØŰ ƔăŬƛ łƀõĠ ŎŅ ŹĠă ŎŹĠăŬ ėŎŎŹ̖ §Ġă ĺØûƛ Ŏė ŹĠă ĠŎƀŰă ƕØŰ ŰŎłăƕĠØŹ ûăŰŨăŬØŹă ŹŎ ƀŰă ŹĠă ėØõĤĺĤŹƛ ØŅû R ƕØŰ ƀŅûăŬ ŨŬăŰŰƀŬă ŹŎ ę㏠ŹĠă ĴŎò ûŎŅă ŨŬŎłŨŹĺƛ̖ Ġă ƕØŰŅ̵Ź ŹĠă łŎŰŹ ŨĺăØŰØŅŹ Ŏė ŨăŎŨĺă ŹŎ ûăØĺ ƕĤŹĠ ØŅû R ĠØƔă ŹŎ òă ĠŎŅăŰŹ ŹĠØŹ R ŹŎŎķ Ø ĺĤŹŹĺă òĤŹ ĺŎŅęăŬ ŹĠØŅ ƕØŰ ŰŹŬĤõŹĺƛ ŅăõăŰŰØŬƛ ŹŎ ę㏠ûŎƕŅ ŹŎ òƀŰĤŅăŰŰ ̩ ŰĺŎƕĺƛ ƕØĺķĤŅę òØõķ ØŅû ėŎŬŹĠ ŹŎ ŹĠă ƔØŅ ŹŎ ŨĤõķ ƀŨ ŹĠĤŰ ØŅû ŹĠØŹ̖ Ġă ƕØŰ ĤŅ ŰŎłăŹĠĤŅę Ŏė Ø ŰŹØŹă òƛ ŹĠă ŹĤłă R ƕØŰ Øòĺă ŹŎ ŰĤęŅØĺ ŹĠă Øĺĺ õĺăØŬ̐ òƀŹ ĤŹ ŎŅĺƛ ęŎăŰ ŹŎ ŰĠŎƕ ŹĠØŹ ĤŹ ØĺƕØƛŰ ŨØƛŰ ŹŎ òă ŅĤõă̒

Brian G. Penny via email

Recent tweets that caught our attention

John Peterson @_JohnPeterson_ When you forgot to pick up a toilet roll holder but you’ve got a bag of plumbing stuff.

J. Chambers via email

Richard Watt Aberdeen

ŨŬŎŨăŬŹƛ̐ ØŅû ŹĠĤŰ õŎƀĺû òă ĤŅõŎŬŨŎŬØŹăû ĤŅ Ņăƕ òƀĤĺû ƕĤŹĠ ƔăŬƛ ĺØŬęă ƀŅûăŬęŬŎƀŅû ŬØĤŅƕØŹăŬ ŰŹŎŬØęă̖ §Ŏ ŨŬŎƔĤûă ŹĠă ăĺăõŹŬĤõĤŹƛ̐ Øĺĺ ęŎƔăŬŅłăŅŹŰ ŰĠŎƀĺû ĤŅƔăŰŹ ĤŅ ŹĤûØĺ ŨŎƕăŬ ƕĤŹĠ ĺØęŎŎŅŰ Øĺĺ ØŬŎƀŅû ŎƀŬ õŎØŰŹ ØŅû̀ĺØŬęă ŰõØĺă ŰŎĺØŬ ėØŬłŰ ŎŅ ĺØŅû̖ §ĠăŬă ĤŰ ØĺŰŎ Ø ęŎŎû õØŰă ėŎŬ ŨƀłŨăû ŰŹŎŬØęă ŰõĠăłăŰ̐ ØŰ ŅŎƕ ėŎƀŅû ĤŅ qŎŬŹĠ ÃØĺăŰ̖ {ŅŰĠŎŬă ƕĤŅû ėØŬłŰ ØŬă ŅŎŹ ØŅ ŎŨŹĤŎŅ̖ Ãă ĠØƔă ŨĺăŅŹƛ Ŏė ŹĠăŰă łŎŅŰŹŬŎŰĤŹĤăŰ ĤŅ ŎƀŹĠ ÃØĺăŰ ØŅû R ŬăęƀĺØŬĺƛ Űăă ŎƀŬ ĺŎõØĺ ŰĤŹă ƕĤŹĠ ŅŎ ØõŹĤƔĤŹƛ òăõØƀŰă ŹĠăŬă ĤŰ ŅŎ ƕĤŅû̖ ÃŎŬķ ØŅû ĺĤėă ĤŰ ęŎĤŅę ŹŎ õĠØŅęă ØŅû ŹĠă ŨĺƀłòĤŅę ĤŅûƀŰŹŬƛ ØŅû õŎŅŰŹŬƀõŹĤŎŅ̜ òƀĤĺûĤŅę ŰăŬƔĤõăŰ ĤŅûƀŰŹŬƛ Ņăăû ŹŎ ƕØķă ƀŨ ØŅû ĺăØû ŹĠă ƕØƛ̖

The Tweet Spot ...

Gaspoint Ltd @Gaspoint_ltd

Let us know what you think...

&CPIGTQWU ICU ƒTG KFGPVKƒGF FWTKPI C UCHGV[ inspection. Chimney was blocked, full of twigs and debris - most likely from birds. Great example of why these checks are important if you use a gas ƒTGЯ ICUGPIKPGGT YKTTCN ICUUCHG @GasSafeRegister

The editor welcomes letters from readers on all aspects of the industry. Letters can be sent by email or post but must have a return name, phone number and address (not for publication). Please address your letters to: The Editor, PHAM News 1b Station Square, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1DP or email to: editor@phamnews.co.uk

sdbplumbing @sdb 0CVWTCN RNWODKPI CV KVU ƒPGUVЯ DCVJVJGTQOCPU @RomanBathsBath


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

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Point of View

How the industry can take on the skills gap The UK heating and hot water industry could be facing a crisis, with skilled operatives retiring and the threat of a declining workforce undermining opportunities for future growth. Steve Owen from Baxi Heating explains how the skills gap risks leaving the industry exposed and how challenges in training can be overcome.

A

ccording to The Decade Review, published by the Gas Safe Register in 2017, the average age of a gas engineer is 55. With many at this age actively retiring or giving serious consideration to retirement, the industry has a problem. There just aren’t enough young engineers moving into roles that would plug this skills gap. Couple that with the average age of a UK resident being 40 and the problem doesn’t look set to disappear anytime soon. The UK’s gas industry is globally respected. After all, we are leaders in what we do and the technology that we develop. However, the only way for us to continue to compete on a global scale and to develop new technologies that benefit the consumer and environment alike is to train and expand our workforce. Manufacturers such as Baxi have invested heavily in training and apprenticeship schemes, but this is a drop in the ocean if a large number of young people just aren’t interested in moving into the heating and plumbing industry. The data compiled by the Gas Safe Register highlights the tangible nature of the challenge, with 10% of gas engineers being 65 or over, 29% aged between 55 and 64, and a further 38% between 45 and 54. This age profile is concerning because engineers start to retire or leave the Register at the age of 55. The scale of the problem becomes clearest when it is noted that

only 7500 engineers, or 6% of the total workforce, are under the age of 35.

Opportunity for growth There are opportunities available for closing the skills gap in our industry. Gas Safe Register’s data indicates that only 0.4% of current gas engineers are women – but, as increasingly prominent industry groups such as Stopcocks prove, female engagement with the industry is increasing. Spreading this message to younger female audiences, and highlighting that the heating industry offers a viable career path that can compete with careers in other areas of the engineering sector, can help address some of the challenges facing the wider industry.

Dive into digital The growth in digital technologies offers a real opportunity for young people, yet we continue to face the

Steve Owen

National Training Manager Baxi Heating ever-present threat of an ageing workforce. With social media playing a vital role in encouraging installer engagement and training, we as an industry must do more to reach younger audiences. For example, at Baxi we have actively engaged in delivering bite-sized nuggets of training information online through #TrainingTuesdays. While this does not replace manufacturer training in a dedicated training facility, it does go some way to moving the industry forward and providing younger heating engineers with the information they need in a format they want. Training in 2019 is no longer bound by the restraints of the physical classroom, bringing learning to the installer, wherever they may be. Manufacturers should move further beyond the confines of the classroom and provide accessible content on videosharing platforms such as YouTube for heating engineers

At noon on Tuesdays, Baxi trainers offer their top tips in short videos via social media channels

#TrainingTuesdays

BY NUMBERS

29% of gas engineers are aged between 55-64

38% of gas engineers are aged between 45-54

6% of gas engineers are under the age of 35

0.4%

of gas engineers are women

With social media playing a vital role in encouraging installer engagement and training, we as an industry must do more to reach younger audiences

to turn to for verified industry advice and guidance. By staying one step ahead of the ‘digital revolution’ manufacturers can ensure that they do not isolate themselves in a changing industry and continue to offer training advice in a manner suited to an up-and-coming workforce. Technology does, however, offer an answer to some of the challenges facing industry training. We have had to develop our focus beyond the ‘on-theday’ offering and make use of emerging technologies to provide ongoing support to installers long after they have left the training centre. Video technology has come a long way. This has given us an opportunity to create online video content that installers can readily access for helpful hints, tips and reminders after the initial training day. Making use of video content adds a new layer of flexibility to installer training, giving them the chance to fit training around their busy schedules. We are already seeing smarter internet-connected controls growing in popularity and these must be accounted for when considering training. In my experience, it is older installers that are not always comfortable with installing or working with smart controls or digitallyconnected components. With the inevitable rise in ‘smart’ home technology in the market, older installers who do not embrace new technologies could be limiting the choices of their customers.

A bold future Training in the heating industry once had a lacklustre reputation, classroom bound and theoretically focused. Time has moved on and training is now more interactive with installers spending most of their time working on live boilers under the watchful eye of experienced trainers. It has extended beyond getting to know products and best-practice, and has become an opportunity to build skills, network with other installers, and to share knowledge with like-minded industry professionals. It is this message that we must get across to those considering entering our industry. Ours is an industry that can be the thriving prospect it once was for so many young people. To achieve this, we will all have to be bold and shout loudly about the opportunities that the heating industry can bring and be prepared to offer advice and guidance to the next generation of installers.

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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

20

Training Update

Ofsted visit earns high marks Gas, plumbing and electrical training specialist Steve Willis Training Centres recently welcomed inspectors from Ofsted ėŎŬ ŹĠă ƱŬŰŹ ŹĤłă ØŰ Ø ûĤŬăõŹĺƛ funded apprenticeship provider. The inspectors visited both the Burgess Hill and Portchester training centres, sitting in on õĺØŰŰăŰ̐ łăăŹĤŅę ŰŹØƫ ØŅû apprentices, and looking at the facilities. They were measuring progress against three themes: the requirements of successful apprenticeship provision, the òăŅăƱŹŰ ØŅû ŨŎŰĤŹĤƔă ŎƀŹõŎłăŰ ėŎŬ apprentices of high quality training, ØŅû ăƫăõŹĤƔă ŰØėăęƀØŬûĤŅę̖ The training centres successfully met the required level of progress across all three areas. Inspectors õŎłłăŅŹăû ŹĠØŹ ̳ŹĠă ūƀØĺĤŹƛ Ŏė classroom teaching is high’ and ̳ØŨŨŬăŅŹĤõăŰ ƕŎŬķ ŹŎ ĠĤęĠ

Sparks learning in Midlands Electrical training provider Trade Skills 4U has opened a new training centre at Westwood Business Park in Coventry. The new centre takes the total to four, with training facilities also in Gatwick, Leeds and Warrington. Students are now able to book onto a range of courses including: !ĤŹƛ Έ FƀĤĺûŰ 'ĤŨĺŎłØŰ̐ 'ŎłăŰŹĤõ RŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ ØõķØęăŰ̐ RŅŰŨăõŹĤŎŅ Έ Testing, and others. Carl Bennett, chairman and founder of Trade Skills 4U, says: “We have conducted a lot of research in the area to ensure standards and do very well in passing the technical examinations’. They also noted ç̵Ű ̳ŰŹŬŎŅę ăŹĠŎŰ Ŏė ĠăØĺŹĠ ØŅû safety’, and said the apprentices òăŅăƱŹăû ėŬŎł ̳ĠĤęĠ ūƀØĺĤŹƛ̐ Ŏƫ-the-job training facilities’. Marie Harris, strategic lead for apprenticeships at SWT, says: “It is always helpful to have an objective eye cast over your provision, and we welcome the

inspection process despite the challenges it can present to providers in our sector. “The whole team at SWT did themselves, their learners, and the employers that they work with proud. It is reassuring to know that we are on the right track towards achieving our ambition of ØŅ ̳ŎƀŹŰŹØŅûĤŅę̵ ęŬØûă ĤŅ Ø ėƀĺĺ ĤŅŰŨăõŹĤŎŅ̖̲ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡ˧

CPD highlights plastic rainwater systems Ŭ㏏ nØŬŹĤŅ ĺƀłòĤŅę Έ 'ŬØĤŅØęă is highlighting its RIBA-approved ! '̐ ̳ ŨăõĤėƛĤŅę ØŅ ØĺŹăŬŅØŹĤƔă ŹŎ traditional rainwater systems’. §Ġă ˙˗-minute video gives an understanding of rainwater and soil systems, the requirements ėŎŬ ŹĠăŰă ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ̐ ØŅû ŎƫăŬŰ an alternative. It also looks at industry standards and regulations, ŰŨăõĤƱõØŹĤŎŅ ŬăūƀĤŬăłăŅŹŰ̐ design and installation as well as performance and maintenance, and health and safety considerations.

In addition, the presentation illustrates how modern plastic ŰƛŰŹăłŰ õØŅ łă㏠ŰŨăõĤƱăŬ̵Ű requirements for easy-to-install and economical alternatives to traditional cast iron. Brett Martin points out that its Cascade Cast Iron Style Rainwater and Soil range provides an authentic cast iron style in plastic that is described as cost-ăƫăõŹĤƔă̐ easy to install and a long term alternative to traditional guttering systems.

“As a manufacturer of plastic rainwater systems, we are well placed to help educate ŰŨăõĤƱăŬŰ ØŅû ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ØòŎƀŹ ŹĠă òăŅăƱŹŰ Ŏė ŬØĤŅƕØŹăŬ ØŅû ŰŎĤĺ ŰƛŰŹăłŰ̲̐ ŰØƛŰ Øƀĺ ÃØûŰƕŎŬŹĠ̐ ŰŨăõĤƱõØŹĤŎŅ łØŅØęăŬ ØŹ Ŭ㏏ nØŬŹĤŅ ĺƀłòĤŅę Έ 'ŬØĤŅØęă̖ ̱{ƀŬ Ņăƕ ! ' ŨŬăŰăŅŹØŹĤŎŅ ƕĤĺĺ help construction professionals gain an even better understanding of specifying an alternative to ŹŬØûĤŹĤŎŅØĺ ŬØĤŅƕØŹăŬ ŰƛŰŹăłŰ̖̲ Ά phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡ˩

that this is the perfect location to run our courses from. We can see from the people attending our centres in Gatwick, Leeds and Warrington that there is customer demand from around the region, so it makes sense for ƀŰ ŹŎ ăƚŨØŅû ŹŎ ŹĠĤŰ ØŬăØ̖̲ As part of the launch, TS4U will be exhibiting at the Elex ĠŎƕ ŎŅ ŹĠă ˘ˠŹĠ ØŅû ˙˗ŹĠ September at the Ricoh Arena in !ŎƔăŅŹŬƛ̖ ÂĤŰĤŹ ŹØŅû !˚˘ ŹŎ ƱŅû out more information or to book a course. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡ˨

Online option for pump school The new online training courses from Salamander Pumps, called eSchool, has been developed in conjunction with the CIPHE and is aimed at installers and college students. The content features training modules that capture the interest with games, interactive imagery and animated technical videos. The eSchool will help users learn more about Salamander’s products, their applications and best practice for installing the range of shower and whole house pumps. Learning categories include modules such as gravity systems and solutions, EVE product training, and HomeBoost product training. Ken Vance, training manager at Salamander Pumps, says: “We regularly host training courses at colleges up and down the country, but we’re increasingly being asked about the other training courses we provide, which is why we’ve created the Salamander eSchool. “We want to provide easy access to training for our customers by providing in-depth installation advice, detailed product information, and ØĺŰŎ ĠăĺŨĤŅę ŹŎ òƀĤĺû õŎŅƱûăŅõă ĤŅ ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ŰăĺăõŹĤŎŅ̐ ØŅû ƕă òăĺĤăƔă ŹĠăŰă Ņăƕ łŎûƀĺăŰ ƕĤĺĺ òă òăŅăƱõĤØĺ ŹŎ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ̖̲ Ά phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˡ˪

Promoting Level 3 apprenticeships The Plumbing Heating Skills Partnership (PHSP) has launched a marketing campaign that promotes ŹĠă òăŅăƱŹŰ Ŏė ŹĠă Ņăƕ eăƔăĺ ˚ ĺƀłòĤŅę Έ 'ŎłăŰŹĤõ Heating Technician Apprenticeship. Set to become the new industry standard, it has been designed to meet ăłŨĺŎƛăŬŰ̵ ŅăăûŰ̐ Ʊĺĺ ŰķĤĺĺŰ ęØŨŰ ØŅû ŰăõƀŬă ŹĠă ėƀŹƀŬă of England’s plumbing and domestic heating industry. Aimed at plumbing businesses in England, the campaign has been developed by PHSP, a collaboration of key industry players led by BPEC. Neil Collishaw, CEO at BPEC , says: “These apprentices will be equipped with the very latest skills and knowledge and specialise in either natural gas, oil, solid fuel or environmental technologies – so the programme can be tailored to łă㏠ŹĠă õƀŬŬăŅŹ ØŅû ėƀŹƀŬă ŅăăûŰ Ŏė òƀŰĤŅăŰŰăŰ̖̲ §Ġă eăƔăĺ ˚ ĺƀłòĤŅę Έ 'ŎłăŰŹĤõ NăØŹĤŅę Technician Apprenticeship will replace the old Level ˙ ØŅû ˚ ŨŨŬăŅŹĤõăŰĠĤŨ ĤŅ 1ŅęĺØŅû òƛ ˙˗˙˗̖ §Ġă Ņăƕ apprenticeship will take up to 48 months to complete. ƀØĺĤƱăû ØŨŨŬăŅŹĤõăŰ ƕĤĺĺ ĠØƔă ŹĠă ŎŨŨŎŬŹƀŅĤŹƛ ŹŎ gain EngTech status from the Engineering Council adding credibility to their employer’s business. They are also eligible to apply for a CSCS card. For more information about the new Level ˚ ĺƀłòĤŅę Έ 'ŎłăŰŹĤõ NăØŹĤŅę §ăõĠŅĤõĤØŅ Apprenticeship, please visit the website below or contact your local plumbing and heating apprenticeship provider. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢˡ


PHAM NEWS SEPT19:Layout 1 05/09/2019 15:19 Page 21

PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Merchant & Distributor News 21 Super8 roadshows back in sports venues

Bathroom showroom opens in Sunderland The third bathroom showroom by Flame Heating Group has been unveiled at its Riverside Industrial Estate site in Sunderland. The 1600ft2 development will see the extension of Flame’s Sunderland services and product range, as well as the creation of one initial job, with scope for further in the future. The opening follows the launch of a bathroom showroom in Cramlington earlier this year and will form part of newly established Flame brand, Azure Bathrooms, with each of its existing bathroom showrooms also receiving a new look through the branding. The showroom also provides customers with an opportunity to view their tailored bathrooms, complete with products and features they have selected, through a Virtual Reality headset. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢˢ

Independent cuts the ribbon Newline Plumbing and Heating Supplies unveiled its redesigned store last month in Kingswinford, with changes to everything from store layout to the fascia. Newline worked with the IPG, a group for independent plumbing and heating merchants, to relaunch the store as Ø ƲØęŰĠĤŨ ĤŅ ŹĠă R F ŅăŹƕŎŬķ̖ Founded in 1986 by Mike Kendrick, Newline is now run by his son Steve. Steve comments: “This

marks a milestone for Newline and I believe the future will be as strong. With the IPG’s support, we have a store and a new website that we can be proud of.” The grand opening of Newline’s revamped store took place last month with guests including the Mayor of Dudley and Lee Wilcox, CEO of On the Tools, along with suppliers and customers. Ά phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢˣ

Toolfair for the trade in Bristol area

(L-R): Flame’s Glenn Neal and John Savage with the Mayor of Sunderland David Snowdon and Mayoress Diane ŅŎƕûŎŅ ØŹ ŹĠă ŎƬõĤØĺ ŎŨăŅĤŅę

Installers are invited to attend a manufacturers’ tool fair at North Bristol Plumbing Supplies (NBPS), taking place on 3rd October. A number of manufacturers will showcase their tools and new products, including: Knipex, Milwaukee, Monument Tools, Hikoki, Stanley, Faithful, Dewalt, Bosch, REMS, Pica, Gripit, Anton, Bahco, Snickers, GlowForce, Fyobi, Kane, Mexco, and Dart. The Toolfair will be held at NBPS on Gloucester Road, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS324HY from 12 to 9pm. Ά phamnews.co.uk/0919/13

Plumbase is kicking off the second half of its Super8 event in September, inviting installers to some of the country’s most iconic sports stadiums. The six roadshows consist of a 45 minute stadium tour and a Q&A session with an esteemed sporting professional including Dean Saunders, Maggie Alphonsi MBE, John Hartson, Alan McInally and John Beresford. Industry suppliers, including Ideal Standard, Impey, Triton Showers, Viessmann, Thomas Dudley Ltd, Grundfos, Polypipe and SALUS Controls, will bring their own stands featuring customer ‘challenges’ to give visitors a chance to win some prizes. The events follow Plumbase’s first two Super8 roadshows held in Leeds at Headingley Stadium and in Manchester at Old Trafford, with Super League champion, Jamie Peacock, and ex-England international, Lee Sharpe, in attendance as guest speakers. Upcoming locations include the new Tottenham Stadium (pictured), Villa Park, Twickenham Stadium, ŰĠŹŎŅ FØŹă̐ nƀŬŬØƛƱăĺû ŹØûĤƀł ØŅû Ź aØłăŰ̵ ØŬķ̖ To register for a free place, visit the website below. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˥


PHAM NEWS SEPT19:Layout 1 05/09/2019 15:19 Page 22

PHAM PH AM NEWS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

22

Gadgets Ga adgets & To Tools ools

Compact Comp pact and high h impact

Great grip g for your tablet

The new 18V LXT L Brushless Impact Driver from Makita delivers high-end M high-end performance in i a compact and lightweight package. Suita Suitable able for high intensity tasks, ŹĠă ŹŎŎĺ ĠØŰ Ø łØƚ ŹĤęĠŹăŅĤŅę ŹŎŬūƀă Ŏė ŹĠă ŹŎŎĺ ĠØŰ Ø łØƚ ł ŹĤęĠŹăŅĤŅę ŹŎŬūƀă Ŏė 180Nm, mean meaning ning it ranks as the company’s most powerfu powerful ul cordless impact driver. The tool features feattures an electronic four stage impact power p selection, as well as four separate assist modes: a wood mode, a T-mode T-mode for thi thick ick metal p plates,, T T-mode -mode for thin metal plat tes and a bolt mode. With a plates

The Lamicall Goos Gooseneck seneck tablet holder can be b the perfect plumber’s mate if you information need to refer to inf formation you’re on a tablet while yo ou’re boilerr or working on a boile ŨăŬėŎŬłĤŅę ŰŎłă Ʊûûĺƛ ŹØŰķ ŨăŬėŎŬłĤŅę ŰŎłă Ʊûûĺƛ Ʊ ŹØŰķ with your hands. Itt will hold all 4.7 to 10.5 inch devices d like Fires, iPads or Kindle Fir res even when they are in cases that are less than 10mm thick. This strong and sturdy device clamps on to the edge of

quick mode switching functi ion, function, it can easily shift from one ta ask to task another without interruptin ng work. interrupting Functionality is further im mproved with improved a variable speed trigger, whi ich allows which ƛŎƀ ŹŎ ăƚăŬŹ łŎŬă ŎŬ ĺăŰŰ ŨŎƕ ƕăŬ ØŰ ûăŰĤŬăû̖ ƛŎƀ ŹŎ ăƚăŬŹ łŎŬă ŎŬ ĺăŰŰ ŨŎƕăŬ ØŰ ûăŰĤŬăû̖ Additional features, such as one one-touch -touch bit installation and twin LED job b lights, help you to work without interrup interruption ption and make working in areas of o poor visibility y far easier. Ά phamnews.co.uk phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˦ ̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˦ ˦

More e smart probe e versions versio ons Updates to the e Smart Probe Testo range from Te esto mean there are now new versions v of three instruments: the t 115i clamp thermometer,, 549i high pressure 60 gauge, and 605i 05i thermothermohygrometer. For ease of use, u all the new probes feature e up to 100m of range. Bluetooth ran ge. The 549i pressure refrigerant f i t pre essure probe b now has a 45° angl angled ed connector for

better b tt access to t test t t points, i t while hil 605i the 60 5i thermo-hygrometer thermo-hygrometer

d features a bendable probe and n magnet for easier location on grill outlets. advanta age Users can also take advantage Ŏė ėŎƀŬ Ņăƕ ķĤŹŰ̖ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹĤØĺ Ŏė ėŎƀŬ Ņăƕ ķĤŹŰ̖ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹĤØĺ temperature/pressure kit ŨŬŎƔĤûăŰ ƲŎƕ̜ŬăŹƀŬŅ ŨĤŨă ŨŬŎƔĤûăŰ ƲŎƕ̜ŬăŹƀŬŅ ŨĤŨă re temperatures and gas pressur pressure testing while a refrigeration ‘plus’ kit allows AC engineers s to measure and record heating/ heatin ng/ cooling load values. A mould kit allows building g inspectors and surveyors to quickly assess surface moistu moisture ure levels to detect mould risk are areas. eas. Engineers who want to carry a full set of the entire smart pro probe obe range can use the kit. th Ulti Ultimate t kit t t. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˧ ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˧

tables, counters s and the like with anti-slide anti -slide rubbe rubber er pads that are also detachable. Pro Protective otective rubber grips shape in a curved shap pe prevent the tablet out. from falling out t. gooseneck The goosene eck has plenty of ƲăƚĤòĤĺĤŹƛ ƲăƚĤòĤĺĤŹƛ ŰŎ ƛŎƀ õØŅ òăŅû ĤŹ ŰŎ ƛŎ Ŏƀ õØŅ òăŅû ĤŹ ØŅû ŨŎŰĤŹĤŎŅ ŹĠă ŹØòĺ㏠ăƚØõŹĺƛ ØŅû ŨŎŰĤŹĤŎŅ ŹĠ Ġă ŹØòĺ㏠ăƚØõŹĺƛ where you nee need d it without neck

ng or eye strain, but it’s also strong et enough to ensure that the tablet never droops. Use it on the job or around the house, where it makes kes for a great accessory when you read, watch TV or videos, cook with your iPad, or play games with Nintendo Switch. Get one from Amazon for just under £18. 8 8. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˨


PHAM NEWS SEPT19:Layout 1 05/09/2019 15:19 Page 23

PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Gadgets & Tools 23 Detect the temperature from a distance §Ġă §ĠăŬłØŨăŅ R ėŬŎł 1§R ĤŰ ØŅ ĤŅėŬØŬăû ŹĠăŬłŎłăŹăŬ ŹĠØŹ ØĺĺŎƕŰ ƀŰăŬŰ ŹŎ ŬăØû ŰƀŬėØõă ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬăŰ ƕĤŹĠŎƀŹ ĠØƔĤŅę ŹŎ ăƔăŬ ŹŎƀõĠ ŹĠă ŎòĴăõŹ òăĤŅę łăØŰƀŬăû̖ §Ġă ûăƔĤõă õŎłòĤŅăŰ ŹĠă ŹăõĠŅŎĺŎęƛ Ŏė ŹƕŎ ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ ̩ ŹĠă Øƛ§ăłŨ ˙ ĺƀŰ ĤŅėŬØŬăû ŹĠăŬłŎłăŹăŬ ØŅû ŹĠă §ĠăŬłØŨăŅ ŬŎėăŰŰĤŎŅØĺ ûĤęĤŹØĺ ŨŬŎòă ̩ ŰŎ ŹĠă §ĠăŬłØŨăŅ R ŎƫăŬŰ ŹĠă õŎŅƔăŅĤăŅõă Ŏė ŹƕŎ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹŰ ĤŅ ŎŅă̖ §Ġă ûăƔĤõă ėăØŹƀŬăŰ Ø łØƚ̜łĤŅ ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă ėƀŅõŹĤŎŅ ØõõăŰŰăû ƔĤØ ŹĠă łŎûă òƀŹŹŎŅ ̦R ŎŅĺƛ̧̖ §Ġă ûĤŰŹØŅõă ŹŎ ŹØŬę㏠ŬØŹĤŎ ĤŰ ˜̏˘̐ ŹĠăŬăėŎŬă ŹĠă ŹĠăŬłŎłăŹăŬ ŰĠŎƀĺû òă ŨŎŰĤŹĤŎŅăû ØŰ õĺŎŰă ŹŎ ŹĠă ŹØŬę㏠ØŰ ŨŎŰŰĤòĺă̖ §Ġă ûăėØƀĺŹ ăłĤŰŰĤƔĤŹƛ ĤŰ ˗̖ˠ˜ òƀŹ õØŅ òă ØûĴƀŰŹăû òăŹƕăăŅ ˗̖˘ ØŅû ˘̖˗ Ĥė ŬăūƀĤŬăû ƔĤØ ŹĠă łŎûă òƀŹŹŎŅ̖ RŹ ĤŰ ØĺŰŎ ŨŎŰŰĤòĺă ŹŎ ŹØķă ĺĤūƀĤû ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬăŰ ƀŰĤŅę ŹĠă Ŭăûƀõăû ŹĤŨ̐ ŰŹØĤŅĺăŰŰ ŰŹăăĺ ŨăŅăŹŬØŹĤŎŅ ŨŬŎòă ̦ ˚̖˚ ƚ ˘˘˗ łł̧̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˪

Jaw covers avoid the damage ŬŎŹăõŹĤƔă ĴØƕ õŎƔăŬŰ ėŬŎł cŅĤŨăƚ łăØŅ ƀŰăŬŰ õØŅ ę㏠łØƚĤłƀł ęŬĤŨ ƕĤŹĠŎƀŹ õØƀŰĤŅę ûØłØęă̖ §Ġă cŅĤŨăƚ ˟˝ ˗ˠ ˙˜˗ Â˗˘ ŬŎŹăõŹĤƔă aØƕ !ŎƔăŬŰ ØŬă ûăŰĤęŅăû ėŎŬ ŹĠă cŅĤŨăƚ ĺĤăŬŰ ÃŬăŅõĠ ̦˙˗˘˟ łŎûăĺŰ ŎŅƕØŬûŰ̧ ĤŅ ŹĠă ˙˜˗łł ĺăŅęŹĠ̖ §Ġă ƕŬăŅõĠ ĤŹŰăĺė ĤŰ õØŨØòĺă Ŏė ŬăŨĺØõĤŅę Ø ƕĠŎĺă Ű㏠Ŏė ŰŨØŅŅăŬŰ̐ òŎŹĠ łăŹŬĤõ ØŅû ĤłŨăŬĤØĺ̖ RŹ ĤŰ ĺĤęĠŹƕăĤęĠŹ ØŅû ŹĠă ƤăŬŎ òØõķĺØŰĠ ĴØƕ ŨŬăŰŰƀŬă ŨŬăƔăŅŹŰ ûØłØęă ŹŎ ŹĠă ăûęăŰ Ŏė ŰăŅŰĤŹĤƔă õŎłŨŎŅăŅŹŰ̖ ®ŰĤŅę ŹĠăł ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠă ŨŬŎŹăõŹĤƔă ĴØƕ õŎƔăŬŰ ƕĤĺĺ ĠăĺŨ ØõĠĤăƔă Ø ûØłØęă-ėŬăă ęŬĤŨ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˢ˩

Seconds to set up 'ăŰĤęŅăû ŹŎ ŰØƔă ŹĤłă ØŅû ăƫŎŬŹ̐ ŹĠă ŎŬØ ŨăăûĠŎŬŰă ŹØķăŰ ĴƀŰŹ ˘̖˝ ŰăõŎŅûŰ ŹŎ Ű㏠ƀŨ̐ łØķĤŅę ĤŹ ăØŰĤĺƛ ŨŎŬŹØòĺă ØŅû ŰĤłŨĺă ŹŎ ƀŰă̖ §Ġă ƀŅĤŹ õØŅ ƕĤŹĠŰŹØŅû ŹĠă ĠăØƔĤăŰŹ Ŏė ŨŬŎĴăõŹŰ̐ Øòĺă ŹŎ òăØŬ ƕăĤęĠŹ ƀŨ ŹŎ ˝˟˗ķę̖ {ŹĠăŬ ėăØŹƀŬăŰ ĤŅõĺƀûă Ø ĺŎŅęăŬ òăØł ėŎŬ Ø ƕĤûăŬ ŰƀŨŨŎŬŹ ØŬăØ ØŅû ĺăę ŰƀŨŨŎŬŹŰ ŹĠØŹ õØŅ òă ƲĤŨŨăû ŎƀŹ ŹŎ ŹØķă ŹĠă ƕăĤęĠŹ Ŏė òŎØŬûŰ̐ ûŎŎŬŰ̐ ŨĺƛƕŎŎû ØŅû ŎŹĠăŬ ŰĠă㏠łØŹăŬĤØĺ̖ ŨŬă-ûŬĤĺĺăû òăØł ăŅØòĺăŰ Ø ŰØõŬĤƱõĤØĺ ŰƀŬėØõă ŹĤłòăŬ ŹŎ òă ăØŰĤĺƛ ŰăõƀŬăû̐ ƕĠĤĺă ŹĠă ŨăăûĠŎŬŰă ĤŹŰăĺė ŰŹØŅûŰ ØŹ ˙̖˜ėŹ ̦˞˝õł̧̐ ŰŎ ĤŹ ƕŎŅ̵Ź ŰŹŬØĤŅ ƛŎƀŬ òØõķ̖ Ņû ƕĠăŅ ŹĠă ĴŎò ĤŰ ƱŅĤŰĠăû̐ ŰĤłŨĺƛ Ũƀĺĺ ŹĠă ĺăƔăŬ ØŅû ėŎĺû ŹĠă ĺăęŰ ƀŨ ĤŅ ØŅƛ ŎŬûăŬ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˣˡ


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

24

Business Matters

No worries: how to upsell without anxiety Upselling can be a tricky business for many installers who may be worried they could be priced out of a job by a competitor. David Cook from Baxi advises how you can more effectively upsell without fear of losing work.

W

hen it comes to pricing their work, installers are often caught between a rock and a hard place. Provide too expensive a quote, and the customer may look for a cheaper option, but go in cheap and you risk not making any money. We have heard from some installers, for example, that they do not propose a system flush before installing a new boiler, even when they know they should, through fear of losing the job. Yet with the correct approach, upselling should not put your customer off selecting you to carry out the work.

Being empathetic

The key thing to keep in mind when upselling is that customers know when they are simply being sold to rather than having their needs met. An upselling opportunity should therefore start with an open and empathetic conversation about what the customer wants. As such, any approach needs to offer tangible benefits that satisfy or exceed the customer’s expectations.

Understanding these needs, even beyond the primary reason for your visit, will help put the customer at ease. With that in mind, it is important to ask relevant questions and establish key facts about the property. This includes the number of bathrooms, radiators, levels of system control, and what type of heating system is already installed. In fact, you should know everything that is already installed and understand whether it fulfils their current needs. Knowing whether the customer has a heat-only system with a cylinder and storage tanks, or if they have a combi, system or LPG-fired boiler will of course impact how you can upsell. Gauging the customer’s knowledge of mandatory regulations, and how these may have changed since the previous install, will also influence your decision on whether to upsell, and how to do it. So, if the customer has a standard efficiency boiler and is unaware of potential upgrading options, you could highlight the savings that could be made with a high efficiency condensing model. If you can see that the

David Cook

Sales director at Baxi Heating

The key thing to keep in mind when upselling is that customers know when they are being sold to rather than having their needs met.

VAT reverse charging to affect construction firms The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged businesses to prepare for changes to the way VAT is charged, due to start in October. It is thought that some 150,000 construction firms may be affected. VAT reverse charging comes into effect on 1 October for the majority of construction related services. Companies that are VAT registered and Construction Industry Scheme registered will no longer pay VAT to the majority of their subcontractors. VAT will only be paid to firms who supply labour only (employment businesses) and to the merchants and businesses that sell building materials only without any fix. The purpose of the change is to combat VAT fraud perpetrated by organised crime gangs. BESA has prepared useful resources to prevent businesses getting caught out during the transition. Head of legal and commercial services at BESA, Debbie Petford, says: “The majority of BESA members will be affected. So it’s absolutely vital that they understand these changes and are prepared. We know keeping on top of changes can be challenging for businesses which is why our

members benefit from easy access to advice from our legal team. “Our membership receives regular guidance through monthly tax bulletins, which will continue. Members can also take advantage of template letters and invoices we have prepared to ensure their supply chains are proactively informed well before October.”
 ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/22

customer would benefit from new pipework or scale reducers, clearly demonstrate to them how this quick fix could lead to reduced lifetime costs.

No pressure

However, making assumptions about the customer before talking to them, and trying to sell products and services based on a hunch, is a common mistake. This approach may result in the customer turning down opportunities for further work, or worse, opting for another installer altogether. By proposing work without fully understanding what exactly is required, you may be pressuring them into something they did not want or need, and may not fall within their budget. Even if you manage to upsell successfully in this situation, the customer may be unhappy in the long run and feel that they bought something unnecessarily. This may risk your chance for repeat business, and could even damage your reputation as an installer. Help put your customer at ease by talking through the options and benefits. Not only is this good customer service, it also allows you to demonstrate your high levels of industry knowledge, skills and experience and lets the customer build trust in you.

Customer education

For example, spotting a build-up of magnetite within the system while carrying out other work gives you a chance to not only upsell to the customer, but educate them too. By clearly demonstrating how a build-up of sludge slows down the

The rise of subbies in Brexit uncertainty New research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) suggests the construction sector is reorganising workforces to reflect lower levels of direct employment and higher levels of sub-contracting. This was a key finding in the FMB’s State of Trade Survey – a quarterly assessment of the SME construction sector. The latest report showed a decrease in employment levels among small construction firms for the first time in more than five years, with over one fifth (21%) of employers reporting a reduced workforce. Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, says: “Years of Brexit uncertainty have resulted in construction bosses reducing their number of direct employees

transfer of heat to the property, you are helping the customer identify a problem that needs solving. Doing so in a friendly and courteous way shows you are not simply trying to make the customer pay for more work. Most customers are costconscious, so being able to show how sludge build-up makes the boiler work harder, reducing efficiency and increasing long term maintenance costs may motivate them to act. Consequently, they may be more likely to opt for additions that could solve this specific problem, such as a system flush or a magnetic filter. By being open, honest and well-informed about how acting now can result in a reduction in lifetime costs, the customer can see that you are prioritising them, and not just your turnover. Another way to help develop customer trust is by providing testimonials, proof of qualifications, and training supplier endorsements such as the Baxi Approved Installer (BAI). Again, this is crucial to showing that you are acting as an authority when upselling, and not as a sales person. Only recommend relevant work and be transparent about it. With this approach, you can retain the customer’s trust in the standard of your work while also remaining competitive on price.

Baxi Works To find out more about best business practice and other support, visit Baxi Works: www. baxi.co.uk/trade/baxi-works

and relying more on subcontractors who are easier to shed if work dries up. The construction industry has always used a significant proportion of subbies, but the fact that direct employment is decreasing points to Brexit nerves among construction bosses. “The fear is that using more subbies can lead to a drop in the quality of our builds. Direct employees who are well-known to their firm are much more likely to follow the ethos of their company and build to the right standard. If construction bosses are trying to protect their businesses by employing more subbies, they might not always know how good these subbies are. Rebalancing the workforce may seem like a good idea at the time, but it could lead to reputation-damaging mistakes. If a downturn is on the horizon, reputation is everything and construction employers can scrutinise the quality of their workforce far more easily when they’re on the books.”
 ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/23


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PHAM PH AM NEW NEWS S | SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2019

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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Oil Heating 29

No silver bullet when it comes to system efficiency

Oil technicians may need to collaborate with other trades to ensure consumers get a holistic energy efficiency service

Reducing carbon in domestic heating is a challenge for all sectors of the industry, but oil technicians can find themselves facing some particularly tricky problems in the homes they typically work in. OFTEC’s Paul Rose considers the complex profiles of oil heated properties and how technicians can overcome them when designing an efficient heating system.

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here is no doubt that to achieve net zero by 2050 the UK must move away from its reliance on fossil fuels. However, this is only part of the picture and it is widely agreed that any successful decarbonisation strategy needs to take a ‘whole house’ approach if the extensive reduction in heat emissions required is to be achieved. This is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination but the starting point must be to assess the real heat requirement of homes. This is true for all properties whether they are on or off-grid but the task is more challenging for the UK’s 1.53 million oil-using homes because of their complex profiles. OFTEC’s recently commissioned research confirms that oil heated properties span a wide range of ages and types, are built from a mixture of materials and have been subject to varying levels of improvements. There is clearly no room for a one-size-fits-all approach, making it even more crucial for technicians to carry out careful appraisal of the property before a new system is installed.

Sizing up Each year a number of incorrectly sized boilers are installed in homes, resulting in reduced efficiency, higher energy bills and potential maintenance issues. As part of the home retrofit agenda, we must have a much clearer understanding of the varying needs of homes to ensure the right heating systems are

recommended each and every time. If the whole system is designed properly, all technologies will operate at peak performance, use minimum energy and produce fewer emissions.

Back to reality

Paul Rose

CEO of OFTEC

CUT TO THE CHASE  Technicians need to adopt a whole-house approach and consider the varying factors of each property individually  Incorrectly sized boilers reduce system efficiency and increase energy use

Most boiler replacements are distress purchases, which marginalises alternative technologies 

 OFTEC supports the development of biofuels as a way to reduce carbon emissions  A liquid biofuel solution means properties don’t have to be so well-insulated for effective heat performance

But why are we discussing the future of boilers when some commentators are suggesting that fossil fuel boilers must be replaced with alternative technologies – and quickly – to achieve the drastic reductions in emissions required? Here is the reason. While this approach may make sense in theory, it fails to account for the reality of the situation. One of the many factors to consider is that the majority of new heating systems are purchased in distress situations. If a boiler has broken down in the middle of winter, the homeowner will want their heating back on as quickly as possible and for the lowest cost. Most will not have the time to investigate or the money to install a far costlier alternative technology, and to make the energy efficiency improvements to the property to ensure satisfactory heat performance. A fair, practical and affordable transition to low carbon heat is needed for all, but the burning question remains, how will this best be achieved? Discussions remain ongoing but the government is keen to explore the options and OFTEC is continuing to work closely with advisers to secure the best solution for industry and oil using consumers alike.

Technicians are key The role of technicians in this process should not be underestimated. To achieve the levels of change required, heating technicians may need to work more collaboratively with other trades to provide consumers with a holistic energy efficiency service. This could include not only recommending and installing the most effective heating solution for each home, but signposting owners to other energy efficiency measures they could adopt and potential sources of funding to help pay for these. But how flexible are technicians willing to be? Are they happy to embrace new technologies? And if so, will suitable training be available, affordable and accessible for all? How will the market adapt? All these questions need answering and are among those currently being investigated.

The right solution Alongside this process, OFTEC is progressing its work to develop a low carbon alternative to heating oil, encouraged by the findings of its recently commissioned independent study which confirmed the most practical and cost effective approach for oil heated homes would be to decarbonise the fuel itself. Our plan will see the phased introduction of a sustainable liquid biofuel, initially with a 30% blend, but increasing to a 100% renewable biofuel by 2040. We have already carried out successful trials of a low carbon blend of 30% biofuel (FAME)

with 70% kerosene which can run through existing heating systems, negating the need for consumers to change the tried and tested technology they have grown to rely on. Further trials to build on this are due to start this autumn.

Insulation issues A liquid biofuel solution would also mean properties don’t have to be so well-insulated for effective heat performance – although good insulation should always be promoted. This means it can work well in all situations, including distress purchases, irrespective of thermal efficiency. In addition, the existing fuel distribution system can continue to be used. Our study also shows that there is considerable scope to upgrade the fabric of oil heated homes, and retrofits could be achieved in varying degrees, depending on property type and the willingness of the owners. This process needs to get underway while the new liquid biofuel is in development to ensure as many homes as possible are match fit and ready for the transition to a low carbon liquid fuel, beginning in the 2020s. At this stage, we may not be in possession of all the answers, but the pathway forward is becoming much clearer. Major steps have already been made and industry will continue to advance at all levels to secure a clean energy solution for oil heated homes towards 2040 and beyond. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/24


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

30

Oil Heating

Thinking ahead: tips on installing an oil fired boiler

A stainless steel flue is the best option for oil fired boilers

Boiler siting Most homeowners will want a boiler situated inside their home, usually in the kitchen. Oil boilers used to be large, smelly and noisy. That’s changed these days with some extremely small, well insulated and quiet boilers available. Wherever the boiler goes, it must be easily accessible for service and maintenance. If an external oil boiler is the desired choice, then the homeowner must be prepared for a reduction in heat efficiency, as some heat will be lost to the atmosphere. There’s an increasing trend towards installing external condensing oil fired boilers, perhaps to get around the difficulties of installing a boiler internally, but, considering the issue of heat loss, it is arguable whether this in the best interests of the homeowner.

What are some of the key things you need to consider before fitting an oil fired boiler? Andrew Hounsfield from Hounsfield boilers offers advice on how to ensure a trouble free installation.

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eating engineers in urban areas may well be scratching their heads as to why oil fired boilers exist. The answer is simple, in rural areas many homes are not connected to mains gas and must rely upon other energy sources, which usually means either LPG or oil. A modern oil fired boiler is more cost efficient than its LPG rivals, fuel costs being up to 30% less (for a three-bed home average over the last four years) which makes oil a very attractive option. So, what do you need to consider when installing an oil fired boiler?

Tank options An oil fired boiler will require a tank, and size is the first consideration. If there’s space, a 2500 litre capacity tank is ideal as the tank can be filled during off-peak season when prices are lower and will not need to be replenished until the following summer. Tanks are available in two options – plastic or steel. Price-wise, they are surprisingly similar in cost but a steel tank will be better for the environment thanks to its long life expectancy and recyclability. Manufacturers of steel tanks can produce them to bespoke sizes and painted in a choice of colours. Situate the tank in a place to allow ease of access, to maintain and to refill, whilst also in a discreet area to not draw attention. If near a water course, or any other sensitive environments, you may need to bund the tank to prevent oil escaping in the case of a leak. To comply with Building Regulations Document J, oil tanks should be no closer than 1.8m from any structure (homes, sheds, garages, etc), and at least 760mm from boundaries. If these dimensions are too restrictive, consider installing an integrally fire rated tank. Tanks can be installed up to 100m from the boiler, but always check the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions. If the tank is in the curtilage of a listed building, in an

Andrew Hounsfield

Founder and MD at Hounsfield Boilers

Commissioning

ABOUT THE COMPANY Hounsfield Boilers was set up in 2008 by Andrew Hounsfield after 30 years in the boiler industry. Andrew had worked for some of the biggest UK boiler companies and noticed that there was no product on the market that could offer high quality, long lasting components at an affordable price. With his engineering background he designed a new oil fired boiler that features a heat exchanger design where the traditional fire brick in the base with a steel plate or a cover on the top has been replaced with water surrounding the combustion box to maximise the heat transfer surface area. Read more about the Tuscan range on page 34. Article 4 Direction Conservation Area, or forward of the dwelling’s front elevation, you will need to apply for planning permission.

Flue decisions The boiler will need a flue system which will remove unwanted gases produced by the boiler. For safety reasons, it is mandatory for flue terminating positions to be sited in accordance with the requirements of Building Regulations Approved Document J. The more stringent requirements detailed in BS5410 2014 (Code of Practice for oil fired installations)

installation and maintenance cost plus a potential environmental hazard should they fail. Recent recommendations are that deaerators should be replaced every ten years - something that may be difficult to monitor.

Wherever the boiler goes it must be easily accessible for service and maintenance

are advisory and are intended to ensure that plume from wet flue products do not impinge on, or significantly affect, the use of the householder’s dwelling and also reduce the possibility of nuisance to neighbouring buildings. A suitable flue diverter may provide a resolution for awkward installations. Choose your flue wisely – plastic flues in time may be affected by the high levels of residual heat in the mass of an oil boiler, which can cause the plastic flue to break and need replacing, whereas a stainless steel flue is a long lasting alternative. Domestic flues will not require planning permission unless they are situated on a listed building. However, a straight like-forlike replacement may not need planning consent, but a new flue opening may require permission if historic materials are to be removed. If in doubt, always check with the Local Planning Authority.

Condensing or non? There are two types of oil boilers – condensing and noncondensing. Condensing boilers should be the default boiler of choice as they are more energy efficient, recycling flue gases via a secondary heat exchanger. Non-condensing boilers are only permitted for replacement of an existing installation, essentially where a boiler is not located near an external wall. The Building Regulations considers the additional cost of installing a condensing boiler in this situation as unnecessary.

Deaerators Where oil level is below the burner, i.e. wall mounted boilers, there will be some heating installers who may still believe that a deaerator such as the Tiger loop is required. Whilst this is true for boilers which have a Riello Burner, deaerators are not required for some domestic boilers. In fact, for the domestic customer, Tiger loops are an unnecessary

Once installed, the boiler will need to be commissioned. The length of the flue will impact on the draw to the boiler. Some burners will be test fired before dispatch but will still need to be commissioned. This should be carried out by an OFTEC registered ‘competent person’, as they can self-certify the installation for Building Regulations. If you, as the installer, are not OFTEC registered, then the commissioning phase is the time to bring in an OFTEC engineer. Alternatively, contact the Local Building Authority or your client’s new boiler will not be complying with Building Regulations, which will lead to issues when the house is sold.

Regular servicing Once the boiler has been installed it will require servicing on a yearly basis. Some boiler brands will insist that only their engineers are able to service the boiler for their warranties to be valid. This can impact on repeat trade for a heating engineer. Also be aware that some manufacturers use bespoke, non-industry standard parts that can be difficult to source from your usual merchant, so ensure you choose wisely.

Further information To discover more about installing oil fired boilers and watch Hounsfield’s how-to videos, simply use the link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/25


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

32

Oil Heating

Working together for optimum efficiency Installing an oil fired heating system in light-industrial, public sector and semi-commercial applications can be a complex process. Wayne Eggleton from Firebird UK explains why it’s important to work with manufacturers to ensure heating systems are designed to run at optimum efficiency.

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he design of a heating system in nondomestic applications has never been more critical as it can not only reduce the amount of energy used but also help to reduce carbon emissions. However, it is not just the boiler that must be correctly sized, because without taking the entire system into account, expected energy savings may not be achieved. So what are some of the issues that will need to be addressed?

Heat loss calculations A heat loss calculation is the only way a heating system can be accurately sized and will take into account the outputs of UFH and/or radiator systems against these heat losses to identify any shortfalls. From these calculations the boiler requirements can be correctly sized and in doing so ensure the performance matches customer expectation.

Sized to fit Historically, heating requirements in light-commercial premises or larger domestic properties have been met by installing a single high output boiler. However, in certain applications where there is a wide variety of demand during the day, the inability of a single, high-output boiler to adapt efficiently to changing heat loads can be a major disadvantage. Not only does this make the heating

Wayne Eggleton

Technical services manager at Firebird

TECHNICAL HUB Some companies that secure light commercial work don’t always have the necessary technical and design skills within the business, so it makes good sense to take advantage of the expertise available from manufacturers such as Firebird. From system design to onsite technical support, it’s there for the taking. Based at its UK headquarters in Plymouth, the Firebird Technical Hub provides a free design and technical support package for the heating professional, providing support and assistance from the initial design right through to the completed installation. system less efficient, but it can also be more costly to run. By installing multiple, lower output boilers in a cascading system that can adapt to changing heat loads,

Easier to install and maintain New this autumn from Warmflow is the Agentis oil range comprising internal, external, boilerhouse and professional models. They all feature the latest Riello low NOx burner and are supported by a five-year parts and labour warranty.

higher levels of efficiency can be achieved whilst delivering the same output. A cascading boiler system can also significantly increase the longevity of a heating system, as the loads are distributed evenly across the boilers. This minimises the risk of deterioration on individual boilers and reduces costs. If space allows, a cascading system may be preferable even when a single boiler is able to meet demand, as efficiency is increased when load is spread over more than one boiler.

Cascade boiler system with low loss header

Low loss header In a cascading system where the boilers are connected directly to the loads, there is no way of ensuring that minimum boiler flow rates are maintained. This can result in irregular boiler flow rates and water temperature, which can compromise performance and efficiency. A simple way to prevent this is by incorporating a low loss header into the heating system to separate the primary and (separately pumped) secondary circuits. Incorporating a low loss header into a cascading heating system regulates flow rate and pressure, which in turn improves efficiency and performance. As such, a constant temperature supply of water to multiple (or low flow) heating circuits downstream of the low loss header connection is maintained. Available in 100, 200 and 600kW max inputs, the Firebird low loss

header has four mounting points and convenient tapping points for expansion. This offers the flexibility to retrofit additional heat sources at a later date and eliminate any flow rate issues. Taking the concept a stage further, our low loss header management system allows up to four Firebird high efficiency oil fired boilers to be cascaded. Easy to set up, with clearly marked electrical connections, the management controller allows timed control rotation of master/slave function together with built-in weather compensation. These cascade units can provide a condensing output of up to 600kW with the ability to reduce overall output down to 1:4.

Another way of improving the efficiency of a heating system is to incorporate a hot water

An area that is often overlooked is the importance of flue design, especially when installing larger output boilers or in a cascading boiler system. If the plant room is in a basement, as many are, a complicated flue design is often required to meet the requirements of Building Regulations. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/26

The internal model is slim and compact to suit installation in kitchens and utility rooms where space may be limited. The company says that a radical rethinking of internal plumbing and hot water circuitry has produced a premium quality product with easily demountable components and improved ease of installation and maintenance. The external model offers all of the same design features and benefits as the internal but is housed within an IP45-rated, maintenance-free, weatherproof

casing that will withstand inclement weather. Both internal and external models are available in the professional product variant, which includes leading brands such as an Adey Magnaclean Pro, Teddington fire valve, Crossland fuel filter, an improved condensate drain installation kit, and two bottles of inhibitor. Finally, the boilerhouse model has been designed for outbuilding applications, offering the same performance and operating efficiency in a

cost-competitive package. Brian Beattie, sales director at Warmflow, says: “For almost 50 years Warmflow has been heating homes throughout Ireland, the UK and further afield. We are delighted to launch our new and improved product offering in the form of the Agentis range and look forward to introducing both existing and new customers to its innovative design features and benefits, many of which are entirely new to the oil fired sector.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/27

Buffer cylinders

storage buffer cylinder, such as our Envirocyl cylinder. Buffer cylinders temporarily store a mass of hot water (which is not currently needed) at a high temperature. When there is demand, the hot water is transferred back to the heating system. This stops the boiler continually coming on and switching off to respond to demand, which is not a cost effective way of running a heating system.

Flue design


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PHAM PH AM NEWS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

34

Oil Oi il Heating

From Fro om outt of the e blue… blue… For any compan company ny looking to break into a new market the ere is little point in replicating there products that are a already available from established com mpetitors. Navien may be a competitors. UK oil heating engineers, new name to many m but the South Korean K manufacturer is õŎŅƱûăŅŹ ŹĠØŹ ĤŹŰ Ĥ Ņăƕ ŬØŅęă Ŏė òĺƀă ƲØłă ŎĤĺ õŎŅƱûăŅŹ ŹĠØŹ ĤŹŰ Ņăƕ ŬØŅęă Ŏė òĺƀă ƲØłă ŎĤĺ ing the industry’s lowest NOx boasting boilers – boasti energy emissions,, ene rgy gy saving g technology, gy, and a lightweight, easy e easy-to-handle -to-handle design – will appro oval. win their approval. {ŨăŬØŹĤŅę ėŬŎ Ŏł ®c ŎƬõăŰ ĤŅ FƀĤĺûėŎŬû̐ {ŨăŬØŹĤŅę ėŬŎł ®c ŎƬõăŰ ĤŅ FƀĤĺûėŎŬû̐ ƀŬŬăƛ̐ qØƔĤăŅ ĠØŰ ØĺŬăØûƛ ŹØķăŅ ŹĠă ƱŬŰŹ ƀŬŬăƛ̐ qØƔĤăŅ ĠØŰ ØĺŬăØûƛ ŹØķăŅ ŹĠă ƱŬŰŹ steps in its goall to become a leading brand heatin ng sector by introducing a in the UK heating high-end range high-end e of gas boilers, available with a no no-quibble, -quibb ble, long term warranty, at a competitive pri ice – and the plan is to follow price a similar strate gy with the new LCB ˨ˡˡ strategy LCB˨ˡˡ ŬØŅęă Ŏė ŎĤĺ òŎĤĺăŬŰ̖ DăØŹƀŬĤŅę Ø òĺƀă ƲØłă ŬØŅęă Ŏė ŎĤĺ òŎĤĺĺăŬŰ̖ DăØŹƀŬĤŅę Ø òĺƀă ƲØłă burner, stainles ss steel heat exchanger and stainless smart controls controls,, the boilers are said to give installers the most m advanced oil heating rrently available, but without technology cur currently having to pay a premium price tag. ̱ÃĠăŅ ƛŎƀ ĺŎŎķ ØŹ ŎƀŬ ŎƫăŬĤŅę̐ ĤŹ̵Ű ėØŬ ̱ÃĠăŅ ƛŎƀ ĺŎŎķ ØŹ ŎƀŬ ŎƫăŬĤŅę̐ ĤŹ̵Ű ėØŬ more advanced d than anything else on the market,” says regional r sales manager Chris Barrett. “And “ we’re coming in at a e point like we always do. very good price 1ƫăõŹĤƔăĺƛ̐ ƕă̵Ŭă ŎƫăŬĤŅę òĺƀă ƲØłă 1ƫăõŹĤƔăĺƛ̐ ƕă̵Ŭă ŎƫăŬĤŅę òĺƀă ƲØłă h l for f r the h same price i as a standard d d technology ƛăĺĺŎƕ ƲØłă òŎ ŎĤĺăŬ̖̲ ƛăĺĺŎƕ ƲØłă òŎĤĺăŬ̖̲

Since entering the UK heating g market, willlingness Navien has demonstrated a willingness e in to listen to feedback and engage regular dialogue with installers, installers, and these discussions have played a majorr part in prroducts. A the development of the latest products. ŅƀłòăŬ Ŏė ŹŬĤØĺ ƀŅĤŹŰ ĠØƔă òăăŅ ƱŹŹăû ĤŅ ŅƀłòăŬ Ŏė ŹŬĤØĺ ƀŅĤŹŰ ĠØƔă òăăŅ ƱŹŹăû ĤŅ various locations around the country cou untry and monitoring g of installer comments and the monitoring ens sure that the performance have helped to ensure e! òŎĤĺăŬŰ̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ƕĤĺĺ òă ŎƬõĤØĺĺƛ ĺØƀŅõĠăû e! òŎĤĺăŬŰ̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ƕĤĺĺ òă ŎƬõĤØ Øĺĺƛ ĺØƀŅõĠăû this month, will tick all the rightt boxes.

Positive feedback “We got feedback from install installers lers and comments from end users as well, w because we like to get everyone involve ed,” says involved,” Alex Ponting, Technical Service Manager. “We also previewed the boilers at the Installer Show in Coventry in May and we had a really good reaction. A lot of visitors wanted to come on our stand and see what other installers have been raving about. A number of installers referred to our boiler as a ‘game changer’ and I think it’s f i to say they fair h really ll liked what they saw.”

helped to win the approval appro oval of installers ˧˨kg, include the boiler’s low lift weight of ˧˨ kg, a space-saving space-saving combine combined ed pipe for PRV and condensate drainage, an nd a simple multi and multi-ûĤŬăõŹĤŎŅØĺ Ʋƀă ŰƛŰŹăł ̦ˣˢm ûĤŬăõŹĤŎŅØĺ Ʋƀă ŰƛŰŹăł ̦ˣˢm up and ˣˡm ˣˡm across) that is the same e as that used on the company’s gas boilers. sttandard gas “We’re able to use a standard Ʋƀă òăõØƀŰă ƕă̵Ɣă ęŎŹ ŹĠ Ġă Ʋƀă ŎƀŹĺ㏠Ʋƀă òăõØƀŰă ƕă̵Ɣă ęŎŹ ŹĠă Ʋƀă ŎƀŹĺ㏠ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬăŰ ûŎƕŅ ĺŎƕ ƕ ̩ òăŹƕăăŅ ˧ˢ°C ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬăŰ ûŎƕŅ ĺŎƕ ̩̀òăŹƕăăŅ ˧ˢ°C and ˧˥̖˧˧ °C, which is re eally low for an oil ˧˥̖˧˧°C, really boiler,” explains Alex. “ It means that there’s “It no need to use a more co ostly stainless steel costly Ʋƀă̐ ̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ĠăĺŨŰ Ũ ŹŎ ķăăŨ ŨŨ ŨŬĤõăŰ ûŎƕŅ ØŅû Ʋƀă̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ĠăĺŨŰ ŹŎ ķăăŨ ŨŬĤõăŰ ûŎƕŅ ØŅû ØĺŰŎ ŰØƔăŰ ŰŹŎõķĤŰŹŰ ėŬŎł ł ĠØƔĤŅę ŹŎ ƱŅû ØĺŰŎ ŰØƔăŰ ŰŹŎõķĤŰŹŰ ėŬŎł ĠØƔĤŅę ŹŎ ƱŅû ƕØŬăĠŎƀŰă ŰŨØõă ėŎŬ ăƚŹŬØ ƲƀăŰ̖̲ ƕØŬăĠŎƀŰă ŰŨØõă ėŎŬ ăƚŹŹŬØ ƲƀăŰ̖̲ big issue for many “The lift weight is a big oil heating installers as well,” adds Chris. “Many of our competito ors’ models weigh competitors’ ˤ˧kW almost double that. Even Even our ˤ˧ kW model is only ˨˥kg, ˨˥kg, which mea ans that it’s easy means for two guys to lift it onto ontto a platform and manoeuvre it in a kitchen.” kitche en.”

Text display

The new w LCB700 oil boiler comes with an easy e control to use co ontrol panel with a text driven menu men nu

Th L The LCB˨ˡˡ range will ill initially i i i ll compr i ise LCB˨ˡˡ comprise regular and system boilers, available wit th with outputs s of ˣˢ̐ ˣ˩ ˣˢ̐ ˣ˩ and ˤ˧kW, ˤ˧kW, with a combi combi model, currently c going through WRAS approva al, to be added to the range in the near n approval, interior future. All A models will be available in inte erior and exte erior options, presented in a sma rt exterior smart looking g corrosion corrosion-resistant -resistant case, togeth together her with a s imple-to-use panel control. with simple-to-use As we ell as low NOx emissions – a well mg/kWh – it boasts s an markett leading ˦˨ ˦˨mg/kWh 1Ŭ ̳ ̵ ŬØŹĤŅę ăŅăŬęƛ ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ Ŏė ˪ˤ% 1Ŭ ̳ ̵ ŬØŹĤŅę ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ Ŏė ˪ˤ% ØŅû ØŅ 1Ŭ ̳ ̵͡ ŬØŹĤŅę ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõ õƛ ØŅû ØŅ 1Ŭ ̳ ̵͡ ŬØŹĤŅę ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ of ˪˩% ˪˩% (when used with Navien’s new w SmartP Plus thermostats). With a noise SmartPlus level off only ˥˩ dB, the LCB ˨ˡˡ is also ˥˩dB, LCB˨ˡˡ claimed d to be one of the quietest oil boilers available on the market. Some e of the key features that have

“The other thing that’s gone down well with installers is the full fulll text driven display,” continues Chris. Chrris. “There’s no need to decipher fault codes, co odes, as the display tells you exactly what th he problem is. So, if the there’s low system pres ssure, that’s exactly pressure, what the text will say. Itt provides all the ĤŅėŎŬłØŹĤŎŅ ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹØĺĺă ăŬ ŅăăûŰ ̩ ƲŎƕ ĤŅėŎŬłØŹĤŎŅ ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ ŅăăûŰ ̩ ƲŎƕ p temperatures, system pressure, etc – and that’s something the oil oil heating industry hasn’t seen before.” Navien N i might i h be b an unfamiliar un nfamiliar f ili brand b d to some UK oil heating installers, i but the South Korean manufacturer manufactturer has been producing oil boilers forr over ˥ˡ years and is a dominant force in North America, Russia and Asian marke ets. The company’s markets. highly automated factory factory operates using ˦ F ˦F technology and produces produce es over ˣˡˡ̐ˡˡˡ oil boilers every year. po oints for Navien is “One of the selling points that we’ve been making g boilers for a long time ” says Chris, time,” Chris “but we’re w still looking to invest in the future and an nd this latest product launch shows our o intention to keep investing in the UK K. We’re listening UK. to the market and devel loping heating developing the needs of solutions that not only meet m today’s market but are also a future-ready.” future-ready.” Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˣ˩ phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ ˪ˢ˪̜ˣ˩

Wall W ll mounted moun nted d mode models dels l extend ex xtend the range The Tus Tuscan scan range of oil ƱŬăû ƱŬăû ûŎłăŰŹĤõ ûŎłăŰŹĤõ òŎĤĺăŬŰ ėŬŎł NŎƀŅŰƱăĺû ŎĤĺăŬŰ ĠØŰ òŎĤĺăŬŰ ėŬŎł NŎƀŅŰƱăĺû ŎĤĺăŬŰ ĠØŰ ex xtended with two new wall been extended wall-mounted mounte ed heat-only boilers – internal and a ăƚŹăŬŅØ Øĺ ̩ ƕĤŹĠ ØŅ ŎƀŹŨƀŹ Øĺ̀ ŎƀŹŨƀŹ Ŏėė ˢˣ to ˢ˪kW. ˢ˪kW W. ăƚŹăŬŅØĺ̩̀ ƕĤŹĠ ØŅ ŎƀŹŨƀŹ Ŏė ˢˣ mon with other models in the In comm common n range, the new boilers feature an a Tuscan ØĤŬõŬØėŹ ęŬØûă ŰŹØĤŅĺăŰŰ ŰŹăăĺ §ăƲŎŅ õŎŬăû ØĤŬõŬØėŹŹ ęŬØûă ŰŹØĤŅĺăŰŰ ŰŹăăĺ §ăƲŎŅ õŎŬŬăû ƲăƚĤòĺă ă ĠŎŰă ŹĠØŹ ƕĤĺĺ ŅŎŹ ŬŎŹ ŎŬ ûăęŬØû ûă̐ ƲăƚĤòĺă ĠŎŰă ŹĠØŹ ƕĤĺĺ ŅŎŹ ŬŎŹ ŎŬ ûăęŬØûă̐ one BF1 burner, plus thicker a Bento Bentone insulatiion to retain heat and reduce insulation T external model, which comes come es noise. The com mpact ˧˥ˡ x ˨˧ˡ x ˤˣˡ mm size, in a compact ˤˣˡmm cludes a frost thermostat, which h also inc includes w temperature rather than air, senses water and a to tough ough g weatherproof p casing. g “We ’ve designed our boilers to be th he “We’ve the łŎŰŹ õŎ ŎŰŹ ăƫăõŹĤƔă̐ ûƀŬØòĺă ØŅû ăØŰƛ ŹŎ Ŏ łŎŰŹ õŎŰŹ ăƫăõŹĤƔă̐ ûƀŬØòĺă ØŅû ăØŰƛ ŹŎ install on Andrew o the market,” says MD Andre w NŎƀŅŰƱ Ʊăĺû̖ ̱ ĺĺ ŎƀŬ §ƀŰõØŅ òŎĤĺăŬŰ õŎł łă NŎƀŅŰƱăĺû̖ ̱ ĺĺ ŎƀŬ §ƀŰõØŅ òŎĤĺăŬŰ õŎłă ƕĤŹĠ Ø ƱƔă Ʊ -year no quibble warranty ƕĤŹĠ Ø ƱƔă-year

and all come with every everything ything in the box – even the masonry dri ill bit for wall drill wall-mounted boilers. We’re e really proud that our customers kee ep p returning g to keep NŎƀŅŰƱăĺû ØŰ ŹĠăƛ ķŅŎ Ŏƕ ŹĠăƛ õØŅ Ŭăĺƛ ŎŅ NŎƀŅŰƱăĺû ØŰ ŹĠăƛ ķŅŎƕ ŹĠăƛ õØŅ Ŭăĺƛ ŎŅ the quality of the desig design n and manufacture boilers as well as know the boil lers are incredibly easy to install and serv service.” ice.” Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜ˣ˪ phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ ˪ˢ˪̜ˣ˪


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Open to Question 35

Continuing to deliver the goods

Andrew Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Travis Perkins’ Plumbing & Heating Division

This is still an industry where you can do what I did, which is start on the trade counter and end up running the business

The Plumbing and Heating Division of Travis Perkins, which includes City Plumbing and PTS, is in the process of being sold to new owners, but Chief Executive Officer Andrew Harrison tells PHAM News why he is exicted about the company’s prospects and why he remains optimistic about the future of the UK merchanting industry. We appreciate you can’t say too much at this stage, but is everything going to plan with the selling of the business and are you confident that the division will be sold as a complete entity and not split up? AH It’s too early to make any announcements, but we’re absolutely on plan and where we expect to be. The PLC has made it very clear that it’s the Plumbing and Heating Division that they plan to divest and they’re not looking to sell parts separately. We’ve got a fabulous business that we’ve built up with Travis Perkins, but we will soon start a new chapter under new ownership and the future looks bright. The Plumbing and Heating Division is a mix of branches and online businesses. How important is it to retain that mix? AH What we’ve seen time and time again is that those who look to run a business purely online find it quite hard to make it work and therefore a mixture of physical presence with online activity is probably the best solution. Some of our customers, particularly the younger demographic, like to use a digital interface with whoever they’re doing business with, but that doesn’t mean to say that they don’t visit the branches, whether it be a click and collect or a distress purchase. So even those who buy everything online still value the physical ability to be able to pick things up. Has the influence of the merchant diminished over the last 10 years, with communications technology making it easier for manufacturers to go direct to their customer? AH If a manufacturer chooses to take a different route to market, then that’s absolutely their prerogative, but I think the vast majority of manufacturers recognise that they cannot take on the role of the merchant. We are completely linked – us as merchants, our manufacturing partners and our installer partnerships. None of it works without the other, and that’s important to remember. We offer an awful lot more than just product delivery. We consolidate multiple manufacturers’ products to create a system – to make it easier for an installer to sell it. We provide technical support, provide credit and a whole raft of services. A number of businesses have sprung up in recent years, effectively providing an online matchmaker service for consumers, installers and manufacturers. How much of a threat do you see this to the traditional supply chain? AH I think the concept of matching consumers wanting jobs with installers who want work is a really strong notion, but it still requires somebody to get the materials to the consumers’ premises – and that’s

where we come in. We also have opportunities where we can connect our installer customer base with people who are looking to have work done, and bathroom showrooms are a good example of where that works really well. Bathroom showrooms have been an integral part of the business for a few years now. Do you think there’s an opportunity for further expansion? AH I think a bathroom showroom can generate a lot of business, but only when it’s as an integrated part of a plumbing and heating merchant. The Bathroom Showroom is in 250 of our branches – we’ve just opened our 250th in Sittingbourne – and it’s our plan to roll out more over the next couple of years. We hope to add up to a hundred new branches over the next five years and all of those will have bathroom showrooms. Where do you see other future growth opportunities for the business? AH I think the introduction of more sophisticated digital marketing means that you get access to a much wider customer base than you ever did before. The way we can communicate with irregular and potential customers is far greater today than it’s ever been and that’s one of the keys to further growth. Although we are the largest plumbing and heating distributor in the UK, we still only have 20% market share, so eight out of 10 customers currently don’t buy from us. That’s a huge market for us to go and fish in. Are there any product sectors which are particular growth areas for you at the moment? AH Smart controls is a relatively new part of our sector, but it’s growing quickly. Renewable technology is another important part of our business and has been for a good while. We currently supply air source heat pumps and although these are not necessarily a hugely profitable area for us at the moment, things might change when the technology becomes more mainstream. There will be some big changes over the next five years as new housing regulations change the type of products that are used and how they’re installed. We need to be part of that change and add value to the process. Is price as important today as it always has been? AH Price is an entry to play. You have to be competitive – that’s somewhat taken for granted – but you have to have something else beyond price competitiveness. That could be convenience, it could be relationships, it could be product choice, it could be service – ultimately, it’s a whole raft of things that are very personal and individual to the customer.

Do you think the independents are giving you a better run for your money than some of the other nationals? AH We have some very strong local independent competition, but we welcome that because it keeps us on our toes. I think an owner of a small business who operates in the local community is always going to be closer to his customers than any company that has multiple branches, but there will always be room for us too. For the plumbing and heating economy to be healthy, it needs both independents and nationals. How important is it for trade counter staff to have good product knowledge? AH For us I think it’s essential. These are the added value elements of the service that we offer that take us beyond the online-only suppliers. When the customer needs some support or help, that’s where we, as specialists, really come into play. Is it difficult to get the calibre of staff that you’re looking for? AH It’s always been a challenge to attract and retain the best people. We invest a huge amount in our apprenticeship schemes and we’re continually training and developing our people. What things do you think would attract an apprentice to the merchant industry? AH I would recommend this industry to any youngster looking for a career. Merchanting is underrated and undervalued. I think it’s a great business for learning the skills of dealing with people. Also, whatever your interest may be – IT, finance, legal, procurement, customer services, driving a truck, working in the supply team – the merchant industry has got an element which you can explore. This is still an industry where you can do what I did, which is start on the trade counter and end up running the business. There aren’t that many businesses where I think you can still say that’s true. What’s your view on the current state of the UK economy and are you optimistic about the future? AH I think the economy is always going to be responsive to political uncertainty and, regretfully, we are in politically uncertain times. That said, there is a national shortage of new homes – I think there are something like 27m homes in the UK of which over 55% of them are 65 years old or older – so all of the reasons for being in construction are still sound. It’s always been a market that has ebbed and flowed, but if you believe in the long term macro economics then this is the business to be in. The plumbing and heating industry has a fabulous future and we intend to be at the front of it. ◼


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

36

Products in Action

Heat pump replaces outdated oil fired boiler A high performance Carrier airto-water heat pump is delivering comfortable ambient conditions for children and staff at Yew Tree Nursery in Axbridge, Somerset. Carrier’s AquaSnap 61AF heat pump was selected to replace an oil fired heating system that was proving unreliable and inefficient. The Carrier unit captures low grade heat energy from the atmosphere and upgrades it to generate hot water for use in the nursery’s underfloor heating, radiators and domestic hot water supply. “We chose the Carrier system as it enables you to match the exact requirements of an application rather than simply supplying a standard factory-specification product, as with some other manufacturers,” says Tom Mangnall, who led the project for contractor Somerset Mechanical

Ltd. “The other major attraction was the plug-and-play design of the AquaSnap monobloc. It was delivered fully assembled, tested and charged with refrigerant, and

Making good connections at the engineering centre Viega has supplied its Germanengineered press connection technology to the development of a new engineering centre at Coleg Menai’s Llangefni campus. The construction of the new facility included Viega’s Profipress copper piping connections as well as the Megapress solution for thickwalled steel tube across the hot and cold water and heating systems. The Profipress connections for copper pipe were used across the domestic hot and cold water and drinking water systems. In addition to the copper pipework, thick-walled steel tube was specified to provide enhanced durability for the new building’s heating system. The Megapress system allows

press connections to be used on thick-walled steel and provides between a 60% and 80% time saving compared with alternatives such as welding, grooving or threading tube. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/32

only required power and water connections, which saved time on site and reduced installation costs.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/30

Vaillant has supplied materials for a brand new heating system for the Platt Hill Community Centre, as part of a collaboration with Clarion Housing Group and its partnering contractor, ENGIE. The Bolton-based project was designed to improve the energy efficiency of the community centre, with the intention of lowering running costs for the users of the building space. The original heating system was installed when the building was first constructed over 50 years ago in 1964, so it was crucial to renew the system in its entirety. Vaillant’s ecoTEC plus 48kW boiler was selected for the job due to its energy saving features, such as advanced modulation. As well as designing and

commissioning the new system at no additional cost, Vaillant also supplied a number of accessories free of charge. This included a VRC 700 System control pack, which not only offers ultimate ease of use for the end user, but includes weather compensating technology to ensure the appliance works at optimum efficiency. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/31

Air handling in luxury London apartments For a prestigious redevelopment project at 21 Dartmouth Street, London, a premium occupant experience was thought to be essential to complement the enviable location. The installation of a Trox air conditioning solution, including Trox X-Cube air handling units (AHUs), and X-Aircontrol modules, with the X-Aircontrol Zonemaster, is enabling the building to achieve high levels of efficiency. At the heart of the system are two X-Cube air handling units. Each incorporates an integrated controls package, whereby damper actuators, pressure, temperature and humidity sensors as well as heat recovery control and fan control strategy are linked into the X-Cube digital control network. Both units incorporate thermal wheels with pre-programmed strategies, selected to meet BVU efficiency in accordance of the ErP 2018 standard. This is the highest level of smart technology, combining pre-set algorithms, developed by Trox, to facilitate rapid reactions to changes in building load. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/33

Changing Places bathroom in Beamish Equipment from Closomat is playing a part in the transformation of the Beamish living museum of the north. With more than £10million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Beamish is using part of the funds to reconstruct a 1950s town at the County Durham site. As a provider of assisted accessible toilets, Closomat has suppled and installed a ‘Changing Places’ environment that provides disabled people with the equipment needed to maintain toilet hygiene. This enables people who need help, whether it’s in the

Energy saving benefits for all

Small plant room no problem

form of people and/or equipment. Wendy Wilshere, Beamish’s access coordinator, says: “Over ¼ million people need Changing Places toilets so they can get out and about and enjoy the day to day activities many of us take for granted. These fantastic facilities will make a massive difference for visitors who need them, and we

are delighted and proud to offer them in our new 1950s welfare hall at Beamish.” In addition to providing the core features of a compliant Changing Places, Beamish has included a shower and a wash and dry toilet (the Palma Vita WC) in place of a conventional lavatory. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/34

Five Thision L ECO 120kW boilers from ELCO Heating Solutions have been installed at Cromwell Junior and Infants School, Birmingham, as part of the complete refurbishment of the plant room. The new boilers have been arranged back to back on a cascade frame with a pre-fabricated header system to maximise heating output in a restricted area. The new ECO boilers have replaced two ageing and inefficient floor-standing pressure jet units, with the upgrade providing the school with improved efficiencies and long term reliability. The new boilers were installed on a freestanding cascade frame, with three units backing two more to provide a combined

output of 600kW. The installation also comprised new header kits and pumps, with a large proportion of the original pipework being reused. The ceiling height in the basement plant room restricted the space for fluing. This was overcome by utilising the Thision L ECO boilers’ frame system. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/35


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Heating Controls 37

Tailoring solutions to individual needs Evaluating the best heating control solution for a customer requires a good knowledge of the technologies available and how to combine them to best effect. Here, Andy Mansfield from Resideo answers some of the common questions installers are asking about the growing range of options.

Q

My elderly customer wants to save on their heating bills but doesn’t want anything complicated. What do you recommend?

One of the easiest steps that can be taken to save customers money on their energy bills is to install thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). It is estimated that around 8 million homes in the UK don’t currently have this technology installed. Fitted to a radiator where it connects to the pipework, TRVs sense the air temperature around them and regulate the flow of water through the radiator. This means that rooms can be kept at different temperatures according to individual needs. Part L of the Building Regulations, which is out for consultation later this year and will come into force in 2020, is expected to implement the requirements from the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to install individual room temperature controls, such as TRVs, whenever a boiler is replaced. A recent study carried out by the University of Salford and commissioned by BEAMA Heating Controls shows that the average energy saving potential for TRVs in homes is 18% of the heating costs. It is important to remember, however, that TRVs cannot turn off the boiler when the whole house is at the desired temperature. To do that, a room thermostat is needed. Modern

to ensure there is an equal flow supplied to each radiator throughout the property. One of the most popular methods is a process called lockshield presetting, whereby the lockshield of each radiator can be set to give the maximum design flow. This simple action limits oversupply of hot water to any radiator without prolonging the time required to heat up the room. Another option is TRVs with The Honeywell Home T4 has a variety of features that deliver energy efficiency measures with minimal user interaction required

Q

How does TPI (Time Proportional & Integral) work?

In the home, the Internet of Things (IoT) is all about connecting everyday objects with the internet for added functionality and advanced control to suit individual lifestyles. Homeowners are

TPI technology boosts energy efficiency by ‘smart’ firing the boiler just long enough to achieve the set temperature. It uses algorithms that calculate the expected heat demand based on the measurement of how long the system has taken previously to achieve the set point. A TPI room thermostat works by continuously measuring the room temperature and calculating a difference between measured and target temperature. When the difference is greater than 1.5ºC (known as outside proportional band) it fires the boiler continuously. TPI control provides a more stable internal temperature and therefore provides greater comfort levels compared to standard thermostatic controls. A more stable temperature may allow the user to reduce the set point temperature, as the swing below the set point (underheating) is smaller. This could potentially lead to substantial energy savings, as even a small decrease in the average room temperature will lead to a reduction in the heat demand. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/36

product specific knowledge on the most advanced Honeywell Home control system. Covering everything from planning through to customer handover,

attendees will gain the knowledge needed to confidently fit evohome on different heating systems in a variety of different property types. Andy Mansfield, marketing communications manager at Resideo, comments: “We are constantly reviewing the content of our training courses to ensure it meets our customers’ needs. We are confident that our new schedule offers something for everyone: from newly qualified installers looking to continue their training, to veteran engineers wanting to take their business to the next level with smart technology.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/37

Andy Mansfield

Marketing communications manager at Resideo

CUT TO THE CHASE  Installing TRVs is one of the simplest ways to improve heating efficiency.  Hydraulic balancing should be standard practice  Consumer demand for smart thermostats is only going to increase  TPI technology provides a more stable temperature programmable thermostats, such as Resideo’s Honeywell Home T4 Series, are designed to deliver energy efficiency with minimal user-interaction. The Home T4 gives the homeowner an array of features that will help ensure they get the full benefit of inbuilt energy efficiency measures.

Q

Hydraulic balancing – is it worth the effort?

With the adoption of technology such as TRVs, many installers no longer think that system balancing is necessary. In fact, only 18% of installers surveyed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for the Boiler Plus consultation said they undertake it as standard practice. However, in an unbalanced system, the radiators nearest the boiler take the bulk of the hot water, resulting in insufficient temperatures from the rest of the radiators. A balanced system is also more efficient as the boiler does not keep cycling on and off and instead stays in condensing mode for a longer period. As a result, it is advisable to balance the system of any property with central heating

integral balancing devices, such as Resideo’s Honeywell Home VT117 and VT200 TRVs. Just by inserting a screwdriver into the slot, the balancing can be adjusted. Then, when the head is put back on the valve, the balancing is protected. The lockshield valve should be left fully open to hide the adjustment from homeowners and avoid unnecessary changes which would eventually lead to underperforming radiators.

Q

How is IoT and connected technology relevant to me?

Choice of three new training courses Responding to feedback from installers, Resideo has added three new courses to its training offering. Installers can now choose between Standard Installer, Controls Applications or evohome Installer training to suit their interests and existing skills. The Standard Installer training is aimed at those who are new to the industry and covers the basics of heating system controls, including how to install and fault find on standard ‘S’ and ‘Y’ plan systems.

increasingly looking for smart thermostats and smart home heating systems that can take advantage of the latest connected technology – so savvy installers need to be prepared for customer enquiries in this area. Connected thermostats enable users to remotely view settings and schedule changes via an app on a smartphone or tablet. Connecting directly to the home WiFi network, these controls also work with digital assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home. Location based temperature control (geo-fencing) is also available to automatically adjust the heating schedule by tracking the location of the homeowner.

Controls Applications is a more advanced session, designed for those who already have a good understanding of standard ‘S’ and ‘Y’ plan systems and want to gain confidence installing more complex technology. Attendees receive in depth training on OpenTherm and load compensating technology; thermostat applications including single, multi zone and stored hot water control; awareness of security products such as WiFi cameras and water leak detectors; and smart home integration including creating

scenes, voice control and geofencing. Finally, the evohome Installer course is geared to installers who want to gain in-depth,


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

38

Heating Controls

T

his year has seen Drayton celebrate 70 years of manufacturing intelligent heating controls. Founded in 1949, the UK manufacturer, now part of global technology group Schneider Electric, has established an extensive range of heating controls, including thermostatic radiator valves, room thermostats, programmers, motorised valves and most recently a growing range of smart heating controls. In the last 15 years alone, over 78 million products have been produced from its 348,000ft2 manufacturing plant in Plymouth. Proud of its UK heritage, the business currently employs over 240 people, including an R&D team of more than 40, and is set to increase its production facility by 15% following a £1.5m investment. With over 250,000 Drayton controls fitted each month, there can’t be too many installers who haven’t fitted a Drayton product at some point and the company is confident that continual product development will see many more of its products installed in the future.

Smart thinking

The expanding range of Wiser smart controls, first launched in 2017, is likely to play a big part in the company’s future growth. The smart multi-room control system combines Drayton’s heating expertise with the latest connected home technology, and has been well-received by installers and homeowners. In a recent survey 77% of users said that Wiser exceeded their expectations. “Key to our position as one of the leading brands in the UK domestic heating market is our ongoing commitment to extensive research and development, and product innovation,” says Remi Volpe, vice president and general manager, residential temperature controls (RTC) at Schneider Electric. “By having a constant dialogue with our customers and installer network, we understand their requirements and we ensure this fuels product development, both in terms of bringing new products to market and the evolution of existing ranges. “This approach led to the launch of Wiser, providing a smart solution that not only meets the needs of today’s inquisitive homeowners who are looking for more control over their heating system and its performance, but one that’s also easy for installers to sell, fit and commission. Smart is a continual journey of development and, as we move forward, we will be continually enhancing our Wiser offering, giving homeowners more functionality to maximise heating

The Wiser system can work with voice control devices such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa

‘cancel all’ functions are also designed to make the homeowner’s experience using Wiser that much more efficient. Now, users can alter the temperature across the whole house with just a tap of a button, rather than having to boost each room individually. These updates will be rolled out across all existing Wiser systems currently installed, meaning customers will benefit from these new features by simply updating their app.”

Spreading the word

Older and Wiser

Despite marking its 70th anniversary this year, Drayton Controls continues to look to the future with investment in the latest control technology, including its Wiser range of multi-zone smart controls, installer training and a growing network of approved installers. PHAM News catches up with developments. Drayton offers a wide range of heating control solutions

efficiency, as well as enabling installers to offer their customers more benefits.”

Wise decisions

A buildable system, Wiser can create up to 16 different heating zones, using up to 32 devices, which can be individually scheduled. Ongoing development is seen as key to the success of the range. The company’s app-based, multi-room system already offers features such as voice control, geofencing, a data-driven heat report and various smart modes. More recent developments have included the introduction of an OpenTherm module which allows boilers to continuously adapt their system temperatures by forming a connection between the boiler and heating control, providing real time room temperature demand updates. Once the heating control detects the home or individual room is reaching the desired set point room temperature, it will tell the linked OpenTherm boiler to lower the system temperature, thereby ensuring that the property stays at the correct set-point

BY NUMBERS

77%

of users said that Wiser exceeded their expectations

16

the number of heating zones that Wiser can control

250,000 Drayton controls are fitted each month

70

years since the Drayton brand was first launched in 1949

temperature while using less energy. The Wiser Heat app has also been updated to include new functionalities. Under the new ‘functions’ pull-up tab, users will be able to locate the ‘boost all’ and ‘cancel all’ features. ‘Boost all’ will increase the temperature across every room thermostat and radiator thermostat by 2ºC for one hour. After the one-hour period, all boosts will be deactivated and rooms will return to the scheduled temperatures. The user can undo this by choosing ‘cancel all’ in the same pull-up tab. “We know that efficiency is becoming increasingly important among homeowners, and knowing that getting the most from their heating system is a key factor when replacing elements such as a heating control or boiler,” explains Remi Volpe. “Our updated OpenTherm module has been updated with exactly this in mind, and this clever technology helps installers offer maximum efficiency from the systems they are fitting. “The new ‘boost all’ and

To help installers get to grips with the Wiser range and connected home technology, Drayton has undertaken a nationwide training tour, now in its second year, which gives installers the opportunity to learn more about installation best practice and troubleshooting tips. The practical sessions are designed to allow installers to ask questions, share their opinions and gain hands-on experience. Upon completion, installers are awarded Wiser Approved Installer status, allowing them to benefit from having their details listed on the ‘find an installer’ function on Drayton’s consumer website. “As the concept of the connected home continues to rise in popularity, we are aware that installers are fitting more smart heating controls as part of an installation,” says marketing manager Clare Stevens. “Our training roadshow was created to ensure that we provide as much support as possible to installers as they venture into this new market, as well as educating them about the benefits of the Wiser smart heating system. “Since our first training last year, we have seen a marked rise in interest in our Wiser system. During the half-day training sessions, installers will learn everything from commissioning and set-up to how it integrates with existing heating systems, leaving them confident in its ease of installation. We also use these training sessions to stay in touch with our customer base, so they are very much a forum for sharing and discussing views, product feedback and new ideas.” As well as the Wiser training tour, Drayton has now set up an online training academy as part of its installer loyalty scheme, the 9° Network. Registered members can gain exclusive access to product training installation advice and troubleshooting tips. The Wiser training module is delivered through a series of videos and lasts 30 minutes. Once the videos have been watched, installers need only complete a short multiple-choice test to achieve their Wiser Approved status. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/38


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Heating Controls

TRVs gaining prominence Fitting individual room temperature controls such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) is among a number of requirements under the latest revisions to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Here, Gareth Ash from Danfoss looks how this new guidance on TRVs will affect the way heating engineers approach system design.

W

hen Boiler Plus was launched by BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) in April last year, energy efficiency received a much-needed boost under the new regulations. The requirement to fit time and temperature controls with all gas and oil boiler installations, for example, was a fillip to an industry which hadn’t seen much regulatory change since the switch to condensing technology back in 2007. Despite the progressive nature of Boiler Plus, many in the industry noted a glaring omission, specifically any mandate to fit thermostatic radiator valves. When challenged on this point, BEIS stated in its consultation response that TRVs were already a mandatory requirement for new heating system installations and it believed there was sufficient uptake in the market to make any requirement for TRVs under Boiler Plus moot. According to the government’s own figures, around 76% of UK homes with gas central heating have TRVs, while homes using solid fuel or privately rented homes were less likely to have them. It is thought that some 9million homes have only manual radiator valves. This suggests that TRVs may not be as ubiquitous as BEIS had indicated. In Europe as a whole, there are over 500 million radiators with manual and unregulated valves. If you installed radiator thermostats on them all, Europeans could save €12 billion and 130 TWh of energy every year. The upgrade would reduce Europe’s annual CO2 emissions by 29 billion tons – and the investment would pay for itself in just two years. That is according to a report from the European Building Automation Controls Association.

New guidance on TRVs

While Boiler Plus may have side-stepped a requirement for TRVs, the EU-wide Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has recently addressed this issue head

Gareth Ash

Marketing and technical support manager at Danfoss

CUT TO THE CHASE  Boiler Plus does not mandate the use of TRVs  The latest EPBD revision requires individual room temperature control, like TRVs, when a boiler is replaced  The key aim is to provide automatic temperature regulation at room level  The Revolver solution from Danfoss helps address problems associated with water hammer

Fitting TRVS is set to change from ‘best practice’ to ‘minimum standard’

on. New guidance relating to individual room temperature controls required under the revised EPBD states that, subject to being technically and economically feasible, the installation of self-regulating devices (for example TRVs) should be considered for the

separate regulation of the temperature in each room or, where justified, in a designated heated zone of the building unit. For UK dwellings, Part L of the Building Regulations currently requires this level of control. However, to comply with the new EPBD, additional requirements are needed for boiler replacements. As far as replacing components in existing systems, and standards when replacing a boiler are concerned, individual radiator controls like TRVs are currently only covered as ‘good practice’. In order to comply with the new EPBD requirements, these devices will be a ‘minimum standard’. In the UK, trade association BEAMA will provide an overview of this guidance to include compliant solutions, assessing economic feasibility and how the new requirements could be implemented into Part L of the Building Regulations. The EPBD guidance documents

Initiatives designed to make an installer’s life easier Danfoss continues to improve its products and services with an eye to making the lives of its installer customers easier. Part of this effort has seen the company rationalising and streamlining its controls range, meaning a line-up of 80 products will come down to a manageable 17. To illustrate, the redesigned TS710 and FP720 Timer controls replace all existing Danfoss timers, giving installers a simpler choice without compromising on features or benefits for end users.

Another initiative from Danfoss is the Installer Life Hub, a new website where heating professionals can find information and support for Danfoss domestic heating controls. As well as being a product resource, the site features training modules and webinars as well

as puzzles and competitions as added extras. Gareth Ash, marketing and technical support manager, comments: “The Danfoss Installer Hub website requires no time-consuming sign-up or registration, so installers can go online and start using it straightaway. The userfriendly design features simple, responsive navigation, which enables site visitors to find the content they are looking for quickly and easily. We know our customers are busy people who need information fast and without fuss. “Installer Life is all about meeting that need with useful Danfoss product pages, FAQs, videos and a few fun puzzles and online games to help installers de-stress at the end of a working day.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/39

clarify that any solution based on the manual regulation of heating output will not fulfil the requirements, even if the adjustment can be performed at room (or zone) level. Any solution that allows for the automatic regulation of temperature, but not at room (or zone) level, will not fulfil the requirements either. It is important to note that this second part also clarifies that a single room thermostat in the building or a zone, which is the current UK requirement with a boiler replacement, even under Boiler Plus, will not meet the new Directive.

Troubleshooting

Whilst fitting TRVs is generally a quick and easy procedure, identifying flow and return can be a challenge when upgrading some existing systems. For example, the common problem of water hammer can occur if the valve is mounted with the water flowing through the TRV in the wrong direction, resulting in a potentially costly call-back from an unhappy customer. To overcome this, Danfoss has developed the ‘Revolver’ solution, a reversible and bi-directional valve body with a built-in flow selector. The installer simply fits the valve in the factory set position with no need to identify flow. If water hammer occurs, the direction of water flow inside the valve can be reversed in a matter of seconds by turning the flow selector ring, with no need for expensive draining down of the system. Danfoss fully supports the regulatory recognition of low cost, short payback solutions like TRVs in the revised EPBD and we remain committed to developing solutions, like the Revolver valve body, to simplify compliance for installers and help them bring improved heating efficiency and comfort to their customers. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/40


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Heating Controls

Understanding what the customer needs Today’s installers have access to a wide range of control options, but it’s important to understand the needs of individual homeowners as well as helping them to maximise the efficiency of their heating system. Tristan James from ESi explains more.

M

ore and more appliance manufacturers are bringing modulating central heating systems onto the market. However, to operate these appliances, a communication protocol between the appliance and the controller is required. It involves the addition of a small bit of software only available to OpenTherm Association members. OpenTherm has been widely embraced in mainland Europe but less so in the UK, although there are a large number of UK companies – many of them UK organisations for European manufacturers - in membership. A UK marketing campaign about the importance of OpenTherm compatibility is set to roll out over the next three years (see below), with the goal of making the majority of appliances and controllers sold in the UK OpenTherm compatible by 2022. The selection of programmers and timers available today are many and varied and range from the simple to the far more complex. It is important to choose the controls you install

and hot water, the range of heating controls that can be used around the home has grown to allow consumers to be in far more control day to day than was the case just a few years ago.

Range of options

Tristan James

Sales director UK, ESi based on the homeowners who will use them. But using the latest WiFi, touch screen controls – a plus to the internet savvy – may well be a step too far to older people or vulnerable individuals who need simplicity in their controls. Clever use of controls can help minimise energy consumption by ensuring each room is at the right temperature for comfort, while avoiding overheating. This will keep a customer’s home cosy and cut their energy bills, which is what they want. While most boilers these days feature in-built controls that look after the level and flow of heating

New campaign to raise awareness about OpenTherm technology The idea for a single, common standard for communication in the domestic heating sector between heating controls and central heating appliances – boilers and air heaters – has been mooted for many years and indeed has been growing in popularity across Europe. But it has only recently begun to make its mark seriously here in the UK. OpenTherm is a nonmanufacturer-dependent system of communication currently predominantly used between modulating HVAC heating appliances and room

thermostats. It consists of a communication protocol and an interface specification. OpenTherm uses an established technology combining simple installation procedure with high functionality and future expansion possibilities. The OpenTherm Association will introduce the OpenTherm protocol more widely in the UK and has launched a three-year

ESi is typical of the major heating control manufacturers in that we offer a range of programmers, from a simple 1-channel version to a 3-channel multi-purpose programmer which enables compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations by providing separate timed heating control for living and sleeping zones, whilst  ESi offers energy efficient digital controls and simple dial operated mechanical controls  The ESi guide to Boiler Plus-compliant control solutions

communication process to raise awareness of the protocol, its benefits to the heating industry as a whole, and to manufacturers and installers in particular. The OpenTherm protocol facilitates digital boiler modulation by ensuring that load compensation requirements are met. Looking ahead, a large installed base of OpenTherm compatible products could facilitate the implementation of a range of new solutions that could improve energy use, reduce the carbon footprint of a heating installation and reduce its total cost of ownership. The increase in home automation and the availability of remote diagnostics for domestic installations provide a number of opportunities for further development. However, the OpenTherm Association recognises that in order to establish

the OpenTherm protocol, it needs to effectively communicate and illustrate ‘what’s in it for me’ benefits to those manufacturing the equipment and those installing it in homes up and down the country.

Wide support The Association already has a number of members signed up to work with it to introduce a wider acceptance of OpenTherm as a standard in the UK. Recognising the common sense in developing a common use ‘open’ system here in the UK, the protocol also has the support of industry bodies HHIC and BEAMA who are committed to supporting its wider introduction. The basic function that every OpenTherm controller must provide is the communication of the heat requirement – the

also providing timed control of hot water. The ESi range also features a ‘landlord’ option to encourage social housing and private tenants to allow access for annual maintenance, often a real challenge for landlords. Unless a smart system is installed which allows control of individual radiators, there’s usually only one room thermostat per heating system. It controls the temperature of the whole house based on the temperature of the room it’s in and is best located in the warmest room in the house. A programmable room thermostat lets the homeowner choose what times they want the heating on and what temperature it should reach. Our ESRTP4 model provides true 7 day, 5/2 or 24-hour programming options, with up to six time and temperature events available each day. Because these are also available in wireless versions, they can be installed anywhere in the home. Simple to use and with a large, easy to read LCD, the ESRTP4 provides genuine saving, as these models have delayed start and optimum start/stop and also offer a landlord facility to facilitate annual maintenance. Our new RTP5 and RTP5 WiFi units along with the latest RTP6 ‘touch’ units are worth a closer look for those looking for the top end technology options. But for people who prefer a control dial to push-button controls – and there are still a lot that do – our electronic room thermostats offer the simple answer they are looking for. Available with or without an LCD display, the homeowner simply has to turn the dial to the desired temperature. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/41

control set-point – to the heating appliance. This heat requirement is calculated by the controller based on the difference between the set temperature and the desired one, or another form of control such as outside temperature control. The protocol also supports other noncompulsory functions offering manufacturers the chance to develop multiple product variants. For manufacturers of heating boilers, controlling devices and associated products, who are interested in developing OpenTherm compatible products, they can approach the OpenTherm Association secretariat to obtain a data sheet, free of charge, simply by completing the request form on the new website, a link to which is provided below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/42


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Heating Controls Make a connection for greater õŎŅŹŬŎĺ ØŅû ăƬõĤăŅõƛ

The smart thermostat from SALUS is part of its Smart Home system and is claimed to save homeowners between ˩̖˥% and ˢ˧̖˦% on heating bills when they use it to replace ŹĠăĤŬ ŹŬØûĤŹĤŎŅØĺ ŰŹØŹ̖ RŹ õØŅ Űăĺė-learn òăĠØƔĤŎƀŬŰ ØŅû ØûĴƀŰŹ ØõõŎŬûĤŅęĺƛ̖ §Ġă

system can also detect when the user leaves or returns home and will switch the heating Ŏƫ ØŅû ŎŅ ØƀŹŎłØŹĤõØĺĺƛ̖ Because the thermostat is part of a wider system, the heating can work with other smart sensors in the home, including doors, windows, lighting and security õØłăŬØŰ̖ ƛ ĺĤŅķĤŅę Ø ŰłØŬŹ Ũĺƀę ØŅû ûŎŎŬ sensor to the heating, the system can be set to switch the light on nearest the front door when it is opened and turn down the ĠăØŹĤŅę ƀŅŹĤĺ ŹĠă ûŎŎŬ õĺŎŰăŰ̖ The Smart Home system includes a range of Boiler Plus compliant thermostats and ƀŅûăŬƲŎŎŬ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŹĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹŰ̖ ăõăŅŹĺƛ̐ e® ĠØŰ ƀŅƔăĤĺăû Ø ƱƔă-year warranty ØõŬŎŰŰ Øĺĺ Ŏė ĤŹŰ ®DN õŎŅŹŬŎĺŰ̖ §Ġă Ņăƕ warranty covers the performance of the ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ØŹ ŅŎ ăƚŹŬØ õŎŰŹ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˥ˤ

Social housing ŰĤłŨĺĤõĤŹƛ Aimed at the social housing sector, the Halo eĤŹă {ŨăŅ§ĠăŬł ÃĤŬăû !ŎłòĤ ėŬŎł RûăØĺ Boilers is a programmable room thermostat (PRT) that allows input from tenants and Rq-ŨŬŎŹăõŹăû Ű㏏ĤŅęŰ ėŎŬ ĺØŅûĺŎŬûŰ̖ The Halo Lite is described as a costăƫăõŹĤƔă ŰŎĺƀŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ ŎĤĺăŬ ĺƀŰ ĺăęĤŰĺØŹĤŎŅ̖ RŹ ŬăūƀĤŬăŰ łĤŅĤłØĺ łØĤŅŹăŅØŅõă ØŅû ƀŰăŰ low voltage wiring, which eliminates the Ņăăû ėŎŬ òØŹŹăŬĤăŰ̖ The use of OpenTherm technology means that Halo Lite functions seamlessly with RûăØĺ eŎęĤõ õŎłòĤ òŎĤĺăŬŰ ØŅû ŨŬŎƔĤûăŰ enhanced load compensation – one of the ØûûĤŹĤŎŅØĺ ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ ŎŨŹĤŎŅŰ Ű㏠ŎƀŹ ĤŅ ŹĠă ŎĤĺăŬ ĺƀŰ ŬăęƀĺØŹĤŎŅŰ̖

§ăŅØŅŹŰ ƕĤĺĺ òăŅăƱŹ ėŬŎł Ø ŰĤłŨĺă device featuring a backlit colour screen with large text and icons, and simple ûĤØĺ ØŅû òƀŹŹŎŅ õŎŅŹŬŎĺŰ̖ §Ġă ûăƔĤõă ƕØŰ tested with social housing tenants who provided feedback on their experience to ĤŅėŎŬł ŹĠă ûăƔăĺŎŨłăŅŹ ŨŬŎõăŰŰ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˥˥

Three choices in UFH controls Polypipe has developed a new range of smart UFH controls compatible with Google Assistant, Apple Homekit and łØƤŎŅ ĺăƚØ̖ !ƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ õØŅ ØĺŰŎ ØûĴƀŰŹ the temperature of their UFH system using a smartphone, tablet or touchscreen ŹĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹ̖ §Ġă Ņăƕ ŬØŅęă ŎƫăŬŰ ŹĠŬăă ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ control options: Simple (dial thermostat), Standard (programmable thermostat) and łØŬŹ ̦ĤŅŹăŬŅ㏠ăŅØòĺăû̧̖ 1ØõĠ ĠØŰ òăăŅ designed to be slim and stylish and feature proximity-based illuminated soft touch ķăƛŰ̖

DăØŹƀŬăŰ ØŅû òăŅăƱŹŰ ØõŬŎŰŰ ŹĠă ŬØŅęă include frost protection, which makes sure the home is always protected from the elements, and a holiday function, which reduces the set temperature while the householder is away, but then returns to the normal programmed settings in time ėŎŬ ŹĠăĤŬ ŬăŹƀŬŅ̖ There is also an energy saving optimum start which calculates the amount of heat-ƀŨ ŹĤłă ƕĤŹĠĤŅ Ø ŰƛŰŹăł ŬăūƀĤŬăû to ensure the property is warm when the ŎƕŅăŬ ƕØķăŰ ØŅû ŬăŹƀŬŅŰ ĠŎłă̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˥˦


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Heating Controls

Keeping it simple is key to efficiency

t Sharing the heat load across multiple condensing boilers in cascade increases the turndown ratio of the boilers and allows them to make full use of their fully modulating capability

start. The controllers on boilers like the Quinta Ace have a clear colour display that provides rapid, intuitive access to an extended range of well-structured technical parameters. Providing a twist dial and familiar smartphone-like buttons further increases the time savings.

Historically seen as overly complicated and difficult to operate, commercial boiler controls have undergone a transformational makeover. Paul Arnold from Remeha looks at the changing face of commercial boiler controls.

Cutting complexity

C

ondensing boilers have long been recognised as the most efficient of all boiler types, and they are central to heating systems in many commercial buildings. In order for them to achieve maximum overall efficiency, they need to be installed in such a way that they can operate in condensing mode and they need to be correctly controlled. According to the Carbon Trust, inadequate or incorrect application of a boiler control can add more than 15% to fuel consumption compared to a well-controlled system. The CIBSE Guide H repeats this advice, stating that ‘unsuitable control strategies for boilers can lead to inefficient and problematic operation’.

How to optimise The latest models of condensing boilers are fully modulating, using their own algorithms to meet building heat demand efficiently while operating with the return temperature below dew point, approximately 54°C to enable full condensing to take place. Some boilers can also be connected directly to the building energy management system (BEMS), improving overall system efficiency on larger projects at no extra cost. But ensuring full use of onboard controls and adding optional controls will optimise their performance and minimise environmental impact. So where to start? Setting full time and temperature controls is the easiest way to reduce heating requirements, and boiler models like our Quinta Ace range are supplied with full onboard time, temperature and weather compensation controls as standard. We recommend that a full boiler control strategy should include optimisation, weather compensation, multiple zone control and sequential control (on

t The latest control displays use full-text description rather than complex codes for more straightforward setup, operation, maintenance and servicing

Paul Arnold

Product manager at Remeha

CUT TO THE CHASE  Boilers achieve peak efficiency when they operate in condensing mode  Unsuitable control strategies can lead to inefficient and problematic operation  Setting full time and temperature controls is the easiest way to reduce heating requirements  A good boiler control strategy should consider optimisation, weather compensation, multiple zone control and sequential control

multiple boiler installations), in addition to time and temperature control. A weather compensation controller will help prevent energy waste by adjusting the flow and return temperatures of the boiler according to the outside temperature to achieve optimum heat supply. Adding multiple zone control will allow energy to be used more effectively, as different areas of a building will have different heat requirements. Within an office building, for example, the corridor will require less heating than an office workspace. The same applies for school buildings where the gym will clearly have a lower heat requirement than a classroom.

Sharing the load

Importance of the interface

Sharing the heat load across boilers in cascade rather than selecting one larger output unit will enable the boilers to make full use of their fully modulating feature. It also increases the turndown ratio so they can adapt to fluctuating demand for more efficient energy use. Adding a sequential controller to this design will rotate the lead boiler, lengthening the serviceable life of the boilers. It’s worth considering allocating a small budget for indoor and outdoor sensors and other cost effective controls at the outset. But having the functionality is one thing – using the controls to their full effect is another. Without total buy-in, the potential benefits of controls will simply not be reaped.

While home heating control systems have evolved dramatically in recent years to give residents total control of their heating, commercial boiler controls have historically been overly complicated. As a result, boiler setup, operation, servicing and maintenance has been a time-consuming task for engineers and the controls have proved difficult for end users. The central flaw has been the design of the controller which acts as the interface between the boiler and user. The good news is that forward-thinking manufacturers have gone back to the drawing board, re-engineering and redesigning controllers to make them more intuitive to use. How does this benefit the installer? Time savings, for a

An installer’s perspective on the Ace controller Remeha’s new Quinta Ace range, the successor to the Quinta Pro series, builds on its predecessor’s technology with a next-generation control platform and a new human-machine interface (HMI) panel. “The new Ace controller is spot on,” says G&G Heating Ltd’s Lee Garfield. “Firstly, its position – the display is located under a flap on the front panel, so there’s no need to remove parts for access. “We really liked the use of full-text description rather than numbers or codes. It’s far more intuitive and user-friendly and makes boiler setup faster and easier. The superior control capability will also make future servicing more rapid. “We were big fans of the Quinta Pro, but we’re all very impressed with the new Quinta Ace – it’s a nice improvement,” adds Lee. “It makes our life that bit easier, as well as benefiting end users with improved comfort levels and reduced costs. In fact, we have already recommended it to other customers.”

On some smart controllers, manufacturers have replaced complex codes or symbols with a full text description, all of which makes setup, servicing and diagnosis more straightforward and accurate. On smaller projects, the enhanced boiler control may even remove the need for a BEMS. This will cut costs and can simplify operation and maintenance for the engineer, as all information is in one place. Of course, providing more intuitive, user-friendly controls also benefits building operators, facilities managers and energy managers, enabling them to monitor and swiftly readjust settings for more effective energy management. As non-domestic buildings will have varying heat requirements during the week and often no need for heat at the weekend, the ability to set and adjust time controls more easily will enable them to match building use and occupancy more accurately. The same applies to holiday periods when some buildings might be vacant. Separating a building into different heating zones will similarly help use energy more effectively and efficiently, avoiding the costly scenario caused by heating empty areas of a building. Effective use of temperature controls also contributes to improved occupant comfort levels.

Small steps, big changes Maximising use of onboard and cost-effective optional controls is a practical and simple step towards enhanced boiler and system performance. Improved control makes for happy customers, helping organisations avoid unnecessary energy waste and needlessly high energy bills. With manufacturers continuing to innovate, developing and evolving ever-smarter, more straightforward commercial controllers, ensuring good boiler control throughout the boiler’s life cycle has never been easier. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/46


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Heating Controls 45

Wax versus liquid: what’s the best element for TRVs?

Featuring a good grip and clear symbols, Pegler Terrier TRVs have been designed for ease of use

{ė ŹĠă ƔØŬĤŎƀŰ õŎłŨŎŅăŅŹŰ ŹĠØŹ łØķă ƀŨ Ø õăŅŹŬØĺ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăł̐ ŹĠă § Â̐ ŹĠŎƀęĠ ŰłØĺĺ ĤŅ ŰĤƤă̐ ĤŰ Ø òĤę ŨĺØƛăŬ ĤŅ ăŅŰƀŬĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăł ăƬõĤăŅõƛ̖ łƛ DŬăŅõĠ ėŬŎł ăęĺăŬ ĺŎŎķŰ ØŹ ŹĠă łăŬĤŹŰ Ŏė ƕØƚ ƔăŬŰƀŰ ĺĤūƀĤû ƔăŬŰĤŎŅŰ ØŅû ƕĠĤõĠ ŎŅă ØõĠĤăƔăŰ ŹĠă òăŰŹ ØƀŹŎłØŹĤõ ØûĴƀŰŹłăŅŹ̖

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Ġă Ġƀłòĺă §  ĤŰ ØŅ ăƚŹŬăłăĺƛ ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ ŨØŬŹ Ŏė Ø õŎŅŹŬŎĺĺăû ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăł ØŅû ėŎŬłŰ ŨØŬŹ Ŏė Ø ŬØŅęă Ŏė ĠăØŹĤŅę õŎŅŹŬŎĺŰ ŹĠØŹ ŬăęƀĺØŹă ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ûŎłăŰŹĤõ õăŅŹŬØĺ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăłŰ̖ ÃĠăŅ ƱŹŹăû ØŅû ƀŰăû õŎŬŬăõŹĺƛ̐ ĤŹ ØĺĺŎƕŰ ƀŰăŬŰ ŹŎ ŬăęƀĺØŹă ŹĠă ĠăØŹ ŎŅ ăØõĠ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ėŎŬ ęŬăØŹăŬ ƲăƚĤòĤĺĤŹƛ̖ §Ġăƛ Ŭăûƀõă ĠăØŹ ĤŅ ƀŅŎõõƀŨĤăû ŬŎŎłŰ ØŅû łØƚĤłĤŰă ŰƛŰŹăł ăƬõĤăŅõĤăŰ ØŅû õŎłėŎŬŹ ĺăƔăĺŰ̖ ÃĤŹĠ ŹĠØŹ ĤŅ łĤŅû̐ ŎŅă Ŏė ŹĠă łŎŰŹ ŨăŬŹĤŅăŅŹ ūƀăŰŹĤŎŅŰ ėØõĤŅę ŹĠă ĤŅûƀŰŹŬƛ ĤŰ ŹĠă łăŬĤŹŰ Ŏė ŹĠă ŹƕŎ ėŎŬłŰ Ŏė § ÂŰ ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ̪ ƕØƚ ØŅû ĺĤūƀĤû ̪ ØŅû ŹĠă ûĤƫăŬăŅõă ĤŅ ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă ŹĠØŹ ăØõĠ ăĺăłăŅŹ łØķăŰ̖

Wax or Liquid? ŎŹĠ ĠØƔă òăăŅ ƕĤûăĺƛ ƀŰăû ėŎŬ łØŅƛ ƛăØŬŰ ØŅû ŹĠă ûăõĤŰĤŎŅ ŹŎ ƀŰă ŎŅă ŎƔăŬ ŹĠă ŎŹĠăŬ ĠØŰ òăăŅ ŨŬăûŎłĤŅØŅŹĺƛ ûŎƕŅ ŹŎ łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬăŬ ŨŬăėăŬăŅõă̖ ƀŹ ØŰ ƔØĺƔă łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬăŬŰ õŎŅŹĤŅƀă ŹŎ ûŬĤƔă ėŎŬƕØŬû ûăƔăĺŎŨłăŅŹØĺ ŹăõĠŅŎĺŎęƛ̐ ĤŰ ŎŅă ŅŎƕ ŎƀŹŰĠĤŅĤŅę ŹĠă ŎŹĠăŬ̗

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CUT TO THE CHASE Đ Wax elements are much smaller than liquid, giving greater design freedom and delivering a superior surface area to volume ratio Đ The force generated by wax that drives the pin, spring and valve seat is greater than that of liquid, helping to prevent the valve sticking.

§Ġă ķăƛ ŎŨăŬØŹĤŅę ėƀŅõŹĤŎŅ Ŏė Ø §  ĤŰ ŹĠØŹ ĤŹ ĤŰ Űăĺė ŬăęƀĺØŹĤŅę̐ ØûĴƀŰŹĤŅę ŹĠă ƲŎƕ Ŏė ƕØŹăŬ ĤŅŹŎ ŹĠă ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ûăŨăŅûĤŅę ŎŅ ŹĠă Ű㏏ĤŅę̖ Ű ŹĠă ŬŎŎł ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă õĠØŅęăŰ̐ ŹĠă ăĺăłăŅŹ ĤŅ ŹĠă ƔØĺƔă ĠăØû ăƚŨØŅûŰ̐ ØûĴƀŰŹĤŅę Ø ŨĤŅ ĤŅ ŹĠă ƔØĺƔă ŹŎ ŎŨăŅ ŎŬ õĺŎŰă̐ ØŅû ĤŹ ĤŰ ŹĠĤŰ ŰăęłăŅŹ Ŏė ŹĠă ŨŬŎõăŰŰ ƕĠăŬă ŹĠă ƕØƚ ŎŬ ĺĤūƀĤû õØŅ òă ėŎƀŅû̖ ÃĠĤĺŰŹ ĺĤūƀĤû ƕØŰ ŹĠă łŎŬă ŬăõăŅŹ ûăƔăĺŎŨłăŅŹ ØŅû ƕØŰ ŹĠŎƀęĠŹ ŹŎ ŎƫăŬ łŎŬă òăŅăƱŹŰ̐ ƕØƚ ĤŰ ŨŬŎƔĤŅę ŹŎ òă łŎŬă ŨŎŨƀĺØŬ ƕĤŹĠ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ƕĠŎ ƕØŅŹ ŹŎ łØƚĤłĤŰă ăƬõĤăŅõĤăŰ ØŅû ƱŹ ̳ ̵ ŬØŹăû ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ̖ RŹ ĤŰ ŰƀõĠ õŎŅŰĤûăŬØŹĤŎŅŰ ŹĠØŹ ĠØƔă ŬăķĤŅûĺăû ŹĠă ûăłØŅû ėŎŬ ŹĠă ƕØƚ ŎŨŹĤŎŅ̐ ƕĤŹĠ ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă ŰŹØŹĤŰŹĤõŰ ØŅû ŹăŰŹĤŅę ûăĺĤƔăŬĤŅę ò㏏ăŬ ŬăŰƀĺŹŰ ŹĠØŅ ŎŅõă ŹĠŎƀęĠŹ̖

Smarter way to reduce heating bills

Plug and play simplicity y

ØĤû ŹŎ òă ĤûăØĺ ėŎŬ ƀŰă ƕĤŹĠ ƀŅûăŬƲŎŎŬ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăłŰ̐ ŹĠă ˥R1 łØŬŹ ÃĤDĤ §ĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹ ėŬŎł ÃØŬłƀŨ ƀŰăŰ łØŬŹFăŎ ŹăõĠŅŎĺŎęƛ ŹŎ ŎŨŹĤłĤŰă ŹĠă ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰõĠăûƀĺă ØŅû ŰØƔă ăŅăŬęƛ òƛ ăŅŰƀŬĤŅę ŹĠØŹ ĠăØŹ ĤŰ ŎŅĺƛ ŬƀŅŅĤŅę ƕĠăŅ ŬăūƀĤŬăû̖ ®ŰĤŅę ŹĠă ėƀĺĺ-colour ŹŎƀõĠŰõŬăăŅ̐ Ű㏏ĤŅę ƀŨ Ø òăŰŨŎķă ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰõĠăûƀĺă ĤŰ Ø ŰĤłŨĺă̐ ĤŅŹƀĤŹĤƔă ŨŬŎõăŰŰ̖ RŹ õØŅ ØĺŰŎ òă ŎŨăŬØŹăû ƔĤØ ØŅ ØŨŨ̖ DƀŬŹĠăŬ ŰØƔĤŅęŰ õØŅ òă łØûă òƛ ÃØŬłƀŨ̵Ű ƀŹŎ ƕĤŹõĠ ØŨŨ ƕĠĤõĠ ØƀŹŎłØŹĤõØĺĺƛ ŰăØŬõĠăŰ ŹĠŬŎƀęĠ ăŅăŬęƛ ŹØŬĤƫŰ ŹŎ ŬăõŎłłăŅû ŹĠă òăŰŹ ƔØĺƀă ûăØĺ ėŎŬ ŹĠă ƀŰăŬ̖ ĺŰŎ ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ĤŰ ÃØŬłƀŨ̵Ű ͡cĤŹ̐ ûăŰĤęŅăû ŹŎ ƀŨęŬØûă ŹĠă ˛Ĥ1 łØŬŹ ÃĤDĤ §ĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹ ĤŅŹŎ Ø ƕĤŬăĺăŰŰ õŎŅŹŬŎĺĺăŬ ØŅû õŎłŨĺƛ ƕĤŹĠ ŎĤĺăŬ ĺƀŰ ŬăęƀĺØŹĤŎŅŰ̖ §Ġă ͡cĤŹ̵Ű ƕĤŬăĺăŰŰ ŬăõăĤƔăŬ ăŅØòĺăŰ õŎłłƀŅĤõØŹĤŎŅ òăŹƕăăŅ ŹĠă òŎĤĺăŬ ØŅû ŹĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹ̐ ĺ㏏ĤŅę ŹĠă ƀŰăŬ õŎŅŹŬŎĺ ŹĠă õăŅŹŬØĺ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăł ėŬŎł ØŅƛƕĠăŬă ĤŅ ŹĠă ĠŎłă̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˥˩

DăØŹƀŬĤŅę ØŅ ĤŅûƀŰŹŬƛ ŰŹØŅûØŬû ĤŅŹăŬõĠØŅęăØòĺă òØõķŨĺØŹă̐ ŬăŨĺØõĤŅę ØŅ Ŏĺû ŹĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹ ƕĤŹĠ Ø qăŎłĤŹĤŰ ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ŎƫăŬŰ Ø ŰĤłŨĺă ̳Ũĺƀę ØŅû ŨĺØƛ̵ ŰŎĺƀŹĤŎŅ̖ §Ġă qăŎłĤŹĤŰ §˨ e® ŬØŅęă ̦ §˨ e® ĠØŬûƕĤŬăû ØŅû §˨ D e® ƕĤŬăĺăŰŰ̧ õŎłăŰ ĤŅ ƕĠĤŹă ŎŬ òĺØõķ̖ ĺĺ łŎûăĺŰ ŨŬŎƔĤûă ØƀŹŎłØŹĤŎŅ̐ ŎŨŹĤłĤŰØŹĤŎŅ ØŅû ĺŎØû õŎłŨăŅŰØŹĤŎŅ̐ ŹĠăŬăòƛ ŨŬŎƔĤûĤŅę ØŅ ăØŰƛ ƕØƛ ŹŎ õŎłŨĺƛ ƕĤŹĠ ŎĤĺăŬ ĺƀŰ ŬăęƀĺØŹĤŎŅŰ̖ §Ġă §˨ e® ŬØŅęă ŎƫăŬŰ ƀŨ ŹŎ ŹĠŬăă ŎŅ̜Ŏƫ ŨăŬĤŎûŰ ŨăŬ ûØƛ̐ Ø ŬŎŹØŬƛ ûĤØĺ̐ ăØŰƛ-to-ŬăØû òØõķĺĤŹ e!' ŰõŬăăŅ̐ ŰăŬƔĤõă ĤŅŹăŬƔØĺ Ű㏏ĤŅęŰ̐ ØŅû ØŅ D ŰĤęŅØĺ ŹăŰŹĤŅę ėăØŹƀŬă̖ §Ġă D ƔăŬŰĤŎŅŰ ØĺŰŎ ėăØŹƀŬă ĤŅòƀĤĺŹ ėŬŎŰŹ ŨŬŎŹăõŹĤŎŅ Ŏė òŎŹĠ ŹĠă ŹĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹ ØŅû ŬăõăĤƔăŬ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ŹĠØŹ ĠŎƀŰăĠŎĺûŰ ØŬă ŨŬŎŹăõŹăû ûƀŬĤŅę ăƚŹŬăłăĺƛ õŎĺû ăƚŹăŬŅØĺ ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬăŰ̖ §Ġă õŎŅŹŬŎĺŰ õŎłă ƕĤŹĠ Ø ŹĠŬăă ƛăØŬ ƕØŬŬØŅŹƛ ØŅû ƀŰăŬŰ ĠØƔă ØõõăŰŰ ŹŎ õƀŰŹŎł ĤŅŰŹŬƀõŹĤŎŅ łØŅƀØĺŰ ØŅû ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ÉŎƀ§ƀòă ûăłŎŅŰŹŬØŹĤŎŅŰ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˥˪

NŎƕ ØŬă ŹĠăƛ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ̗ ÃØƚ ăĺăłăŅŹŰ ØŬă łƀõĠ ŰłØĺĺăŬ ŹĠØŅ ĺĤūƀĤû ŎŅăŰ̐ ęĤƔĤŅę ęŬăØŹăŬ ûăŰĤęŅ ėŬăăûŎł ØŅû ûăĺĤƔăŬĤŅę Ø ŰƀŨăŬĤŎŬ ŰƀŬėØõă ØŬăØ ŹŎ ƔŎĺƀłă ŬØŹĤŎ̖ RŹ ØĺŰŎ ĠØŰ Ø ĠĤęĠĺƛ ŹĠăŬłØĺĺƛ õŎŅûƀõŹĤƔă õŎŨŨăŬ ƲØķă ĤŅ ŰƀŰŨăŅŰĤŎŅ ƕĠăŬăØŰ ĺĤūƀĤû ĤŰ ĴƀŰŹ Ø õĺăØŬ ĺĤūƀĤû̖ RŅ ØûûĤŹĤŎŅ̐ ŹĠă ėŎŬõă ̩ ŹĠă ăĺăłăŅŹ ŹĠØŹ ûŬĤƔăŰ ŹĠă ŨĤŅ̐ ŰŨŬĤŅę ØŅû ƔØĺƔă ŰăØŹ ̪ ęăŅăŬØŹăû òƛ ƕØƚ ĤŰ ęŬăØŹăŬ ŹĠØŅ ŹĠØŹ Ŏė ĺĤūƀĤû̐ ĠăĺŨĤŅę ŹŎ ŨŬăƔăŅŹ ŹĠă ƔØĺƔă ŰŹĤõķĤŅę̐ Ø ŅŎŹ ƀŅõŎłłŎŅ ŨŬŎòĺăł ƕĤŹĠ ĺĤūƀĤû ŎŨăŬØŹĤŅę § ÂŰ̖

What to consider RŹ ĤŰ ėØĤŬ ŹŎ ŰØƛ ŹĠØŹ łØŅƛ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ŨăŬĠØŨŰ ĠØƔă Ø ėØƔŎƀŬĤŹă §  ŹĠØŹ ŹĠăƛ õŎŅŹĤŅƀă ŹŎ ŰŨăõĤėƛ ûƀă ŹŎ ŹĠă ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă õŬăûăŅŹĤØĺŰ ØŅû õƀŰŹŎłăŬ ŰØŹĤŰėØõŹĤŎŅ ŹĠØŹ ĤŹ ĠØŰ ûăĺĤƔăŬăû̖ ÉăŹ Ø õĠØŅęă õØŅ òă ėŎŬ ŹĠă ò㏏ăŬ̐ ăŰŨăõĤØĺĺƛ Ĥė Ø õƀŰŹŎłăŬ ŎŬ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ̵Ű ŨŬĤłØŬƛ ėŎõƀŰ ĤŰ ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ̖ §Ŏ ØŰŰĤŰŹ ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠĤŰ̐ ĤŹ ĤŰ ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ ŹŎ ØŰõăŬŹØĤŅ ŹĠă §1ee ̦§ĠăŬłŎŰŹØŹĤõ 1ƬõĤăŅõƛ eØòăļ́ Ŏė ŹĠă ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ØŅû ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ĤŹ ĤŰ õăŬŹĤƱăû ŹŎ 1qˣˢ˦̐ ŹĠă ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă õăŬŹĤƱõØŹĤŎŅ ØŹŹŬĤòƀŹăû ŹŎ § ÂŰ ØŅû ƕĠĤõĠ łƀŰŹ ûăłŎŅŰŹŬØŹă ØŅ ăŅăŬęƛ ăƬõĤăŅõƛ indicator of less than ˡ̖˦ ŹŎ ØõĠĤăƔă ŹĠă ̳ ̵ ęŬØûă ŬØŹĤŅę̖ NĤŰŹŎŬĤõØĺĺƛ̐ ŹĠă ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă Ŏė Ø §  ƀŰĤŅę ĺĤūƀĤû ŎŬ ƕØƚ ƕØŰ Ĵƀûęăû ŰŎĺăĺƛ ŎŅ ĤŹŰ ŬăŰŨŎŅŰă ŹĤłă ØŅû ĤŅƔØŬĤØòĺƛ ĺĤūƀĤû ƕØŰ Ĵƀûęăû ŹŎ òă ŹĠă łŎŬă ŬăŰŨŎŅŰĤƔă Ŏė ŹĠă ŹƕŎ̖ NŎƕăƔăŬ̐ ŹŎûØƛ̵Ű õŎłŨØŬĤŰŎŅŰ ŎŅ łŎûăŬŅ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăłŰ ĠØƔă̐ ūƀĤŹă ŬĤęĠŹĺƛ̐ ŹØķăŅ ŎŹĠăŬ ƔØŬĤØòĺăŰ ĤŅŹŎ õŎŅŰĤûăŬØŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ ŨŬŎƔĤûă Ø łƀõĠ łŎŬă ØõõƀŬØŹă ĴƀûęăłăŅŹ̖ ÂØŬĤØòĺăŰ ŹĠØŹ łƀŰŹ òă õŎŅŰĤûăŬăû ØŬă ĠƛŰŹăŬăŰĤŰ̐ ŬăŰŨŎŅŰă ŹĤłă̐ ĠĤęĠ ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă̐ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹĤØĺ ŨŬăŰŰƀŬă ØŅû ØõõƀŬØõƛ ̩ ŎŅĺƛ ŎŅõă Øĺĺ ŹĠăŰă ėØõŹŎŬŰ ĠØƔă òăăŅ õŎŅŰĤûăŬăû õØŅ Ø ŹŬƀă ØŰŰăŰŰłăŅŹ Ŏė ŹĠă ŎƔăŬØĺĺ ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă Ŏė Ø §  òă ØõõƀŬØŹăĺƛ ûăŹăŬłĤŅăû̖ §Ġă §  łØŬķ㏠õŎŅŹĤŅƀăŰ ŹŎ ăƔŎĺƔă ØŰ Ņăƕ ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ ØŅû ŬăŰăØŬõĠ ăłăŬęă̐ õĠØĺĺăŅęĤŅę ŨăŬõăŨŹĤŎŅŰ ØŅû ŨŬŎƔĤûĤŅę ŎŨŹĤŎŅŰ ėŎŬ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ØŅû õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ƕĤŹĠ łŎûăŬŅ ĠăØŹĤŅę ûăłØŅûŰ̖ qŎƕ ĤŹ ŰăăłŰ ŹĠØŹ ŹØķĤŅę ĤŅŹŎ õŎŅŰĤûăŬØŹĤŎŅ Øĺĺ ƔØŬĤØòĺăŰ̐ ƕØƚ ĤŰ Ø õĺăØŬ ƕĤŅŅăŬ ØŅû òŬĤŅęŰ ŰƀõĠ Ø ŬØŅęă Ŏė Øûûăû òăŅăƱŹŰ ŹĠØŹ łØķăŰ ŹĠĤŰ ŹĠă ò㏏ăŬ ŰŨăõĤƱõØŹĤŎŅ ėŎŬ ŹŎûØƛ̵Ű ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰƛŰŹăłŰ̖ ÃĤŹĠ ƕØƚ ŨŬŎƔăŅ ŹŎ ĠØƔă ŰƀŨăŬĤŎŬ õĠØŬØõŹăŬĤŰŹĤõŰ̐ ŎƀŬ §ăŬŬĤăŬ ŬØŅęă Ŏė § ÂŰ ØŬă ŅŎƕ ŰŨăõĤƱăû ØõŬŎŰŰ ŹĠă ęĺŎòă ØŅû ŎƔăŬ ˪̖˦ łĤĺĺĤŎŅ § ÂŰ ĠØƔă òăăŅ ŰŎĺû ŹĠŬŎƀęĠŎƀŹ ŹĠă 1®̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˥˨


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Radiators & Towel Warmers 47

Opportunities for growth in a challenging market Speaking at a recent press event, Chris Harvey, head of marketing for Stelrad, provided an interesting snapshot of the UK radiator market and ĠĤęĠĺĤęĠŹăû Ø ŅƀłòăŬ Ŏė ĤŰŰƀăŰ ŹĠØŹ ØŬă ØƫăõŹĤŅę ŹĠă ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰăõŹŎŬ ØŰ ƕă ĠăØû ŹŎƕØŬûŰ ŹĠă ăŅû Ŏė ˙˗˘ˠ̖

Our investment into our quotation team and customer service team has paid huge ûĤƔĤûăŅûŰ̐ ƕĤŹĠ õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ęØĤŅĤŅę õŎŅƱûăŅõă ĤŅ ƕĠØŹ ƕă ûŎ ØŅû ĠŎƕ ƕă ŎŨăŬØŹă ėŎŬ ŹĠăł ̩ providing a speedy and accurate ŰăŬƔĤõă̖ Ãă ĠØƔă òăŹƕăăŅ ˚˗˗̐˗˗˗ ØŅû ˛˗˗̐˗˗˗ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ĤŅ ŰŹŎõķ ØŹ ØŅƛ ŎŅă ŹĤłă ŹĠØŹ ăŅŰƀŬăŰ ƕă ØŬă Øòĺă ŹŎ łă㏠ŎŬûăŬŰ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ˞˙ ĠŎƀŬŰ ĤŅ ŹĠă łØĴŎŬĤŹƛ Ŏė õØŰăŰ̖ {Ņ ŹĠă õƀŰŹŎłăŬ ŰăŬƔĤõă ŹăØł ŰĤûă̐ ƕă ĠØƔă ĴŎĤŅăû ŹĠă

T

here’s no denying that the UK radiator market has faced a number of challenges over ŹĠă ĺØŰŹ ˘˙ łŎŅŹĠŰ̖ 'ƀŬĤŅę ˙˗˘ˠ ĤŹ ĠØŰ Ŭăûƀõăû ăƔăŬƛ łŎŅŹĠ ØŅû̐ ƀŨ ƀŅŹĤĺ aƀŅă ˙˗˘ˠ̐ ŹĠă łØŬķ㏠ƕØŰ ûŎƕŅ ˞͹ ƛăØŬ ŎŅ ƛăØŬ ėŬŎł ŹĠă ŰØłă łŎŅŹĠ ĤŅ ˙˗˘˟̖ Źăăĺ ŨØŅăĺ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ûŎƕŅ ˟͹̐ e § ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ûŎƕŅ ˘͹̐ ŹŎƕăĺ ŬØĤĺ ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ûŎƕŅ ˘˜͹̐ òƀŹ ûăõŎŬØŹĤƔă ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ƀŨ ˙˘͹̖ NŎƕ ĠØŰ ŹĠØŹ ØƫăõŹăû ŹăĺŬØû over this period? Year on year, the company’s market share is up ˙̖˜͹ ØŹ ˜˗͹ ėŎŬ Øĺĺ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ̖ Źăăĺ ŨØŅăĺ ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ƀŨ ˘˘͹ ƛăØŬ ŎŅ ƛăØŬ̐ ęĤƔĤŅę ŹăĺŬØû ˝˙͹ Ŏė ŰØĺăŰ ĤŅ aƀŅă̐ ƕĠĤĺă e § ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ƀŨ ˙˙͹̐ ęĤƔĤŅę ƀŰ Ø ˞˛͹ ŰĠØŬă Ŏė ŹĠă łØŬķăŹ̖ aƀŅă ØŅû aƀĺƛ ĠØƔă òăăŅ ŹĠă òăŰŹ łŎŅŹĠŰ ėŎŬ e § ŰØĺăŰ ĤŅ ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ̵Ű ĠĤŰŹŎŬƛ̖ ŹăĺŬØû̵Ű ŰĠØŬă Ŏė ŹĠă ŹŎƕăĺ ŬØĤĺ łØŬķ㏠ĤŰ ƀŨ ˙͹ ƛăØŬ ŎŅ ƛăØŬ ŹŎ ØŬŎƀŅû ˘˚͹ Ŏė ŹĠă łØŬķ㏠ĤŅ ŹŎŹØĺ̐ òƀŹ ĤŅ aƀŅă ŹĠĤŰ ƕØŰ ƀŨ ŹŎ ˘˜͹̐ ƕĠĤĺă ûăõŎŬØŹĤƔă ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ŰØĺăŰ ƕăŬă ØŹ ˘˝͹ ̩ Ø ˝͹ ŬĤŰă ĤŅ łØŬķ㏠ŰĠØŬă̖ We believe this reducing market should pick up before ŹĠă ăŅû Ŏė ŹĠă ƛăØŬ ØŰ Ņăƕ òƀĤĺû ŰŹØŬŹŰ ĤŅõŬăØŰă̖ ŬăƚĤŹ ĤŰ ĠØƔĤŅę ØŅ ăƫăõŹ ĤŅ ŹĠă N ! sector across the board and the radiator marketplace cannot escape the uncertainties that ĤŹ òŬĤŅęŰ̐ òƀŹ ƕĠĤĺă ĤŹ ŰăăłŰ ŹŎ òă ĠØƔĤŅę Ø ŰŨăõĤƱõ ăƫăõŹ on the social housing market, the replacement market is still òƀŎƛØŅŹ ØŅû ęŎĤŅę ƕăĺĺ ėŎŬ ƀŰ̖

Institute of Customer Service and ƕă ØõĠĤăƔăû ˟ˠ̖˜̐ ŹĠă ĠĤęĠăŰŹ ŨăŬėŎŬłØŅõă ƱęƀŬăŰ ŹĠăƛ ĠØƔă ăƔăŬ ăƚŨăŬĤăŅõăû ĤŅ ØŅƛ ŰăõŹŎŬ̖ Ãă̵Ɣă ŹØŬęăŹăû ŰŨăõĤƱõ ŅĤõĠă łØŬķăŹŰ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ŹĠă ŎƔăŬØĺĺ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ łØŬķ㏠̩ ƕĤŹĠ ŅŎŹØòĺă ŰƀõõăŰŰ ĤŅ ŹĠă e § łØŬķăŹ̖ Ű the leading manufacturer in the ŰăõŹŎŬ̐ łƀõĠ ĤŰ ăƚŨăõŹăû Ŏė ƀŰ ØŅû ƕă ĠØƔă ŬĤŰăŅ ŹŎ ŹĠă õĠØĺĺăŅęăŰ this year, and our presence in ŹĠĤŰ ŰăõŹŎŬ ĠØŰ ŬăƲăõŹăû ŎƀŬ position as number one in the łØŬķăŹŨĺØõă̖

Hitting targets

Chris Harvey Head of marketing for Stelrad

Training and support eØŰŹ ƛăØŬ ŰØƕ ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ launch a number of initiatives, ĤŅõĺƀûĤŅę Ø Ņăƕ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ ĺŎƛØĺŹƛ programme and investment in a Ņăƕ łŎòĤĺă ŹŬØĤŅĤŅę ƀŅĤŹ̖ We have also continued to ĤŅƔăŰŹ ĤŅ ŎƀŬ ŬØŅû ŨăõĤØĺĤŰŹŰ ŹăØł ƕĤŹĠ ŎƀŬ ķăƛ ėØõă-to-face team members at the merchants, providing training and support ėŎŬ łăŬõĠØŅŹ ŰŹØƫ ØŅû łăăŹĤŅę installers through breakfast łăăŹĤŅęŰ ØŅû ęăŅăŬØĺ ƔĤŰĤŹŰ̖ Our mobile training academy has proved popular, taking training to merchant car parks and installer premises up ØŅû ûŎƕŅ ŹĠă õŎƀŅŹŬƛ ̩ ŹĠĤŰ łŎŅŹĠ ƕă̵Ɣă õŎłŨĺăŹăû ŹĠă Travis Perkins ‘Stelradisation’ process, visiting the last couple Ŏė òŬØŅõĠăŰ ƕă ĠØûŅ̵Ź łØûă ĤŹ ŹŎ ĤŅ ŹĠă ŨŬăƔĤŎƀŰ ėăƕ łŎŅŹĠŰ̐ ØŅû ŹĠØŹ̵Ű Ø ŨŬŎõăŰŰ ƕă ĤŅŹăŅû ŹŎ õŎŅŹĤŅƀă ĤŅŹŎ ˙˗˙˗̖

Demand for decorative radiators, such as the Stelrad Concord, continue to rise

The replacement radiators market is still buoyant and going well for us as a business Sales of Stelrad steel panel radiators have risen by 11%

In addition, Stelrad has over the ŨØŰŹ ˘˙ łŎŅŹĠŰ łăŹ Ø ŅƀłòăŬ Ŏė ŎŹĠăŬ ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ ŹØŬęăŹŰ ̩ ĤłŨŬŎƔĤŅę òƀŰĤŅăŰŰ ŨŬŎƱŹØòĤĺĤŹƛ and increasing its investment in the manufacturing plant and ėØõĤĺĤŹĤăŰ ƕĠĤĺŰŹ ĤŅŹŬŎûƀõĤŅę Ņăƕ products regularly during the ƛăØŬ̖ Ŏ̐ ƕĠØŹ ûŎăŰ ŹĠă ŅăƚŹ ˘˙ months hold? nŎŬă Ŏė ŹĠă ŰØłă̖ Ãă̵ĺĺ ŰŹăŨ ƀŨ to the plate across all the areas ƕă̵Ɣă ØûûŬăŰŰăû ŹĠĤŰ ŨØŰŹ ˘˙ łŎŅŹĠŰ ØŅû ĤłŨŬŎƔă ŰŹĤĺĺ ėƀŬŹĠăŬ̖ Ű Ø łØŬķ㏠ĺăØûăŬ ĤŹ ƕŎƀĺû òă simple to rest on our laurels and ŹĠĤŅķ ƕă̵Ɣă ûŎŅă ĤŹ Øĺĺ̐ òƀŹ ŹĠăŬă ĤŰ ØĺƕØƛŰ ŰŎ łƀõĠ łŎŬă ƕă õØŅ do to improve our performance and step up the levels of support ƕă ŎƫăŬ̖ Ņû ƕă̵ĺĺ òă ķăăŨĤŅę ŎƀŬ ØƕØŬăŅăŰŰ ĺăƔăĺŰ ĠĤęĠ ̩ ƕă̵Ŭă ŬăŅăƕĤŅę ėŎŎŹòØĺĺ ØŅû Ŭƀęòƛ õĺƀò ŰŨŎŅŰŎŬŰĠĤŨŰ̐ ØŅû ƕă ƕĤĺĺ òă ĺØƀŅõĠĤŅę Ņăƕ ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ ŹĠŬŎƀęĠŎƀŹ ŹĠă ƛăØŬ ƕĤŹĠ Ø ŨƀŰĠ in the kitchen and bathroom ŰăõŹŎŬŰ̖ Ãă̵Ɣă ĤŅƔăŰŹăû ĤŅ ŎƀŬ ƕăòŰĤŹă ØŅû ŹĠă Ņăƕ ƔăŬŰĤŎŅ ƕĤĺĺ òă ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ØŬŎƀŅû ăŨŹăłòăŬ ŹĤłă̖ We’re launching a digital app that ƕĤĺĺ ØĺĺŎƕ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ØŅû ŰŨăõĤƱăŬŰ to visualise our products in-situ ĤŅ Ø ŨŬŎŨăŬŹƛ̖ Ãă̵Ŭă ŰŹăŨŨĤŅę ƀŨ ŎƀŬ ŨŬăŰăŅõă ĤŅ RŬăĺØŅû ̩ ŅŎŬŹĠ ØŅû ŰŎƀŹĠ ̩ ØŅû ŎƀŬ ØõūƀĤŰĤŹĤŎŅ Ŏė NƀûăƔØû ƕĤĺĺ òă ŎŨăŅĤŅę ăƔăŅ łŎŬă ûŎŎŬŰ ėŎŬ ƀŰ ŎƔăŬ ŹĠă ŅăƚŹ ˘˙ łŎŅŹĠŰ̖ §ĠăŰă ØŬă ŹŬƀĺƛ ăƚõĤŹĤŅę ŹĤłăŰ ėŎŬ ƀŰ ØŅû ŹĠă ŎŅă ŹĠĤŅę ƕă ƕĤĺĺ ŅŎŹ ûŎ ĤŰ ŰŹØŅû ŰŹĤĺĺ̖

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Radiators & Towel Warmers

The versatile Acona range of steel multi column radiators combine the classic look of cast iron with the flexibility of steel – with the vertical model shown here with optional cast feet

The Ancona classic multi column radiator can be made to order in 188 RAL colours

The Ovali vertical (1800 x 475mm) stocked in textured matt white

How designer radiators can enhance any project When designing any room, radiators can play so much more than a functional role – they can be used to perfectly complement a room’s design or can make a real design statement. Here, Simon Morris from The Radiator Company runs through some key considerations when specifying designer radiators.

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hen specifying designer radiators, the first consideration should always be whether the chosen product can provide the right heat output for the room. This can be determined by the BTU (British Thermal Unit) requirements – simply calculated using the room’s dimensions, the type of space and the type of windows. The BTU requirements can then inform the specification process, ensuring that each chosen radiator (or system as a whole) can sufficiently heat the space. Once this has been established, the style of the radiator design itself can be considered. Long gone are the days of a ‘one size fits all’ radiator, and with so many options available it pays to not only think about radiator performance, but also aesthetics – as this offers installers an opportunity to really add value to a project – providing the client with an array of options to help create the ‘wow’ factor.

Material options

Designer radiators are made from a number of materials, including steel or mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium and cast iron. Aluminium radiators are definitely not to be overlooked – although they might have a slightly higher up-front cost in comparison to some alternatives, such as mild steel. It is vital that the homeowner understands that this additional cost can be compensated for by the efficiency savings made by a correctly sized system. This is because aluminium is a superconductor – it responds to thermostatic changes very quickly, thereby heating a room faster than alternative materials. This means the radiator does not have to be on for an extended period of time, leading to energy savings for the homeowner. Aluminium radiators are also lighter compared to those made from alternative materials, which opens up the installation options, and any concerns about wall strength

are reduced. For both installers and the homeowner this is also a major benefit, as lighter products can generally be installed quicker.

Colours and finishes

Simon Morris

Marketing manager at The Radiator Company

Whether the homeowner is looking to have a radiator that blends in or makes a bold statement, there are plenty of options available on the market to accommodate requirements

Whether the homeowner is looking to have a radiator that blends in or makes a bold statement, there are plenty of options available on the market to accommodate requirements. Most manufacturers will offer a wide range of colours and special finishes for their products to ensure that installers and homeowners alike can find a radiator that meets the exact aesthetics of a space. For example, in properties that have a more traditional feel, the colour or finish of the radiators can really add to the overall look. For instance, to stay in keeping with traditional Georgian properties, lighter tones might be preferred – such as mid green, blue-grey or burgundy. Alternatively, Edwardian properties typically suit paler colour palettes, including pastel colours.

Homes with a more modern feel could suit colours such as terracotta, nude pink tones or bolder blues and greens, including teal.

Space saving

If space is restricted, it is important to carefully think about the size and shape of the radiator – and also whether the radiator can double up as another useful element of the room. For example, vertical or multi-column radiators can be used to fit with smaller sections of wall. Leading manufacturers also produce radiators that are designed to fit into bay windows or around curved walls, making perfect use of the space. Alternatively, there are radiators available that have been incorporated into bench seats or that include mirrors and lights to further increase their use. It is therefore key that, rather than opting for like-for-like, installers look into the wide variety of designer radiator options available. Carefully considering which radiator to specify will ensure that the client’s vision for the space can be enhanced and assist with creating the ‘wow’ factor they are looking to achieve.

Find out more

To find out more about The Radiator Company and its products, request or download the latest version of the brochure by visiting the website below: ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/51


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Radiators & Towel Warmers

Managing the risk of burns with LST radiator guards Many of the radiators fitted in UK buildings are operating at temperatures that can pose a serious risk to vulnerable people. Low surface temperature (LST) radiator guards can therefore be an ideal solution for many applications – from hospitals and care homes to schools and leisure centres – presenting an opportunity for installers who are looking to expand their product offering. Richard Braid from Pendock explains more.

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he focus on energy efficiency means that homes and businesses are increasingly being heated via condensing boilers and air source heat pumps, meaning that central heating radiators should be operating at relatively low temperatures. However, standard efficiency heating systems are still being used in many buildings, and in these cases the surface temperature of the radiators can be around 60 to 80°C. This poses a serious burn risk because, according to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), contact with surfaces above 43°C can lead to serious injury. There are hundreds of hospital admissions each year because of contact with hot surfaces. For example, from April 2017 to March 2018, there were 962 hospital admissions in England due to unintentional injury through contact with hot heating appliances, radiators and pipes.

Burning issue While the risk of radiator burns might not be a concern for everyone, it is a significant worry for certain groups. Some people are more vulnerable to the risks of burns, including children, the elderly, people with reduced mental capacity, mobility or temperature sensitivity, and people who cannot react appropriately, or quickly enough, to prevent injury. Out of the 962 hospital admissions mentioned, 307 involved children (aged 16 and under) and 428

involved people over 65. Contact burns to those over 65 can prove fatal, and the main sources of heat include radiators. It is therefore essential for the risks to be minimised in certain environments, including hospitals, care homes, schools, leisure facilities and accommodation housing vulnerable people. The HSE information sheet on hot water and surfaces in health and social care states that where an assessment has identified that vulnerable people may come into prolonged contact with hot surfaces, the guidance is for the equipment to be designed or covered so that the maximum accessible surface temperature does not exceed 43°C. Meanwhile, the Education (School Premises) Regulations state that in a special school, nursery school or teaching accommodation used by a nursery class in a school, the surface temperature of any radiator, including exposed pipework that

Pendock LST radiator guards installed at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Waltham Forest

is in a position where it may be touched by a pupil, shall not exceed 43°C. Low surface temperature (LST) radiator guards are an appropriate solution for many applications and can be easily fitted by heating installers. They fit neatly over the existing radiator, reducing the surface temperature to a safe level while not affecting the heat output, performance, or energy efficiency of the heating system. If guaranteed temperature control is required (where, for example, surface temperatures must not exceed 43°C), a baffle can be fitted below the radiator grille. Pendock guards with this feature have been tested and approved by the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA).

Richard Braid

Managing director of Pendock

BY NUMBERS

43°C the temperature at which hot surfaces can cause serious injury

962 hospital admissions in England in one year due to contact with heating appliances

735 the number of those hospital admissions involving people under 16 or over 65

Hot pipework can be covered by pre-formed pipe boxing

En guard When selecting products, it’s important for installers to consider the quality and longevity of the material the guards are manufactured from. LST radiator guards at the budget end of the market can potentially be more susceptible to damage and might be difficult to clean and maintain. An antibacterial coating that will kill MRSA, Salmonella, E. coli and C. difficile is included as standard on all our radiator guards, and products can be supplied with a dropdown lockable panel for routine cleaning, inspection and maintenance. Installers should also consider whether products will be easy to fit. High quality LST radiator guards will have pre-formed skirting cut outs and valve access panels, making the installation quick and simple, but also neat and consistent. Certain environments require fixtures and fittings to be anti-ligature to prevent hanging and strangulation, so our guards can be fitted with a welded anti-ligature mesh. This sits behind the radiator grille, removing ligature points. Radius bull-nose corners provide a further level of safety, helping to protect anyone from accidentally falling onto a sharp edge. Central heating pipework can of course also pose the same safety risks as radiators, and falls onto hot pipes are not uncommon. Such risks can again be addressed by covering pipework with pre-formed pipe boxing. Burns from radiators can be a risk for many people – especially vulnerable groups – and the installation of LST radiator guards ensures a safe surface temperature while not affecting the performance or efficiency of the heating system. With products being simple to fit, LST radiator guards offer installers an opportunity to increase their product offering and add value, in turn improving their revenue. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/52


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Radiators

Enduring elegance is always in style Cast iron radiators are the heat emitter of choice in properties ŹĠØŹ ŬăƲăõŹ ŹĠă ęŬØõă ØŅû ŬăƱŅăłăŅŹ Ŏė Ø òƛęŎŅă ăŬØ̖ !ŎłłŎŅĺƛ ėăØŹƀŬăû ĤŅ ŰŹØŹăĺƛ ĠŎłăŰ̐ õØŰŹ ĤŬŎŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØŬă ĴƀŰŹ ØŰ ŰƀĤŹØòĺă ėŎŬ ØŨŨĺĤõØŹĤŎŅŰ ĺĤķă õĠØŬØõŹăŬ õŎŹŹØęăŰ ŎŬ łŎûăŬŅ ØŨØŬŹłăŅŹŰ ŹŎ ûăĺĤƔăŬ ăƬõĤăŅŹ ĠăØŹ ƕĠĤĺă ŎƫăŬĤŅę ØŅ ăŅĠØŅõăû ØăŰŹĠăŹĤõ̖ N n qăƕŰ ŬăŨŎŬŹŰ̖

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ØŰăû ĤŅ eĤŅõŎĺŅŰĠĤŬă̐ ØĺØûĤŅ ØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ĠØŰ òăăŅ łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬĤŅę hand made cast iron radiators ŰĤŅõă ˘ˠˠ˛ ØŅû ĤŰ ƕăĺĺ-ăŰŹØòĺĤŰĠăû ØŰ Ø ŰƀŨŨĺĤăŬ ŹŎ qØŹĤŎŅØĺ §ŬƀŰŹ ŨŬŎŨăŬŹĤăŰ̖ §Ġă ƱŬł ĤŰ ØŅ ăƚŨăŬŹ ĤŅ ĤŹŰ Ʊăĺû ØŅû õØŅ ŨŎĤŅŹ ŹŎ ŰŎłă ŨŬăŰŹĤęĤŎƀŰ õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ̩ŅŎŹ ĺăØŰŹ Ŏė ƕĠĤõĠ ĤŰ ŹĠă ŬŎƛØĺ ĠŎƀŰăĠŎĺû ̩ òƀŹ ØĺŰŎ łƀŰăƀłŰ̐ ęŎƔăŬŅłăŅŹ òƀĤĺûĤŅęŰ ØŅû õŎłłăŬõĤØĺ ăŰŹØòĺĤŰĠłăŅŹŰ ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c ØŅû ĤŅ õŎƀŅŹŬĤăŰ Øĺĺ ØŬŎƀŅû ŹĠă ƕŎŬĺû̖ ƀŹ õØŰŹ ĤŬŎŅ ĤŰ ŅŎŹ ĴƀŰŹ ėŎŬ ŬĤõĠĺƛ ØŨŨŎĤŅŹăû ĤŅŹăŬĤŎŬŰ̐ ØŅû ØĺØûĤŅ̵Ű ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØĺŰŎ ƱŅû ŹĠăĤŬ ƕØƛ ĤŅŹŎ ŎŬûĤŅØŬƛ ĠŎłăŰ ŹĠØŹ ØŬă ĺŎŎķĤŅę ŹŎ ăłòŬØõă ŹĠă ŅŎŰŹØĺęĤØ Ŏė õØŰŹ ĤŬŎŅ ƕĤŹĠŎƀŹ ŰØõŬĤƱõĤŅę łŎûăŬŅ ĠăØŹĤŅę ăƬõĤăŅõƛ̖

Gareth Charles (left) and Dean Chughtai

Single focus §Ġă ŰƀõõăŰŰ Ŏė ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ ŎƕăŰ łƀõĠ ŹŎ ĤŹŰ łØŅØęăłăŅŹ ƀŅûăŬ ŹĠă ŎƕŅăŬŰ 'ăØŅ !ĠƀęĠŹØĤ ØŅû FØŬăŹĠ !ĠØŬĺăŰ̐ ƕĠŎ òăŹƕăăŅ ŹĠăł ĠØƔă Ø õŎłòĤŅăû ˜˗ ƛăØŬŰ Ŏė ĤŅûƀŰŹŬƛ ăƚŨăŬĤăŅõă̖ ̱{ƀŬ ăŅŹĤŬă ėŎõƀŰ ĤŰ ŎŅ õØŰŹ ĤŬŎŅ̲̐ ŰØƛŰ 'ăØŅ !ĠƀęĠŹØĤ̖ ̱ ăĤŅę Ø łØŰŹăŬ Ŏė ŎŅă łăØŅŰ ƕă ØŬă ŹĠă òăŰŹ ØŹ ƕĠØŹ ƕă ûŎ̖ ĺŎŹ Ŏė õŎłŨØŅĤăŰ Űăĺĺ ØŅƛŹĠĤŅę ØŅû ăƔăŬƛŹĠĤŅę ĤŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ̐ òƀŹ ƕă ØŬă ūƀĤŹă ĠØŨŨƛ òăĤŅę Ø ŰŨăõĤØĺĤŰŹ ĤŅ õØŰŹ

ŬăĺĤăŰ ŎŅ ĤŹŰ ŎƕŅ ėŎƀŅûŬƛ̖ ̱RŹ ŨŬŎûƀõăŰ ŰŎĺăĺƛ ØŅû ăƚõĺƀŰĤƔăĺƛ ėŎŬ ØĺØûĤŅ̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ęĤƔăŰ ƀŰ õŎłŨĺăŹă ūƀØĺĤŹƛ õŎŅŹŬŎĺ ėŬŎł ŰŹØŬŹ ŹŎ ƱŅĤŰĠ̖ NŎƕ ŹĠă ėŎƀŅûŬƛ ƀŰăŰ łŎƀĺûŰ ƕĤĺĺ ûăŹăŬłĤŅă ŹĠă ūƀØĺĤŹƛ Ŏė ŎŬŅØłăŅŹØĺ ûăŰĤęŅ̖ ̱§Ġă ŨØŹŹăŬŅŰ ŎŅ ŎƀŬ ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ òŎØŰŹ ûĤŰŹĤŅõŹ ûăƱŅĤŹĤŎŅ òăõØƀŰă ƕă łØķă ŰƀŬă ŹĠă łŎƀĺûŰ ØŬă ķăŨŹ ėŬăŰĠ ØŅû ƀŨ ŹŎ ûØŹă̖ nØŰŰ ŨŬŎûƀõŹĤŎŅ ėŎƀŅûŬĤăŰ łØƛ ƀŰă łŎƀĺûŰ ĺŎŅę after their sell-òƛ ûØŹă̐ ƕĠĤõĠ õŎłŨŬŎłĤŰăŰ ŹĠă ĤŅŹăŅûăû ûăŰĤęŅ̖̲

New look

The Victoriana cast iron radiator is one of Paladin’s most popular models and is available ĤŅ Ø ƕĤûă õĠŎĤõă Ŏė õƀŰŹŎł ƱŅĤŰĠăŰ̐ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ØŅ ØŅŹĤūƀă ŨØĤŅŹ ăƫăõŹ ŎŬ ĠØŅû-applied gold ĺăØė̖ ĤõŹƀŬăû ĠăŬă̐ ŹĠă ŹŬØûĤŹĤŎŅØĺ ÂĤõŹŎŬĤØŅØ ĤŰ ƱŅĤŰĠăû ĤŅ DØŬŬŎƕ Έ Øĺĺ̵Ű ŬĤŅĴØĺ ŨØĤŅŹ õŎĺŎƀŬ̖

ĤŬŎŅ̖ {ƀŬ ŹăõĠŅĤõØĺ ăƚŨăŬŹĤŰă ĤŰ ƀŅŬĤƔØĺĺăû̐ ØŅû ŹĠØŹ ęŎăŰ Ø ĺŎŅę ƕØƛ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬĤŅę ƕă ŨŬŎûƀõă Ø ūƀØĺĤŹƛ ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ŹĠØŹ ƕĤĺĺ ĺØŰŹ Ø ĺĤėăŹĤłă̖̲ ØĺØûĤŅ̵Ű ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØŬă ƀŅĤūƀă ĤŅ ŹĠă ŹŬƀăŰŹ ŰăŅŰă Ŏė ŹĠă ƕŎŬû̏ ŅŎ ŹƕŎ ØŬă ØĺĤķă òăõØƀŰă ăØõĠ ĤŰ õØŬăėƀĺĺƛ ĠØŅûłØûă ŹŎ ŎŬûăŬ̖ Ŏ ƕĠĤĺă Ø ŨØŬŹĤõƀĺØŬ ŬØŅęă̐ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ĤŹŰ FăŎŬęĤØŅŅØ ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ĺĤŅă̐ ĤŰ òØŰăû ŎŅ ŹĠă ŰØłă ŨØŹŹăŬŅ̐ ŹĠă òăŰŨŎķă ØŹŹăŅŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ ûăŹØĤĺ łăØŅŰ ăØõĠ ŎŅă ĠØŰ ĤŹŰ ŎƕŅ ĤûĤŎŰƛŅõŬØŹĤõ ūƀØĺĤŹĤăŰ ØŅû õĠØŬØõŹăŬ̖ FØŬăŹĠ !ĠØŬĺăŰ ŰØƛŰ ŹĠØŹ ŎŅă Ŏė ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ̵Ű ƀŅĤūƀă ŰăĺĺĤŅę ŨŎĤŅŹŰ ĤŰ ŹĠØŹ ĤŹ

Ű ŨƀŬƔăƛŎŬŰ Ŏė ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ŹĠØŹ ăłòŎûƛ ĠĤŰŹŎŬƛ ØŅû ŅŎŰŹØĺęĤØ̐ 'ăØŅ ØŅû FØŬăŹĠ ØŬă ķăăŅ ŹŎ ăłŨĠØŰĤŰă ŹĠØŹ ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ ĤŰ łŎûăŬŅ ĤŅ ĤŹŰ ŎŨăŬØŹĤŎŅ ØŅû ŎƀŹĺŎŎķ̖ ŬăõăŅŹĺƛ ƀŨûØŹăû ĺŎęŎ ŬăƲăõŹŰ ŹĠă ŰƛŅăŬęƛ òăŹƕăăŅ ŹĠă ØŬŹĤŰØŅØĺ õŬØėŹŰłØŅŰĠĤŨ òăĠĤŅû ĤŹŰ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØŅû ŹĠă õŎŅŹăłŨŎŬØŬƛ ŹăõĠŅŎĺŎęƛ ŹĠØŹ ăŅŰƀŬăŰ Ø ŰƀŨăŬĤŎŬ ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ØŅû õƀŰŹŎłăŬ ăƚŨăŬĤăŅõă̖ ŬăõăŅŹĺƛ ŬăûăŰĤęŅăû ƕăòŰĤŹă ØĺŰŎ ŰƀŨŨŎŬŹŰ ØĺØûĤŅ̵Ű ØĤłŰ̐ ŨŬŎƔĤûĤŅę õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ƕĤŹĠ ăƚŹăŅŰĤƔă ŹăõĠŅĤõØĺ ĤŅėŎŬłØŹĤŎŅ ėŎŬ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ ØŅû ŰŨăõĤƱăŬŰ̖ ûûĤŹĤŎŅØĺĺƛ̐ 'ăØŅ ØŅû FØŬăŹĠ ØŬă ĤŅõŬăØŰĤŅę ŹĠăĤŬ ŨŬăŰăŅõă ØŹ ŹŬØûă ŰĠŎƕŰ ĺĤķă N1È̖ FØŬăŹĠ !ĠØŬĺăŰ ăƚŨĺØĤŅŰ̏ ̱§Ġă ûĤŰŹĤŅęƀĤŰĠĤŅę ėăØŹƀŬă Ŏė õØŰŹ ĤŬŎŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ĤŰ ŹĠØŹ ŹĠăƛ ØŬă ĠĤęĠĺƛ ŹØõŹĤĺă̐ ØŅû ŹĠĤŰ łØķăŰ ăƚĠĤòĤŹĤŎŅŰ ăŰŨăõĤØĺĺƛ ƀŰăėƀĺ ŹŎ ƀŰ̖ Ź ŰĠŎƕŰ̐ ŹĠă ƱŬŰŹ ŹĠĤŅę ŨăŎŨĺă ƕØŅŹ ŹŎ ûŎ ĤŰ ŹŎƀõĠ õØŰŹ ĤŬŎŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ̖ §Ġăƛ ƕĤĺĺ ăƔăŅ ŹŬƛ ŹŎ ĺĤėŹ ŹĠăł̲̐ Ġă ŰØƛŰ̖ §Ŏ ăŅŰƀŬă Ø ūƀĤõķ ŹƀŬŅØŬŎƀŅû ŹĤłă ėŎŬ õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ƕĠăŅ ŹĠăƛ ŎŬûăŬ̐ ØĺØûĤŅ ķăăŨŰ ƕăĺĺ ŎƔăŬ Ø łĤĺĺĤŎŅ ŨŎƀŅûŰ ƕŎŬŹĠ Ŏė ŰŹŎõķ ĤŅ ĤŹŰ ƕØŬăĠŎƀŰă ŰŎ ĤŹ õØŅ ûăĺĤƔăŬ Ø òăŰŨŎķă ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ØŰ ŨŬŎłĤŰăû̖ 1ƚŨĺØĤŅĤŅę ĠŎƕ ĤŹ ƕŎŬķŰ̐ 'ăØŅ õŎłłăŅŹŰ̏ ̱{Ņõă ƕă ĠØƔă ăŰŹØòĺĤŰĠăû ŹĠă ŰĤƤă ŬăūƀĤŬăû òƛ ŹĠă õƀŰŹŎłăŬ̐ ƕă õØŅ õŎŅƔăŬŹ ĤŹ ėŬŎł Ø ūƀŎŹØŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ ØŅ ŎŬûăŬ ƔăŬƛ ūƀĤõķĺƛ̐ ØŅû ûăĺĤƔăŬĤăŰ ØŬă ØĺƕØƛŰ ŨŬŎłŨŹ òăõØƀŰă ƕă ûŎ Øĺĺ ŹĠă ƕŎŬķ ĤŅ-ĠŎƀŰă̖ 1ƔăŬƛŹĠĤŅę ĤŰ òƀĤĺŹ̐ ŹăŰŹăû̐ ŨØĤŅŹăû̐ ŨŎĺĤŰĠăû ØŅû Ű㏠ŎƀŹ ėŬŎł ŎƀŬ ŎƕŅ ƕØŬăĠŎƀŰă̐ ĤŅõĺƀûĤŅę Øĺĺ ŹĠă ØŅõĤĺĺØŬĤăŰ̖ RŹ ƕĤĺĺ Øĺĺ ØŬŬĤƔă ĤŅ ŎŅă ûăĺĤƔăŬƛ̖ Ŏ Ĥė ŰŎłăòŎûƛ ƕØŅŹŰ Ø ˘˙ ŰăõŹĤŎŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ̐ ŹĠØŹ ĤŰ ăƚØõŹĺƛ ƕĠØŹ ƕă òƀĤĺû ėŎŬ ŹĠăł̖ RŹ ĤŰ ûăƱŅĤŹăĺƛ ŅŎŹ Ŏƫ ŹĠă ŰĠăĺė̖ §Ġăƛ ØŬă ŅŎŹ òŎƚ ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ ĤŅ ØŅƛ ƕØƛ̖̲ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˦ˤ


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52

Radiators & Towel Warmers

The benefits of taking a mix and match approach Nowadays, there is a great deal of choice when it comes to selecting heat emitters, with a variety of products available on the market, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be either/or. Increasingly, installers are choosing a combination of heat emitters for use in a variety of different project applications, as Kelly Smith from Myson UK explains.

E

very day we receive requests for quotations across our complete heating solutions portfolio and the request for mixed systems is becoming more popular. A perfect example of this is that over 30% of customers who request an underfloor heating quotation would also like a price for panel radiators to be fitted in the upper levels of a property. In kitchens and bathrooms, the towel warmer is now extremely popular for towel storage and drying; but in smaller spaces, plinth mounted fan heaters are also popular as they help to free up more wall space for additional storage. They can also be easily combined with radiators or other fan convectors in larger spaces to give higher outputs and ensure a warm cosy environment for the user. If the property is design led, such as in executive homes, increasingly installers are choosing heat emitters which have the ‘wow’ factor as it’s become apparent the homeowner is now looking for solutions led by aesthetic appearance. For these projects a combination of premium and decorative radiators may well be the best choice. Retrofitting is increasingly encouraging new combinations of heat emitter solutions. This has been helped by innovations such as a new form of underfloor heating fixing system, a discreet low profile Microboard of just 18mm depth with preformed grooves, which allows hydronic underfloor heating to be laid over existing floors in property renovations.

 The low profile Microboard enables a hydronic UFH system to easily be installed in a refurbishment project

 Plinth mounted fan heaters, such as the Myson Kickspace, can easily be combined with radiators

Kelly Smith

Product manager at Myson UK

CUT TO THE CHASE  Several different heat emitters can be used in the same project  Keeping to one brand helps to ensure products work well together  Many underfloor heating customers express a preference for having radiators upstairs  Plinth mounted fan heaters can help to free up space in kitchens  Low profile UFH systems can be laid over existing floors

It is essential to understand the benefits of each solution and how they can complement each other. In a renovation project, for example, a like-for-like replacement of heat emitters may still be a good idea, but an extensive refurbishment often presents an excellent opportunity to view the heating system as a whole and to decide the best possible total solution. Once the installer understands the project and the heat output requirements for each space, a holistic view can be taken on the best combination of emitters to use. The heat source chosen for the system will be an important factor, particularly if renewable technology such as a heat pump is being used with a lower system temperature. In these situations underfloor heating can be teamed with radiators, such as our all new and improved ULOW E2. The ultimate choice when it comes to intelligent, low temperature heating, ULOW E2 is a perfect low temperature solution which can produce heat outputs up to 60% more than traditional panel radiators. It is a viable choice when it comes to selecting a heat emitter that works well with underfloor as well as with a certain type of heat source.

 The Myson ULOW-E2, which uses in-built fans to boost heat output, is ideal for low temperature heating systems

While the move towards combinations of heat emitters provides greater versatility in designing the space, it is essential to maintain quality throughout. This is why it makes good sense to specify products from a manufacturer that has quality at the heart of all its processes. Keeping to one brand provides safeguards in that the products have been designed and developed by the manufacturer to work effectively with each other, an essential consideration when creating a total solution. The manufacturer that offers all of these product types will be best placed to offer completely unbiased advice as to which combination of products will provide the best possible total solution. It is apparent that one project can easily use several heat emitter types with great success, with the popular solutions tending to be underfloor heating with radiators, radiators with towel warmers, and radiators with fan heaters. Selecting the best possible combination of heat emitter products for each project should always be the ultimate goal. However, there are no limits to what an installer can specify as long as the total solution meets the exacting requirements of the project undertaken. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/54


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Radiators & Towel Warmers

How you can help your next client break the mould

The Hestia towel radiator provides designer style for any bathroom

nØŅƛ õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ØŬă ĺŎŎķĤŅę ėŎŬ ŰŎłăŹĠĤŅę Ø òĤŹ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ ŹŎ Ø ŰŹØŅûØŬû ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ̐ ŰŎ ƕĠØŹ õØŅ ƛŎƀ ûŎ ŹŎ ĠăĺŨ ŹĠăł òŬăØķ ØƕØƛ ėŬŎł ŹĠă ƀŰƀØĺ̗ Øƫ㏠cØĺăŅûăŬ ėŬŎł ĤŹØõŰ ̩ ŹĠă õŎłŨØŅƛ òăĠĤŅû ŹĠă ®ĺŹŬØĠăØŹ òŬØŅû ̩ ŎƫăŬŰ ØûƔĤõă ŎŅ ŰŎłă Ŏė ŹĠă ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ õŎĺŎƀŬ ØŅû ŰŹƛĺă ŎŨŹĤŎŅŰ ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ŹŎ ŹĠŎŰă ƕĠŎ ƕØŅŹ Ø łŎŬă ŰŹƛĺĤŰĠ ĠăØŹĤŅę ŰŎĺƀŹĤŎŅ̖

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ith social and photo media ŨƀŹŹĤŅę ăƔăŬƛ õŎŅõăĤƔØòĺă interior design ŰŹƛĺă ØŅû ĤûăØ ØŹ ŎƀŬ ƱŅęăŬŹĤŨŰ̐ more and more consumers are ØŨŨŬŎØõĠĤŅę ŹĠăĤŬ ŎƕŅ ĠŎłă ŬăŅŎƔØŹĤŎŅŰ ŎŅ Ø ĠŎĺĤŰŹĤõ ŰõØĺă̐ aspiring to a total coherence of ŹĠăłă ŎŬ ŰŹƛĺă ØõŬŎŰŰ Ø ŰŨØõă̐ ØŰ ŎŨŨŎŰăû ŹŎ ėăØŹƀŬĤŅę Ø ėăƕ ƕăĺĺõĠŎŰăŅ ĤŹăłŰ̖ §Ġă ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ĠØŰ not typically been a consideration ƕĠăŅ ĤŹ õŎłăŰ ŹŎ ŰŹƛĺĤŅę̐ òƀŹ ŅŎƕ̐ Ø ęŬŎƕĤŅę ŅƀłòăŬ of customers are looking for ŰŎłăŹĠĤŅę łŎŬă̐ ŰŎłăŹĠĤŅę Ø òĤŹ ûĤƫăŬăŅŹ̐ Ø ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ ŹĠØŹ õØŅ ŹØķă ŨØŬŹ ĤŅ ŹĠăĤŬ ûăŰĤęŅ ĤûăØĺ̖

Colour choice Encourage your client to make a feature of their radiator by õĠŎŎŰĤŅę ØŅ ĤłŨØõŹėƀĺ̐ õŎŅŹŬØŰŹ colour for the radiator against ŹĠăĤŬ łŎƀŅŹĤŅę ƕØĺĺ õŎĺŎƀŬ̐ perhaps to complement a feature õŎĺŎƀŬ ĤŅ ŹĠăĤŬ ŰŎėŹ ėƀŬŅĤŰĠĤŅęŰ̖ ĺŹăŬŅØŹĤƔăĺƛ̐ Ø łăŹØĺĺĤõ ƱŅĤŰĠ õØŅ õŎŎŬûĤŅØŹă ƕĤŹĠ ŎŹĠăŬ ŨŬŎŨăŬŹĤăŰ ĤŅ ŹĠă ŰŨØõă̐ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ĺĤęĠŹ ƱƚŹƀŬăŰ ŎŬ ŨĤõŹƀŬă ėŬØłăŰ̖ DŎŬ Ø łŎŬă ŰƀòŹĺă ĤŅŹăŬØõŹĤŎŅ ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠăłă̐ ŰĤłŨĺƛ łØŹõĠ ŹĠă ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ̵Ű ƱŅĤŰĠ ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠă łŎƀŅŹĤŅę ƕØĺĺ̖ DŎŬ ăƚØłŨĺă̐ Ø number of ranges in the Ultraheat collection can be made to order ĤŅ ØŅƛ ûăŰĤęŅØŹăû ƀŅĤƔăŬŰØĺ e õŎĺŎƀŬ ̩ ŰŎ ƛŎƀŬ õĺĤăŅŹ õØŅ òă ŰƀŬă ŹĠØŹ ŹĠă ƱŅĤŰĠăû ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ƕĤĺĺ ƱŹ ĤŅ ŨăŬėăõŹĺƛ̖

Column design ØŅăĺ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØŬă ŰŹĤĺĺ ŹĠă

ĺăŅû ŹĠăłŰăĺƔăŰ ƕăĺĺ ŹŎ õŎĺŎƀŬ ƱŅĤŰĠăŰ̐ ŰŎ ƛŎƀ õØŅ ûăĺĤƔăŬ ăƚõĤŹĤŅę ŰŹƛĺĤŅę ŎŅ ŹƕŎ ėŬŎŅŹŰ̖

Saffet Kalender

Go electric

Director at Pitacs Ltd

Does your client’s space need ĠăØŹĤŅę òƀŹ ĠØƔă ŅŎ õŎŅƔăŅĤăŅŹ ØõõăŰŰ ŹŎ ØŅ ăƚĤŰŹĤŅę ƕØŹăŬ ŰƀŨŨĺƛ̗̀ 1ŅõŎƀŬØęă ƛŎƀŬ õĺĤăŅŹ to consider an electric-only ØĺŹăŬŅØŹĤƔă̖ nŎŰŹ ăĺăõŹŬĤõ-only ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØŬă ŨŬŎƔĤûăû ŨŬă-Ʊĺĺăû ƕĤŹĠ Ø ĠăØŹ ŹŬØŅŰėăŬ ĺĤūƀĤû ØŅû ƱŹŹăû ƕĤŹĠ Ø õŎłŨØŹĤòĺă ĠăØŹĤŅę ăĺăłăŅŹ̐ ŰŎ Øĺĺ ŹĠØŹ̵Ű ŬăūƀĤŬăû from your customer’s space is Ø ŰŹØŅûØŬû Ũĺƀę ŰŎõķăŹ̖ 1ĺăõŹŬĤõ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ õØŅ ŨŬŎƔĤûă ØŅ ĤûăØĺ heating solution for areas such as õŎŅŰăŬƔØŹŎŬĤăŰ̐ ĺĤŰŹăû òƀĤĺûĤŅęŰ ØŅû ƲØŹŰ̐ ØŅû õØŅ òă ƱŹŹăû ØŅƛƕĠăŬă ̪ ėŬŎł ŹĠă ĺĤƔĤŅę ŬŎŎł ŹŎ ŹĠă òØŹĠŬŎŎł̖ Being liberated from plumbing ĤŅėŬØŰŹŬƀõŹƀŬă ęĤƔăŰ ƛŎƀŬ õĺĤăŅŹ Ņăƕ ŎŨŹĤŎŅŰ̐ ĺ㏏ĤŅę ŹĠăł ØŬŬØŅęă ŹĠăĤŬ ƕØĺĺ ŰŨØõă ØŅû ėƀŬŅĤŹƀŬă õŎłŨĺăŹăĺƛ ŹŎ ŹĠăĤŬ ûăŰĤęŅ ĤûăØĺ̖ nŎŬăŎƔăŬ̐ ęŎĤŅę ăĺăõŹŬĤõ ûŎăŰŅ̵Ź ĠØƔă ŹŎ łăØŅ ęŎĤŅę ėŎŬ Ø łŎûăŬŅ ĺŎŎķ ̩ łØŅƛ Ŏė ®ĺŹŬØĠăØŹ̵Ű beautiful traditional and periodĤŅŰŨĤŬăû ŬØŅęăŰ ØŬă ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ĤŅ electric-ŎŅĺƛ łŎûă̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˦˦

CUT TO THE CHASE Đ Different coloured radiators can provide an interesting contrast in any room Đ Column radiators come in both classic and modern designs Đ Electric radiators can offer a flexible alternative to plumbed-in units

ƀŅûĤŰŨƀŹăû ̳ęĤƔăŅ̵ Ŏė ŬăŰĤûăŅŹĤØĺ ĠăØŹĤŅę ̩ ŰŎ ęĤƔă ƛŎƀŬ õĺĤăŅŹŰ ØŅ ăƫŎŬŹĺăŰŰĺƛ ŰŹƛĺĤŰĠ̐ õŎŰŹ-ăƫăõŹĤƔă ØĺŹăŬŅØŹĤƔă ĤŅ ŹĠă ėŎŬł Ŏė Ø õŎĺƀłŅ ûăŰĤęŅ̖ !ŎĺƀłŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ are the perfect on-ŹŬăŅû ƀŨûØŹă̖ ÃĤŹĠ ƔăŬŹĤõØĺ ØŅû ĠŎŬĤƤŎŅŹØĺ ûăŰĤęŅŰ ęĤƔĤŅę ėŬăŰĠ ƔØŬĤØŹĤŎŅŰ ŹŎ Ø õĺØŰŰĤõ ØŨŨăØŬØŅõă̐ ŹĠăŬă ĤŰ Ø õŎĺƀłŅ łŎûăĺ ŹŎ ŰƀĤŹ ăƔăŬƛ ŰŨØõă̖ All of our Ultraheat column ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ŎƫăŬ ŹĠă òăØƀŹƛ Ŏė Ø timeless cast-ĤŬŎŅ ŰŹƛĺă̐ ØŰ ƕăĺĺ as precision engineering and

Ultraheat’s column radiators can be made to order in any RAL colour

ŬăĺĤØòĤĺĤŹƛ ƕĤŹĠ Ø ęăŅăŬŎƀŰ ĠăØŹ ŎƀŹŨƀŹ̖̀ ŹƕŎ-õŎĺƀłŅ ûăŰĤęŅ ƕĤĺĺ õŬăØŹă Ø õĺØŰŰĤõ ĺŎŎķ ŹĠØŹ ƕĤĺĺ ŰŹØŅû ŹĠă ŹăŰŹ Ŏė ŹĤłă̐ ŰĤŹŹĤŅę ƲƀŰĠ ØŅû ăĺăęØŅŹ ØęØĤŅŰŹ ŹĠă ƕØĺĺ̐ ƕĠĤĺă Ø

õĠƀŅķƛ ėŎƀŬ ŎŬ ăƔăŅ ŰĤƚ-column ûăŰĤęŅ ƕĤĺĺ ŬăėƀŰă ŹŎ òă ĤęŅŎŬăû̐ adding character and feature to ƛŎƀŬ õĺĤăŅŹ̵Ű ûăŰĤęŅ õŎŅõăŨŹ̖ Ű ØŅ Øûûăû òŎŅƀŰ̐ õŎĺƀłŅ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ


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Radiators & Towel Warmers 55 Stately steel

nŎŬă õĠŎĤõă ĤŅ ŰŹƛĺă ØŅû ŰĤƤă ĤłĤŅę ŹŎ łă㏠ăƔăŬƛ ŨŎŰŰĤòĺă customer demand for radiator ûăŰĤęŅ ØŅû ŰĤƤă̐ ŹăĺŬØû ĠØŰ extended its Vita compact range with the introduction of the Vita !ŎŅõŎŬû ØŅû ŎėŹĺĤŅă !ŎŅõŎŬû̖ Pictured here is the Vita Concord ĺĤłĺĤŅă̖ §Ġă ÂĤŹØ ØŅû ŎėŹĺĤŅă horizontal Concord range is available in two heights (˥˥˥mm and ˦˪ˣmm) and in lengths from ˦ˡˡmm up to ˢ˥ˡˡmm. NăØû Ŏė łØŬķăŹĤŅę !ĠŬĤŰ NØŬƔăƛ ŰØƛŰ̏ ̱§Ġă ØûûĤŹĤŎŅØĺ ÂĤŹØ !ŎłŨØõŹ łŎûăĺŰ ŰĤłŨĺƛ ăƚŹăŅû ŹĠă ØĺŬăØûƛ ĺØŬęă ŬØŅęă of Compact radiators available in ŹĠă ®c̖ §ĠăŰă Ņăƕ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ƕĤĺĺ be in stock and delivered within ˨ˣ hours of order.” ŹăĺŬØû ĠØŰ ØĺŰŎ ŬăĺăØŰăû Ø cˣ

ÂĤŅŹØęă ØŅû ĤŅûƀŰŹŬĤØĺ łØŹõĠ ƀŨ version of its Concord Vertical ŬØûĤØŹŎŬ̐ łăØŅĤŅę ĤŹ õŎłăŰ ƕĤŹĠ two radiator panels and two sets Ŏė õŎŅƔăõŹĤŎŅ ƱŅŰ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˦˧

Perfect cover A specialist in low surface temperature radiator covers since ˢ˪˩˩̐ ce ŰăăŰ ĤŹŰ ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ ęŎ ĤŅ Ø ŬØŅęă Ŏė Ű㏏ĤŅęŰ̐ ĤŅõĺƀûĤŅę qN ĠŎŰŨĤŹØĺŰ̐ ŰõĠŎŎĺŰ̐ ŅƀŬŰĤŅę ĠŎłăŰ and special needs educational institutions. The covers are high ŰŹŬăŅęŹĠ ØŅû ûØłØęă ŬăŰĤŰŹØŅŹ̐ while meeting hospital standards for a safe-to-touch surface. The tailored radiator covers ØŬă ŰŨăõĤƱõØĺĺƛ ûăŰĤęŅăû ŹŎ ƱŹ ØŬŎƀŅû ØŅƛ ØŨŨĺĤõØŹĤŎŅ ØŅû ØŬă õŎŅŰŹŬƀõŹăû ŹŎ ŹĠă ŰŨăõĤƱõ ŬăūƀĤŬăłăŅŹŰ̖ §Ġăƛ õØŅ ØĺŰŎ òă made to include electric appliance ŰŎõķăŹŰ ØŅû ŹŬƀŅķĤŅę̖ ƀłŨ ŰŹŬĤŨŰ ØŬă ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ĤŅ Ø ƔØŬĤăŹƛ Ŏė õŎĺŎƀŬŰ ėŎŬ Øûûăû ŨŬŎŹăõŹĤŎŅ̖ NăØŹĤŅę controls can be secured behind ŹĠă ķăƛ-operated front door or be made accessible outside the cover.

The New Roma Anthracite radiator is a classic steel model versatile enough to complement both modern and period settings. It’s available in an anthracite ƱŅĤŰĠ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ĴƀŰŹ ŹĠŬăă ûØƛŰ̐ ŎŬ ĤŅ Ø ŬØŅęă Ŏė ŎŹĠăŬ õŎĺŎƀŬŰ̐ ƕĤŹĠ ûăĺĤƔăŬƛ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ˣˡ ûØƛŰ̖ This radiator is available from Gloucestershire-based Apollo ØûĤØŹŎŬŰ̐ ØŅ ĤŅûăŨăŅûăŅŹ distributor and manufacturer of radiators and towel rails. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˦˩

ÃĠăŹĠăŬ ĤŅ Ø ŨăŬĤŎû ŨŬŎŨăŬŹƛ ŎŬ Ø łŎûăŬŅ ĺŎėŹ ØŨØŬŹłăŅŹ̐ ÂØŰõŎ̵Ű Vintage steel radiator delivers õŎŅŹăłŨŎŬØŬƛ õŎłėŎŬŹ ƕĤŹĠ ŎĺûŰõĠŎŎĺ ŰŹƛĺă̖ This column radiator is available in white but can also be purchased in a wide range of natural and

metallic shades. For a more ØƀŹĠăŅŹĤõ ƔĤŅŹØęă ĺŎŎķ̐ ÂØŰõŎ will add an optional transparent coating that allows the natural tones of the raw steel and the ØûûĤŹĤŎŅØĺ ŰĠØûăŰ ŨŬŎûƀõăû òƛ welding to take centre stage. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˦˨

ØŅăĺŰ ŨŬŎƔĤûă ŬØûĤØŅŹ ĠăØŹ

For facilities housing vulnerable ŬăŰĤûăŅŹŰ̐ ce ŎƫăŬŰ ŰăõƀŬă łăŰĠ covered anti-ligature grills which can be produced with slanted tops. The custom made covers are ŎƫăŬăû ƕĤŹĠ Ø ėŬăă łăØŰƀŬĤŅę ØŅû quotation service. Ά phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˦˪

ƬŅĤŹƛ ƕĤŹĠ ØĺƀłĤŅĤƀł ƱŅĤØ ĤŰ ŹĠă ŅØłă Ŏė FŬØŅŹ̵Ű ŹĠĤŬû ăŅŹŬƛ ŹŎ ĤŹŰ ĠăØŹ emitter product line. This aluminium model is suitable to partner with both traditional and renewable heating ŰƛŰŹăłŰ ØŅû ĤŰ õŎłŨØŹĤòĺă ƕĤŹĠ Øĺĺ Ŏė FŬØŅŹ̵Ű ŨŬŎûƀõŹŰ̐ including its Vortex oil-ƱŬăû òŎĤĺăŬŰ ØŰ ƕăĺĺ ØŰ ŹĠă Aeronaˤ Rˤˣ air source heat pump. §Ġă ƱŅĤØ ŬØŅęă ĤŅõĺƀûăŰ ĠŎŬĤƤŎŅŹØĺ ØŅû ƔăŬŹĤõØĺ models. With ˣˢ ŰăõŹĤŎŅØĺ õŎłòĤŅØŹĤŎŅŰ ØƔØĤĺØòĺă̐ Øĺĺ ŰƀŨŨĺĤăû ėƀĺĺƛ ØŰŰăłòĺăû̐ ŹĠă Ņăƕ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ûăĺĤƔăŬ choice in a lightweight unit that’s quick to install. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧ˢ

§Ġă RŬĤûĤƀł ăŬĤăŰ Ŏė ŬØûĤØŅŹ panels from Tansun provides an indoor heating solution for both commercial and domestic ØŨŨĺĤõØŹĤŎŅŰ̖ §Ġăƛ ŨŬŎƔĤûă ØŅ ăƔăŅ ĠăØŹ ûĤŰŹŬĤòƀŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ ęăŅŹĺƛ ƕØŬł ŨăŎŨĺă ØŅû ŎòĴăõŹŰ òăėŎŬă targeting the surrounding air. ƔØĤĺØòĺă ĤŅ ŹĠŬăă ŰĤƤăŰ̐ RŬĤûĤƀł models include the ˧ˡˡ (ˤˡˡÃ̧̐ the ˪ˡˡ (˧ˢˡW) and the ˢˣˡˡ (˨˩˦W) and boast a light weight ØŅû ăƚŹŬØ ŰĺĤł ŨŬŎƱĺă̖ §Ġăƛ ØŬă ŎƫăŬăû ĤŅ Ø ƕĠĤŹă ŎŬ òĺØõķ ƱŅĤŰĠ ŹŎ òĺăŅû ĤŅ ƕĤŹĠ ØŅƛ ûăõŎŬ̖ §Ġă panels can also be selected in most e õŎĺŎƀŬ ŎŨŹĤŎŅŰ̖

Designed at IP˦˦̐ ŹĠă ĠăØŹĤŅę panels can be used in bathrooms ØŅû ŎƫăŬ ØŅ ƀŅŎòŹŬƀŰĤƔă ûăŰĤęŅ ŹĠØŹ ăØŰĤĺƛ òĺăŅûŰ ĤŅŹŎ ØŅƛ ăŅƔĤŬŎŅłăŅŹ̖ 1ØõĠ ĠăØŹăŬ ĤŰ ăØŰƛ ŹŎ

install as there is no pipework and can be wall or ceiling mounted ŹŎ ŰØƔă ƲŎŎŬ ŰŨØõă̖ qŎ ŬăęƀĺØŬ maintenance is required. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧ˡ


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56

Radiators & Towel Warmers ăØƀŹĤėƀĺ ƱŅĤŰĠăŰ ŎŅ Italian designed models

No need for pipes ØûĤÃØŬł ŎƫăŬŰ Ø ŬØŅęă Ŏė ƕØŹăŬ-Ʊĺĺăû ŨĤŨăĺăŰŰ electric radiators suitable for properties where extending pipework is impractical. They are also appropriate for areas like lofts or basement extensions and in conservatories to supplement ƀŅûăŬƲŎŎŬ ĠăØŹĤŅę̖ The Safe Touch option (pictured) is aimed at settings where safety is paramount, incorporating a protective low-temperature cover to prevent burns. Another variation is the half-height RadiWarm, ŰŨăõĤØĺĺƛ ŰĤƤăû ŹŎ ƱŹ ĺŎƕăŬ õŎŅŰăŬƔØŹŎŬƛ ƕØĺĺŰ̖ §ĠăŰă ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ ØŬŬĤƔă ŬăØûƛ ėŎŬ ƀŰă̐ Ʊĺĺăû ƕĤŹĠ specially treated water and fully sealed. Once wall-mounted, they can be plugged into a standard British electrical socket and connected to smart control systems like the company’s Smart Controller to manage heating remotely. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧ˣ

New finishes and sizes have been introduced to the range of Italian designed radiators available from Rads 2 Rails, a division of MHS Radiators. Selected models can now be specified in a new colour palette comprising seven special finishes, including: anthracite, anthracite grey (matt), sparkling grey, sparkling black, black brown, black silver, and denim blue. One of the models to benefit from the new colours is the Fitzrovia – a classic multi-column radiator available in horizontal and vertical versions. It is pictured here in a black brown finish. The new colours offer this traditional design a contemporary edge, suiting it for a wider range of interiors. The number of stocked sizes for the Fitzrovia has also been expanded, with 39 models stocked in white (RAL 9016), and a further 32 in anthracite. Heights range from 500 to 1800mm and widths from 622 to 1864mm. Elsewhere in the portfolio, Primrose, a flat steel tube radiator, can also be specified in the new colour palette. Completing the updates, the Finsbury radiator can also be chosen in the seven new colourways. This steel radiator with elongated oval tubes is available in horizontal, vertical and vertical horizontal versions, plus a choice of single or double configurations. The Finsbury radiator is stocked in white and anthracite finishes as standard across 22 different sizes, ensuring installers can find the right look for any project. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧ˤ

More going on under the surface Dunham-Bush has enhanced its range of low surface ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă ̦e §̧ ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ̐ ŅŎƕ ŎƫăŬăû ĤŅ ŰăƔăŅ ŰŹƛĺăŰ̐ Øĺĺ ėăØŹƀŬĤŅę ĺŎƕ ƕØŹăŬ õŎŅŹăŅŹ ØŅû ƱŅ-pipe elements. Outputs range from 130 to 3800W. New to the range is a front facing outlet grille option, enabling the emitter to be installed under a shelf or a windowsill. Latest design techniques have made it possible to improve outputs by up to 15%, while retaining the same casing dimensions on some previous models. §Ġă e § ŬØûĤØŹŎŬŰ õØŅ òă ƱŹŹăû ƕĤŹĠ ĺŎõķ-shield valves from Danfoss, Herz or Honeywell. They can be ƱŹŹăû ăĤŹĠăŬ ƕĤŹĠ ăƚŹăŬŅØĺĺƛ łŎƀŅŹăû ĠăØûŰ ėŎŬ ƀŰăŬ adjustment or with remote sensors for a tamperproof solution. Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧˥


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Carbon monoxide – why would you risk it? 'ăŰŨĤŹă ăƫŎŬŹŰ òƛ FØŰ Øėă ØŅû łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬăŬŰ̐ ŨƀòĺĤõ ØƕØŬăŅăŰŰ Ŏė õØŬòŎŅ łŎŅŎƚĤûă ûØŅęăŬŰ ŬăłØĤŅŰ ĺŎƕ̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ĤŰ ƕĠƛ FØŰ Øėă ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬŰ Ņăăû ŹŎ ŬØĤŰă ŹĠă ĤŰŰƀă ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠăĤŬ õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ̖ Ņûƛ ŨăØķă ėŬŎł ĤõŎ ĺŎŎķŰ ØŹ ŹĠă ŰõŎŨă Ŏė ŹĠă ŨŬŎòĺăł ØŅû ŰƀęęăŰŹŰ ƕØƛŰ ėŎŬƕØŬû̖ Ũ ęę

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ØŹăŰŹ ŬăŰăØŬõĠ õŎłłĤŰŰĤŎŅăû òƛ FØŰ Øėă ăęĤŰŹăŬ ĠØŰ ėŎƀŅû ŹĠØŹ ŹĠă õŎŅûĤŹĤŎŅ Ŏė ŹĠă òŎĤĺăŬ ėØĺĺŰ ĺŎƕ ŎŅ ŹĠă ŨŬĤŎŬĤŹƛ ĺĤŰŹ ėŎŬ łŎŰŹ ĠŎłă òƀƛăŬŰ̖ nŎŬă ŹĠØŅ Ø ūƀØŬŹăŬ ŨƀŹ ŬăûăõŎŬØŹĤŅę ØŹ ŹĠă ŹŎŨ Ŏė ŹĠăĤŬ ĺĤŰŹ ƕĠăŅ łŎƔĤŅę ĤŅŹŎ Ø Ņăƕ ĠŎłă̐ õŎłŨØŬăû ŹŎ Ø łăŬă ˘˙͹ ƕĠŎ ƕŎƀĺû ƱŹ Ø Ņăƕ òŎĤĺăŬ̖ NŎƕăƔăŬ̐ ØĺłŎŰŹ ŹĠŬăă ĤŅ ŹăŅ ĠŎłă òƀƛăŬŰ ĠØû ŹŎ ŬăŨĺØõă ŹĠăĤŬ òŎĤĺăŬ ăØŬĺĤăŬ ŹĠØŅ ØŅŹĤõĤŨØŹăû ûƀă ŹŎ ĤŹ òăĤŅę ėØƀĺŹƛ ŎŬ Ŏĺû̖ Ŏ̐ òƀƛăŬŰ̵ ƕĤŰĠ ĺĤŰŹŰ ØŅû ŬăØĺĤŹƛ ûŎŅ̵Ź ØĺƕØƛŰ ęŎ ĠØŅû ĤŅ ĠØŅû̖ ÃĠĤĺŰŹ ŹĠĤŰ ØŹŹĤŹƀûă ĤŰ ƀŅûăŬŰŹØŅûØòĺă ̩ ƕĠŎ ûŎăŰŅ̵Ź ƕØŅŹ ŹĠăĤŬ Ņăƕ ĠŎłă ĺŎŎķĤŅę ęŬăØŹ̗ ̩ ĤŹ̵Ű ŨŎŹăŅŹĤØĺĺƛ ûØŅęăŬŎƀŰ̖ {Ņă Ŏė ŹĠă łŎŰŹ ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ ŹĠĤŅęŰ Ø ĠŎłă òƀƛăŬ ŰĠŎƀĺû ûŎ ĤŰ õĠăõķ ŎƀŹ ŹĠă òŎĤĺăŬ̖ Rė ŹĠĤŰ ĠØŰŅ̵Ź òăăŅ ûŎŅă ØŹ ŹĠă ŰƀŬƔăƛ ŰŹØęă ̦ØŅû ĤŹ̵Ű ŅŎŹ ŰŹØŅûØŬû ŨŬØõŹĤõă̧̐ ØŅû ŹĠăŬă ØŬă ŅŎ ŬăõŎŬûŰ Ŏė òŎĤĺăŬ ŰăŬƔĤõĤŅę ŨŬŎƔĤûăû òƛ ŹĠă ŰăĺĺăŬ̐ ŹĠăŅ ę㏏ĤŅę ŹĠØŹ òŎĤĺăŬ ŰăŬƔĤõăû òƛ Ø FØŰ Øėă ŬăęĤŰŹăŬăû ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ ĤŰ ăŰŰăŅŹĤØĺ̖

Raising the alarm ĺØõķ Ŏė ØƕØŬăŅăŰŰ ĤŰ ŹĠă ŨŬŎòĺăł ĠăŬă̖ RŹ̵Ű ûĤƬõƀĺŹ ėŎŬ ŬăŰĤûăŅŹŰ ŹŎ ŹĠĤŅķ Ŏė Ø òŎĤĺăŬ òăĤŅę ŨŎŹăŅŹĤØĺĺƛ ûØŅęăŬŎƀŰ̖ Ű ĺŎŅę ØŰ ĤŹ̵Ű ĠăØŹĤŅę ŹĠă ĠŎƀŰă ØŅû ƕØŹăŬ̐ ĤŹ̵Ű ęăŅăŬØĺĺƛ ėŎŬęŎŹŹăŅ ØòŎƀŹ̖ ÃĠăŅ ŨăŎŨĺă ŹĠĤŅķ Ŏė ęØŰ ŰØėăŹƛ̐ ŹĠăƛ ŹĠĤŅķ Ŏė ŹĠă ŎòƔĤŎƀŰ ̩ ăƚŨĺŎŰĤŎŅŰ̖ §Ġăƛ ûŎŅ̵Ź ŹĠĤŅķ Ŏė õØŬòŎŅ łŎŅŎƚĤûă òăõØƀŰă łŎŰŹĺƛ ŹĠăƛ ûŎŅ̵Ź ķŅŎƕ ƕĠØŹ ĤŹ ĤŰ̐ ƕĠăŬă ĤŹ õŎłăŰ ėŬŎł̐ ØŅû ĴƀŰŹ ĠŎƕ ĺăŹĠØĺ ĤŹ õØŅ òă̖ Ű ØŅ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ̐ ƛŎƀ ØĺŰŎ ĠØƔă Ø ŬŎĺă ŹŎ ŨĺØƛ̖ Rė ƛŎƀ ØŬă ƱŹŹĤŅę Ņăƕ ØŨŨĺĤØŅõăŰ ĤŅ Ø ŬăõăŅŹĺƛ ŨƀŬõĠØŰăû ĠŎłă̐ ŬØĤŰă ŹĠă ĤŰŰƀă Ŏė òŎĤĺăŬ ŰăŬƔĤõĤŅę ƕĤŹĠ ŹĠă Ņăƕ ŎƕŅăŬ̖ 1ƚŨĺØĤŅ ŹĠă ûØŅęăŬŰ Ŏė !{ ØŅû ƕĠƛ ŹĠăƛ Ņăăû ŹŎ ę㏠ŹĠăĤŬ òŎĤĺăŬ ŰăŬƔĤõăû ŬăęƀĺØŬĺƛ ØŅû ŎŅĺƛ òƛ Ø FØŰ Øėă ŬăęĤŰŹăŬăû ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ƛŎƀŬŰăĺė̖ RŹ̵Ű ØĺŰŎ ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ ŹŎ ŰŹŬăŰŰ ŹĠă ƀŰă Ŏė Ø !{ ØĺØŬł̖ ÃĠĤĺă ŹĠă łØĤŅ õØƀŰă Ŏė õØŬòŎŅ łŎŅŎƚĤûă ĺăØķŰ ĤŰ ėŬŎł ėØƀĺŹƛ ØŨŨĺĤØŅõăŰ ŎŬ ĤŅõŎŬŬăõŹĺƛ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăû ŎŅăŰ ̦ƕĠĤõĠ ĤŰ ƕĠƛ ĤŹ̵Ű ăŰŰăŅŹĤØĺ ŹĠă õƀŰŹŎłăŬ ŎŅĺƛ ƀŰăŰ Ø FØŰ Øėă ŬăęĤŰŹăŬăû ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăŬ̧̐ õØŬòŎŅ łŎŅŎƚĤûă ĺăØķŰ õŎƀĺû ØĺŰŎ ŬăŰƀĺŹ ėŬŎł ŨŎŎŬ ƔăŅŹĤĺØŹĤŎŅ ØŅû òĺŎõķØęăŰ̐ ăƚŹăŬŅØĺ ŰŎƀŬõăŰ̜ŅăĤęĠòŎƀŬĤŅę ŨŬŎŨăŬŹĤăŰ ŎŬ õŬØõķŰ ĤŅ õĠĤłŅăƛŰ ŎŬ ƲƀăŰ ƕĠĤõĠ ûăƔăĺŎŨ ŎƔăŬ ŹĤłă̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ƛŎƀ ĠØƔă ŅŎ õŎŅŹŬŎĺ ŎƔăŬ̖ §Ġă ŎŅĺƛ ƕØƛ ŹŎ ûăŹăõŹ ĺăØķŰ ĤŰ ƕĤŹĠ Ø !{ ØĺØŬł̖

Quality counts §ĠăŬă ØŬă łØŅƛ !{ ØĺØŬłŰ ŹŎ õĠŎŎŰă ėŬŎł̐ òƀŹ ŹĠă ūƀØĺĤŹƛ ƔØŬĤăŰ õŎŅŰĤûăŬØòĺƛ̖ {Ņĺƛ òƀƛ Ø !{ ØĺØŬł ŹĠØŹ ĤŰ 1q ˜˗˙ˠ˘ õăŬŹĤƱăû ØŅû ŎŅĺƛ ŎŨŹ ėŎŬ ķŅŎƕŅ̐ ŬăŨƀŹØòĺă łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬăŬŰ̖ !Ġăõķ ŹŎ Űăă ƕĠØŹ ŹĠă ŹăŰŹĤŅę ŬăęĤłă ĤŰ ûƀŬĤŅę łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬă̖ R ŬăõŎłłăŅû ŎŅă ƕĠăŬă ăØõĠ ØĺØŬł ĤŰ ŹăŰŹăû ØŹ łƀĺŹĤŨĺă ŰŹØęăŰ Ŏė łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬă ØŅû ŅăƔăŬ ŎŅă ŹĠØŹ ĤŰ òØŹõĠ ŹăŰŹăû̖ §Ġă ūƀØĺĤŹƛ Ŏė ŹĠă ØĺØŬł ØĺŰŎ ĠØŰ łŎŬă ƕĤûăŰŨŬăØû ĤłŨĺĤõØŹĤŎŅŰ ̩ ŹĠă ò㏏ăŬ ŹĠă ūƀØĺĤŹƛ̐ ŹĠă ò㏏ăŬ ŹĠă ŬØŅęă Ŏė ėăØŹƀŬăŰ̐ ėƀŅõŹĤŎŅŰ ØŅû ØõõăŰŰŎŬĤăŰ̖ ķăƛ ėăØŹƀŬă ŹŎ ĺŎŎķ ŎƀŹ ėŎŬ ĤŰ ûØŹØ ăƚŹŬØõŹĤŎŅ ŹăõĠŅŎĺŎęƛ ƕĠĤõĠ õØŅ ŨŬŎƔĤûă ĤŅƔØĺƀØòĺă ĤŅėŎŬłØŹĤŎŅ ŎŅ ŹĠă ØĺØŬł ŰƀõĠ ØŰ òØŹŹăŬƛ òØõķ-ƀŨ ŎŬ òØŹŹăŬƛ ĺĤėă̐ ØĺØŬł ŰăŅŰŎŬ ŰŹØŹƀŰ̐ ØŅƛ ØĺØŬł ØõŹĤƔØŹĤŎŅ ƕĤŹĠ ûăŹØĤĺŰ Ŏė ƕĠăŅ ĤŹ ŎõõƀŬŬăû̐ ØŅû ûăŹăõŹĤŎŅ ĺăƔăĺŰ Ŏė !{̖ ĤõŎ̵Ű ƀûĤŎeRqc ûØŹØ ăƚŹŬØõŹĤŎŅ ŹăõĠŅŎĺŎęƛ ĤŰ ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ŎŅ Øĺĺ Ŏė ŎƀŬ !{ ØĺØŬłŰ ØŅû ĤŰ ăØŰƛ ŹŎ ƀŰă ƕĤŹĠ Ø ėŬăă ØŨŨ̖ ƀØĺĤŹƛ ØĺØŬłŰ ØĺŰŎ ĠØƔă ƕĤŬăĺăŰŰ ĤŅŹăŬõŎŅŅăõŹĤŎŅ ėØõĤĺĤŹĤăŰ ŰŎ ŹĠăƛ õØŅ òă ăƫăõŹĤƔăĺƛ ĺĤŅķăû ƕĤŹĠ ŎŹĠăŬ

T CO alarms with data extraction technology can provide invaluable information on the alarm such as battery back-up or battery life, alarm sensor status, any alarm activation with details of when it occurred, and detection levels of CO

Andy Speake National technical manager at Aico

CUT TO THE CHASE Đ Many home buyers are unconcerned about the boiler's condition Đ Installers need to be better at explaining why a CO alarm UJQWNF DG ƒVVGF Đ Only buy a CO alarm that is BS '0 EGTVKƒGF Đ Some CO alarms include data extraction technology Đ Reliable CO alarms will have been tested at multiple stages of manufacture

!{ ØĺØŬłŰ ̩ ØŅû ăƔăŅ ŰłŎķă ØĺØŬłŰ ̩ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ŹĠă ŨŬŎŨăŬŹƛ ėŎŬ łØƚĤłƀł ŰØėăŹƛ̖ §Ġă ƔăŬƛ ĺØŹăŰŹ ØĺØŬłŰ ŹŎ ĠĤŹ ŹĠă łØŬķ㏠ØŬă õŎłòĤŅăû ĠăØŹ̜õØŬòŎŅ łŎŅŎƚĤûă ØĺØŬłŰ̐ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ŹĠă 1Ĥ˚˗˙˟ ûăŰĤęŅăû ŰŨăõĤƱõØĺĺƛ ėŎŬ ŹĠă ķĤŹõĠăŅ̐ ŨŬŎƔĤûĤŅę ŨŬŎŹăõŹĤŎŅ ØęØĤŅŰŹ ƱŬă ØŅû õØŬòŎŅ łŎŅŎƚĤûă̐ òƀŹ ŹĠØŹ ƕŎƀĺû Ņăăû ŹŎ òă ƱŹŹăû òƛ ØŅ ăĺăõŹŬĤõĤØŅ ØŰ ĤŹ̵Ű łØĤŅŰ ŨŎƕăŬăû ̦òƀŹ ƕŎŬŹĠ ŰƀęęăŰŹĤŅę Ĥė ƛŎƀ ØŬă ƕŎŬķĤŅę ŎŅ Ø ĺØŬęăŬ òƀĤĺû̧̖

When are CO alarms required? ÃĠăŬă ØŅû ƕĠăŅ !{ ØĺØŬłŰ ØŬă ŬăūƀĤŬăû ĤŰ ƔăŬƛ łƀõĠ ûăŨăŅûăŅŹ ĤŅ ŹĠă ĺŎõØŹĤŎŅ Ŏė ŹĠă ŨŬŎŨăŬŹƛ ØŅû ĤŹŰ ŹăŅƀŬă̖ õŎŹĺØŅû ĠØŰ ŹĠă łŎŰŹ ŹĠŎŬŎƀęĠ ŬăęƀĺØŹĤŎŅŰ̐ ŬăūƀĤŬĤŅę !{ ØĺØŬłŰ ŹŎ òă ƱŹŹăû ĤŅ Øĺĺ ŨŬŎŨăŬŹĤăŰ ƕĠăŬă ŹĠăŬă ĤŰ Ø ėƀăĺ òƀŬŅĤŅę ØŨŨĺĤØŅõă ŎŬ Ø Ʋƀă̖ RŅ qŎŬŹĠăŬŅ RŬăĺØŅû̐ ĤŹ̵Ű ƕĠăŅ ØŅƛ Ņăƕ ŎŬ ŬăŨĺØõăłăŅŹ ėƀăĺ ØŨŨĺĤØŅõă ĤŰ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăû ̦ăƚõăŨŹ õŎŎķăŬŰ̧̖ 1ŅęĺØŅû ØŅû ÃØĺăŰ ĠØƔă ŹĠă ĺăØŰŹ ŰŹŬĤŅęăŅŹ ŬăūƀĤŬăłăŅŹ̐ ƕĤŹĠ !{ ØĺØŬłŰ ŬăūƀĤŬăû ƀŅûăŬ ƀĤĺûĤŅę ăęƀĺØŹĤŎŅŰ ĤŅ ŬŎŎłŰ ƕĠăŬă ØŅƛ Ņăƕ ŎŬ ŬăŨĺØõăłăŅŹ ŰŎĺĤû ėƀăĺ ØŨŨĺĤØŅõă ĤŰ ĤŅŰŹØĺĺăû̖ RŅ ŨŬĤƔØŹă ŬăŅŹăû ŨŬŎŨăŬŹĤăŰ ĤŅ 1ŅęĺØŅû̐ ĺØŅûĺŎŬûŰ łƀŰŹ ŬăŹŬŎŰŨăõŹĤƔăĺƛ ƱŹ Ø !{ ØĺØŬł ĤŅ ăƔăŬƛ ŬŎŎł ƕĤŹĠ Ø ŰŎĺĤû ėƀăĺ òƀŬŅĤŅę ØŨŨĺĤØŅõă̖ NŎƕăƔăŬ̐ ƕă ŬăõŎłłăŅû ėŎĺĺŎƕĤŅę ŬĤŹĤŰĠ ŹØŅûØŬû 1q ˜˗˙ˠ˙̏˙˗˘ˠ ƕĠĤõĠ ŰŹØŹăŰ òăŰŹ ŨŬØõŹĤõă ĤŰ ƱŹŹĤŅę Ø !{ ØĺØŬł ĤŅ Øĺĺ ŬŎŎłŰ ŹĠØŹ õŎŅŹØĤŅ ØŅƛ ėƀăĺ òƀŬŅĤŅę ØŨŨĺĤØŅõă̐ ŬŎŎłŰ ƕĠăŬă ŨăŎŨĺă ŰŨăŅû ŹĠă łŎŰŹ ŹĤłă ØŅû ƕĠăŬă ŹĠăƛ ŰĺăăŨ̐ ŨĺƀŰ ØŅƛ ŬŎŎł ŹĠØŹ ĠØŰ Ø Ʋƀă ŬƀŅŅĤŅę ŹĠŬŎƀęĠ ĤŹ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/0919/65 W A snapshot of British Standards’ advice on where !{ ØĺØŬłŰ ŰĠŎƀĺû òă ƱŹŹăû ĤŅ a notional two to three storey home


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Gas Safety

Ensuring safety and compliance through calibration 1ĺăõŹŬŎŅĤõ Ʋƀă ęØŰ ØŅØĺƛŰăŬŰ ̦DF ̧ ØŬă ŅŎƕ ăŰŹØòĺĤŰĠăû ØŰ Ø ŬăūƀĤŬăû ØŅû ƔĤŹØĺ ŨØŬŹ Ŏė ŹĠă ĠăØŹĤŅę ăŅęĤŅăăŬ̵Ű ŹŎŎĺòŎƚ̐ òƀŹ ƕĠƛ ĤŰ ŹĠă õŎŰŹ Ŏė ØŅŅƀØĺ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ŰŎ ĠĤęĠ õŎłŨØŬăû ŹŎ ŹĠă ŨŬĤõă Ŏė ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ̗ aŎŅ ØƕûăŅ ėŬŎł §ăŰŹŎ ăƚŨĺØĤŅŰ̖

A

Ņ DF łƀŰŹ òă ƀŰăû ƕĠăŅ ƱŹŹĤŅę Ø Ņăƕ òŎĤĺăŬ̐ ŎŬ ƕĠăŅ õØŬŬƛĤŅę ŎƀŹ ØŅŅƀØĺ ŰăŬƔĤõă õĠăõķŰ̐ ØŅû ƕĤĺĺ Ņăăû ŹŎ òă õØĺĤòŬØŹăû ăƔăŬƛ ƛăØŬ̖ Ņ ØŅØĺƛŰăŬ ĤŰ ăŰŰăŅŹĤØĺĺƛ Ø ŰØėăŹƛ ûăƔĤõă̖ RŹ õĠăõķŰ ŹĠØŹ ĠØŬłėƀĺ !{ ăłĤŰŰĤŎŅŰ ØŬă łĤŅĤłĤŰăû̖ Ņƛ ƕŎŬķ õØŬŬĤăû ŎƀŹ ƕĤŹĠ ØŅ ƀŅõØĺĤòŬØŹăû ŎŬ ėØƀĺŹƛ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ õØŅ ŬăŰƀĺŹ ĤŅ ęØŰ ØŨŨĺĤØŅõăŰ ƕĠĤõĠ ØŬă ĤŅõŎŬŬăõŹĺƛ Ű㏠ƀŨ ØŅû ŨŎŹăŅŹĤØĺĺƛ ûØŅęăŬŎƀŰ̖ Rė ŨŬŎŎė Ŏė õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õØŅŅŎŹ òă ŨŬŎƔĤûăû ƕĠăŅ ŬăūƀăŰŹăû òƛ ØŅ ĤŅŰŨăõŹŎŬ̐ ŹĠăŅ ƱŅăŰ ŎŬ ăƔăŅ ĴØĤĺ ŰăŅŹăŅõăŰ õØŅ òă ĤŰŰƀăû̖ Ź §ăŰŹŎ ƕă ŬăõŎłłăŅû ŹĠØŹ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹŰ ØŬă õØĺĤòŬØŹăû ØŅŅƀØĺĺƛ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ŹĠăƛ ØŬă ŰŹĤĺĺ ŎŨăŬØŹĤŅę õŎŬŬăõŹĺƛ ØŅû ŹĠØŹ ŹĠă łăØŰƀŬăłăŅŹŰ ØŬă ŰŹĤĺĺ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ŰŨăõĤƱăû ŹŎĺăŬØŅõăŰ̖ RŅ ŹĠă õØŰă Ŏė DF Ű̐ ƕă õØŬŬƛ ŎƀŹ Ø õŎłŨŬăĠăŅŰĤƔă ŨŬŎęŬØłłă ƕĠĤõĠ ĤŅõĺƀûăŰ̏ ėƀŅõŹĤŎŅØĺĺƛ õŎŅƱŬłĤŅę ŹĠă ØŅØĺƛŰăŬ ĤŰ ƕŎŬķĤŅę̛ õĠăõķĤŅę ŹĠă ŨƀłŨ ƲŎƕ̛ ŬăŨĺØõĤŅę ŹĠă ŨŬŎòă ƱĺŹăƯ̆ õĠăõķĤŅę ŨŬŎòă ŹĤęĠŹŅăŰŰ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ŅŎ ĺăØķƯ̋ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŅę ŹĠă {ˮ ØŅû !{ ŰăŅŰŎŬŰ ØęØĤŅŰŹ ķŅŎƕŅ gas õŎŅõăŅŹŬØŹĤŎŅƯ̋ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŅę ŹĠă ŨŬăŰŰƀŬă ŰăŅŰŎŬƯ̋

Rė ŬăŨØĤŬŰ ØŬă ŬăūƀĤŬăû ŎƀŹŰĤûă Ŏė ƕØŬŬØŅŹƛ ŎŬ ŹĠă ØęŬăăû ŰăŬƔĤõă ŨĺØŅ̐ ŹĠăŅ ŹĠă ŰăŬƔĤõă õăŅŹŬă łØƛ ŨŬŎƔĤûă Ø ūƀŎŹØŹĤŎŅ òăėŎŬă õØŬŬƛĤŅę ŎƀŹ ŬăŨØĤŬŰ̖ !ƀŰŹŎłăŬ ûăĺØƛŰ ĤŅ ŬăŰŨŎŅûĤŅę ŹŎ ŹĠĤŰ ūƀŎŹØŹĤŎŅ ƕĤĺĺ ûăĺØƛ ŹĠă ƕŎŬķ̖

Levels of calibration

Using an accurate FGA is essential when performing annual service checks

õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŅę ŹĠă Ʋƀă ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă ŹĠăŬłŎõŎƀŨĺă̛ ØŅû ŨŬĤŅŹĤŅę ØŅ R { õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õăŬŹĤƱõØŹă̖ §Ġă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ̐ ŨŬŎòă ØŅû Øĺĺ ØõõăŰŰŎŬĤăŰ ØŬă òØŬ-õŎûăû ØŅû ĺŎęęăû ĤŅŹŎ ŹĠă ŰƛŰŹăł ėŎŬ ŹŬØõăØòĤĺĤŹƛ̖ 'ƀŬĤŅę ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ŨŬŎõăŰŰ Øĺĺ ØõõăŰŰŎŬĤăŰ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ŨŬĤŅŹăŬŰ ØŬă ėƀŅõŹĤŎŅØĺĺƛ õĠăõķăû ØŅû ŬăŨØĤŬăû Ĥė ŅăõăŰŰØŬƛ̖

Minimising costs Ű ƕăĺĺ ØŰ ŹĠă ƱŅØŅõĤØĺ òƀŬûăŅ Ŏė õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̐ ŹĠăŬă ĤŰ ŹĠă Jon Bawden ĤŅõŎŅƔăŅĤăŅõă Ŏė òăĤŅę ƕĤŹĠŎƀŹ ŹĠă Product manager HVACR, Testo UK ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ̖ NăŬă ØŬă ŰŎłă ŹĤŨŰ ŹŎ łĤŅĤłĤŰă õŎŰŹŰ ØŅû ŰŨăăû ƀŨ ŹĠă ŨŬŎõăŰŰ̏ eŎŎķ ØėŹăŬ ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ûƀŬĤŅę ŹĠă ƛăØŬ ŹŎ łĤŅĤłĤŰă ûØłØęă ØŅû ŨŬăƔăŅŹ õŎłŨŎŅăŅŹŰ ƕăØŬĤŅę ŎƀŹ̛ ŬăęƀĺØŬĺƛ ăłŨŹƛ ŹĠă õŎŅûăŅŰØŹă ŹŬØŨ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ƕØŹăŬ ûŎăŰ ŅŎŹ ę㏠ĤŅŰĤûă̛ ûƀŬĤŅę õŎĺû ƕăØŹĠăŬ ûŎ ŅŎŹ ĺăØƔă ŹĠă DF ĤŅ ŹĠă ƔØŅ ŎƔăŬŅĤęĠŹ ØŰ ŹĠĤŰ ƕĤĺĺ õØƀŰă õŎŅûăŅŰØŹĤŎŅ̛ õĠăõķ ØŅû ŬăŨĺØõă ŹĠă ŨŬŎòă ƱĺŹăŬ Ĥė ĤŹ̵Ű ûĤŬŹƛ ŎŬ ƕăŹ̛ ØŅû ƕĤŨă ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ŹŎ ķăăŨ ĤŹ õĺăØŅ ØŅû ŨŬăƔăŅŹ õŎŅŹØłĤŅØŅŹ ĤŅęŬăŰŰ̖ ÃĠăŅ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĤŰ ûƀă̐ ŹØķă ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ŹŎ Ø ŬăŨƀŹØòĺă ŹŬØûă õŎƀŅŹăŬ̐ ØęŬăă ŹĠă ŬăūƀĤŬăû ŰăŬƔĤõă ØŅû ăŅŰƀŬă ŹĠăƛ ŰăŅû ĤŹ ŹŎ ŰăŬƔĤõă õăŅŹŬă ŎŅ ŹĠă ŰØłă ûØƛ̖ ĺŹăŬŅØŹĤƔăĺƛ̐ ŰăŅû ĤŹ ûĤŬăõŹĺƛ ŹŎ ŹĠă ŰăŬƔĤõă õăŅŹŬă ̦ØŹ §ăŰŹŎ ƕă ŨŬŎƔĤûă Ø ® õŎĺĺăõŹĤŎŅ ŰăŬƔĤõă̧̖

FŎŎû ūƀØĺĤŹƛ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ łØŅƀėØõŹƀŬăŬŰ ûăĺĤƔăŬ Ņăƕ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹŰ ƕĤŹĠ Ø !ăŬŹĤƱõØŹă Ŏė !ŎŅėŎŬłĤŹƛ ̦! Ŏė !̧̖ RŹ ŬăõŎŬûŰ ƕĠăŅ ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ƕØŰ õĠăõķăû ØŅû ŹĠØŹ ƕĠăŅ ĤŹ ƕØŰ õĠăõķăû ĤŹ ƕØŰ ƕĤŹĠĤŅ ŰŹØŹăû ŹŎĺăŬØŅõă ĺĤłĤŹŰ̖ §Ġă ! Ŏė ! ŨŬŎƔĤûăŰ ăƔĤûăŅõă Ŏė õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ėŎŬ ŹĠă ƱŬŰŹ ƛăØŬ Ŏė ƀŰă̖ RŅ ŎŬûăŬ ŹŎ łă㏠ĤŅŹăŬŅØĺ ūƀØĺĤŹƛ ŰŹØŅûØŬûŰ ŰŎłă õƀŰŹŎłăŬŰ ŬăūƀĤŬă Ņăƕ ăūƀĤŨłăŅŹ ŹŎ òă ûăĺĤƔăŬăû ƕĤŹĠ Ø õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õăŬŹĤƱõØŹă ŬØŹĠăŬ ŹĠØŅ Ø ! Ŏė !̖ nŎŬă ŎėŹăŅ̐ ŎŬęØŅĤŰØŹĤŎŅŰ ŬăūƀĤŬă ŹĠăĤŬ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹØŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ òă õØĺĤòŬØŹăû ŨăŬĤŎûĤõØĺĺƛ̖ RŅ òŎŹĠ õØŰăŰ̐ ƕă ŎƫăŬ ŹƕŎ ŬăõŎęŅĤŰăû ŰŹØŅûØŬûŰ Ŏė õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̏ R { õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õăŬŹĤƱõØŹăŰ ̩ Ãă ŰƀŨŨĺƛ ŹĠăŰă̐ ƕĠăŅ ŬăūƀăŰŹăû̐ ėŬŎł ŎƀŬ ŎƕŅ ØõõŬăûĤŹăû õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĺØòŎŬØŹŎŬƛ ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c̖ §ĠăŰă õăŬŹĤƱõØŹăŰ ØŬă ėƀĺĺƛ ŹŬØõăØòĺă ŹŎ ŅØŹĤŎŅØĺ ØŅû̜ŎŬ ĤŅŹăŬŅØŹĤŎŅØĺ ŰŹØŅûØŬûŰ̐ ØŅû ŹĠă ŬŎƀŹă Ŏė ŹŬØõăØòĤĺĤŹƛ ĤŰ ŹŬØŅŰŨØŬăŅŹ̐ ØŰ ƕă ŰŹØŹă ăƚØõŹĺƛ ƕĠØŹ ŬăėăŬăŅõă ăūƀĤŨłăŅŹ ƕØŰ ƀŰăû ŹŎ ŨăŬėŎŬł ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ŎŅ ŹĠă õăŬŹĤƱõØŹă̖ §Ġă õƀŰŹŎłăŬ õØŅ ŰăĺăõŹ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ŨŎĤŅŹŰ ŹŎ ŰØŹĤŰėƛ ŹĠăĤŬ ŬăūƀĤŬăłăŅŹ̐ ØŅû Ø łăØŰƀŬăłăŅŹ ƀŅõăŬŹØĤŅŹƛ ĤŰ ûŎõƀłăŅŹăû̖̀​̀ ®c õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õăŬŹĤƱõØŹăŰ ̩ §ĠăŰă ØŬă ØŅŎŹĠăŬ ĺăƔăĺ ƀŨ ėŬŎł ŹĠă R { õăŬŹĤƱõØŹăŰ̖ Ņƛ ØõõŬăûĤŹăû õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĺØòŎŬØŹŎŬƛ̐ ŅŎŹ ĴƀŰŹ ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c̐ ĤŰ ØõõŬăûĤŹăû ØęØĤŅŰŹ ŹĠă ĤŅŹăŬŅØŹĤŎŅØĺ ŰŹØŅûØŬû R {˘˞˗˙˜̏˙˗˗˜ ̳FăŅăŬØĺ ŬăūƀĤŬăłăŅŹŰ ėŎŬ ŹĠă õŎłŨăŹăŅõă Ŏė ŹăŰŹĤŅę ØŅû õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĺØòŎŬØŹŎŬĤăŰ̵̖ RŅ ŎŬûăŬ ŹŎ ØõĠĤăƔă ØõõŬăûĤŹØŹĤŎŅ ŹŎ ŹĠĤŰ ŰŹØŅûØŬû̐ Ø ĺØòŎŬØŹŎŬƛ ĤŰ ØŰŰăŰŰăû òƛ ØŅ ØõõŬăûĤŹØŹĤŎŅ òŎûƛ̐ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ ®c ĤŅ ŹĠă ®c̖

Cost of calibration Ŏ ƕĠƛ ĤŰ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ăƚŨăŅŰĤƔă ŬăĺØŹĤƔă ŹŎ ŹĠă ŨŬĤõă Ŏė ŹĠă Ņăƕ ęăŅăŬØŹĤŎŅ Ŏė ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹŰ̗ §ĠăŬă ØŬă ŰăƔăŬØĺ ėØõŹŎŬŰ ƕĠĤõĠ õŎŅŹŬĤòƀŹă ŹŎ ŹĠă õŎŰŹ Ŏė ûăĺĤƔăŬĤŅę Ø ŹăõĠŅĤõØĺĺƛ õŎłŨăŹăŅŹ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̖ §Ġă õŎŰŹ Ŏė ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ĤŰ ŅŎŹ ûĤŬăõŹĺƛ ŬăĺØŹăû ŹŎ ŹĠă õŎŰŹ Ŏė ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̐ ØŅû ØŰ ØĺŬăØûƛ ăƚŨĺØĤŅăû ĤŹ ûăŨăŅûŰ ŎŅ ŹĠă ĺăƔăĺ Ŏė õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õĠŎŰăŅ̖ nØĤŅŹØĤŅĤŅę ØŅ ØõõŬăûĤŹăû õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĺØò ĤŰ ăƚŨăŅŰĤƔă̐ ØŅû õŎŰŹŰ ĤŅõĺƀûă ŹĠĤŅęŰ ĺĤķă ŬăėăŬăŅõă ăūƀĤŨłăŅŹ ŨƀŬõĠØŰă ŨŬĤõă̐ ŎŅ-ęŎĤŅę ăūƀĤŨłăŅŹ łØĤŅŹăŅØŅõă ĤŅõĺƀûĤŅę Ŭă-õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ØŅû ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă ØŅû ĠƀłĤûĤŹƛ-õŎŅŹŬŎĺĺăû õŎŅûĤŹĤŎŅŰ̐ ØŅû łØĤŅŹØĤŅĤŅę ęŎŎû ūƀØĺĤŹƛ ŨŬŎõăŰŰăŰ̐ ŹŎ ŅØłă òƀŹ Ø ėăƕ̖ ŅŎŹĠăŬ ėØõŹŎŬ ĤŅ DF õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ õŎŰŹŰ ĤŰ ŹĠØŹ ŹĠă ęØŰ ŰăŅŰŎŬŰ łƀŰŹ òă ŬăŨĺØõăû ăƔăŬƛ ėăƕ ƛăØŬŰ̖ ÃĤŹĠ Ʊƚăû ŨŬĤõă ŰăŬƔĤõă õŎŅŹŬØõŹŰ̐ ŹĠă õŎŰŹ ĤŰ ŰŨŬăØû ØõŬŎŰŰ Ø ŰăŬƔĤõă ŨăŬĤŎû̐ ŹƛŨĤõØĺĺƛ ƱƔă ƛăØŬŰ̖ §ĠăŰă õŎŰŹŰ ăƚĤŰŹ whether calibrating a high-ăŅû ŬăėăŬăŅõă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ŎŬ Ø ŹƛŨĤõØĺ òƀûę㏠ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ØŅû ŹĠăŬăėŎŬă ŹĠă ūƀăŰŹĤŎŅ Ŏė õŎŰŹ ĤŰ łŎŬă Ø õŎŅŰĤûăŬØŹĤŎŅ ėŎŬ ŹĠă ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ØŅû ĤŹŰ ØŨŨĺĤõØŹĤŎŅ ŬØŹĠăŬ ŹĠØŅ ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̖ Rė ƛŎƀ Ņăăû ŹŎ łØķă Ø łăØŰƀŬăłăŅŹ̐ ŨØŬŹĤõƀĺØŬĺƛ ĤŅ ĤŅûƀŰŹŬĤăŰ ƕĠăŬă ƛŎƀ Ņăăû ŹŎ ûăłŎŅŰŹŬØŹă õŎłŨĺĤØŅõă ŎŬ ĠØƔă ŹŎ õŎłŨĺƛ ƕĤŹĠ ØŅ ĤŅŹăŬŅØĺ ŎŬ ăƚŹăŬŅØĺ ūƀØĺĤŹƛ ŰŹØŅûØŬû̐ ŹĠăŅ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ŰĠŎƀĺû òă ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ̖ §ĠĤŰ ĤŰ ŅŎŹ ŎŅĺƛ Ø õŎŅŰĤûăŬØŹĤŎŅ ƕĠăŅ ŨƀŬõĠØŰĤŅę Ø Ņăƕ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ òƀŹ ØĺŰŎ ėŎŬ ŰƀòŰăūƀăŅŹ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̖ Rė ØŅŅƀØĺ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĤŰ ĤłŨŎŬŹØŅŹ ŹŎ ƛŎƀ̐ ØŅû ŹŎ ƛŎƀŬ õĺĤăŅŹ̐ ŹĠăŬă ĤŰ Ø ŬăŰŨŎŅŰĤòĤĺĤŹƛ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ƛŎƀ ŨƀŬõĠØŰă ƕĤĺĺ ŰŹØŅû ƀŨ ŹŎ ŹĠă ŬĤęŎƀŬŰ Ŏė ØŅƛ ĤŅŰŨăõŹĤŎŅ̐ ØƀûĤŹ ŎŬ ŨŎŰŰĤòĺă N 1 ĤŅƔăŰŹĤęØŹĤŎŅ̖ Ŏ ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ūƀăŰŹĤŎŅ ŅăăûŰ ŹŎ òă õŎŅŰĤûăŬăû ŅŎŹ ĴƀŰŹ ĤŅ ŹĠă õŎŅŹăƚŹ Ŏė õŎŰŹ̐ òƀŹ ØĺŰŎ ĤŅ ŹĠă ŰŹØŅûØŬûŰ ƛŎƀ ØŬă ŹŬƛĤŅę ŹŎ łăăŹ̖

The future §Ġă ęŎŎû ŅăƕŰ ĤŰ ŹĠØŹ Ņăƕ ŨŬŎûƀõŹ ĤŅŅŎƔØŹĤŎŅŰ õØŅ łĤŅĤłĤŰă ŹĠă ĤŅõŎŅƔăŅĤăŅõă õØƀŰăû òƛ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̖ DŎŬ ăƚØłŨĺă̐ ŹĠă §ăŰŹŎ ˛˛˗ łƀĺŹĤ-ėƀŅõŹĤŎŅ ûăƔĤõă ĠØŰ Ø Ġƀęă õĠŎĤõă Ŏė ŨŬŎòăŰ ŹŎ łăØŰƀŬă !{̐ !{˙̐ ŨŬăŰŰƀŬă̐ ØĤŬƲŎƕ̐ ŹăłŨăŬØŹƀŬă̐ ĠƀłĤûĤŹƛ̐ ØŅû e®È̖ nØŅƛ Ŏė ŹĠă ŨŬŎòăŰ ĠØƔă òăăŅ ûăŰĤęŅăû ŹŎ ĠŎĺû ŹĠăĤŬ ŎƕŅ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ûØŹØ̖ §ĠăŰă ŨŬŎòăŰ õØŅ òă õØĺĤòŬØŹăû ŰŹØŅûØĺŎŅă̐ ƕĠĤõĠ łăØŅŰ ĴƀŰŹ ŹĠă ŨŬŎòă ĠØŰ ŹŎ òă ŰăŅŹ ŹŎ ŹĠă õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ ĺØò̖ §Ġă §ăŰŹŎ ˛˛˗ ĤŅŰŹŬƀłăŅŹ ØŅû ŎŹĠăŬ ŨŬŎòăŰ õØŅ õŎŅŹĤŅƀă ŹŎ òă ƀŰăû ƕĠĤĺă ŎŅă ŨŬŎòă ĤŰ ŰăŅŹ ėŎŬ õØĺĤòŬØŹĤŎŅ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk/ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧˧


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Tech tag curtailing unsafe gas work Gas Tag is highlighting the growing use of its technology that prevents bad practice in gas works and ensures the public uses ūƀØĺĤƱăû FØŰ Øėă ŬăęĤŰŹăŬăû ăŅęĤŅăăŬŰ̖ The technology includes an NFC (near Ʊăĺû õŎłłƀŅĤõØŹĤŎŅ̧ ŹØę ŹĠØŹ ƕŎŬķŰ ƕĤŹĠ the Gas Tag app to verify the engineer’s credentials and provide a best practice ƕŎŬķƲŎƕ̖ RŹ ØĺŰŎ ûăŹØĤĺŰ Øĺĺ FØŰ §ØęƔăŬĤƱăû ƕŎŬķŰ ŹĠØŹ ĠØƔă òăăŅ õŎŅûƀõŹăû̖ The company says its tech gives councils,

housing associations and letting agents the peace of mind that their residential properties are compliant with industry regulations. A partnership with the Gas Safe Register has meant that Gas Tag’s technology is able to provide proof that work has been done on ŰĤŹă òƛ ūƀØĺĤƱăû ăŅęĤŅăăŬŰ ØŅû ŹĠØŹ Øĺĺ ƕŎŬķ is compliant with best practice and industry standards. {Ņĺƛ ūƀØĺĤƱăû ęØŰ ăŅęĤŅăăŬŰ õØŅ ŰĤęŅ ƀŨ to use the Gas Tag app. Engineers simply scan the tag with a smartphone and follow the steps to ensure a fully compliant process. By creating a national database of gas maintenance works, the business hopes to help create a more transparent and accountable industry, while it is hoped the technology will help to eliminate public awkwardness when it comes to asking gas ăŅęĤŅăăŬŰ ėŎŬ ĤûăŅŹĤƱõØŹĤŎŅ̖ Ά phamnews.co.uk̜ˡ˪ˢ˪̜˧˨

Message to other trades: don’t interfere with gas installations To coincide with Gas Safety Week (16 - 22 September 2019), IGEM’s Large Business Forum (LBF) is encouraging gas professionals to spread the word among fellow tradespeople, such as roofers and builders, of the dangers of interfering with existing gas installations when working in buildings. The LBF’s focus is on Regulation 8 of the Gas Safety Installation & Use Regulations (GSIUR). It states that anyone undertaking property work that õŎƀĺû ØƫăõŹ ŹĠă ŰØėăŹƛ Ŏė ăƚĤŰŹĤŅę ęØŰ installations have legal responsibilities and obligations to ensure their work ûŎăŰ ŅŎŹ ØƫăõŹ ŹĠă ŰØėăŹƛ Ŏė ęØŰ ƱŹŹĤŅęŰ̖ The ongoing campaign is aimed

at helping businesses that may in ŰŎłă ƕØƛ ØƫăõŹ ęØŰ ƱŹŹĤŅęŰ̐ ŰƀõĠ ØŰ õŎŅŰŹŬƀõŹĤŎŅ ƱŬłŰ̐ ŹŎ ăŅŰƀŬă ŹĠăƛ ķăăŨ gas users safe. The LBF, in collaboration with wider industry, has produced a simple risk assessment for project managers who may not be gas competent. In addition, they have supplied a technical survey (risk assessment) for Gas Safe registered engineers. The LBF has produced two example risk assessments to demonstrate how their guidance should be applied. These, along with the guidance, can be found by visiting the link below. Ά phamnews.co.uk/0919/68

Personal CO safety §ăŰŹ˛ĺăŰŰ ŎƫăŬŰ ŨăŬŰŎŅØĺ õØŬòŎŅ monoxide alarms for professional gas engineers. This type of device, sometimes called a single gas detector, is designed to keep engineers safe when entering a premises to carry out work, particularly where there may be a risk of faulty or poorly installed appliances. §Ġă õŎłŨØŅƛ ŎƫăŬŰ ŨăŬŰŎŅØĺ ØĺØŬłŰ from Anton, TPI and Kane. They all feature a long-life sensor of between two ŹŎ ƱƔă ƛăØŬŰ ØŅû ŹĠăƛ ŨŬŎƔĤûă òŎŹĠ ƔĤŰƀØĺ and audible warnings when dangerous levels of CO are detected. DŬŎł ŅŹŎŅ̐ §ăŰŹ˛ĺăŰŰ ŎƫăŬŰ Ø ûăƔĤõă with a sensor range from 0 to 300ppm

and it comes with a two-year maintenanceėŬăă Ʊƚăû ĺĤėă̖ ĺŰŎ ØƔØĤĺØòĺă ĤŰ ŹĠă § R ˞˞˗ !{ łŎŅĤŹŎŬ̐ ƕĠĤõĠ ØĺŰŎ ŎƫăŬŰ Ø ŹƕŎ-year life expectancy sensor. It measures from 0 to ˠˠˠŨŨł̖ §Ġă cØŅă ˞˞ !{ ƔăŬŰĤŎŅ łăØŰƀŬăŰ from 0 to 999ppm and has a CO sensor with a ƱƔă-year expected life. Ά phamnews.co.uk/0919/69


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Gas Safety

Flue gas analysis via your mobile The DC710 Smart Flue Gas Analyser from TPI Europe links with a mobile phone and a free app to produce multiple colour coded reports, complete with date, time and GPS location. We asked sales & marketing director Peter Philpott to explain more about the instrument’s key features and benefits. At £350 for the basic kit, the DC710 Smart Flue Gas Analyser is significantly cheaper than other FGAs on the market. How have you managed to reduce the cost? By linking the instrument to a mobile phone or tablet, we can make it at a much lower cost. The items that cost the most in a traditional FGA – the screen, the keypad, the operating system and the processors needed to convert the reading from the sensors to a display on the screen – have all been taken away. Most installers are already walking around with a smartphone which has a much higher resolution display and a far more powerful processor, and it represents a user interface that they’re using all the time. It seems like good value for money, but does the low price almost put people off? Possibly, but then if we had offered it at roughly the same price as a traditional FGA then installers would have less reason to be interested. Most installers are creatures of habit and are reluctant to move away from what they already know. They like what they’re familiar with, which is why, when it came to the price point, it had to be somewhere that they might think about giving it a go.

Some people think that if it’s that cheap it’s not going to be capable of doing all the things they want it to, but it really does everything that a traditional FGA can do – and more! What kind of response have you had from installers so far? We’ve had loads of good feedback at exhibitions and some very positive comments from users on social media. One we got the other day said that it’s like living in the future. We know when people get it in their hands, they really start to appreciate it. Sometimes it takes a while for installers to move away from what they already know, but those who've used it have all been very happy with it. What sort of questions do you typically get from installers? Most ask if it will do all the things their existing FGAs can do – and the answer is a definite yes. Another is ‘what happens when I get a call on my mobile and I’m performing a test? Will I lose the readings?’ Well, that’s really not an issue because most modern mobile phones are quite capable of performing more than one function at a time. You only need Bluetooth to connect and any reports that are created stay on the phone. If there’s no mobile signal,

the email will simply sit in your outbox until it can be sent. What is the maximum Bluetooth distance between the unit and the phone to safely pass information? Our module is 20m, but that would depend on your phone. So, if the installer puts the DC710 on the side of a boiler and wanders into the next room or kitchen, the phone is always going to be within range. If somebody lost their mobile phone, is there any back up to the recorded readings? There shouldn’t be any problem because there’s already back-up in the form of email. As soon as a report is signed off and the email is sent, the user will have a copy sitting in their inbox. Can the instrument integrate with existing job management apps? Yes, we should be able to reproduce the readings into any existing system. We’ve designed it in such a way that you’re not forced to use our app. However, because the DC710 hasn’t got a screen, a dedicated app is necessary for most users. What are other key selling points? Unlike traditional FGAs where all the calculations are completed

You don’t need to be a tech genius because most people know how to use a smartphone

The DC710 flue gas analyser can be used with a range of Smart Bluetooth Probes

The TPI View app makes it easy to view readings and create a report from a mobile

and the readings stored in the instrument to be downloaded at a later time, the DC710 transfers the information live to the phone, proving that the user was at the location at the time stated. For anyone doing sub-contract work, they can send proof of where and when they did the work and even get the customer to sign the report. With other instruments, you might have readings with a date and time, but that’s no proof that you didn’t set those readings somewhere else before you turned up at the property. With the GPS location feature the installer has all the evidence they need. Ultimately, it’s all about reducing unnecessary call backs. Another key selling point is that it reduces the risk of human error. So how does it prevent the user from making mistakes? Every report is colour coded with date, time and GPS location. The colour code provides a clear visual indicator – green, amber and red – making it easier to identify if something needs to be addressed. When you’re under time pressure it can be easy to misread a row of numbers but, with the DC710, even if the user misreads the measurements, the report itself will be correct. Presumably the app can be updated at any time? Yes, and that’s a really important feature because if you buy a traditional FGA, you’re going to have exactly the same instrument in five years time. Whereas updates to the app mean that the DC710 can constantly evolve to address new issues. All users are able to receive these updates at the same time and there's no need for the instrument itelf to be returned. We are constantly developing and adding features to the app such as on the latest release we activated the Gas

Rate Calculator and are currently working on Landlords and Homeowners Gas Safety Records which we’ll release in future updates among many other important tweaks. Are there other benefits to the app? It makes it easier to register the product and book instruments into service. Within the app there’s a customer portal that enables the user to click through and register the product. Later, when it’s due for a service, there’s a link from the app to provide a reminder. Our aim is to make the whole process as smooth as possible for the engineer because we know how frustrating it can be to send an instrument to be recalibrated without knowing how much it is going to cost and how long it is going to take. Are you hoping that the instrument will be used by training centres and colleges? Absolutely, because one of the key benefits for training centres is that it transfers the instrument’s readings to a screen that can be connected to a projector or a TV. All the students can then see changes without having to crowd round a little screen. Is there anything else you can say that would convince an installer to switch to the DC710? Combustion analysis is vital to the safety and performance of heating equipment and gas appliances, and the DC710, combined with the TPI View app, really makes it easy. You don’t have to try and learn a new interface or work out how to print out a reading. And you don’t have to be a tech genius because most people already know how to use a smartphone. If you can play Candy Crush and know how to send an email, then you can use the DC710! ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/70


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Product News 61

New boilers come with magnetic filter With the aim of providing a gas boiler to meet the needs of almost any customer, Baxi has introduced the new Baxi 800 range. Available at both national and independent merchants, the range consists of the Baxi 825 Combi, Baxi 830 Combi, Baxi 836 Combi, Baxi 818 System and the Baxi 824 System and each model comes complete with an Adey magnetic filter and a 10 year warranty. Described as compact and lightweight, the new boilers have been designed in consultation with installers and feature tough brass hydraulics, a self­­­­­-filling loop and a central flue. The boilers have a simple hanging bracket, an optional stand-off frame for discreet installation and also benefit from an OpenTherm

interface for control using a smartphone or tablet. Many accessories are available to complement the range, including a rear pipework kit, an extensive range of flues and accessories for versatile siting, IFOS in-flue weather sensors for easy compliance with Boiler Plus and Baxi’s uSense smart control. Sales director David Cook comments: “The new Baxi 800 range is straightforward to install, reliable and easy to maintain. It was designed with installers in mind, with the features they told us they prefer. The 10-year warranty and magnetic filter mean they can offer their customers the complete package. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/71

Self-learning HIU will save energy bills Underfloor heating and cooling system specialist Warmafloor has launched a new heating interface unit (HIU) for district heating applications. Featuring a four-option control bypass the new Calefa HIU is claimed to be the most efficient unit available on the market, confirmed by independent BESA testing. When switched to auto mode, the smart system monitors and learns usage patterns in the home, helping to ensure that hot water will always be available at key usage times, while reducing overall energy consumption. The unit can also be linked to Warmafloor’s underfloor heating control system, Sentio, allowing for app-based domestic hot water control. Jonathan Moran, business development manager at Warmafloor, says: “After 2025, new developments in the UK will either need to use electric or district heating, and because not all grids will be able to cope with such a spike in electricity output, the market for district heating is set to rocket.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/72

Power shower keeps the peace Responding to consumer appeals for a quiet power shower, Triton has re-engineered its popular AS2000 range to reduce noise levels and achieve Quiet Mark approval. Aimed at the replacement market, the new AS2000SR has been designed for low-pressure systems, providing continuous running performance with flow rates of up to 14 litres per minute. Said to be ideal for family households, the AS2000SR is fully thermostatic and has a maximum temperature stop to avoid any accidental exposure to uncomfortably hot water. Other features include an easy-to-use stop/start button, a variable flow control and temperature dial, an anti-twist hose and a large three-mode, rub-clean shower head. With installation flexibility in mind, the new model also features multiple cable and water entry points, and includes the Triton Swivel Fit water inlet, enabling installation to either top, rear or bottom entry pipes. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/73

Smaller and smarter Featuring an interchangeable power connector so that it can replace any existing pump, the new Evosta 3 smart circulating pump has been launched by DAB Pumps. Easy to set and adjust, the new pump also has an illuminated display and sequential button that can be operated with just one finger. A stainless steel motor casing has been designed to preserve the durability and longevity of the pump, while an air vent plug allows any trapped air to be vented from a system, as well as providing direct access to the shaft in the event of seizure. Said to be one of the most compact and flexible circulating pumps available on the market, it also helps to save energy via an

inverter which absorbs the exact amount of energy required. Commenting on the new product, country director Adam Ferneyhough says: “We have invested in smart technology to ensure all Evosta 3 pumps are manufactured to the same quality standards on a robotised production line, with our intelligent control systems guaranteeing each unit is reliable and fault-free. The end result is our smallest, smartest, most efficient circulating pump ever.” Supplied with a five year warranty as standard, all Evosta 3 pumps have an operating range of 0.4-4.2 m3/h with a

Clip-on temperature sensors ONLINE

maximum head of up to 8m, a pumped liquid temperature range from -10°C to +110°C and a working pressure of 10 bar. phamnews.co.uk/0919/74

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

As legionella continues to pose a real but avoidable risk to public health, ATC Semitec stock a range of IP67 rated pipe clip temperature sensors which can simply and quickly be attached to the waterpipe, without the need for drilling holes or making special couplings for conventional probe sensors. Suitable for both domestic and industrial water systems, the BTS3 sensors ensure that water temperatures are maintained at lower than 20°C or higher than 45°C. The sensor simply fastens over the pipe and is held in place by a strong stainless-steel clip. This keeps the NTC sensor firmly against the pipe surface and thus ensures a fast-thermal response and accurate temperature monitoring. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/75


COMPETITION

WIN a Glow-worm Easicom boiler!

To mark the relaunch of the famous Glow-worm Mystery Trip we’re offering PHAM News readers the chance to win the company’s new Easicom boiler

We have six to win, with one boiler given away each month over the course of six issues. THE PRIZE The super light, super efficient, super value Easicom boiler has been specifically designed with the needs of the installer and their customers in mind. The range features a low maintenance automotive grade aluminium silicate heat exchanger, and a patented four-sided cooling system to reduce the stress on the heat exchanger to deliver long-term reliability for homeowners. Compatible with the existing flue range for easy replacement of older boilers, the boiler also comes with a choice of bespoke accessories, including a large aesthetic pipe cover panel and universal upward piping kit. Each boiler also offers a DIN pipe

layout to make boiler swaps quick and easy, and larger waterways, making it perfect for retrofit jobs. Easicom’s sleek design features a bright and easy-to-read LCD display, and its quiet operation means minimal noise for homeowners. The range can also be used alongside a choice of controls, including Glow-worm’s Climastat smart thermostat, which not only empowers homeowners to efficiently manage their heating and hot water, but will also meet Boiler Plus regulations. The range is connected to Glow-worm’s Club Energy installer scheme which, when the Easicom installation is registered, will initiate a five-year guarantee.

HOW TO ENTER Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon, will be the destination of the 2020 Glow-worm Mystery Trip. Guests on the five-day all-expenses paid trip will be treated to a stay at five-star hotel, Caravelle Saigon, sited right in the heart of the city, just minutes away from bustling street markets and iconic landmarks. For a chance to win an Easicom boiler, all you have to do is answer the following question about the next Mystery Trip destination:

Vietnam’s most popular national dish is: A. Pie B. Pho C. Pud Email your answer to editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk with ‘Win an Easicom’ in the subject line. Please make sure you include the following: * * * *

Your name and your company’s name Your contact telephone number Your Gas Safe registration number Please type ‘YES’ in the body of your email if you are happy to receive offers from Glow-worm via email

All correct answers received before the closing date of 30th September 2019 will be entered into the prize draw for this month. Only one entry per person will be allowed.

For more details about how you can earn a place on the Glow-worm Mystery Trip, please visit the website below:

www.glow-worm.co.uk

PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Product News

Put a little zen in hot water heating Targeting the mid to upper end of the market for instantaneous hot water heaters, Rinnai is launching the Zen and Zen Plus home hot water and heating system. The products are designed to increase comfort and reduce energy use while providing an economical solution. Chris Goggin, head of Rinnai UK operations, says: “We are not launching into the mass UK boiler market. Instead we are aiming to serve a market sector previously overlooked and almost ignored - the provision of luxury levels of hot water at affordable sums to the middle and top end of the marketplace. “The route to market is with installers. The installer is still the major player and, in our view, always will be.”

The new products come with an Internet of Things (IoT) controller that works with the Rinnai boiler app as standard and feature a fast heating mode, DHW pre-heat function and an energy monitor. The flue runs up to 30m. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/76

Hand wash at your fingertips The new range of instantaneous electric hand wash units from Redring includes two models: a push-button manually operated unit and an auto ‘no touch’ model (pictured) which features infrared sensing activation technology. The auto model has an automatic 25 to 30 second timed delivery that makes it well suited for high care applications and hygiene sensitive areas. Both units are 3kW rated and compact with a durable white ABS casing. These hand wash units are designed to be mounted over a basin and are simple to install, providing instant water heating at point of use, with no stored heated water or wasted heat energy. They also feature a separate rotary flow control for seasonal temperature adjustment. Offering safety, comfort and peace of mind, Redring instant hand wash units are fully temperature stabilised with thermal cut-out for added safety protection. What’s more, the 240mm swivel arm has 180° radial adjustment and integrated spray head for ease of use for the end user. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/77

Eclipse the time with fast-fit The Eclipse range of shower enclosures from Saniflo is offered to installers as a fast-fit solution that also looks great. Multiple sizes and configurations, including corner and recessed, can be specified with either pivot or sliding doors to suit a wide range of installations up to 1600mm in length. Doors and panels are made from toughened 6mm glass. All pivot doors open 180° for maximum entry space and the profiles are easily adjustable by up to 30mm to cater for uneven wall surfaces. Eclipse is supplied as standard with high quality chrome profiles, with options for matt black (pictured), having matching handles and cover plates to ensure a perfect finish. All glass is limescale treated to ensure ease of cleaning and to keep the units looking pristine for longer. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/78


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Product News 63

R32 air con range goes ‘Big’ As part of the change to R32, Panasonic has introduced the R32 Big PACi Series. Available in 20 and 25kW capacities, the units include a water heat exchanger option and supports Panasonic’s ‘full switch to R32’ initiative. This solution offers an alternative to traditional boiler systems for small retail spaces and office projects. Furthermore, the R32 Big PACi series offers a reduced amount of HFC refrigeration compared to conventional R410 models. Designed for easy installation, the new models have a more compact indoor chassis with a reduced depth versus the conventional Big PACi R410 range. The compact design still maintains the same level of efficiency overall and has a SEER rating of up to 5.25 and SCOP rating of 3.61[1]. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/79

ONLINE For further information about any of the products featured on this page, simply visit phamnews.co.uk and enter the relevant enquiry number.

Black is back in style PJH has expanded its matt black brassware to include the Finissimo brassware collection. Bold, dark and finished in industrial-inspired matt black, the range is ideal for creating the monochrome bathroom look. It’s available in a range of basin mixer styles (basin, cloakroom and tall) as well as a bath filler, bath/shower mixer and free-standing bath/shower mixer (pictured). The product design incorporates a premium German ceramic cartridge for ultra smooth operation and longevity. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/82

Isolate and drain with ease

Fit and forget traps The Fit-Rite traps range from Polypipe Building Products enables simple fitting and removability across Polypipe’s range of waste traps. The technology allows easy guidance in tight spaces, such as beneath baths and sinks, and a ring lock seal allows for quick and easy installation. To give the entire waste system lasting protection, products are protected with BioCote, which eliminates blockages caused by the build-up of biofilm. BioCote treated products include an antiodour and mould reduction chemical agent to kill 99.9% of harmful bacteria, mould, fungi and viruses. Polypipe says that it is the only manufacturer to achieve the BSI Kitemark for their traps range. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/80

Water heating to the max Building on the success of the MaxxFlo, Andrews Water Heaters has unveiled the Maxxflo EVO to provide even more efficiency and reliability. With built-in BMS connectivity as standard and increased functionality, the newest model provides specifiers with a cost effective means of meeting their customers’ individual hot water needs. Available in 30 to 60kW models with a 200-litre capacity, and 30 to 120kW models with a 300-litre capacity, the new design has been specified to meet the needs of many commercial buildings, such as large hotels, government buildings and office blocks. With customers calling for boosted efficiency levels, the EVO has been designed to be low NOx, with emissions of 39mg/kWh and below, meaning it’s suitable for specification in larger commercial premises with stringent air quality policies. For instance, the MAXXflo EVO can be specified in London as it sits within the ‘London Plan’s’ nitrous oxide emissions limits. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/81

The vessel accessories range from Altecnic has been expanded to include the ¾in Reflex Locakble Isolation Valve. This product allows expansion vessels to be isolated and drained for essential periodic servicing and re-charging. It also features a protected shut-open facility against inadvertent closing and has a drain outlet for draining the vessel contents. The valve is used for membrane expansion vessels in sealed heating and cooling systems. The Reflex Lockable Isolation Valve is designed to allow for the expansion vessel to be fitted easily and conveniently to the system and features a ball valve, lever with safety button, and drain feature. The ball valve allows the expansion vessel to be isolated from the system. The lever has a buttonoperated safety feature which prevents accidental isolation that could cause a major safety hazard. The drain feature allows the expansion vessel to be drained of liquid should the expansion vessel need to be removed, minimising any water spillage during removal. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/83

Biocide in a bottle Fernox has launched the high performance Biocide F7 to prevent bacterial contamination and fungus within underfloor, low temperature heating systems and chilled systems. The formulation includes two active ingredients that get to work within 24 hours for long term protection against the build-up of bacterial slimes, algae and biofilms. One 200ml bottle will treat underfloor systems up to 280m2 and central heating systems up to 150 litres. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/84


PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

64

Product News

Perfect fit with air source heat pump A pre-plumbed, single-coil heat pump cylinder has been added to Firebird’s Envirocyl hot water storage cylinder range. Designed for use with the company’s Enviroair air source heat pumps, the new cylinder saves installation time with its prefabricated pipework, wiring and an integrated 50 litre buffer. Featuring a 3m2 purpose-designed coil which allows maximum heat transfer of renewable heat into the stored water, the cylinder is said to offer a highly efficient way of providing space heating and domestic hot water. Envirocyl hot water storage cylinders are available in a range of capacities from 180 to 300 litres and include a 3kW electric immersion as standard. Manufactured from stainless steel for superior corrosion resistance, the inner vessel is covered by a 25-year warranty. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/85

Air gap technology inside The latest range of unvented stainless steel cylinders from Advance Appliances deliver mains pressure hot water and also provide an alternative method to heating using air gap technology that maintains the air bubble in the cylinder. Because the air gap is self-sustaining, there is no need to pump up an expansion vessel every year, which means annual servicing times can be reduced. The cylinder comes with a pre-plumbed, pre-wired S-plan arrangement with two heating zones for flexible installation. Capable of full 3bar pressure, the cylinder produces a greater flow rate. The units are WRAS approved and come fitted with a G3 unvented kit in addition to the pre-wired S-plan and all essential components including an ‘A’ rated pump. Two sizes are available – one for single bathroom properties and one for twin bathrooms. All units have a fitted 3kW immersion heater as well as an adjustable control thermostat. The new range of unvented cylinders is in stock and available for next day delivery. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/86

Press on with multi layer pipe

Take your pick of sinks Seven new models have been added to Leisure Sinks’ line-up, including the Albion, which is manufactured from 0.7mm 18/10 stainless steel. Available as a single bowl, a 1.5-bowl and a compact single-bowl – each features reversible drainers. The Euroline satisfies the demand for smaller kitchen sinks. Measuring 650mm, it is made from 18/10 stainless steel and

R32 model delivers on performance The Therma V line-up from LG Electronics now includes the R32 Split. Designed specifically for

features a single-bowl model with a reversible drainer, available in a polished or satin finish. To complement kitchen worktops with a shorter projection, Leisure Sinks has launched a new version of its Linear sink. The inset model has a projection of just 435mm, with a bowl at 135mm deep. To allow for additional storage space underneath the sink,

the new and housing renovation markets, the new model delivers space heating and hot water supply. It employs the low global warming potential (GWP) R32 refrigerant and an advanced compressor to help it achieve a powerful heating performance. The Therma V R32 also offers smart control for simplified monitoring and management,

(l-r) Albion two-bowl; shortprojection Linear; Albion compact; Albion single-bowl; shallow-bowl Linear; shallow-bowl Seattle; and compact Euroline

Leisure Sinks has introduced two shallow-bowl versions of its Seattle and Linear models, which have depths of 125mm and 120mm respectively. The shallow Seattle features a single bowl while the Linear has double bowls. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/87

plus the smart ThinQ WiFi app for end user control. By using R32, the new model is compliant with European F-gas rules. It boasts a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of 4.65 in heating operation and an Energy-related Product (ErP) rating of A+++ dependent on a return water temperature of 35ºC. The compressor is described as a ‘shaft-through’ hybrid scroll-shaped compressor. It combines aspects of a scroll-type and rotary-type compressor to maximize effectiveness and efficiency. “Part of our expanded Therma V line-up, the LG Therma V R32 Split delivers outstanding performance and excellent energy efficiency,” says Andy Hooper, LG Electronics UK & Ireland Heating Manager. “Through the innovative combination of stateof-the-art air solution technology and user-centric features, we’ll continue to bring comfort and convenience to our customers.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/89

The VSH MultiPress from Pegler is a multilayer pipe system which is said to have a number of design features that set it apart from other plastic piping systems. The distinguishing characteristic is the way the layers are linked. The aluminium layer with additional inner and outer layers of polyethene (PE-X) come together to deliver enhanced resistance to loads generated by internal pressure and high temperatures. The aluminium means there is minimum linear expansion,

ONLINE For further information about any of the products featured on this page, simply visit phamnews.co.uk and enter the relevant enquiry number.

which is said to deliver a performance comparable with copper, while the smooth surface prevents the build-up of scale and other debris. This makes the pipes corrosion- and wearresistant while minimising pressure loss. Product manager Amy French says: “We are the only UK manufacturer with a complementing product portfolio that can make any plumbing and HVAC system truly integrated.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/88

Classy ceramics The Essence Ceramics Collection by Grohe offers a complete and coordinated bathroom solution. The range includes three sizes of vanity basins, a selection of toilets, and for the first time, a selection of bath tubs in three different styles: back to wall, built-in and freestanding. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/0919/90


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Directory 65 Boiling Water Taps

Radiators

Radiators

phamnews.co.uk/0919/101

Controls

phamnews.co.uk/0919/105

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 recognised forms of study and achievement. Heating Engineer. phamnews.co.uk/0919/107 phamnews.co.uk/0919/102

Heating Controls

Radiators Covers

Next day delivery available on 100s of controls

Low surface temperature Radiator Covers manufactured and installed with a service you can rely on. • High Strength Damage Resistant • Hospital Standard Safe Touch • Easy Clean Powder Coated Finish • Less Than 5% Output Reduc on • Unobtrusive Pleasing Visual Impact • Dedicated Measure and Fi ng Service For more informa on and free quota on Ring 0844 800 8435 email info@bklradiators.co.uk Visit www.bklradiators.co.uk

phamnews.co.uk/0919/108

www.heatingcontrolsonline.co.uk Safety Products

phamnews.co.uk/0919/103

Temperature Sensors

phamnews.co.uk/0919/104

phamnews.co.uk/0919/106

phamnews.co.uk/0919/109

Plumbing Products

New Product Accessories Pipelagger Pro Stickers (PipeLagging Bonding Stickers)

Pipelagger Pro Saw Guard New H&S Guard protector for the Pipelagger Pro Saw

New Product Accessories Drill Bit & Guide Set To drill new fixing holes where required

Cut to Length Bolts One Bolt that suits ALL Clips

phamnews.co.uk/0919/110


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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

66

Training & Assessments 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.

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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

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Bromley Gas Training & Assessment Centre (BTAAC) Is your ACS about to expire? Tuition from Industry Experts for 20 years Focussing on Student Success Courses on o er include; Domestic Gas Foundation Training

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Gas Engineering Apprenticeship Level 3 ACS Refresher HTR1 Package, Refresher and Assessment OFTEC - OFT101, OFT600a, OFT105e Domestic Solar Hot Water Heating WRAS Energy E ciency Photovoltaic Systems Bristol • Redruth • Plymouth • Newton Abbott • Exeter

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PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2019

Information Centre 67 Central Heating Wiring & Controls Book

Central Heating combination boilers fault finding & repair

For years electricians and heating engineers have commented that wiring heating controls is a difficult subject to learn, existing diagrams are not always easy to follow. Mr Combi® Training has developed a fantastic set of easy to follow coloured wiring diagrams for central heating wiring and controls, 2 / 3 port systems, Faults, Frost stats, testing components, everything you need in one handy A5 book. Please order from www.mrcombi.com or enter the code shown below.

John Reginald has released his easy to read, easy to understand book that takes the reader through the background and operation of each major component within combi boilers past and present. The comprehensive fault finding logic guides provide professional solutions helping you to achieve professional standards. Priced at £26 this Industry leading book is available from all High Street and Online Book Stores. phamnews.co.uk/0919/150

Snickers Workwear’s NEW Loose-fit Stretch Trousers

NEW from Solid Gear – the Onyx Safety Shoes and Boots Great value safety footwear with the unique BOA closure system for maximum comfort and protection. This EN-accredited footwear has a modern-looking style that integrates a seamless upper and Cordura reinforcements with a poured polyeurethane midsole, a breathable footbed and strong rubber outsole for maximum grip on slippery and uneven surfaces. Metal-free protection comes from the fiberglass toecap and penetration board for extra personal safety. For more information visit the website www.solidgearfootwear.com or enter the code shown below.

The new stretchy work trousers for men have a loose fit with stretch Cordura for increased durability as well as improved ventilation and close quarter mobility. The new slim-fit work trousers for women are shaped to fit the female anatomy. The ergonomic ‘women’s fit’ includes wider hips and a narrower waist for a street-wise, fashionable look with optimal comfort and freedom of movement built-in. For further information checkout the website and download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or enter the code shown below.

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Grundfos can help when you’re on the GO

Getting hold of a specific internal OEM pump can add a significant amount of time, delay and cost to a job. In response to this, Grundfos Pumps have created a smartphone app, the GO Replace that uses a look-up database to confirm if their new UPS3 domestic circulator will be a suitable replacement. The Grundfos UPS3 offers the opportunity to be a one-stop domestic circulator pump replacement in many OEM type applications such as in the case of boiler repairs. Visit www.grundfos.co.uk/go-replace to download the app and learn more or enter the code shown below.

Saniflo launches new website for Kinedo range Saniflo UK has a new website for the Kinedo brand of shower cubicles, trays and shower enclosures. The Kinedo website is easy to navigate and allows users to search by product category of shower enclosures, shower cubicles and shower trays and also includes sections on accessible showering, plus the configurator for the Kineduo walk-in shower baths, brochures and a blog offering useful tips. Please visit www.kinedo.co.uk or enter the code below. phamnews.co.uk/0919/157

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New Highlights Brochure from BLANCO

Lakes’ new rollfold for premium stone resin shower trays

For the first time, BLANCO UK has produced a comprehensive, go-to “Inspiration and Highlights” product guide specifically designed for the imaginative sink and tap consumer. With 100 pages, it is unpriced, full of lifestyle images, styles, colours, sizes, smart technology, accessories, advice and more. Available in both print and downloadable versions, copies are free for retailers. For further information on BLANCO UK, please call 01923 635 200, visit www.blanco.co.uk or enter the code shown below.

Lakes introduces a new 8-page rollfold to support the launch of its premium stone resin shower trays. Lakes Stone is a suite of stylish stone resin trays available in a choice of sizes and colours to suit rectangular showering spaces across Lakes’ Island, Coastline and Classic Collections. The innovative trays are anti-slip and anti-bacterial, and feature a premium matt finish with a unique through-colour. Download Lakes Stone at www.lakesshoweringspaces.com or enter the code shown below.

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Features appearing in October issue

Gas Boilers

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Electric Heating

Tools & Workwear

Graham’s Trade Saver and Always Available Range Update Graham Plumbers’ Merchant’s latest Trade Saver issue provides the fixed pricing of some of Graham’s most sought after lines. The new Always Available Range guide also now includes more than 2,600 fixed price products that are guaranteed to always be in stock in every Graham branch to ensure they are available when needed. Both are available to pick up in store. Alternatively, you can view both online at www.grahamplumbersmerchant.co.uk or enter the code shown below. phamnews.co.uk/0919/159

Advertiser’s Index Advance Appliances Ltd Aico Altecnic Ltd Anton Industrial Services Ltd ATC Semitec BES Ltd Bristan Group Ltd CMR Controls Ltd Cistermiser Ltd Danfoss Ltd Drayton Controls Dunham Bush Ltd The Electric Heating Company Firebird Products Ltd Ford Motor Company Ltd

25 59 53 58 45 6 7 16 23 43 41 55 56 31 68

Gastec Training Glow Worm Grant Engineering (UK) Ltd Honeywell Control Systems Ltd Ideal Heating Intatec Ltd Kamco Ltd Kingspan Environmental Kohler Mira Ltd MV Fluids Handling Ltd Navien UK Nest OFTEC Pegler Yorkshire Group Ltd Pitacs Ltd

20 17 33 39 19 11 22 12 3 5 26, 27 14, 15 34 4 51

The Radiator Company 47 REMS (UK) Ltd Loose Inserts Rettig (UK) Ltd - Myson 46 Screwfix Direct Ltd Front Cover Wrap Stelrad 49 Stiebel Eltron UK Ltd 10 Supplies4Heat 54 TPI Europe Ltd 57 Testo 8 TUS (Trade Underfloor Supplies) Loose Inserts Viessmann Ltd 21 Warmflow Engineering Co Ltd 28 Wavin Ltd - OSMA 9 Wirquin Ltd 13


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