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Volume 57 | Issue 6 | June 2019
New zero carbon goals receive industry backing
Name the city and win a Vokèra boiler!
Calls for the Government to adopt more ambitious zero carbon targets and invest in an energy efficiency upgrade for the country’s existing homes have been widely supported by heating industry bodies. A recent report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) that calls for major improvements to the insulation and energy efficiency of existing buildings, and making all new buildings net zero carbon within a decade, has received support from a number of industry bodies, including the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Among its recommendations, the report advocates the widespread adoption of heat pumps in place of conventional boilers and accelerating the use of district heating and hydrogen. “This is a huge moment for our industry,” says BESA President Tim Hopkinson. “All of these things are achievable and the building engineering sector is in the vanguard of zero carbon action. We are already delivering low carbon heating solutions, but we acknowledge the need to go further and faster and, if the Government turns the CCC recommendations into policy, we can.” While the CCC’s report – ‘Net Zero, the UK’s Contribution to Stopping Climate Change’ – emphasises the need to move
away from a reliance on fossil fuels, there is also a recognition that hybrid systems, green gas and hydrogen boilers also have a role to play if the country is to embrace a low carbon future. The Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) says that the CCC’s key message is therefore very much in line with its own position. “We welcome this latest report and the initiative to set more aggressive targets for deep decarbonisation,” says Head of Technical Services and Policy, Ian McCluskey. “To meet net zero will increase
the need for policy and decision making that accelerates the implementation of necessary technologies such as carbon capture, methane reforming for hydrogen production at scale, renewables and decarbonised heating. IGEM, and the gas sector as a whole, is already committed to developing these initiatives.” BEAMA, the UK trade association, representing manufacturers of energy technologies, also supports the CCC’s net zero target, heralding the report as a “great step forward”, but to reach its targets the association warns that the UK will need to radically accelerate plans to reform planning and regulations for the UK housing stock. “The challenge for our industry is the need for investment planning and this requires clear and decisive strategies from Government on what the market will look like,” says BEAMA CEO Dr. Howard Porter. “Action needs to happen fast to ensure we have the supply chain in the UK to deliver on this.”
Closure for Plumbing Pensions Scheme Plumbing Pensions, the multi-employer pension scheme for the plumbing industry that has been running for 40 years, has announced that it will close at the end of this month. The announcement means that no members of the Scheme will build up any new pension benefits after 30 June 2019. However, the existing benefits already built up are protected by law and will not be affected by closure. The Scheme is writing to employers and to all active members to explain what closure means for their benefits and employers have been advised that they will need to auto-
enrol their employees into a new pension arrangement from 1 July 2019 onwards. Members with a deferred pension which has not yet started and members already receiving a pension are not affected by this announcement. Plumbing Pensions Chief Executive Kate Yates says: “It is sad that we need to close the Plumbing Pensions Scheme after so many years of being able to offer good value, lowcost pensions to plumbers. Our aim has always been to run the Scheme in the most responsible way to ensure members receive all the benefits they are due in full. The
Trustee and the Constituent Organisations that jointly decide the Scheme’s benefits have looked at all the options and consulted with employers. They believe that closing the Scheme and not letting members build up any new benefits is the most responsible and practical way to protect members’ benefits for the future. “We want to reassure members that the Scheme is in a very good financial position with enough money to pay all member benefits built up to now, and the decision to close the Scheme to future accrual helps safeguard that position.”
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All aboard
An old lifeboat, now converted into a houseboat, is being heated by an external Tuscan oil-fired boiler from Hounsfield Boilers which has been modified to run on diesel. OFTEC installer Hollie Stallworthy of Hollie’s Heating Services contacted the company after struggling to find a manufacturer that would be willing to offer any guarantee for a boiler that would be reliant on red diesel power, but MD Andrew Hounsfield explained that the modifications needed were only slight. “We are a small company and can easily adapt our production line to help customers use our boilers in bespoke applications, and we were happy to help,” says Andrew.
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Inside this issue Paint that makes Editor’s rooms feel warmer Viewpoint Water & System Treatment The benefits of system cleaning and protection, plus the latest innovation in water softeners
See page 23
Training & Education How installers can benefit from some of the latest courses available from colleges and manufacturers
Starts page 31
Underfloor Heating Why balancing the system is a crucial part of any successful UFH installation
Starts page 41
Ventilation & Heat Recovery The various options available to installers who want to improve indoor air quality
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The Technical Magazine for the Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement Industry
Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News
A new study by Oxford University has revealed that the colours rooms are painted make a significant difference to people’s perception of their body temperature, suggesting that changing a home’s decor could help homeowners to reduce their heating costs. The experiment, sponsored by paint manufacturers Valspar, found that olive green makes a room feel two degrees warmer. When participants in the research were placed in different rooms painted in different colours, but all set at the same temperature (18°C), 31% said they felt warmest in the olive green room. The average perceived temperature in the room was 20.3°C, with some even reporting that they felt five degrees warmer than the actual temperature. In contrast, 28% of the 157 participants who sat in a room painted dark blue reported feeling up to two degrees cooler than the room temperature. There was no dramatic change with the other colours used – coral, mustard yellow, bright pink and purple – but more than half (55%) said they felt most comfortable in the coral coloured room. Experimental psychologist,
by Chris Jones
Preparing for the future
Professor Charles Spence, who designed the research, comments: “This illustrative study goes some way to showing that our senses are intrinsically linked and that the colour our walls are painted can really impact our thermal comfort. “Olive green features undertones of warming shades, such as yellow and brown, which may explain why it was such a popular choice for making participants physically warmer when it came to body temperature. “These suggestive findings offer some intriguing possible solutions on how to help save on fuel costs.” It is estimated that turning down a room thermostat by just two degrees would help households to reduce their heating bills by around £270 a year.
While Westminster’s best minds remain fully focused on our future relationship with Europe, perhaps it’s inevitable that one or two other issues might slip further down the ‘to do’ pile. But however long it takes for the country to emerge from the quagmire of Brexit negotiations, there is one issue that can’t be put on the back burner for very much longer. Whoever gets hold of the keys to No.10 and whatever the shape of the next administration, it’s going to be hard to ignore the growing public concern about climate change. Following on from its recommendations to ban the installation of gas boilers from new homes in 2025, the Committee on Climate Change has now championed the widespread adoption of low or zero carbon heating installations by 2030 (see this month’s cover story). Describing current plans as ‘insufficiently ambitious’, the CCC argues that the Government needs to implement a clear regulatory framework to drive the uptake of more environmentally-friendly heating solutions, and the early signs are that many of its recommendations will receive cross-party support. The heating installation community is not unused to change, with the introduction of condensing boilers, renewable heating options and increasingly sophisticated controls all taken on board in recent years, but the pace of change is only going to increase as time moves on. And you don’t need a degree in Business Studies to know that companies struggle when they fail to adopt new technologies or adjust to new ways of doing things. If you’re lucky enough to have your eyes on retirement in the next 10 years, then your existing skill set may be enough to see you through, but for everyone else... well, let’s just say that it might be an idea to keep an open mind. Follow us on
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Centenary gallop
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© Copyright 2019 | Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement News All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without written consent from the publisher. Attributed articles represent the views of the Author(s) and are not the necessarily those of the Editor. The publishers accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers or advertisers. This magazine includes a number of colour editorial photographs paid for by suppliers.
South London based independent plumber’s merchant Fraser & Ellis recently celebrated 100 years in business with a special open day. As well as bacon butties and beverages for customers, the company marked the occasion with horses and dray wrapped in the company’s signage which made the journey from its head office in Broughton Street in Battersea, to its previous premises in Old Church Street in Chelsea, which the company occupied for over 70 years. Grandson of the founder and now MD, Paul Fraser celebrated the day with his father, Roy, now 87, as well as many of the Fraser family.
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NEWS Review
Plumbers best at winning new clients Video reveals tests behind approvals
A new survey has found that plumbers are winning work more easily than other trades that are challenged by issues such the rise of DIY and social media. Multiskilled trades professionals top the table as the most challenged trade this year. The survey from paint experts, Armstead, polled painters and decorators, plumbers, electricians, builders and multi-skilled traders. Data revealed that securing work was harder than ever, with an increase in customers using social media to look at work online before booking (54%) and the rise of DIY (45%)
causing fewer enquiries. Painters and decorators were second in the league table, with the continued rise of DIY leading to greater competition between professionals, whilst plumbers
were ranked least challenged, as one of the most specialist trades in the UK. More than half (53%) of multi-skilled traders admit that getting new customers is harder now than it was
Community just for professionals Bristan has launched its own installer community – Bristan On Tap – exclusively for trade professionals. It’s designed to support plumbers, installers and engineers with installation advice and training, plus the chance to be the first to trial new products. With content created just for them, installers will benefit from being kept in the loop of industry news and developments. Members can also expect a few perks along the way, with prize draws and giveaways as well as the opportunity
to get involved in unique experiences. The company announced the launch last month. Claire Jennings, Head of Marketing, explains the thinking behind the initiative: “We have some dedicated Bristan fans out there. We think they deserve a ‘thank you’ for their continued loyalty. That’s why our new installer community will give plumbers and engineers access to advice and support as well as the chance to trial products before anyone else. The introduction of the Bristan On Tap installer
five years ago, with 59% claiming that social media has added more challenges than anything else. Alex Briggs, Senior Marketing Manager at Armstead, comments: “The most important thing to any trades professional is the quality of their work, because it directly impacts their reputation. Whilst it’s easier for specialists – like plumbers – to demonstrate the type of work they do, it’s a challenge for a multiskilled professional who could be working on an endto-end job requiring many different skills.”
The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) has produced a behind-the-scenes video to highlight the importance of using WRAS approved products. The video features the intensive tests a tap goes through to ensure it complies with the relevant standards before it can be granted Approved Product status. Water fittings such as taps, pipes and showers must be of an appropriate quality and standard to comply with UK water fittings regulations and byelaws and to prevent water from being contaminated. WRAS approval is one way of showing that a water fitting complies with this requirement. View the video by visiting: www.phamnews. co.uk/WRASvid
Rogue gas fitter caught out
community reinforces our commitment to creating quality products backed up by first class customer service.” Interested installers can sign up today for free by visiting www.bristan.com/ installers-home/on-tap
An Essex plumber has been sentenced after carrying out unsafe and unregistered gas work in September 2016. Basildon Crown Court heard how Andrew Goodchild of ASG Plumbing and Heating had been served with a Prohibition Notice (PN) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) earlier that year for carrying out gas work whilst not being registered with Gas Safe. Mr Goodchild ignored the requirements of the PN when he removed a gas cooker and pipework from a kitchen and moved a gas boiler in a Leigh-on-Sea property, leaving it in a dangerous condition. He had not become
registered with Gas Safe Register and did not possess the necessary qualifications for carrying out gas work. Andrew Goodchild of The Maples, Harlow, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching the Prohibition Notice and Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was found guilty in a Newton hearing of breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He received an 18 month suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £3200 in costs.
Code for ground-water heat pumps
Grant hits the road This summer, the Grant UK Package Solutions Roadshow is visiting merchants in England, Scotland and Wales. The display van has been completely revamped with a wider selection of products now on board, and two members of Grant UK’s sales team will welcome visitors and answer questions. The display van includes a wide range of products, including a working model of the Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump and a MonoWave cylinder with integral 50 litre buffer. There will also be the Vortex Pro Utility 15/21kW oil boiler, Solo compact fan convector, Afinia aluminium radiator and the Flex Mini UFH system. For information on venues and dates, please visit www. grantuk.com/professional/support/events
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Now available from CIBSE is a new Code of Practice offering guidance on harnessing energy from water in the ground for heating and cooling.˜ Entitled ‘CP3 Open-loop ground-water source heat pumps: Code of Practice for the UK’ the guide aims to encourage adoption of the technology and raise standards across the supply chain, ensuring GWSHPs are designed, built, operated and maintained to a high standard, providing greater conÿdence for
speciÿers, developers and property purchasers. Phil Jones, Chair of the CP3 steering committee, says: “The rapid decarbonisation of the electricity grid means that heat pumps are the low carbon solution for providing heating and cooling in buildings. Ground water provides a relatively constant temperature source, making GWSHPs an efÿcient technology throughout the year. This new Code of Practice sets out minimum standards to give the
building sector conÿdence in applying GWSHPs correctly.” The Code has been produced as a joint project between CIBSE and the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) with the backing of the Heat Pump Association (HPA), and has been supported by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The Code of Practice publication is available on the CIBSE Knowledge Portal at www.cibse.org/CP3
Latest stats on pay for plumbers New pay trend data from Hudson Contract, a family-owned workplace audit, contract and payroll service provider, shows that weekly earnings for self-employed plumbers fell slightly in April. However, plumbing was the best paid of all 17 construction trades covered by the company, and the average weekly earnings were nearly 6% higher than those recorded in April of last year.
Analysis of payroll data for more than 2200 construction companies in England and Wales revealed a marginal decrease of half a percent to an average of £1117 for plumbers. The regional breakdown shows a more detailed picture. Plumbers in the South West saw the biggest fall with average weekly earnings down 18% to £1441, followed by those in Wales, who were down 13% to £938,
and the North West, down 10% to £789. The only regions to record growth were the East of England, where earnings rose by 1.4% to £1349, and Yorkshire and the Humber, up 1% to £681.
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Winner ‘unequaled’ Smart bathroom tech Brits want most among competitors Tony Dumble of Unequaled Heating has been crowned the winner of the Heating Installer Awards 2019. Tony was awarded his prize at the industry trade show, Installer2019, having successfully competed against hundreds of other entrants. Representing the South East, Tony impressed the judges and the public with his craftsmanship, problemsolving and attention to detail. Tony was closely followed by the national runner-up Grant Gundelfinger of Mayfly Group Ltd from Yorkshire. Sponsored by Danfoss, Geberit, Glow-worm, Polypipe and Stelrad, the annual awards scheme celebrates the achievements of plumbers and installers who deliver top quality work and excellent customer service.
A new survey has revealed the kind of technology most UK consumers would like to see in their own bathrooms. Showerstoyou.co.uk surveyed over 1400 homeowners to find out what tech would enhance their bathroom experience most. Top of the agenda was the toilet, with homeowners most desiring a self-cleaning feature (83%), followed by a self-deodoriser function (55%) and the ability to generate a heated seat (31%). In the shower, 69% want digital controls for precise
Tony Dumble (right) with Grant Gundelfinger
Tony says: “It has been a tough competition this year and I’m absolutely over the moon to have won. There is so much out there now, so much good quality work, so to be recognised for mine is fantastic.”
temperature, spray and timing, followed by mood lighting (55%) and built-in sound (48%).
Similarly, mood lighting (66%) tops the list for bathtubs, followed by a scented mist dispenser (62%)
and a heated backrest (41%). In terms of general bathroom tech, the vast majority of those surveyed selected temperature control/ thermostat smart control as the ‘general’ feature they would like to see in their bathroom, at 62%. Water conservation technology came second (41%), highlighting homeowners’ increasing awareness of environmental concerns. A wall-mounted touch panel interface was voted the third most desired general smart bathroom technology.
London showroom Win a trip to Paris and adventure days
District heat event On Wednesday 19th June, Rehau is hosting ‘The Hot Debate’ on the topic of fourth generation district heating. Taking place at The Building Centre in Store Street, London, this event will explore what fourth generation district heating is, how it can improve a heat network, and what the challenges and barriers are for its widespread adoption. The expert speaker line-up from across the industry will first give their perspectives in a short presentation and then go into two sessions of interactive debates. The event is free to attend but spaces are limited so early registration is encouraged. Reserve a place by visiting: www.phamnews.co.uk/11946-2
Bathroom manufacturer Ideal Standard has opened a new £1 million showroom in London’s design hub, Clerkenwell. The new four-storey specification hub covering 4000ft2 has been created to bring architects and designers together to experience the group’s evolving family of design-driven bathroom products. The showroom’s official launch will take place this month, where Stephen Ewer, Ideal Standard’s UK Managing Director, will welcome customers and partners to the design space and introduce the group’s new design collaboration to the UK market.
A three-night trip to Paris is the top prize in Polypipe’s new MissionMax competition. Installers, plumbers and heating engineers can also win a range of adventure experiences including helicopter lessons, scuba diving and supercar race days. With the aim of promoting its PolyMax fittings range, to take part installers simply need to text 60777 with the code ‘MISSIONMAX’ to receive free product. The package will include further instructions on how to complete the challenge for the
chance to win a ‘MissionMax’ experience. There’s a different thrill-seeker prize up for grabs each month and a grand prize of an all expenses trip to Paris. PolyMax fittings are available in 10, 15, 22 and 28mm diameters and can be used on a wide range of new installations and refit projects, including hot and cold-water systems. Once installed, the fittings cannot be removed without the release tool, meaning the system is a leakproof and reliable solution. For more information please visit www.polypipe.com
Industry passing The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has paid tribute to its former President, Graham Manly OBE, who died last month. The Association says he was “an absolute gentleman and unifying figure who leaves a huge legacy and whose death will be mourned right across the building engineering sector”. Graham was one of the few people to have served as President of both the sector’s main contractor body BESA (then the HVCA) and its chartered institution CIBSE. He was also chairman of BSRIA and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012 for his services to building engineering. ENQUIRY
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Skills shortage a Conference tickets going fast News in big threat to sector brief A new survey of 400 industry professionals has shown that over half (54%) identified lack of skilled workers as the biggest threat facing the plumbing industry. Commissioned by Hep2O, the plastic push-fit plumbing manufacturer, the survey also found 39% believe the greatest challenge was lack of consumer expenditure in the current economy. However, despite these challenges it appears the plumbing community remains positive about the prospects for the sector. 42% of plumbers think that the next 12 months are going to be better than last year. Respondents suggested the biggest contributing factor for this is the increase in residential property development (40%) and the advancement of smart technology (26%). Likewise, many plumbing professionals are still passionate about their industry, with 79% recommending plumbing as a future career. “It’s no surprise that the skills shortage remains a significant concern in the industry, and our survey only reinforces how largescale the problem still is,” comments Karen Stables, Marketing Manager, Wavin Hep2O. “Here at Hep2O, we actively work with key
Water leaks Insurance statistics have revealed that the most likely cause of claims in commercial buildings, retail premises, hotels and apartment blocks is water damage. UK insurers conÿrm that water leakage is now the costliest and most common claim made by commercial customers, with a total loss in the UK alone approaching £800 million. Even a minor water leak can result in signiÿcant business disruption, and the ÿnancial sector is particularly vulnerable to such potential losses, with Data Centre outages costing an average of £12,000 per minute.
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colleges and students to educate them on the benefits of the trade as a career path. Collaboration will be key for us as an industry to tackle the problem effectively. “We know that plumbers want manufacturers to listen more and offer advice and support. That is why we are working closely with industry advocates and the wider plumbing community to understand what matters most to installers and ensure that we, as a business, are best placed to meet their evolving requirements. “Our survey showed that 73% of plumbers believe manufacturers could improve their level of communication and offer more support – our research helps to put us at the forefront of delivering on this.”
equal footing for female The last remaining tickets installers. to the Women Installers The event will Together (WIT) Conferfeature a talk from ence, which already has guest speaker Maggie over 100 delegates attendAlphonsi MBE – England ing, are still available. rugby player and TV Taking place on 4 July at sports commentator. The Building Centre in Plus, there will be Fitzrovia, London, the anroundtable discussions, nual event was devised by networking opportuHattie Hasan, founder of nities, and a meet and Stopcocks Women Plumbgreet with the trade ers and recent recipient of press. the MERIT award for her A number of high work promoting diversity and the role of women in Hattie Hasan, recipient of a Merit award profile sponsors have thrown their support behind the conference, the heating and plumbing industry. The conference has clear focus on with wetroom specialist Impey joining improving access and conditions for Polypipe Building Products, Monument women plumbers and gas engineers and Tools, Graham The Plumbers’ Merchant, aims to inspire and motivate women in the British Gas, Base PPE, Thomas Dudley, Calor industry. With increasing numbers of women Installer, Fernox and Vaillant. To obtain a free ticket and for more considering the profession, Hattie Hasan and her team are keen to raise awareness information, visit: http://stopcocks.uk/event/ of the career path and establish a firm and women-installers-together
Big truck comes to the UK The GROHE XXL global Truck Tour, providing installers and consumers with the opportunity to access the company’s vast mobile showroom, is returning to the UK for the third time with three visits planned for this year and a fourth scheduled for early 2020. The truck will make an appearance at the Homebuilding & Renovating show, at both the London event in October 2019 and Birmingham early next year, as well as making a debut at the Bournemouth Air Festival at the end of August. The vehicle will also make its ÿrst visit to UK Construction Week, the exhibition held at Birmingham’s NEC in October. “We have found the XXL Truck Tour to be a unique and immersive experience,” says Raj Mistry, Marketing Manager, “one in which we can engage with customers on shaping the future of water.”
• The electric Mira Sport Max shower has been awarded the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for its Airboost technology to increase water flow by up to 30% without using more water. • Last month the UK broke its all-time solar generation record with a generation peak of 9.47GW, surpassing the previous record of 9.38GW set in May 2017. • More than 13,500 new homes were registered to be built in the UK in April according to the latest figures from NHBC - an increase of 21% compared to a year ago. • TrustMark has formed the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) of consumer experts addressing issues in the home improvement sector. • Infrared heating expert Tansun has recently opened a brand new showroom at its West Bromwich premises. • Flogas has announced it is offsetting its 2019 emissions as it launches its 2040 Vision for a lowercarbon future for off-grid homes and businesses in the UK.
Benefit from expert advice Golf day for Simon UK cylinder manufacturer Megaflo has announced a partnership with Expert Trades with the aim of helping its trade customers build the professionalism and profitability of their businesses. Founded six years ago, Expert Trades offers a series of business tools (accessible online and via an app) to help businesses succeed and grow. Installers can create a free ‘Verified’ profile to collect customer reviews (found by homeowners through the trade directory) or make use of the low-cost, fixed-price website building and search optimisation service. The partnership means that Megaflo literature will be readily available and accessible through the freeto-download Expert Trades app. This will make quoting,
invoicing and administration easier and simpler for heating engineers. Additionally, all Megaflo products will be added to ‘Tool Talk +’ where installers can review products. Ashley Langran, Megaflo Rewards Team Leader, says: “We value the hard work
and dedication of heating engineers. Our partnership with Expert Trades is a way for us to reach new workers and introduce them to the Megaflo offering. This new relationship is the latest step to help heating engineers grow their businesses and reap the benefits of their hard work.”
The annual Simon Austin Golf Day, held in memory of the former MD of Vaillant who died in a car accident in 2004, took place at the Shire Golf Club in Barnet, Hertfordshire, last month and was attended by over 40 golfers, including former colleagues and friends from the industry and Simon’s 20-year-old son, Alex. Russ Jackson, Joint Owner of PHAM News, is a regular attendee at the event. He comments: “As ever, it was a smashing occasion very well attended by many heating industry personnel, some travelling long distances to be there. It’s always an enjoyable day and also a good opportunity to pay our respects to Simon and catch up with friends from the industry.” Anybody interested in coming along to next year’s
Darran Burrage from ADEY (left) was this year’s winner, pictured with event organiser Tony Smith and Steve Zouch from Intergas
event are invited to contact either Russ Jackson (russ@ phamnews.co.uk) or Tony Smith of Courtney Smith Recruitment Consultants (ts@csguk.co.uk) for further information.
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10 MERCHANT & Distributor News Installers cash in Easy growth of bathroom showrooms on big money prize
Three lucky installers have each won a share of £65k in Plumbase’s Big Cash Bash competition. The initiative saw Plumbase team up with Viessmann, Fernox, Barlo, Polypipe, Roman and ThermaQ to give trade professionals across the UK the opportunity to share the generous cash prize. Mark Berry of Mark Berry Plumbing & Heating in North Devon won the top cash prize, walking away from his local trade counter with £50k. The £10k prize was
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awarded to Mervyn Fowler in Bristol, while the £5k prize was collected by Chris Kelly in East Kilbride. Commenting on his £50k win, Mark Berry says: “The winnings will go towards the purchase of a small plot of land that my company has been securing over the last year. We plan to build a unit as we have outgrown our current premises, so the winnings could not have come at a better time. We also want to organise a summer party for all of our staff.”
Bathroom retailer, Easy Bathrooms, has opened an additional two stores in Bradford and Glasgow. The move triples its bricks and mortar presence on the UK high street within just two years. Founded in 2013, the retailer now has 33 showrooms nationwide. The firm has also created over 90 jobs, seeing it open showrooms across the south of the UK, including a network of seven locations in Hampshire and Berkshire. The Bradford and Glasgow
stores will create an additional nine jobs, totalling £300,000 investment. Rob Holroyd, Contracts Manager at Easy Bathrooms, says: “We’re proud to expand our network of showrooms
throughout the UK, which supports our traders when it comes to inspiring their own customers with bathroom ideas. They can also send their clients to our showrooms to pick products and create a 3D
visualisation of their space. So we look forward to working with more developers as we expand.” Neil Bell, Head of Retail, adds: “During a period when there’s plenty of doom and gloom surrounding the UK high street, we are proud to expand and open bricks and mortar stores, alongside growing our online presence. Our strategy is to create a network of showrooms, where clients can see, touch and try our products before making a purchase.”
Sanitaryware promo means prizes Installers now have the chance to win a £5000 cash prize in a new competition from Wolseley. Running at all its branches until the end of June, and sponsored by Ideal Standard, the competition provides installers with a competition card when they spend £100 or more
in branch on selected sanitaryware packs. Each card has a unique code which, when entered on the Win With Wolseley website, enters installers into the competition to win the cash prize. In addition to £5000 in cash, other prizes up for grabs include a Nabis bathroom
suite worth £1000, retail vouchers from Love2Shop and Costa, and exclusive online discount codes. Phil Viner, Category Director for Plumbing at Wolseley, says: “We’re always looking for ways to reward hard-working installers, so the opportunity to win this huge cash prize
along with our other helpful perks should help the trade during this busy summer season.” To find out more about Wolseley’s full range of sanitaryware packs and products, or to view the range online, visit the website: www.wolseley. co.uk/more-sanitaryware
June 2019
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PEOPLE on the Move Graham Plumbers’ Merchant has welcomed David Kilby as its new MD. David has more than 25 years experience in leadership roles within multinational groups and will be responsible for guiding Graham through a period of transformation. For the last 18 months, David has been Regional MD for Saint-Gobain Building Glass for the UK and Nordic Countries. Heating controls manufacturer ESi has named John Norton as its new Head of Product Development and Design. John brings with him experience in high performance systems and has worked in a number of exciting environments including Formula 1 race teams, as well as working with GE Aviation Systems. In recent roles he has worked on PCB layout and firmware coding. Stainless steel hot water cylinder manufacturer, OSO Hotwater, has appointed Neil Thompson as Sales Director for the UK. Neil joins the business with 20 years experience in the UK plumbing and heating sector. Most recently, Neil served as Sales Director with Heatrae Sadia and Megaflo. He is also a qualified member of the Institute of Leadership Management. LG has welcomed Ricky Sethi as its new Training Manager, UK and Nordic. Ricky joins from Panasonic, where he was a Technical Support Specialist. He will be based at LG headquarters in Weybridge and will be responsible for the entire training programme for the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries, devising the programmes and presenting many of them himself. Building services supplier, Brymec has announced the appointment of Peter Grierson as Business Development Director. Peter joins from SIG where he was Regional Sales Director. He comes to the role with a wealth of experience, having previously worked at Alumasc, a specialist in building products, and BSS Group, a distributor, where he rose to the position of Regional Director. The sales team at air filter manufacturer Westbury has been enhanced with the addition of Mick Flynn as the Area Sales Manager for the London and south areas. Mick began his career in the HVAC industry over 25 years ago, focusing on air terminal devices. He swiftly progressed into a sales role as a Sales Engineer, predominantly working with consultants, mechanical engineers and end users. Intergas Southern Sales Director Jim Boyce has announced his retirement, having been in the heating industry for nearly 30 years. A well known face at trade events and exhibitions, Jim started his heating sales career with Vaillant as an Area Manager and has also been employed in management roles by several other of the industry’s big brands, including, Alpha, Baxi, and Main.
Rise of the machines with clever chips Reading last month’s news item: ‘Why service gas boilers every year?’ and the reader’s letter ‘Let’s think of boiler servicing like MOTs’... Many properties have residents with clever electronic devices and it seems that boilers are so advanced now that all you need is a chip in the boiler that ‘tells’ the resident and installer that the boiler needs servicing; or that it may be about to break down; or that a service is due. It may be that a year is not long enough or too long between
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servicing. Cars tell the driver when a service is due, so why not boilers? An hour’s run would be a simple consideration, but the addition of notification of failure or potential failure of the appliance could be vital, especially in critical periods. The result could be more efficient boilers, resulting in lower running costs and reassurance of a safe and reliable appliance. Graham Sitton Via email
Who’s entitled to ‘Master’? With reference to ‘Raising the status of apprenticeships’ in the May issue: So much talk in the press about apprenticeships and what to do about the dire state they are in. And then I see that there are calls to bring back the title of ‘Master Craftsman’ to make apprenticeships look more appealing to young people. Imagine that! Master Craftsman status just for completing your apprenticeship! My question is, how exactly is changing the title you get at the end of your apprenticeship going to encourage young people to take it up in the fi rst place? It’s a difference that makes no difference. It’s still the same job, same skills, same pay. Making anyone a ‘master’ upfront cheapens
the word itself. It makes a mockery of those Master Plumbers who have had to really prove themselves worthy of a title that actually means something. If new entrants to the trade want to make something of themselves, they can aspire to Eng Tech or Incorporated Engineer or even Chartered Engineer. There is a ladder of progression in place for a reason. We all have to start somewhere, and that’s usually at the bottom. It’s a sad state of affairs when it’s thought that a mere rebranding exercise will fi x the complex problems underlying the apprenticeship system. J.D. Osborne via Email
The Tweet spot London Gas @LondonGas #GameOfThrones has ended. “When you play the game of #Gas, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” Original meme designed by London Gas
Heating products manufacturer Stiebel Eltron UK has expanded its sales team with the appointment of Paul Quinn as National Account Manager. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Paul will drive sales for the home comforts range, working with merchants through direct sales and specifications for residential developments. Gilberts of Blackpool has announced the appointment of Mark Gallop as its new Area Sales Manager for the south and south east territories. Mark brings with him almost 25 years experience in technical sales of building services components. His technical sales expertise is complemented by his background in practical mechanical engineering.
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Rob @robwilson0588 Paul @joypaincity Don’t you love plasterers...Cylinder fitted, then plasterer came in afterwards and lowered the ceiling.
Screwed gas pipe, smelt next door, cadent capped. I tested 20mbar drop in 43 seconds. Tenant never smelt gas, just next door in the last 24 hours. 20 minutes lifting boards while putting carpet on hallway back down. I put my gas detector on the carpet and it went wild.
Send your views via email to: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk
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June 2019
CIPHE Viewpoint
Aiming higher Continuing Professional Development plays an important role in keeping plumbers and heating engineers working to high standards, as Kevin Wellman, CEO at the CIPHE, explains.
A Gas App Uk members have unburied some of the latest horrific evidence of shocking installation work. Seen some terrifying installation sights of your own? Share your snaps with Gas App Uk!
s plumbing and heating engineers know, legislation and technology in this industry changes fairly regularly. Given the role that installers play in public safety, keeping up with these changes is an important part of the job, and one of the most effective ways of doing this is to engage with Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Safety first In its role as an educational charity, the CIPHE is dedicated to safeguarding the vulnerable. The number of incidents relating to poor workmanship – such as scalding or legionella – highlight the need for an improvement in professional standards in our industry. To emphasise the scale of the issue, the most recent monthly legionella report from Public Health England states that this year alone there have been 84 cases. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has also stated that, on average, 15 pensioners die from scalding every year. This is a damning reflection on the state of water safety in the UK and underlines the importance of CPD. Greater awareness of the causes of legionella will help to combat the prevalence of the disease, as will a more comprehensive understanding of the dangers of scalding.
Raising standards One of the biggest challenges within the plumbing and heating industry is the issue of unqualified or untrained installers. Homeowners are now more aware of the need to check for proof that an engineer is Gas Safe registered, however this is often not the case for more routine plumbing operations. Anyone can currently set up a plumbing and heating business, regardless of relevant qualifications. This is obviously a pressing issue from a safety point of view. Unfortunately, for all the amazing professional plumbing and heating engineers out there, an unfortunate number of unqualified individuals also exist who perform unsafe work. The Gas Safe Register, for instance, reported in 2016 that around 1.1 million gas jobs are carried out every year by illegal fitters who aren’t properly qualified and that 60% of their jobs are subsequently found to be unsafe. The actions of these dangerous people have a huge impact on the lives of the homeowners they manage to con, both financially and emotionally. They also greatly damage the overall reputation of the plumbing and heating trade. One of the most important things a qualified professional plumbing and heating installer can do is to become registered. Those involved with gas work and installations must belong to the Gas Safe Register, but aside from this, what else can be done? The reality is that the CIPHE, offers qualified members of
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The CIPHE recommends 30 CPD hours per year
the industry the chance to show their commitment to professionalism, and we call on those capable to join the Institute. Public awareness of the questions they should ask and the skills they should seek when engaging a plumbing and heating professional will increase if more people say they are a member of a professional body (and therefore required to abide by a code of professional standards). CPD further emphasises an individual’s commitment to professionalism by raising the standards of everyone who engages with it, and therefore improving the image of the sector as a whole. The CIPHE’s CPD offering helps engineers further enhance their skills and knowledge. Key to successful CPD is to engage with as many different forms as possible, because varied learning is often the most effective approach. Examples of CPD include online courses, attending exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and mentoring.
Chart the path We recommend that our members undertake 30 hours of CPD per year across as many of the above forms as possible. We understand that installers are busy and will often be trying to juggle CPD with running their own business. To help with this, we can now offer an online tool – mycareerpath – to help members plan, evaluate and record their professional development. Increasingly, the CIPHE is dedicating its resources to recording information on behalf of its members, allowing them to focus on their learning and development, and spend less time on administration. Undertaking CPD will help to improve professionalism in the plumbing and heating industry, which is in the interests of both homeowners and installers. Addressing public safety issues and protecting the reputation of skilled practitioners are high on the list for the CIPHE, and engaging with CPD is one of the most effective ways of doing this. For more information about becoming a member of the CIPHE please contact Tim Sainty via email (tims@ciphe.org.uk) or call 01708 472 791.
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16 GADGETS & Tools Pressure meters Award winning storage solution getting smarter Handtool manufacturer Wiha has earned a Red Dot Award: Product Design for its new slimBit boxes. Designed as a compact transport, removal and storage option for its slimBits, the box, which is secured with a practical belt, allows users to carry slimBits around safely. When open, the box offers users an optimum view of screw profiles, enabling users to quickly select and remove the right one with a single hand. “Being awarded the Red Dot affirms the high design quality behind the product. We are immensely proud that the special features in the product’s design have been recognised and honoured,” says Ronny Lindskog, Wiha Director of Sales and Marketing. www.wiha.com/gb/en
Following the launch of the Anton Sprint Pro FGA series, the company has now introduced another range of products, this time focusing on gas leak detection and smart pressure instruments. The APM 145 differential pressure meter produces reports that can be wirelessly sent to the Sprint Mobile app on iOS or Android platforms, or to an infrared printer, enabling engineers to store their data and professionally present their readings to
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customers. The device comes with standard push-fit spigot connections and is suitable for all domestic pressure testing. The new range boasts a number of features and functions, including high contrast colour screens on some models, and multipurpose protective silicone hanging boots. Menu-driven software helps to ensure easy operation. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Tool-less change on angle grinder For faster, easier changes – with no spanner, nut or flange to misplace – the X-Lock range from Bosch includes six small but powerful angle grinders, with features to improve productivity, ergonomics and safety. X-Lock is a tool-less solution – simply bring the accessory and grinder connecting surfaces into contact and press. A reassuring ‘click’ sound tells you they are firmly locked. To remove a disc, just flick a lever on the grinder. Changeovers can be completed in five
seconds. You can even do it while wearing gloves. There’s no attachment nut to seize up on a jammed disc – or
to get in your way when working at flat angles, or damage material surfaces. A comprehensive new range of 130+ X-Lock accessories covers everything from metalwork and stonework to plumbing, tiling and other cutting and grinding tasks. Almost all of these can also be used on an older, non-XLock angle grinder with conventional clamping systems (except diamond dry core drills and cup/round brushes.) PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Advertisement feature
June 2019
ENERGY EFFICIENT Products 17
Innovation and reliability The introduction of the ErP directive has given ELCO Burners the opportunity to launch a range of superior Low NOx burner solutions into the UK and Irish markets. These meet – and often exceed – the latest and future industry standards.
S
uch technological advances in burner design are the result of ELCO’s 40 years of experience and over half a million low NOx and ultra-low NOx burners operating in the strictest EU emission markets. This experience is reflected in the company’s latest range: the EKL series of low NOx monoblock burners, which are suitable for kerosene, gasoil and bio oil blends, offer outputs from 12kW to 100kW and have been created especially for the UK and Ireland.
minor adjustments in fuel pressure and air for particular field conditions. ELCO burners also benefit from improved fan power, to combat increased back pressure across the combustion chamber and head, which forms as a result of using low NOx technology on condensing boilers. This ensures reliable start-up and clean combustion in all possible applications. The EKL burner range from ELCO Burners has also been designed with installers and engineers in mind, with features that make the unit straightforward to fit and maintain. For example, a single 4mm Allen Key can be used to remove and adjust key components, while it is easy to access all parts thanks to a dedicated service position and a simple layout. Furthermore, a “plug & play” system makes the removal of components effortless.
Industry changes
The EKL burners’ one-piece patented combustion head controls the combustion products formed when a fossil fuel is burnt, resulting in stable and very low CO and NOx emissions. This component is factory set to ensure optimum performance without the need for adjustment, while also ensuring all burners achieve the highest level of efficiency, requiring only
In September 2018, the Ecodesign Directive on NOx emissions came into force, introducing a limit of 120 mg/ kWh. Burner manufacturers had been anticipating this change for several years, developing products that could offer incredibly efficient units with highly reduced emissions. To achieve these targets, manufacturers had to call upon their own expertise to research the latest technology available. This is where certain companies had an advantage, especially those who are specialists in
SETTING NEW
combustion technology, such as ELCO. This specialism allowed the company to manufacture a burner range that easily complied with the legislation, often achieving NOx emission levels as low as 60mg/kWh in certain applications. Plus, to illustrate ELCO Burners’ manufacturing expertise and continuous development, both its low NOx and latest BLUE burners already comply with the most stringent NOx emission targets expected when ErP legislation changes again in 2020. In addition, ELCO can offer OEM boiler manufacturers advanced, efficient burners in the form of modulating ultra-low NOx (BLUE) units, in numerous outputs up to 62kW, all of which have a proven track record in Europe. Another important change for the burner industry arrives in July 2019, where cadmium sulphide-based photocells will be phased out in favour of other types of sensors, in accordance with RoHS2 2011/65/EU. With this in mind, ELCO Burners has undertaken an extensive trial to identify suitable replacements to ensure only the most robust components are selected and burner performance is not compromised. This will ultimately ensure a smooth changeover, taking advantage of the July 2019 phase-in, but without causing any inconvenience to OEMs or industry professionals.
Training With such large changes occurring in the burner industry, as well as high quality new models entering the market, there is a constant need for ongoing professional training. As a result, ELCO Burners continues to work with its customers to welcome installers and engineers to its manufacturing facility in Resana, Italy. Industry professionals attending the course, which includes both theoretical and practical hands-on training, benefit from a course specifically designed for the new class of ELCO’s low NOx EKL burners. The training programme also includes a guided tour of the company’s state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility, providing detailed information on the assembly process, as well as the comprehensive testing methods prior to a burner leaving the factory. For more information on ELCO Burners, email: elcoburners.uk@aristonthermo.com
Ultra-Low NOx EKL BLUE
STANDARDS FOR
LOW NOx
BURNER TECHNOLOGY
Low NOx EKL LN
Cutting-edge Low NOx burners designed for the future.
elcoburners.uk@aristonthermo.com
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June 2019
18 BUSINESS Matters
Many ways to market yourself Continuing our new series of business advice columns from Baxi Heating, this month Sales Director David Cook looks at the ways plumbing businesses can promote their services in ways that deliver results without taking up too much of your time or money.
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hen you hear the phrase ‘business marketing’, there can be an automatic assumption that it’s expensive. However, effective marketing is more than a flashy website and some advertising, and can be as simple as knowing your audience and communicating with them effectively using the correct channels. Understanding how to position yourself and how to stand out from the competition is key. Here’s our simple advice for getting ahead.
including items like recent news and pictures of your great installations make you more visible on Google, it can show potential customers they are hiring someone who is dynamic, wellorganised and personable. As the old saying goes, people buy from people, so making a good impression with a stream of high-quality content could really help secure new business.
Use branding
Branding defines a business, so it is extremely important that any company, no matter its size, treats its brand as a priority. By establishing a strong brand with an impactful, easilyGetting online recognised logo, you can instantly set yourself David Cook, Sales Director at apart in a very competitive market. In today’s connected world, it is vital Baxi Heating that every business has an online It is possible to build recognition by ensuring presence, yet you don’t need to hire a big digital agency everything you use is branded professionally with your to set up a website. In fact, the internet has plenty of company name, logo and contact details. This includes step-by-step guides to help you get online and start pens, vehicle livery, invoices, estimates and any other promoting yourself. From developing your website to company stationery. You could even take this further appearing higher up on search engine rankings, a wealth with branded, practical items such as radiator keys and of information is at your fingertips. magnets, which are relatively cheap if bought in bulk, When it comes to actually designing the site, we advise and provide a useful free gift for customers – particularly using a simple layout, showing the types of jobs you are if they feature your company name and number so they able to carry out. Remember to highlight the area you can easily contact you about more work. are happy to work in and, most importantly, how your Social media customers can contact you. Reputation is a big factor when it comes to securing new As well as a website, it is useful to have some sort of business, so customer endorsements and recommendations social media presence. Setting up accounts and posting are welcome inclusions on your website. To further on networks such as Facebook and Twitter is an easy, reinforce your credentials, you should also include the logos no-cost way of communicating with potential customers, of industry bodies with whom you are associated, such as and it can help you connect with others in the industry. By posting pictures and videos of your latest installations Gas Safe. Including these will reassure the customer you are qualified and professional so they can be confident and interacting with other installers and industry bodies, you will begin to grow an engaged audience. Investing of your skills. Once your website is up and running, it is possible to a small amount of money on posts targeting location make it appear higher up the search engine rankings by or those more likely be interested in your services can regularly updating and adding content. Not only does help speed this process up.
Allocating just £10 to a targeted post can put your brand in front of hundreds or even thousands of potential customers you may not have been able to otherwise reach. Social media sites offer easy how-to guides to ensure you spend your money effectively. Be sure to remain professional when you post and respond quickly to any queries, because social media platforms can lead to new and repeat business. If you link content from your website through your social media channels, you can raise your search engine ranking.
Personal relations It is important to note that marketing is not confined to websites, social media, and branded items. Though these can get your foot in the door, being professional and considerate when on the job will lead to repeat business. With that in mind, it is important to focus on the little things and leave the best possible impression. Turning up on time, wiping your feet when you enter someone’s home and ensuring you look clean and presentable can help to generate customer trust and will make them more inclined to approach you for future work. Take the time to chat and be friendly with the customer while carrying out your work, and tell them what you are doing and why. Putting them at ease while you are in their home will be appreciated. Many boiler manufacturers, including Baxi, offer marketing support to installers. Our Baxi Works loyalty scheme offers business support to members, including a Baxi website listing, professional product shots and listing for your business on our website. For further information please visit www.baxiworks.co.uk
Baxi Works To ÿ nd out more about best business practice and other support, visit Baxi Works: www.baxi.co.uk/ trade/baxi-works
Service to follow up leads Mortgage option available to small business owners
Online lead-generation specialist, The Marketplace, has added a new service to its offering that will help clients close sales leads more effectively. The idea behind this new service grew from customer comments about not having the time to continually follow up on qualified sales leads, which could secure new contracts. Gareth Alexander, Director of Customer Relationships, says: “We found that this is the area most clients need help with, and our experience and expertise over 40 years can be used to convert sales leads more quickly and effectively. We provide clients with an abundance of quality leads and now they’ve got a service which ensures those leads are converted into real business.” If you’re a subscriber to The Marketplace’s Planning Leads Service, they will write to any leads that you identify in your member area, using your letterhead, introducing your company and highlighting your experience. They then request either a meeting or a quote opportunity depending on what fits your business best. They follow this up with a
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call, checking that they have received the letter and to arrange the meeting/quote opportunity or a call. The service is designed to be a cost-effective way to ensure opportunities are not missed and to stay ahead of the competition. To find out more about the services available from The Marketplace, visit the website: www.my-marketplace.co.uk
Specialist business bank OakNorth has announced that it will offer mortgages to small business owners, who may find it difficult to secure a mortgage via traditional routes because they cannot prove a regular income. The bank says it will lend from £500,000 and plans to differentiate itself by offering quick turnarounds on decisions and taking a holistic view of an entrepreneur’s finances. One in 10 business owners in the UK are unable to access the finance they need to purchase their first home, according to OakNorth. The six largest UK banks dominate 77% of the mortgage market but often find it unviable to
create bespoke mortgages for SME business owners. Entrepreneurs who may be asset rich but regular income poor usually find it difficult to pass the high street banks’ lending criteria,
as most banks only accept established and regular payments as ‘income’. To find out more about the lending opportunities from OakNorth, visit: www. oaknorth.com
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PRODUCTS in Action 19 Even heating at the nursing home
Hotel cuts laundry costs Banbury-based Lochinvar has supplied two high efficiency gas-fired EcoSword water heaters to the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, which forms a part of the multisport Stadium MK in Milton Keynes – home of the MK Dons Football Club and the Marshall Arena. The stadium was opened by the Queen in 2007 and has seating for more than 30,000 spectators. The DoubleTree hotel opened two years later and, as well as including rooms with spectacular views of events in the stadium, hosts conferences and other functions.
The Lochinvar fully condensing, low NOx storage water heaters were installed by Professional Energy Solutions to provide a dedicated hot water system for the hotel’s new in-house laundry facility. Previously, the 304-bedroom hotel outsourced its laundry services but now expects to achieve considerable cost savings and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by keeping the service on-site and using high efficiency technology like the EcoSword water heaters. As a result, the investment in the new laundry facility is expected to pay back in less than 18 months.
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Water’s perfect for the music lovers Grundfos Pumps is playing a key role in ensuring the festival-goers at Glastonbury have access to clean water by advising organisers on how to improve the overall control and efficiency of the booster units. Coming up with a bespoke solution to this requirement, the company put forward a coordinated approach that involved several suggested activities. This
precision dosing system, and a remote monitoring system that would result in a significant improvement of data exchange. The remote monitoring system will also mean that all aspects of the network can be accessed and interrogated 24/7, with an instant in-built alarm to advise of any issues. involved the upgrade of the pump motors to more
energy efficient versions, the incorporation of a new
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A Scarborough nursing home is benefitting from an energy boost after a new heating system was installed. Rambla Nursing Home was struggling to manage escalating bills while its 30 residents complained that it was either too hot or too cold. Maintenance manager Ken Harrison contacted Sime looking for a complete overhaul following an examination of the existing technology. The home had previously been managing with storage heaters alone. Local installer Tony Buglass (pictured) suggested a Sime Murelle Equipe HE 70kW. The three-month fitting process allowed residents to remain in-situ throughout and there was minimum disruption to their daily routines. The job included removing the old system and installing a gas heating and hot water solution from scratch. This
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involved new pipe-work and fittings, 50 new radiators with energy efficient TRVs, the new Murelle Equipe HE 70kW boiler, and fitting four heating controls. The result has been considerable savings on heating bills. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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WATER & SYSTEM Treatment 23
The sustainable way to softening water Environmental issues are high on the consumer agenda, so it’s important to offer the latest sustainable water softening technology – so says Kevin Johnson, MD of Monarch Water and Technical Director of the UK Water Treatment Association.
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imescale is a big issue for 60% of UK households living in hard water areas, yet only 6% have installed a water softener to protect their homes. With significant potential profit up for grabs, it’s up to installers to educate their customers about the benefits of the latest generation of sustainable water softeners. Britain is particularly prone to limescale because underground chalk beds containing calcium and magnesium sit under large areas. When water flows through these beds, coming into contact with these minerals, the particles cling to it and bring them into homes. The scale which can be seen all around people’s homes in the form of scale and scum on taps, sinks, baths, showers, toilet bowls and kettles is a result of these minerals turning to limescale once heated. These unsightly blights on homes aren’t just an inconvenience because they take some real elbow grease to remove, but are a sign of something more serious going on behind the scenes.
The build-up of limescale can do serious damage to pipework in the home
Brassware stays shiny when it’s not subjected to hard water
Hard target
approach to sustainable water usage in the UK, it has the Hard water contains around 300mg of dissolved minerals per potential to considerably reduce consumption. litre, which means an average size family can accumulate A sustainable approach to water usage aims to decrease 70kg of limescale. If there are deposits in bathrooms and the amount used from 140 litres per person per day to 100 kitchens then there is definitely going to be limescale litres by 2045, with the intention to reduce consumption coating the inside of pipes as well as heating elements to 50 litres in 50 years’ time. in boilers, dishwashers, The times they are a washing machines and changin’ and with a growing “Installing a water softener will also showers. number of consumers remove accumulated limescale” Not only does limescale getting hot under the collar build-up cause heating about global warming, many elements to work far harder, as they have to heat the of them are now on the lookout for more environmentally scale before the water, but the appliances will cost more friendly solutions to limescale – so now’s the time to push to run too. In fact, according to British Water, just a 1.6mm sustainable water softening to the fore. coating of limescale on a heating element makes it up to 12% less effective and significantly decreases its working life. Growing interest Sustainability has well and truly been in the spotlight Many consumers have already taken steps to reduce over the last few years, most recently with 15 year old Greta their energy and water consumption, even if only to save Thunberg from Sweden putting the world’s governments on themselves money. They are therefore more receptive to notice. Water and energy consumption has driven innovation sustainable products that can help further reduce their in sustainable technology and, with the Government’s consumption and impact on the environment.
Intelligent features on efficient units Now available from Monarch Water is a new range of HE (high efÿciency) sustainable water softeners with OptiBrining. The three models in the range are said to use up to 24% less water and 12% less salt per annum than equivalent counterparts. They are also more compact, making them easy to site. The HE range features intelligent Opti-Brining technology, meaning the units only regenerate when needed, which reduces water, salt and energy consumption for optimum efÿciency. It also offers greater exchange capacity, higher ° ow rates and reduced water consumption during regeneration when compared to existing models.
The HE range also features Monarch Water’s new Rapid-Fit bypass which has reduced 80% of the components needed to ÿt a water softener. Installers simply connect the water in and out from the
mains supply, then attach the hoses to the softener for quick and easy installation. Available for 15, 22 and 28mm supplies, the Opti-Fit has 3/˛ in connections for both hard and soft water tee points. The Opti-Fit also features a 1in high ° ow check valve built into the body to comply with WRAS guidelines, giving a ° ow rate of 80 litres/min. Monarch believes the new HE range of water softeners highlights its commitment to sustainability and product development to bring the next generation of softeners to the market, which give both installers and consumers the beneÿts they want.
“Industry must innovate and change behaviours in order to reduce demand and cut down on wastage,” says Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency. “We all have a duty to use water more wisely at home.” The industry has done just that. There are now sustainable water softening options available for consumers to protect their homes without worrying about their carbon footprint increasing. Conserving water is important to consumers and this was the driving force behind the development of the latest range of high efficiency water softeners which use up to 24% less water and 12% less salt than their predecessors (see box, below). Offering customers the very latest sustainable water softening technology will create a positive perception of installers as conscientious tradespeople, and the fact that they will save customers money is an additional selling point.
Easy sell Installing a water softener will not only protect a home from limescale build-up 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, but it will also remove any that’s already accumulated. This means that appliances will work more efficiently, making significant savings in running costs. It also means they are less likely to break down and their working life will be lengthened. Highlighting these points is the key to securing sales as many consumers will be focusing on the cost of purchase and installation, but it’s important that they view water softeners as an insurance policy to protect their homes from the ravages of limescale. With payback coming in a few short years, the cost is a small price to pay for whole house protection. In fact, some units are still going strong after three decades in action. Put in real terms, a unit’s running costs simply equate to the price of salt blocks or tablets, which is around £8-10 per person, per year. With electric units costing just a few pounds a year, the running costs of the next generation of water softeners is negligible compared to all the benefits and savings they offer in other areas. It’s not just consumers who will benefit from sustainable water softeners – installers can make a profit of around £150 per unit if they purchase at trade cost and offer customers a supply and install quote.
Next generation The latest innovations in water softening technology affords consumers the luxury of protecting their homes and appliances from the negative effects of limescale while conserving more water and energy than before. The next generation of sustainable water softeners also offer installers increased profit potential compared to existing models. Keeping abreast of the very latest water softening technology is vital in helping to establish installers as knowledgeable tradespeople, encouraging customer loyalty and repeat business. monarchwater.co.uk
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24 WATER & SYSTEM Treatment
How phosphate dosing can prevent problems Limescale build-up in heating systems can cause complex problems, but there is a simple solution to keep them at bay, as David Meacock, Technical Director of Cistermiser and Kera˜ o, explains.
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hen the average The calcium within the water attracts Hard questions homeowner the phosphate and as a result the minerals Limescale is made up of thinks of are kept in suspension as the water flows calcium and magnesium, two through the hot water system, preventing limescale, the first place minerals that form a residue the calcium sticking to hot surfaces and they are likely to consider when hard water is heated and leaving a deposit of limescale. The phosphate is their kettle, followed evaporates. Around 60% of the also forms a thin protective layer on metal by appliances such as the UK lies within a hard water surfaces, such as the inside of pipework. washing machine. But left area. Limescale builds in hard untreated, this destructive water conditions at a rate of Soft water issues deposit is also a menace in about 1mm a year. According Those working in the plumbing industry will heating systems. Limescale to British Water, the trade already know that naturally occurring soft can form on any surface association for water can also be harmful to a where the water is heated. the UK water water system – this isn’t always It’s not just unsightly when David Meacock, Technical realised among consumers and industry, hard visible, such as on taps and Director at Cistermiser homeowners. water used by shower heads. Its unseen Containing very few natural damaging effects can be costly, particularly a family of four accumulates minerals, this ‘pure’ water has if allowed to proliferate inside pipework and, some 70kg of limescale in a low pH, making it slightly those 12 months. Also, every worse still, on a boiler’s heat exchanger. acidic and aggressive to 1.6mm, or 1/16in of scale in a Simple solution metals, causing corrosion. heating system, causes a 12% With pipework clogged up, the waterways loss in heating efficiency. Left unchecked, this will narrow, leading to reduced water pressure, create pinholes in the pipe Energy waste is only part poorer flow rates, and a subsequent increase of the equation. Scaling can and leaks may result. An in energy demand. The consequences are cause premature failure of example of such corrosion Galvanized pipe showing higher bills and maintenance costs. can be seen when the residue the boiler. As the limescale heavy corrosion For appliances such as kettles, it’s easy to builds up, this creates an caused by oxidisation of the spot limescale, and the process of descaling insulating layer, inhibiting metal pipes turns tap water is common practice. What is perhaps not heat transfer to the water. Best brown. However, phosphate appreciated, however, is that protecting a case scenario at this point is dosing, or 100% safe foodhousehold heating system and connected that a component will need to grade polyphosphate dosing appliances can also be straightforward. be replaced, but often whole to be more precise, will tackle The correct application of phosphate dosing boilers are written-off and this soft water problem as well will protect against the build-up of limescale new units are required. as limescale caused by hard and extend the life of the water appliance, But all this can be prevented water. reducing the need for maintenance of the with the installation of a Fitting right in heating system. It’s not a difficult system to phosphate dispenser. The Installing a dosing unit could implement either – any competent plumber phosphate does not alter the not be simpler. About the size can install a suitable dosing unit. It doesn’t hardness or softness of the of a teapot, it typically requires require any electrical work or special tools, water but prevents limescale Galvanized pipe protected by a Combiphos layer so it’s relatively easy to do. very little space. It can be build-up.
plumbed directly onto the cold water supply to the property, protecting the whole hot water system, or to an individual appliance. Not all limescale prevention systems achieve a consistent level of dosing, but when installed correctly a good dosing unit will have multiple configuration options with the inlet and outlet clearly marked. No electrics or drainage should be required. The whole job can be completed in less than an hour.
Minimal maintenance Once installed, a dosing unit requires very little ongoing maintenance because it is a totally automatic system, with no user interaction or power required. Integral mains water shut-off valves are easily accessible behind the dosing unit cover to ensure easy maintenance. All that is required to maintain optimum efficiency and limescale prevention is an annual phosphate pellet refill, a five-minute task that requires no special tools. Limescale problems in heating and water systems are often hidden from view until the build-up has created a problem that is costly to fix. For peace of mind and an ongoing hassle-free solution, phosphate dosing is the obvious answer. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Easy way to track system samples With the aim of making it easier for installers to submit system water samples and access their results quickly and easily, Fernox has launched a Water Quality Test app. Customers will be able to register on Android and IOS platforms to download the app and then start beneÿtting from the company’s streamlined laboratory postal sampling service. The Fernox sampling service provides accurate laboratory diagnosis of central heating problems caused by dirty and untreated system water;
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allowing speedy and targeted action to resolve and restore system efÿciency. As part of this service, the company will perform an analysis of all key criteria system water parameters and will advise on the appropriate treatment, if necessary, or conÿrm that the system has been correctly treated and fully protected.
Online service The new Fernox Water Quality Test app will provide installers with a short online form to complete, and a location ÿnder, to speed up the inputting of customer
details. GDPR compliant, the new app protects the privacy of homeowners. Installers need only register their details once and can also use the app to register a Fernox TF1 Filter product warranty. Test samples can be tracked through the testing process via the app and a status of ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ is available at the touch of a screen so the installer is always kept informed. To save costs for installers, Fernox offers free next day delivery to its laboratory with a prepaid envelope included in the Water Quality Test kit. From receiving
the water sample, the test results will be available to view via the app within 2448 hours of receipt – with a full diagnostic report being sent via email or able to view via the Fernox web portal.
Keeping track The app gives installers the ability to keep track of every testing kit logged and review all the results in one, easy to access place. Testing the system water is a key part of the process to ensure boiler efÿciency and we hope that this more technology led approach will aid installers in saving valuable time as
well as making compliance to BS7593 regs so much easier. The Fernox Water Quality Test app is free to download and compatible with all devices. Fernox Water Quality Test Kits
are available for purchase through most major and independent merchant branches and reputable stockists. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Abiding by the code of practice The quality of water used in a heating system will vary across the UK, but following best practice procedures should ensure that the risk of corrosion is kept to a minimum. Ed Morris, Technical Manager at Altecnic, highlights the key points installers should be aware of.
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he best practices for the preparation of the primary circuit of wet central heating systems is outlined in BS7593:2006. This could be initial commissioning or recommissioning following major works (e.g. boiler replacement), but also the ongoing water treatment to ensure continuing efficiency of the system. The system should be designed to allow for efficient cleaning and flushing, and the addition of Ed Morris, Altecnic water treatment chemicals. Technical Manager Particularly, dead legs should be avoided and sufficient drain points should be included. Good handling and storage of pipework and good practice during installation should limit the ingress of installation debris such as millscale, metal swarf, soldering flux, jointing compounds and grease.
Treatment of water Water treatment should be applied to all primary systems except for single feed indirect hot water cylinders. Consideration should be given as to whether the water is hard or soft, as this might influence the approach to water treatment. Naturally soft waters of low alkalinity, or those supplied via a base-exchange resin softener, have an increased potential for corrosion, so a corrosion inhibitor specifically formulated for the purpose should be added and properly maintained.
To minimize the likelihood of corrosion, scale and sludge formation, the system water in any system should be treated with an inhibitor, such as Altecnic C1, and prior to this the system should be treated using Altecnic C3 System Clean to remove all system impurities. Biocides may be dosed into static systems to prevent bacteria multiplying when there is a delay between pressure testing and commencement of flushing and chemical cleaning. www.altecnic.co.uk
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Causes of corrosion Corrosion is generally a process of oxidation of metals which, in a central heating system, can result in restriction of circulation and/or failure of components, such as perforation of radiators. Corrosion in a central heating system is promoted by the following: (A) Poor system design and/or installation by creating oxygenated water; (B) ingress of air, e.g. mechanical or poorly soldered joints; (C) electrolytic (galvanic) action between dissimilar metals; (D) deleterious materials, e.g. f lux residues or jointing compound from the installation process; (E) characteristics of the supply water (hard or soft water) and also chlorine content that can promote pitting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals; (F) other sources of chloride, which include f luxes, hydrochloric acid and washing materials; (G) presence of anaerobic bacteria resulting in acidity and localised pitting corrosion; (H) incorrect, unsuitable or poorly applied or maintained water treatment products; (I) the formation of corrosion products deposited or plated out in the system.
Scale and sludge ‘Hardness’ is the term which describes the concentration of calcium and magnesium salts dissolved in water, usually expressed as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) equivalence (scale). The areas most prone to failure due to fouling by scale or sludge include the boiler heat exchanger and circulator pump. Fouling can also restrict flow through components such as thermostatic radiator valves, zone valves, drain valves, and any parts of the system where there is a low water velocity or small pipe diameters. Sludge accumulation will result in poor circulation and a decrease in system efficiency.
Microbiological contamination Microbiological organisms ranging from simple bacteria to fungal and yeast spores can cause problems when they enter a central heating system. The greatest potential for microbiological proliferation exists in the feed and expansion cistern of open-vented systems. Here the temperature conditions are more favourable for bacterial growth and there is contact with the air. Underfloor heating and other systems which operate at a lower temperature (below 60°C) can also be prone to microbiological fouling. Even the high temperature in the boiler heat exchanger might not be sufficient to kill all microorganisms. ENQUIRY
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Advertisement feature
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Introducing a filter that really fits the bill The Dirtmag MiniTM filter has been launched by Altecnic – designed with installers in mind to offer the most flexible and high performance compact dirt separation solution on the market – Steve Boyd, Head of Trade Sales, highlights the product’s key benefits.
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ver the last decade the average size of new build homes has steadily decreased as developers look to get more from their building plots. This has had a knock-on effect for the plumbing and heating industry as manufacturers work to develop increasingly efficient, space saving solutions to make plumbers’ installations easier. Steve Boyd, Head of Trade A number of new products Sales for Altecnic have been developed and enhanced to accommodate working in ever-tighter spaces and to help address the changes in how heating systems are designed. The Altecnic ALT-ST0035 remote boiler filling loop and our Robokit Compact™ ranges are examples of this innovation – products designed to improve system
monitoring and ease of install. The latest space saving solution from Altecnic is the ultra-compact Dirtmag Mini™ filter. Despite its compact size it does not compromise on features, performance or versatility. Suitable for under-boiler installation, the filter includes a high performance 13,000 gauss internal removable magnet and fully rotational body.
Flexible friend The Dirtmag Mini™ has been specifically designed for flexible installation, including a quick-fit system and interchangeable compression connections for horizontal, vertical or angled installation. A unique self-cleaning function allows installers to drain debris from the system without opening the filter body, and the full bore isolation valves ensure ease of servicing. The Dirtmag Mini™ comes packaged as a single unit or as part of a compliance pack which includes the new FAST high performance cleaner and maximum protection inhibitor aerosol canisters.
About Altecnic Part of the Caleffi Group, Altecnic Ltd is the UK’s leading supplier of hydronic solutions. Established near Stafford in 1987, the company imports and supplies over 5000 product lines to distributors in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. www.altecnic.co.uk
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Talking about prevention and protection It’s important for installers to be able to explain the benefits of water treatment and system filters to their customers – so says Daniel Cheung, Sentinel’s UK Marketing and Customer Experience Manager.
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hile your customers will mostly understand the basics about their boilers, as an installer you have a responsibility to provide the best possible heating advice to homeowners. What’s more, being able to educate your customers helps to position you as an expert, helping to build your relationships with them to secure extra business in the future. The benefits of replacing an ageing boiler with a more efficient model are now common knowledge, but one thing many of your customers perhaps won’t be aware of is the role filters play in ensuring heating systems run as efficiently as possible. In order to be able to demonstrate their importance, it’s vital that you have a thorough understanding of how filters are used to prevent boiler issues and keep call out costs down for your customers.
First defence Before installing a filter, best practice water treatment should be your first line of defence. Many of your customers may, at first, be unwilling to commit to any extra costs so it’s important to emphasise the importance of water treatment in preventing boiler failure. When untreated water comes into contact with the metal inside the heating system, corrosion occurs, eventually creating a sludge which can block key components of the central heating system including the boiler heat exchangers, pumps and valves – this inevitably leads to inefficiency or failure of the system. There are three basic steps to preventing this: ‘clean, protect, maintain’. Cleaning removes contaminants such as corrosion debris, residual flux or greases from internal surfaces and circulating water and prepares the system for inhibitor protection. Protection with inhibitor prevents corrosion (and limescale deposits in systems in hard water areas), while maintenance is an annual process of checking inhibitor levels and, if necessary, topping up.
Fitting a filter
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Once you’ve explained the importance of water treatment, your next step is to inform your customers of the role a filter plays in further protecting the boiler and other components. A powerful magnetic filter should be installed as an added insurance against harmful, residual circulating particles. A filter works by capturing and removing these particles which can cause wear and tear and premature failure of the key components of your customers’ heating systems, leaving them without heat.
It’s important to explain to customers how water treatment can help prevent boiler failure
Essentially, filters ensure that your customers’ heating systems are running at optimum efficiency, preventing breakdowns and ultimately keeping them happy. There’s more good news too, as filters are relatively easy to install, providing you have a spanner and a pipe cutter. The first step in installing a filter is to turn off the power to the boiler and allow the system to cool, before draining an appropriate amount of water and cutting an adequate length of pipe – the exact measurements will be detailed in the filter instruction manual. The filter should then be attached to the pipework using a spanner and tightened by hand. In terms of placement, a filter should be installed on the system return pipe to the boiler, rather than the flow pipe. This is because the filter’s primary function is to capture any circulating debris and prevent it from entering the boiler. Filters come in all sizes but if you can, look out for smaller filters that are easier to install on all orientations of pipework and those that can be installed on both plastic and copper.
Regular maintenance Maintaining a filter is also a simple process and emptying the filter during an annual service should only take you a few minutes. For example, a simple flush valve in our Eliminator Vortex range of filters means any debris that has been captured can simply be drained out, meaning you don’t need to take the filter apart. Working together, water treatment and filters will help to protect and maintain the effectiveness of a heating system and increase the life span of the boiler – benefits that will be well received by homeowners. The difference your customers will see in terms of cost savings and the smooth running of their boilers will help boost your relationships and, in turn, improve your chances of repeat business. www.sentinelprotects.com/uk
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WATER & SYSTEM Treatment 29 Enhanced system filter A new improved version of its 22mm System Filter has been introduced by Keston Boilers for use with its combi and system boilers. Developed with market leaders ADEY, the 22mm filter provides protection to heating systems against the damaging effects of magnetite and nonmagnetic debris.
Enhancements include a quick-release trigger that will enable the filter to be easily removed and reinstalled, making it easier to install and maintain. The new design also features a low profile drain valve, which means that the filter may not have to be fully removed when it is serviced.
For ease of installation, the filter comes with 360° rotational valves which will accommodate both vertical or horizontal pipework flow. Fitting and registering the new 22mm System Filter with a Keston combi or system boiler will mean that the company’s standard five year boiler warranty will be extended to seven years.
Compact solution
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Express range has added protection The Express range of chemical water treatment products from Fernox has been relaunched with new 400ml recyclable canisters and more active ingredients. Every product in the range is now able to protect a system up to 130 litres (or up to 16 radiators) and the equivalent of 250m2 of underfloor systems, thereby helping to reduce the risk of under-dosing. Offering a quick and convenient way of treating
a central heating system, the Express range can dose into a pressurised system without the need for drain down, saving time on-site
especially when servicing a system and toppingup on inhibitor at annual maintenance time. With a range of dosing
adaptors and a fully controllable trigger mechanism, the product can be expelled from the can with no wastage or mess. Richard Crisp, Technical Manager – Chemistry at Fernox, comments: “We’ve looked at ways to improve the technical capability of our chemicals to make it as easy as possible for installers to achieve the best possible results every time.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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A mental health facility in Birmingham has recently benefitted from the first installation of the MagnaClean Commercial DRX filter from ADEY. The Eden Unit needed to replace two floor mounted cast iron boilers with two new condensing models, but restricted space in the plant room meant that there wasn’t room for ADEY’s 2in MagnaClean Commercial filter. The installers, Unique Mechanical Services, knew that the company had been developing a new compact commercial filter and the MagnaClean DRX proved to be the ideal solution. The filter was installed vertically and in-line, fitting neatly into a corner, tight to the wall whilst still maintaining good access for future servicing. Prior to this the system was dosed with ADEY’s MC3+ premium chemical cleaner to help break down any magnetite. It has since been dosed with MC1+ chemical cleaner to provide further protection. www.adey.com
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The best way to clean and protect a system For any installer who wants to know more about the benefits of cleaning and protecting a central heating system, ADEY offers a practical one day course on its Best Practice approach to water treatment. PHAM News finds out more about what the day involves.
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he need to clean, protect and maintain central heating systems is now widely accepted in the industry, with chemical water treatment, flushing machines and magnetic filters all part of the installer’s armoury against energy sapping sludge and system corrosion. But how much do you understand about the science behind system treatment and the best ways to provide ongoing protection? For installers who want to improve their knowledge, ADEY offers a free one day’s training that explains how to follow the steps outlined in its Best Practice treatment programme. Staged at the company’s head office in Cheltenham, and at a number of other locations around the country, the course provides an insight into how system treatment products work and a chance to gain some practical handson experience. With class sizes usually limited to no more than six at a time, it also offers an opportunity to ask those questions that you’ve never got around to finding an answer to. “When we start the day, one of the first things we say is that there is no such thing as a daft question,” says Glenn Stonehouse, Senior Technical Training and Support. “We’re all among friends and we’re happy to go over things as many times as it takes.”
Better approach Along with his ADEY colleague, Colin Yearp, Glenn has invested a lot of time and effort in setting up the company’s training facility and devising a course that engages with installers and addresses many of the issues that they come across out in the field. He argues that the adoption of a Best Practice approach to system protection and maintenance is one way that professional installers can differentiate themselves from their less scrupulous competitors. “We just want to give installers as much knowledge as possible so they can upsell themselves,” he explains. “It’s about getting the guys into good habits and it’s one way to catch out the cowboys in the industry. We want to make sure they are doing things the right way so that an installation doesn’t come back to bite them further down the line when things start to go wrong.” With over 20 years experience as a heating and plumbing installer, Glenn knows what it’s like to work on the tools and also recognises that a day sitting down to listen to a PowerPoint presentation isn’t going to hold much appeal for those more used to getting their hands dirty. “A lot of people learn more when they get to do things themselves rather than hearing a lecture or reading through a manual,” Glenn suggests. “I think if installers can actually see how things work, then they pick things up a lot easier.”
Glenn runs through the magnetic filter range and demonstrates how to shift sludge from radiators during the flushing process
Although kept to a minimum, there’s no getting away from presentations altogether and the training day will typically start with an overview of some of the most common causes of central heating issues. Glenn suggests that a lot of problems are ultimately down to poor system design, which leads to oxygenated water and then ultimately to corrosion. A magnetic filter is a good way of judging what’s going on with a heating system, so rather than simply cleaning the filter and moving on, installers are advised to look into the issues that are giving the filter work to do. Glenn also takes time to discuss how the company’s filters work, where they should be fitted on the system, and the different options available. “It’s great that they are using an ADEY filter,” he says, “but is it the right one? We’ve got a number of filters in the range now, so it’s important that installers understand what each one does and the differences between them.”
Chemical set
also means that we’re using less water. All the installers on the course will get a chance to use it and they’ll see the magnetite coming back into the machine and just how easy and effective the whole process is. It’s good that they can see the evidence of everything working.” The day’s training is usually over by 4pm, but one of the advantages of small groups is that there is flexibility to adapt the format and the timetable to suit requirements on the day. “We understand that people have busy lives and work to do,” says Glenn, “so as long as we’ve enough time to get all the information across that we need to, then we’re happy to work around their needs. Equally, I’ll always be happy to have a chat if they want to speak to me after the course.” To book a place on the ADEY Best Practice Training Course please contact: trainingacademt@adey.com adey.com
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The morning session then moves on to chemicals where, again, the key focus is on differentiating the various options available, including system cleaners, protectors, biocides and anti-freeze solutions. “Most installers who come on the course are aware that we do chemicals, but they’re probably not aware of the full range,” says Glenn. “They might know about the need to use an inhibitor and a cleaner, but they don’t necessarily understand what they’re doing to a system and how they make a difference. We’re just trying to give them a bit more knowledge which makes it easier for them to explain things to the customer who might otherwise think that they’re just trying to make a few extra pounds on the job.” Biological growth and the importance of biocides is another issue Glenn is keen to highlight, as it’s likely to be something that installers are going to come up against with low temperature systems and the wider installation of plastic pipework in new build and underfloor heating projects.
Flushed away
How to carry out a quick test on a sample of system water
Delegates who might be itching to get up on their feet by this stage will be pleased to know that much of the afternoon session is dedicated to putting theories into practice, with the chance to work on a live heating system and ADEY’s Magnacleanse flushing system, the star of the show. “The Magnacleanse is our way of flushing a system, which we would recommended with every new boiler,” explains Glenn. “It uses system pressure and the boiler as the heat source, so we’re not stressing the pipework. It ENQUIRY
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32 TRAINING & Education
Top marks for tailored initiatives Understanding that training needs to be both targeted and accessible, Viessmann has enhanced its Infomobile facility to deliver convenient, local learning opportunities to installers around the country. Marketing Director Darren McMahon explains more.
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eating engineers are busy people. They’ll be juggling the administration of their business with carrying out installations and servicing work, liaising with customers and managing staff. At the same time, they have to stay abreast of the latest industry developments and keep expanding their teams’ skills to provide the best service and grow their businesses. They want to engage in continuous professional development, but it’s hard to find the time. Added to which, long training courses can be costly, often in terms of fees and certainly due to lost revenue. It’s essential that any investment in professional education has real impact and gives a rapid payback. One option prioritised by Viessmann has been the development of short, individually-tailored sessions on installers’ doorsteps via two fully-equipped ‘Infomobiles.’ This route addresses the pressures installers are under, making training as effective and convenient as possible. We understand that not everyone can make the trip for every course they’d like to attend at our Telford office.
Fully equipped These specially converted and continuously updated 3500kg Peugeot Boxer vans are fitted with 32-inch screens, control walls featuring every type of Viessmann appliance-control system, up to four boilers from our Vitodens range, and solar panels, as well as comfortable learning spaces and break-out areas. The visually striking Infomobiles have been touring the UK since 2016 as updated models to our original training vehicle from 2005, which eventually had to be retired after over 100,000 miles. They play a major role in ensuring we can provide the bespoke, accessible training our installers need. We give our sales teams around three weeks’ notice that we’re coming to their area with one of our expert trainers and, with up to four people per course – ideal for small businesses – spaces fill up fast. Each session is then precisely honed to match the specific training needs of individual participants. We offer a complete range of up-to-the-minute practical and theoretical learning opportunities, including product
Viessmann’s training and demonstration vehicle travels far and wide to deliver tailored courses to installers on their doorstep
overviews for those new to the Viessmann brand, deep-dive sessions exploring a topic of interest in depth, briefings on the latest government initiatives, regulations and business tools, or a mix of these according to each learner’s requirements. Learning sessions typically last just 90 minutes but can be up to three hours for things like electrical repairs and maintenance. Installers always leave upskilled and considerably further forward in their knowledge, all without too much disruption to their working day.
Spoilt for choice Interest in Viessmann training is increasing all the time, thanks to the growing success of our products and our unique approach to learning. To meet demand, this summer we’re rolling out the largest number of new courses in our UK history. Top of the popularity stakes is the Vitodens 200-W gas condensing boiler training. Installers who want to offer a premium boiler that is powerful, flexible, highly efficient and easy to maintain are already keen to get trained on the new boiler, particularly, as with the current model, this enables them to give their customers extended warranties. The Vitodens 200-W boilers will be in merchants in time for the new heating season. Another new course for the Vitodens range is boiler fault diagnostics. This is suitable for installers who want to know more about servicing and maintenance of this product family. On the commercial side, we are starting new training courses on the economical and flexible Vitocrossal 100 and its powerful larger sibling the Vitocrossal 200. These gascondensing boilers have been very popular since launch and our training provision has adapted accordingly.
Renewed interest Increased interest and what looks like a return to government support for renewables has led to demand for our new heat pump and fuel cell courses. With the recent report by the Committee on Climate Change calling for urgent action to improve the quality of UK homes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the proposed post-2025 ban on gas boilers in newbuilds announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement in March, it’s not surprising this is a growth area for many installers. The new heat pump course is focused around our Vitocal 200-A and 222-A air source heat pump models and is suitable for any gas engineer who is looking to move into renewables, as well as those who already fit heat pumps but want to improve their understanding of commissioning and controlling them. It covers how to ENQUIRY
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Training officer James Bailey delivers the heat pump course
Technical Director Christian Engelke explains Viessmann’s Vitovalor PT2 fuel cell system
design and correctly size a heat pump system, as well as our latest E3 control system. The fuel cell course gives participants a thorough understanding of the Vitovalor PT2, the latest version of the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell boiler and one of the most energy efficient heating systems available today. Costing the same as a heat pump, but producing electricity as well as domestic heat, this micro-CHP can save users up to 36% of household energy consumption compared to separate heat and power generation. We understand that each course is part of a larger educational journey in which installers expand their skills and knowledge in stages as their business develops. Our unique approach is likely to continue to keep our Telford classrooms as well as our Infomobiles busy up and down the country for a long time to come. www.viessmann.co.uk
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Strength in numbers With skilled heating installers in demand, it’s important to take advantage of the free training and advice available from the industry, says Rachel Smith, General Manager at Polypipe Underfloor Heating.
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ualified, plumbers and heating engineers are valuable assets in a marketplace which is experiencing a recruitment challenge and generation drain. For those on the front foot, linking up with leading manufacturers and trade bodies can enhance their company visibility, trust among customers, and open up new business opportunities. Happily, UK heating engineers are held in high esteem by the general public and consumers. According to the recent public attitudes survey from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), heating engineers have been named by consumers as the most helpful and trusted tradespeople.
Rising demand Sales in boilers and heating systems are increasing, as housebuilding and refurbishment is on the rise, but this customer demand is growing at a time when only 7500 heating engineers – just 6% of the workforce – is now under the age of 35. This has raised concerns among industry bodies that the slower level of recruitment cannot
Water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme (WIAPS), could prove valuable when it comes to winning new business.
Registered network
Polypipe offers underfloor heating installers BPEC training and accreditation
match the increasing number of engineers expected to leave the profession in the next decade. It is therefore advisable for professionals to work with manufacturers and trade bodies that are introducing schemes and tools that will help equip sole traders to adapt to the challenges faced by the industry. Membership with a key trade body, such as CIPHE or the APHC, is still highly recommended, while registration with recognised schemes, such as the
At Polypipe our RHEN (Registered Heating Engineer Network) scheme has been growing for the past three years by offering heating engineers and plumbers access to BPEC accredited training, project technical advice, a dedicated point of contact, and a range of other services designed to make management of a growing business easier. At our Professional Development Centre in Doncaster, we’ve teamed up with the national construction qualification provider as part of establishing the centre as a place for young professional installers to increase their skill set. Being BPEC accredited ensures that installers keep up to date on the industry’s technological advances and regulatory requirements, adapting their skills to meet the changing needs of the plumbing and heating industry. A further success has been the introduction of the free UFH Estimate Tool app designed
RHEN members work to the highest standards
for registered heating engineers to quote for work quickly and accurately when meeting a prospective customer. Since its launch just one year ago, it has more than 1600 individual users as more professionals convert to smart and digital technology to manage their day-to-day business operations. With the UFH Estimate Tool, professionals can reinforce the feelings of trust from customers who know that RHEN members work to the highest standards. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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polypipeufh.com/professional/installer
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Becoming commercially minded Domestic heating installers looking to expand their services might look to the commercial sector, which offers a variety of opportunities in this lucrative ÿeld. Here, Mark Krull, Director at Logic4training, offers some advice on what to expect when adding this skillset.
E
xperienced domestic installers already have the core skill set required to upskill to the commercial sector, and for many this is the logical next step in furthering their career and growing their business. To make a successful transition, further training and assessment is required to ensure compliance with the increased health and safety requirements of the sector, as Mark Krull, Director at well as provide the depth of Logic4training knowledge needed to work on the larger and more complex plant often found in commercial environments. In addition to qualifications and practical training, installers entering the commercial sector need a thorough understanding of how the logistics and culture differ from the domestic market. From winning work to building relationships with clients, many of the processes are worlds apart.
Starting point To undertake any upskilling or commercial changeover course, engineers need to hold their core domestic gas safety (CNN1) qualification and have been Gas Safe registered for a minimum of six months – ideally longer. The upskilling route is designed for new entrants to the commercial sector, whereas changeover is more suited to gas engineers with some commercial experience. Quality commercial training courses will offer in-depth training covering the types of appliances, flues, controls and systems that are commonly found in commercial facilities, such as office blocks or factories. Rather than going over old ground, a good changeover course will build on previous experience and existing qualifications. Commercial gas safety training manuals are a good point of reference. Ambitious engineers could consider enhancing their core commercial skill set with a more specialist qualification, moving into commercial catering or commercial laundry.
Tips on finding commercial work 1. Get accredited As well as demonstrating that you are a good business to work with, accreditation schemes may have their own lists of certified companies which prospective employers will use to find suitable contractors. 2. Get on the Preferred Suppliers List Many companies in the commercial sector will have a Preferred Suppliers List (PSL) of trusted contractors who can tender for work. It’s worth finding out as much as possible about their requirements and making sure that you comply. Show them you have a good reputation and you’re serious about working for them. Once you get to know them, you might be able to get your foot in the door. Moving into commercial work offers the opportunity to specialise in areas such as laundry or catering
Tendering for work One of the key challenges when entering the commercial sector for the first time is learning to tender for work. Unlike the domestic environment, commercial contractors win work by submitting a formal bid for tender, a detailed document which sets out a schedule of work to be undertaken and the costs involved. To be in the running, you need to be organised, accurate with your pricing and detail-oriented – budgets may be bigger but they are also tighter. Do some research about the company, find out what their values are so that you can tailor your bid. It needs to be a focused effort that is well presented and matches their stated and underlying needs. As part of the tendering process, you will be required to produce documentation which demonstrates your competence. This includes your qualifications alongside risk assessments, health and safety policies, and method statements. One step you can take to ease this process is to join a competence scheme, such as SafeContractor or CHAS. Once you’ve signed up, you only need to submit your compliance documents once a year rather than multiple times to various clients. It’s also common for organisations to insist on accreditation of this kind before they make a contract with you, as it shows your business meets all the necessary health and safety requirements.
3. Keep an eye on the press Lots of projects are publicised through notices and advertisements in trade magazines, newspapers and online. Keeping a keen eye on these sources will also ensure you stay up to date with relevant industry news. 4. Use LinkedIn to network and connect Put the feelers out to businesses in your own industry and beyond. Social media is a great way to facilitate this, particularly LinkedIn. It’s a great place to build your professional reputation and relationships, and make connections with companies you’d like to work for. You can find out what’s going on in the sector, find leads for projects, and showcase information about your business.
Be prepared There are exciting opportunities out there for the taking, but to make the best of them it’s important to be fully informed and prepared. Make sure you have a healthy cash flow to support your ventures and do plenty of research, both online and in person, by talking to industry contacts who might be able to offer advice. Logic4training has published ‘The Ultimate Guide to Careers in the Commercial Sector’, which can be downloaded from the website: www.logic4training.co.uk www.logic4training.co.uk
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Helping to spread shower knowledge Whether an installer with many years of experience, or an apprentice who’s just setting out on their career, Mira Showers offers a range of training options.
Headstart Since its launch in 2014, Mira’s Headstart initiative has staged over 200 training days and given out nearly 5000 certificates to students that have completed the training. The sessions last around two and a half hours and are delivered by independent lecturers with real-life experience of working in the plumbing trade. The training provides
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students with an opportunity to experience interactive demos of Mira products, such as retrofitting a Jump MultiFit electric shower, as well as in-depth product training to equip them in their career. There is also a focus on digital showering, and each session is tailored to the specific level of the student. This means as they progress through the years, the session will be recapping previous years and then introducing a new, deeper level of content.
Toolbox Over 1000 contractors are trained every year through Mira’s Toolbox Training – a
dedicated training scheme for professionals in the community housing sector to help with the installation and maintenance of Mira showers and promote good shower installation practice. Trainers use real-life examples, products and photographs to demonstrate common problems in community housing bathrooms. This provides added value, as having a sound working knowledge of product installation, maintenance and fault diagnosis helps to boost productivity. It also has a positive impact on council budgets, as problems can be addressed quickly and with minimal disruption.
The shower manufacturer organises a series of workshops throughout the UK, offering free sessions to housing associations, local authorities and their contractors, in their own time and at their own depots.
Installer Club Mira also has five Installer Clubs in Cheltenham, Uxbridge, Hull, Newport and the South East, with over 100 members across the five regions. The clubs aim to create a partnership with local and trusted installers, allowing members to give valuable feedback on product design, helping to ensure that the
latest showers meet the needs of both the end user and installers. Other benefits of being a member include access to an online forum – a dedicated space for sharing advice and ideas, invitations to events, news about new products, plus exclusive discounts
and promotions across the Mira range. For more information on the Mira Showers Installer Club, visit: www. mirashowers.co.uk / professional-zone/installerclub PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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TRAINING & Education 35 Learning by degrees on your own time Gas and plumbing courses covered The controls manufacturer Drayton has launched a new online training academy as part of its installer loyalty scheme, the 9º Network. 9º Know How gives members exclusive access to product training, best practice installation advice, troubleshooting tips and more. The first available training module is focused on Wiser, the company smart multizone heating system, and allows installers to achieve Wiser Approved status.
The 30-minute training module is delivered through a series of videos. These include a product overview,
kit selection advice, commissioning and set up guides, and tips for helping customers get the most from
their Wiser system. Once the videos have been watched, installers have to complete short multiple-choice tests to achieve their Wiser Approved status. Drayton also carries out this training face-to-face as part of its Wiser UK Training Tour at multiple locations all over the UK. To book a place on the next available training session, and receive a Wiser Multi-zone kit worth £200, visit the Drayton website. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Introduction to underfloor heating Trade underfloor heating supplier TUS is offering free one-day training to installers. The courses include an introduction to underfloor heating, systems and design principles, installation techniques, plus advice from industry experts. TUS MD Mike Beck comments: “For installers the commercial benefits available from offering underfloor heating to homeowners can be significant. Furthermore, given the benefits of
UFH versus radiator systems, more and more homeowners are already sold on the concept and are demanding it in their properties, be it a new
build or renovation project. “The feedback we received from installers at our spring course was fantastic and we already have a number confirmed for our summer course which takes place in July. “Anyone who is interested in making the move towards installing UFH should definitely consider the course. It’s a great starting point and we usually find that installers are pleasantly surprised that both the theory and
practical elements of underfloor heating are a lot simpler than they initially thought.” TUS’s training courses are delivered in partnership with Emmeti UK, part of BEAMA Underfloor, the UK’s trade association for underfloor heating. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Based in Coalville, the Stephenson Training and Assessment Centre offers businesses and individuals training across the gas and plumbing sectors. Gas courses on offer cover both domestic and commercial tuition, including changeover courses for those looking to add commercial work to their skillset. There are courses covering training, assessment and re-assessment in a number of areas. Plumbing is also wide ranging, with courses from foundation diplomas 1-3, to water regulations and unvented hot water systems. The centre is within easy access of the M1, M42 and East Midlands Airport, and there is a large free car park onsite. stephensoncoll.ac.uk
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Level 3 qualification now available from BPEC The new BPEC Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating qualification is now available for registration. The qualification is a mandatory requirement within the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician (Level 3) Apprenticeship Standard. A range of bespoke resources to help centres and their staff in the delivery of this qualification are available free of charge as part of registration and certification fees. These include workbooks, practical guides, PowerPoint presentations, schemes of work, and centre guidance documents. The new textbook for Phase 1 offers specific guidance and tutor support throughout the programme. Written exclusively for BPEC by plumbing author Mike Maskrey, the textbook offers comprehensive coverage of both practical and theory
aspects, and includes learning outcomes and assessment criteria relating to each unit.
Second to none Neil Collishaw, BPEC CEO, says: “We are confident that our qualification and supporting materials are second to none, offering extensive support to colleges and training centres delivering this new qualification. The qualification and resources have been developed by our highly experienced team and I am proud that we
have such an outstanding and comprehensive package available. “The positive response we have received regarding our textbook and resources confirms to me that we have developed a qualification which will benefit both delivery staff and their learners.” For colleges and training centres interested in gaining approval to deliver this qualification, contact the BPEC AO Team via email at aoadmin@bpec.org.uk. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.bpec.org.uk
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36 TRAINING & Education
How to work safely with electrics Electricity has become increasingly important in the installation of heating appliances. It is therefore important for installers to build a better understanding of best practice and how to protect themselves from shocks, says Graham Collins, Training Support Manager at Baxi Heating.
T
he majority of heating engineers are not qualified electricians, and those who are may not have been trained with boilers in mind. Indeed, there is an attitude that electrics are for electricians, so heating engineers do not need to understand it. Yet, as modern gas boilers continue to become more technologically sophisticated, this view is becoming increasingly outdated. As such, an understanding of the basics of electrics and how it intersects with boilers is now vital for the modern heating engineer. When safety is not considered, electricity can be dangerous. Even when performing routine work, the possibility remains that a heating engineer could be electrocuted. Though these incidents are not common, a number have occurred over recent years. Even one shock is too many, and this makes raising awareness on this topic an absolute necessity.
Avoiding shocks Heating engineers can reduce the risk of electrocution by being proactive about electrical safety. Undertaking training, including how to protect against electric shock when servicing or repairing a boiler, is an excellent first step. With that in mind, at Baxi we organise three-day fault-finding courses to show heating engineers how to carry out component fault-finding tests, use multi-meters and conduct electrical safety tests like safe isolation. Also included is an extensive detailing of potential faults, as well as training in all boiler components and hands on boiler fault-finding diagnostics. Knowing about safety and risk mitigation is crucial, and well worth the three-day investment. After all, heating engineers would not work on gas boilers without sufficient training, so they should not do the same with electricity.
Unverified videos Another consequence of improving technology is that heating engineers now have access to a wide array of DIY tutorials on YouTube and other video-sharing platforms. Though these videos can help instil a greater understanding of electrical work, it must be noted that the majority are unverified and may not show correct practice. For this
Visitors to Baxi’s training facilities will get a chance to benefit from hands-on experience and are encouraged to ask questions
reason, heating engineers are advised to instead turn to online resources supplied by manufacturers for guidance, such as our weekly #TrainingTuesday videos. Despite the need for caution, there is no reason why heating engineers should be daunted by working safely with electricity. By using a multi-meter and other testing equipment it is possible to quickly establish the first and fundamental concern – whether the boiler is safe to work on and whether its components are working properly.
Testing time Tests should be carried out to establish initial safety and correct connection to the electrical supply. These include earth loop impedance, safe isolation, an earth continuity test, a short circuit test, a resistance to earth test and a voltage polarity test. Being familiar with these basic electrical tests can help heating engineers stand out from their competitors and make fault finding easier. Yet this is only possible through training. By contrast, a lack of awareness around electrical safety could lead to life-threatening or even fatal consequences. To avoid such situations, it is imperative that heating engineers remain up-to-date on the latest technological and industry updates. Not only will this result in better safe working practices – it could prevent injury and save lives.
Three day course Baxi’s three-day generic fault-ÿnding course has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). The course covers: ‘How a combi works’, ‘Multimeter training’ and ‘Boiler diagnostics’. On the ÿrst day, delegates ÿnd out exactly how a combi works. Knowing and understanding the sequence of events that lead to the boiler ÿring up makes it easier to work through and identify where an issue may lie when you are called to a breakdown. Day two is all about using and understanding a multimeter. Our trainers will explain how to use this valuable tool to carry out safety checks and identify whether components are working properly. On the ÿnal day, delegates will put into practice everything they have learned in the previous two days. They will work on live boilers which have been set up by the trainers with faults for them to identify and put right. To ÿnd out more visit: https://trade.baxi.co.uk/tradearea/training/Fault-Finding-Course.htm www.baxi.co.uk/trade
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Learn about burner benefits Alpha doubles its facilities Firebird is offering installers and heating engineers the opportunity to receive one-to-one training on the Firebird by Elco low NOx burner, designed in conjunction with the company’s Envirogreen boiler range. In a series of events that are being held across the UK, installers will be able to work on burners and meet key personnel from the Firebird and Elco technical teams. The events also include a technical presentation highlighting the benefits of Firebird’s Envirogreen range, which is followed by a complimentary three course meal and the opportunity for further discussion. Designed specifically to
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meet restrictions placed on NOx emission levels, the Envirogreen range at 60mg/ kWh exceeds the stringent 120mg/kWh limit introduced last year. Commenting on the initiative, David Hall, UK Director of Firebird, says: “We have been overwhelmed by the success of these
events and the thirst for knowledge from the heating industry. By having the opportunity to work on the low NOx burner, installers are seeing firsthand the numerous benefits this burner and the Envirogreen range has to offer.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Training provision at Alpha Heating Innovation has been expanded with the addition of four new facilities. Joining centres in Glasgow, Barnsley, Birmingham and the Alpha HQ in Kent is the North West Training Council’s (NWTC) Gas Centre in Speke, the Norwich Gas Centre, and two further centres in Bristol and Portsmouth. The installer training course provides practical experience of installation, commissioning, servicing and diagnostics for the company’s domestic boiler range and also delves into Alpha’s renewable energy products including GasSaver, FlowSmart and SolarSmart to explore how they work, installation, plus features and benefits.
Commenting on the courses offered, Technical Manager Darran Smith says: “We are committed to looking after the future of our installers with these additional training centres set to provide hands-on experience with the Alpha
range of products. By giving participants the opportunity to improve their knowledge and become experienced in our boiler technology, we are ensuring all our customers have a high standard later down the line.” Susan Flower of North West Training Council adds: “Alpha is a welcome addition to our training centre and adds value to the delivery of our courses. It’s very important that gas engineers future-proof their skills with new modern equipment, whilst gaining recognised industry qualifications.” To book a place on a course, call 0344 871 8763 or email training@alphainnovation.co.uk. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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TRAINING & Education 37 Head to Stamford Catching up with continuous flow for training needs Lincolnshire based Stamford Gas Training is celebrating its first anniversary of offering fullyaccredited courses in the gas and plumbing sectors. Mark Hudson, Centre Manager, along with Roman Fenyk, carry out training and assessments, and between them they have a combined 70 years experience. The facility includes a fully equipped workshop with purposebuilt assessment bays. Class sizes are kept small and the training and assessment is carried out in a relaxed and friendly environment. Courses on offer include: CCN1 Initial and Re-assessment, Managed Learning Program, LPG ACS Changeover, Unvented Hot Water and Water Regulations. stamfordgastraining.co.uk
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For installers looking to extend their service offering to continuous flow hot water heating units, Rinnai provides free courses on best practice in system design, sizing, installation, service, maintenance, regulations and legislation, both current and pending. Rinnai says there is an end user expectation of service and maintenance plans and has seen an increase in enquiries in recent years in this respect. “We will be offering selected service plans to include call outs, planned maintenance, and safety checks in order to give specific customers a total
Making commercial sense Training dates in June are now open for Potterton Commercial’s Sirius three, Paramount five and Eurocondense five boiler ranges at its Training Academy in Warwick. The single day courses are free to attend. The Sirius three training course covers installation requirements, commissioning and maintenance. Engineers will become familiar with single and cascade installation, flueing types and flue accessories, and electrical supply and controls connections. It also
covers commissioning, how to carry out an annual service, understanding the sequence of operation, as well as identifying faults and accessing fault codes and history. There are also training courses available for the company’s Paramount five and Eurocondense five range of boilers. To find out more or to book on a training course, please visit the website below. www.pottertoncommercial.co.uk/training 134
solution,” comments Tony Gittings, MD. “We will be, as always, working with our installer and contractor customers to enhance and add value to
their business offering.” Phil Nolan, Training Officer for Rinnai, adds: “We believe we make the best products in the continuous flow arena and we strive to offer the
very best in customer service excellence. We are committed to the installer and contractor as the route to the end user. Offering training absolutely free of any charge is also part of that commitment.” Supported by many optional extras, including extensive warranties and fully qualified technical after sales service teams, Rinnai says its hot water systems can fulfil requirements on new or existing projects, providing the optimum solution using individual or multiple appliances in a cascade system. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Ventilation from all angles The NICEIC Domestic Ventilation training course from Vent-Axia is aimed at anyone with an interest in installing ventilation systems. The course provides the necessary skills in system design, installation, testing, commissioning, handover, servicing and fault-finding of ventilation systems in accordance with the latest National Occupational Standards and Minimum Technical Competency documents. In addition, the training provision allows installers
to sign up for Toolbox Talks which provide hands-on training, illustrating the best practice installation of
ventilation products. This aims to help improve the first-time fix rate, saving time on site for installers and ensuring the right ventilation is specified for the job. Hand-in-hand with Toolbox Talks, CPD seminars are available for installers, building surveyors and technical officers to help increase their knowledge of the problems and solutions associated with condensation and mould, providing up-todate specialist knowledge. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Passing on skills With 45 years experience as a registered heating engineer George Staszak, aka ‘Mr Combi’, is well placed to give installers the confidence and skills they need to boost their income. Mr Combi Training delivers a Breakdown, Fault Finding & Multimeter course every two to three weeks from the company’s well-equipped Bedfordshire facility. “We think our Wiring course is the best in the world,” says George. “This is a difficult job, but we make it easier for you to learn. Here you can spend over three hours wiring Danfoss and Honeywell 2 - 3 port rigs, until practice makes perfect.” For those who cannot afford the time or unable to travel to Mr Combi, the company has produced two DVDs on Fault Finding and Central Heating Controls and has also put together an easy to follow A5 Controls Wiring book. Training Apps and videos are also available for downloading. www.mrcombi.com
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38 TRAINING & Education Get the low down JTL commits to new apprenticeship on UFH systems
A new course on underfloor heating systems is now available at Grant UK’s Training Academy in Devizes. The one day course is open to domestic heating installers who either have previous UFH experience or who are new to this form of heating. In addition to exploring the basic principles of UFH, the course covers system design, installation and commissioning, as well as the accompanying controls. Also included within the course is an overview of the different types of pipe available from Grant UK as well as the various systems available within the company’s Uflex range. This includes the Uflex screeded systems, the heat emission plate systems and the incredibly low profile Uflex Mini systems. Candidates who successfully complete the course will be eligible to become Grant UK G1 Accredited Underfloor Heating Installers. For more information, visit www.grantuk. com/professional/training. www.grantuk.com/professional/training
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The new four-year Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship will be available from JTL commencing this September in selected JTL centres and via many of its college partners around England and Wales. The new four year course enables apprentices to effectively combine several roles in the one apprenticeship by combining a variety of courses that were previously individual QCF/ NQF qualifications including plumbing, domestic heating engineer, domestic heating installer, plumbing and
domestic heating installer, and plumbing and domestic heating engineer. The new qualification will cover all of these previously separate qualifications in
the one final qualification achieved at the end of the apprenticeship. The training received will include additional maths and English, and there will
be tests at the end of each year of the course to confirm apprentices are making good progress. All apprentices will complete an independent End Point Assessment at the end of their course before the Level 3 apprenticeship can be completed successfully. From September onwards apprentices will be able to take one course that qualifies them for several career roles as they choose from the four options available to them: natural gas, oil, solid fuel and environmental technologies. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Courses to help close the skills gap Operating from ÿve training facilities in the South West (Redruth, Plymouth, Newton Abbott, Exeter and Bristol), the Focus Training Group has developed strong relationships with small businesses across a range of industries, including the gas and electrical sectors. Group Sales and Marketing Manager, Ben Goodall comments: “Not only have we welcomed and
supported initiatives within the South West but we have also begun our own to ensure that we do our part in closing the growing skills gap in the UK for future generations. To ensure we’re doing this we have grown all of our provisions, particularly the electrical and gas engineering division within Bristol. We are fast approaching the time of the year where our next generation are making key decisions
about their futures and therefore we are inviting anyone interested in electrical or gas apprenticeships to visit us at our Eagles Wood Business Park facility to ÿnd out more.” The Group offers a range of Gas Foundation and ACS Courses, alongside training for Commercial Gas, Oil, LPG and Unvented Systems. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Thermal imaging explained Advice on running a growing business
If you want to know more about thermal imaging, then national distributor Acutest offers a range of training courses, including a Thermal Awareness course which includes an overview of all the major camera makes and models. The Thermal Awareness course will highlight the difference between qualitative and quantitative images, and delegates are given instruction on how to alter basic camera settings such as colour palette, infrared fusion, temperature level and span and, importantly, when to apply these changes. They will also learn the fundamentals of thermal image acquisition and analysis and there will be plenty of
opportunity for hands on work, reinforcing the information contained within the course literature. All courses can be conducted at the client’s premises or at Acutest’s head office in Newcastle-under-Lyme. www.acutest.net PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. 140
As well as a wide range of product and technical courses, Vaillant now provides its installer customers with advice on how to run their business and maximise opportunities for growth. This year the boiler and renewable systems manufacturer has launched a series of Business Support Clinics, providing guidance on topics such as company
finance, customer service, marketing, wellbeing and how to get more leisure time. The Clinics, which will run from June to October, will be staged at locations around the country, with the first two being at Farnborough on 26th June and Maidstone on 3rd July. To register your attendance, please visit: www.vaillant. co.uk/BusinessSupport
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Opportunity to find out about BioLPG
CPD on ventilation
Rural energy provider Calor Gas recently hosted a free training session for the boiler installer community at the National Selfbuild & Renovation Centre, which focused on BioLPG to inform delegates about this renewable energy for the offgrid market. Karl Bateman, National Specifier Manager at Calor, explains: “We’ve had a brilliant reception to BioLPG so far. We want to ensure the boiler installer community
‘Residential Ventilation Principles and Best Practice’ is the title of a new CPD course from Domus Ventilation, part of the Polypipe group. The CIBSE accredited course will focus on the importance of ventilation in the residential new build industry, in line with Part F of the Building Regulations. Topics covered include why ventilation is necessary; the types of ventilation available, along with supporting ductwork and installation practices; and the pertinent regulations/directives. The course runs between 45 and 60 minutes, and can be conducted on a customer’s premises or at one of the company’s two training centres. To book a course, contact National Speciÿcation Sales Manager Shane Leather via email: shane.leather@domusventilation.co.uk.
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has all the knowledge at their disposal to provide the best possible service to their customers, so we ensure we equip installers
with the tools to best advise their customers. “The demand for renewables is increasing, with the Government’s
Clean Growth and Clean Air strategies outlining a lower carbon future, so it’s great to see that boiler installers are recognising the impact they can have on helping the environment.” For more information on BioLPG and how it can benefit you and your customers, or to register for the next training event in October, visit www. calor.co.uk/installer/whyinstall-calor-lpg PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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UNDERFLOOR Heating 41
Balancing without any wobbles Balancing an under˜ oor heating system is a crucial part of any installation, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Dean Jepson, European MD of Salus Controls, explains how using an auto balancing actuator can turn a tricky process into a straightforward task.
I
t’s no surprise that underfloor heating has become so popular given the many benefits it brings. In addition to its superior comfort and heat efficiency – it’s estimated that UFH can be around 25% more efficient than a conventional radiator system and it frees up wall space that’s usually taken by conventional radiators, allowing greater flexibility when it comes to arranging furniture. Also, thanks to its high energy efficiency, UFH can decrease the carbon footprint of a home too, making it an excellent choice for eco home builders. Plus, it can add significant value to a home. And let’s not forget the benefit of warm feet! Today, UFH is no longer confined to luxury homes and self-builds – it’s a preferred choice among specifiers for both residential and commercial projects. It can now be retrofitted just as successfully and is suitable for almost any floor and location. UFH can also be linked to a smart home, connecting to a whole series of other devices to bring convenience, comfort and added energy efficiency. It can be used in virtually any type of floor construction and covering, and also requires little maintenance – provided it’s installed correctly.
Balancing act Installation of this heating system is relatively straightforward for installers who are trained to avoid potential pitfalls – one of them being the balancing of the system. Whilst this is a fundamental aspect of the installation process, it can be often overlooked or even rushed by the most experienced installer, causing problematic hot and cold spots for the homeowner. If not corrected, it can turn what should be a highly efficient heating system into one that offers erratic heating with higher
Auto balancing
Salus’s auto balancing actuator helps to make commissioning quicker and easier
running costs. Since one of the main require a different approach to ensure a benefits of UFH is the even distribution comfortable heat output, the floor finish and of heat across the surface of the floor, heat transfer can also cause a considerable achieving the correct balance is imperative. variation in heat output, as does the number In order to manually balance the system, of windows and the facing direction of the house. Equally, seasons the flow meters on the will also have to be taken manifold need to be “Thanks to an auto into account to ensure adjusted to determine balancing actuator, sufficient heat output of the correct flow level temperature the system. of the water supplied Typically, the system to each zone or room. ˜ uctuations can be a uses a central boiler to While this may sound thing of the past” heat the water, and a simple, it’s often more pump then circulates this complicated as it’s not always easy to accurately gauge the amount through long pipe runs that are positioned of flow required so that the room or space just below the floor’s surface. A pair of ports located on the manifold serves each reaches the desired temperature. A common mistake is to balance all the heating zone and they feature an electrical flow meters to a standard flow rate across actuator valve and a regulator. It’s the actuator all the ports, regardless of length, size of that controls the water flow to each zone the room, other heat sources, or other by opening and closing the valve on the difference in the pipe loops. manifold according to the signal from the This results in a poorly room thermostat. Note that a zone may be performing system and a whole room or just a portion of a larger will often require revisits room, such as a through-lounge, and the to rectify the issues. Just majority of systems will have multiple zones. as different rooms will
Sweet spot
The three-model line-up of HTR wireless thermostats from Salus for underfloor heating installations. The HTR-RF (top) features a traditional dial faced unit for users who want minimum intervention in the system, the HTRS-RF (centre) targets users who prefer precise control of individual room temperatures, and the HTRP-RF (bottom) with an easy-to-read LCD display is targeted at those who want complete control of their UFH system.
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To ensure constant temperatures and optimum performance of the system, it’s important that the flow of heated water through the circuit is correctly balanced and the temperature differential between the flow and return pipes is an average 7ºC. Too much flow will lower the return temperature differential below 7ºC and the circuit will heat up too fast, whereas not enough flow will raise the temperature deferential above 7ºC and the circuit will heat up too slowly – both scenarios being inefficient. Manually balancing the system in this way can often be a long slow process – especially with retrofit installations where the pipe length is unknown.
That’s where auto balancing comes in. This is a new and unique technology that eliminates the need for the manual balancing of a UFH system. Thanks to a new type of actuator, the flow and return temperature of water through the system can simply and quickly be automatically balanced. As well as constantly monitoring changes in conditions inside and outside the property and adjusting the system’s flow rate accordingly, it can even detect changes in a floor covering and correct accordingly. Thanks to an auto balancing actuator, temperature fluctuations can be a thing of the past. Unlike conventional actuators, these perform the function of both thermal actuator and flow regulator, resulting in two functions in one unit. Complete with two remote sensors that are placed on the flow and return pipes from the manifold, they constantly monitor the temperatures and will adjust the flow rate to maintain a delta of 7ºC for the UFH circuit and to reach the desired temperature in each zone, regardless of size, location, or even time of year. Not only that, with a very low power consumption of around 0.5W, auto balancing actuators typically use much less energy than conventional actuators that use 2-3W or more. They are also much
The auto balancing actuator from Salus stops problems with hot and cold spots in UFH
faster to open and close than conventional thermal actuators, taking just 30 seconds instead of three minutes or longer. When installing the system with an auto balancing actuator, the flow meters need to be fully open on the manifold during the installation, and the rest will take care of itself. Thanks to auto balancing, the homeowner gets to enjoy optimum comfort and efficiency with no more erratic temperatures, and installers can reap the rewards of simple and quick installations with no frustrating callbacks to re-balance the system. It’s a win-win.
Find out more For more information on the underfloor heating solutions from Salus Controls, just enter the number below on the freepost reader registration and enquiry card inside this issue. www.salus-tech.com
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42 UNDERFLOOR Heating
Perfect partner for heat pumps Hydronic under˜ oor heating is an efÿcient technology to pair with air source heat pumps and may become an industry standard in light of proposals to minimise the use of fossil fuels in new build homes – so says Stuart McWhinnie, Engineering Manager of Firebird.
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nderfloor heating is not a new concept and dates back to Roman times when hot gases from a fire or furnace passed through a network of flues under the floor of the building. From the 1960s onwards, various modern systems have been introduced which include expensive-to-run electric underfloor heating and steel pipes with expensive material costs. In 1975 plastic Stuart McWhinnie, Firebird’s underfloor heating pipe was Engineering Manager introduced into the UK which greatly reduced costs and allowed wider access to this highly efficient way of heating. Although a wet underfloor heating system can be slightly more expensive to install than a traditional radiator system, due to the inherent efficiency (up to 25% more efficient), the running costs are considerably lower. A wet underfloor heating system is like a giant radiator at floor level, where a series of plastic pipes connected to a heat source circulate warm water throughout the floor to provide radiant heat. Since the floor is so large and the heat is more evenly distributed, it only needs to run at a low temperature to heat the room.
Preferred heat distribution The way in which radiators create hot and cold spots means that to feel warm enough away from the radiator the room temperature has to be increased. Wasting energy is expensive, as overheating by just 1% can increase heating fuel costs by 8% (source: Carbon Trust). More efficient to run than electric underfloor heating systems, a wet underfloor heating system is also better suited to larger rooms and for use in multiple areas. But the benefits of underfloor heating don’t stop there – not only is space heating provided in an efficient way, but it’s the way the heat is distributed that impacts the
The Firebird Enviroair air source heat pump is the perfect partner for hydronic underfloor heating systems
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The Envirofloor range comes in kit form and Firebird can also provide a full technical design and support service
comfort provided by the heating system. Heat is supplied – generally running at around 45ºC as opposed to 80ºC directly to the floor as radiant heat which is distributed used in radiator systems. The Firebird Envirofloor wet underfloor heating system evenly, creating a more comfortable environment than the convected air provided by conventional radiators. works with a Firebird Enviroair air source heat pump in exactly This provides the occupants with warm feet and a cool the same way as a radiator system does when linked to a boiler head, which is the ideal temperature profile. There are in a traditional heating system. Water and air temperature also huge advantages in terms of increased usable floor are controlled through the Enviroair air source heat pump space, which is an important consideration in smaller new system controller, which operates the entire heating system. Room temperatures are controlled effortlessly and efficiently build properties where internal space is at a premium. with an intuitive, wired It is a well-known fact that programmable thermostat heating is far more efficient “Combining an air source heat pump or by intelligent remote when it is used zone by zone, with UFH can achieve a cost effective, room sensors, which can and typically wet underfloor low carbon heating solution” be operated remotely via a heating is used and zoned smartphone app. room by room. Each zone is Envirofloor underfloor heating systems are suitable for thermostatically controlled, ensuring that heating is only supplied to the room when it is required, thereby reducing a wide range of ground and upper floor constructions and in an energy efficient new build provides the option of the amount of energy used. removing radiators completely. Using the full range of Avoid the hot spots system components, it is simple to create individual heating Conventional radiator systems however tend to heat up systems to achieve required comfort levels. Envirofloor throughout the whole house at once based on a central underfloor heating systems can be easily combined with thermostat. This can cause overheating and under-heating, radiator systems to create a mixed heating system offering depending on the thermostat location, and is far less efficient radiators on upper floors if desired. than heating individual zones. Recent proposals by the Government are advocating the Complete kits installation of air source heat pumps as a way of meeting To make the installation process as simple as possible, future carbon reduction targets and this is where wet we produce Envirofloor underfloor heating kits for both underfloor heating systems really come into their own. solid and suspended floor constructions, containing all There is no doubt that installing an air source heat pump of the components required for use with an Enviroair air provides a cost effective, low carbon heating solution for source heat pump. A full technical design and support service is also highly insulated new build properties, but combine this available to determine a property’s heating requirements, with a wet underfloor heating system (such as Firebird’s from which layout drawings can be produced. When Envirofloor), instead of traditional radiators, and even you take into account the many benefits offered by wet greater savings can be realised. underfloor heating systems and their inherent compatibility So why are underfloor heating systems so compatible with air source heat pumps, they really do offer one of with air source heat pumps? The main reason is the the most efficient space heating solutions for new build temperature of the water, and this is where the energy homes in the UK. saving comes into play. As wet underfloor heating systems run at a much lower temperature than radiators, an air Find out more source heat pump (which produces water at a lower For more information on Firebird’s underfloor heating systems and temperature) is the most efficient way to power this type air source heat pumps, please enter the number below. of heating system. This means that the water flowing PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.firebird.uk.com 147 around the floor needs to be at a far lower temperature
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44 UNDERFLOOR Heating
Responding to growing demand Under˜ oor heating is one of the fastest growing areas of the UK heating market, providing installers with an opportunity to build on an additional revenue stream. Richard Harvey, Category Director for Heating and Renewables at Wolseley, explains how to tap into the trend.
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here has been a longexisting radiator feed pipe using an RTL (return temperature standing perception limiter) valve. that underfloor Space saving heating is best suited to Smaller rooms such as bathrooms and cloakrooms can often new build properties. This become even smaller by protruding radiators. To combat is because traditionally, this invasion of space, electric underfloor heating can be a UFH required a screed floor suitable alternative to traditional hydronic systems. Similar covered only by tiles and to electric blankets, these systems consist of a woven mat laminate flooring. While with electrical wires that emit heat to the room. there is certainly an upward Like its hydronic counterpart, electric UFH can also trend in its use within be laid over existing floors and fixed into place. Before modern home building, it laminate or hardwood flooring is laid over the top of it, is now possible to install however, it is advisable to call in the help of a professional UFH in older homes and Richard Harvey, Wolseley electrician to ensure the sensors and controls are working apartment blocks. In older homes, removing walls to combine two separate safely and correctly. Many homeowners like using a combination of standing rooms is becoming more popular, meaning UFH is a more suitable solution. With low-profile sheet materials, such radiators and UFH systems. Within multigenerational homes as Microboard from Myson, underfloor heating can be where there are many different heating needs, this is a installed over the top of an existing floor and at a depth perfect solution. In the case of the bathroom, for example, of just 18mm, thereby providing a flexible retrofit solution many will prefer to stick with a traditional radiator or without the need for costly and disruptive excavation works. ladder radiator for warming towels. Traditionally, UFH has Getting smarter always only been suited Smart controls are another to the bottom floor of the rapidly growing trend home. Thanks to aluminium in the world of heating. diffuser plates and plastic Underfloor heating alone is overlay grid systems, the considered to be 25% more energy and space-saving efficient than water-filled benefits can now be extended radiators, but when paired to apartments and the upper with smart controls even floors of traditional homes greater efficiency benefits with joisted floors. Installed can be achieved, with some over the top of the wooden statistics suggesting by as joists, the systems can even much as 20 – 30%. be controlled by a traditional Many manufacturers of manifold system or off an Plastic grid systems help to make it easy to lay UFH pipework smart controls can offer
The easy way to A grand design set temperature Underfloor heating and cooling systems from Warmafloor now benefit from a new control system designed to take the complexity out of temperature control. The Sentio system comes with built-in app control software, allowing users to use their mobile to manage their system. Additional features include in-built humidity sensing and dew-point detection, which stops condensation from forming. Sentio can also be optimised for commercial applications, with Modbus capability enabling it to be connected to a building management system. The central control unit (CCU), with the extension unit, supports up to 16 thermostats, 32 actuators,
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two circulation pumps and two volt-free contacts. Jonathan Moran, Business Development Manager at Warmafloor, comments: “Combining an intelligent system with straightforward design, our three-step Sentio system makes setting and controlling temperatures a breeze.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Featured in Channel 4’s Grand Designs series, two ÿve bedroom properties have been constructed overlooking a pond next to a 200 year-old corn mill site in Oughtibridge, Shefÿeld. Trade UFH supplier TUS were approached by the project’s main plumbing and heating contractor to design and supply high efÿciency under˜ oor heating systems that would work along side the air source heat pumps that were being installed in both properties. Both plots utilised pipe in screed systems to the ground ˜ oors and heat spreader plate systems to the first ˜ oors. 16mm multilayer composite (MLC) pipe from Emmeti was installed throughout. The homeowners also requested the option of being able to control the heating while they were away, so the Heatmiser Neo Smart thermostat system was chosen to meet this requirement. www.tus-ufh.com
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Electric UFH can be an ideal solution for smaller rooms
valuable training courses to heating engineers that aren’t confident with installation, however set up is usually minimal and once fitted users will be able to control their heating wirelessly via their smartphone. With the growing popularity for sustainable and greener products for the home, underf loor heating is certainly a trend that installers should be looking to promote and one that can offer considerable opportunities to increase revenues. www.wolseley.co.uk/heating/underfloor-heating/
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Showing the way The compatibility of Omnie underfloor heating systems with renewable heating technologies has been underlined through the use of the Staple and TorFloor options throughout a large two-storey property in South Cambridgeshire, ready to connect up to an air source heat pump. The four bedroom detached home near Royston is being built to the specifications of the owner, John Manion, while locally based Murray Heating Services installed and commissioned the underfloor heating and plumbing equipment. The TorFloor system, used throughout the upper storey, provides particularly high efficiency because of its integral heat emitter and the position of the 12mm diameter pipe loops being in close proximity to the
covering of thin plywood and chosen floor finishes. In combination with a wellinsulated building envelope, this also means that the heat pump can be set up to run for longer periods at low output. The Staple system installed across the ground floor over 90mm of Celotex insulation is being covered by a dry-mix screed and, like the upstairs circuits, will eventually be overlaid by a high quality vinyl. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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46 VENTILATION & Heat Recovery
Ensuring that homes are up to standard It is now widely accepted that an effective ventilation system is essential to improving indoor air quality and maintaining the health of a building’s inhabitants. Mark Isles, Sales Director – Build at EnviroVent, looks at the various options available to installers.
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wareness is increasing about the importance of good indoor air quality in dwellings. House builders, landlords and homeowners are all looking at ways they can enhance ventilation, with the benefits being reduced condensation and mould growth, improvements in occupants’ respiratory health and reductions in ongoing building maintenance costs. To be able to comply with Approved Document F (ADF), there are five options for ventilation systems:
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Intermittent Extract Ventilation with background ventilators Here local extract fans are located in the wet rooms of a property, such as kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms, with the addition of window trickle vents as background ventilators in habitable rooms.
2 Passive stack with background ventilation This approach combines the air flowing over the roof and the natural buoyancy of warm moist air to lift the stale air from the kitchen, bathroom, and utility room, up the ducting to the roof ridge level where it escapes into the atmosphere. Fresh air is drawn into the building through trickle vents in the window and doors.
3 Mechanical Extract Ventilation / Centralised or Decentralised MEV The centralised MEV systems are typically located in a loft space or hallway cupboard. Multiple ducts run from the unit to the kitchen, bathroom, ensuites and other wet rooms of a property to simultaneously draw moisture laden air from these wet rooms to control humidity levels. Centralised MEV
systems are ideal for new build properties, as the ducting can be installed at first fix with only one exhaust to atmosphere and one penetration of the building envelope. They are suitable for flats, student accommodation, care homes and other multiple-resident applications. Decentralised MEV units are generally installed in individual wet rooms and operate continuously to draw moisture from either the bathroom, kitchen, utility room or other wet rooms on an external wall. They come with various switching options and pre-set speed settings and may be ceiling mounted or ducted to atmosphere. Both centralised and decentralised MEV systems run at a low continuous background rate and have a facility to extract at a higher rate when required. MEV has advantages over System 1 and 2 as it provides continuous low-level background ventilation and offers a high level of energy efficiency and air changes when compared with intermittent systems. They also provide a greater return in SAP calculations.
4 Mechanical Ventilation with Heat recovery (MVHR) This is a centralised and balanced supply and extract system and no trickle vents are required. These units are normally located in a loft space or utility cupboard, providing both extract and supply ventilation. The unit extracts moisture-laden air from the wet rooms of the property, which passes over a high efficiency heat exchange cell. At the same time, fresh filtered and clean air is drawn in from the outside, which collects the energy from the heat exchange cell before being supplied into the habitable
An MVHR system can improve comfort and also save energy
rooms of the home. Most modern heat exchangers can recover around 90% of energy that would otherwise be wasted, therefore heating costs are reduced. This thermal benefit also ensures that developers are able to reduce the overall Dwelling Emissions Rate of the property. Our MVHR systems are designed to give users and installers greater comfort, controllability and information on how the unit is performing through the myenvirovent app. Installers can connect directly to the unit through the app without the need for a wireless internet connection and can access the dedicated installer mode to commission the airflow rates and select additional options in the unit’s ventilation settings page. There are benefits to the householder too, including manual summer bypass setting for perception cooling, notifications when filter changes are due and access to our technical support team should they have any questions or queries.
5 Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) PIV supplies fresh, filtered and clean air into the home from a central location, such as a landing or central hallway in a flat or bungalow. These systems can be retrofitted into existing properties, or installed in new homes. Moisture laden air is diluted, displaced and replaced to control humidity levels between 45- 60%, preventing condensation and mould growth. These units are designed to run continuously in order to replace moisture-laden air with fresh, filtered air, forcing contaminants out of the property through natural cracks and leakages. Indoor air quality is immediately improved, eradicating condensation and eliminating mould growth. The advantages of PIV are that it is easy to install and there is no requirement for long lengths of ducting to penetrate the ground floor or even the building envelope in most applications. Our BBA-approved PIV units are suitable for both houses and apartments. These units are compliant in new build dwellings down to a Design Air Permeability of 3m3/(h.m2) @ 50Pa without additional requirements for background ventilators and offer quiet operation and no user intervention. In addition, solar gain from the loft space can be utilised by circulating the tempered air back in to the dwelling.
Conclusion Whichever system is chosen, with all domestic ventilation constituting notifiable works, installation is extremely important to ensure compliance and optimum performance. Revisions to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations have paved the way towards ventilation becoming more of a ‘controlled’ service which focuses on energy efficiency and correct installation to ensure that what is specified is fitted and works correctly. The aim of these updates was to maximise carbon reduction through correctly specified systems that are installed by competent engineers, therefore minimising energy losses. Effective ventilation is essential, as the air in our homes can harbour a wide array of potentially harmful components. Diluting moisture-laden air and other contaminants within the indoor air through introducing an effective ventilation system can greatly enhance the health of asthma and allergy sufferers. www.envirovent.com ENQUIRY
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48 VENTILATION & Heat Recovery
No need for disturbance Offering an alternative to noisy extract fans, Vent-Axia’s latest bathroom fan comes with odour sense technology and moisture control to help installers provide customers with a cost-saving ventilation solution.
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ooking to address the twin issues of excessive noise and poor air quality, VentAxia has launched the PureAir Sense bathroom fan. The fan is equipped with a new odour sensor that increases airflow when the air is poor, helping to ensure a comfortable living environment. When the sensor detects a strong odour, the fan speed increases and quickly extracts the odour to help ensure the air always feels fresh. But improving a bathroom’s air quality doesn’t have to be noisy, and the PureAir Sense has been designed to deliver whisper quiet operation and – operating as low as 19dB(A) on low trickle – is claimed to be one of the quietest ventilation products on the market, meaning households can relax knowing that they are breathing in healthy air, undisturbed. “The PureAir Sense helps ensure a peaceful, healthy environment for households,” says Stephen Totman,
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Product Marketing Manager at VentAxia. “Combining quiet operation with odour sense technology, smart controls and an attractive design, it ticks all the right boxes.”
Light sensor PureAir Sense is delivered factory set for continuous operation at low speed, with the fan featuring an adjustable timer that can be triggered via a switch live or light sensor. This intuitive light sensor recognises room occupancy through light movement and shadows, but can distinguish between car headlights, flashes and people moving about to avoid nuisance running. A delay-on feature can also be set to avoid the fan being triggered in the night during quick bathroom visits. The light sensor also acts as an overrun timer, without having to be controlled through the light switch. This means in houses where there was only a
basic fan before, the homeowner can upgrade to a timer fan without having to rewire. The fan features an intelligent, fully automatic humidistat for moisture control. This means the fan learns to run only when it can make a difference to indoor air quality. Continually monitoring and recording the moisture content, the PureAir Sense maps the humidity profile throughout the year. This process enables the fan to run only when it can lower the moisture content in the air, reducing nuisance running and helping to ensure a healthy environment.
Easy to fit For installers, the Vent-Axia PureAir Sense is quick to get up and running because the fan’s factory settings should be suitable for the majority of projects. If a customer does require customisation, the fan’s features can easily be altered via a user-friendly touch panel or a downloadable app
on a smartphone. Further adding to install flexibility, the PureAir Sense offers a powerful airflow of up to 39 litre/sec, which means it can cope with long ducts and bends up to 2m without compromising on ventilation.
Up to speed Featuring multiple speed and boost modes, the Vent-Axia PureAir Sense has a default speed set for trickle continuous flow at 10 litre/ sec. The light sensor triggers the timer function to run at 15 litre/ sec for 15mins. Both the odour and humidistat functions boost at a higher 28 litre/sec to react quickly to remove humidity or odour from the room. The Airing function runs for an hour at 15 litre/sec to rid the room of stale air, if the fan has been inactive for 26 hours. For households, this means no more worries about stuffy, musty odours in the bathroom when they return from holiday.
Vent-Axia’s PureAir Sense bathroom fan will help to deliver fresh air without disturbing occupants
Meanwhile, the fan will also prove popular with customers thanks to its quiet running and low power consumption of only 2-5W.
Find out more For further up-to-date ventilation guidance, visit www.vent-axia.com/ healthyhomes PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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VENTILATION & Heat Recovery 49 Responding to humidity The iCONstant decentralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV) fan from Airflow is described as energy efficient and economical. It helps eliminate the problems of condensation and mould growth by continuously extracting the damp, moist air that is the source of the problem. The company says noise levels of just 10db(A) make it one of the quietest
fans on the market. Suitable for social housing installations, the fan can be installed into new builds as well as retrofitted into existing dwellings to replace less effective products. With running costs of less than £2 a year, it constantly extracts the moist air from the home to eliminate the causes of condensation and mould and prevents these issues
from developing. The fans can be used in any of the wet rooms found in a building and can extract up to 20 litres/sec. With additional sensors, the iCONstant can be set to automatically respond to changes in humidity levels caused by showers or cooking, for example. It removes humidity until normal levels are restored.
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Simple, intelligent indoor climate The WISE system from Swegon has been updated and builds on the experience gained from thousands of installations to simplify the delivery of demand controlled ventilation (DCV) so that it’s quick to install, highly flexible and simple to operate. DCV is claimed to save up to 80% of fan energy and 40% of cooling and heating energy in a building by supplying air, cooling and heating in just the right amounts when and
where it’s required. WISE products, such as dampers and diffusers, communicate via a ‘selfhealing’ wireless network to deliver complete climate control for entire buildings, seamlessly linking software with the hardware. The network allows installations to be commissioned without communication cabling, reducing time, cost and complexity, while also making it simple to operate
and adapt to changes. The new generation WISE has been designed to make the entire building process as efficient as possible. The Swegon Early Stage Building Optimisation (ESBO) programme and the product selection software Indoor Climate Design (ICD) help the design team create a system from scratch that is tailored to the needs of the project. In order to ease commissioning, the ICD file
is loaded onto a handheld terminal, which can then be used to pair the products using their individual QR codes. The system dynamically adapts to match the exact needs of the building occupants in the most energy efficient manner. The web-based SuperWISE has been updated with a clear visual overview and simple handling of system settings. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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The Unity CV3 from Greenwood Airvac is designed to meet the specific needs of social housing properties. The continuously running extractor fan combines energy reduction and easy compliance with tenant wellbeing by eliminating nuisance running and noise. In addition, a new data transfer function means this extractor fan updates social landlords on how ventilation is performing in their properties, from airflow to humidity levels and property maintenance risks. Combining a new motor and aerodynamic design with SMART Technology, Unity CV3 designs out nuisance noise. This overcomes the problem of noisy fans being switched off by tenants, leading to damaging issues such as mould and condensation. With quiet running levels at 14.5dB, and Greenwood HumidSMART sensors ensuring the fan only activates when required, noise is greatly reduced. The low energy has a running cost of just 97p per year. The fan benefits from contactless near-field communication technology, and data can be accessed via an app. www.greenwood.co.uk
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MVHR fits in tight spaces Extending its range of MVHR units, Titon has introduced an ultra-compact unit designed specifically for the modular construction market. The HRV 1.6 Q Plus measures just 600mm wide, enabling it to fit into tight spaces for easy installation and access. The new model combines low power consumption with a heat exchanger offering efficiencies up to 89%, which enhances SAP performance via Appendix Q. Furthermore, despite its compact size, the lightweight unit can achieve flow rates of up to 100 litres/sec or 359 m3/h. Other benefits of the new unit include a low specific fan power (SFP) of 0.49 W/l/s, as well as intelligent frost protection, with a stepped reduction of supply rates preventing
Classroom achievements
freezing. It also has a fully adjustable boost overrun timer and ‘summer mode’ facility built-in as standard. The HRV 1.6 Q Plus range accepts 125mm ducting without the need for adapters, while also benefiting from independent fan adjustment and volt-free switching control. www.titon.co.uk
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The Classmaster heat recovery ventilation unit from Dunham-Bush has been developed specifically for classrooms and fully complies with the latest BB101: ‘Ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality 2018’ and BB93: ‘Acoustic designs for schools, performance standards (2015)’ guidelines. With nine chassis sizes and airflows ranging from 50 to 600 litres/sec, Classmaster delivers the high standards of air quality to meet every classroom requirement. Key features include a variable air mass flow heat
exchanger, which maintains thermal efficiency at both 100% and 50% airflow levels by keeping turbulent velocity airflow across the heat exchanger. This is not
possible with conventional heat exchangers as airflow goes into a laminar flow with no exchange of thermal energy. The configuration of the low resistance heat exchangers, used in conjunction with 100,000 hour low energy EC fans, delivers minimal sound levels and a heat reclaim efficiency up to 89%. Dunham-Bush has signed an exclusive agreement with Eco-Airvent to manufacture and distribute the Classmaster units. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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MVHR combined with cooker hood
Single solution The Mistrale Fusion (MFS) Terminal from Gilberts of Blackpool offers a compliant ventilation solution for multi-occupancy buildings, delivering optimum internal air control for less than £5/ room/annum. The singlesided through-structure unit provides a one-box, standalone solution, requiring no additional ductwork or plant. “There is nothing else like it on the market,” says Sales Director Ian Rogers. “In one unit, it ticks all the boxes in terms of natural ventilation criteria in multi-occupancy rooms such as classrooms.”
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Installed through an external façade, Mistrale MFS mixes internal and external air to ventilate the internal space. A mixing damper modulates airflow to allow fresh air to mix with warm exhaust air, thus extracting its heat without the need for an exchanger. A low energy fan blends the internal air, ensuring an even distribution of airflow, with control over temperature and CO2 levels within, and maintenance of a comfortable environment for occupants. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Aimed at small studio apartments, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic cooker hood from Vent-Axia combines a cooker hood with a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) unit in one. It works seamlessly as an MVHR unit supplying energy efficient ventilation to the home and, when the cooker hood is needed, it is simply pulled out to provide a purge of cooker fumes.
Designed to fit in a 600mm wide aperture above a hob, it has a telescopic hood that is pulled out when cooking to trigger the MVHR unit to switch to a pre-defined boost speed, and the summer bypass automatically opens to prevent cooking by-products entering the heat recovery cell. The hood incorporates removable metal grease filters, low energy lamps
to illuminate the hob top, and is available with a white or brushed aluminium front trim. The cooker hood is also available in a SELV version, which means the distance between the hood and the electric hob can be reduced from 650 to 550mm. The hood also contains an integral fire damper. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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Meeting latest filtration standards In response to the update to the ISO 16890 filtration standards, Elta Fans has unveiled the latest version of its Air Design Prema range of energy recovery units. They maintain good indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures by transferring thermal energy from the stale air to the incoming fresh air. The range now offers improved indoor air quality via a fine particulate filter on intake as standard. There is also a dual condensate tray, meaning condensate
can be dealt with on both sides of the exchanger block via two separate drain points. This twin condensate drainage arrangement prevents unit internal air leakage and the possible accumulation
of condensate on the fan chamber. Ana Cross, Associate Product Manager, explains: “We wanted to improve our offering to be compliant while providing more benefits in terms of efficiency and control. Our proudest additions to the range are the improved automation packages for both Prema and Prema+ which allow clean and comfortable ventilation to be delivered efficiently.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.air-design.com
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June 2019
WHAT’S New 51 Low level Flight for the whole family With multigenerational living in mind, Mira Showers has launched a 25mm low-level shower tray, the Mira Flight Level, which has been designed to accommodate the needs of the entire family. The idea is to enable an open and spacious showering space for a wetroom look while still offering the reliability of a light and strong shower tray. As with all products in the Flight range, the new tray is made from acryliccapped resin stone, which is scratch and chip resistant, and features BioCote to reduce bacteria and mould
growth by up to 99.9%. This treatment incorporates anti-microbial silver ion technology directly into the tray to protect the surface for the lifetime of the product.
The lightweight design features a honeycomb pattern for added user reassurance and easy installation. One of the tray’s selling points is that end users can choose the
Flight Level in a Welsh Slate style, as well as the more traditional white tray. Innovative 3D-printing technology has enabled Mira to replicate the slate material, providing a unique, realistic shower tray design. The Flight Level’s removable waste trap, which has been discreetly designed into the side of the tray, is claimed to be the best in class for chemical resistance and water tightness, and has been specially designed to prevent blockages and leakages. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.mirashowers.co.uk
165
Heat exchanger boosts water flow The Bluehelix Tech RRT from Ferroli is now available in the UK and comes with a 10 year warranty as standard. The combi is available in outputs of 24, 28 and 34kW while the system model comes in 18, 24 and 34kW. A key feature of the Bluehelix is the stainless steel Thermobalance heat exchanger, which is shaped to ensure increased water flow and improve efficiency, even where water flow is obstructed. This feature makes the boiler suitable for replacement installations that are more prone to producing sediment in the exchanger. National Sales Manager Andy Buttree comments: “The new Bluehelix Tech RRT is the latest version of a boiler that has won consumer best boiler awards in Italy and Spain, so we know that it’s going to tick all the boxes for anyone wanting a reliable, high
Quiet operator
performance new boiler at a realistic price. A boiler of superior build quality with the highest quality components doesn’t need to be priced out of reach.”
Stainless swap out for copper The new range of vented Duplex stainless steel hot water cylinders manufactured by Kingspan Albion offers a straightforward like-for-like replacement for traditional grade 1, 2 and 3 copper vented cylinders. They have been designed to be a perfect match for the traditional BS 1566 models – having the same physical dimensions, connections types and positions. The new cylinders minimise any re-work of pipework, ensuring a quick and hassle-free cylinder replacement. Thanks to the robust 1mm stainless steel construction, the cylinders are more resistant to corrosion, giving them greater durability. The manufacturer says the reduced thermal conductivity of stainless steel to copper results in an even better performance, with lower heat loss than copper counterparts. www.kingspancylinders.com
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Another characteristic of the Bluehelix is the sound it makes when the boiler is operating, including ignition and shutdown. Ferroli describes its operation as ‘virtually silent’. The unit has a large multi-function graphic display that is simple and straightforward to operate, and its compact size – just 250mm deep for the 24 and 28kW models – widens the options for finding a suitable location for installation. The Bluehelix is class 6 for NOx emissions, achieves 94% seasonal heating efficiency, and the new intelligent gas adaptive combustion system constantly monitors and optimises combustion levels as the gas and flue conditions change. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.ferroli.co.uk
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Stay informed with latest generation
Viessmann has launched the next generation of its flagship domestic gas condensing boiler, the Vitodens 200-W. The units feature a height adjustable colour touchscreen display for easy operation, providing an overview of consumption data and solar heat yields. The display’s modular electronic platform features integrated WLAN as standard to facilitate ongoing networked digital communication between the heat generator, homeowner and engineer. A newly-developed MatriX Plus burner transfers heat via a stainless steel radial heat exchanger, maximising reliability and efficiency. With a modulation range of 1:17 and optimal flame stability, the burner precisely adjusts heat output according to current requirements, minimising the number of burner startups and cycles. This ensures maximum efficiency, low fuel consumption, and reduction of NOx emissions. A commissioning assistant
accessed via the heightadjustable touchscreen display guides installers through the commissioning process in just a few steps.
App control Commissioning can also be done on a smartphone or tablet using the ViStart app. The app establishes a direct connection with the boiler as soon as its integrated WiFi access point is activated. No internet interface is required because the app communicates directly with the boiler control via its integrated WLAN interface. This also eliminates the need to access a customer’s home internet connection. Thanks to modular construction and the range of available accessories, these new units require 50% fewer spare parts than their predecessors. The new MatriX Plus burner, for example, requires only one burner assembly, one ignition electrode and one burner seal. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
viessmann.co.uk
167
Monitor alerts to corrosion Designed for commercial applications, the Corrosion Monitor SCU from Sentinel provides advance warning of system corrosion, giving users greater control over a common and expensive problem. The product uses an intelligent sensor to measure the real-time corrosion rate within the heating system and raises an alarm when corrosion exceeds acceptable levels, allowing for immediate action. Suitable for new and existing systems, it includes free dashboard software for indepth corrosion analysis. Commercial Sales Director
Chris Shelton says: “Boiler manufacturers recognise the damaging effects of
corrosion, with warranties sometimes becoming invalid if damage has been caused by poor
water treatment and resulting corrosion. Our monitor will enable building owners to quickly identify issues and act before costly damage is caused. “We’re sure that commercial customers will see cost benefits versus the current options, and our dashboard will make analysis simple. Combined with our chemicals to clean and protect systems, the monitor will ensure low corrosion levels are maintained throughout the life of the heating system.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.sentinelprotects.com
169
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June 2019
52 WHAT’S New Lightweight, compact and fuss-free The latest in Main’s heat only range, the new Main Eco Compact Heat boiler, is equipped with features to make installation as easy as possible. As well as being lightweight, the new heat-only models do not need a pump overrun or permanent live and come with a five-year warranty as standard. With a 19.5kg lift weight and available in 15, 18, 24 and 30kW outputs, the new range is suitable for most property sizes and compact enough to fit into cupboards
up to 290mm deep. The unit is very quiet in operation to ensure householders remain undisturbed while it is in use, and offers front and side access for quick and easy servicing. The Main Eco Compact Heat range also contains an aluminium heat exchanger that has been carefully designed with less thermal mass, allowing for quicker heat dissipation. This means it reacts quicker when the boiler is turned off, removing the risk of boiling water and
the need for a pump overrun. With no pump overrun using power when the boiler switches off, no permanent live is needed either. These features mean installers can avoid lifting carpet and floorboards during installation, then having to make good afterwards. As a result, they can save time and money during installation, with less disruption to the householder. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.mainheating.co.uk
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Wall hung made easy Enhancing its fuss-free installation range of wall hung sanitaryware, VitrA has introduced the Vitrus, an elegant glass casing control panel combination. This product facilitates retrofit installation of wall hung or back to wall WCs, and new installations can be made without the need for a false wall. The range comprises an in-wall frame and cistern within a slimline glass case with a modern dualflush plate. The pan is attached to the casing which can be fi xed to most types of wall. Available in either opaque white or opaque black shatterproof glass, Vitrus has
The new Kinedo Kinepsace range of elegant and discreet shower cubicles from Sani˜ o UK is designed to make ÿtting shower enclosures swift and easy, while delivering a quality product with a 10-year warranty. Available in four sizes, chrome proÿles feature across the range with some versions also available in black or copper (pictured). Numerous conÿgurations are possible including quadrant, recessed and corner options with pivot or sliding doors, while ÿ xed panels enable customisation for extra ˜ exibility. At 2m high with 6mm or 8mm glass, some Kinespace enclosures feature an optional central frosted panel on the glass. Installation is both quick and easy thanks to the Kineclip, which holds the shower door in place, enabling the installer to use both hands to screw the rest of the unit together. Assembly and adjustment of the proÿles is also simple and can be achieved with just one turn of an Allen key.
been designed with a large cover opening so that the cistern is easily accessible for maintenance. Commenting on the new launch, Marketing Manager Margaret Talbot says: “Vitrus solves a lot of installation problems, not just for those who want to upgrade to a wall hung WC but also for new installations. Either black or white glass makes a striking addition to all bathroom settings. It works well with white or black sanitaryware and the fitting can be used with a selection of our wall hung or back to wall pans.” ENQUIRY No. www.vitra.co.uk 171
www.kinedo.co.uk
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Name the City in Italy to WIN a Vokèra boiler! The Prize: The Vokèra evolve24 combi combines the company’s extensive knowledge of appliance design, performance and servicing to deliver a superior and cutting-edge boiler range.
Mt Vesuvius overlooks this city known for its tricolore ice cream
How to enter: PHAM News has teamed up with Vokèra by Riello to give readers the opportunity to win an evolve24 combi boiler each month. Vokèra’s parent company, Riello Group, is headquartered in Legnago (Verona), Italy, so to celebrate this Italian heritage, the competition focuses on some of the most beautiful cities in the country. For a chance to win, simply identify the city pictured above and email your answer to editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk with ‘Name the City’ in the subject line. Make sure you include the following: Your name and your business’s name Phone number Please type ‘YES’ in the body of your email if you are happy to receive offers from Vokèra via email All correct answers received before the closing date of 1st July 2019 will be entered into the prize draw. Only one entry per person allowed.
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One of evolve’s key attributes is that it is extremely easy to use. At the heart of evolve is the REC10 liquid crystal display user interface. The full text menu driven control enables the user to quickly navigate through the parameters and settings, including programming the heating on and off times as desired. The display will also provide excellent diagnostics in the event of an issue. The footprint of the evolve24 combi models is especially shallow, making it ideal for a discreet cupboard fit. It also includes an embedded time clock, integral frost protection, concealed service valves and pump kick function. The boiler can be adjusted to operate with either NG or LPG and no extra kit is needed, so in off-grid areas evolve can prove an attractive option. The entire evolve range is ErP ‘A’ rated and models feature a space heating efficiency of 94%. The evolve24 operates in condensing mode during the production of hot water, and also boasts exceptional domestic hot water flow rates. As an added safety feature, the boilers incorporate an excess CO alarm, which will monitor the level of CO being produced and will fail-safe if or when excessive CO is being emitted.
www.vokera.co.uk/evolve
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June 2019
WHAT’S New 53 Premium models extend ONE Series Two new flagship models have been added to Ariston’s ONE Series of highperformance gas condensing boilers. Alteas ONE Net (pictured) and Genus ONE Net both feature built-in WiFi and digital timer programming and will be supplied with a 12-year manufacturer’s warranty as standard. As the premium model, the Alteas ONE Net boasts an eye-catching black finish and Ultrasafe glass panel and – together with the Genus ONE Net model – comes with the company’s Cube RF control, ready for connection to the Ariston Net smartphone app. Using the boilers with the supplied controls ensures they are A+ ErP rated for optimum energy efficiency. As with previous models in the ONE Series range, the new boilers benefit from the patented stainless steel, continuous coil XtraTech heat exchanger and low NOx ratings (from 33mg/kWh). In addition, all units are ‘Boiler Plus’ ready straight out of the box, thanks to a number of features including built-in ‘Internet Weather’,
‘Auto’ and ‘Comfort’ functions. For further flexibility, both models also have a combustion control system,
allowing operation from either mains gas or LPG. For ease of installation, commissioning and servicing, both boilers are lightweight (starting from 35.3kg) and there is also more room inside the casing, with front access to all components. All models feature a digital pressure gauge, touch buttons and sleek design, while providing high domestic hot water flow rates up to 14.1 litres/minute and delivering a 1:10 modulation ratio. Product Manager Alex Boweren says: “These new models demonstrate the strength and depth of our boiler range, with a host of new features introduced to further benefit end users and installers alike. By incorporating WiFi technology as part of the design, both boilers comply with all necessary legislation – while ensuring end users have complete control of their heating for maximum levels of comfort.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.ariston.co.uk
Radiators have the curve appeal The curved Carré from Vasco is a versatile steel radiator with straight, square tubes and optional matching accessories, including a towel rail and robe hook. Whatever position or colour, the radiator is said to make a stylish statement in any room. Available as a half or quarter-round, the curved Carré comes in two different widths and four heights (from 1400 to 2200mm) and is available in over 55 contemporary shades. Its design incorporates square piping with minimum spacing in between and has extra heat emission with pipes at the back of the unit. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
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www.vasco-group.eu
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Stainless steel joins VSH range The VSH FullFlow Ball Valve from Pegler is now available in stainless steel, making it suitable for potable water applications. Part of the VSH XPress system, the valve helps eliminate the risk of galvanic corrosion and condensation because it comprises one system and one material. The new range combines the valve and fitting into one product. The addition of the stainless steel version has no coatings to contaminate potable water and therefore provides more options when installing a complete system. The valve within a fitting is available in ½ to 2in diameters, making it suitable for
Wetroom panels have the look A new range of matt black wetroom panels have been added to PJH’s RefleXion 8 range, part of the Bathrooms to Love collection. Luxuriously styled and designed to help achieve the monochrome look, the new range includes glass with either a matt black profile or fully framed matt black panelled exterior. Part of the top-of-the-range RefleXion 8 category, the panels are constructed from 8mm toughened safety glass with concealed fi xings and Easy Clean glass treatment. The minimalist black profile model is available in two widths (1000 and 1200mm) and includes optional side panels with support bar
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(all finished in stylish matt black). The framed black panelled model also comes in the same two widths and both measure in at 2000mm in height to provide an immersed showering experience. Wetroom compatible, the range can be installed directly onto a prepared floor or combined with a tray, and an easy-fit rubber gasket is supplied with a roller for quick and simple installation. PJH says its lifetime guarantee underlines the quality design, finish and durability of these new RefleXion 8 glass additions. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.bathroomstolove.uk
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small commercial applications. The new valve bodies are laser marked with information including size, material and pressure, and a colour coding indicating the type
of material – red for carbon steel and green for stainless, ensuring compatibility. Each valve is available in three versions – swivel, press and threaded to give extra choice, flexibility and compatibility. “The incorporation of a full-bore valve inside a streamlined fitting is a highly effective solution and will assist in saving time, increasing reliability. And, with this being WRAS approved, installers can rest assured of quality and suitability from the onset,” comments Sindar Singh, Director of Product Line Valve Technology at Pegler. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk
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Advanced controls to boost efficiency Remeha has unveiled the new Quinta Ace range, an advanced wall hung condensing boiler series that is said to combine robust, reliable, high operational performance with superior control capability to maximise lifetime boiler efficiency. As the successor to the Quinta Pro series, the Quinta Ace builds on its predecessor’s technology with a next-generation control platform and a new ‘human machine interface’ (HMI) panel. The controller has been designed for easy installation, commissioning
and programming. Via a new full text, full colour interface, it provides intuitive access to an extended range of parameters using a
rotary selection dial and smartphone-like buttons. The clear design is said to encourage improved boiler control for higher energy efficiencies, increased comfort levels, minimum emissions and lower lifecycle costs. At the same time, the ready availability of greater technical detail makes servicing and diagnosis more straightforward. Time and temperature controls are supplied as standard, with in-built 0-10V and volt free contacts providing direct connection to a building management system. Available in 30, 45, 55,
65, 90 and 115 models, in addition to the existing Quinta Ace 160, the new Quinta Ace series has been designed to meet all retrofit and new installation requirements. Paul Arnold, Remeha’s Product Manager, says: “The revolutionary Ace control platform will help maintain high efficiencies and ultralow NOx levels throughout our boilers’ lifecycle so that end users continue to benefit from low operating costs and minimum environmental impact.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.
www.remeha.co.uk
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54 DIRECTORY Business Services
Radiators
Controls
Green Deal Provider For Sale Ideal for ECO & Brokerage also FCA Authorised For more details Tel: Dave 07887 552 442
BANICO CONTROLS
ENQUIRY
13
Heating Controls GREEN DEAL PROVIDER
ENQUIRY
11
Next day delivery available on 100s of controls
APOLLO RADIATORS
ENQUIRY
17
Compliance Services Achilles Audits www.heatingcontrolsonline.co.uk
FCA Authorisations and Compliance
HEATING CONTROLS ONLINE
ENQUIRY
Heating Engineer’s Professional Body
PAS and Green Deal Installer
further your ambitions, telephone 023 8066 8900 for information and application pack.
Green Deal Provider
www.idhee.org.uk
Tel: Dave 07887 552 442
The professional body We are not a trade association, and we the the Domestic recognised forms of study and achievement. Heating Engineer. IDHEE
GREEN DEAL PROVIDER
ENQUIRY
14
12
ENQUIRY
15
Electric Towel Rails
To advertise your Product or Services to over 29,000* readers in the next issue of PHAM News please ring Sharon on 01889 577222 or email classified@phamnews.co.uk *29,040 Verified ABC circulation Jan-Dec 18 HYCO
ENQUIRY
16
HURLINGHAM
ENQUIRY
18
Plumbing Products
New Product Accessories Pipelagger Pro Stickers (PipeLagging Bonding Stickers)
Pipelagger Pro Saw Guard New H&S Guard protector for the Pipelagger Pro Saw PLUMBPAL
New Product Accessories Drill Bit & Guide Set To drill new fixing holes where required
Cut to Length Bolts One Bolt that suits ALL Clips
ENQUIRY
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INFORMATION Centre 55 Radiators
Central Heating Wiring & Controls Book For years electricians and heating engineers have commented that wiring heating controls is a difficult subject to learn, existing diagrams are not always easy to follow. Mr Combi® Training has developed a fantastic set of easy to follow coloured wiring diagrams for central heating wiring and controls, 2 / 3 port systems, Faults, Frost stats, testing components, everything you need in one handy A5 book.
Please order from www.mrcombi.com or enter the PHAM No. CIBSE DBSP
ENQUIRY
371
Central Heating combination boilers fault finding & repair John Reginald has released his easy to read, easy to understand book that takes the reader through the background and operation of each major component within combi boilers past and present. The comprehensive fault finding logic guides provide professional solutions helping you to achieve professional standards. Priced at £26 this Industry leading book is available from all High Street and Online Book Stores. COPPERJOB PALADIN
ENQUIRY
20
Safety Products
Firebird Launch New Underfloor Heating Range and Brochure
ENQUIRY
373
MR COMBI
ENQUIRY
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Stay Cool At Work – with Snickers Workwear Lightweight fabrics in the new Topwear range will compliment Snickers Workwear Stretch Garments perfectly this Summer. There’s stylish new Shirts, Hoodies and Sweatshirts in a range of styles and colours that are super-light and quick-drying with advanced ventilation. They’ve all got superb, body-mapping designs for an amazing fit, outstanding functionality and long-lasting comfort. For more information visit www.snickersworkwear.co.uk Or enter the PHAM No. SNICKERS
ENQUIRY
374
New Stuart Turner Brochure The newly launched Envirofloor range from Firebird provides ‘wet’ underfloor heating solutions for solid and suspended floor constructions.
To herald the launch of their new Envirofloor underfloor heating range, Firebird have produced a comprehensive brochure which not only provides detailed product information, but also covers the basics of system design. Ideal for both newbuild and refurbishment projects, a ‘wet’ underfloor heating system (which is up to 25% more efficient than traditional radiators), is the most efficient way to provide space heating. For further information or to download a copy of the new brochure, please visit www.firebird.uk.com or enter the PHAM No. FIREBIRD
ENQUIRY
375
In line with its global reach and extended product offering, Stuart Turner has updated its brochure, Powering Water for Every Application. The new literature aims to inform and support the supply chain, providing a solution for every application. It is functional and informative, utilising clear and colour coded index tabs for ease of reference making it easier than ever to find what solution best suits the requirements. To download the brochure please visit http://www.stuart-turner.co.uk/downloads/ and select the Powering Water 2019 Brochure or enter the PHAM No. STUART TURNER
ENQUIRY
376
Advertiser’s Index GOTEC
ENQUIRY
21
Temperature Sensors
ATC SEMITEC
ENQUIRY
22
Airfl w Developments Ltd Altecnic Ltd Anton Industrial Services Ltd Baxi Heating UK Ltd BES Ltd The Bathroom Manufacturers Association BWT CMR Controls Ltd Conex Universal Ltd Domus Ventilation Dunham Bush Ltd EG Training Services Ltd ELCO Burners Fernox Ford Motor Company Gastec Training Glow Worm
48 26,27 6 33 1 30 28 50 7 47 46 35 17 22 2 37 5
Grant Engineering (UK) Ltd Kamco Ltd Keston Boilers (Ideal Commercial Boilers) Kingspan Environmental Logic 4 Training MV Fluids Handling Ltd Monarch Water Ltd Navien UK Nero Pipeline Connections Ltd Nu-Heat UK Ltd Pegler Yorkshire Group Ltd Polypipe plc Practical Refrigeration Training Centre Ltd Roth UK Ltd Titon Toolstation Worcester, Bosch Group
43 29 21 10 31 3 25 18, 19 16 45 15 9 32 40 49 56 12, 13
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