September 2016 by PHAM News

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Volume V o olume 54 | Issue 8 | S September eptember 2016

Proposals tto Proposals o cut cut number number off n o new ew b boilers oilers u under nder E ECO CO

The number The number of of boilers bo oilers installed installed under under the the Energy Energy Company Company Obligation Obligation scheme scheme could could be be significantly significantly rreduced educed b by y proposals proposals tto o streamline streamline E ECO CO b before efore iitt iis ss superseded upersed e ed b by y the the Fuel Fuel Poverty Povert y O Obligation bligation 2 2018. 018. G over nment proposals Government proposals to to reform refor m the t he Energy E nerg y Company Company Obligation Obligation (ECO) (ECO) may may y see see ffewer ewer boilers boile l rs installed installe l d under unde d r the the h scheme sche h me designed d esigned to to h help elp h homes omes iin n ffuel ue u lp poverty. overty. E ECO CO iiss due due to to wind wind u up p at at tthe he end end o off M March arch 2 2017, 017, however h owever tthe he sscheme cheme w will ill b be ee extended xtended u until ntil by Obligation iitt is is rreplaced eplaced b y the the Fuel Fue el Poverty Poverty O bligation ((FPO) FPO) in in 2018. 2018. Within Within this this one one y year ear ttransition ransition period, p eriod, the the Department Department for for B Business, usiness, E Energy nergy and Strategy a nd IIndustrial ndustrial S trateg y ((BEIS) BEIS) iis s llooking ooking tto o iimplement mplement me measures asures tthat hat will will streamline streamline delivery and d elivery of of energy energ y efficiency efficiency upgrades upgrades a nd better b etter target target those those most most in in need. need. T he Government Government launched launched a consultation consultation The earlier e arlier iin n tthe he ssummer ummer sseeking eeking v views iews o on n a rrange ange off pr o proposals, oposals, w with ith tthe he p policy olicy o on ng gas as b boilers oilers iidentified dentified as as a potential potential source source for for revision. revision. IIndustry ndustry stakeholders stakeholders were were asked asked whether whether tthey hey would would ssupport upport a cap cap on on tthe he n number umber o off gas g as boiler boiler replacements. replacements. The T he He Heating at ing and and H Hotwater ot water IIndustry ndust r y Council cutting boilers C ouncil (HHIC) (HHIC) believes believes tthat hat c utting b oilers would have an adverse on w ould h ave a na dverse iimpact mpact o n rreducing educing poverty. Government, ffuel uel p u overty. IIn n iits ts rresponse esponse tto oG overnment, tthe he HHIC HHIC pointed pointed out out that t hat to to date date some some 400,000 gas boilers have been 4 00,000 g as b oilers h ave b een ssuccessfully uccessfully under ECO, describing measure iinstalled nstalled u nder E CO, d escribing tthis his m easure ass amongst most cost-effective ways a amongst tthe he m o st c ost-effect ive w ays off delivering o deliver ing savings. sav ing s.

number off b boilers can be ““Cutting Cutting the the n umber o oilers tthat hat c an b e delivered via ECO big deliver e ed v ia E CO is is a b ig mistake,” mistake,” says say ys Isaac Isaac Occhipinti, Head off E External Affairs att tthe Occhipint i, He ad o xter nal A f fa i r s a he HHIC. homes poverty, having HHIC. ““For For h omes iin n ffuel uel p overt y, h aving a new boiler with associated heating controls new b oiler w ith a ssociated h eating c ontrols could £350 per year, not mention could ssave ave £ 350 p er y ear, n ot tto om ention tthe he social and health benefits derived social a nd h ealth b enefits d erived ffrom rom lliving iving in warm house. Replacing orr iinstalling in a w ar m h ouse. R eplacing o nstalling a new boiler new b oiler often often acts acts as as a catalyst catalyst for for other other changes, changes, and and we we believe believe tthat hat tthey hey sshould hould be be recognised recog nised as as a lead lead ttechnology.” echnolog y.” Proffering different view, Energy Saving P roffering a d ifferent v iew, tthe he E nergy S aving Trust has agrees with proposal Trust h as ssaid aid iitt a grees w ith tthe he pr oposal to boiler Writing to cap cap gas gas b oiler iinstallations. nstallations. W riting iin n iits ts response, EST response, tthe he E ST said: said: “As “As energy energy inefficient inefficient boilers boilers are are iincreasingly ncreasingly rremoved emoved ffrom rom tthe he stock, stock, replacing replacing old old gas gas boilers boilers with with newer newer ones ones does does not not necessarily necessarily achieve achieve a significant significant

energy orr d do much e nerg y efficiency efficiency iimprovement mprovement o om uch iin n tterms erms of of ffuel uel poverty poverty alleviation.” alleviation.” However, qualified H owever, the the EST EST q ualifie fi d its its response response by by arguing whose boilers break a rguing that that householders householders w hose b oilers b reak k and a nd who who cannot cannot afford afford a replacement replacement sshould hould not be without help. The Trust n ot b ew ithout h elp. T he T rust ssuggested uggested that that any a ny cuts cuts to to gas gas boiler boiler replacements replacements should should be be vulnerable ssupported upported by by a new new scheme scheme for for v ulnerable owner occupiers. o wner o ccupiers. It It also also advised advised tthat hat tthe he rrented ented ssector ector needs needs a more more rrobust obust enforcement enfo orcement of of housing health and oblige h ousing h ealth a nd ssafety afety llaws aws tto o o blige broken boilers. llandlords andlords tto o rrapidly apidly rreplace eplace b roken b oilers. Latest have L atest government government sstatistics tatistics h av ve sshown hown tthat hat the t he number number of of households households in in fuel f uel poverty 2.35 2.38 million. p overty has has risen risen from from 2. 35 tto o 2. 38 m illion. Martyn Reed, MD off E Elmhurst Energy, M ar t y n R e e d, M D o lmhurst E nerg y, behalves figure underlines need b ehalves tthis his fi g u re u nderlines tthe he n e ed programmes ECO. ffor or pr og rammes llike i ke E CO. must ensure homes are ““Our Our ssociety ociety m ust e nsure tthat hat h omes a re warm can afford heat w arm and and people people c an a fford tto oh eat them them adequately,” he a dequately y,” h e ssays. ays. ““Government, ay Government, tthrough hrough B EIS, is is funding funding the the Energy Energ y Companies Companies BEIS, Obligation poverty. However, O bligation to to ttackle ackle ffuel uel p overt y. H owever, while policy, we w hile we we welcome welcome tthis h is p olicy, w e note note tthat hat ECO tthe he pot pot of of money money iin nE CO has has been been reduced reduced £870m £640m. We are campaigning ffrom rom £ 870m tto o£ 640m. W ea re c ampaigning off m money tto o ensure ensure tthat hat tthe he rreduced educed ssum um o oney ECO directed iin n tthe he E CO policy policy iis sd irected ttowards owards tthose hose greatest need.” ffamilies amilies in in g reatest n eed.”

Plumbers P lumbers jjailed ailed ffor or rripping ipping o off ff ccustomers ustomers Birmingham b Birmingham based ased p plumbers lumbers w who ho c charged harged a W arwickshire rresident esident o ver £ 5000 tto ou nblock Warwickshire over £5000 unblock a toilet toilet have have b been een jailed. jailed. T Two wo p plumbers lumbers tturned urned up att a rrate off £ £672 per hour VAT unblock u pa ate o 672 p er h our + V AT tto ou nblock tthe he ttoilet. oilet. T They hey tthen hen rreturned etturned tthe he ffollowing ollowing day d ay y to to d do on non-emergency on-emergency w work ork o on n a ssoil oil p pipe, ipe, and a nd an an emergency emergency rate ratte was was again again charged. charged. The T he total total cost cost for for ‘unblocking’ ‘unblocking’ the the toilet toilet came c ame to to £ £5642, 5642, o off w which hich £ £2474.70 2474.70 w was as p paid aid before Warwickshire County Council Trading b efore W arwickshire C ounty C ouncil T rading Standards S tandards w was as alerted alerted and and intervened intervened to to stop stop

any any ffurther urther p payments. ayments. T The he p plumbing lumbing fi firm rm advertised advertised iin n tthe he Y Yellow ellow P Pages ages a as se emergency mergency local local plumbers plumbers tthat hat o offered ffered O OAP AP d discounts. iscounts. Duane D uane Linton, Linton, a aged g ed 3 34, 4, w was as c company ompany director director o off P Plumb-Tech lumb-Tech P Plumbing lumbing a and nd He Heating ating Ltd, Ltd, and and Plumb-Tech Plumb-Tech P Plumbing lumbing a and nd He Heating ating 1 Ltd. Ltd. He pleaded pleaded g guilty uilt y tto o ffraud raud b by y ffalse a l se representation and and was was jailed jailed for for two two years years representation and and eight eight months. mont hs. Subcontractor S ubcontractor O Otis tis W Wray ray w was as jjailed ailed ffor or nine nine m months onths a and nd o ordered rdered tto op pay ay y£ £2000 2000 c costs osts

a nd c ompensation tto ov ictims o 1113; P eter and compensation victims off £ £1113; Peter Hawketts H awketts was was jailed jailed for for 16 16 months; months; an and nd P Patrick atrick Th awe was was sentenced sentenced to to 20 20 months months in in jail. jail. Thawe P Paul aul Harmer, Har mer, Technical Technical Director Director of of the t he Chartered C hartered Institute Institute of of Plumbing Plumbing and and Heating Heating Engineering E ng ineer ing (CIPHE), (CIPHE), comments: comments: “This “This is is a sshocking hock ing case. case. Unfortunately, Unfor t unately, tthis his ttype y pe o off criminal c r iminal behaviour behav iour damages damages tthe he iimage mage o off plumbers p lumbers g generally. enerally. M Members embers o off tthe he p public ublic need n eed tto ob be e ab able le tto o ttrust rust tthe he p person erson they they are are iinviting nviting iinto nto ttheir heir h home ome tto oc carry ar r y o out ut w work.” ork.”

£200 Five lucky readers to win a £200 gift card See page 36

Installers u Installers up p and a nd away! away!

When Bristol Br istol hosted hosted its its International Inter nat ional When Balloon Balloon Fiesta Fiesta last last month, mont h, G Grant rant U UK K sponsored sponsored tthe he b basket asket o occupied ccupied by by one one of its its G -One Accredited Accredited iinstallers, nstallers, D uggan of G-One Duggan Plumbing Plumbing and and Heating. Heat ing. With Wit h the t he bright br ight Grant Grant c colours olours on on sshow, how, tteam eam D Duggan uggan stood stood out a mong tthe he 1 40 b alloons iin n fl ight. out among 140 balloons flight. “It “It was was great g reat to to be be a p part ar t of of an an event event which which a attracted tt racted o over ver half half a million million visitors,” v isitors,” comments comments C Craig, raig, ffrom rom D Duggan uggan Plumbing. Plumbing. “I “I want want to to thank thank Grant Grant UK UK for for t heir sponsorship sponsorship o ur b asket a sw el l their off o our basket as well as as supplying supply ing tthe he tteam ea m w with it h sshirts.” hir ts.”

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September 2016

NEWS N EWS SR Review eview

Callls for for radiators radia ators Editor’s IInside nside this this issue issue Calls Editor’s be tto ob e iincluded ncluded in n Viewpoint V i e w p o i nt Installer eenergy ner ergy labelling labelling Proﬁle by C Chris hris JJones one es

We talk to plumber and We d composer Paul Ballingt Ballington ton – a man with a song fo for r every occasion

Starts page 20

Heating Controls Getting to grips with th the he growing market for sm mart smart controls and connected d heating technology

Starts page 39

Radiators & T owel o W a armerrs Towel Warmers The g growing g market fo for or aluminium radiators an and nd the latest advances in LST L technology

Starts page 57

Vans V ans a & Racking We W e road d ttestt th the new V Vito it ito t Urban Edition and weig weigh gh up the beneﬁts of long-te long-term erm van rental

Starts page 73

T he T The Technical echnical M Magazine agazine for for the the Plumbing, Plumbing, H eating & A ir Movement Movement IIndustry ndustr y Heating Air

Incorporating: Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News N ws Ne

A new new c campaign ampaig n has has been been llaunched aunched tthat hat a aims ims to to ssee ee rradiators adiators included included in in an an energy e nerg y llabelling abelling system, system, ssimilar imilar to to the the one one used used for for boilers, b oilers, renewables, renewablles, hot hot w ater c ylinders a nd o ther water cylinders and other ho usehold appliances. applianc n es. household T he initiative init iat ive of of QRL QR L The R adiator Group, Group, tthe he ‘‘Don’t Don’t Radiator O mit Emitters’ Emitters’ campaign campaig n Omit c alls for for tthe he iindustry ndust r y tto o calls p ett it io i n tthe h G he over nment petition Government tto o iinclude nclude rradiators adiators in in m andatory e fficiency rratings. attings. mandatory efficiency R adiators a re n ot c ur rently Radiators are not currently c overed b y tthe he E rP Directive Directive covered by ErP a nd its its colour-coded colour-code ed e nerg y and energy llabelling abelling system. system. This This means means tthere here is is no no requirement requirement for for manufacturers m anufact urers tto o pr produce oduce an a n energy energy llabel abel for for rradiators, adiators, orr ffor o or iinstallers nstallers tto o iinclude nclude rradiators adiators when when producing producing tthe he package package label lab bel indicating indicating whole-system w hole-system efficiency. ef ficienc y. QRL CEO David Kerr Q RL C EO D av id K er r ssays: ays: ““At At a time t ime when when everyone ever yone connected with c onnected w ith the the heating heating iindustry ndustry is is putting putting efficiency efficiency att the a the top top of of the the agenda, agenda, it’s it’s lludicrous udicrous that t hat there t here is is no no energy e nerg y llabelling abelling ssystem ystem in in place Off c course p lace ffor or rradiators. adiattors. O ourse iit’s t’s important important that that we we focus focus on and heat o n iinsulation nsulat ion a nd tthe he h eat ssource, ource, but but if if emitters emitters aren’t aren’t as iincluded ncluded a s tthe he third t hird piece piece off tthe puzzle o he efficiency efficiency p uzzle tthen hen

Argumen Arguments nts ffor or or backing backing boilers boilers

we undermining we rrisk i sk u nder mining tthe he performance off tthe per for mance o he ssystem ystem as as a whole.” whole.” In In its its ‘Don’t ‘Don’t Omit Omit Emitters’ Emitters’ manifesto, outlined manifesto, o ut lined on on the company’s wesbite, t he c ompany’s w esbite, it it is is argued arg ued that t hat proper proper energy energ y llabelling abelling would would make make it it easier easier for for people people to to iidentify dent if y high-efficiency high-ef ficienc y emitters emitters – ones ones that t hat will w ill improve heating improve h eat ing ssystem ystem performance, cut costs and perfor mance, c ut c osts a nd reduce reduce emissions. emissions. Mike M i k e Wright, W r i g h t , Product P r o d uc t Development Manager, D e v e l o p men t M a n a g e r, adds: emitters adds: ““Inefficient Inefficient e mitters are costing are c osting homes homes and and businesses whilst businesses thousands, thousands, w hilst having massive having a ma ssiive iimpact mpact on our our collective collective c arbon on carbon footprint.” footpr int.” For about Forr more more iinformation nfo ormation a bout the campaign the c ampaign and and to to sign sign the the online online petition, petition, please please visit visit the website: qrl-radiators. the w ebsite: q rl-radiators. com/petition com /petition

Many M any in in the t he heating heat ing industry industr y are are concerned concer ned about about pr oposals to to reduce reduce the the opportunity opportunity to to take take advantage advantage proposals off a ffree boiler offer ECO o re e b oiler o ffer iin n tthe he llatest atest E CO scheme scheme ((see see tthis h is month’s m onth’s c cover over sstory). tory). With With more more e emphasis mphasis o on n iinsulation nsulattion and a nd other ot her energy energ y ssaving av ing measures, measures, it it seems seems that t hat the t he Government G over nment n no o llonger onger b believes elieves tthat hat h high igh e efficiency f ficienc y boilers b oilers should should be be at at the the front front line line in in the the battle battle to to defeat defeat ffuel ue u lp poverty. overty. IItt c clearly learly m makes akes ssense ense tto oa address ddress sstructural tructural iissues ssues of of a leaky leak y property proper t y before before llooking ook ing tto oe enhance nhance efficiency off iits heating but how tthe he e fficiency o ts h eat ing ssystem, ystem, b ut h ow sstrong trong iis s tthe he case case for for ssubsidising ubsidising a boiler boiler upgrade? upg rade? A number number of of manufacturers manufacturers and and contractors contractors have have done done very nicely off b boilers under ECO v er y n icely ffrom rom tthe he iinstallation nstallation o oilers u nder E CO and a nd the the previous previous Warm Warm Front Front scheme, scheme, sso o naturally naturally the the arguments put by HHIC are not without a rg uments p ut fforward or ward b y tthe he H HIC a re n ot w ithout a off sself llarge arge element element o elf iinterest. nterest. However, However, there there is is equally equally doubt boiler llittle itt le d oubt that t hat the t he installation installat ion of of a modern moder n b oiler and a nd controls controls system system is is a relatively relatively quick quick and and easy easy way way tto o ensure ensure that t hat heating heat ing bills bills will w ill be be reduced. reduc ced. And And the t he evidence e vidence ssuggests uggests that that homeowners homeowners are are more more likely likely to to be opportunity b e attracted attracted tto o tthe he o pportunity to to invest invest in in a relatively relatively course ssimple imple c ourse of of action action than than anything anything that that is is liable liable to to iinvolve nvolve greater g reater upheaval. upheaval. Despite D espite the the promises promises of of previous previous administrations, administrations, all all poverty an ongoing tthe he sstatistics tat ist ics ssuggest ug gest tthat hat ffuel uel p over t y iis sa no ngoing problem iissue ssue and and the t he funds f unds set set aside aside to to address address tthe he pr oblem are a re nowhere nowhere near near the the level level required required to to deliver deliver a lasting lasting While every ssolution. olution. W hile money money iis s llimited, imited, tthere here iis se very rreason eason sso o make m ake the the most most of of what what is is available available and and the the installation installation off a new, boiler o new, high high efficiency efficiency condensing condensing b oilerr continues continues to to cost-effective rrepresent epresent a c ost-effect ive way way of of making making a difference difference tto o tthose hose households households in in most most need. need. Follow F ollow u uss on

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Shower S hower on w wheels heels

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©C Copyright opyright 2016 2016 | Plumbing, Plumbing , Heating Heating & Air Air Movement Movement News N ew s All rrights ights rreserved. eserved. No par partt of this publication ma mayy be rreproduced eproduced or stor stored ed in a rretrieval etrieval system without wr written i itten consent from fr om the publisher publisher.. A Attributed ttr t ibuted ar articles ticles rrepresent epresent the vie views ws of the A Author(s) uthor(s) and ar aree not the necessar necessarily ily those of the EEditor. ditor. The T he publisher publisherss accept no rresponsibility esponsibility ffor or claim claims ms made bbyy man manufacturers ufacturers or adv advertisers. ertisers. TThis his mag magazine azine includ includes des a nnumber umber of colour editor editorial ial photo photographs graphs paid ffor or bbyy supp suppliers. pliers.

Who better Who better than than a shower shower enclosure enclosure company company to to come come up up with w ith a winning winning model model ffor or a ssoap oap pb box ox rrace? ace? U UK Km manufacturer anufacturer A qata llent ent iits ts e xpertise to to this this summer’s summer’s Hinckley Hinckley Soap Soap Box Box Aqata expertise Derby D erby and and were were awarded awarded ‘Best ‘Best Turned Tur ned Out Out Soap Soap Box Box and and Crew’. C rew’. T The he w winning inning d design esig n w was as b built uilt a att A Aqata’s qata’s H Hinckley inckley ffactory actory and and designed designed b by y tthe he company’s company’s founder founder a and nd e engineer ngineer Peter P eter B Brown. rown. M MD D JJayne ayne B ay Barnes arnes commented: commented: ““We’re We’re tthrilled hrilled tto oh have ave b been een p part ar t o off tthis his ffun-filled un-filled c community ommunit y e event, vent, iin n homage h omage tto oo our ur 3 30th 0th year year of of business. business. Our Our success success lies lies in in our our iinventiveness nventiveness and and emphasis emphasis on on British British design, design, engineering engineering and a nd manufacturing.” manufact ur ing.” ENQUIRY EENQUIRY NQUIR RY

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September 2016

NEWS Review

Refurbishment to spur growth in shower market A new report on the UK shower market from MTW Research suggests above inflation growth in 2016, with new technology paving the way for a £50 million sales ‘bounce’ by 2020. Based on industry sales data, the report forecasts that sales of shower products are set for 10% growth by 2020, with growth in digital shower sales of 26% and a steady shift to higher spec preferences. MTW says that the volume growth is underpinned by rising domestic refurbishment activity for shower controls, screens, trays and enclosures. The 280 page report reviews the impact of Brexit, forecasting that whilst demand from housebuilding may dip in the near term, value growth is set to remain healthy as consumers demand higher value products with enhanced features. The report suggests that should Brexit result in a slowing of consumer confidence, growth in

‘Staycations’ may prompt the domestic tourism and leisure markets, as was the case during the last recession, underpinning some additional stimulus for the commercial showers sector.

Smart technology The report also provides channel shares since 2010 with internet distribution gaining share in 2016, though online retailers are growing share primarily in the low-mid value end of the market, with less success at the higher value end of the market. The tone of MTW’s report is generally optimistic, with growth led by smart technological advances offering greater levels of control in the bathroom. By 2020, MTW forecasts growth of £50 million for the UK shower products market, underlining healthy longer term conditions though somewhat erratic sales in the near term. The

Geared up to win ‘Gear Up with Hep2O’ is a promotion that gives plumbers the chance to get their hands on a different prize each week – including DAB site radios, workwear and power tools. In the final week one lucky installer will also win the ‘Ultimate Gear Up Bundle’, a £5000 prize package of top tech, gadgets and gear as well as all of the weekly spoils, delivered in time for Christmas. Gareth Samuel, Product Manager, says: “With the promotion so quick and easy to enter we’re encouraging installers to look out for Gear Up tickets at their nearest stockists in the coming weeks if they want to be in with a chance of picking up one of the weekly prizes or the Ultimate Gear Up Bundle, a fantastic pre-Christmas present for one lucky plumber.” Gear Up with Hep2O runs from 12 September to 4 December. For more information visit www.hep2ogearup.co.uk

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Recommendation reigns supreme

report identifies opportunities for sectors such as concealed mixing valves, low profile shower trays and semi frameless enclosures. The ‘inclusive’ showers market also offers growth potential with around 14 million consumers aged 60 representing around 30% of all shower purchases in 2016. The report is available from £595 at www.marketresearchreports.co.uk

Contractor group The HHIC has set up a new working group made up of large heating contractor companies. It is hoped that the new group will bring together large contractor companies to provide a voice to government and stakeholders on routes to market and consumers. Stewart Clements, Director of HHIC, comment: “The formation of the Domestic Heat Strategy Group, to which HHIC are secretariat, has seen the need for a separate working group to be formed. It will enable the newly formed Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to talk directly to installers.”

Word of mouth recommendations represent the most popular source for plumbers looking to try out new products, according to new research from Bristan. A survey of its Bristan Connect installers revealed that a large majority of installers prefer to stick to the brands they know, but when they are tempted to try something new, 75% admitted it would most likely happen if a friend, colleague or supplier recommended a product, irrespective of price. However, two thirds (66%) admitted that keeping up with technological advances

is important, with reasons cited including ‘staying on top of the game’ and increasing efficiency. Hayley Holland, Marketing Manager at Bristan, comments “As with many industries, we continue to see an influx of new products, some being much more innovative and effective than others. In this way, installers going by a third-party endorsement can benefit from firsthand experience of how the product may help them, from making their job easier, optimising efficiencies or even simply being more appealing to customers.”

Get ready for Gas Safety Week 2016 Running from the 19th to the 25th of September, the sixth annual Gas Safety Week aims to see organisations across the UK working together to highlight the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and CO poisoning.

The Gas Safe Register is encouraging installers to take part by pledging their support. They will be given a free toolkit, which includes the Gas Safety Week logo, social media updates, articles, images, web banners, a press release kit, etc., all in aid of promoting the gas safe

message to their customers. One installation company, Swale Heating, has pledged its support by giving away free CO monitors during the week. Sales Director, Matthew Edwards, says: “Members of the public are not always gas safety aware despite our best efforts. Giving

away CO monitors during Gas Safety Week is a way of encouraging householders to come to a professional, fully registered company and having equipment installed that could save a life.” Find out more by visiting: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ gassafetyweek

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September 2016

NEWS Review

Workshops focus Concern about Building Regs In brief on district heating The schedule for Rehau’s District Heating Workshops is now available for bookings. Aimed at system designers and contractors to help them maximise the efficiency and cost effectiveness of district heating schemes, the free half day workshops will be held around the UK this autumn, with the next event taking place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay on Thursday 22 September, and then at the Emirates Arena & Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow on Tuesday 4 October. Registration is now open for the Cardiff and Glasgow venues. To book a place, visit www.rehau.co.uk/ districtheating and click the ‘Our events’ tab.

New research from APHC highlights the need to address the issue of a lack of enforcement of Building Regulations within the plumbing and heating industry. The independent research was conducted to support the Association’s case to the Government that enforcement procedures need improving. It follows a series of summits held on the topic, chaired by Lord Martin O’Neill and supported by other key industry bodies. Data was gathered from Local Authorities across England and Wales under the Freedom of Information Act. Three key questions were posed regarding the number of reported breaches, number of prosecutions or enforcements, and number of building control officers dealing with notified work and enforcement actions related to Parts G and J. Out of the 359 Councils contacted, only 250 responses were received, with only one council having recorded a prosecution. Just 12 said they had undertaken enforcement actions over the last three years.

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The findings Researchers conducted interviews with both APHC members and nonmembers. More than half (52%) of companies undertaking boilers and heating work and only 31% of those working on sanitation and water systems were aware there were penalties for not abiding by Building Regulations. The findings indicate that APHC members are more likely to have heard of changes to Building Regulations (94% compared to 84% of non-members in boilers and heating, and 86% compared to 70% in sanitation and water). Results also reveal that companies undertaking

work involving boilers and heating are significantly more likely to be aware of the sanctions or consequences of non-compliance than those working in the area of sanitation and water, suggesting that more needs to be done to influence perceptions of the importance of compliance in the latter area. In light of the study, APHC will be holding a fourth summit on Building Regulations enforcement in order to determine how the research can best be used to put forward solutions to Government for the improvement of enforcement procedures in the plumbing and heating industry.

r "EFZ 1SPGFTTJPOBM )FBUing Solutions has secured BIM (Building Information Modelling) Level 2 compliance across its range of commercial magnetic filters. r IdealPRO, the installer programme from Ideal Standard, has more than doubled its membership in the last year, now with almost 3000 members. r 3JOOBJ IBT BOOPVODFE B major investment in London and the South East with the formation of a dedicated sales team covering the whole region. r Baxi Customer Support has been shortlisted for a UK Customer Experience Award in recognition of its ‘exceptional’ contact centre.

The field narrows The UK Plumber of the Year 2016 competition, launched by JT, Bristan and Plumb Center, has revealed the finalists shortlisted for the competition. Overwhelmed with entries from all over the UK, the judging panel have selected just 15 finalists to go into the next stage of the competition, where the public will vote for who they believe deserves to be crowned UK Plumber of the Year 2016. Now in its second year, the competition calls on plumbers nationwide to enter in a bid to find Britain’s finest. The competition is designed to reward and recognise the talents within the plumbing industry and ask entrants to demonstrate their plumbing excellence. ENQUIRY

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Paul Crossley, MD of JT, comments: “We were overwhelmed with registrations for this year’s competition and the standard of entries and nominations was exceptional! Congratulations and good luck to the chosen 15. It was a tough decision to make and we’d like to thank everyone that entered.” Information on the finalists and how to vote features on www. UKplumberoftheyear. com. The five plumbers with the most votes will be invited to an interview session with experts from JT, Bristan and Plumb Center, who will then decide the winner. Whoever is crowned UK Plumber of the Year 2016 will win the prestige of the title as well as £10,000 worth of prizes.

Charity challenge This September, a group from Intergas and Gas App UK are aiming to raise £10,000 for Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer charity. On the 28th they will walk up Ben Nevis, all 1352m of it, along the Mountain Track and back again. The twist is that they will carry two Intergas HRE combi compact boilers in a shade of pink on their backs. Antony Provan, co-founder of Gas App, says: “We hadn’t realised that almost 140 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every single day, and that’s shocking, but we know that not all of them will survive, which is even worse. If there’s anything we can do, no matter how small, to help Breast Cancer Now achieve its 2050 goal, we want to do it.” To sponsor the Mission Pink team in their venture, donate via their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/gasappuk

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September 2016

NEWS Review

Survey highlights the problems of IAQ Awards await the industry’s finest

A new survey has found that indoor air pollution is causing problems in workplaces across Britain. The YouGov survey commissioned by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) reports that almost 70% of office workers believe poor air quality in their place of work is having a negative effect on their day-to-day productivity and well-being. Additionally, a third of office workers are concerned that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) could be having a negative effect on their health. Opening windows is the most commonly used form of ventilation, with 60% of office workers saying it is the first thing they do if they

need ‘fresh air’. However, this could run the risk of further polluting the working environment by letting in outdoor toxins. Those surveyed reported suffering regularly from symptoms commonly linked to poor indoor air quality, such as

lapses in concentrations, fatigue, and irritated eyes. The BESA survey follows a report published by the Royal College of Physicians earlier this year, which revealed that air pollution, both indoor and outdoor, could be linked to at least 40,000 premature

deaths a year in the UK. Commenting on the survey, BESA Chief Executive Paul McLaughlin says: “There is a perception that a lack of windows contributes to poor indoor air quality, but in reality we need proper, well maintained air conditioning and ventilation systems in place. We need to make our buildings a safe haven for occupants, to protect them from the worst impacts of outdoor pollution as well as providing good quality, healthy indoor air.” BESA is collaborating with a number of industry bodies to raise awareness about IAQ and produce detailed guidance for contractors, designers and facilities managers.

IDHEE welcomes a Mobile information new President John Doherty has been named as President of the Institute of Domestic Heating & Environmental Engineers (IDHEE). An active member of the IDHEE executive committee for the past 14 years, John was awarded a fellowship in 2011 for services to the Institute and the heating industry. Commenting on the new appointment, IDHEE CEO David Matthews says: “John’s wealth of knowledge and experience from 34 years working in the heating industry is invaluable as we enter a new era and hopefully see a rebooted commitment to energy efficiency at a national level.” This appointment coincides with a new drive

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Now in its second year, the Panasonic PRO Awards is now open for entries. Installers, specifiers and consultants can enter for a chance to win in a competition that celebrates industry excellence in the design, specification, installation and commissioning of Panasonic systems. Panasonic is looking for projects that demonstrate flair and innovation, efficiency, cost effectiveness, aesthetics and, most importantly, sustainability in design. “In a dynamic and challenging marketplace, intelligent and innovative climate solutions are essential to success,” says Marc Overson, Country Manager for the UK & Ireland. “Panasonic’s PRO Awards are a professional way of recognising the quality and expertise of our customers. Winners will undoubtedly benefit from the prestige and exposure generated by this recognition

and the award itself will provide an exclusive means of promoting their future business activities.” To enter the PRO Awards 2016, visit Panasonic’s Heating & Cooling Solutions website at www.aircon. pa na son ic.eu /GB _ en / pro-awards. Deadline for applications is on 30th September 2016.

Guide for HVAC by the IDHEE to expand its support to members and extend advice and guidance to the public. New training courses – including online study sessions – guides and simplification of current accreditation schemes for heating engineers are all planned for the coming months. An enhanced website is also in the works.

A new Infomobile display vehicle has been revealed by Viessmann, designed to demonstrate the heating manufacturer’s latest products to installers and show consumers how they can save energy and lower fuel bills. The vehicle is now visiting merchant branches throughout the country, as well as visiting retail premises, town centres and outdoor events. The Infomobile will invite visitors to take a close look at the Vitodens gas condensing boiler range. With new, large, backlit LCD touchscreen control, the boiler comes in four variants and features wifi and internet connectivity to provide installers with diagnostics data, and remote control for end users. Other products on display include the Vitosol 200-T solar thermal vacuum collector tubes, featuring ThermProtect anti-stagnation coating.

New guidance on heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration has been published by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) in the new edition of CIBSE Guide B. The much expanded new edition takes into account new technology, revised sections on noise and vibration control, as well as new legislation. It also includes a new chapter

which serves to summarise the issues involved in designing for a variety of different building functions including types of building and the activities within. This new chapter is designed for new engineers, or experienced engineers tackling a new and unfamiliar area, and contains a generic overview as well as a focus on the issues associated with different building types, from hospitals to gyms.

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September 2016

NEWS Review 9 Celebrating the Chance to take advantage of funding work of plumbers Quality Plumber Week is returning this year to celebrate the work of the UK’s professional plumbing and heating installers and encourage more young people to consider a career in the industry. Devised by the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), the campaign will run from the 3rd to the 9th October. The week aims to bring the entire community together to shine a spotlight on the vital role plumbers play, from fixing burst pipes and broken boilers to providing essential advice on heating technologies and water saving. Following new research conducted by the APHC, which reveals that 86% of people believe young people should be encouraged to consider an apprenticeship as an alternative to university, Quality Plumber Week will also be focusing on promoting plumbing as a respected and skilled career path for school leavers.

To raise awareness of the campaign, APHC will be running a Mega Trade Giveaway, offering installers the chance to win a bundle of prizes, including a Bosch Professional cordless hammer drill and a Sharkbite starter kit at the end of the week. To be in with a chance of winning, all installers have to do is post on Facebook about why they’re backing #QPW16 or retweet any APHC post during the week. Closer to the date, plumbers will be able to get involved by downloading resources from the Quality Plumber Week area of the APHC website (www.aphc.co.uk) to help promote the campaign.

With the new Apprenticeship Levy set to come into force in April of next year, OFTEC is urging heating businesses to consider if they can take advantage of the opportunity to recruit fresh young talent. New figures reveal that the number of young people starting apprenticeships in England rose by 14% during 2014/2015, however the majority were concentrated in the services sector. According to OFTEC, this pattern needs to change to provide opportunities in the sectors where there is most need – such as the heating industry. The Apprenticeship Levy will see companies with

A recent survey of Bristan Connect installers shows that the majority are happy to have apprentices on their workforce

annual wage bills in excess of £3 million pay a 0.5% tax on payroll. All businesses will then be eligible to claim back funding from the money accrued to help offset the cost of employing apprentices.

New partnership A partnership between Docherty Group and Bosch Commercial Heating Solutions has enabled Docherty to extend its offering into commercial heating, alongside its established domestic product ranges. The new ranges include the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) modules and the GHP AWO 38 Gas Absorption Heat Pumps manufactured by Bosch Commercial. Docherty is a manufacturer and distributor of flues, chimneys, wood burning stoves and biomass appliances.

Roadshow to build better bathrooms The ‘Building better bathrooms’ roadshow for Saniflo has been reaching installers, plumbers and merchants as it showcases its range of Kinedo products. The roadshow, which started in May and ends in October, will continue making its way from the south to the north of the country over the next couple of months, parking up every day at a merchant. Visitors will have the chance to chat with the Saniflo team, ask questions, and discuss how installers can improve their earnings by fitting Kinedo cubicles. The sessions feature installation demonstrations of the Kinemagic Design shower cubicle and showcases of the Kinemagic Serenity cubicle and a customisable Kineduo shower bath. Those staying for the full demonstration will receive a complimentary gift bag full of goodies.

Follow @KinedobySaniﬂo on Twitter to ﬁnd the next stop

OFTEC Training Manager David Knipe says: “Heating businesses should be asking themselves now: could and should they draw upon the available funding to help them take on an apprentice?

Recruiting young talent in this way can provide an affordable route to business expansion, with the advantage of being able to train an apprentice to the high standards you expect.” New research by Bristan suggests that plumbers are continuing to invest in apprenticeships. According to a survey among Bristan Connect installers, nearly two thirds (60%) state they currently have apprentices on their workforce. Half of those surveyed feel strongly that apprenticeships are the lifeblood of the industry, and a third (33%) view it as vital to filling the current skills gap.

10 year milestone To celebrate 10 years of its Affinity loyalty and reward programme, Vokèra has launched the Affinity 10 promotion. Between now and the end of the year, members will be offered a free 10 year warranty for each Vision C or Unica i boiler installed with the BeSMART wifi-enabled thermostat, along with bonus Affinity points. For three installed and registered boilers with BeSMART, installers will receive up to 1071 Affinity points (worth £75), for five they will receive up to 2142 (worth £150) and for ten they get up to 5713 (worth £400). Vokèra Affinity is free to join and is open to Gas Safe registered installers. “We are thrilled to have reached this milestone with Vokèra Affinity and wanted to reward members

for their loyalty as they are the ones who have made the programme a success,” comments Neil Mattock, Marketing Director at Vokèra. “Affinity focuses on giving the best support and rewards to installers, and this is what has made it so successful. It is easy for installers to access, from whichever device they are using, and this promotion allows us to acknowledge how valuable they are as members.” To find out more about the promotion visit www. vokeraaffinity.co.uk

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September 2016

10 NEWS Review BESA elects new president Malcolm Thomson has been elected as President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) for 2016/17. Founder of Enigma Environmental Ser vices, which provides a range of cooling and associated building engineering services, Malcolm is a former Chairman of BESA’s South Midlands Regional Branch and Vice Chairman of the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat

Pump Group. Speaking at his inaugural address in July, he said that it was the overriding duty of the Association to help its members to face up to present and future challenges. He also said that one objective of his presidency would be to encourage BESA’s major members to use smaller members as preferred subcontractors. One of the key reasons why smaller firms joined

the association was to gain an understanding of the practices adopted by larger members so that they could become “more professional, more innovative and more efficient in all aspects of their business,” said the new President. “I believe that by fostering lasting relationships between the large guys and the small guys, much advantage can be gained by both parties.”

UFH prize up for grabs Installers have a chance to win £5000 worth of underfloor heating products in the latest promotional competition by JG Speedfit. Any installer who sends the company a design plan for an upcoming UFH project will be entered into a prize draw, while also being able to take advantage of the company’s free estimation, technical support and bespoke CAD design service.

Learn about LPG at Calor open day Following the success of last year’s event, Calor is hosting another free Installer Open Day on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October. The event aims to give rural installers a better understanding of LPG, how it can benefit their customers and business, and the advantages of working alongside and recommending Calor. Held at the company’s National Training Centre in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire,

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the two day event will be able to accommodate up to 250 visitors across the weekend.

Calor is also inviting a number of third parties to attend to offer installers the

chance to network with a range of other businesses in the industry. So far ATAG boilers, Paragon workwear, and Adey Professional Heating Systems will be present – with more to be announced over the following weeks. It’s not all educational – there will also be fun activities to join in on, including a chance to win prizes. To register a free place, please visit: www.calor.co.uk/ installer/event-sign-up

The promotion runs for 16 weeks, starting at the beginning of September and ending on 16th December. For

more details on the prize draw and where to send designs, please visit: www. speedfit-giveaway.co.uk

Free workshops A series of free technical workshops are set to be held in October following a collaboration between the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) and City & Guilds. The morning sessions are designed to give plumbing and heating installers the opportunity to learn more about and share their views on two important topics: the New Plumbing Apprenticeship Standard and the requirements of Part G of Building Regulations. The workshops will be held at the following locations: Dartford (13th October), Solihull (19th), Wakefield (20th), Taunton (25th) and Newport (26th). To book a place on any of these workshops or to find out more information, please email Jayne Carpenter on marketing@aphc.co.uk or call 0121 711 5030.

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September 2016

12 NEWS Review Uponor unveils plans to step up a gear in the UK Uponor Limited, the UK arm of the global heating and plumbing systems specialist, has announced that it will be moving to new offices in Watford by the end of the year. The company has been based in Lutterworth since launching in the UK some 25 years ago, but the decision to move 75 miles further south is viewed as a major step in expanding the business and providing opportunities for further growth. The new facility, based at the Croxley Green Business Park, close to junctions 18 and 19 of the M25, will include a new showroom and training centre, providing the company with the capacity to better demonstrate the benefits of its increasingly diverse product range. “It’s important to be closer to decision makers,” explains recently appointed MD John Fahy. “Many of the consultants we need to be speaking to are based in the South-East and it’s

Uponor MD John Fahy

obviously helpful to be having conversations at the start of a project, before decisions are made.” Installers in the UK will probably associate the Uponor name primarily with underfloor heating, but the company’s product range spans pre-insulated pipework systems, radiant heating, plumbing, controls and indoor climate solutions. The move to new offices is a key part of the plan to raise awareness of the brand and what it has to offer.

“The Uponor group views the UK market as a major opportunity,” explains Fahy, but he concedes that the company has yet to fully realise its potential. “We’re perhaps viewed as a small player, but we’re part of a large global group with considerable resources. “We need to ensure that installers and consultants are more aware of the brand. Our challenge is to create the demand so that merchants and distributors are asked for Uponor by name.” Relocation plans and the introduction of a new MD inevitably means that there has been some uncertainty within the business. Unsurprisngly, the distance of the new location has resulted in a number of staff seeking employment elsewhere, but by the beginning of next year at least 25 new employees will have joined the team.

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“We need to be leaner and more efficient,” says Fahy, “but we’re looking to recruit a number of people for the new offices well before it officially opens in the new year. We’re mainly looking for people in customer care, finance and estimating. It’s important to be able to offer the service and level of expertise that our customers expect, but we also need people who are commercially astute.”

New products New product development will continue to be a big focus for the business, with plans already in place to extend the range next year. Recent product launches include the Minitec UFH system, designed for retrofit installations and described as the thinnest system on the market, and the Smatrix portfolio of fully integrated control systems.

The company’s Q&E shrink-fit jointing system, first launched in 2013, is described as an all-plastic alternative to push-fit and soldering systems and the company hopes to convert more UK plumbers to its benefits. Rather than replicating what’s already on the market, many of the products that Uponor has introduced in recent years have represented new methods of working or advances in technology, and Fahy acknowledges that it is not always easy to win over new converts in what is generally considered to be a conservative customer base. He believes that better communication of features and benefits will help and a major part of that strategy will be to increase the output of stepby-step installation videos on both YouTube and the Uponor website. “There is a danger of over

The company has invested heavily in installer training and will continue to do so at the new Watford facility

complicating things,” he argues. “We need to be able to provide simple messages and easy to understand instructions.” John Fahy acknowledges that the move brings an element of uncertainty for the business, but he is happy to report that sales have not suffered and he is optimistic that customers will very soon be able to benefit from a revitalised operation.

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September 2016

PEOPLE on the Move Vaillant Group UK has announced the appointment of Klaus Jesse as Regional Director for UK and Ireland. Klaus brings with him a wealth of experience, having worked for Vaillant Group in several leading positions since 1985. Before he took over the management of Vaillant Group’s international export activities, he was responsible for Vaillant in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Bathroom solutions manufacturer, Ideal Standard, has welcomed Jim Moore as Managing Director UK & Ireland. Jim will assume responsibility for business development across the Group’s brands: Armitage Shanks, Ideal Standard and Sottini. He has previously held senior management roles at the Vaillant Group and has a proven track record in the creation of high growth strategies. Burner solutions provider EOGB Energy Products has announced the promotion of Martin Cooke to the newlycreated position of Technical Director. Martin, who has been with EOGB since 2008, steps up to the board-level position from his former role as Technical Manager. Martin’s new responsibilities will include overseeing R&D and monitoring quality management. Grant UK has announced the appointment of Dan Caustin to Area Sales Manager. Dan will be the main contact at Grant UK for customers in the South East including Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, South London, Kent and the Isle of Wight. As an engineer involved in the industry for nearly 25 years, he brings a wealth of experience to the role. Chemical water treatment and filter manufacturer, Fernox, has appointed Dan Osman as National OEM and Business Development Manager. The newly-created role provides a link between Fernox and original equipment manufacturers. Dan first joined Fernox in 2008 as Area Sales Manager for the North East and Yorkshire, before becoming Northern Regional Sales Manager. The sales team at Worcester has been enhanced with the appointment of Rob Leonard as National Specification Manager. Rob joined Worcester in 1993, working on the factory floor, and more recently acting as Regional Sales Manager Central and Specification Operations Manager. The new role will see Rob overseeing specification sales for Worcester and taking responsibility for key accounts. Two new Commercial Sector Managers have joined Sentinel. John Vicary (pictured) joins Sentinel from Wilo and will operate in London, while Paul King, joining from Geberit, will oversee the central region. Both bring a wealth of experience in the heating, water and building sectors, with a combined total of 25 years experience between them. The heat emitters and chillers manufacturer Dunham-Bush has appointed Jason Boshell as Regional Sales Manager (Heating) for Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. With nearly 20 years experience in the HVAC sector, Jason is able to offer extensive technical knowledge while his consulting background ensures that he is able to coordinate and understand every stage of a project. Andy Phelps has joined DRU Fires’s UK subsidiary company, Drugasar, as its Area Sales Manager for the south, southwest, and central areas of England and Wales. Andy has spent his entire career in the gas appliance industry. He was a showroom manager for British Gas in its flagship Energy Centre in Poole, before joining the Gas Appliance Superstore, also in Poole.

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September Se eptember 2016

18 YO YOUR OUR Views Views

Sponsored column

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September 2016

with Geberit

Balancing budgets and downtime in hospitals Working on hospital projects presents a challenge for installers, often pressured to get works completed quickly and within tight local authority budgets. Geberit Mapress can help meet some of these challenges. Antony Corbett, Product Manager for Piping Systems at Geberit, looks at two recent examples. With vulnerable occupants and downtime not an option, hospitals can be difficult environments to work in. Throw into this mix ever decreasing public spending budgets, and installers are under a lot of pressure to get works done as fast as possible, without compromising quality.

A pressing solution Proven to take far less time to install, with no need for hot works or a bag full of tools, pressing is ideal for hospital projects. The fact it can be installed quickly with parts of the system still wet, with no cooling times required, means downtime is kept to a minimum too. Its speedy benefits have been clearly demonstrated at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute, located on the Health Science Campus at Belfast City Hospital, which specialises in scientific research to develop potential cures for eye disease, diabetes and cancer. Northern Ireland’s largest completed Level 2 BIM application, the project took a record breaking 17 months to complete, with Geberit Mapress contributing to this speed. Time on site can be reduced by around 35% according to a BSRIA report, reducing total installed costs by 27% compared with screwed steel pipework.

Pressing also provides peace of mind for installers and end users. Any connections not pressed during installation are easily detectable, providing a fail-safe method of checking unpressed joints.

Combatting corrosion In closed circuit systems, where pipework won’t be exposed to the elements, the cost saving benefits of pressing can be enhanced when it is combined with carbon steel – a lightweight material,

Health & Safety First aid training for work Two first aid qualifications are now available from the British Safety Council. The first one is a Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, a one-day session. This qualification is aimed at individuals wishing to act as an emergency first aider in the workplace. A more advanced qualification can be gained by taking the Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work, which is usually delivered over three days. Commenting on the launch of the new qualifications, Chief Executive Mike Robinson says: “Knowing how to administer basic first aid is a vital skill in a survival situation where professional medical help may not be available. The specific first aid requirements may vary depending on the workplace and educational

establishments, which is reflected by the training modules developed using our extensive experience. “We hope that they will give first aiders the skills to act in emergency situations and trainers the confidence to source educational material from the most trusted source.” The British Safety Council

is a UK-regulated Awarding Organisation that offers a complete suite of health and safety qualifications from entry level to level 6 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework. Its qualifications are delivered by over 700 Approved Centres in the UK and abroad. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Guidance for apprentices which also boasts considerable strength. Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel has recently been used for the closed circuit chilled and hot water systems at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), where redevelopment works have taken place, including new wards and an intensive care unit. Providing a long-lasting solution, its benefits can only be realised if oxygen is kept out and manufacturer instructions are followed. Carbon steel must be stored in a well-ventilated area that is clean and dry, away from pipes of different materials. During installation, pipes should be kept clean and dust free, with only carbon steel used for associated fittings, such as inlet and return flow heating elements. Any signs of existing corrosion must be removed before adding new pipework. Once connected, sealing tape will provide complete protection. We advise the use of an oxygen monitor during installation, commissioning and for ongoing maintenance, which will also prevent an overreliance on chemicals. The latest pressing solutions can make the challenging hospital environment an easier place to work in, helping installers better meet clients’ briefs and budgets. With more and more projects utilising the latest BIM modelling, pressing will continue to prove its worth as the fastest solution for piped services in modern public buildings.

www.geberit.co.uk

Better safety information and advice are needed for firms employing apprentices according to a new report. An inquiry into the health and safety arrangements for apprentices by RoSPA’s Nat ional Occupat ional Safet y and Healt h Committee (NOSHC) has found a dearth of safety information for companies due to a lack of data and a misunderstanding of who a ‘typical’ apprentice is. Much of the safety advice currently available assumes that the apprentice will be aged 24 or under, male, and working in a manual trade,

whereas a recent House of Commons paper shows that the typical apprentice is 25 or older, female, and in the service sector. With the number of apprentices in the UK set to triple to 3 million by 2020, NOSHC will now work with multidisciplinary partnerships to extend and enhance available information. Martin Isles, Chairman of RoSPA’s Nat ional Occupational Safety and Health Committee, says: “The timing of the report is particularly pertinent as it coincides with employers urging the Government

in Westminster to delay and re-design the levy on apprenticeships which, from April 2017, is set to transfer the cost of apprenticeships from the state onto all employers with a payroll exceeding £3m.” Dr Karen McDonnell, RoSPA’s Occupat ional Safety and Health Policy Adviser, adds: “Safe and healthy work at all ages is fundamentally important – it is essential that employees at every stage of their working life are targeted with the right information at the right time.”

Are you asbestos aware? The workplace equipment supplier Slingsby is advising tradespeople to double check that their personal protective equipment (PPE) is suitable for protecting them against asbestos. The company sells a wide range of masks, overalls and gloves that can help provide protection. These products are aimed at tradespeople working in old buildings where they suspect asbestos could be present. Slingsby’s Group Sales and Marketing Director, Lee Wright, explains: “Asbestos used to be a very popular construction material so it’s still found in many buildings

today. In most cases, as long as it’s well maintained and not disturbed it doesn’t present any immediate health risks. However inhaling loose asbestos fibres and dust can be lethal. Even though it was banned

in 1999, it still lurks in lots of surprising places. “It’s also important to bear in mind that although masks, gloves and overalls often look similar, they can offer very different levels of protection against a wide range of materials and substances. For this reason, it’s always vital to doublecheck the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure they are designed to protect against asbestos. Otherwise tradespeople could be risking their lives without even realising it.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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32 P PROUD ROUD tto ob be eaP Professional rofessional Why Wh hy did y you ou o cchoose hoose a car h ccareer re eer in the plumbing and hea ting industry? heating After lea ving sc hool I w as unsure unsure leaving school was future about a bout my my futur e career career options. Following careful F ollowing some car efu ul rresearch, esearch, participate I decided to participat te in a one year Youth Training Scheme y ear Y outh o T raining g Sc heme with a local plumbing g & heating company, where was compan y, wher e I w as taken on apprentice. as an appr entice. During D this was work time I w as fortunate e to w ork number very alongside l id a n umber b r off v ery well-trained engineers new w ell-trained eng ineerrs on ne w commercial build commer cial and d domestic installations. How your career progressed? Ho ow has y o our car re eer p ro ogrre essed? When I realised realised the plumbing and heating industr industry y w was as for me me,, I enr enrolled olled as an appr apprentice entice Worcester Technical College, at W o orcester T e echnic cal Colle ge, wher where e I achieved achieved a Cit City ty y & Guilds Cr Craft aft & Ad Advanced vanced Cr Craft afft Plumbing and Heating qualificatio qualification. on. I then secur secured ed m myself yself a job with company, the a local compan ny, but th he business soon became a casua casualty alty of the rrecession ecession in the earl early y ’9 ’90s. 90s. It w was as at this time I decided to tr try y something differ different, ent, so for the ne next x fiv xt five ey years ears worked Financial Advisor, I w orked as a F inanciial Ad visor, orking par while still w working part-time rt-time as a plumbing and heating eng e ineer. engineer. my own I later started m yo w wn business trader, focusing as a sole tr ader, fo ocusing on installations domestic plumbing in nstallations

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Michael M ichael Harvey Har vey Continuing ourr series fro from om members of the Chartered Institute I of Plumbing and Heating Hea ting Engin Engineering, neering, Michael Michael Harvey, Harvey, Training Manager T raining g & Technical Te ec chnical Support pp Manag ger att HETAS, explains why a HET TA AS, expl lains w hy he is proud proud to be a plumbing pr professional. ofessional.

maintenance gas, and maintenan nce of g as, oil, and heating solid fuel heati ng systems. was offered In 2008 I w as s offer ed a position as a plumbing & heating lectur er at lecturer a local colle ge. Not onl yw as I a ble college. only was able play to pla ay a part in i the learning and development d de evelopment l t of of futur ffuture t e installers, i t ll gained experience but I also g aiined e xperience in teaching, coaching teac hing, management, man nagement, coac hing mentoring. and mentoring g. HETAS In 2013 I joined HET TAS A as Manager Inspections Mana M ger and then moved my current mo oved into m y curr ent rrole ole as Training Technical T raining and T echnical Support e Manager April year. Mana ger in Apr ril last y ear. When did y you ou o u become a CIPHE member and wh w hy is this important why you? to y o ou? member I became a mem mber of CIPHE after attending thi this s y year’s ear’s EcoBuild

exhibittion, wher exhibition, where e I sa saw aw first-hand, the su support upport offer offered ed b by y Institute Institute,, not o only nly to e existing xisting installers but to students and appr apprentices entices too.. The proactive approach too T pr oactive appr oach it has to o ad advise, vise, guide and pr provide ovide opportunities opport t iti tunities for f all ll those th embarking career embar rking on a car eer in the industry indust ry is trul truly y commendab commendable. ble. suits my values This su uits m yv alues as a plumbprofessional ing and a heating pr ofessional inter es sted in the de velopment of interested development next generation the ne x g xt eneration of installers. Whatt do words ‘Proud Wha d the w or ord ds ‘Pr ro oud to be a Professional’ Pr ro ofess sional’ mean to y you? ou? o Ultimately Ultima ately customer service,, service satisfaction satisfa ction and safety. safety y. As installers we w e all face f difficulties, but it is ho how w w e add dress these c hallenges that we address challenges defines s us.

What What is y your our o vie view ew of the CIPHE o ole it has to pla p play ay in and the rrole supporting its members s and safeguarding general public? safeguar rding d the gener ral a p ublic? The Code of Pr Professional ofes ssional Standards Standar ds set b by y the CIPHE E is ke key. y. Members voluntarily voluntarily commit c themselves themselv es to be go governed vern ned b by y the Code Code.. Ther Therefore, efore, the pub public lic can be confident that the ey will they be emplo ying someone wi ith the employing with necessar y skills an d comm mitment necessary and commitment to high standar standards. ds. How continual Ho w important is con ntinual tr ra aining and de evelopmentt? training development? Professional Contin ual Pr ofessional DevelopDe evelopContinual ment is imperative imperative for alll levels levels of the industry, industry, whether installer, in nstaller, specifier or trainer. trainer. With With so o many many innovative innovative products products available available across industry across all aspects of the in ndustry and changes changes in regulation regulatiion to keep keep up with, we we should shou uld all take every keep every opportunity to o kee p informed. This impacts s our safety, safety y, installation standards standarrds and the professional professional advice advice given given to customers – so it really really can’t ca an’t be underestimated. underestimated. What’s What’’s your yo our view vie ew of the future fu uturre of the plumbing and heating hea ating tr ttrade? ra ade? W e ar e all a ware of the ‘skil lls g ap’, We are aware ‘skills gap’, well as concerns surr ounding as well surrounding w the gets and ho ey will 2020 tar targets how they

trongly belie ve be met, but I st strongly believe y to apprenticeshiips ar e ke that apprenticeships are key estab blishing a str on ng w orkforce in establishing strong workforce ears to come the y years come.. Ho ow do y ou o think k car re eers in the How you careers eating industry plumbing and he heating could be made mo orre a ttrra actiive to more attractive young y oung people? o As a teac teacher, her, I onc once e asked a class of 16 y year ear old level level 1 students how ho w man many ny of the them em w wanted anted to be a plumber plumber.. Onl Only ly one student rraised aised their hand, while w the others wanted either professional w anted to be eith er pr ofessional drivers golfers, rrally ally dri vers s or film stars. my own career, Reflecting on m y o w wn car eer, unsure would have I am unsur e if I w o ould ha ave been able my a ble to commit to rraising aising m y hand if I had been asked a the same age. it’s question at that a ge. But it’ s clear how much have to see ho ow m uch things ha ave progressed. From industry pr ogressed. F rom in ndustry support digital technology, and dig ital tec hnolo ogy y, to apps and iPads, there are array iP ads, ther e ar e an n arr ay of tools now available, which no wa vailab ble, whic ch all go a long way attracting someone w ay in attr acting so omeone who is practical seeking a rrewarding, ewarding, pr actical and career. hands-on car eer.

If you would liike to be a member of the CIPHE, CIPHE C please contact the team e m via email info@ciphe.org. fo .uk or call 01708 472791

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34 TRAINING Update Pick up on piping Learn about larger multi stage burners and sanitary skills

The autumn schedule for training from Geberit is now available, with courses covering either sanitary or piping skills. Held at the Geberit Academy in Warwick, the free training takes place in purpose-built facilities where installers are encouraged to get hands on with the systems. The sanitar y training module covers methods for installing wall-hung sanitar yware, including the Geberit AquaClean shower toilet range. The piping training looks at supply systems including Geberit Mapress and Mepla,

and drainage systems. Candidates will be awarded a certificate on completion of training and receive a free Geberit Duofix frame and flush plate or a selection of Geberit Mapress worth £250. Sanitary training will be held on 7th September, 12 October and 16 November while piping training will take place on 13 October and 17 November. All training is free and refreshments will be provided. For more details and to book a place on a course, send an email to: training. gb@geberit.com

The latest addition to OFTEC’s training offering is a new course covering the servicing and commissioning of larger multi-stage burners, as fitted in light and medium commercial appliances. The course, OFT10-201 Servicing & Commissioning of Multi-Stage Burners, offers a mixture of theory and practical-based assessments for two and three stage pressure jet burners connected to space and water heating appliances. Alongside servicing and commissioning, topics covered by the course

David Knipe, OFTEC

include health and safety, fire valve installation, regional requirements, safe electrical isolation, OFTEC procedures, knowledge of

A CPD seminar focusing on the use of Thermal Interface Units (TIUs) has been launched by Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK). The new seminar ‘Understanding the use of Thermal Interface Units within Community Heating Networks’ has been developed for consultants and specifiers involved in designing heating and hot water systems in commercial or domestic premises, and is approved by CIBSE, RIBA and The CPD Certification Service. Lasting around 45 minutes and delivered by RWC’s technical and sales teams, the session examines how a network might be constructed to take advantage of the latest TIU technology. For further information or to make a booking, please contact marketing@rwc.co.uk

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technology including the company’s new BeSMART wifi enabled thermostat. “We are pleased to run our courses at both centres,” says Margaret Jovanovski, Training Coordinator at Vokèra. “These additional centres allow us to reach more people, creating a well-informed and skilled industry.” to get hands on with the products. Installers can

whilst experienced commercial technicians have found the details on commercial oil storage, risk assessment and procedures very helpful. OFTEC will continue to respond to the evolving needs of our industry as we strive to provide the best progressive services and advice” There are currently nine centres across the UK and Ireland offering the OFT10201 course which will be rolled out more extensively over the coming months. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Network knowhow

New sites in Wales and East Anglia In a move to reach more installers across the country, Vokèra now offers courses at the Gas Assessment & Training Centre (GATC) in Cardiff, Wales, and at Combined Heating Services Ltd in Norwich, East Anglia. At both centres, Vokèra has its own area to display a wide range of boilers, cylinders and heat pumps, giving installers a chance

oil storage and supply, and appliance installation. Installers who take the course and register with OFTEC’s competent persons scheme will receive assistance with securing tenders for commercial work. OFTEC Training Manager David Knipe says: “Feedback from technicians who have already attended the course has been extremely positive. Those new to commercial appliances have said it’s equipped them to confidently tackle the servicing and commissioning of light commercial appliances,

also learn about the latest developments in control

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Treating it right Water treatment specialist Sentinel has created a series of online courses and training packs designed to help installers of all levels of experience to deliver best practice water treatment solutions. Those who complete two online courses before 1st December can register to receive a free pack of the company’s products, worth over £50. The first of the online courses, ‘An Introduction to water treatment and best practice’ is available now on the Sentinel website. This

module looks at the role of water treatment in protecting heating components, and covers topics such as what can go wrong in the absence of water treatment, how corrosion occurs, water treatment legislation and best practice. It takes around 10 minutes to complete and contains a number of test questions to help participants feel confident in what they have learned. To take Sentinel’s introduction course, visit: http:// academy.sentinelprotects. com

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TRAINING Update 35 Latest entry to CIPHE approved centres Remote monitoring casts a wide Net

Amersham & Wycombe College has received Approved Training Centre status by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) for its Construction Skills centre at the High Wycombe campus in Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire. The College is the only CIPHE centre in Buckinghamshire and joins a list of 27 approved facilities nationwide. “This is fantastic news for our students and means we will be able to tap into technical training

CIPHE President Paul Williams (second from right) with staff and students from Amersham & Wycombe College

programmes, keep abreast of emerging technologies and reap the benefit in terms

of technical guidance and the numerous publications relating to plumbing and

heating produced by the organisation,” says Plumbing lecturer Jamie Cousins. “There is a huge hole in Buckinghamshire for plumbing and heating training to this level and we are delighted that the college has been recognised for the quality of its provision and expertise,” adds Alison Muggridge, Campus Director. The College says it will now be able to help students and adult learners obtain this professional qualification to help give them the best possible start in the industry or to enhance existing skills.

Business courses for contractors Now available from the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) are four new online business courses tailored to the plumbing and heating industry. Providing access to bite-size courses covering key business development areas, it has been designed to make learning accessible to all businesses, without the need to travel to a learning centre. The first course is ‘Understanding basic contracts’, providing an explanation of what contracts are, their purpose and the benefits. This course provides example scenarios to help businesses ensure they are on the right side of the law when drafting and signing contracts. The second course is ‘Developing a quality management system’, which provides an understanding

of the common elements of a Quality Management System (QMS) in terms of physical documentation and the key advantages of developing one for the workplace. There is also a ‘Recruitment and selection of employees’ course. It provides information on each stage of the recruitment process, from identifying a business need and writing a job specification to what to do once a candidate is selected. Finally, ‘Introduction to business finance’ covers proper bookkeeping and maintaining cash-flow, how to measure and improve profit as well as an explanation of raising finance. To purchase courses, visit the APHC website (https:// courses.aphc.co.uk). Courses cost £25 + VAT for APHC members and £35 + VAT for non-members.

Taster sessions Installers interested in learning more about the benefits of installing air source heat pumps are invited to attend one of Daikin’s ‘Tuesday Taster’ sessions, held at its training centres nationwide. Taking place in September and October at Daikin’s Woking, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow training centres and at PGL Exeter, the sessions will explain how installers can extend their portfolio to offer

low carbon heating solutions. Attendees will receive a tour of Daikin’s training facilities and have the opportunity to discuss venturing into the renewable heat sector. Everyone who attends will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win Screwfix vouchers to spend on tools of their choice. To find out dates and venues of Tuesday Tasters, visit: daikin.co.uk/events/event-details/ TuesdayTasters/index.jsp

Installers who join Ariston’s remote diagnostic training course will find out how to navigate the process of installing and setting up the Ariston NET system. The course covers the features and benefits of Ariston NET that apply to end users as well as to installers and aftersales companies. Other aspects of the course include registering the product to a cloud system via wifi or GPRS, alongside detailed explanations of ‘alternate’ configurations – including multi-zone and diagnostics-only modes. Installers will also learn how Ariston NET lets them remotely monitor, adjust and even fix boilers in the event of a fault. Remote diagnostics and fault finding will be covered as part of the system demonstration, illustrating how installers can offer customers a better level of service, as well as save them money.

Available to installers who have successfully completed Ariston’s ‘Boiler installation & service, including fault finding’ course, remote diagnostics training lasts for half a day and includes a thorough introduction to Ariston NET, explaining how it fits into the Ariston Thermo portfolio. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Elementary gas As it marks its one year anniversary at its new facility in Cheltenham, Kiwa is now offering an Elementary Gas course for those who would like to qualify as a domestic gas installer but don’t have the prerequisites to take the CCN1 qualification. This course is offered one day per week over the course of a month to make it easier for candidates to juggle their training with work.

The new facility is located just a few miles down the road from the fumier Kiwa Gastec training centre and is kitted out with a wide variety of appliances to work on. The trainer in charge is Andy Cambridge, who has recently been joined by Andy Webb, formerly of Stroud College. For more information on any of Kiwa’s training courses, please visit: www. kiwa.co.uk/training

September 2016

COMPETITION

Win! Five lucky readers to win a £200 Screwfix gift card

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

£200

NAME: Lee Hatch COMPANY: L H Gas Limited

Screwfix LIVE returns

FROM: Hertford

Screwfix LIVE returns to Farnborough Exhibition Centre for three days only, from 30 September to 2 October 2016. As part of the lead-up to the industry-leading free event, Screwfix is offering five lucky PHAM News readers a £200 Screwfix gift card! The event brings together lots of top suppliers and products, with big names such as DeWalt, Bosch, Karcher, Evolution, Yale, Hep2O, Hive, Nest and Drayton on board. It features the latest product innovations, demonstrations, competitions and on-stand offers and deals, which attract visitors in their thousands.

At work... At play... Do you work weekends? “The ideal scenario is to have the weekends free for kids and the family but sometimes working at the weekend is unavoidable. For example, in two weeks we’re going to be installing in nine flats in north London. I’ll be leaving the house at five in the morning and getting home at around six. This means I’ll have to use the weekends to pick up all the other little jobs which might have come in during the week. Fingers crossed there won’t be too many and I’ll get time to see my kids, but it just depends on the volume of work.”

As well as accessing exclusive show deals and offers, visitors will also have the chance to meet football legend Chris Kamara on Friday 30 September. All visitors can also take on Screwfix’s football challenge, ‘Back of The Van’, for the chance to win instant prizes. Andrew Livingston, CEO of Screwfix, comments: “Every year we come back with a bigger and better show than the previous year - Screwfix LIVE 2016 will no doubt carry on this trend! This year, more than 135 leading trade brands have confirmed their attendance, showcasing everything from power and hand tools, to plumbing, electrical, workwear, landscaping and decorating products, plus much more. “Screwfix LIVE really does offer something for everyone, with the opportunity to take advantage of exclusive show deals, plus fun and games for all the family! So don’t miss your chance, save the date and come for a great day out.” To register to attend Screwfix LIVE, please go online to www.screwfixlive.com

How to Enter

Simply read the question below and then write your answer on the freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. So, for example, if you think the answer is ‘Wiltshire’, you should write 101 on the card. Only one entry allowed per person and the winner will be drawn from all correct entries received before the closing date of 30th September 2016.

Screwfix LIVE opens at Farnborough Exhibition Centre on 30 September. What county is Farnborough in? Wiltshire......101

Berkshire......102

Hampshire......103

Given the choice, what other job would you do? “If I got to choose I’d be the heir to a billionaire’s fortune – I wouldn’t mind being the new Duke of Westminster. Serious answer though, I think I’d be a builder of some kind. I like being on site and getting stuff done.” What do you like best about your work? “The best part of my job is probably the fact that I own my own business. I really enjoy the flexibility this give me and how the jobs I do can be arranged around my own availability.” What is the furthest you’d travel for work? “I don’t have a cut-off as such, but I wouldn’t go much further than two hours in terms of travel time for a job. We’re based in Herefordshire and I have some work in Surrey which is great but it can be a very long day with that journey if you are doing it several times a week.” How important is image to your business? “I think it’s very important to look smart when you go out to a job, as it can help you generate more business. The company can be recognised and people are more likely to recommend you. “We’ve got liveried vans too which promote the company but also help with the overall image of the business as seen by customers.”

How easy is it to eat healthily in your job? “Not as easy as you might think – especially if you are on the road a lot. This week my wife has been kind enough to make me lunch each day which really helps, and when I’m working locally I’ll try to have some breakfast at home. When I have further to travel I’m often in a rush so I tend to just grab something quick and that’s when the unhealthy snacks come into play.” What would you rather give up, alcohol or meat? “Neither! But if I really had to choose I’d pick meat. I’ve given up eating meat before but I don’t think I could do without a nice drink after a long week. My preference tends to be beer, wine and brandy.” Do you watch whatever is on television or prefer boxsets? “I love a boxset. At the moment my wife and I are enjoying Ray Donovan – I’d really recommend it. It stars Jon Voight and, in my opinion, is as good as The Sopranos, but I know that’s a bold statement.” When it comes to sports, do you watch or play? “I don’t get the time to do either really – my time is split either working or spending time with my family. “On paper I’m an Arsenal fan but since having my own children, football has had to take a backseat. I’m hoping that once my boy gets a little older he’ll be into football and I’ll pick it up again.” If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you take with you? “Based on my other answer I suppose it would have to be beer, wine and brandy! “No I think I’d need four really, as I’d take my lovely wife, my son and daughter and of course our dog, Chopper.” Lee Hatch was speaking to PHAM News after winning the Greenstar Gas-fired Boiler category at Worcester, Bosch Group’s E2020 Awards in July.

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September 2016

HEATING Controls 39

Connected technology at your fingertips Smart and connected heating controls are a new and fast growing section of the heating products market. However, it is important to understand the difference between the two and what they can achieve for homeowners. Anthony Chapman, Senior Category Manager for Plumbing at Graham Plumbers’ Merchant, looks at the options available.

eating controls have traditionally been seen as functional, necessary components of the heating system. However, the last three years have seen a rapid development of internet capable controls from not only traditional controls manufacturers, such as Drayton and Honeywell, but also heating system manufacturers like Worcester Bosch and Vokèra. These devices offer a range Anthony Chapman of benefits to homeowners, yet there is often a degree of confusion around what is a relatively new area of the market.

Smart or connected The terms ‘smart’ and ‘connected’ are often used interchangeably when it comes to this new generation of heating controls. The reality is that the two types of product have very different functions and capabilities and as such provide differing benefits to homeowners. Smart controls, such as the Nest thermostat, will learn and predict behaviour, helping to automatically calculate preferred temperatures and routines. The system learns the preferred temperatures simply by monitoring the homeowner’s adjustments to the thermostat. The device also tracks when these adjustments are made and builds a schedule from which it manages the heating. Over a relatively short space of time this allows the thermostat to begin anticipating the user’s needs. The ultimate aim of this is for the thermostat to control the heating without any intervention from the homeowner. Effectively, this represents the first step in a move towards a fully automated home. Connected heating controls operate in a slightly different way. These enable the heating and hot water to be controlled from anywhere via a tablet or smartphone, meaning both are always ready when the homeowner wakes up in the morning or arrives back to the property. The controls can also be fully programmed to adjust the heating according to the person’s routine. Thermostats with features such as Natural Language Programming allow this programming to be achieved easily by providing basic information such as times the user wakes up, leaves the house and returns home. Traditional heating controls often make it difficult for the user to get the temperature right, and thermostats are frequently adjusted to manage the temperature – the result of this is wasted energy. One of the key benefits of smart and connected controls is the ability to prevent the house from being heated unnecessarily, for example when it is unoccupied. Smart controls use sensors and even the location of the user’s mobile phone to assess when the house is empty and switch the heating off, reducing energy bills. These

thermostats that feature ‘geo-fencing’ capabilities can help improve efficiency by accurately predicting when the user will be home based on their location and heat the home accordingly. Geo-fencing avoids the lag time that is created when residents are at home outside of the predicted schedule. If the thermostat relies on occupancy sensors alone – the system has to catch up if the homeowner returns unexpectedly. Geo-fencing also helps to prevent unnecessary heating when the house is unoccupied for longer than normal. Devices that use weather forecasts to adjust heating requirements will also improve efficiency and occupant comfort by utilising natural warming and avoiding unnecessary heating on warmer days, thereby reducing the risk of overheating in homes in the summer months. Connected controls also enable users to establish zones within the home and set individual target temperatures for each area – meaning only the rooms that are being used are fully heated.

Where Next? The Internet of Things (IoT) and automated homes are concepts that are only going to become more widely explored and integrated into everyday life as the technology develops. Connecting traditionally standalone household devices together has huge potential benefits to improve homeowner comfort, convenience and even safety and security. For example, door locks connected to the smart control will activate automatically once the system detects the house is empty as well as switching the heating to the away profile. Furthermore, installing compatible smart lighting in the home can allow the system to switch the lights off when the house is empty to save energy. Also when the ‘holiday’ mode is activated the device can switch lights on automatically to deter intruders. Integrated smart lighting also has the potential to help improve safety, especially for those who are hearing impaired. By linking the lights to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors the system can provide visual as well as aural alarms to alert occupants. When carbon monoxide is detected the control can also shut down the boiler in case it is the source of the emissions. Finally, it is important to ensure that the options you present to customers offer flexibility. As such, it is advisable to check smart thermostats are IFTT (which stands for If This Then That). This means that you are selecting a product with an inexhaustible list of compatibility with third party products, which can allow for further automation in the future.

Advice to customers There is a range of factors that should be considered when helping customers to select the right heating control. Finding out what will be required from a device will help installers to advise them correctly. The immediate cost of devices is one of the biggest barriers to adoption. This may be due to the initial price of the controls compared with more conventional options, and the expense that comes with setting up multi-zone systems. In addition, each zone has to be fitted with sensors and wireless radiator controls, which means additional cost. The added level of complexity and cost makes smart and connected heating controls very much an upgrade proposition. However a significant advantage of advanced heating controls is the long-term energy and cost saving benefits. As such, educating customers about the possible savings and relatively short payback period on these smart and connected devices can help address these concerns. Forward compatibility is also an important issue for many, especially as the IoT continues to expand to incorporate more of the devices, appliances, and fixtures in our homes. Many appliance and hardware manufacturers are already working with designers of the smart systems to ensure the products will be compatible. In addition, the expansion of connected and automated devices provides heating installers with the opportunity to offer a related service and open up a new area for their business.

Ease of use There is a perception that these devices are difficult to use when in fact, once installed, smart systems just require the user to adjust the temperature to comfort and the device will gradually require less and less interaction from the homeowner. Similarly with connected devices, once the system (including any zones) has been set up, the system requires minimal work to manage on a day-to-day basis. For many potential customers it may be a simple lack of awareness of what smart and connected controls can offer. Informing customers about the potential benefits, especially when an outdated control is due for replacement, provides installers with an opportunity to offer a better service as well as up-sell to customers.

Find out more Our knowledgeable staff can offer advice on the full range of options available and are on hand to help you select the best option for a particular application. Visit your local branch or the website below to find out more. wwwgrahamplumbersmerchant.co.uk

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September 2016

40 HEATING Controls

Collaboration is the way forward As more installers look to take advantage of the growing market for smart controls and connected homes, will the future see more partnerships forming between heating engineers and electricians? asks Andy Mansfield, Marketing Communications Manager at Honeywell.

s the smart heating controls market gains traction, the industry is still adapting to the changes the new technology has brought. No one knows for certain where the market will take the heating industry in future, with the demand for smart heating controls – and now fully connected homes – on the up amongst homeowners. So, as installers up-skill and their roles evolve to become ‘smart installers’, will the future see more partnerships forming between heating engineers and electricians?

Smart thinking “I want a smart control”, has become a common request from householders, with engineers seeing a sharp upturn in consumer demand for next generation solutions. However, a subject which has sparked much debate is that of the smart installer and who this role falls to – the heating installer or the electrician? Is installing smart controls the job of the heating engineer alone? Or is it the electrician’s? Or both? With both elements needed in a smart heating control installation, will the future see the two come together and work in partnership? Without defining this as an industry, consumers will find themselves asking the same questions.

Wireless thermostats remove the need for additional wiring

Two-way TRV makes it easy A full range of valves and controls is available from Myson to c omplement t he c omp a ny ’s he at emitters. An example is the Myson ‘A’ rated TRV two-way thermostatic radiator valve, which employs t wo-way f low engineering, said to make it hassle free to install and offer better energy savings for the householder. Recent independent tests carried out by the University of Salford confirmed that fitting TRVs to an uncontrolled heating system can dramatically increase efficiency and offer savings of up to 40% on annual heating bills. As a major supplier and manufacturer of heat emitters, Myson provides a complete range of products for both domestic and commercial applications. www.myson.co.uk

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Consumers are looking to installers to provide the controls advice they need to get the best out of the latest technology

Smart heating controls have gained so much traction over the last 12 months that they are now a consumer-driven household appliance. Yet still, there are a large number of installers who favour fitting more traditional, wired heating controls, whether through fear of the unknown or uncertainty. There’s no doubt that installing smart controls requires a broader, new, set of skills, so will the role of the smart installer mean more working partnerships between electricians and installers or will it be a role they can carry out alone?

Connected training

The way to bring this all together is training. All good manufacturers offer on- and off-line, connected training courses for installers to learn how to use and install smart heating controls and become a Connected Specialist. Yes, there is an opportunity for collaboration and working partnerships between installers and electricians in the future, but there is also an opportunity for installers to own these skills themselves and become smart experts. It’s clear that the technology within the heating industry has come on leaps and bounds, and is continuing to move Installer views ahead at such a fast pace that installers, electricians and I recently had the chance to put the question to Honeywell merchants are having to catch up as it grows in demand. In Installer Network members, Alistair McLean, a professional reality, up-skilling and offering smart heating controls is no electrician from Lincolnshire, and mid-Wales based heating longer a choice, but a necessity, for any installer who wants engineer Richard Burrows. to grow and future-proof “When it comes to smart their business. Why? Because installations, you need a smart heating controls are higher level of skill than now accessible to all, their your average trade person cost and energy-efficiency to install smart controls in benefits and functionalities a heating system,” argues are far superior to their Alistair. “You need to really mechanical counterparts, understand the product and and because the future is what it does. connected. “The cross-over between The next step is fully an electrician and a heating connected homes, where engineer is a grey area, as heating, access and security technically I’m not allowed can all be controlled from a to open a boiler because central point, and with the I’m not a gas installer, recent launch of our evohome but technically a heating Electronic TRVs provide temperature and time control security system, the ability engineer can’t put electrical work in either. to create this for your customer has already arrived. “There’s also the network part of it. In quite a lot of the Inevitably, training requires some investment from an installations I do I often put a solid wifi network in to be installer, but when you weigh up the opportunities and seamless. There’s additional work you can get off the back reasons why you should up-skill against the potential of of the smart home installations, but it all relies on this missing out, it’s a no-brainer. Manufacturers have developed backbone of wireless connectivity.” online training portals so installers can choose to learn out Heating engineer Richard Burrows agrees that part of of hours, from the comfort of their homes, rather than losing the challenge lies in being able to bridge the skills gap valuable working hours. But either way, the investment is that might exist between the trades. worth it and is far outweighed by the benefits. “In a perfect scenario you would have an electromechanical Homeowners now actively search for savvy installers who engineer, skilled or competent in all technologies – so can advise on, specify and install smart heating controls, electrical, gas, oil,” he suggests. and manufacturers have created a direct pathway to them “It’s not easy because, with a smart heating control, it’s via ‘find a connected specialist’ functions on their websites not something that only controls the boiler, it is a device to drive business to them. This trend is only going to grow that matches up to a network, it’s internet connected and and those heating engineers who aren’t on board risk being it’s also a wireless control. Plus you’ve got a knowledge left behind. The future role of the installer is still being gap between heating engineers and electricians,” adds shaped as the connected market evolves, but one thing is Richard. certain – training and up-skilling will play a major part, “Not everyone will know how to install RF devices whichever path it takes. correctly and installers need to find a way of bringing it PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.honeywelluk.com/getconnected 117 all together and ensure the quality is there.”

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Smart move to create homes of the future When Salus launched its first internet enabled heating control in 2013, it was just the beginning of a trend towards whole house connectivity. Dean Jepson, European MD of Salus, explains how today’s smart heating controls are just the start of a whole new connected future.

hanks to heating controls, we’ve function even alerts when the homeowner long become accustomed to setting is a set distance from their home to remind our heating and hot water schedule them to fine tune their heating and hot water according to the weather forecast, the seasons requirements, if required. and our daily and weekly routines. Thanks must Just the beginning also go to the advent of the iPhone and the As smart as this may seem, smart heating The new iT500 master control unit and the iT500 app App store just seven years ago, as these helped controls are just the start of a new wave catapult heating controls into being truly smart of ‘smart homes’ and ‘connected devices’ controls by offering remote control technology Joined up thinking that will enable us to optimise our home to match our heating to our lifestyles. environment to suit our lifestyle and needs. Products in the Salus Smart Home range can operate We launched the first ever internet-enabled Indeed, the MTW Research report points to independently, as a group of same products or with other thermostat (or smart heating control) in 2013, almost 900 million IoT devices in use in the products in the range. For example, smart plugs can be and since then, the market has not looked back. UK in 2016. They show that the growth in set up as a group and connected to various lights in At the time, we predicted that smart controls connected devices is rising by 13% in 2016, the home. When connected to the entrance door sensor, were here to stay, and we were right. There’s Dean Jepson, MD at Salus reflecting a market that is outpacing the the lights can be set to switch on automatically once not a month goes by when manufacturers the entrance door is opened after a certain time in the overall heating market by a factor of four. aren’t expanding their range and providing an even greater evening. Likewise, door and window sensors can send Led by smart heating controls, smart homes and connected choice of smart controls for homeowners. alerts when they are opened. They can also connect to a devices are the next big thing. Market growth smart camera, enabling the user to view the property if But what exactly are smart an alert is raised and images will According to a new report from MTW Research on the UK homes and connected devices automatically be sent to smart heating market, sales of ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) and how are they relevant to the user’s smartphone. heating devices have grown by a staggering 3000% since you as installers? Quite simply, As these products 2010, with volumes set to rise by a further 40% in 2016. smart homes are homes in begin to gather pace, Findings from the research also suggest that 50% of which a series of devices and homeowners will consumers are likely to install smart heating products in appliances can be connected naturally turn to you their homes in the next five years, which highlights a market to work together to control as a heating specialist with massive growth potential in the near term. many aspects of the home for advice and Much of this growth is now driven by demand from including energy management, recommendations, homeowners following the dramatic shift in their security, lighting and so it’s important to expectations, as they now expect to be able to monitor and audio entertainment, even The Salus Smart Home range of connected products enables users to run aspects of their home simply from their smartphone. stay ahead of the manage their homes to maximise energy efficiency and lower sprinklers! There are different game. The upsell energy bills. Thanks to TV, radio and press advertising, they types of systems available, but a fully integrated system can opportunities will become endless. When smart controls are now fully aware of the benefits of remotely controlling combine all these functions into one single point of control. first hit the market, many dismissed them as being ‘quirky’ room temperatures and boiler activity. Home connectivity is no longer a novelty – it’s already the and nothing more than a faddy gadget. How wrong they And of course, to match this demand, smart heating norm for many households in America – and allows you to were. Smart controls are the stepping stone to a smart controls are getting even smarter. Take our new app for stay connected to your home from near or far. By integrating home system with multiple connected devices that will the best-selling iT500 smart control. As well as hot water energy management with other home control functions, provide a total home and lifestyle solution. Without doubt, scheduling with three on/off times, there’s also a hot water homeowners can improve conservation, convenience and the future is connected. boost for up to three hours, and easy-to-add heating schedules safety by simply touching the screen of their smartphone PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.salus-smarthome.com 118 based on all, five or two individual days. A new geo-location or tablet, no matter where they are.

For commercial settings

Easy way to reduce costs Users are promised a saving of up to £380 on their energy bills with the 5iE Wireless Smart Thermostat and MyHeating app from Warmup. With its location based feature SmartGeo, the 5iE will help to ensure the least possible energy is always being used, while maintaining a comfortable temperature in the home. Compatible with most types of central heating, the 5iE also features an ‘EasySwitch’ service which will automatically switch users to the best available tariff year after year.

Installation is described as quick and easy, with the boiler receiver simply connecting to the boiler and communicating wirelessly with the control unit. The 5iE can then be positioned anywhere within the home

using the stand supplied. The thermostat can be customised to suit any home, with a range of personalisation options, including custom background uploads. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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The AC EZ Touch is LG’s new controller for its commercial air conditioning and heating products. It offers smart management with a 5in colour LCD touch screen for small sites and provides group and individual control. The device can be scheduled weekly or yearly and has a total or partial individual controller lock. There’s also a power consumption monitor with PDI (power distribution integrator), an ‘emergency stop’ function, and total ‘on/ off’ control. The user can set two set points – cooling and heating – on each indoor unit

with an Auto Change Over setting for heat recovery only. Users can control each space efficiently through an IP network, but access via smartphones is not available with this unit. As with other

LG controllers, statistics of operational status – time and power consumption – are provided to help make intelligent system operation decisions. The alarm indicator operates when there are errors, or if it’s time to change the oil or filters. To find out more about LG’s new controller for commercial air conditioning and heating products, enter the number below on the reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Smarter radiator valves The wider use of smart radiator valves can play a big part in the fight against energy wastage. Steven Henry, MD of Chalmor, highlights the savings to be made in offices and other commercial environments.

iven the unpredictable nature of the British weather, there are many occasions when the temperature outside is unusual for the season. Most HVAC systems are perfectly capable of responding accordingly. The problem, however, is that in the time that the BMS takes to readjust for the outside temperature, the building occupants have already employed their own measures to make the room cooler or warmer, opening windows or plugging in heaters or fans. This is perfectly understandable. No-one wants to sit and freeze, or swelter in a hot, stuffy room. From an energy efficiency viewpoint, however, this time lag can be disastrous. A recent pilot project involving a government office building showed this clearly. Electronic thermostatic radiator valves were installed as part of a gas-fired heating and hot water system to quantify the extent to which they would reduce the financial overheads and improve

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the environmental performance of the site. Energy usage was carefully monitored, and after a 12 month period, the gas bill had been reduced by 8%. In addition, however, the building’s electricity bill had dropped by an unexpected 12%. The explanation? The more consistent temperature had resulted in fewer office workers plugging in electricity-guzzling temporary space heaters. Without any replacement or upgrading of the heating plant, the energy bills had been significantly reduced, simply because the spikes and drops in room temperature had been evened out. The faster response times of smart radiator valves help to achieve greater consistency of temperature, evening out the peaks and troughs that trigger building occupants to adopt their own local heating or cooling solutions. In addition, a boost button on our eTRV range provides room occupants with the opportunity to trigger one hour’s

heating manually if the room should feel chilly, providing a more efficient alternative to portable electric heaters which, once switched on, are frequently forgotten about and left on unnecessarily.

Pilot project The energy savings resulting from installation of smart radiator valves are impressive. In the example already mentioned, the pilot project delivered carbon savings of 29%. The building chosen for the project was a three storey office block with a Job Centre on the ground floor, which is generally operating 5 days/week. Chalmor eTRV+ electronic thermostatic radiator valves including PAIR (Passive Active Infra-Red) were installed in offices, meeting rooms and customer facing areas. Corridors were set to 18°C, offices to 21°C, with a one hour boost facility to 23°C. The PAIRs provide occupancy based control in offices and meeting rooms, with a setback to

16°C when not in use, rising to 21°C when occupied. After tracking energy usage, the reduction in gas use was broadly in line with expectations, but the 12% drop in electricity consumption was an unexpected bonus. With electricity costing up to four times as much as gas, the financial payback period for the project was calculated at just over 2.5 years.

Window sensing Another important factor to note is that the latest generation of smart radiator valves incorporate Open Window Sensing technology. The Open Window sensor ensures that if someone opens a window, the sudden drop in room temperature is detected by the smart radiator valve. The valve reduces the radiator temperature, preventing heat being supplied to the room unnecessarily. Reduction of temperature at radiator level signals to the central plant that supply to the space needs

to be reduced. Where the central plant room has variable speed capability, this reduces loading on energy consuming equipment such as pumps, boilers, chillers and air handling units. A key benefit of approaching the problem from the ‘radiator end’ is that it avoids expensive and complex customisation of the BMS. In addition, this is a retrofittable ‘fix’ which can be rolled out incrementally if required. In conclusion, if there is a need to even out the spikes and troughs in local room temperature, or if energy bills could be cut by cracking down on unnecessary heating of empty spaces, then smart radiator valves are a simple, retrofittable solution. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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September 2016

46 HEATING Controls

The easiest way to achieve extra energy savings Good use of heating controls can both improve user comfort levels and help customers to reduce their energy bills. Neil Ewings, MD of ESi Controls, highlights the wide range of options available – controls designed to meet the needs of different users and multiple applications.

ffective heating controls are a vital part of any efficient heating system. 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 your customer’s home cosy and cut their energy bills which is, at the end of the day, what they will want most from their investment. Whilst most modern boilers feature in-built controls that look after the level and flow of heating and hot water, the range of heating controls that can be used around the home has grown to allow users to be in far more control on a dayto-day basis than was the case just a few years ago.

Customer trials 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 based on the needs of the customers who will be using them. In a recent survey of housing association direct labour organisations and contractors, the majority of call outs to heating system failures were as a result of the often elderly tenant being unable to master the controls and, more often than not, there was nothing wrong with the heating system itself! It is therefore vital that any domestic

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programming options, with up to six time and temperature events being available each day. They offer a large, easy to read display and, because they are available in wireless versions, can also be installed anywhere in the home. For people who prefer a control dial to push button controls, the ESi Electronic Room Thermostats offer a simple solution. Available with or without an LCD display, the homeowner simply has to turn the dial to the desired temperature. Again either hard wired or wireless options are available. The ESi S-Plan pack provides independent time and temperature control

heating control is easy to use and understand and at ESi we have undertaken considerable research and customer trials to ensure that this is the case. We offer a range of programmers from a simple 1 channel version to a 3 channel multi-purpose programmer which enables installers to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations by providing separate timed heating control for living and sleeping zones in a home, whilst also providing timed control of hot water. All our programmers offer 24 hour 5/2 day and 7 day programming options for each channel and also feature a ‘landlord’ option to encourage social housing and private tenants to allow access for annual maintenance – often a real challenge for landlords.

Despite the introduction of smart systems, there’s usually only one room thermostat per heating system in most UK homes. It controls the temperature of the whole house based on the temperature of the room it’s in, so it is best located in the living room or the warmest room in the house.

Round the clock A programmable room thermostat simply lets the homeowner choose what times they want the heating to be on and what temperature it should reach while it’s on. A sevenday timer makes it possible to set a different heating pattern for each day, while 5/2 programming offers different options for weekdays and weekends. Our ESRTP4 model provides 7 day, 5/2 day or 24-hour

Cylinder stat For heating systems that have a cylinder for storing hot water, a cylinder thermostat works by sensing the temperature of the water inside the cylinder and switching the heat supply on or off accordingly, but our new electronic dual Cylinder Thermostat takes this technology a step further. It offers real safety and energy saving benefits and provides accurate temperature control with a clear and informative LCD display. Hot water can be stored at any temperature between 25 and 65°C, but our new thermostat has the added advantage of a weekly automatic one hour ‘boost’ that can be set at a time that is best for the homeowner. This ‘boost’ lifts the temperature of the water in the cylinder to above 60°C to eradicate any risk of legionella bacteria and also results in substantial energy

The ESRTP4RF is a 7 day wireless programmable room thermostat

saving compared to systems that store the hot water at a constant 60°C. The weekly ‘boost’ can also be disabled or adjusted, depending on the requirements of the homeowner and the installation. Most homes in the UK still tend to have a single heating zone – and the only control in the rooms is by thermostatic radiator valves. When a new central heating system is installed, it’s possible to fit a full zone control that has different pipe loops and separate thermostats for two or more areas. This can save significant amounts of fuel in larger houses. At ESi we offer a range of zone valves which are a direct replacement for existing valves if they fail. These are very quiet in operation and have minimum power usage. They are easy fit components, with a simple clip on/off detachable actuator head and an option of a ‘plug and play’ cable. Easy to use heating controls at a competitive price represent an attractive proposition for both installers and their customers. For further details of our complete range, please visit the website below. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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UFH systems are under control Thanks to the latest advances in smart controls technology, homeowners are able to benefit from underfloor heating that is both more responsive and more economical to run. Andy Coy, Product Manager at Polypipe, explains why UFH installers should make the most of opportunities.

offering to ensure homeowners can completely personalise smart systems can also be replicated at the touch of a et’s not beat around the bush, Britain their home heating in order to create a perfect environment. panel by users in the home. has been a radiator As with other forms of smart control, modern underfloor With modern underf loor heating systems offering belt for years. It’s not been heating controls allow for basics like ‘on/off’ functionality homeowners the opportunity to free their walls of difficult to see why, as myth when users are outside of the home. Some other systems radiators and enjoy more f lexibility in room design has turned into popular may even allow users to set heating to a desired temperature. and layout, it makes perfect sense that thermostats opinion that alternative For radiator heated homes, however, this generally means and controls match this desire for improved aesthetics. forms of domestic heating, setting every room in the house to the same temperature – In the interests of full disclosure, it’s worth being like underfloor, aren’t up to so heating a living room from your commute in the winter honest and noting that this is an area that system the job. may mean a bedroom or kitchen that is too manufacturers have perhaps overlooked in It’s easy to see why these warm to be comfortable. the past. Thankfully, there’s an increasing opinions take hold. Electric awareness of the answers that installers Remote control based underfloor heating, need to deliver to customers in order to Homes with underfloor heating don’t have a big hit in the 1970s, was enjoy the higher margin opportunities that this issue, as the nature of these systems difficult to control and didn’t Andy Coy, Product Manager underfloor heating offers over radiators. mean that each room can be controlled offer the same potential for at Polypipe After all, if you’re helping a customer to individually, even from remote locations. heating a full room in the build a dream home that looks beautiful, way that radiators do, often acting as glorified floor As well as the obvious comfort to be you don’t want to potentially ruin this by warmers. They also weren’t particularly efficient, with gained from this, the level of control and installing something unattractive that’s many homeowners hit with sizeable energy bills for customisation means that homeowners also visible to everyone that uses the room. systems that weren’t particularly effective. For heating have the ability to control their domestic The latest digital thermostats Better looking engineers, it simply wasn’t worth the fuss of dealing with energy use like never before – providing two are more aesthetically pleasing For years at Polypipe we’ve been driven to these problems when installing a radiator system didn’t compelling sales angles that are difficult make systems that function better and provide ultimate require anything like the same level of problem solving for those selling radiator systems to replicate. Even with this level of customisation and control, installers comfort for homeowners, arming engineers that install (or salesmanship). So why is it that our cousins in continental Europe are and engineers may face some probing around the speed our systems with a host of features and benefits that prove ditching radiators in favour of water-based underfloor with which underfloor systems heat up – a long-standing our systems are more effective than radiators. We also heating systems? The answer, quite simply, is that criticism. It stands to reason that underfloor systems would now boast a host of beautiful thermostats and in-house take longer to heat up than a radiator, controls that are much more aesthetically pleasing than technology and understanding of the the relative size difference of a radiator their predecessors. principles of underfloor heating have versus an entire floor space means there These new systems are completely compatible with web both come on leaps and bounds. From is only one winner. This problem is apps, giving customers smart living technology and all of its lower operating temperatures – offering negated by smart systems that offer inherent benefits, along with a host of colour options that energy and cost savings – more even spread of heat and no cold spots, there ‘Optimum Start’ technology, through allow controls to blend in to their surroundings in a natural are plenty of reasons for your customers which underfloor heating systems learn way. Additionally, customers are expecting features like to go radiator free. That said, one of the how long it takes a system to reach touchscreen technology and systems that can be protected most compelling arguments for doing desired temperatures by learning from using similar pin number technology to their smartphones so is system control which, ironically, previously logged data. This allows the – all of which we can now comfortably offer. used to be underfloor heating’s Achilles Polypipe’s UFH Smart Plus Control user to set a ‘warm by’ rather than an For a while now underfloor heating suppliers have been heel. ‘on’ time and allow the system to do the able to win the argument on system performance, comfort One way that underfloor heating manufacturers have rest. This logged data can also be used to review system and control – we now also have the chance to stand shoulder been able to maximise control potential is through the operation and performance, giving customers control that to shoulder with any domestic smart product, keeping the adoption of smart technology. We’ve all seen smart controls has never previously been possible. offering at the cutting edge of consumer technology. Armed for home energy systems, something energy providers and It’s not just out of the home where underfloor controls with this, what’s stopping engineers from adding another tech companies have invested heavily in promoting. Leading have come on leaps and bounds in recent years. In-home string to their bow and empowering their customers to underfloor heating system manufacturers have not only thermostats also offer greater ease of use and functionality choose underfloor heating? kept pace with this change, offering internet connected than ever before. As one might expect, all of the individual PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. control systems for some time, but have developed their room control offered by apps and other means of controlling www.polypipeufh.com 123

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Retroﬁt project cuts heating bill What difference can controls make to a large building’s use of heat? Mike Lord, CEO of LightwaveRF, reveals the results of a recent study at the University of Warwick that shows how use of smart technology can make a significant difference to energy costs.

he conclusions of a £500,000 government-backed project have shown that using smart technology to control commercial heating can cut energy bills by a fifth. The results are based upon an official two year trial that utilised smart control products provided by LightwaveRF. Lightwave was selected to participate in the study in collaboration with the University of Warwick to prove that significant energy savings could be made by retrofitting existing buildings with simple and affordable web controllable technology. A large campus building comprising more than 200 rooms at the University was chosen to be retrofitted with Lightwave modules for the trial. The building was controlled by an inflexible BMS that set the heating the same in every room. If only one was occupied, over half of the building would have to be heated, meaning

every radiator. The valves could be controlled remotely via an app by occupants and maintenance staff.

In control

Mike Lord, CEO, LightwaveRF

rooms were constantly heated despite being unoccupied. Open windows also contributed to the energy wastage. LightwaveRF radiator valves were hand fitted without special tools to

The aim was to be able to control any room without affecting others, and implement flexible, automatic schedules from anywhere. In every office, movement sensors that automatically turned down the radiator if the room was left empty for an extended period were installed. Window triggers also turned down the temperature automatically if windows were left open. Administrators could receive alerts via the web app or email if windows were open or rooms; left empty for long periods; of abnormal temperatures; and of maintenance issues such as low batteries. Some of the more salient findings include: rŇŇ 4BWJOHT DBO CF BDIJFWFE XJUIJO days of installation without complex or time consuming works

r 6TJOH PDDVQBODZ TFOTJOH to detect empty rooms and automatically turn down the radiator produced a savings of 19.3%. r "VUPNBUJDBMMZ UVSOJOH EPXO radiator temperatures when windows were left open produced even greater savings of up to 46%. r 5IF BCTFODF PG TQFDJBMJTU TLJMMT allows use by in-house staff and brings great benefits regarding room access and ongoing maintenance support. The average annual carbon emissions associated with heating the building was 357 tonnes and the cost of heating was £44,563. From the results gained after analysing the performance of the LightwaveRF system, it was calculated that an average energy saving of 20% across the building could be expected. This equates to an annual saving of £8900.

More savings The study represents an early adoption of the technology. With

ongoing improvements, refinements and optimisation, we believe that even better savings can now be achieved and results are eagerly awaited. A more detailed thermal modelling analysis predicted that savings of between 42% and 46% could be achieved in rooms where windows were frequently left open (as the system would automatically switch off the heating). One of the other benefits of the system was that the detailed heating data provided insights into room energy efficiency performance. Offices that were under- or overheated, badly insulated rooms and those with defective windows could be identified and investigated. Pre-report market analysis revealed 3.8million buildings of UK universities, colleges, schools and other public or government owned amenities could benefit from a smart solution. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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lightwaverf.com

Intelligent controls made easy Meet the new Danfoss TPOne™ programmable room thermostat. Packed with practical and easy-to-use innovations, TPOne has been designed to suit almost any domestic heating control application. Easy to install and beautifully simple to live with, TPOne elegantly combines all the functionality of our existing TP models into one stylish unit. Dedicated user buttons allow the user to quickly change the preset schedule to either save energy or deliver comfort should their needs change at short notice.

One feature packed model offers ultimate flexibility in heating control covering every lifestyle

Call us on 01234 364621 for further information or visit www.tpone.danfoss.com

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Install directly from your smartphone Getting in touch with the boiler The combination of the DEVIreg Smart thermostat and the accompanying app lets customers control their underfloor heating from anywhere in the world while letting installers complete a fast and trouble-free installation directly from their smartphone. DEVIreg Smart is compatible with almost all electrical floor heating frames and sensors currently on the market, enabling easy integration into existing systems. Building on the technology

of its predecessor, DEVIreg Touch, the Smart version offers a wide range of

intelligent features including frost protection, away/ vacation settings, economy

mode and weekly schedule. The app lets installers complete the entire installation process using their smartphone, without having to connect to the customer’s wifi. The multi-frame compatibility makes it especially easy to upgrade underfloor heating installations with a DEVIreg Touch. Heating settings can be copied into the new Smart simply by generating a code from the existing Touch. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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How to ensure comfort of parents The miGenie internet connected heating control packs are being offered by Drayton as a solution for customers who worry about their elderly parents keeping warm and safe. This smart heating control allows the customer to remotely monitor and control the temperature in a property via an app on a smartphone or tablet, offering peace of mind that the parent is comfortably warm. Products in the miGenie range are pre-bound and have an industry standard backplate, making them an easy

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retrofit option, as they can be installed in ten minutes. Simon May, Product Manager at Drayton Controls, explains: “We’re finding many people with elderly parents are

concerned about their wellbeing at home – they want to make sure that their property is at the right temperature, but this can be difficult if they do not live nearby. “By installing smart controls, the adult children can take control of the parents’ heating – making sure they are not wasting energy by having the temperature set too high, or getting cold from not having it set at a comfortable temperature or accidentally turning it off.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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With the launch of the Intouch system, Intergas says installers can now monitor the performance of every ECO RF boiler they’ve ever installed. They can also change parameter settings and receive real-time updates on possible faults. By using this information, installers can advise their customers on maintenance issues, provide updates on boiler performance and introduce new products or upgrades. Installers will need to install the Intouch system to a customer’s Intergas ECO RF and download the free app. The customer also has a free Intouch app to manage the central heating controls remotely. The Intergas ECO RF boiler with remote management software already enables the boiler to communicate directly with the installer or maintenance contractor. Now, with the Intouch phone app, all the information an

installer needs will be in their hands. Homeowners using the Intouch app can turn their smartphone into a smart thermostat. And, as long as they have an internet connection to their property and on their phone, they can control every aspect of their central heating when they’re not at home. Intouch provides not only the convenience of fingertip control, it can boost the efficiency of the ECO RF boiler. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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HEATING Controls 51 Wave hello to self Works with both electric and wet UFH learning software Providing control of both hydronic and electric underfloor heating systems is the Gaialink from Gaia. It is based on a centrally-placed colour touch screen panel which enables all room temperatures and electrical devices within the home to be easily controlled individually or together. The system is aimed at multiple heating zone installations and is designed to deliver maximum heating comfort while reducing energy consumption. Simple and easy to install and commission, Gaialink communicates wirelessly with individual room sensors and floor thermostats to give precise temperature control. Gaia’s ‘hidden’ room sensor is designed especially for use with the Gaialink unit. The sensor provides an accurate measurement of the indoor temperature and is mounted flush to the wall so it can be painted over to match the wall colour, making it almost invisible. www.gaia.co.uk

The Wave smart internetconnected controller from Worcester has been enhanced to feature new self-learning technology. It takes user habits into account and acts accordingly for greater comfort and efficiency. The update will be accessible through a free and easy-touse app. Compatible with a wide range of Worcester’s Greenstar gas boilers, the Wave boasts load and weather compensation to

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maximise efficiency. This monitors room temperature and local weather conditions and only fires the boiler at the necessary level to maintain peak efficiency. The Wave also offers a 4% uplift in efficiency in line with the Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive, ultimately achieving ‘A+’ efficiency when combined with Worcester’s Greenstar i, Si or CDi Compact combi boilers. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Keeping track of heat pumps The Aquarea H Series heat pumps from Panasonic can now be controlled by a new internetconnected sy stem. The Aquarea Smart Cloud enables users to manage and monitor their heating and hot water with an interface that can be accessed via any web-enabled device. An easy-to-use interface enables installers to control a number of functions of the Aquarea H Generation heat pump. End users can adjust the temperature in two different zones and view the current room temperature in that zone, so preventing unnecessary heating when a zone is unoccupied. Additionally, it is possible to change the temperature of the hot water supplied by the Aquarea system. Users can set holiday timers, weekly timers with different instructions for the separate zones and hot water, and check the system for faults. The interface can also provide a detailed breakdown of the system’s energy consumption on a daily, weekly, monthly or even annual basis. This can help users to reduce energy usage by identifying times when the system does not need to be operating and reducing its activity. Panasonic says it will continue to add new services to the Aquarea Smart Cloud, focused on adding additional functionality to aid with maintenance. www.panasonic.com/uk

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Property services Trench heating company’s pick R e d l a nd P r op e r t y Services is relying on Firebird to supply its most energy efficient domestic oil fired boilers for its customers. The Enviromax Supreme is the first Blue Flame oil fired condensing boiler for the domestic heating market in the UK. Blue Flame technology has soot free combustion which will in turn reduce the consumption of heating oil. Established in 2006 and covering Wiltshire, Berkshire and Hampshire, Redland Property Services are specialists in domestic oil fired installations. Commenting on the Firebird Enviromax Blue Supreme range, James Mead, Proprietor, says: “We have a great relationship with Firebird Heating Systems and the level of technical and customer support provided is second to none. We are seeing our customers becoming increasing proactive in seeking the most efficient technologies available, and this is where the Firebird Enviromax Blue Supreme range is just brilliant.” ﬁrebird.uk.com

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Trench heating systems from Dunham-Bush have been specified for use within the Technical Centre of the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, an engineering, research and manufact ur ing facilit y. Russell Entwistle, Associate Mechanical Engineer with M&E Consultants, WYG, says: “Dunham-Bush HTA trench heaters were specified both for their aesthetic qualities and their high energy performance. The intention was to run continuously around the perimeter of

the office space, offsetting the heat losses and down draughts from the glazed facade. “The HTA units offered a continuous grille solution, including corner arrangements, which resulted in a high quality finish that integrated well within the raised floor system.” The heating demands of the space have been met by a low energy solution with heat provided by means of natural convection. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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All the mod cons Saniflo has supplied equipment to The English Shepherd Hut Comany, a Norfolk-based manufacturer of rustic shepherd huts. The company specified the Sanicompact WC with integrated macerator from Saniflo for the Poacher’s Hut model, which features all the mod cons, including bathrooms. The Sanicompact has an automatic push-button flush connected directly to a water supply and needs no cistern. For the Aquarius model, Saniflo supplied its Saniwall, allowing for modern, wall hung sanitaryware to be specified. The Saniwall is a built-in frame system with an integrated dual flush cistern and macerator pump. With two extra side inlets, it can take waste from a wash basin and shower as well as the WC. Craig Nield, owner of the company, says: “Saniflo products have enabled us to develop huts that do away with the need for chemical loos. Customers are happy to pay a bit extra for nice, clean-smelling bathroom facilities.” www.saniﬂo.co.uk

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PRODUCTS in Action 53 UFH flies high at former RAF facility Gaia’s low-temperature, wet underfloor heating has been installed as part of a project to turn a historic building into Cambridge’s newest office space. Commercial property developer and investor, Mantle, has converted the former RAF Duxford Officers’ Mess into modern office accommodation. Within the original Grade II structure, traditional wallmounted radiators have been retained, in keeping with the listed status.

The substantial new-build section was designed with underfloor heating instead

of radiators. The new build element comprises an enclosed central courtyard

with a café and a meeting space. “It was really a given that we’d use underfloor heating here because it was important to maximise usable space,” explains Simon Redman, Partner at Cambridge-based Cowper Griffith Architects. “It was also important that the new structure provided a modern contrast to the historic part of the building.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Cost effective alarm system Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) has begun a programme to replace its smoke alarms with Aico’s new 160e Series of alarms. The alarms will be fitted into all 15,000 properties over five years. As a long standing Aico customer, PCH has installed Aico’s mains powered smoke and, more recently, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to protect tenants over many years. The existing optical smoke and heat alarms are reaching the end of their lives and will be replaced with Aico’s new premium range, the 160e Series. These mains powered alarms come with 10 year rechargeable lithium cells to provide back-up in the event of a mains failure. For Plymouth Community Homes, the inclusion of AudioLINK technology has proven cost effective, as Roger Hewitt, Electrical and Asbestos Manager, explains: “Normally if the CO alarm was activated we would have to send in a team to investigate it, but with AudioLINK a single person can interrogate the device, identify the cause of the alarm and what action needs to be taken. It’s a really useful time saving device.”

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Fans of the heating Liverpool City Council has selected Smith’s Caspian Universal fan convectors as part of the redevelopment of a former Victorian era school building. The new facility now offers a total of ten conference rooms used for professionally managed events. The old heating system struggled to bring the large, old rooms up to temperature, so it was important to specify a system that would be able to successfully do this during opening hours while not incurring additional costs when the premises are closed for business. The Council decided that Smith’s Caspian Universal fan convectors would be the best product for the job. A total of 23 Caspians were installed throughout the building and the Council was able to site the fan convectors in positions that worked best for each location. This made the installation of the products quick and easy, and ensured that they looked good in the locations that were chosen. www.SmithsEP.co.uk

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Heating upgrade Cutting the repair burden in Welsh ofﬁce Equipment from Rinnai has been specified to provide a new heating and hot water solution to offices in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. CST Renewables, based in Bridgend, had been called to assess the best energy efficient replacement for a failing forced draught, flued modular boiler set-up in the large office building. The old system was low efficiency and costing the client, a property leasing company, a substantial amount in repair bills annually. Mark Hillier-Rees of CST says: “It was obvious the site needed to move on to something more energy efficient. We removed the old boiler and replaced it with two new Rinnai boilers on a cascade system. The redundant flue was removed and we

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Irwell Valley Housing Association has taken a proactive approach to boiler care and heating system protection in all of its 7000 homes, using Sentinel SystemCare to help meet its ambitious goals of zero unnecessary repairs and zero customer dissatisfaction. The housing association deploys a treatment plan using Sentinel’s cleaning chemicals, inhibitor, and Eliminator Nano filter. As a

result, avoidable boiler and heating system repairs have been eliminated, keeping heating maintenance costs at a minimum and ensuring that its homes provide efficient heating and hot water to 17,000 residents. C ompr i s i ng S ent i ne l X800 Cleaner, Sentinel X100 Inhibitor and the Sentinel Eliminator Nano Filter, Irwell Valley’s SystemCare Pack is tailored to suit the housing association’s requirements.

When used as part of a best practice water treatment approach of ‘clean, protect and maintain’, these products help to ensure the reliable and efficient longterm operation of boilers and heating system components by preventing corrosion and limescale, along with associated problems. As a result, maintenance, repair and associated labour costs have been reduced significantly.

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UFH helps with open plan living put in place the Rinnai coaxial flue. “This new Rinnai system is highly efficient, and due to its lack of moving parts and easy maintenance has very low annual service costs.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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A Myson Floortec underfloor heating system has been installed in a spacious bungalow using Myson Microboard, as part of an extensive renovation project. After removing the top layer of concrete on the floors to remove the old heating system, the owners decided to retrofit the Floortec UFH to achieve the open plan interior they wanted.

“My plumber recommended Myson as a quality brand and I found out that Microboard

was especially designed for retrofit projects, so installing an underfloor heating system

was an obvious choice,” explains Stuart Chater, the property owner. “The system was extremely straightforward to install and has provided an excellent level of comfort – we have just added an extension to the property and will install UFH using Myson Microboard in this space too.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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COLUMN RADIATORS Simple, elegant and effective heating Ultraheat’s attractive column radiator range is the last word in versatility, coming in two, three, and four-column models, in both horizontal and vertical formats. All models are available in heights of 400, 500, 600, 900, 1200, 1800 and 2000mm – the largest ‘in-stock’ range of column radiators in the UK, offering elegant beauty, precision engineering with a generous heat output and next-day delivery. To order, or to get your copy of the latest catalogue, call 01908 271155, email us at info@pitacs.com or visit www.ultraheat.co.uk

2 COLUMN

3 COLUMN

4 COLUMN

KLON HORIZONTAL

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TILBROOK

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Still the homeowner’s ﬁrst choice Alternatives are available, but radiators remain the UK’s first choice of heat emitter. Isaac Occhipinti, Head of External Affairs at the Manufacturers Association of Radiators and Convectors, looks at the current market and discusses why radiators are still number one.

espite the ups and downs of the wider market, sales of domestic radiators remain stable. As housebuilders and developers look for ways of delivering ever more energy efficient homes, the domestic radiator is delivering. Steel panel radiators still represent 90% of the overall market and have done for the last five years (when our records began). Interestingly, monthly sales of decorative radiators Isaac Occhipinti from MARC have doubled since 2012. Ten years ago, a suggestion that a radiator could become a focal point of envious décor in a home or a commercial property would have been met with some disbelief. Today with the variety of designs available, the humble radiator is causing a stir. Historically, the majority of radiators were plain panels in white. ‘Designer’ radiators have been around for a long time, but initially these were targeted at bathrooms and sometimes kitchens, and were designed as visually attractive towel rails rather than as fully functional, effective heating appliances that you would install throughout a home. Things have come a long way since then. Radiators have undergone something of a renaissance in the last decade or so. In line with people’s aspirations to create beautiful and unique homes that match their taste and lifestyle, the radiator has not been forgotten. Indeed, options in material, colour and design have meant it has become something of a work of art in itself. Now we have an array of designer radiators available that can be used anywhere in the home, and the options for colour are never-ending.

Eco conscious Modern technology in the heating industry is also playing a major role in the way we heat our homes now and in the future. It has never been more important to invest in efficient heating and with government incentive schemes and the need to reduce our carbon emissions, ambitions for greener energy are becoming a reality. Are renewables the answer to the UK’s carbon reduction targets? No one can say for sure, but the general consensus

is that demand for alternative sources of heat and power heating water for both. The latest SAP 2012 document is on the rise. has specific criteria for energy efficient low temperature Radiators have had to adapt to these growing demands. heat generators and states that radiators are as efficient as As a result, standards have continued to rise with regards to other heat emission systems, such as underfloor heating. energy output, with manufacturers developing innovative Up to date new products to address the demand for renewable energy from homeowners, and developers who have realised the Radiators today are not only compatible with current benefits of investing in modern heating systems – benefits building methods and skill sets – they are flexible and that can only be achieved if the right supporting products reactive, responding to the real time temperature needs are used. A heating system can become redundant if it is and reacting to secondary heat gains. In reality, nobody has found anything better than the working with ageing or insufficient technology. The key point of difference between alternative heat source radiator. While other types of heating system have emerged as popular options, the steel choices and traditional panel radiator can and does gas boilers is that the “Radiators have been overlooked as an compete on all levels and is system temperature is important factor in carbon reduction” still very much the number often set at much lower one choice. temperatures. This can Members of MARC have all recognised their role in the have significant impact on the suitability and performance of a heating system if the right supporting products are challenge to reduce carbon emissions and deliver low carbon heat, bringing to market high performing efficient radiators not used. that meet both the needs of the planet and the needs Less water of homeowners. This is represented by the continuing Historically there has been a misconception that radiators stability of radiator sales. are less energy efficient than some other heat emitters The Government on the other hand has so far failed to when used with low water temperature systems. In fact recognise the important role they play in the decarbonisation modern high performance steel panel radiators work well of UK homes. Radiators have been absent from every energy with low water temperatures, making them an ideal choice efficiency incentive scheme to date, and overlooked as an important factor in domestic carbon reduction. This has for eco-conscious developers and homeowners. A property with a high efficiency heat source, panel resulted in millions of homes with old inefficient radiators, radiators and water at 40°C - 50°C uses less energy and often suffering from a bad case of corrosion and sludge build-up. will quickly achieve a room temperature of 20°C. As said, the benefits of energy efficient or renewable Modern panel radiators need only small volumes of warm water to operate efficiently and so work well with all heat heating systems can only be realised if the whole system is sources. They start performing as soon as the water is in efficient. If the UK is to meet its carbon reduction targets, the system, and therefore the panel becomes warmer than the Government must take an all-encompassing approach the surrounding space. Low water temperature heating to energy efficiency – including the whole heating system systems using modern panel radiators are one of the most in incentive schemes, and considering what measures a efficient ways of using heating energy to deliver warmth. homeowner is most likely to carry out is just the start. Radiators for low temperature systems are physically and technically the same as traditional panel radiators, but, About MARC the same size of radiator will not produce the same heat The Manufacturers’ Association of Radiators and output with a low temperature system as it will with a high Convectors is a member organisation established to give temperature system. To achieve this you will generally a collective voice to the radiator and convector industry, need to fit radiators that have larger surface areas. focusing on the specific needs of, and issues faced by, Innovative developments in radiator design pack more manufacturers. MARC is a division of the Energy and surface area in a smaller wall space than ever before. The Utilities Alliance (EUA). For further information, please modern day radiator can also work effectively alongside visit: www.marcuk.com underfloor heating, and it is possible to use the same

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Lightweight heavy hitters Radiators are manufactured in a wide range of materials, with aluminium showing significant market growth. Here, Chris Gotts, UK & Ireland Retail Manager at MHS Radiators, explains how the design and efficiency credentials of aluminium radiators have contributed to their growing popularity in the UK.

ith manufacturers constantly striving to create more energy efficient products, we have seen central heating systems being developed to operate at lower water temperatures, with the introduction of technologies such as heat pumps, not to mention condensing boilers. As a result, a system’s heat emitters – including radiators – need to be capable of running equally as efficiently from these low Chris Gotts, MHS Radiators water temperatures. After all, today’s economically and environmentally savvy homeowners are always on the lookout for heating products that will help lower their fuel bills. While steel panel radiators are advancing so that some models are able to operate at low water temperatures, there is actually another option available. Boasting significantly lower water content than their steel panel counterparts, aluminium radiators are already established as the products of choice for heating engineers all over Southern Europe – and now they are readily available in the UK market. Aluminium is the most abundant metal on the planet, so it comes as no surprise it has been embraced by radiator manufacturers across the globe. But what are the reasons behind this material’s evolution from being used for the humble drinks cans to becoming an essential heating system component? First of all, there are the material’s lightweight properties, which make aluminium radiators easier to lift and install when compared to traditional steel models. Aluminium radiators, such as the Italian-designed Decoral

The Decoral Electric (left), Decoral 97 (middle) and Decoral Vertical radiators are lightweight and beneﬁt from low water content

from MHS, can be lifted by just one person, as opposed to the two required for a steel panel variant. Plus, aluminium radiators are suitable for fitting to stud walls or walls which aren’t thick enough for deep anchoring, without any cause for concern regarding fixing weight loads.

shapes, which exude style while providing exceptional levels of quality heat. This provides homeowners with a choice of functional radiators still capable of making an impressive design statement. Indeed, there are a number of aluminium designer radiators out there suitable for a wide range of applications Weighty issues and interiors, such as MHS’s very own Alu-Zen, Beams and But why exactly are aluminium radiators so lightweight? Bryce+ models. Each of these combines exquisite aesthetics Well, one of the key reasons is their low water content. with high levels of heating performance – and are even Indeed, using a 600 x 800mm single steel panel, single fin available with towel hanging options. Plus, aluminium radiator with the same output as a comparison, our research radiators have added environmental kudos thanks to their shows an aluminium radiator contains 2.16 litres of water capacity to be infinitely recycled (as reprocessing doesn’t compared to the steel model’s 4.1 litres – that’s nearly a damage the material’s structure). 50% difference! This ensures the aluminium radiator is For properties where condensing boilers or heat pumps over 10kg lighter in weight, at 8.9kg compared to the 19.7kg have been fitted, emitting heat efficiently is going to be aforementioned steel equivalent. paramount. Some may argue that underfloor heating (UFH) Low water content coupled with the low thermal inertia is sometimes viewed as the heat emitter best combined with of an aluminium radiator also sees it heat up approximately renewables or low water temperatures, yet aluminium’s three times faster than low thermal inertia still an ordinary steel model. ensures it heats up and “Aluminium’s versatility allows it to be dieThese excellent thermal cools down faster than cast or extruded into distinctive shapes” capabilities also enable UFH. Plus, bear in mind aluminium radiators to cool the process of retrofitting down quickly, ensuring rapid response times no matter UFH can prove prohibitive, due to the amount of disruption what the user requires. This means aluminium radiators and costs involved, which usually restricts such a system don’t have to be switched on for long before having an solely to new build projects. When it comes to refurbishments using heat pumps, effect on a room’s temperature, plus the quick cool down time reduces the amount of latent heat left behind, thereby installers should turn to aluminium radiators as the emitters of choice. As most properties will already be heated by offering greater levels of flexibility and comfort. From a longevity perspective, aluminium is also inherently radiators, ensuring that correctly sized and highly efficient resistant to corrosion, meaning the radiators retain their versions are fitted is the most sensible, as well as the most quality for many years and can even be fitted in damp cost effective and least disruptive approach. environments (such as bathrooms) without succumbing to the elements. The emitters can even be chemically treated and painted in such a way to further prevent deterioration and fading, ensuring improved durability and resistance to damage.

Matching output Aluminium radiators also offer flexibility in sizing and an array of space saving benefits. For instance, taking a standard steel panel, single fin radiator measuring 600 x 800mm as an example once again, we have found an aluminium Decoral measuring 428 x 640mm is able to produce the same output at 50ºC. This is a 30% size difference, highlighting that aluminium radiators can be utilised in rooms and areas where space is at a premium. Of course, in addition to all of the scientific and technical points highlighted here, aluminium radiators still possess excellent aesthetic and artistic merits. Relatively soft, yet extremely durable with high ductile strength, aluminium’s versatility allows it to be die-cast or extruded into distinctive ENQUIRY

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Going electric Off-gas properties can also benefit from aluminium radiators, as electric-only models are available, boasting an array of programmes and functions designed to maximise energy efficiency. Electronic temperature regulation, coupled with daily and weekly programming options ensure these radiators only come on when required, then switch off and cool down quickly when the desired room temperature has been achieved. So, we have seen why aluminium has become the material of choice for radiator manufacturers across the globe, thanks to a comprehensive blend of functionality, practicality and elegant styling. They are energy efficient and cost effective too, making them great for specifiers, installers and end users alike. All these factors combined will play a key role in ensuring aluminium radiators continue to grow in popularity and strong demand for the foreseeable future. www.mhsradiators.co.uk

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Stand out designs add value to the home Recent years have seen a growth in demand for radiators and towel rails that not only provide heat but also help to enhance the appeal of a room. Chris Harvey, Marketing Manager at Stelrad Radiators, highlights some of the latest models available.

ne of the major positive trends in the radiator marketplace today is the selection of ‘standout radiators’ that make a statement in two vital rooms in the home – the bathroom and the kitchen. Not the same radiators that are used in most living rooms and bedrooms, but a special radiator – a decorative or designer radiator – that adds to the ambience and says something about the rooms in which they are installed. Chris Harvey, Marketing Virtually all new build homes Manager at Stelrad have a feature radiator in the bathroom and many are seeing ‘up-spec’ radiators throughout the home as housebuilders look for something a little bit different – a differentiator – to offer to their customers.

More choice The radiator options today are many and the quality is impressive. You’ll find premium and designer radiators that may look very unlike the radiators of 20 years ago. And there are vertical radiators as well as horizontal ones, taking up less wall space, making décor simpler. So long as the radiators are sized properly, they will provide ample heat for any room and, unlike underfloor heating, they heat up and cool down very quickly, so homeowners won’t find themselves waiting for an age for the home to get warm.

Stelrad’s space saving Slimline Towel Rail, part of the Decorative Collection within the new Aqua Series

The Caliente radiator, available in a range of colours, will grace any modern kitchen or bathroom

The smaller radiator footprints of today are the result of double and triple panel radiators and convection fins which generate more heat from a smaller radiator profile. And radiators are available in a range of colours too – not just white (our range is available in up to 35 colour options) – ideal for interior designers or where homeowners want to match or contrast radiators with the rest of the décor. Most importantly you can now select really energy saving radiators in the UK for the first time. Serial feed radiators have been independently shown to save up to 10.5% of the energy a standard radiator would use. The heated water circulates in a very different way and heats the front panel first. Often that’s all you need – you rarely want the radiator to heat up to maximum temperature, so using intelligent radiators makes a lot of sense. They provide up to 50% more radiant heat – so you feel warmer quicker – and they heat up to 23% more quickly than a standard radiator. Serial feed radiators – as opposed to traditional parallel feed radiators – are being selected by more and more developers and individuals as the secret is getting out.

comfortable warmth when it’s needed more reliably than ever before. There are many simple programmes available to help you to size radiators correctly for each individual room – our STARs programme is free and downloadable from our website. For homes with elderly heating systems – don’t just think about replacing the boiler. Replacing the radiators can deliver energy saving benefits and more warmth because modern radiators are designed to do just that. A new boiler and a jetflush to renovate the elderly radiators is better than nothing, but if the old radiators are pre-2000, the boiler will have to work harder to share the heat it generates and new radiators could pay for themselves in two or three years depending on the size of the home. It’s worth treating the home to new, smaller but better functioning and good looking radiators that will add comfort and value to the property.

On the rails One of the major trends in heating in homes today is the addition of a towel rail in most bathrooms. Perhaps 20 years ago they were the exception, but today they are the norm. But not all towel rails are the same! It’s important that installers decide before selecting the towel warmer what they want the towel warmer to do. The clue is in the name. Do they want the towel warmer simply to warm towels or do they want a decorative radiator that heats the bathroom or shower room as well as the towels? Most customers will invariably say the latter, but many DIY’ers heading for the local ‘shed’ will come home with a very attractive towel warmer that once installed will leave an average bathroom on the chilly side of cool in the colder months of the year. When fitting a towel warmer, it is important to ensure it is correctly sized. This will often mean specifying and fitting a much larger radiator than you would for a conventional steel panel type radiator. Taller, vertical models can help deliver satisfactory levels of heat and ensure that your customers are not hurling themselves at the warm towels as they exit the shower to keep the cold air in the bathroom at bay. Radiators today offer a quality of warmth from radiators that have genuine aesthetic appeal, that their elderly cousins did not possess. Correctly sized radiators will provide ENQUIRY

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New series At Stelrad we believe that a radiator shouldn’t simply be functional, it should add aesthetic appeal to the room in which it is installed. With this in mind, we’ve introduced the new Aqua Series, a range of highly reliable, high performance, good looking radiators to grace any kitchen or bathroom. The range of specially selected products include the Decorative Collection – seven stylish but cost effective radiator designs – and the Designer Collection – six product options that help the homeowner looking for an individual statement radiator that delivers distinction to a room as well as warmth and comfort from the performance levels associated with it. The Decorative Collection includes the Classic Towel Rail, the Stelrad Towel Radiator, the new Slimline Towel Rail, the ever popular Caliente and Concord Rails and the ultra-slim Esprit. The Designer Collection welcomes the Vertical Ultra, a vertical version of the top-of-the-range Vita Series radiator range; the part screen, part radiator Excel; the beautiful Arc and Wave designs with precision curves and fine tubes; Vistaline, an elegant design with its neat, slim tubes; Ellipse featuring its C-shaped tubes; and the popular Optia range featuring built-in shelves for stacking and warming towels. www.stelrad.com

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September 2016

62 RADIATORS & Towel Warmers

Warm on the outside, safer for one and all Strict safety guidelines for public and domestic buildings mean demand for low surface temperature radiators remains high. Mike Wright, Product Development Manager at QRL Radiator Group, looks at what installers need to know to achieve optimum results.

hen it comes to fitting heat emitters for vulnerable groups there are strict safety regulations in place to ensure that surface temperatures remain within safe parameters, and that the risk of serious injury from prolonged radiator contact is significantly reduced. This is particularly true for healthcare buildings, from hospitals and clinics to health centres. In fact, all NHS buildings must adhere to the NHS Safe Surface Temperature guidelines, Mike Wright, QRL which state that radiator surface temperatures should never exceed 43°C. If you compare this to the temperature of a conventional hot water system, this is a substantial drop. Typical radiators have an incoming flow temperature of 80°C and a return of 70°C – making surface temperatures as high as 80°C. If a person’s skin comes into contact with this, they can be subject to second-degree burns in less than one second, or worse, third-degree burns in 10 seconds. Compare this to a radiator with a 43°C surface, and it can take more than two-and-a-half hours for skin to burn. It’s not just the healthcare sector that is applying this strict safety criteria. It has become prevalent amongst numerous other public and private buildings used by vulnerable people at risk of burning themselves. This can include anything from nurseries and schools through to prisons and sheltered accommodation. It’s also becoming increasingly popular amongst new-build housing developments, which need to be as accessible as possible for a wide range of residents.

No compromise As demand continues to grow, the industry is faced with a challenge – how does it meet tightening safety regulations without compromising on performance? To achieve the desired maximum 43°C surface temperature, there are very few options. One is to install a guard, but the downside is it can actually reduce heat output by up to 60%. Others may simply reduce the flow temperature, however, this can be particularly difficult to police and means the radiator is left open to misuse. This is where LSTs have become a clear frontrunner, providing a straightforward way for buildings to comply with safety criteria whilst still delivering effective, efficient and reliable space heating. LSTs use a specialist casing that ensures safe-touch surface temperatures, and are designed to effectively keep buildings and residents warm. To achieve this, the outer cover incorporates strategically placed ventilation grilles, which provide both sufficient ventilation and minimal heat loss. These create a ‘chimney’ effect – drawing in cold air from the bottom of the casing and optimising heat transfer through the grilles at the top by convection. At the same time, the LST case suppresses radiant heat transfer, allowing surface temperatures to be kept safely within NHS guidelines. As well as meeting safe-touch temperature criteria, LSTs can provide a host of wider safety benefits too. The best

NHS buildings adhere to Safe Surface Temperature guidelines

Nurseries and schools make good use of LST radiators

models on the market will have lockable covers to restrict unwanted access, as well as ‘pencil proof’ ventilation grilles, which are wide enough for excellent ventilation, but narrow enough to stop small hands or other foreign objects from being pushed through. They will also provide the option of an external TRV which can be connected via a cut-out in the casing. This allows you to easily control the LST temperature without having to expose the emitter underneath. For added tamper-proof security, some LSTs can also be fitted with an internal control head inside the cover, which can be pre-set to the desired temperature.

Compliance When it comes to installing floor surface-mounted LSTs, it’s not just the radiator that needs to comply with guidelines, but any exposed pipework carrying water above 43°C too. Whether it’s a vertical or horizontal pipe run, anything within two metres of the floor needs to be securely insulated to prevent any burns. Some manufacturers will even provide purpose-built plinths to easily conceal pipes, so installers don’t need to spend time and effort boxing it in themselves. With LSTs it’s not solely about the casing. Without an effective emitter underneath, the whole system’s performance can be compromised. Whilst LST cases can be retrofitted onto existing radiators, the best and most effective option is to have a fit-for-purpose complete LST system where the emitter and the cover are specifically designed to work in tandem. For example, with QRL’s LST range each casing is engineered to work with our hi-lo Round Top panel radiators, which feature advanced third-generation radiator technology. This means they provide the best heat outputs and efficiency available, which in turn helps maximise energy savings and reduce running costs for the wider LST system (and the end user). The good news is, whilst you can specify a complete LST package system, nowadays the option is there to have the cover and emitter packaged separately. This means emitters can be fitted first, and delivery and installation of covers can take place at second fix, helping avoid any costly damage or delay onsite for installers.

Radiator hygiene Whilst ensuring the right safe-touch temperature parameters are in place is key, it’s also highly important to consider the LST’s cleanliness and ongoing upkeep. This is especially true for the likes of hospitals, schools and nursing homes, where hygiene is a particular priority. This is now a major feature of

QRL’s LST radiator with forward opening hinges for cleaning

leading models and will range from flat wipe-clean surfaces and antimicrobial, MRSA-resistant paint, to hinged covers for easy-access cleaning. Our LST is a good example of this, as it features unique forward-opening hinges that support the full weight of the casing. This means a standard clean can be carried out hassle-free by just one person, or for a deeper clean, the cover can be fully detached altogether.

Thriving market There’s no doubt that the market for LST radiators is flourishing, and as ever-tightening health and safety criteria come into force, it will continue to do so. This means it’s important for the industry to stay abreast of these regulations and ensure they’re ready to meet rising demand with the right solution – one that balances safety and cleanliness with top performance, rather than sacrificing one for the other. For more information on QRL’s range of low surface temperature radiators, please enter the number below on the freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue, or visit the website below. www.qrl-radiators.com

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Taking efficiency levels seriously If the UK is to meet its carbon reduction commitments, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness must be made more of a priority by heating engineers and housebuilders – so argues Sally Lloyd, Marketing Manager at Jaga Heating Products UK.

solutions, it is becoming tudies have shown that more commonplace for homes are responsible heating engineers to ensure for a quarter of that these technologies will the UK’s greenhouse gas be viable in each home. emissions, and it is heating One of the methodologies costs which make up which can be used to test the largest portion of UK the feasibility of certain household energy usage. heating technologies is by So which technologies do using Building Information housebuilders and heating Modelling (BIM). In its engineers need to be aware of broadest sense, BIM to combat this problem, and describes the process how will these technologies of designing a building impact homeowners? collaboratively, with each It is fair to say that the person inputting into one UK housing market has been digital format, rather than somewhat turbulent in the Sally Lloyd, Marketing separate sets of drawings. last decade, as the demand Manager at Jaga Heating BIM is an invaluable tool for housing has quickly overtaken supply. This has left buyers for contractors to manage data concerning struggling to get a foot on the housing the whole life cycle of a project from its ladder. However, the supply and demand construction to operation, and can in theory test how energy efficient certain imbalance looks as if it is about to ease. According to recent research, the number technologies will be before they have been of new homes being built in the UK is built – radically impacting the efficiency at a seven year high. Construction on of how buildings are procured, designed approximately 37,080 new homes occurred and managed. between October 2015 and December Well insulated 2015, up 23% compared to the previous year according to the Department for Once a heating technology has proved Communities & Local Governments (DCLG). itself to be the right solution for a property, These figures run alongside the increase the installation can begin. Making a in the number of new homes which have property energy efficient doesn’t have to been given planning permission, which be difficult. Due to the high amount of are also at their highest levels since 2008. technology available, there are many ways It has been estimated that new-builds to improve a property’s energy efficiency built between now and 2050 could account whilst also cutting fuel costs. To ensure for a third of total housing stock. It is efficiency, housebuilders must ensure that therefore absolutely pivotal that these the property is insulated to a high quality throughout the walls, roof and floor, and properties are energy efficient. the property should be double-glazed and Quality first contain an energy-efficient boiler and Although housebuilders and heating heating system. Examining the energy efficiency of engineers are facing increasing pressure to build houses quickly in order to address radiators should be a first port of call as it the imbalance, it is crucial that quality is is ‘by far the biggest slice of UK household placed before haste. Energy efficiency and energy use’, according to a report released cost-effectiveness must be prioritised to by the Department of Climate Change (DECC) in 2013. protect future homeowners. One of the technologies currently The UK must do better as a whole to create more energy efficient housing if it available are low-mass, low water content wants to meet current national targets. radiators. These contain a tenth of the water According to 2008’s Climate Change Act, compared to a standard steel panel radiator. by 2020 the UK must cut its greenhouse Low mass means that the radiators, whilst gas emissions by 34%, and by at least being robust and powerful, are lighter and 80% by 2050. The UK has a long way to smaller – and consequently easier to install. go to meet these targets, as the nation’s With less water being used, the Low-H2O current housing stock is one of the least radiators are able to respond quicker, and energy-efficient across Europe. In 2012, it can lower heating bills by up to 16% for was revealed that carbon emissions from the end customer. homes contributed 37% of the UK’s total Money saving carbon emissions. Housebuilders and heating engineers Better informed should also take into consideration how To help solve this, the UK housing sector important saving money is for cash-strapped must take steps to become more energy homebuyers. For homeowners with these efficient, which can only happen if fast heating systems in place, not only are housebuilders take the first step and invest they helping the environment, but they in innovative, energy-efficient heating are also saving money on fuel bills whilst technologies. Before installing these heating maintaining comfort levels. To put it in

perspective, fuel poverty is estimated to have caused over 9000 deaths in England and Wales last year, simply because residents were unable to afford heating for their homes. Fuel poverty in the UK is triggered by a combination of poor energy efficiency in homes, low household incomes and high energy prices. With this new KIWA certified fuel-efficient technology, a property’s running costs will Low water content radiators, such as Jaga’s Low-H2O range, are naturally remain low, able to respond quicker to heat demand and help reduce energy bills year on year. The low mass, low water content technology means the future of UK housing. It is much better that the system reacts quickly to drops in to avoid expensive retrofitting at a later temperature, reducing demands on boilers date, and instead purchase a property that and ensuring better thermal comfort for the is already fitted with the necessary energy occupants. Homeowners are therefore able and money saving technology. to get a lot more energy for their money. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 144 New, energy efficient technologies are www.jaga.co.uk

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Low temperature for high safety Manufacturers have come a long way in designing low surface temperature (LST) radiators to suit a variety of settings. Kelly Smith, Product Manager for Myson, looks at why the LST radiator is still an important product in care settings and how best to specify it.

43°C, thereby complying ow surface temperawith the NHS guidelines and ture radiators (LSTs) safeguarding the end users. are an essential proIn areas used for staff or tection for vulnerable end administration facilities, users in a variety of setsuch as offices or common tings, especially hospitals, rooms, conventional panel care homes, special needs radiators can be used, schools, children’s nurserso the LST will, in most ies, GP surgeries, clinics and applications, form part of a retirement accommodation. total heating solution, using Over-hot radiators can pose more than one type of heat a very real hazard, particemitter. Sourcing both types ularly at temperatures in of radiator from the same excess of 44°C. Above this, manufacturer will help to contact with the panel for ensure a holistic approach just a few seconds can cause Kelly Smith from Myson to the heating system. severe burns to vulnerable end users. According to the Health & Safety Specification Executive (HSE), ‘those at risk include children, older people, people with reduced There are a number of considerations mental capacity, reduced mobility, a sen- to bear in mind when specifying an LST sory impairment, or people who cannot radiator, including the best use of the space react appropriately, or quickly enough, to available. In many care settings, wall space is at a premium, so it is wise to choose a prevent injury’. make of radiator that includes a large range Proper guidance of sizes so that space can be optimised. In In order to protect these vulnerable end a hospital ward, for example, it is desirable users, the NHS Health Estates Guidance to site radiators at regular intervals in order Notes 1998 were introduced. These to avoid cold spots and to ensure that each stipulated that the surface temperature vulnerable end user is sufficiently warm. This is not always easy, as of radiators should not much wall space is taken exceed 43°C when the “LST radiators up with hospital beds and system is running at should carry the BS monitoring equipment. the maximum design Recent advances have output. This advice is also Kitemark and be included a narrow LST supported by the HSE. manufactured from model of just 420mm, in In practice, this means quality materials” either single or double that in areas frequented panel options, so narrower by patients, visitors and spaces can be used, either residents who could be considered to be vulnerable, the heat emitter at more regular intervals along a ward or, in installed should be an LST, as these are a care home setting, to allow more storage designed to comply with the 43°C maximum and furniture in what is often a permanent surface temperature. This is achieved by residential placement. The Myson Slim, ensuring that end users cannot come into for example, at just 420mm wide, can direct contact with the water-bearing panel now provide maximum safe output from radiator itself, which is enclosed within a minimum footprint. an outer casing, with a carefully regulated air gap between panel and outer casing. Looks matter This layer of insulating air ensures that Aesthetics are also important, especially in even when the system is being run at its the essentially domestic setting of retirement and manufacturers maximum designed output, the surface accommodation, of the outer casing will have responded by designing LSTs to be not exceed streamlined and elegant. The stylish round edged casings also give another practical safety benefit which helps to safeguard the vulnerable. It is important for infirm end users who may be prone to falling that all the ends and edges of the casing are rounded to prevent injury if the user falls against them. The elimination of sharp edges and corners is essential to avoid more serious impact injuries.

Kitchens in care homes where residents may have access should feature LST radiators

Rounded corners on LST radiators provide extra safety against falls and are easy to clean

The outer casing must also fully enclose the pipework, as pipework itself can also be a scalding hazard if it exceeds the 43°C required for compliance. Any surfacemounted pipework leading to and from the radiator must also be boxed in. This is especially important in retrofit applications where it is not possible to install new pipework below floor level. The smooth outer casing is also hygienic and easier to clean. The casing is fitted directly to the wall so less dirt and debris will collect behind it and the smooth front and rounder side panels make it easy to wipe clean. It is essential to ensure that the casing is fitted securely to the wall, so that it cannot be accidentally dislodged or pulled away from the wall to expose the panel radiator. But it is also important for it to be relatively easy to remove the outer casing from time to time in order to perform a deep clean, or to carry out routine maintenance or redecoration. When specifying, the method of fixing should therefore be considered. The optimum method is a simple, double security screw mechanism which keeps the casing in place when the radiator is in use but is also easy to remove when required. There should be no compromise on energy

efficiency with an LST, which we believe should be supplied with an ‘A’ rated TRV to allow the room temperature to be preselected and automatically and precisely controlled. In Myson LSTs this is also protected by a vandal resistant ring and collar which guards against accidental tampering. This is an important feature for end users with compromised health, for whom carefully controlled warmth is a medical consideration as well as a practical one.

Question of quality Quality is just as important with an LST as with any panel radiator. Each LST should carry the BS Kitemark and be manufactured from quality materials to exacting standards under Quality Management System ISO 9001:2008 certification. Not all LSTs carry a full 10 year guarantee on both panel radiator and outer casing, but it is important to specify a robust model that does. Selecting a high quality, well-engineered LST will not only deliver energy efficient warmth in safety, it will also bring the added peace of mind of knowing that it will give many years of reliable service and dependability. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Taking the heat out of radiator speciﬁcation Richard Harvey, Plumb Center Category Director – Heating and Renewables, explores the common issues faced by installers and demystifies some of the preconceptions clouding radiator specification.

to information about home hen we talk about appliances than ever before. domestic heating While self-specifying may we often focus not be an issue, for the on boiler specification, and first time consumers are more recently, the benefits aware of what’s out there. of heating controls. We seem As a result, consumers to neglect the importance of are increasingly seeking installing the correct radiator premium alternatives. Howand the benefits of providing ever, they still rely on the a suitable specification. installer’s judgement and Over 80% of households in trust them to guide them Britain use gas boilers with through their requirements. radiators, however, for most homeowners, a radiator only In the same focus group, needs to meet one criteria Richard Harvey, Plumb Center installers reported that – price. This tendency only 20% of customers were overlooks some of the resounding benefits involved in the specification process. This to installing the correct radiator including presents an opportunity for the installer to greater heat output and energy efficiency. upsell as customers are led by the installer’s After all, what use is the right boiler if the recommendations. heat emitter doesn’t deliver the best results? Selector tool In a focus group recently facilitated by Plumb Center, 70% of the installers present To make life easier for our installer said that consumers prioritise price above customers, Plumb Center has recently all other factors when choosing a radiator. launched a Radiator Selector tool to help As a result, they’re shaping a sales approach installers specify on the job (pictured above, driven by the bottom line, which means right). The tool guides the selection process other options that might cost more up front, on a room-by-room basis and allows the but will save money in the long term, can user to build a comparison list of products, filtered by size, type, style and brand. This be overlooked. gives the installer a visual means of showing Commoditised market customers the options open to them and Radiators are part of a highly saturated presents an opportunity to steer a sales market. Research conducted in June 2015 by conversation. IBISWorld showed the scale of the industry, with the UK radiator market delivering More from less an annual turnover of over £1billion. The Nowadays, radiators are no longer just competition is intense because many of the standard steel panels fixed to walls. They leading brands are familiar to the consumer are becoming smaller and are often fitted and installers are struggling to realise much with fins in between the double panel, increasing the surface area available to margin. With mainstream DIY TV programmes give off heat. Radiators are becoming like DIY SOS, showrooms and the more efficient and those with lower water internet, consumers have better access content are likely to lead to lower energy

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competitive prices, installers need to make sure that they factor in the aesthetics of a space into a radiator specification.

Affordable control Often heating controls are equated to greater installation costs, but thermostatic radiator valves are a simple and affordable solution to controlling room temperature and reducing energy bills. It is therefore crucial to factor in heating controls when delivering a radiator specification. According to the Energy Saving Trust, installing and correctly using a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves could save per annum £80-£165 and 330-680kg carbon dioxide. Radiator valves are driving heating efficiency, and with TRVs widely accessible energy efficiency is becoming a necessity. Installers need to be aware of TRVs and the long term benefits they could offer the homeowner.

More choices The Vita Deco radiator from Stelrad delivers energy efﬁciency with a designer ﬁnish

bills. Alongside functional benefits, they are also becoming more stylish to deliver a radiator with interior design appeal. Contrary to popular perception, premium radiators don’t always lead to premium costs. For example, the UK radiator manufacturer Stelrad has an extensive collection of designer radiators – the Vita Deco offers efficiency and a designer finish priced from just £37.92. In Europe decorative radiators are already growing in popularity, but the UK is lagging behind. In Austria, for example, 25% of the market is dominated by decorative radiators compared to just 2% in the UK. With more stylish radiators on offer than ever before, at

As the radiator market grows, the specification needs to become more thorough and offer customers with a variety of options rather than defaulting to a specification driven by price. At the same time, installers need to embrace a collaborative relationship with customers and recognise that they are open to a more premium product. At Plumb Center we are committed to providing installers with the best resources to deliver a radiator specification. The launch of the Radiator Selector tool is just one example of this and with these devices readily available, alongside the support of staff in branch, installers can deliver a radiator specification that combines functional and aesthetic benefits. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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RADIATORS & Towel Warmers 67 Laser is behind quality production Aluminium made with ceramic core

As part of a programme of continuous improvement in manufacturing technologies, Zehnder has developed the Charleston ‘laZer-made’ laser welding method for multicolumn radiators. This new laser welding technology, initially incorporated in high-volume production for the classic Zehnder Charleston radiator, will now be used across all models. Unlike flash welding, laZer-made welding is said to guarantee a completely clean welding process of the component parts of the radiator. It ensures that no welding residues

remain inside the radiator, preventing valves from becoming blocked and less commissioning time being

required by the installer for flushing out the heating system. It also ensures a smoother finished end

product on the outside for the customer. In addition to this new technology, Zehnder has also introduced some other innovations in the production processes. A 3D measuring machine is used for continuous inspection of all components during manufacture to detect even the smallest tolerance or non-conformity, and a fully automated procedure for leak testing ensures all Zehnder Charleston radiators are 100% leak-proof before they leave the factory. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Straightening up Giving customers choice from eight

Part of the Pure Bathroom Collection, Smiths Briton has a choice of radiator towel warmers to suit most styles and budgets. The Straight Radiator (pictured in chrome) provides ample room for towel warming and is suitable for both contemporary and traditional bathrooms. For the vintage look, the Victoria provides the timeless design that will deliver in period style bathrooms. In compact bathrooms, there is the Strand, a versatile design with a shelf for folded towels or to be used as a rail. This one also works in period style bathrooms. Finally there is the Clarissa, which is also suited for small spaces. It comes in black anthracite and is aimed at contemporary bathrooms with an ‘edgy’ design. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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With eight of its ranges providing bathroom towel warmer options, Vasco has a choice to suit most customer demands. The Cocos Plus, Malva, Prado, Iris, Agave, Aster, Carre and Zana (pictured above in mid blue mineral finish) all include the standard white option, but are also available in an array of natural, metallic, matt and mineral colours and finishes. Some designs are also available in stainless steel matt brushed finished or a chrome plated finish. www.vasco.eu

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The oil-filled Vanguard range from Electrorad has been enhanced with the introduction of new aluminium models. These incorporate a mica-coated ceramic plate to help deliver improved heat retention and to provide a totally leak-proof electric heating solution. Whilst the mica coating acts as an efficient electrical insulator and thermal conductor, the thermostats have also been upgraded from relay to triac to ensure even greater accuracy of the room temperature control. Triac also guarantees a completely silent operation with no clicking sounds when switching on or off. All models offer controllable warmth with nine pre-set programmes and usersettable options to suit a variety of lifestyles and preferences. MD Richard Brown explains: “To ensure that our products remain of the highest quality, we have invested heavily in the latest technology to provide aluminium radiators that are

guaranteed to be 100% leakfree. It’s a win-win for our customers as these heaters look exactly the same but deliver improved performance for the same price. “Aluminium radiators not only provide rapid warmth, they are also extremely lightweight. They provide a modern alternative to traditional gas central heating systems and outdated storage heaters. With a five year guarantee on the body and two years on components, installers and users also have complete peace of mind,” adds Richard. Vanguard is suitable for all electric heating installations and storage heater replacements. Featuring a contemporary design, these models use less wall space than other aluminium electric radiators, and are available in power ratings from 600 to 1800W. Vanguard radiators are also said to provide more heat power than many competitors for a given radiator size. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Design options for the more adventurous Some customers are perfectly happy with a standard radiator, but for the more adventurous there is an increasing choice of design and colour options. Alex Ramsay, Director of Geyser, highlights the availability of more stylish alternatives and bespoke solutions.

s a designer heating specialist, we dedicate significant time to researching interior trends and how we can reflect them into our latest ranges of designer radiator and heating solutions. Today’s customers have access to more and more interior ideas, be it through home and interior magazines or social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest. Alex Ramsay from Geyser Interior designers, retailers and, of course celebrities, like to showcase their latest projects from which many take inspiration in their own homes. As a result, customers looking for radiators are not just looking for the typical colours, or indeed purely being led by their tradespeople towards the standard colour choices of white or chrome. It is a much more informed choice, which may take longer and, in fact, mean a longer delivery time. Customers are prepared to wait to make the right

Lime green is one of 16 custom colours for the Circolo radiator

decision or to purchase something that little bit different, a product that reflects their interior choices and individual style. We are seeing a major shift towards the more bespoke solutions, unique to each customer’s taste. Geyser has long offered a large selection of colour choices, but in recent years has developed six different categories of colour, which pretty much covers most colours of the rainbow. Simply put, our radiators are placed into a certain colour pallet or category, which makes it much simpler for customers to ensure they are going in their desired direction when it comes to choosing a radiator to complement their interiors.

Brushing up

The Tesi radiator in a striking lacquered metal ﬁnish

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Recent years have also seen a move towards warm brushed metals and we’ve recently introduced three new metallic colours to our bespoke colour pallet: galvanised copper, galvanised nickel and metallic brushed brass. These perfectly complement the trend for warm metals in the kitchen and beyond. Warm metals such as copper look like they are here to stay, but we have seen a significant shift away from brushed stainless radiators. They were once viewed as an effective alternative to white, but as more paint colour choices have come onto the market, customers no longer have to invest in a more expensive base material. Chrome will always remain popular when it comes to heated towel rails, but radiator purchases of chrome have

A growing number of customers are looking to enhance their homes with bold colours and more imaginative designs

dropped significantly due to two reasons. Firstly, price – chrome is very expensive to produce. Secondly, heat output – chrome compared with a like-for-like painted model offers 20% less heat output. So if you dare to be different, it can also prove to be more energy efficient. It’s not just a style statement. Also proving popular at Geyser are our ranges of lacquered metal column radiators. There is a shift towards lacquered bare metal, where all the natural braising marks on the raw mild steel are preserved, creating a stunning steel looking product. A typical landscape model at 500mm high x 834mm wide, thee columns deep, sells for £351. It has definitely been a period of change for the market as customers are making braver decisions and treating radiators in the same way as a piece of furniture. They need to complement the interior design and reflect the individual’s style. A bespoke solution is not always expensive and it can be a more energy efficient option when it comes to heating, saving money in the long term. www.geyser.co.uk

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RADIATORS & Towel Warmers 69 From columns to heated rails

Electric dreams The latest addition to Geyser’s selection of designer radiators and towel rails is the Maradja, an electric radiator from French company Atlantic. It can be controlled remotely from a smartphone app, enabling users to turn on the heating remotely whilst on the train home from work. It also provides a way to manage a holiday home’s heating to ensure guests receive a warm welcome. Alex Ramsay, Director at Geyser, says: “We are thrilled to be the first UK stockist

of Maradja. It immediately stands out as a stylish product, its added innovation in terms of smart phone control and human detection alongside its impressive energy efficiency make it the obvious choice. It offers extremely low running costs, using 45% less energy than its competitor units.” Geyser stocks seven models of the Maradja and all are available on a twoday specialist delivery service from its warehouse in Bolton. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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From column radiators to towel warmers, Ultraheat offers a wide choice of heat emitters that offer versatility in output and timeless design. The column radiator range comes in two- three- and four-column models to offer as wide a choice as possible. Many of the radiators are also available in both horizontal and vertical formats. Ultraheat’s wider radiator and heated towel rail collection includes the contemporary Klon (pictured), Linear, Tilbrook and Sofi models. They sit either vertically or horizontally with a modern variety of tubes and bars made from mild steel and painted in white, anthracite or chrome plated. The Tilbrook is one of the newest designs. This slimline, compact radiator provides high heat output for narrower spaces like the kitchen or hall. www.ultraheat.co.uk PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 153

THE COMMERCIAL BOILER REDEFINED

When only cast iron will do, MHS Radiators has a selection that will enhance both period and modern interiors. With four models in the cast iron range – Blenheim (pictured), Burlington, Clasico and Liberty – each is available in a variety of sizes and colours. MHS says its range is manufactured from the highest quality cast iron for excellent corrosion resistance, as well as minimum maintenance. The company also claims to offer some of the largest sizes of preassembled traditional cast iron radiators in the UK which, in the majority of cases, negates the need for onsite assembly. All models are also guaranteed for 10 years, as well as available in electric only options. Each traditional cast iron radiator is supplied complete with fittings for ½in bsp connection (BBOE) as standard, with the option for ¾in or 1in with TBOE and TBSE connections, if required. Solid brass Chartwell or Kentwell valves can add a finishing touch. www.mhsradiators.co.uk

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MERCHANT & Distributor News 71 Acing it through Full speed ahead in prize promotion customer service Installers have a chance to win a oncein-a-lifetime trip to the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix thanks to a special joint promotion by Plumbase and Bristan. Running from 1 August until 30 November 2016, the ‘Put Yourself in the Driving Seat’ promotion incentivises customers by providing a scratch card every time they purchase from Bristan’s core range of taps at Plumbase. Each scratch card offers the chance to win from a bundle of instant win prizes, including exhilarating driving experience days. Customers will also

Plumb and Parts Center has been recognised for its commitment to customer service in the annual Confirmit ACE (Achievement in Customer Excellence) awards. The merchant was awarded the top prize in the ‘Insight through a Market Research Agency’ category. As part of the entry process, applicants had to demonstrate how their customer service programme has helped improve customer experience and delivered business growth. Gary Hitchens, Customer

Service Director at Plumb and Parts Center, says: “This award recognises the huge effort made throughout the Plumb Center business over the past year to make customer service our number one priority and to significantly improve our net promoter score. “It’s also a great testament to our loyal customers who give us regular constructive feedback that helps us to respond to the challenges they face day-to-day and identify ways we can further support their businesses to be successful.”

be automatically entered into a prize draw for an all-expenses paid trip for two to the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix.

Craig Rendall, Merchant Sales Director at Bristan, comments: “We are a business which prides itself on being in the fast lane when it comes to product innovation and customer service. It really is a team effort, which is why we’ve devised this promotion to provide our loyal customers with a chance to get behind the wheel themselves with an array of fantastic driving-related prizes – all while still benefiting from working with two industry frontrunners.” To take part in the promotion, simply visit a local Plumbase.

Expanded offer

Northern exposure

Originally created to provide training on sustainable building practices, energy efficiency and renewables, GreenWorks has redeveloped its offering to provide more services, including FSAP, SAP assessments, Quantity Take-off, air tightness testing, and acoustic testing. The focus is now on providing solutions that will help customers bridge the gap between ‘as designed’ and ‘as built’ so that their projects are energy efficient, comfortable for the end user to live in, and will also meet compliance targets. GreenWorks has also launched a new website to support the refocus of its business. To find out more, visit the website: www.greenworks.co.uk

The future is looking promising for Flame Heating Spares, which is forecasting continued growth and job creation after posting another strong financial performance. The firm, which is headquartered in Gateshead and operates throughout the region, saw turnover rise by £4m from June 2015 to June 2016. During this period, Flame doubled the number of

branches it operates to six, following openings in Sunderland, Stockton and Ashington, as well as relocated to a new, larger head office in Gateshead. The company also has outlets in Durham and South Shields. Over the course of the next five years, Flame Heating Spares is planned to grow to 20 branches while also doubling its workforce to more than 40 employees.

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Vans & Racking 73

Van test: Mercedes Vito Urban The Vito Urban Edition was launched earlier this year by Mercedes-Benz Vans specifically for the UK market. Although it has been designed with city drivers in mind, it provides the economy and handling that will suit any driver, whatever the road situation. Mike Smyre reports.

ore often than not, when we receive a van for test it comes with a fair number of bells and whistles, not all of which are highly suitable for the wear and tear typically suffered by a trade van. That metallic paint and those smart alloy wheels are all well and good, but a few scratches – expensive to fix – and the wheels kerbed, and suddenly they don’t seem such a good idea. The Vito 114 long wheel- Mike Smyre, van expert base provided by Mercedes cannot be accused of being tarted up. Plain white with steel wheels, it was basic almost to the point of Spartan – and the better for it in my opinion. All the money on the test model had been spent on the driving experience itself, and anyone who spends a reasonable amount of time driving between jobs will soon come to appreciate how much of a difference this makes. Despite the lack of adornment, the redesigned front end from 2014 upgrades gives a smart, muscular look to the Vito and overall it’s pleasing enough to the eye.

Urban dweller Our 114 came with the Urban package, which gives you a 7-speed auto gearbox, complete with F1-style flappy paddles on the steering column; a sophisticated reversing camera; and a built-in sat-nav. This adds a further £2215 to the base price of £21,095, and doesn’t include either air conditioning (an additional £895) or electric wing mirrors, both of which are pretty standard these days. As I was privileged to have use of the van for the week that included the three hot days that pass for summer in the UK, I could have done with the A/C and would certainly pay the extra if I was making this purchase myself. I’ll forgive the lack of A/C though, because the Urban pack makes the Vito an absolute joy to drive. Drop the steeringcolumn mounted stem into drive and the seven-speed box changes so smoothly through the gears you’d be forgiven for thinking the Vito had an electric engine. Flick it into reverse and the central display becomes a crystal-clear reversing camera with a grid that shows you where you are going and even curves the grid around when you turn the steering wheel – so there’s no excuse for hitting anything.

Matter of trust With the gear control on the steering column and the ‘handbrake’ on the floor operated by your left foot, there is no obstruction across the cabin and egress from the passenger door is easy. Some people don’t like this

There’s no obstacle to moving across the width of the cabin

The Vito 114 Urban Edition with 2.1 litre 136 bhp engine

The split rear doors can be opened at 180° for easy access

‘handbrake’ arrangement, and it does take some getting used to, particularly in combination with the stop-start system. Approach a ‘T’ junction on a hill, and as soon as the vehicle comes to a stop the engine cuts, leaving you feeling somewhat vulnerable to rolling backwards into the car behind. This never actually happens – the moment your foot comes off the brake again, the engine starts and the gearbox grabs, even without any throttle. I found the steepest hill I could and tried several times to catch the system out, but the van never moved back so much as an inch. It is a little disconcerting though, until you get used to it.

in the windscreen. There are cup holders – which actually hold cups, other manufacturers please note – on top of the dashboard, both sides. Small items such as pens, coins or car park tickets can be placed in open bins in the centre console to the left and right of the button panel. A 12V socket is installed underneath the centre console. There is a decent glove compartment and an optional open compartment under the centre console. The seats are firm but give good support. The driving seat is height adjustable and both front seats have two-way head restraints and can be adjusted lengthwise as standard, as can the backrest angle. A change to the contour of the partition wall has increased the seat’s adjustment range and the backrest can now be tilted back 83mm further than on the previous model. The second passenger seat looks quite usable, aided by the lack of gearstick and handbrake, but I suspect the centre console would force a taller passenger to sit cross-legged.

On the road

Under way, the Vito is a very pleasant drive. The 0.32 CD makes for very little wind noise, and on smooth roads it’s easy to imagine you are driving a quality car. A bit too easy, in fact – I soon started setting the cruise control at every opportunity to Loaded issues avoid drifting over the van speed limits. If you’re pushing on a bit on rougher The load compartment comes with 50/50 split rear doors with the capacity to open roads the thumps from the suspension 180º, sliding side doors both sides and intrude, but apart from a slight turbo a passenger compartment bulkhead all whine elicited by a heavy right foot, this as standard. As with the cabin doors, is pretty much all the noise you hear. Mercedes quality shows in the small, The speed-variable electromechanical even panel gaps, smooth operation power steering is perfectly weighted and the solid ‘thunk’ with which they and gives a good ‘feel’ for what the front wheels are doing. Having rear- Reversing is easy with the dynamic all close. The floor length on our test van was 2.8m – not quite enough for wheel drive allows for a tight turning guide lines that assist manoeuvring a 3m pipe, although they will go at an circle, and with the reversing camera and well-designed wing mirrors, it is easy to back into angle. There is a small panel under the central seat held on by four bolts that may allow pipes to run lengthways if the smallest of spaces. The cabin reflects the sort of quality one expects from removed, but I wasn’t going to start dismantling Mercedes’ Mercedes. The dash appears to have been formed out of a press demonstrator to find out... single piece of plastic, all the switches have a built-to-last Value for money feel to them and are all ergonomically arranged. My only complaint here is that I occasionally knocked off the cruise Mercedes have long had a problem persuading potential control while trying to operate the indicators. Having all the customers that their legendary quality is worth the inevitable important systems controlled from the steering column is premium, and this is not, let’s face it, a cheap van to buy. On great for safety but does cause a bit of confusion sometimes. the other hand, it should be very economical to run. The 116 BlueTec gives a combined cycle of 47.1 mpg, making it the This would no doubt vanish with more familiarity. The central display screen acts as control for the stereo best panel van in its class. Service intervals are two years system, the reversing camera, phone functions and the sat- or 25,000 miles (calculated by the on-board computer and nav, and is clear and easy to use in all four modes. The stereo dependant on style of usage) and Mercedes claims a 6.4% itself gives a quality sound and supports WMA, MP3, AAC reduction in maintenance costs over the previous model. Add and WAV formats. There is also a USB port for mobile devices. the 12-year anti-corrosion warranty and some good leasing deals, and all of a sudden the up-front cost begins to make A place for everything sense. If you do a fair mileage in your work; if you keep your Mercedes have also given considerable thought to storage. vans more than a couple of years; if you enjoy your driving There are three large, open storage bins on top of the and if you want a van that is as car-like as possible, this may instrument panel for papers, clipboards, tablets and other be just the vehicle you’ve been looking for. But do pay the extra for the air conditioning. items that need to be kept near to hand yet tidy. These are partially covered at the top to prevent reflections appearing

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

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74 Vans & Racking

Vehicle hire keeps you driving Installers couldn’t run their business well without the aid of a good van, so what do you do when it’s out of commission? Karen Whittingham, Marketing Director at Northgate, considers the commercial advantages of flexible, long-term rental of vans.

unning a fleet – whether that is one vehicle or ten – can be a balancing act between cost, convenience and reliability for any tradesman. The company van is not just a mode of transport from job to job, it is also crucial to the ‘first time fix’ philosophy, giving plumbing and heating engineers the opportunity to carry additional tools and pick up supplies of all sizes when they are needed. Despite the potential impact of downtime, too many in the trade are still willing to leave it to chance. Research from the RAC estimates that the average cost of vehicle downtime to SMEs is £500 per day in lost revenue, not to mention the impact on customer service levels and reputation, or the inconvenience of moving staff around or redirecting other vehicles to the job. It is a big risk to take – but what if there was a cost-effective solution that can deliver complete peace of mind, keep your vans on the road and deliver added benefits too? With flexible long-term vehicle rental, there is. Vehicle rental comes with a long list of benefits, and is increasingly seen as a popular long-term solution for small business owners and tradesmen who see the advantage of having a comprehensive support package.

Staying on the road The most important thing for any service provider is to make sure their vans stay on the road. Whether a company has one van or a large fleet, if vehicles are not running 100% of the time with 0% disruption there will be a direct impact on the business. With contract hire or purchased vans you run the risk of breakdown or failure at any point – and the risk only increases as the vehicle gets older. Anybody who has run an old vehicle for commercial or personal use will not need reminding of the problems associated with them. Instead, flexible long-term rental gives firms access to the widest choice of the latest vans, with servicing, maintenance and breakdowns managed by the rental company. Downtime can also be minimised by proactive scheduling of maintenance events at a branch and workshop at a convenient time. Vehicle hire offers a fully inclusive package complete with service, maintenance and repair, where customers are never off the road for more than two hours.

The bottom line Of course, staying on the road must not cost the earth: it should be convenient and cost-effective. One of the most important considerations is always going to be the cost of

Northgate’s flexible long-term vehicle hire minimises downtime in the event of an accident or breakdown

running a fleet – and more critically, the impact of vehicles on cashflow and the bottom line. Unlike vehicle purchasing, which requires a large up front cost, or contract hire, which can come with a long term financial commitment and expensive termination or mileage penalties, vehicle rental offers a simple and predictable weekly rate which covers everything related to the vehicle. Customers do not have to worry about additional costs like tyres, MOT repairs or replacement vehicles as this is all included for a fixed weekly fee that makes budgeting easy and predictable. What’s more, customers never have to worry about surprise costs impacting their bottom line and do not have to pay for vehicles they don’t need, and replacement vehicles are always available for no additional cost.

Flex your fleet This leads to another tangible benefit of vehicle rental, which is not available with any other fleet management option. With unrivalled flexibility, customers are free to change the number and type of vehicles at any time, add equipment or livery to vehicles, and even gain access to specialist vehicles in line with changing business needs. Plumbing and heating engineers can ‘flex their fleet’ at any time, which means they don’t have to turn business down and can always meet customer expectations without compromise. Using this option, there is no need to purchase additional vans or be tied into lengthy contract hire periods. Choose a supplier with good national coverage and this unrivalled convenience can even extend to vehicle pick-up and

drop-offs at a network of branches, not to mention the ability to access any branch or workshop for service, maintenance and repair events nationwide.

Added benefits Of course, vehicle rental also guarantees the availability of a wide selection of vehicles, which might otherwise be out of reach for smaller companies – and this can deliver added benefits too. One of the key cost-saving aspects, for example, is fuel efficiency, which can make a major difference when applied across a small fleet of vehicles that each travel thousands of miles a year. Technology is also an influence on decisions around vehicle fleets. Telematics, which offers real-time insights into vehicle activity, is now central to the operations of many businesses who run a fleet of vehicles. It can help to reduce operational costs, improve efficiency and boost customer service – not to mention duty of care and driver safety, to name just a few. The benefits of driving new vehicles even extend to staff retention, giving employees a more pleasant working environment and even perks such as Bluetooth or a sat-nav, all valuable drivers in a competitive employment market. To support a growing business and adapt to changing requirements, a flexible long term rental solution will ensure tradespeople can be assured that vehicle costs are covered under a fixed weekly payment. Not only does this offer peace of mind to business owners, it also saves them money compared to other vehicle acquisition options. www.northgatevehiclehire.co.uk

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Renting your ride means the most up to date workhorse With new ‘66’ registration plates coming in from September, NAPIT is offering its members a chance to secure themselves a brand new vehicle on an annual rental basis. NAPIT, a membership scheme operator for installers in the building services sector, has its own commercial vehicle leasing scheme, NAPIT Drive, exclusively for members. The service is said to be designed to offer some of the best deals on the market, with the opportunity of driving

brand new vans and cars. Unlike regular leasing agreements, with NAPIT

The scheme lets NAPIT members drive the latest low emission vehicles on an annual leasing basis, providing great savings compared to the cost of a typical three or five-year lease arrangement. There is no deposit or up front payments, and warranty, recovery and roadside assistance is all included when leasing a vehicle from NAPIT Drive. Robert Blow, NAPIT Drive Fleet Manager, Drive installers will not be comments: “We will be tied into any long contracts able to provide 12-month with their rental products. hire arrangements on brand

new ‘66’ registration plate vehicles. We cover small, medium and large size vans, and cars are available for leasing too. We encourage NAPIT members to get in touch soon to ensure a great deal and have the best choice of what is available in the market.” Members will have a chance to find out more about the rental scheme by attending one of NAPIT’s ‘Expo...On the Road’ events, taking place across the country from September through November. The expositions are a series of

workshops delivering up-todate information, products, services and advice from the experts. As well as showcasing its vehicle renting programme, NAPIT will be linking up with commercial vehicle racking specialist, Vantainer, to offer a comprehensive discounted package on its transport systems. To find out specific dates and venues for the Expo, visit the website: www. napitexpo.co.uk. To find out more about NAPIT Drive, email: info@napitdrive.co.uk

September 2016

VANS & Racking 75 Keep the total cost of ownership down The all-new Crafter has been redesigned to offer high economy and low total cost of ownership. Volkswagen researched key customer groups, including construction and long distance drivers, to get a better idea of their needs and expectations and applied the findings to the latest Crafter. First, the new EU6 engines and a new exterior design give the model low consumption and emission figures. The engines are designed for both short and long-distance driving to ensure downtime is never a problem. The van also scores with its robustness and low maintenance and repair costs, all of which have

a positive effect on total cost of ownership over the vehicle’s life cycle. The optimal dimensions of the new Crafter ensure maximum practicality and ease in everyday situations. For example, the new vehicle combines extensive cargo

capacity with minimal external dimensions, making it manoeuvrable, yet solid, in its handling regardless of payload. The new Crafter also offers a wide range of derivatives. The EA 288Nutz 2.0-litre TDI engine, developed especially

for this model, is available with four power outputs: 102 PS, 122 PS and 140 PS, plus a bi-turbo TDI with 177 PS. The choice of engines depends on which drive system is selected. There is a choice between front, rear and all-wheel drive, as well as the option of a manual or automatic gearbox. There are also up to three different vehicle lengths available depending on the model chosen, while the closed body variants come with up to three different roof heights. This means the Crafter can be configured in line with individual requirements. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Agile enough to nip Optional extras around city centres The Fiat Professional Fiorino has been refreshed for 2016 to offer even more to the professional user. The new Fiorino retains the compact dimensions that make it suitable for use in cities, agile in traffic and easy to park, without sacrificing any of its load capacity of up to 2.8 m3 or payload capacity of up to 660kg. There are three Euro 6 engines available: one 77hp, 1.4 petrol and two 1.3 trubo diesels with 80 and 95hp. An Ecojet version uses efficiency technologies for lower running costs. Available in Cargo and Combi body styles, prices start from £11,315 excluding VAT and OTR charges. www.fiatprofessional.co.uk

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Because the features specified for a new van will influence its resale value later down the line, it’s important to give careful consideration when making the initial purchase. BCA, the UK’s largest vehicle marketplace, offers small, van-based businesses some useful advice on what to consider when buying their next vehicle. Interior ply-lining is one of the best value extras for any van buyer, according to BCA. It’s expected by buyers and it protects valuable company vehicles from ‘inside-out’ damage. Side-loading doors are another key consideration for buyers. And these are just as essential for smaller vans as they are for the larger ones. Potential value in the used market can increase by around £150 for a single and £250 for two side-loading doors, depending on the vehicle. Factory-fitted satnav does not make a huge difference to the selling price because most smartphones offer this facility. Similarly, in-van entertainment and Bluetooth connectivity may only add a marginal increase of £50 at resale. Parking sensors for the 3.5 tonne market, where low-speed reversing damage is more common, might also add £50. Air-conditioning is highly valued when combined with a bulkhead, otherwise all that cool air dissipates into the load area and simply burns money.

Overloading issues Advances in van safety technology could be undermined by dangerous overloading, warns the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Almost nine in 10 (88.5%) of the 2381 vans weighed last year by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) were found to be overloaded, a worse record than the previous year in which 84% of the 3337 checked were illegal. Manufacturers are offering increasing levels of safety on the latest vehicles: around a quarter of vans currently on sale in the UK are available with advanced collision

warning systems, but for all the benefits advanced safety tech brings, an overloaded or poorly loaded van can still pose a risk to its driver and other road users, adding vital metres to braking distances and affecting handling. Operators and owners looking to ensure their van complies with weight regulations can refer to DVSA’s handy Van Smart video guide (available online at www.gov.uk/government/ publications/driving-a-vanthe-basics). For step-by-step guidance on how best to maintain vans, visit www. smmt.co.uk/vansafety

Practical comfort with car-like feel

Enhancements with Euro 6 engines Renault has added to its LCV range with a raft of specification enhancements, including the availability of Euro 6-compliant engines for the Kangoo, Trafic and Master. As part of the enhancements, all of Renault’s Euro 6-engined LCVs now come with a Thatcham-approved alarm as standard, and many offer more power than their Euro 5 equivalents. There are now also more versions available across the Kangoo, Trafic and Master ranges to offer buyers greater choice. The Renault LCV range consists of the Kangoo small van – comprising Kangoo, Kangoo Maxi and all-electric Kangoo Van Z.E – the Trafic,

as well as the larger Master. A comprehensive range of factory and approved LCV conversions are also available to order. The all-electric Twizy Cargo is also a part of the LCV line-up. All Renault LCVs are available with four years or 100,000 mile warranty

and four years roadside assistance. They also come with the reassurance of the Renault Business Quality Commitment – the manufacturer’s 13-point plan that guarantees customers will receive a class-leading service. Designed to keep customers moving no matter

what and deliver hassle-free business motoring, the plan covers everything from an impressive warranty and transparent pricing to the availability of courtesy vehicles and a dedicated customer hotline. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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The New Citroën Dispatch, unveiled earlier this year, is said to benefit from enhanced practicality, comfort and safety stemming from new design features and technologies. The 1.9m high Dispatch is available as a traditional van as well as in Combi and Crew cab versions, with three lengths: 4.6m, 5.95m and 5.3m. The maximum payload capacity is 1400kg, there’s 6.6m3 of load volume, and the Dispatch can tow up to 2500kg. The passenger seat can be lifted to extend

the maximum load length by 1.16m. Said to be the first van of its kind to offer hands-free sliding doors and colour head-up display, other new features include driver attention alert, active safety brake, Citroën Connect Nav and mirror link systems. Car-like options include 180-degree Park Assist and adaptive cruise control, while safety tech like Active Safety Brake and road sign recognition can be specified. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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PHAM SEPT16 BMA_Layout 1 17/08/2016 12:57 Page 1

Towards the Circular Economy HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR PLACE? Sophie L Long

Tim Pollard T im P ollard

Jane Thornback

Steve Head Steve

Marc Atherton Atherton Marc

Margaret Bates Bates Margaret

Chris Goodall

Julia Hailes MBE

4th October at The Belfry Hotel & Resort

B&K B& &K Business

onference

+44 (0)1782 631619 bandkconf@bathroom-association.org.uk @bandkconf

The Bathroom Academy Ac in partnership partnership with

Strategic Professionals

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WHAT’S New 77 Showers combine safety with style A wide range of inclusive showering and bathroom products is now available from Mira. Awarded the BEAB Care Mark for safety, the thermostatically controlled Advance ATL Flex features an inclusive design and will turn itself off automatically should the temperature ever rise above a pre-set level. Endorsed by the RNIB thanks to its user friendly features designed specifically for blind and visually impaired users, it also has specialist

fittings adapted to suit the needs of the less able, such as long lever taps, non-touch digital showers and infrared operated non-touch taps. Mira’s Flight shower trays and wall panels have also been designed for multigenerational housing. The Flight Safe range of anti-slip shower trays exceed the most stringent anti-slip tests and incorporate BioCote to reduce bacteria and mould growth. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Getting the green light The Green iQ label is a new initiative from Vaillant to help highlight products which are both sustainable and connected for the future. Any Vaillant product carrying the Green iQ mark offers a guarantee that they are not only energy efficient and deliver eco-friendly heat generation, but are also fully equipped to take advantage of app-based heating controls and smart phone technology. The company’s ecoTEC exclusive range, which offers a 12% increase in efficiency when in domestic hot water mode, is the first to be

launched under the Green iQ badge. Energy efficiency is further enhanced through the boiler’s 1:10 modulation mode. Online connectivity is provided by the vSMART control, which will enable homeowners and tenants to control temperatures

and access information about their energy usage via their mobile devices from anywhere in the world. To further enhance the boiler’s sustainability credentials, 85% of it is recyclable. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Easy to use lifting stations to ﬁt the job Press and push kit The Lowara Sekamatik series from Xylem is a new range of wastewater lifting stations for the collection and pressurisation of rain/clean/grey water and sewage for both residential and commercial buildings. For extra installation flexibility, the range offers several inlets and various dimensions for different piping configurations. There are six different product families covering 0.18 to 11.5kW pumps, with a maximum tank capacity of 800 litres to suit a range of grey and wastewater applications.

The range includes the Sekamatik 50 (pictured) – wastewater lifting stations equipped with a compact tank and one or two grinder pumps. Designed for use in wastewater pumping from toilets, washbasins and showers below the sewer level, they can also accommodate buildings located in rural and isolated areas. The lifting station’s small dimensional discharge pipes are said to ensure a cost effective installation compared to traditional gravity systems. ENQUIRY No. lowara.co.uk 163

Security system is better connected For installers looking to broaden their product offering, Honeywell UK has extended its evohome controls system with the launch of evohome Security, a new wireless connected security system. Described as the next step in smart home evolution, the system uses the TCCI (Total Connect Comfort International) app which enables users to monitor and control their home security via a smartphone or tablet. The security system also communicates with the heating system to allow homeowners to programme the

two to work together from the same app. All the components are wireless and

battery powered, so the system is easy to install and can be set up in minutes with the help of quick-install guides and video tutorials. Andy Mansfield, Marketing Communications Manager, comments: “We recognise the growing demand for connected technology in the home, and that doesn’t just stop at the heating system. Evohome Security is a great way for installers to offer more to their customers in the way of smart home solutions.” ENQUIRY No. honeywelluk.com 164

Addressing the rise in popularity of modern jointing techniques such as push and press systems, Pegler Yorkshire has launched a combined toolkit to ensure that installers have easy access to the right equipment. Phill Jackson, Marketing and Business Development Director, explains: “Each installation brings its own challenges but the key is being able to adapt. Our newly launched toolkit provides all the essential equipment for installers to be able to adapt their installation as the job dictates whether that is via push, press or a combined approach.” The new Toolkit includes: a REMS 3-35mm pipe cutter suitable for copper, carbon and stainless; 15, 22 and 28mm Jaws; 15-108mm XPress copper depth gauge; Tectite Sprint and Tectite classic depth gauge and deburrer; 15mm multi-layer tube straightener and 10-28mm tube cutter for use with PEX and Multi-layer tube. In addition, there are demount clips, mini press tool, spare battery and dri-slide. The Toolkit is described as an ideal starter kit for those unfamiliar with push and press fit technology, but also provides installers who have already embraced such systems with everything they need to complete an installation. www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk

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78 WHat’s New Heat pumps now easier to install The Yutaki air source heat pump range from Hitachi has been extended with a total of 70 new models which are more compact and lighter for easier handling. The introduction of common components and controllers also helps to reduce installation and maintenance time. The product range includes the Yutaki-S which is suitable for the heating and domestic hot water requirements. There are three new indoor units (4.3, 6 and 7.5kW) designed to fit a standard kitchen cupboard space. Efficiency has also been improved with CoPs of up to 5.25. The all-in-one YutakiSCombi (pictured) provides

More options in Tesi range The recent ly released Tesi collection from Ideal Standard has been extended with the launch of a second phase of new products. Created by Ideal Standard designer, Robin Levien, Tesi is a cross category solution, with options which are said to work as well in family bathrooms, as cloakrooms and en-suites. Described as slender, elegant and versatile, the extended range includes the addition of a number of new semi countertop and 50cm basins. This increases the number of basin options to five, widening the range and enabling it

an integrated solution and has been specifically designed for the UK market. The indoor unit has a builtin 200 or 260 litre stainless steel hot water cylinder, as well as the main hydraulic components such as the pump, filter and back up heater, plus a new controller. The high temperature Yutaki-S80, which generates hot water up to 80°C, has also been redesigned with easier connections at the top of the indoor unit for simpler installation. Hitachi says that it can be used as a replacement for boilers without any need to change radiator sizes or the existing hot water tank. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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to scale down for smaller sized rooms and cloakrooms. The new 55cm semi-countertop option also enables compatibility for those wanting to install furniture. Also added to the collection are new close coupled back to wall and back to wall toilet bowls, all of which feature the company’s AquaBlade flushing technology as standard. Claimed to offer improved hygiene, l e s s splashing and reduced noise levels, the AquaBlade flushing system

means that the toilet flushes from the top of the bowl, washing the entire inner surface and avoiding any need to have to clean an overhanging rim. Designer Robin Levien comments: “The collection uses contemporary shapes to create a design classic, creating a range of products which can be used to build a bathroom that is unique to its owner, while providing the ease of maintenance and timeless appeal that many end users look to obtain from their home décor.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Saving with safety Magic solution comes in a big box

Made from WRAS approved materials and designed to fit a standard 1/2in BSP hose connector, the new Twyford X120 Thermostatic Shower Valve is said to be easy to install and packed with user benefits. Suitable for projects where eco credentials are key, the X120 has a water-saving feature to control flow without compromising on performance, while a number of safety features make it a good choice for installation in family bathrooms too. The X120 Thermostatic Shower Bar Valve has a temperature pre-set to 38°C, with a push button override

to 46°C, while its cool-touch technology helps to prevent scalding. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Building on its range of MCS-approved solar assisted heat pumps, The Magic Thermodynamic Box company has launched a larger version that now includes an ‘A’ rated stainless steel cylinder. Dubbed the Big Magic Thermodynamic Box, the new model comprises an all-in-one integrated cylinder with thermodynamic heat pump inside and an aluminium thermodynamic panel. The system comes in two sizes, 130 and 200 litres of water capacity, although bespoke systems can be made to order. The new system is designed to provide the user with 100% of their domestic hot water needs, working as a standalone water heating system. The panel works in any weather conditions and without the need of a boiler.

Digitemp range enhanced Aimed at domestic and light commercial applications, the Digitemp range from Xpelair offers three solutions for cooling, heating and dehumidification. The

system offers year-round climate control from a single, integral unit with no requirement for external installation. The extended range

includes the WHP245N model, Digitemp Air and the Digitemp Inverter. All models boast an energy efficiency rating of ‘A’ class and require little maintenance. Running costs for the Digitemp models are described as favourable compared to conventional electric heaters, consuming 60% less electricity. Digitemp Air is the newest member of the Digitemp family and boasts an ultra slim design and the quietest system in the range thanks to the latest sound-absorbing, anti-vibration materials. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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The company supplies everything from the ‘A’ rated cylinder through to the thermodynamic panels and says that the system can be installed in less than a day. It is claimed that users could save up to 80% on domestic hot water usage. The thermodynamic collector is described as a low maintenance system, with little to no ongoing running costs involved compared to other solar thermal panel systems. For installers who are interested in fitting the range of Magic Thermodynamic Products the company has developed a training course with PPL training which is City & Guilds accredited. The one-day course ensures that every installer has the knowledge to install the Solar Assisted Heat Pump correctly and is confident in working with the system. www.magicthermodynamicbox.com

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Stainless steel for small plant rooms After launching the Wessex ModuMax mk3 stainless steel modular boiler earlier this year, Hamworthy Heating has introduced the new Stratton mk2 wall hung boiler. This boiler is the smallest output in the stainless steel family and is designed for restricted space plantrooms. Keith Thompson, Chief Commercial Officer at Hamworthy, says: “With improved pipework kits, the boiler is lightweight and easy to install. It also features an internal combustion non-

return valve, enabling it to fit into smaller spaces as a lower height is needed for the flue header off the top of the boiler.” This latest development has been designed to assist customers in refurbishment projects. The robust qualities of stainless steel make it tolerant of older heating circuits and resistant to corrosion for easy maintenance and a long life. Higher efficiency and an increased range of outputs between 40 and 120kW enables closer load

matching for energy saving. The Stratton mk2 also comes with a five year warranty on the heat exchanger. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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September 2016

WHat’s New Following up on feedback Updates have been made to Worcester’s Greenstar Highflow CDi and Regular CDi FS boiler. Following customer feedback, the Greenstar Highflow and FS CDi boilers have been updated to make installation and servicing easier. The Highflow models provide hot water flow rates of up to 25 litres/min, making them suitable for properties with two or more bathrooms. Both the Highflow and FS CDi are designed to fit under a standard kitchen worktop. For ease of installation, both models are supplied with a floor mounting jig, providing pre-plumbing and rear piping as standard. Retaining the same output levels and popular features of their predecessors, the updated models include a

new integral condensate trap, designed to meet the latest EU testing standards and provide easier access when servicing. The improved products also include a redesigned combustion chamber seal and new air intake test point, allowing

for easier commissioning and servicing. Both models are compatible with a range of existing flue accessories, offering the opportunity to create flexible systems. Martyn Bridges, Director of Marketing and Technical Support, says: “These latest alterations will allow for even easier installation and servicing, whilst continuing to provide the same high performance of its predecessors.” Both products are available to purchase through a series of revised part numbers from merchants. The Greenstar Highflow will now also be supplied with an additional service engineer manual. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Fires designed to inspire Valor Inspire is the name of a new collection of landscape gas fires designed to bring benefits to both consumers and installers. The collection includes two initial models – 600 and 800 – each provided with the company’s Duo burner for enhanced performance. For easy operation, the Inspire 600 and Inspire 800 are each available with a choice of two controls: customers can opt for Valor’s Fireslide control or an advanced remote control, offering a host of features from the comfort of the armchair.

Both models also come with choice of two suite options, while 500 and 1000 designs are also being developed to add to the range at a later date. The duplex burner, Duo, offers a greater range of output control. It can be reduced down to 34% of output when the full flame is not required, compared to 60% of output with a conventional burner – which means the Valor Inspire 800 model can be reduced from 4.6kW down to 1.6kW on a low setting. ENQUIRY No. www.valor.co.uk 173

Cylinder harnesses the power of PV Megaflo Eco Solar PV Ready is an unvented cylinder from Heatrae Sadia that heats hot water by harnessing excess electricity generated by domestic solar PV arrays. This product is aimed at households with solar PV that do not consume the power produced by the panels. The new cylinder is designed to ensure any surplus electricity can be used to heat hot water, free of charge, in turn reducing utility bills. Any power that is generated in addition to the household’s normal requirements will

be diverted to the cylinder, rather than being sent to the grid. The water is heated to the desired temperature, controlled by a thermostat, ready for the household to use when required, with high-performance insulation keeping the water hot. Megaflo Eco Solar PV Ready will not affect the property owner’s FiT generation payments because this is a ‘deemed’ usage contract that has an export tariff paid, whether the energy is consumed or not. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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