June 2017

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Volume V olume 55 | Issue 6 | J o June une 2017

Government G overnment ccan’t an’t af afford fford tto o iignore gnore ffuel uel po p poverty verty With concerns With concerns about about rising rising energy energy prices, prices, more more voices voices have have been been raised raised in in a b bid id tto o persuade persuade the the Government G overnment to to devote devote more more time time and and resources resources to to addressing addressing the the issue issue of of fuel fuel poverty. povert y.

Fuel poverty charity Energy F uel p overty c harity E nergy Action Action Scotland Scotland has called Government make h as c alled on on tthe he G overnment tto o m ake affordable energy key a ffordable e nerg y a k ey priority. priority. The The group group believes b elieves tthat hat too too many many people people across across the the UK UK are basic off a re sstruggling truggling tto o rreach each a b asic sstandard tandard o heating and are having h eatting and and energy energy efficiency efficiency a nd a re h av ving make tto o m ake sacrifices sacrifices in in other other areas, areas, such such as as economising e conomising on ffood. ood.

The T he charity charity argues argues that thatt action action needs needs to to be be ttaken aken in in three three essential essential areas: areas: improvements improvements energy efficiency, more effective tto oe nergy e fficiency, m ore e fffective ssupport upport tto o vulnerable and wider v ulnerab ble households households a nd w ider rrecognition ecognition off tthe cold homes on health. o he iimpact mpact of of c old h omes o nh ealth.

Stepping S tepping up up the the Energy Energy Company Company Obligation Obligattion viewed as essential ((ECO) ECO) iis sv ie ewed a se ssential to to raising raising standards standards off e energy and o nerg y efficiency, efficiency, a nd the the organisation organisation ssays ay ys tthat hat this this needs needs to to be be brought brought back back up up previous activity. tto o pr evious levels levels of of a ctivity. IItt also also argues argues tthat hat smart smart meter meter rollout rollout across across the the country country will bring change w ill help help tto ob ring about about behavioural behavioural c hange iin n energy energ y use. use.

Energy and Energy E nergy Action Action Scotland Scotland da nd National Nattional E nergy Action England, Wales and Northern A ction ((NEA) NEA) iin nE ngland, W ales a nd No rthern IIreland reland believe believe a joint joint ministerial ministerial summit, summit, with all parts w ith representatives representatives from from a ll p arts of of the the

UK, U K, should should be be held held before before the the next next winter. winter.

The off tthis T he outcome outcome o his sshould hould iinclude nclude a jjoint oint public commitment p ub blic c ommitment fformally ormally y rrecognising ecognising tthe he off c cold homes as key determinant iimportance mportance o old h omes a sak ey d eterminan nt off ill ill-health. o -health.

The T he NEA, NEA, working working with with the the Royal Royal British British Legion, has also up new Forces L egion, h as al lso sset et u pan ew iinitiative nitiattive – F orces Warmth aimed att h helping ffor or W armth – a imed a elping vulnerable vulnerable ex-service energy bills. e x-service people people ttackle ackle ttheir heir e ne erg y b ills. by charities 2014 A ssurvey urvey conducted conducted b y tthe he c haritie es iin n2 014 ffound ound that that a significant significant number number of of the the exexcommunity sservice ervice c ommunity over over the the age age of of 65 65 had had experienced difficulties paying energy e xperienced d ifficulties p aying ttheir heir e nerg y bills, below b ills, often often due due to to receiving receiving an an income income b elow

average. also tthe he national national a verage. IItt a lso ffound ound a quarter quarter off tthose off w working age were o hose o orking a ge w ere in in debt debt and and pay bills. sstruggling truggling tto op ay ffuel ue u lb ills.

Backing calls off c commitment B ac cking c alls to to raise raise the the level level o ommitment ECO, tto oE CO, the the Energy Energ y Saving Saving Trust Trust says say ys that that ffunding unding for for energy energ y efficiency efficiency in in low low income income homes needs be doubled country h omes n eeds tto ob ed oubled iiff tthe he c ountry iis s tto o meet meet the the Government’s Government’s target target of of getting getting poor an Performance ffuel uel p u oor homes homes up up to to a n Energy Energy P erformance Band by 2030.

B and ‘‘C’ C’ b y2 030. need go ““We We n eed tto og o back back tto o funding funding llevels evels ffor or energy were e nerg y efficiency efficiency tthat hat w ere in in place place before before 2013, ECO 2 013, when when David David Cameron Cameron slashed slashed tthe he E CO programme,” David Weatherall, ffunding unding pr ogramme,” ssays ays D avid W eattherall, Head off P Policy att tthe EST. boost He ad o olicy a he E ST. ““A Ab oost iin n iinvestment nvestment energy efficiency will ffor or e nerg y e fficiency w ill ttackle ackle ffuel u uel poverty poverty and off ttonnes off c carbon.” a nd also also save save millions millions o onnes o arbon.”

Meanwhile, Energy Utilities M eanwhile, tthe he E nerg y U tilities Alliance Alliance has best h as rreiterated eiterated its its argument argument tthat hat tthe he b est way w ay to to tackle tackle fuel fue uel poverty poverty is is to to extend extend the the gas network.

Speaking att U Utility Week Live g as n etwork. S peaking a tility W eek L ive Executive iin n May, May, EUA EUA Chief Chief E xecutive Mike Mike Foster Foster said: said: ““Households Households are are 50% 50% more more llikely ikely y to to be be in in fuel fue u l poverty aren’t connected gas and p overty iiff tthey hey a ren’t c onnected tto og as a nd tthat hat is is a fact fact that that can can no no longer longer be be ignored.” ignored.”

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Turn T ur tto o page pag ge e5 54 4

Heatting for Heating fo or Stt P S Paul’s aul’s

New N ew apprenticeship apprenticeship funding funding explained explained A guidance g uidance package package for for employers employers tthat hat explains e xplains tthe he iintricacies ntricacies o off n new ew ap apprenticeship pprenticeship ffunding unding rrules ules h has as been been put put together together by by workworkbased b ased training training specialist specialist JTL. J TL. The The package package iincludes ncludes a d dedicated edicated section section o on n iits ts w website, ebsite, leaflets, le aflets, an an explanatory explanator y booklet, booklet, videos videos and and ac customer ustomer h hotline ot line n number. umber.

U Under nder the t he Government’s Gover nment’s new new funding f unding sstructure t r uct ure (which (which apply apply l to to England England only) only) different d ifferent F Frameworks rameworks a and nd S Standards tandards h have ave been b een a allocated llocated tto od different iffe erent funding funding bands. bands.

The Plumbing Heating Framework T he P lumbing & He at ing F ramework llevel e v el 2 has has been been moved moved into into a new new band band with w it h a maximum maximum value value of of £5000 £50 0 0 for for the t he full f ull apprenticeship, ap pp prenticeship, w whilst hilst Plumbing Plumbing a and nd H Heating eatting

Framework llevel Framework e v el 3 n now ow h has as a m maximum aximum value v alue e of of £9000. £90 0 0. But But anyone anyone w who ho sstarted t a r ted an apprenticeship before 1st May 2017 a n a pprent iceship b efore 1 st M ay 2 017 will w ill continue cont inue under under the t he same same financial financial arrangements a r rangements agreed ag reed at at the the outset outset of of their their apprenticeship a pprent iceship and and will w ill not not be be affected affe f cted by by tthe he new new rules. r ules.

JJTL TL suggests sug gests that t hat employers employers p pick ick u up p tthe he phone phone ttoday oday a and nd sspeak peak to to one one o off iits ts ttrained rained a advisers dv isers w who ho w will ill b be e ab able le tto o sspell p el l out o ut tthe he b best est way way y forward forward ffor or ttheir heir p particular articular circumstances, c ircumstances, or or they t hey can can talk talk to to their t heir existing e xist in i g local local training t raining officer. of ficer. ““Traditionally Tradit ionally JTL J TL has has been been able able to to help help smaller sm aller c companies ompanies tthat hat llook ook tto o ttake a ke o on n

perhaps orr ttwo apprentices each year,” p erhaps one one o wo a pprentices e ach y ear,” Chief Executive Graham. ssays ays JJTL TL C hief E x cut ive JJon xe on G raham. ““We We know k now that that these these are are the the companies companies that that can can be b e easily easily put put off off from from taking taking on on apprentices apprentices iiff they they feel feel the the burden burden o paperwork and and cost cost off paperwork makes m akes taking taking on on y young oung people people ttoo oo o onerous. nerous.

So, developed S o, we’ve we’ve de velop ped a ssimple-to-understand imple-to-understand way process after May w ay of of explaining explaining tthe he pr o ce s s a f t er M ay 2017, 2 017, which which we we believe believe will w ill be be extremely ext remely helpful small h elpful for for sm all employers employers in in particular.” par t icular.”

Any building A ny employer employer iin n tthe he b uilding services ser v ices engineering e ngineering sector sector that that has has concerns concerns about about tthe he new new funding f unding rules r ules is is invited inv ited to to visit v isit website tthe he JJTL TL w ebsite (www.jtltraining.com) (w w w.jt ltraining.com) tto o access materials and advice. a cce s s m ater ials a nd a dv ice.

An new ew m modular odular boiler boiler system system has has been been provided p rovided by

by Hamworthy Hamworthy Heating Heating for for St St P aul’s Cathedral.

Cathedral. T he ccompany’s ompany’s W essex Paul’s The Wessex ModuMax M oduMax mk3 mk3 condensing cond densing m modular odular boilers b oilers w were ere iinstalled nstalled by

by Bunton Bunton M&E M&E Services S ervices as as part part of of a replacement re eplacem e ent system syste em tthat hat iis s d designed esigned tto o iimprove mprove en energy erg y ef fficiency w hile m eeting h igh d emand efficiency while meeting high demand ffor or h heating eating a and nd h hot ot w water. ater.. T The he ccomplete omplete plant p lant room room was was fabricated fabricated and and built built offoffsite, dismantled s itte, tthen hen d ismantled and and delivered deliv vered to to St St Paul’s, P aul’s, reducing reducing the the on-site on-site installation installation weeks. tto o jjust ust ffour our w eeks.

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June 2017

NEWS N EWS SR Review eview

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Cowb bo oy customers customers Editor’s IInside nside this this issue issue Cowboy Editor’s a re out out in force force are Viewpoint V iewpoint Professional’ss Professional’ says trade survey s a y s t r a d e s u r v e y Choice

by C Chris hris JJones one es

Going it alone has prov proved ved to be a great decision for Northwich based ga gas as engineer Hollie Webb Webb

Starts page 18

Water W ater a T reatment r Treatment The problems caused by y hard water and limesca ale limescale build-up and how best to t avoid them

Starts page 29

Training T rraining & Education We report We p on some of the courses currently on o offer from colleges and d manufacturers

Starts page 39

Ventilation V entilation e & Heat Recovery y Wh poor indoor Why i d air i qua quality ality lit needs to be taken seriou seriously usly and how installers can provide a solution

Starts page 47

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

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

The T he misdemeanours misdemeanours of of rogue rogue ttraders raders a nd c owboy b uilders and cowboy builders rrarely arely yg ou nreported, b ut a go unreported, but rrecent ecent sstudy tudy ssuggests uggests tthat hat cowboy c owboy c customers ustomers a are re also also o ut iin n fforce. orce. A rreport eport by

by AXA AXA out Bu siness Insurance Insuranc n e says says Business tthat hat customers customers o often ften h have ave a cavalier cavalier attitude attitude towards towards ttradesmen’s radesmen’s ssafety afet y a and nd ssome ome be behaviour haviour w would ould be c onsidered serious serious workplace worrkplace considered harassment h arassment in in any any other other context. c ontext.

The T he survey survey of of p professional rofessional ttradespeople, radespeople, iincluding ncluding plumbers, p lumbers, builders builder e s a and nd electricians, el ectr icians, reveals revea e ls that that eight e ight iin n tten en rregularly eg ularly encounter e ncounter customers customers who who attempt knock a ttempt tto ok nock down down the the agreed a g reed ffee ee or or a avoid void p paying aying various pretexts tthem hem on on v ar ious p retexts pushing – p ushing back back payment payment deadlines orr d disputing d eadlines o isputing the the fee fee only work on ly once once w ork is is complete. complete.

Clients C lients w will ill a also lso o often ften h hinder inder work w ork or or prevent prevent a tradesman tradesman carrying ffrom rom c arrying it it out out properly. properly.

The T he mo most st c common ommon m w ways ays customers c ustomers u undermine ndermine a b uilding project, projject, as as voted voted b y building by ttradespeople, radespeople, a are: re: iinsisting nsisting o n c heap o nsuitable on cheap orr u unsuitable m atterialls; not not providing providing clear clear materials; jjob ob specs; specs; ignoring ig nor ing a dvice; advice; a sking tthe he ttradesperson radesperson tto o asking d o tasks tasks tthey hey a ren’t q ualified do aren’t qualified ffor or a nd hanging hanging around around while while and tthey hey ttry r y tto ow ork. work.

Passing P assing the the education ed uca cation test test Another b ugbear iis sh aving Another bugbear having to w ork a round a nimals to work around animals that a re n ot pr operly that are not properly under c ontrol. A third third of of under control. tradespeople re ported d that that tradespeople reported they have been attacked by they h ave b een a ttacked b y omeowner’s p et. ah homeowner’s pet.

Hav ing to to work work in in ununHaving sanitary working working c onditions sanitary conditions was the t he tthird h i rd b ig gest was biggest complaint, w it h 2 7% o complaint, with 27% off tradesmen t radesmen ssaying ay ing tthey’ve hey’ve had to to walk walk off off a job job after a f t er had being being asked asked to to work work amidst amidst dog dog mess, mess, maggot-infested mag go ot-infested rubbish r ubbish or or flea flea infestations. infestations.

Meanwhile, 26% Meanwhile, 2 6% of tradespeople have tradespeople ssay ay y tthey hey h ave had had a customer customer flirt flirt or or attempt attempt to to seduce seduc ce tthem hem iin n a way way that that made made them them feel feel uncomfortable. uncomfortable.

Becoming Becoming embroiled em mbroiled in in people’s people’s ffamily amily y llives ives iis s another danger. quarter another d anger. A q uarter of of tradesmen tradesmen say say they they have have witnessed witnessed a major major o domestic domestic argument.

Some have been arg ument. S ome eh ave b een left with house left w ith a h ouse full full of of children, while others children, w hile o thers rreport eport attacks by neighbours. attacks b y iirate rate n eighbours.

By the By the time time you you read read tthis, his, tthe he v votes otes w will ill h have ave b been een c ounted a nd p arty rrosettes osettes ttucked ucked a way iin n ttheir heir b oxes counted and party away boxes u ntil the the next next campaign. campaign. We We should should also also have have a clearer clearer until iidea dea o off w what hat the the next next four four o orr fi five ve y years ears a are re llikely ikely to to have hav ve iin n sstore, tore, b but ut rrecent ecent ttrips r ips tto o tthe he p polling olling b booths ooths h have ave sshown hown that that making making presumptions presumptions about about outcomes outcomes is is a ffool’s ool’s game game so so it’s it’s probably probably best best to to resist resist the the temptation temptation tto og gaze aze iinto nto tthe he c crystal r ystal b ball. a l l.

But B ut whoever whoever is is waving waving outside outside No No.. 10 10 on on tthe he 9th 9th June, June, tthe he problems problems and and challenges challenges that that need need to to be be addressed addressed rremain emain the the same same and and education education has has to to be be high high up up on on any agenda.

How best children a ny government government a genda. H ow b est to to teach teach our our c hildren has been political battleground many years and h as b een a p olitical b attleground ffor or m any y ears a nd iitt sseems eems that that finding f i nding consensus consensus is is as as far far away away ay as as ever. ever. Do Do we want more grammar more people w ew ant m ore g rammar sschools, chools, sshould hould m ore p eople be encouraged go university and how much b ee ncouraged tto og o tto ou niversity a nd h ow m uch sshould hould ffurther urther education education be be publicly publicly funded? funded?

One area general O ne a rea where where there there does does appear appear to to be be ssome ome g eneral agreement economic growth currently hindered by ag greement iis s tthat hat e conomic g rowth iis sc urrently h indered b y companies with c ompanies struggling struggling to to access access a workforce workforce w ith sufficient suff icient hard argue sskills kills and and qualifications. qualif icattions. IIn n tthis his rregard, egard, iit’s t’s h ard tto oa rgue tthat hatt the the performance performance of of successive successive governments governments has has been been anything other not problem a nything o ther tthan han a failure. failure. IIt’s t’s n ot a pr roblem tthat’s hat’s easily overnight, but now wider e asily ssolved olved o vernight, b ut att lleast east n ow tthere here iis saw ider rrecognition ecognition tthat hat ffurther urther iinvestment nvestment in in apprenticeships apprenticeships and and rraising aising the the perceived perrceived value value of of non-academic non-academic qualifications quallif ications iiss a step step in in the the right right direction. direction.

Many would also agree education has M any people people w ould a lso a g ree tthat hat e ducation h as be viewed as an ongoing process.

New can be tto ob ev iewed a sa no ngoing pr ocess. Ne w sskills k i l ls c an b e career, llearned earned tthroughout hroughout a c areer, and and those those who who work work in in and heating tthe he plumbing plumbing a nd h eating sector sector will will know know this this more more Training Education tthan han most. most. Check Check out out this this month’s month’s T raining & E ducattion off tthe ffeature eature for for ssome ome o he latest latest courses courses on on offer. offer.

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You Y ou don’t don’t h have ave tto ob be em mad ad tto o work work h here... ere... Celebrating Celebrating 40 40 years years iin n business business this this year, year, sanitary sanitar y equipment equipment manufacturer manufacturer Wirquin W irquin is is encouraging encourag ing sstaff taff and and customers customers tto o sshow how o off ff ttheir heir crazy crazy side. side. A special special Facebook Facebook page page has has been been set set up up tto o promote promote ffunny unny sstories tor ies a and nd a activities ctiv ities ((facebook.com/ facebook.com / wirquin40years). w irquin40years). “Our “Our ffollowing ollowing iis sa already lready sstarting tarting tto og grow row and a nd w we’ve e’ve had had some some great g reat feedback,” feedback,” says says UK UK Marketing Marketing C ommunications M anager, Alaina Alaina Turner.

Turner. “We “We are are asking asking Communications Manager, all a ll of of our our customers customers w who ho regularly reg ularly use use Twitter, Tw itter, Facebook Facebook and a nd Linkedin Linkedin p platforms, latfor ms, tto o ffollow ollow u us. s. IIt’s t’s a g great reat w way ay o off keeping k eeping in in close close contact contact a and nd w we’ll e’ll b be e rrunning unning ssome ome g great reat promotions pr omotions a and nd c competitions ompetitions ttoo oo d during ur ing tthe he y year, ear, sso ow we e don’t d on’t w want ant tthem hem tto om miss iss out!” out!”

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Special deal needed Clarity on English apprenticeships to support sector The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) says that the Government should do a ‘sector deal’ with the built environment industry that reflects the important role buildings play in human health, wellbeing and productivity.

“A productive and sustainable built environment delivers significant social, economic and environmental benefits,” argues BESA’s Legal and Commercial Director Rob Driscoll. “It is important to note that the building engineering sector does not just address the cost of construction, which accounts for just 10% of the total value of a built asset, but plays a major part in managing operating performance, which is responsible for 80% of total lifetime costs.”

In a statement issued ahead of the June General Election, BESA urges all the political parties to make clear their commitment to SME apprenticeship training

Rob Driscoll, Legal and Commercial Director, BESA

and to pursue a balanced approach to migrant labour post-Brexit. It also calls for the Government to quickly produce a ‘transparent plan’ for public sector demand and infrastructure investment, and to take action on the payment abuse that disrupts supply chains.

BESA’s propsals include the setting up of a digital payment platform for public sector projects which would help to speed up supply chain payment.

The APHC has annoucned that an Apprenticeship Assessment Plan has been approved for England, bringing the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship Board one step closer to an official launch in January of next year.

The Board was formed in 2016 to ensure the future success of English plumbing and domest ic heat ing apprent iceships. Wit h approval of the Assessment Plan, the Board is now working with Government

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bona fide qualification that will lead to an NVQ/ SVQ in Plumbing/Heating Engineering. Entry is open to CIPHE members as well as non-members.

The three categories to

Graeme Dryden, APHC’s Technical Services Manager, comments: “The Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship Board is playing a key role in continuing the work of the previous Employer Group and working in conjunction with BPEC, City & Guilds, EAL, Baxi Heating, JTL, Leicester College, and NAPIT, which is ensuring the apprenticeships are able to deliver the key skills required, whilst also helping safeguard the long term development of the plumbing and heating industry.”

Bigger HQ for water management firm Water management specialist Graf UK has relocated its UK headquarters in Oxfordshire to a 10,000ft 2 premises in Banbury. The move will help accommodate its 24 member staff, with the newest entrants to the team including a new Accounts Manager and a new Operations Manager, whose respective roles are to build and strengthen customer relationships and to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the business.

Time to apply for awards Apprentices have until 31st July to enter the CIPHE Apprentice Awards 2017.

Created to celebrate people who shine in the plumbing and heating sector, the awards are offering £500 in prize money for each category as well as a special Awards Luncheon at the House of Commons on 24th November.

The competition is open to anyone of any age who is studying a

Graeme Dryden, APHC

over the technical detail.

The Assessment Plan provides a prospectus for students, training providers and assessing organisations

in detailing what is involved in the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship will typically take 48 months to complete, with successful completion resulting in an NVQ Level 3 Plumbing & Heating Qualification. The apprentices will undertake a structured programme of study whilst in suitable employment and complete on-programme training and assessment involving a series of knowledge based and practical assessments.

choose from for entry are: Heating (sponsored by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council), Plumbing (sponsored by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association), and Vulnerability (sponsored by the CIPHE).

To enter, download an application form on the CIPHE website (www. ciphe.org.uk/professionalmembers/apprentice-2017) or phone a member of the team on 01708 463 115.

Matthew Rolph, MD at Graf, says: “After more than three years in our first office, we had outgrown it and

knew it was time for an upgrade. A lot has happened in those three years – including the launch of our dedicated Scottish and Irish branches – and the business has grown 160% since 2014.

We’re also seeing demand for our products continue to rise across the board, with a particular increase in wastewater treatment orders.

“Ultimately, our people and our customers are our priority, and the relocation is set to benefit both.”

Saniflo’s nationwide show In support of the launch of the Saniflo Up product range, Saniflo is embarking on a nationwide tour to visit installers at independent and national merchants. Visitors will have the chance to see live product demonstrations and ask questions of the field service team.

The roadshow truck will display the Eden and Kinemagic shower cubicles in the Kinedo range, plus a working display of a Sanicubic 2 Pro and Sanicom 2. The working displays sit on opposite sides of the van and are connected via pipework in the roof. Static displays also include the new Saniflo Up domestic products and the Sanishower+.

Saniflo is inviting all respondents to its recent

installer campaign and attendees of PHEX+ who filled in a form on the stand. Visitors will get a Fill Up goodie bag, and there’s also a daily draw to win a £50 fuel voucher.

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Buy-out starts new No MCS accreditation needed In brief chapter for Nu-heat

Nu-Heat MD David Roberts (second from left) with founding Directors Andrew Grimsley, Alison Troop and Adrian Troop

Underf loor heating and renewable systems supplier Nu-Heat has secured investment from new shareholders as part of plans for continued growth. The management buy-out was led by Nu-Heat’s MD David Roberts, with the backing of Bestport Capital.

Having dedicated much of their working lives to the company, Directors Alison Troop, Adrian Troop and Andrew Grimsley have decided to retire.

Commenting on the buyout, David Roberts says:

“This investment marks our confidence in the UFH market and the next chapter in our growth story. This will help us to continue to provide our customers with the best heating solution whilst providing our people with a bright future. This transition enables founding Directors, Alison, Adrian and Andrew, to begin the next chapter of their lives. Everyone at NuHeat wants to say a big thank you to each of them, and we wish them a long and happy retirement.”

Grant UK has launched a new scheme called G-Cert, which aims to support engineers who wish to offer their customers MCS compliant installations, without having to undertake MCS accreditation themselves.

Through G-Cert, Grant acts as the MCS accredited organisation, assisting competent installers to complete renewable installations which will be eligible for RHI payments. Grant will assist G-Cert installers throughout

the process, from the early stages of an enquiry through to the completion of the installation.

Installers wishing to join G-Cert must meet the Scheme’s eligibility criteria which are set to ensure that the highest levels of quality workmanship and service are maintained. In turn, they can give their customers MCS compliant installations.

For more details, please visit www.grantuk. com/trade/g-cert-scheme

Bad marks for school heating The UK’s schools and educational facilities are regularly experiencing problems with their heating system which increases the risk of unexpected closure, according to a new report published by Bosch Commercial and Industrial.

The report reveals that the majority spend less than 20%

of their maintenance budget on ensuring their heating system is running efficiently.

This is despite the fact that up to 50% of a typical school’s energy usage is attributed solely to heating.

Over a third of schools are said to be concerned with finding the funds for replacement when it comes to resolving heating system breakdowns, which are often seen as unavoidable.

Pete Mills, Commercial Technical Operations Manager at Bosch Commercial and Industrial, who helped author the report, says: “Ultimately, a school without heating and hot water must close,

so viewing heating and hot water technologies as much more than ‘out of sight, out of mind’ appliances is essential.

“With significant cuts to funding and increased pressure to reduce energy consumption, it’s more important than ever for schools to be proactive in tackling their heating and hot water challenges. We hope this report will help schools to enhance their heating and consider a boiler replacement project well ahead of an outdated system letting them down without warning.”

The report is available for free download on: http://bit. ly/heatinginschools

r 5IJT ZFBS NBSLT UIF 25th anniversary for Suffolk-based Specflue, the supplier of flue, chimney and renewable heat solutions. r Westco has donated over £1200 to the Children’s Burns Trust after committing to give a percentage of its profits to the charity for every Safeguard Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV). r 6OEFS G MPPS IFBU JOH provider Giacomini UK is now sponsoring Alastair Seeley in the British Supersport Championship. r The M Series MSZLN wall mounted air conditioning units from M it subi sh i E le c t r ic have been awarded the Noise Abatement Society’s Quiet Mark for their almost silent performance. r 3FNFIB IBT EPOBUFE a new Quinta Pro 65 condensing boiler and an iSense Pro control for installation at Emmaus Medway, a char it y prov iding work and accommodation to the homeless.

Double win at Gas Awards

UFH on video To make selecting and installing a UFH system easier, Wavin has produced a series of practical video guides. The dedicated Hep2O underfloor heating website, (www.hep2oufh. co.uk) now features 29 how-to videos and step-by-step guides to help customers choose the UFH system that’s right for them.

The video suite has been updated to include guidance on installing the Hep2O staple and plate systems, testing underfloor heating systems and programming the controls.

The website also features an estimator tool, HepCalc, which allows users to choose the system that’s most appropriate for their project, providing direction along the way, and generates a list of materials required to complete the job, which users can then take to their local merchant.

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The recent Gas Industry Awards saw Baxi take double honours when it secured recognition for energy efficiency and customer service.

Held by the Energy and Utilities Alliance, the awards were staged for the seventh time with more than 100 entries across 10 categories.

The Energy Efficiency Award was given in recognition of Baxi’s continued efforts to educate customers during call-outs, as well as its innovative digital content, such as an energy efficiency calculator on its website to help customers compare the efficiency of their existing boiler against a new one.

Work such as Baxi’s EASE (Engage, Adapt, Solve, Empower) initiative, developed from a survey of 125,000 customers, helped it to secure the Customer Service Award.

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Chance to stand out from the rest

Screwfix is searching for the nation’s top tradespeople with the return of the annual Britain’s Top Tradesperson 2017 competition. Previous winners have included plumbers, bricklayers and electricians. This year’s winner will walk away with the title and the keys to a new Toyota Proace or Hilux vehicle worth £32,000 (OTR).

All plumbers are invited to enter for the chance of winning the competition.

Last year Richie Maxwell (pictured above), a third-generation bricklayer from Tillicoultry, Scotland, walked away with the title after beating over 6000 entrants. He impressed judges with his determination to use his trade skills and highquality workmanship. His

honesty, integrity and successful business structure stood out from other finalists in the finale.

Screwfix Marketing Director Graham Smith comments: “We continue to host this competition year after year and get more quality applicants. We’re looking forward to meeting this year’s successful regional finalists.”

Regional finalists will be selected at the end of this month (June) and then finalists will be asked to compete at the national finale in July, with the overall winner being named Britain’s Top Tradesperson 2017.

To enter, go into any Screwfix store or go online at screwfix.com/btt where there are further details of the competition.

Winning the public vote The winner of this year’s UK’s Heating Installer Awards has been revealed as Peter Booth of G V Booth Plumbing & Heating from Loughborough. Peter was crowned during a special presentation at the Installer2017 trade show in May and came out ahead of the competition following an online vote.

A founding member of the Gas Safe Superheroes campaign, Peter is passionate about the industry and wants to encourage future generations to pursue a career in plumbing. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Peter said: “It feels so good to have been named the national winner. The best thing about this whole process has been

Peter Booth of G V Booth Plumbing & Heating

all of the people I’ve met on social media who have voted and believed in me. I really didn’t expect to win, although everyone else had confidence in me. I’ve really enjoyed raising awareness of

what installers do across the country and I’d encourage anyone who’s interested to enter next year.”

Dean Foster, of Dean Foster Plumbing and Heating, County Durham, came runner up in the awards. He comments: “It feels nice to be recognised for my hard work, and it was such a surprise! It won’t change me as a person, but it will help me to get recognised for my achievements and I’m sure it will improve my business prospects.

“I would definitely tell other installers to enter next year’s awards. There are some great prizes involved and it’s such a great achievement!”

The 2018 competition will open later this year.

Annual golf day

This year’s Simon Austin Golf Day, held last month in memory of the former MD of Vaillant who died in a car accident in 2004, was attended by over 40 golfers. Taking the winner’s trophy was Peter Fletcher, Polypipe Sales Director, pictured (right) with organiser Tony Smith, MD of Courtney Smith.

Brand’s Hatch VIP tickets up for grabs Burner manufacturer Ecoflam is celebrating 25 years of product design, development and manufacturing expertise by offering customers the chance to win two VIP tickets to the final race of the British Touring Car calendar at Brand’s Hatch in late September.

To be in with a chance of grabbing the exclusive tickets, customers simply need to register the serial number of any Ecoflam

burner purchased between 1 May and 31 August 2017 by calling 01905 788010.

As part of the Ariston Thermo Group, Ecoflam offers the latest gas and oil burner technology for a wide range of applications, including

the Max Gas range of high efficiency burners and the BLU low NOx burners.

Mark Bingley, Ecoflam’s Operations Director for the UK and Ireland, says: “We are delighted to celebrate our 25th year of trading in the UK

and Ireland. This competition is a way of thanking our customers for their loyalty and support over the years, providing them with the opportunity to experience a great day out at a fantastic British sporting event.”

High standards Kent based indepedent heating company Swale Heating has achieved a hat trick of internationally recognised standards.

The awards follow an assessment conducted by the British Assessment Bureau and demonstrate the company’s commitment to three key areas of its business – quality in customer service and delivery (ISO9001:2015); environmental conscious- Matthew Edwards, Sales Director ness (ISO14001:2015); and operating to the highest health and safety standards (OHSAS18001:2007).

Matthew Edwards, Sales Director, says: “By becoming one of the first companies in the sector to achieve all three of these revised 2015 certifications, Swale Heating is leading the way in driving up standards in the industry. The company has designed and implemented a far-reaching change programme in the past 18 months and it is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of our staff. We are hugely proud of this achievement.”

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10 NEWS Review Donation to study End of the line childhood eczema Harvey Water Softeners has donated a new spectrometer device worth £40,000 for use in a research study on childhood eczema.

The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer will be used in a clinical trial conducted by Dr Carsten Flohr, Consultant Dermatologist and senior National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Fellow.

Dr Flohr’s team will be conducting the clinical trial to investigate the effect of hard water and skin care practices on the skin barrier of newborn babies and how this links in with the development of eczema.

With eczema affecting an estimated 20% of children and 7% of adults in the UK, it’s hoped the FTIR device will help the research team to develop more effective preventative measures and treatments for this disabling skin condition.

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Engineers from Gas Call Services have discovered the last ever Potterton Profile boiler produced at parent company Baxi’s factory, 17 years after installation in the cellar of a Scotland home.

They were replacing the old Profile for a modern appliance when the unique writing was seen on the back of the boiler. Each of the Baxi employees who worked on the boiler had signed it with the production date of February 1999. Gas Call Services MD Mike Donnelly contacted the local Potterton representative, Cameron Brown, who in turn contacted Baxi Heating at its head office in Warwick. “They were keen for us to restore the boiler to its birthplace,” says Mike Donnelly.

Dr Carsten Flohr (l) and Harvey Bowden with the spectrometer

Company founder Harvey Bowden says: “We saw this as a unique opportunity to investigate what we’ve long suspected – that a higher soap residue left on the skin through exposure to hard water may contribute to the development of eczema in early life. If it gets us closer to solving the debilitating problem of eczema, the investment will have been worth every penny.”

Backing for the Brewers Pump specialist Wilo has announced it will be tunnel sponsors for Burton Albion Football Club for the 2017/2018 Championship campaign.The company’s parent group is based in Germany, whilst Wilo UK is based just down the road from the club grounds in Burton-upon-Trent.

Wilo branding will be seen throughout the season at matches played at the Pirelli Stadium. Pictured left: Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson, Richard Harden (MD Wilo UK), Morgan WarrenRoss (Marketing Manager), and Brewers Manager Nigel Clough.

Big year for Brit products

To mark the 25th anniversary of two of its long-standing products, Drayton is set to run the ‘Best of British Giveaway’. Among the quintessentially British prizes on offer are the Lifestyle LP programmer and the TRV4, which were introduced in 1992 and since then Drayton has sold over 16 million TRV4s and over 6.5 million LP programmers, both manufactured at its Plymouth factory.

Go to @DraytonHeating on Twitter for updates on the competition launch.

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PEOPLE on the Move Shower and bathroom accessories manufacturer Coram Group UK has announced the appointment of Steve Huntly to the position of Group Sales Director, where he will be responsible for implementing and executing a group sales strategy, driving revenues and developing client relationships. Steve joins from the position of Regional Director at Elliott Group, where he worked for two years.

OFTEC has welcomed Steve Webster as the new Manager of its technical team. Steve brings more than 30 years experience, having begun his career as a research and development engineer for a large telecoms company. In his role with OFTEC, Steve will provide expert advice and guidance to OFTEC technicians, sector professionals, as well as consumers.

Following the retirement of Don Theobald, Talon Manufacturing has appointed Ian Newton (pictured) as the new MD. Ian brings with him a wealth of experience gained in companies such as Coca Cola, Budweiser and Kerry Foods. Most recently, Ian was involved in a company which had an injection moulding operation, knowledge which will transfer to his new role at Talon.

The specialist team for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has been strengthened by Baxi with the appointment of Paul Wilson (pictured) as National Sales Manager for Remeha’s CHP division. The announcement comes as Gary Stoddart changes his role from Technical Sales Director (CHP) at Remeha to Technical Services Manager at Baxi Heating. Gary will lead on technical services for Andrews Water Heaters.

Taking the helm at Jaga Heating Products is Claire Owen, who has been named MD. Claire brings a depth of expertise in management, HR and marketing to ensure that the Jaga team continue to provide customers with fully tailored solutions using its industry-leading heating, ventilation and cooling products. She previously held the position of Financial Controller at Jaga.

New to the Gledhill sales team is John Lynch who has been named UK Sales Director. John joins from Sentinel Performance Solutions, where he was the company’s UK and Ireland Sales Director for over 12 years before being promoted to Director of Sales – Eastern Europe and Asia. John’s skills will support the sales team in high level relationships with business partners in the cylinder market.

Hot water generation specialist ACV-UK has expanded its sales team with the appointment of Chris Barrett as Business Development Manager for the South West and South Wales. Chris has a wealth of industry experience, having held senior management positions with Lochinvar and Smedegaard in the past. Most recently, Chris was working with A.O. Smith Water Products.

Emma Maude has joined Wirquin as the company’s new Business Development Manager for the North West, Yorkshire and the East Midlands. She joins Wirquin with over 15 years of bathroom industry experience gained at Ideal Standard, Kohler Mira and, latterly, at Davroc Distribution. Emma will be tasked with supporting key customers in the region and driving growth through new sales acquisitions.

Docherty Group has announced the appointment of Leigh Draper as its new Area Sales Manager for the south central region. Leigh brings with him a wealth of experience, and his new role will see him working closely with the Newbury branch covering the South Central region: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

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14 YO YOUR OUR Views Views 0 ÂŁ10 tter Le

Fewer F ewer in in the the industry industr y will w i ll drive drive up up salaries sa la ries

I just just read read the the article article co on nc cerning low lo ow w wages wages concerning plumbing iin n tthe he p lumb bing and and h eating iindustry ndustry ((‘Are ‘Are ssalaries alaries iin n tthe he heating iindustry ndustry too too low?’ low?’ online online at: at: t www.phamnews. www.ph hamnewss. c o.uk/link-between-skills-and d--wages)). T he co.uk/link-between-skills-and-wages).

The a rticle sstates tates there there is is a public public perception perception article and tthat hat anyone anyone can can conduct conduct plumbing, plumb bing, a nd tthere here is is a lack lack of of understanding understanding that that gas gas % ' & &"(' %( ' ' &%( & ' ' " ) '

% "( % ( '

' & %( & ' ' " ) ' rregistered egistered p professionals. rofe essionals.

O ne o he key key issues issues h ere iiss tthat hat m ost One off tthe here most homeowners understand how h omeowners do not not u nderstand h ow ssomeone omeone &% )(#')( %' ) & % )(# )( % ) ' % '&"(' ' % )(#' % '&"( ' % )(#' very charge v ery quickly quickly and and tthen hen sseemingly eemingly c harge a llot ot o money, but but this this is is not not necessarily necessarily about about the the off money, ttime ime for for tthe he jjob ob b ut a bout tthe he k nowledge tthat hat but about knowledge allows a llows tthe he quick quick solution. solution. This This knowledge knowledge has value. h as a v alue. Equally Equally there there is is a lack lack of of understanding u nderstanding about about the the costs costs of of a plumber plumber e ven getting getting started started iin nb usiness a nd tthe he even business and d aily costs costs of of just just operating operating a single single van van daily alone admin off rrunning business. llet et a lone tthe he a dmin o u n n i ng a b usiness. people go I rregularly egularly rrecruit ecruit p eople tthat hat ttried ried tto og o alone but have iitt a lone b ut h ave ffound ound tthe he rreturn eturn ffor or ttheir heir llabour abour and and the the cost cost of of doing doing b usiness too too business m uch tto oh andle. much handle.

I concur concur with with the the views views about about "!! ( )& )! ' "( ' ' " !! ( )& )! " ( ' " ) &" )%( ' " ) &" )%( ' I w ould a lso ssay ay tthat hat tturning urning up up at at a would also c ustomer’s home home in in a u niform tthat hat iiss c overed customer’s uniform covered mastic and with hanging out off iin nm astic a nd w ith ttools ools h a ng i ng o ut o pockets, p ockets, a van van that that has has not not been been washed, washed,

etc hardly going consumer etc iiss h ardly g oing tto o iinspire nspire a c onsumer tto o think think that that you you are are worth worth paying paying money money to. to.

will be buyers happy buy tthere here w i ll b eb uyers tthat hat are are h appy to to b uy iin n tthis his space. space.

T here is is little little do ubt tthat hat tthere here iiss a n eed There doubt need to to explain explain tto o the the public public at at large large why why our our tradespeople tradespeople should should be be rewarded rewarded for for their their knowledge and There need knowledge a nd sskills. kills. T here iiss a n eed for for tthe he industry tto ob e devoid devoid o eople tthat hat are are n ot industry be off p people not % )%(" ' " ) '' ! % )%(" ' " ) ''

We operate W eo perate in in a market market economy economy where where and demand ssupply upply a nd d emand are are the the order order of of the the day, day, but ass a c comparison getting an electrician b ut a omparison ttry ry g etting a ne lectrician day att a rrate ssame ame d ay a ate tthat hat iiss anything anything llike ike ass low ass a ‘‘plumber’ orr ‘‘heating engineer’ a low a plumb mber’ o heating e ngineer’ ) '%

) % ' '" ' %& '" ' '! " %& ' " ' ' ! )& ' " ' )& " ' companies c ompanies will will issue issue a CP12 CP12 for, for, given given the the obligations document llegal egal o bligations tthis his do cument has has behind behind )) ' " ' '" ' % ' " " % )) ' ' ' " ) '% ' ' ' ' " ) '% ' work tthe he w ork that that engineers engineers get get away away with with when when iissuing ssuing tthis his document. document. t

There need Government T here is is a n eed for for G overnment tto o llegislate egislate plumbing way electric ffor or p lumbing in in the the ssame ame w ay tthat hat e lectric and gas have a nd g as h ave been been legislated legislated for. for. There There should should a lso b eap rofessional b ody ffor or tthe he plumbing plumbing also be professional body and NOT Gas Safe a nd heating heating iindustry ndustry tthat hat iiss N OT G as S afe and a nd that that promotes promotes our our industry industry in in the the public public domain and att G Government and THE do omain a nd a overnment a nd tthat hat iiss T HE % ' " ') ' ' " ) &" )%( ' '! )&'

% " ) " ) &" )%( ! )&' a nd industry industry c ould a nd sshould hould rrecognise. ecognise. and could and ) ' % '(% ' '"'& ' ')(' ) ' % '

) % (% '" & % %

)(' ) % ' "( ' % '# ' '( & " ' " ) &" )%( ' " ( ' % ' # ' ( & " ' " ) &" )%( ' IItt sshould hould be be an an examination examination system system that that Water Safe and also iincludes ncludes tthe he W ater S afe ssystem ystem a nd tthat hat a lso iincludes ncludes drainage drainage engineers engineers so so that that all all our our water and gas engineers are ass w ater a nd g as e ngineers a re rregarded egarded a )(#'!

)(#'! % )%(" ' " ) '"( ' % % )%(" ' " ) '"( ' % ' ' % ' ) % ' ) ' " ) &" )%( ' " ) &" )%( N one of of this this will will change change unless unless there there is is None "'&%(& ' ' ')( ' %' " ' "' &%(& ' % ' % ' ' )( '

% " ' and will government tthis his forward forward a nd tthat hat w ill sseek eek g overnment ssupport. upport. While While the the market market remains remains as as it it is, is, tthere here will will be be a glut glut of of labour labour and and there there will w ill b e tthose hose tthat hat w i ll w ork ffor or n ext tto on othing, be will work next nothing, tthose hose that that will will do a rubbish rubbish job job and and harm harm tthe he reputation reputation of of the the vast vast majority. majority. And And

Quick Q uick and and d dirty irty not not for for me me In y In your ou r ‘‘Spotted Spotted o on nT Twitter’ w itter’ ssection ection iin nM May, ay, @ @GDKPlumbing GDK Plu mbi b n g ssaid a id tthat h at h he eh had ad n no o lluck uc k ))('&%($)(&)(#'"'!" (' &%($ ) (&) ( #' " !" )& " )& " '& % & % '% ' ' ( '% ' ' % ' ' ( % ' '"( '") ' " ( " ) ' !" ' ! " " " % % '"( ' ' " ( ' worse w orse sstill ti l l tthat hat tthe he ffour ou r o other t her q quotes uotes sshe he g got ot d didn’t id n’t m mention ention e either ither o off tthese he s e m measures. ea su res.

Well, W el l, this th is is is something someth i n g I have have to to face fa ce too. too.

All y ou h ave to to do iiss m ention something someth i ng a customer’s customer’s never never heard hea rd of of before before and a nd they they All you have mention a utomatically tthink hink y ou a re ttrying rying tto o sswindle windle tthem, hem, a nd n oa mount o ood e xplanation automatically you are and no amount off g good explanation w ill b rea k tthrough h rough ttheir hei r iignorance. g nora nce. I g enera l ly ttalk alk a bout d ea reators w ith m yh igherwill break generally about deareators with my higherend e nd c customers, ustomers, a ass tthey hey sseem eem tto ob be e genuinely genu i nely interested i nterested in i n adding add i ng whatever whatever there there is is to to ensure e nsu re they they have have the the best best possible possible system. system. The T he ones ones looking look i n g for for a cheap cheap boiler boi ler swap swap out o ut are a re looking look i n g ffor or a q quick u ic k a and nd d dirty i r ty ssolution, olution, a and nd I rreally ea l ly do don’t n’t h have ave time ti me for for tthat. h at .

Sponsored Sponsor ed b by y

Regrettably, Gas Safe not doing anything Regrettably, G as S afe iis sn ot do ing a nything llike ike a tough tough enough enough job. job. I wish wish they they were were because would b ecause tthey hey w ould ssoon oon sstart tart rrevoking evoking off e engineers, rregistrations egistrations o ngineers, tthus hus fforcing orcing up quality available u pq uality sstandards, tandards, rreducing educing a vailable engineer e ngineer capacity, capacity, and and raising raising the the rates rates of of tthose hose in in the the market. market.

The with professional T he ultimate ultimate ssolution olution llies ies w ith a pr ofessional body b ody implemented implemen nted by by government governmen nt and and the the controls who can iindustry ndustry ttogether ogether tthat hat c ontrols w ho c an do what w hat and and that that ensures ensures that that only only the the very very best b est people people operate operate in in the the market. market. This This is is how h ow the the cowboys cowboys will will be be removed removed – capacity capacity will w ill become become tighter tighter and and the the rates rat ates of of pay pay for for will The evidence clear by tthe he jjob ob w ill rrise. ise. T he e vidence iiss c lear b y jjust ust att h how London where demand llooking ooking a ow iin nL ondo don w here tthe he d emand higher and available capacity worse, iiss h igher a nd tthe he a vailable c apacity iiss w orse, tthen hen the the rates rates of of pay pay follow follow conventional conventional economics. e conomics.

We need change need an an industry-wide industry-wide c hange of of " ) &" )%( ' " ' '$

" ) &" )%( ' " ' '$ $ ' '%! '%! " % " % '' will agree necessary.

The w i ll a gree iiss n ecessary. T he ttougher ougher iitt iiss tto o become b ecome a plumber plumber or or any any other other trade, trade, the the more m ore the the skills skills will will be be at at the the highest highest possible possible $ ' '" % ( '% ' " ) '! %! ' ) ' ' $ ' '" % ( '% ' " ) ! %! ) ' and llower, ower, a nd the the market market price price will will increase. increase.

Basic and B asic supply supply a nd demand demand economics economics prove prove tthis his is is the the case. case.

A tthoroughly conducted CP12 horoughly c onducted C P12 tthat hat examines e xamines not not just just the the boiler boiler but but ALL ALL aspects aspects off the o the heating heating system system cannot cannot take take less less than than an a n hour hour and and the the price prrice should should not not be be less less than than ' )& ') ' % " ' )

' )& ) % " ) ( ' %' ' ( %'' ' ÂŁ25.00 have ass tthe price ÂŁ 25.00 tthat hat I h ave sseen een a he llowest owest p rice market. one has iin n tthe he m arket. IIn n ssome ome rrespects espects o ne h as tto o wonder why does not have w onder w hy tthis his activity activity do es n ot h ave iits ts % (' " ' " ' "("# ' ! &) &" )%('"( ' % (' " ' " "("# ' ! &) &" )%(' "( ' governed g ove erned price. price.

It ' " ' It iiss % % )(#' )(#' %' % ( ' ( ' " ' " '

' plumbers out p lumbers o ut tthere here that that will will touch touch unvented unvented cylinders without correct orr c ylinders w ithout tthe he c orrect ttraining, raining, o " ! ' %' '"( ' " ! ' %' % ' "( ' "(# '% '! "(# % ' ! % ' ' % ' are not and a re n ot trained trained to to solve, solve, a nd tthen hen lleave eave tthe he consumer problem. c onsumer with with a greater greater pr oblem. IIff ssomeone omeone %') '(% ' " ) '% ")( '& " # ' '

% ) (% '' " ) '% ' " )( & " # ' ")( ' %' ' % )(# '"( ' % %( ' " ') ' % % )(# '" "( ' % %( " '')) '' " )( ' "( ' " ) ' % ' '# ' " ( " ) '' % '' '# # ' ' ' ' consumer c onsumer will will place place the the job. job.

In In the the end end the the rates rates the the market market can can claim claim will always and demand. w ill a lways be be rrelative elative tto o ssupply upply a nd d emand.

EU m EU migrants igrants plug p lug tthe he gap gap In response In response to to ‘Migrant ‘Migrant workers workers are are crucial crucial building June edition: tto o tthe he b u i ld i n g iindustry’ ndustr y’ iin nJ u ne e d ition: At when At a ttime ime w hen everyone everyone is is talking talking about about both plumbing and sskills kills sshortages, hortages, b oth iin np lumb bing a nd across across tthe he construction construction sector, sector, the the Government Government is is #)$)(#' % # )$ )(# % ' ' )) ' %' '%( ' )& ' ' ' % '%( )& ' have h ave at at our our disposal: disposal: skilled skilled migrant migrant labour labour all across EU. When ffrom rom a ll a cross tthe he E U. W hen tthat hat llifeline ifeline iiss ssevered evered as as a result resu lt of of Brexit, Brexit, the the country’s countr y’s house h ouse building building may may not not judder judder to to a halt, halt, but but without will w ithout enough enough skilled sk i lled labour labour iitt w i ll sslow low down do wn drastically. drastically. Mr Mr Berry’s Berry’s proposal proposal that that we up w e ttrain ra i n u p ttalent a lent ffor or tthe he ffuture uture tthrough hrough quality apprenticeships UK q uality a pprenticeships iin n tthe he U K is is llaudable, audable, but meantime? b ut what what do we we do do in in the the m eantime? Talent Ta lent and a nd experience experience don’t d n’t mature do mature overnight. overn ight.

Carl Yeomanson @CarlYeomanson I’ve just seen in our local paper companies offering boiler installs for £995!!! Tell me how is that possible? kirbyplumbing78 @waynekirby2 I absolutely love my job! Hasn’t always been the case. Being around like-minded lads on Facebook and Twitter has helped me massively.

Carol Cannavan @PlumbCareer Less than 1% of plumbers in the UK are female, but there are lots of opportunities for employment.

Barrett Heating @HeatingBarrett Nice early start has paid off, last one for me today as it’s too bloody hot, now for a nice afternoon taking the dogs swimming & a pint 4 me.

@PHAMNews

Let us know what you think...

The Editor Editor welcomes welcomes letters letters from fr from readers readers on on all aspects a spects of of the the iindustry. ndustr y. Letters Letters can can be be sent sent by by email e mail or or post post but but must must have have a return return name, name, phone phone number and n umber a nd address address (not (not for for publication). publication).

Please P lease address address your yo our letters letters to: to: The Editor, The Editor, PHAM PHAM News, News, 1b 1b Station Station Square, Square, Flitwick, F litwick, Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire, MK45 MK45 1DP 1DP

or o re email mail tto: o: eeditor@phamnewsedit.co.uk ditor@phamnewsedit.co.uk

PHAM NEWS JUNE17 edit:Layout 1 30/05/2017 13:33 Page 15

June 2017

ENERGY Matters 15 Manifesto for the Clean energy for businesses survey UK solar industry In the run-up to the June General Election, the Solar Trade Association has published its own manifesto that summarises the contribution solar can make to the wellbeing and prosperity of Britain over the next Parliament.

The STA has set its sights on 40GW of solar by 2030 which would require the installation of around 10GW of new solar capacity over the next five years, a near doubling of current capacity that would see solar provide around 10% of UK power by 2022.

The Manifesto highlights the benefits solar can contribute to the UK, including more jobs, lower carbon, lower energy bills, billions of investment, smart energy infrastructure,

better energy security and cleaner air.

Calling for fair tax treatment and effective regulation, STA CEO Paul Barwell says: “If politicians really want to transform choice & competition in the energy market for good, their efforts are best spent making solar power and storage accessible to the millions of people and businesses who want it.”

New research carried out by energy price comparison website Love Energy Savings has revealed that over 40% of people believe businesses should source their energy from renewable sources.

In the survey of over 1000 consumers, 33% also said they would be willing to pay more for energy from renewable sources.

Phil Foster, MD of Love Energy Savings, comments: “While there are not as many

renewable contract options available to businesses, many suppliers do offer a greener alternative. We’ve found that businesses are increasingly aware of their carbon emissions as taxes and governmental requirements force compliance and measurement. Suppliers know this too and it will be interesting to see how their fuel mixes change as green targets become ever more challenging.”

Guy Harwood, TPI Contract Manager at Npower, says that while there is more awareness about green energy, price remains the key consideration: “We still feel that price is the number one driver for customer behaviour. If they can get a good price and green energy, customers would probably go for that, but we still aren’t in a position where a customer would prioritise a green tariff over price.”

Heat pump first A project to develop the UK’s first water source heat pump (WSHP) for medium temperature district heating to service existing buildings has been given the green light. The 2.5MW water source heat pump on the Clyde at the Gorbals will be deployed by September 2018 and will be Britain’s largest inner city heat pump.

The £3.5 million industrial sized water source heat pump will draw energy from the waters of the Clyde and boost it by up to 80°C, delivering immediate carbon reductions of 50%.

The renewable project has received a 50% loan from the District Heating Loan Fund, with the rest of the project funded with a grant from Scotland’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Investment Fund.

Incentive backing A new incentive designed to encourage homeowners and landlords in Scotland to make energy and moneysaving improvements to their properties has been praised by Neil Schofield, Head of External Affairs at Worcester, Bosch Group.

The Home Energy Scotland Loans Scheme offers the opportunity to make a variety of energy efficient improvements in the home, with a total of £34 million in funding available in interestfree loans for measures ranging from insulation and double-glazing to high efficiency boilers and renewables systems.

The policy also gives homeowners the opportunity to receive up to 25% of their loan in cashback, available for a limited time.

Neil Schofield, Worcester

Says Neil: “The Home Energy Scotland Loans Scheme is certainly something manufacturers and installers can get behind.

We are very much hopeful that, should the scheme prove a success, we may see similar incentives adopted throughout the UK.” ENQUIRY

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June 2017

GADGETS & Tools 17 Driving it home Adhesive advance Designed to drive screws and drill holes in wood, metal and brick, Hitachi’s DV18DBFL2/JM 18V combi drill with brushless motor is 189mm long and weighs 1.7kg, making it ideal for confined spaces.

The drill has a forward and reverse switch and LED spotlight. The 13mm ratcheting metal chuck with spindle lock means screwdriver or drill bits can easily be removed or inserted. It comes with two 3.0Ah Liion batteries, a 90 minute charge time, and battery level indicator. A three-year warranty is available when the tool is registered online within four weeks of purchase.

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The latest versions of Loctite’s anaerobic threadlocking adhesive prevent self-loosening, and secure any threaded fastener against vibration and shock loads. Loctite 270 is a high strength adhesive, suitable for permanent locking of assemblies that do not require regular disassembly for maintenance. Its medium strength counterpart

– 243 – is formulated to allow disassembly with hand tools for servicing.

The latest formulations of both these products provide higher performance on various metals, even without the use of an activator. Their temperature resistance has also been increased to 180°C, from 150°C. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Narrower insulated screwdrivers Trouble reaching sunken screws and spring elements in tight spaces?

Bahco’s new ‘Slim’ 1000V insulated screwdriver is narrower than others, and its ergonomic handle is slimmer too. With many 1000V screwdrivers the insulation often obstructs and prevents access to low lying fasteners. Bahco’s solution to this problem is to reduce the blade diameter and use integrated insulation.

The new screwdriver also enables a

higher transfer of force with less effort, while its ergonomic features protect even the toughest hands from the risk of muscle strain or injury. The ergonomic handle features a resistant plastic at the core, ensuring that the blade can be held securely.

All the brand’s insulated screwdrivers are water bath tested at 10,000V to ensure safe working at 1000V, fully meeting the IEC 60900 Standard. www.bahco.com ENQUIRY No. 106

Easier-to-use saw

The new high-performance Bosch cordless GSA 18 V-32 Professional Sabre Saw introduces a fresh ergonomic concept to optimise handling.

The handle design, contrasting with the conventional spadehandle shape, makes this tool comfortable to hold in any position, even over long periods. With its compact dimensions, low weight and high-comfort grip, it can be used with ease in tight work spaces and for overhead work.

This sabre saw is also the first from Bosch to feature ‘active vibration damping’.

A counterweight positioned in the gearbox constantly counteracts the inertia, reducing vibrations to the lowest levels in the tool’s class, thereby minimising fatigue for the user.

A further design advance is the easy-to-press power switch, which can be reached and operated from any of the wide variety of possible handling positions.

The Professional Sabre Saw is fully compatible with the Bosch 18 V Li-ion range.

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June 2017

18 PROFESSIONAL’S Choice

No looking back now!

Following an unexpected redundancy, Northwich based Hollie Webb decided to take the opportunity to set up her own installation and servicing business. Just 12 months in, it’s a step which she now wishes she’d taken years ago. Hollie talks to PHAM News about her new found freedom and the products and brands that have aided her success.

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he prospect of running your own business is often a prime motivator for young people entering the plumbing sector, but it’s not necessarily front of mind for everyone. Having completed a four-year gas apprenticeship while working for a local housing association, Hollie Webb, from Northwich in Cheshire, was more than happy to continue her career with the housing body, racking up a further six years and enjoying her time within an eight-strong gas maintenance team.

Saving for a house and living close to family and friends, it seemed the future was pretty well set for Hollie, but then came the unexpected announcement of cut-backs and redundancies.

Such setbacks can sometimes prove to be a blessing in disguise. Although it took a while to get over the initial disappointment of losing her job, Hollie is the first to acknowledge that it presented her with an opportunity she might otherwise never have taken.

“People said it was a job for life and I did feel quite secure there,” says Hollie. “I have to admit that it was probably a cushy job in some ways. I was really quite happy there and I probably wouldn’t have left if it wasn’t for the redundancy.”

Hollie says that the financial package was by no means a life changing amount of money, but it was enough to encourage her to set up her own enterprise – and just 12 months down the line she already knows it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made. A chunk of money was put down for a van and new tools, but it wasn’t long before she was seeing a return on that investment.

“Work picked up pretty quickly and it’s never really stopped,” she says. “I had no customers to start with, but Facebook has been absolutely fantastic. That’s the only place I advertise.”

A bright pink pipe on the top of the van also helps to promote the business and catch the eye of passers-by, while giving them a clue that perhaps the owner of said vehicle might not be the typical gender of most heating engineers. Being female has undoubtedly helped her to

Hollie gets to grips with another heating system installation

Professional image – Hollie Webb believes in showing customers her Gas Safe card and arriving in an eye-catching van

win business from those customers who perhaps might otherwise be wary of letting a plumber call in on their elderly mother or who are unsure of welcoming in an unfamiliar name from the local directory. But Hollie believes that a lot of her early success can simply be put down to being reliable and well organised.

“I’m getting new customers all the time and they often say something like: ‘I’ve contacted four different plumbers and you’re the only one that has bothered to call back’. I get that a lot. People want me because they feel safe with me and they know I’m reliable.

“I think working for the housing association has helped me to be better organised because I had to do time sheets and a lot of paperwork. I find a lot of self-employed plumbers have everything in their heads and don’t write things down, but I couldn’t work like that. On my computer I’ve got a spread sheet of all the jobs I’ve done.

As soon as I’ve sent the customer an invoice it turns ‘red’, so I can easily see which ones haven’t paid.”

Cry freedom!

As well as the satisfaction and rewards of running her own business, Hollie says that one of the biggest bonuses of being in charge is having the freedom to decide on her working hours and which jobs to take on.

“I love the fact that I can plan my own diary and organise my own route for the day,” she explains. “If there’s a job a bit further away, I can plan it so that I’m going to be near there for another job. It’s also nice being able to say ‘sorry, but I’m too busy’ if the job doesn’t sound right. To my mind, that’s one of the big benefits of being self-employed. You’ve also got to have a good work life balance, so if I want to catch up with friends I can simply avoid booking any work for that day.”

With a father who operates his own painting and decorating business and a mother who’s a trained bookkeeper, Hollie is not short of people to turn to when she wants some advice about being self-employed, but she admits that there are always things to learn when it comes to the practical side of the job.

“In my previous job most of the work involved completing landlord gas safety checks, servicing gas boilers, fixing gas fires – a lot of gas work. Plumbing wasn’t part of my job, but since I’ve been on my own I will fit taps and repair toilets – basic stuff like that. I would think twice about taking on a bathroom refurbishment, though.”

No longer part of a bigger team, Hollie admits that she sometimes misses being able to turn to colleagues for some quick advice or to resolve a technical issue, but she recently discovered an online information tool

called Gas App (see also page 46 in this month’s issue) which has proved to be an invaluable source of advice and information.

“It’s fantastic,” she exclaims. “It’s a great community where everyone helps each other. I can just go on it, put a picture up, and ask ‘has anyone seen this?’ or ‘how much are other people paying for copper at the moment?’ You can also access all the various brochures and instruction manuals from the different manufacturers – so everything you need is there.”

“There have been similar things on Facebook, but there are too many people on it and I don’t think they’re all genuine gas engineers. There’s also a personal link to your Facebook page, and that’s not necessarily something that you want – being female, you can end up with a lot of friend requests that you don’t really want!”

Shopping spree Of course, one of the downsides of being self-employed is having to use your own funds to purchase tools and equipment, and Hollie confesses that deciding what and what not to buy can be a challenge.

“It sometimes seems that I never stop spending!” she says. “I did find it a bit difficult because all the things I was used to getting for free when I was employed – all the tools and consumables – things you don’t really think about, I now have to go out and buy.”

So which brands does she favour when it comes to tools? “I like Bahco – I always use them because they’re great quality hand tools. For power tools, DeWalt is the name I go for. It makes sense to keep to the one brand because of battery compatibility, so virtually everything is DeWalt, including my vacuum cleaner.”

ToolStation is Hollie’s ‘one stop shop’ for most of her tools and consumables. “I like the familiarity at the store.

You’re not just a faceless customer and there’s always a bit of friendly banter. The pricing is very transparent, so you always know exactly what you’re paying and it’s very easy to keep track of costs.”

Hollie also has plenty of positive things to say about her local merchant – Northwich Plumbing Supplies – where she buys all her plumbing equipment and boilers.

“You can’t put a price on the service you can get from an independent merchant,” she says. “They are so helpful and quick to respond to any enquiries.”

It’s not an easy step going it alone, but Hollie clearly appreciates the help and support she has been able to access to ensure that her first year in business has gone so smoothly. She certainly has no regrets about setting up – she just wishes she’d done it sooner.

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20 CIPHE Viewpoint

Taking water safety more seriously

Water safety can often be overlooked or taken for granted, but potential risks should not be underestimated. Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE, puts the case for a more comprehensive approach to protecting the public and safeguarding the reputation of professionals.

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t may be a shock to some that hot water scalding and Legionnaires’ disease is making a significant contribution to the number of fatalities and deaths in this country, on par with, and in some cases exceeding, the number of carbon monoxide related incidents in the UK. One reason for this is likely due to the fact that gas related tragedies in the home and commercial environments has long been recognised and publicised as a health risk. In addition, industry has embraced legislation to affect changes that have saved many lives. Water safety on the other hand can be overlooked by both installers and homeowners who often do not realise the potential dangers of not properly managing water temperatures and bacteria.

At the CIPHE, we make a point of discussing water safety issues with our members, manufacturers, consumer organisations and trade bodies. After all, it is the job of the

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What we must remember is that nobody is exempt from the dangers of scalding and Legionaries’ disease, so the only real option is to ensure that the right steps are taken to actively stamp out the risk.

What can be done?

Kevin Wellman, CIPHE CEO

plumbing and heating industry, as a whole, to stamp out unscrupulous work. Only through education and bringing issues like water safety to the attention of the entire supply chain can we make progress and prevent the unnecessary and avoidable deaths of those using hot water systems which aren’t safe or suitable for them – this includes vulnerable users as well as the public at large.

The reality is that there is lots that can be done to ensure water safety is front of mind – namely this can be achieved through education and ensuring that installers have access to relevant safety information and resources. This is vital to helping plumbing and heating professionals keep up to date with the latest standards and preventative measures covering water safety.

A part of this is addressing skills early on. Plumbing apprenticeships 100 years ago used to be seven years long; 50 years ago it was five years long; now there are schools of thought that specify just two years as being sufficient. This decrease in training, along with advancements

in product technology, gives rise to the concern that not all of the trade can be fully competent.

Further, when you compare the level of mandatory training gas installers must undertake, for example the 5-6 days of training required each year under the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) in order to renew their licence every five years, unfortunately water safety just doesn’t have the same level of training required. As an industry, water regulations were produced back in 1999 with training happening on a voluntary basis. Therefore, the reality for water safety and training under current schemes means installers are under no obligation to update their skills. This is where the CIPHE and like-minded organisations come in to put pressure on current ways of working and encourage members to make a change.

The CIPHE’s CPD Charter is designed to ensure that skills, based

on agreed competency requirements, are supported and met by plumbing and heating professionals who undertake training. The idea is that the public will benefit directly by professionals updating their skills on topics such as water safety on a regular basis. Our view is that professionals may have undertaken training at the very beginning of their career and if work isn’t done to support the ongoing development of skills, the industry will move on without them.

It is evident that a greater skilled workforce for installation and maintenance of hot water systems is needed, which is why I urge trade professionals to become involved with the CIPHE and take advantage of all the resources we have to offer.

For more information about water safety, to request the CIPHE’s Safe Water Guide, and for membership enquiries, please email: info@ ciphe.org.uk or call 01708 472791.

Sponsored column

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

NAME: Kevin Rawlings COMPANY: K E Rawlings Ltd Heating & Plumbing FROM: King’s Lynn

In today’s age of fake news, no matter how good a product is, there’s always the odd misconception circulating about it. So PHAM News has teamed up with Geberit to separate fact from fiction regarding the company’s Mapress press fitting systems.

Myth: Press fitting systems can’t be used for gas installations.

Geberit Mapress fact: Press fittings can be used for gas

At work... At play...

What time do you typically start work in the morning?

“I usually meet some of the lads at Plumb Center around seven-thirty in the morning. We then spend around half an hour discussing the day ahead and what jobs we all have on before heading straight to site.”

Would you say customers respect you opinion?

“Yes – hopefully. We will always recommend the right heating system for the installation, making sure it coincides with the customer’s budget.

Customers don’t always know the full extent of what’s on the market, so it’s our role and responsibility to have this knowledge and provide them with all the information they require.”

Have you ever walked away from a job?

“Occasionally. When someone wants something that isn’t practical or isn’t the right option for them, we take the decision not to progress with that job.

Likewise, it’s not just installers that can get a bad name – there are bad customers out there and unfortunately we do come across those who aren’t particularly nice people.”

What’s your favourite make of power tool?

“At the moment, firm favourites across the team are Dewalt and Bosch power tools.”

Do you think smart controls help to save energy?

“Yes, I think they do. We fit smart controls regularly and tend to find that customers opt for them as they like the idea they can control their heating system via an app on their mobile phone. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but it’s definitely appealing for the younger generation.”

Can you cook?

“I tend to prepare the ingredients and I let the wife do the cooking, as she has a lot more skills in the kitchen than I do.”

What’s your favourite film?

“I’m definitely a Forrest Gump fan. It’s on the TV fairly regularly but I always end up watching it if it’s on.”

What’s your favourite sport to watch?

I’m a huge Chelsea fan, with the added bonus of being a season ticket holder.”

What was your favourite subject at school?

“I always enjoyed maths lessons at school. It’s such an essential, practical skill that I use on a day-to-day basis – I couldn’t be without it in my job.”

If you could be a Superhero, who would you be?

“Without a doubt it’s got to be Superman!”

Who do you think was the best James Bond?

“I’ll say the wrong one, but I reckon Roger Moore – maybe that’s just because of my age.”

Do you play any sport?

“I have always enjoyed playing football but my favourite sport is definitely golf. If the weather looks promising over the weekend I’ll always try and find some time to spend at my local golf course.”

Where are you going on holiday this year?

“I recently had a fantastic trip to Barbados, which was absolutely brilliant and served as a well-deserved break. We are also possibly looking at booking a holiday to Spain for a bit later in the year.”

Do you do much DIY at home?

“If I’m brutally honest, I try and do as little as possible, but there’s always the odd jobs that need doing around the house.”

pipes so long as they are installed in line with manufacturers’ instructions. Geberit Mapress Copper and Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel have all the necessary approvals for natural and liquified gases, as well as for several technical gases for industrial applications. It’s all you need to get your gas applications safely under control.

S

oldering has long been the connection technique of choice when it comes to copper pipework installation, with installers being somewhat reluctant to move away from such a tried and trusted method.

However, there are very good reasons why making the switch from traditional soldering techniques to press fitting is a good idea, not least the amount of time saved, as well as the convenience and safety benefits it offers. The good news is that Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel and Copper gas fittings have been approved for use by BSi, meaning they can be used for gas pipes.

Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel Gas & Copper Gas have been checked and certified for gas installations according to the requirements of the following testing guidelines: • BSi prEN 1254-7 • DVGW VP 614 • ÖVGW G1 TR Gas (A) Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel Gas is available in sizes 15-108mm and should always be used with Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel gas system press fittings for natural and liquified gases. As it is HTB approved, this can be laid on the wall as well as concealed in the wall.

For technical gases, Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel silicone free pipe and fittings must be used.

Geberit fittings for gas installation are marked with a yellow pressing indicator and yellow cap for clear differentiation.

This seal ring inside the fitting, made of

hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), ensures reliable sealing.

Before installation the yellow protection cap on the fittings ensure they are free from dirt and debris, and the Geberit pressing indicator also ensures additional safety as you can be sure what has and hasn’t been pressed, a feature that appears on all Geberit Mapress press fittings.

Press fitting offers a flexible, durable and reliable piping system for all project types and generally requires far fewer tools. Press fittings are pressed on to the pipe by using a pressing tool, without the need for any soldering or adhesives.

The absence of a working flame minimises the risk of damage to existing fittings and fixtures, making it the ideal choice for refurbishment projects and when installing gas supply lines in domestic situations.

Due to the deformation of the pipe and fitting, press fit connections cannot be undone or tampered with, thus providing complete peace of mind, which of course is of particular importance with gas installations, where leaks cannot be visibly detected and fixing them can be time consuming and costly.

With safety always a top priority and time of the essence for the busy installer, it’s good to know that this is one myth that has been well and truly busted.

June 2017

22 COMPANY Spotlight

A new offering to UK heating installers For many UK heating engineers Navien may be an unfamiliar name, but the company is the number one boiler manufacturer in South Korea and exports to over 38 countries, including the United States and Russia. PHAM News recently visited the company’s Seoul headquarters to find out more about the business and its ambitious plans for growth.

T

he UK boiler market is acknowledged as one of the most vibrant in Europe, with numerous manufacturers large and small competing to win the loyalty of installers.

For the trade customer it means that prices remain competitive as companies strive to out do each other on features, efficiency and levels of service. For the manufacturer, though, the level of competition means that it is notoriously difficult Graham Parkes, Sales Director at Navien UK for unfamiliar brands to gain market share. But not many new entrants come to the UK with the size and resources of Navien – South Korea’s leading boiler manufacturer.

Navien might be a relatively new name to UK installers, but they are already a big player on the global stage. The company is part of the KD group which has a turnover in excess of £4.6 billion. Operating for over 30 years, the company currently exports to 38 countries and has established a sizeable share of the American and Russian markets. Based in Seoul, the South Korean capital, Navien operates an R&D Department that is staffed by 196 fully trained employees and runs a factory that is capable of producing more than two million units a year.

The company specialises in condensing boiler technology, including a cascade system of up to eight boilers for commerical applications, and also manufactures other

The highly automated South Korean factory has the capacity to produce more than two million units per year

heating and ventilation products, including water heaters, air conditioning units and energy recovery products.

Renewable technologies also form part of Navien’s portfolio, with solar panels and micro-CHP systems also available, but it’s the domestic condensing boiler range which will initially be the key focus of the UK sales team.

Available in outputs from 24 to 40kW, the NCB boiler from Navien features a blue touchscreen for control of heating and hot water temperatures. The same screen also provides service engineers with details of how efficiently the unit is performing. Constructed in stainless steel and brass for reliability and high efficiency, the NCB boiler is suitable for natural gas but can also be adjusted for LPG. “We have an ambitious plan for growth,” says Graham Parkes, Sales Director of Navien UK. “We are confident we have the right products and support to take the UK by storm.”

Boilers in stock and on display Navien UK has partnered with Plumbase and HPS to ensure that installers will soon be able to purchase its products from all parts of the UK. Karl Foote, Commercial Manager at Plumbase, explains why he is excited to offer the new boiler range at Plumbase branches.

“While we all know that the UK boiler market is a notoriously tough one to crack, a large part of the reason behind Plumbase helping to bring Navien to UK installers is down to the excellent quality of the products and the brand’s proven global success rate.

“Our commitment to offering new product propositions is what creates a unique reason for installers to trade with us. While every merchant

Navien’s Barrie Wilson with Anthony Daley, Assistant Branch Manager at Plumbase Nottingham

will attest to offering the usual competitive pricing, availability and service, our flexible management structure means that we are in a strong position to quickly make decisions, such as investing in new products to give installers the widest possible choice.

“Since the partnership began 16 months ago, we have steadily progressed to stock Navien products in a third of our 170 branches, with the aim that by the end of this year stock coverage will have increased to two thirds. We are very aware that this isn’t an overnight

project and that results won’t come instantaneously.

As a result, we have approached the partnership with a long term strategy in mind. To date this has meant getting Navien product in front of installers and getting them to give it a try.

“We have already gained some great feedback from installers who have seen the build quality of the Navien range up close at our Innovation Nights events up and down the country. We have also gone to lengths to work with Navien on a number of other hands-on events.

“This is just the beginning and our customers can expect to see a lot more of Navien in the months and years to come.”

Barrie Wilson, Technical Sales Manager at Navien, highlights components at the recent Installer Show in Coventry

All of Navien’s boilers are ‘A’ rated and are constructed from stainless steel and brass for extra durability and efficiency

Navien has currently sold around 2000 boilers in the UK but is looking to expand further over the coming months following partnerships with distributors Plumbase and HPS. Plumbase currently stocks Navien products in more than 30 of its branches, mainly in the Midlands and the North, but will be making products available in further branches in the near future.

The company recently teamed up with Plumbase to exhibit at the Installer Show in Coventry and were pleased with the response from visitors. “We were absolutely delighted with the number of installers we saw at the show and the interest they showed in the NCB boiler in particular,” says Graham Parkes. “The event provided an excellent platform for installers to see our high quality product offering for the first time, get up close to our solutions and talk to our technical sales team to find out more about our company, the products we offer and the first class aftersales support we provide.”

Navien is aware that it takes time to win over installers and build the level of service that customers expect, but the company says it is committed to providing the level of investment that will ensure long term success and plans to open a call centre in the UK in the near future.

“Our ultimate goal, backed by KD Navien, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of home comfort systems, is to be in the top four boiler brands in the UK,” says Graham. “We have a long way to go, but we’re looking to increase brand awareness and build relationships with installers as we go on this journey,” says Graham. www.navienuk.com

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June 2017

Advertisement Feature

26 PRODUCT Spotlight

Business Matters

Washrooms that can take abuse

Take advantage of the card

Available from Delabie is a range of commercial water controls and accessories that have been rigorously tested to ensure that they will be able to withstand intensive use and even abusive behaviour.

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Poor housekeeping

Aesthetics play a large part. Washroom facilities with an obvious lack of maintenance (broken tiling, soap dispensers with no soap, WCs or urinals with water stains) will lead to contempt for the facilities. Attractive surroundings with well-maintained fixtures and clean, bright surfaces are more likely to elicit respect and care from the user.

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here’s a potential vandal in each Fit for purpose of us, especially when it comes System considerations need to be factored in. to using public washrooms and Pipe size, dynamic pressure and flow rates toilets. In public facilities there is a wide play an important part. Failing to adapt the variety of technology available and a WC flush to system pressure will cause lack of familiarity may result in over spray, leading to wet floors unintentional vandalism if the that create a hazard for users. user does not know how Similarly, excessive splashing an electronic tap works from an incorrectly or how to adjust the positioned shower head temperature. Frustration or an undersized basin will or impatience may result in surfaces becoming manifest in increasingly discoloured, joint integrity abusive behaviour and may fail, materials may the sanitary fittings warp with the damp and provide a convenient hygiene becomes a major target. concern. Products that can Delabie has over e a be easily adjusted to system Te v 80 years experience mp C conditions during installation will W of lu manufacturing water controls x 2 dual f lush preempt such problems and provide and accessories for the commercial facilities that are fit for purpose. sector. We believe that there are certain considerations that can mitigate against the Durable materials involuntary vandal such as well-designed Taps and showers intended for washrooms facilities, product suitability and regular subject to intensive use such as sports maintenance. facilities, service stations or airports must be made of robust and durable materials. Pushbutton controls and mechanisms should have no fragile moving parts. Delabie mechanisms are rigorously tested and will withstand regular and intensive use. Our electronic sensors are able to withstand impact, even though they are designed to be non-touch.

Accessories such as soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers and grab bars for accessible toilets are made from 304 stainless steel – the surface reacts spontaneously, with oxygen forming a protective layer and guarding the surface against corrosion.

Secure fixings Water controls with secure fixings will withstand a heavy-handed user and also more deliberate vandalism. Delabie’s commercial tapware is designed to fix firmly in place via threaded rods with a horseshoe bracket and back nuts to tighten onto the working surface. Alternatively, cross wall fixings and anti-rotating pins provide an additional level of stability that will withstand any torsion or twisting. Fully recessed models with tamperproof fixings or concealed fixings leave no opportunity for even the most determined vandal to access the mechanisms.

Consideration is often given to how to prevent overt vandalism, but facilities managers and building owners need to consider the impact of unintentional vandalism. Delabie’s water controls and sanitary fittings can provide a complete washroom solution that will minimise the impact of involuntary damage.

Well-designed facilities with durable sanitary fittings will keep unintentional vandalism at bay

www.delabie.co.uk

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Plumbing businesses could be saving 3% on their total monthly fuel bill by switching to supermarket forecourts for their petrol and diesel requirements – so says FuelGenie, the supermarket fuel card provider, which points out that supermarket fuel stations offer an average saving of over 3p per litre at the pumps when compared to the national average.

FuelGenie commissioned a study which showed that more than 53% of plumbers visit the pumps between six and 10 times a month, which indicates potential to save by switching to supermarket fuel.

It was also found that nearly a third of businesses with a fleet of three or more vehicles operate a traditional pay-

and-reclaim system, where employees pay for fuel and then reclaim the expense, often requiring completion of paperwork and submitting a receipt. The research suggests that this system of repayment can cost firms through lost working hours and administration.

FuelGenie says that while a total monthly saving of 3% on fuel expenses can appear minimal, when combined with the saving that can be made by switching to a fuel card, companies could be saving thousands a year.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Mental health absenteeism New analysis of sickness absence in the contracting sector shows worrying levels of absenteeism due to mental health problems. Analysis of sick pay data from ECIS shows mental health as one of the top three reasons for employee absence (13%), after musculoskeletal conditions (48%) and general sickness (15%).

In contrast, the number of claims for the treatment of mental health problems is a small fraction of all health insurance claims managed by ECIS, suggesting contractors are not getting the support they need.

Vicki Leslie, Client Relationship Manager for ECIS, says: “Between 2013 and 2016 we saw a 20% increase in health insurance claims for mental health conditions in the contracting sector, but this is still a

tiny proportion of all the health insurance claims we manage.

“There’s a real disconnect between the number of workers suffering from mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression, and those taking action to address the problem by seeking professional treatment. We therefore urge employers to take up an active role in promoting mental health and wellbeing as well as highlighting the importance of early intervention.

“ECIS offers a direct access service for mental health problems, allowing members to access treatment without needing to see a GP, along with an Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential 24/7 telephone support.”

Streamline with software Protean Software offers installation and maintenance companies a chance to become more efficient though the use of adaptable software that addresses the complete service life cycle, from lead generation and project quotation through to service billing and asset retirement.

“Protean has helped improve the way service companies work by simplifying processes so that businesses can make time and cost savings,” explains Bob Anderson, CEO of Protean Software.

“This includes providing easy storage of job-related documents and reducing the risk of human error, as well as providing the intuitive tools needed to deliver better customer service, and helping companies to make informed

Bob Anderson, CEO of Protean Software

decisions, with easy-to-reach, easy-to-read management information.”

The different modules within the software allow companies to streamline job management and increase productivity. One function offered is the ability to manage

service agreements, which helps reduce the cost and complexity of administration.

A company can also mobilise its workforce by connecting field teams with the mobile engineer communications and tracking module.

The software includes an equipment register that enables businesses to reduce risk by keeping track of equipment without unnecessary paperwork.

Users can manage the sales process from enquiry through to quotation, order and invoice. There is also a facility to convert equipment quotations to sales orders.

For more information, enter the number below on the freepost reader enquiry card inside this issue.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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June 2017

WATER Treatment 29

What we can learn from the commercial market It is becoming increasingly popular for heating engineers to work on both domestic and light commercial installations. In light of this crossover, Ted Watson, Specifications Manager at Spirotech UK, discusses what domestic installers can learn from their commercial counterparts.

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or commercial installers, the importance of deaeration – the process by which corrosive air is removed from a heating system – enjoys a level of recognition far beyond that within the domestic sector. This can in part be attributed to the more obvious demand for deaeration on a commercial installation. The larger scale means there is a more notable difference between the high pressure at the base and low pressure at the top, which in turn causes much larger pockets of air at the top.

Air within any water-based heating system can be found in three forms: free air, microbubbles and dissolved air. Whilst most domestic installers recognise the importance of removing the free air – via an automatic air vent (AAV) – many do not realise the necessity of combating the microbubbles too.

Bubble trouble Microbubbles are the manifestation of gas coming out of a solution as the result of increase in temperature or pressure reduction, which is an issue that is faced by both domestic and commercial installations.

These microbubbles will then travel around with the system fluid and gradually corrode the internal surface of the pipes, creating magnetite and causing debris to flow round the system. It is at this point that many domestic installers will recognise the issue of dirt within a system and fit a dirt separator to remove the debris. However, the notion of preventing the build-up of this debris by combating the issue of air can be widely overlooked within the domestic sector.

In order for microbubbles to be effectively removed from a system, the deaeration unit should be installed at the hottest point and it must facilitate a specific internal environment. Only at this point can a deaerator with the correct internal environment for the microbubbles allow them to rise upwards and ultimately exit the system through an automatic venting valve.

There is the common misconception within the domestic sector that an AAV can successfully remove all air from a system, and therefore there is no purpose for an additional deaerator. However, by looking at commercial installations, which operate on a much larger scale, it becomes clear that whilst an AAV can remove the large pockets of free air at the top of a system under static conditions, it cannot and does not create an environment necessary for microbubbles to rise and exit when the system is operational.

It is clear from commercial installations that deaeration plays a vital role in achieving

can be highly effective in protecting the system against corrosion.

However, we must be mindful that nitrite based corrosion inhibitors can, in certain circumstances, contribute to the development of microbiological growth at the expense of depleting inhibitor levels, and thus expose the system to corrosion attack. The implementation of a deaerator such as the RV2 will significantly reduce the air content and, importantly, improve system efficiency.

Lessons to be learned Ted Watson, Spirotech Specifications Manager

full and sustained system health. However, the most efficient and enduring systems will see a deaerator working in tandem with a dirt separator in order to both prevent and cure the issue of corrosion.

With the number of domestic installers now taking on light commercial work steadily on the rise, it is an opportune time for the two sectors to recognise what they can learn from each other. With deaeration continuing to amass a dedicated confidence among commercial engineers, it is becoming increasingly important for domestic

The installation of a dirt separator and a deaerator, such as the Spirotrap MB3 (left) and SpiroVent RV2 (right) can help to ensure a clean and efficient heating system

installers to follow suit. This, combined with the well-established techniques of dirt separation and chemical treatment, will make for maximum and sustained system efficiency. www.spirotech.co.uk

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Combined approach Whilst many domestic installers recognise the necessity for dirt separation, few understand the long-lasting and highly effective impact of installing a dirt separator together with a deaerator. The magnetite debris (or dirt) has a significant negative impact on overall system performance. To combat this, a dirt separator should be fitted in order to successfully collect and dispose of any debris within the fluid.

The dirt separator, used in conjunction with a deaerator, should have the ability to remove both magnetic and non-magnetic dirt, ensuring that a system will be cleared of debris. It should be installed on the return, removing any dirt from the circuit before it enters the boiler. This dirt is captured in a chamber, which can then be emptied independently, without the need to completely flush a system.

Whilst dirt separation is crucial in maintaining system health, employing this technique together with deaeration will deliver much more efficient, long-lasting results. By fitting a deaerator, such as the SpiroVent RV2, on the inlet pipe the quantity of debris will be vastly reduced. However, only with the help of a dirt separator can the highest level of efficiency be maintained in order to collect any debris caused by microbubbles that may have escaped the deaerator.

Chemical reaction Even by employing the functions of both dirt separation and deaeration, chemical application has long-since been recognised as the go-to solution for managing system health, and its impact can still go a long way in achieving improved efficiency. If applied and dosed correctly, corrosion inhibitors ENQUIRY

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June 2017

30 WATER Treatment

Scale up the benefits of softeners With an estimated 13 million households in the UK situated in hard water areas, there is potentially a big market for water softeners.

Kevin Johnson, MD at Monarch Water, explains how installers can take advantage of the growing opportunities.

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ard water takes ing time to get the same rea heavy toll on sults and at a lower cost. Sofpipes, expensive teners can halve the amount white goods such as washing of soap, cleaning agents and machines and dishwashers, detergents when compared and of course the home’s hot to use with hard water, and it water system. Its impact leaves less detergent residue is extensive as the water on clothes. Anecdotal evithat feeds our homes and dence has shown that they properties contains calcium also help with skin conditions and magnesium that it has such as eczema. picked up when passing Good market through chalk beds in The water softener market the ground. It is this hard is estimated to be worth water that brings with it a Kevin Johnson, MD at £40.5m per annum, and this detrimental side in the form Monarch Water sales trend is expected to of limescale. continue.

The HHIC and leading boiler and Without any intervention this will lead to chemical manufacturers state that every a build-up of limescale that stays within the hard water home in the UK, regardless of home’s hot water system and pipes, coating the type of boiler it has installed, can have a the heat exchanger, making the system less water softener.

As long as the primary side energy efficient and potentially shortening of the system is filled with hard water to its working life. All this costs money to sort ensure that the water softener installation out through replacement, servicing and maintenance. Staggeringly, the problem complies with BS 14743, then there will be of limescale costs the UK an estimated no issues at all. With this industry support, the net worth of installing a water softener £1 billion every year. An effective water will only continue to offer both a sustainable treatment system is vital for households and and profitable revenue source for installers businesses in hard water areas to help lower who work in hard water areas. the levels of energy consumption, reduce the Softened water helps reduce the need chances of an expensive breakdown of the for detergent and other cleaning products heating system, and improve the working because it doesn’t contain minerals that lifespan of appliances. interact with soaps and detergents to lower their cleaning and lathering abilities. The Effective solution average ‘hard water home’ can spend around A water softener is undoubtedly the best £200 a year to overcome the effects of product to gain the full benefits of soft water hard water when compared to soft water. and limescale protection as it physically The harder the water, the more cleaning removes existing scale and prevents new agents and laundry detergents are required. scale from forming. It helps eradicate hard Appliance life expectancy is significantly water problems for good, producing soft reduced. The life expectancy of a boiler’s water each and every day. heat exchanger is reduced by up to 80% Alternatives to water softeners include with a hard water supply! As a result, conditioners and certain limescale control the introduction of a water softener with devices (LCDs), such as electrolytic or a payback period of less than four years magnetic devices. Whilst it is recognised should be seen as a long term investment there is a place in the market for these, rather than a cost. the fact they only offer temporary relief to the effects of hard water, Cost cutter lasting only a few hours before Additionally, unnecesreverting back to scale sary scale related costs forming water, does not for the repair and maingive the end user the 24/7 tenance of appliances protection they desire. can be prevented. With But the introduction a scaled boiler, you have of a softener goes way to heat the scale before past just limescale you can heat the water. prevention.

Just 2mm of scale can inWith tangible differcrease hot water bills by ences that can actually 12%. At 3mm of scale it be felt and seen, softenrises to nearly 25%. ers also help households Modern day softeners transform to a life withhave been designed around the needs of out scale and scum. As the UK’s kitchen and a result customers will plumbing systems. In benefit from sparkling, doing so, the modern streak-free surfaces, water softener is now softer laundry, smoother more compact, easier skin and reduced clean- Monarch’s Midm002 Midi

Limescale will build-up on pipework, reducing energy efficiency and causing long term damage

to install and simple to set up. Being straightforward to install means that the average installation can be completed in three to four hours.

Wide application

There are approximately over 13 million homes in hard water areas in the UK. Many of these households may not be aware of effective measures that can be taken against limescale and its effects. For installers this presents the perfect opportunity to provide professional advice to ensure that the customer achieves the best solution for their home. It could be recommended to customers whilst attending to scale related boiler issues or hot water systems, when the damage that limescale causes is easily raised to help the customer understand the need for household and appliance protection for future limescale damage.

They are also available for a widening range of supplies – 15, 22 and 28mm – and in a range covering electric and non-electric models by manufacturers who recognise the need to offer more flexibility for installers to meet the varying supply needs of their customers.

What’s more, being able to buy from a merchant at a trade discount enables the installer to offer a competitive supplyand-install quote for their Customer advice “It’s handy to have customer and still make a Installers looking to upsell an old, scaled-up good profit.

With the increase of pipe to illustrate the water softeners to their customers may find it’s efficient technology being effects of scale” not as straightforward as incorporated into current saying they need one to softeners, big reductions in salt and water usage can be achieved prevent limescale damage. They will need through options such as proportional or Opti real-world reasons that deliver specific brining, where the system only regenerates benefits, such as scum-free baths or the ability the softener’s resin that has been used. With to cut back on soap and detergent for their these lower running costs, customers aware washing machines, as well as save money of their carbon footprint will also appreciate on shopping and gas bills. It’s talking about sending fewer chemical cleaners down the the real benefits that help to sell the subject. drain as well as reduced energy usage as a But to help make the point it’s handy to have an old, scaled up copper pipe to hand, as it result of efficient heating. helps illustrate the real effects of scale on Long service life their pipes. They get the point then.

Having ensured that your customers’ homes Most of today’s softeners offer excellent are protected from limescale, installers can reliability, lasting in some cases over 30 look at other service areas and products to years. Installers, when recommending a help their customers enjoy a better lifestyle softener, should look to manufacturers that while making their business profitable. This, provide service engineers to undertake ‘at in a competitive marketplace, is an invaluable home’ warranty support, if ever needed, way to build customer relationships and as well as checking for the most extensive future profitable business. warranty coverage. Not only does this provide reassurance to the customer that they are getting a quality product with full 24/7 service support for the duration of its lifetime, it also allows the installer to simply fit and forget, leaving you to get on with other work.

Find out more

For more information, enter the number below or visit the website. monarchwater.co.uk

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32 WATER Treatment

Preventing water heater corrosion Any product that generates hot water is vulnerable to corrosion, but what difference does water hardness make and what are the available means of protection? Kevin Potter, Business Development Manager – Hot Water Solutions – at Hamworthy Heating, explains.

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conductivity thereof means ideal conditions for the reaction orrosion in a hot water cylinder can and hence the protection of the cylinder. occur when an These anodes require maintenance and due to the varying electrochemical reaction quality and chemical constitution of water, they corrode between different metals at different rates depending on the location. These areaused inside the water heater specific factors form the basis for an assessment of the (such as for the connections) rate of deterioration, and regular inspections are required takes place. Higher water to check the state of the anodes. temperatures, levels of Soft water areas oxygen as well as acidity can However, not all areas of Great Britain have hard water. In all act as reaction promoters. fact, the North and West are characterised by soft water To prevent corrosion in areas. How does this affect the anode? the first place, a porcelain The lower the number of dissolved metal ions, the lower the enamel lining is applied to electrical conductivity, which is the case for soft water. This the inside of the vessel. In Kevin Potter, Hamworthy Heating adversely affects the chemical reaction between sacrificial this way, the hot water’s contact point is the lining rather than the steel shell itself. anode and cylinder shell, inhibiting protection. In these However, despite careful manufacturing processes, cases, the anode often seems to be in excellent condition. microscopic cracks in the lining are not completely At the same time, however, this means it might not be preventable. These small areas may expose the steel lining working at all, putting the heater at risk. To bypass this to the hot water, with an opportunity for corrosion to take problem, a powered anode can be used or a cylinder made hold. So what should be used to protect the water heater from a different material selected.

A different case is hard water softened by the means depends on the water hardness of the area it operates in. of salt such as sodium chloride. Magnesium Hard water contains more dissolved and calcium ions which cause water to mineral ions such as calcium and magnesium, which improves its conductivity. be ‘hard’ are substituted by the sodium Dependent on the manufacturer, enamel ions which then ‘softens’ the water. The lined cylinders might be delivered with adverse effect of this method is increased sacrificial anodes to prevent corrosion. conductivity which promotes corrosion. An As the name suggests, a sacrificial example where this would naturally occur anode ‘sacrifices’ itself for the benefit of is in the ocean, where sea water corrodes the cylinder. The protection mechanism is ship wrecks quickly. based on an electrochemical process. With Powered alternative water serving as an electrolyte and the A powered anode is non-sacrificial. Instead cylinder’s steel shell (less reactive metal) as of the anode giving up its own electrons and the cathode, a magnesium (more reactive producing an electrolytic current such as in metal) anode is installed. The latter, once the case of a sacrificial magnesium anode, an submerged in water, offers a target for electrical supply produces a very low current oxidisation in lieu of the steel shell. in the water. This has the same protective The electrons that are freed during effect on the cylinder’s steel shell, but without this corrosion process travel through the corroding the anode, often made of titanium, conductive medium (water) to the cathode which will theoretically last the lifetime of (steel shell), reducing it to its elementary Stainless steel calorifiers form, thereby protecting it. Referring to the hot water cylinder. from Hamworthy are the higher concentration of dissolved However, a powered anode in certain soft manufactured from mineral ions in hot water above and higher water areas may still not have a protective corrosion resistant steel

Regular inspections are required to assess any deterioration

effect, as the conductivity of the water, which the powered anode requires, is often poor.

Corrosion resistance What if neither powered nor sacrificial anodes are effective?

Corrosion-resistant stainless steel cylinders are often used in these parts of the UK. This makes them particularly suited to areas such as Scotland, South West and North West England, and West of Wales. This gives peace of mind that the calorifier is being protected, as the user might not be aware of an installed anode not providing any.

Whichever method of protection or type of cylinder is chosen, some form of maintenance is always required to ensure a safe and efficient hot water system. This reduces the risks of Legionella and scale forming within the system and prolongs the life of the product.

Each means of protection has its advantages. Sacrificial anodes require good conductivity of the water they operate in, which makes them very effective for hard water areas.

Powered anodes are a better choice for areas where water is softer and conductivity too low to produce its own current via sacrificial anode. These are also suitable for areas where water has been softened using salt, as the corrosion-promoting salinity causes sacrificial anodes to corrode too quickly. In extremely low conductivity circumstances, however, corrosion-resistant stainless steel cylinders are a good choice which don’t require anode protection whatsoever. www.hamworthy-heating.com

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Powerflusher delivers rapid results Limescale control is important for any business located within a hard water area, but especially

those that rely on the availability of hot water, such as restaurants, care homes, schools, leisure facilities and hotels. If left unchecked, limescale

can lead to higher energy bills as well as premature r e p a i r s , b r e a k do w n s , business downtime and unnecessary, unplanned capital expenditure.

Designed to inhibit the buildup of limescale,

KalGUARD from Sentinel Commercial comprises a zinc anode unit, water meter and controller which ‘conditions’ water by dosing it with a very low level of stable zinc. This is achieved via a controlled electrolytic process, which uses a powered zinc anode and a copper cathode, forcing naturally-occurring calcium carbonate crystals to form as soft, non-deposit-forming aragonite rather than hard, deposit-for ming calcite (limescale).

The WRAS-approved system is able to treat an entire system when installed on

a rising main before pump and booster sets. There is no need for additional units to be purchased and installed at more than one location, such as where water drawoff is sparse and spasmodic.

Once commissioned, KalGUARD requires only a biannual service if the system filter is fitted. Moreover, no consumables are needed for its ongoing operation, while the zinc anode lasts up to 12 years. It comes in a range of sizes, from 22mm through to 108mm, and the system

has already been installed in many commercial facilities across the UK, including major supermarkets, hotel chains, universities, and international fast food outlets, providing proven energy, cost, and time saving limescale control.

Sentinel points out that electrolytic technology is the only powered deviceled methodology to be recommended by the UK Building Service Compliance Guide to Part L. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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June 2017

WATER Treatment 33 Softening up in the South

Electronic device in care home solution Avon Council has selected two nursing homes in Bath to trial the Enigma electronic control system. Both homes had water softeners which had been installed some 15 years previous, but the cost of salt and maintenance was becoming prohibitive, and the residents were advised not to drink the softened water.

Six months after installation of the Enigma electronic water conditioner, a section of pipe was removed and inspected at the first home and found to be completely clear of scale.

However, excessive corrosion to the pipe and valves caused by the long term use of water

softening equipment was visible. The valves required immediate maintenance or replacement to remain operational.

Similar results were found at the second home where the resident caretaker also found that the water temperature had risen and the flow of water to a bath in a wing of the building, which had previously been poor, had improved.

It is reported that in addition to savings in energy costs, further monetary gains were made in decreased use of detergents and cleaners at the homes.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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The HV3 from Harvey Water Softeners is a compact unit that is small enough to fit beneath a kitchen sink, is non-electric, and comes with a number of features. It includes a twincylinder softening process which uses both cylinders simultaneously to improve flow rate and allow for continuous softening.

The company, based in Woking, is looking for

plumbers to join its team to support the growing demand for the HV3. The jobs are open to fully qualified plumbers, who will be in Harvey’s installation department, which is the team responsible for delivering and fitting domestic water softeners across the South of England.

Successful applicants will be required to undergo a fiveweek training programme

in Woking before moving on to their local area.

Debbie Boxall, Head of Operations, says: “This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a new challenge. We’re looking for good people who can fit into our business and help us deliver the benefits of softened water to our customers.”

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Concentrate packs

Concentrate sizes are now available from Kamco for its range of water treatments.

SystemSafe DM Inhibitor, Hyper-Flush, System PreClean, and System Hush are supplied in compact 500ml packages for convenience.

SystemSafe-DM Inhibitor is used to protect a heating system after it has been flushed. This balanced blend of corrosion and scale inhibitors gives long term protection and prevents internal corrosion, scale deposition and boiler noise.

Hyper-Flush is used as a non-acid flushing chemical with extra solvency power to take debris into suspension for easy removal.

It penetrates, loosens and dissolves rust, sludge,

corrosion and light scale deposits.

System Pre-Clean is designed to be used as a pre-commission cleaner to prevent corrosion and contaminant related problems. It also conditions and prepares metallic surfaces for maximum protection by SystemSafe-DM. It disperses and mobilises dirt and contaminants for effective removal by powerflushing.

To combat the noise in heating systems, Kamco offers System Hush. The addition of System-Hush, together with SystemSafe-DM, is recommended to cleanse the heat exchanger during normal system operation.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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June 2017

34 WATER Treatment

The hard facts about limescale corrosion Hard water and the resultant problem of limescale build-up can be a problem in many parts of the UK. Stuart Gizzi, Director at Intatec, offers an insight into the potential consequences and how water conditioners can provide an effective solution.

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lmost 13 million households in the UK live in hard water areas – that’s almost half the households in the country. And with hard water comes limescale. A buildup of limescale can lead to multiple problems, from heating inefficiency hiking up energy bills by up to 25%, to costly system failure and damage.

It means that anyone involved in property – householders, plumbers, Stuart Gizzi, Director at Intatec housebuilders and renovators – should really think about what they can do to minimise limescale build-up. Understanding the chemical makeup of water and the process by which water becomes hard is a good place to start.

Interestingly, rainwater is naturally soft when it falls from the skies. It is only when it hits the ground that it can change. This happens when the water passes through soft rock such as chalk and limestone, accumulating magnesium and calcium deposits. When heated, these minerals combine to form limescale.

The hardness of water is commonly measured in parts per million (ppm) – water with less than 60ppm is considered soft. This is found in large parts of Wales and Scotland and most of the South West of England, although most of England is considered to have hard water with 200ppm and more.

However, there is a popular misconception that the level of hardness in the water dictates the amount of scale production. It is, however, acidity that is more of an indicator. Acidic water with a higher level of minerals will not produce as much limescale as alkaline, softer water.

Getting the mineral levels right so that the water is good to drink and does not affect the water pipes is a growing concern among households. It’s no surprise, therefore, that it is becoming increasingly common for homes affected by hard water to be fitted with water conditioners.

The rise in use of water conditioners is also dictated

by Building Regulations in the UK. Domestic compliance heating guide part L states that provision must be made to prevent limescale forming in heating equipment.

Scale of the problem Why is this so important? There are two main reasons why it is crucial to keep limescale at bay: a new boiler fitted in a hard water area could fail within two years and many property owners may find that if limescale is the reason for it breaking down, it will not be covered in the warranty. It pays to consider these issues – and to read the conditions in the manufacturer’s warranty.

There are many commercial ways of treating hard water.

Water softening is one of the most common methods, which works by removing the magnesium and replacing it with sodium (salt).

Installing a water conditioner – or even retrofitting one – is the ideal solution to help tackle the problem of limescale formation. It works by treating the water directly, taking a percentage of the calcium carbonate and precipitating it early into a different crystal structure that is suspended in the water, not dissolved.

Water conditioners can also be used to treat large residential developments and commercial addresses, with the treatment lasting much longer than many other solutions. It does so without the need for a chemical limescale inhibitor, the removal of any waste product, or regular maintenance.

It uses a special alloy that changes the chemical structure of limescale-forming calcium carbonate in water, converting calcite, a form of calcium carbonate that causes hard water, into aragonite.

These aragonite crystals do not build up or form deposits and remain suspended in the water, flowing harmlessly through the system and eventually out to the drain. Without adding or removing anything from the water, its natural taste and mineral quality is maintained.

Our recently introduced ActivFlo system is a compact water conditioning unit for domestic and commercial environments. The ActivFlo’s clean ‘in-line’ design allows for quick and easy installation in new build and retrofit applications. Its patented fitting system incorporates a collar at either end of the device, which can be removed without any modification to the existing pipework. The WRAS-approved product is available with 15mm to 2in connections, while for commercial installations, the ActivFlo Pro has connections from 22mm to 10in.

Such is our confidence in the product, the domestic version is supplied with a 15 year warranty while the ActivFlo Pro comes with a lifetime warranty.

Combining engineering know-how with chemistry expertise is resulting in exciting innovations that can only help the building sector as it looks for new ways to deal with old problems. www.activ-tec.com

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Why system treatment shouldn’t be a one-off exercise A clean system is crucial to maintain boiler performance and system efficiency, but it’s important for installers to explain about the steps that can be taken to ensure long-term protection – Martyn Bridges from Worcester Bosch highlights the benefits of system filters.

As installers will be aware, where a replacement boiler is specified, it is mandatory under the UK’s 2005 Building Regulations for a heating system to be cleansed and flushed to remove contamination and sludge. This is a tried and tested practice and an important means of ensuring system efficiency, longevity of components and ultimately, lower fuel bills. That said, clearly taking steps to ensure that a system runs as efficiently as possible is not and should not be a one-off exercise.

Regular system treatment is just one of the many considerations to bear in mind when undertaking annual maintenance, but there are a whole host of accessories that installers can recommend to help keep boilers functioning at their peak throughout the year. And for those customers who aren’t sure

of the benefits, there are plenty of ways that heating engineers can win them round.

Once a system flush has been carried out, adding a system filter will complement the process, assuring the long-term protection of an appliance by collecting any contaminates that may not have been removed at the time or which may build up afterwards.

With a wide range of system filters now available, the opportunity is there to relay the benefits to homeowners at the point of installation. A twinaction system filter is capable of capturing both magnetic and non-magnetic system water contaminants, helping to protect the boiler and wider central heating system components. Ultimately, what is a relatively low-cost accessory when partnered with a new boiler is likely to prompt efficiency improvements, energy savings and an extended boiler lifespan.

Filters are often available in a range of sizes, and those which boast a large internal magnet will ultimately help to safeguard the boiler and wider system. Thanks to increasingly sophisticated designs, the addition of a filter doesn’t have

to be taxing for an installer. For a quick and easy job, engineers should look for one with a bidirectional flow ability, a wide top opening, and a detachable body to make installation and servicing even simpler.

An easy way to determine the cleanliness of a system is to test the turbidity of the water using a turbidity tube. Most homeowners regard the content of the pipes within their heating system as out of sight, out of mind, meaning little attention is paid to keeping it healthy. By using a turbidity tube, installers are able to show the customer exactly what is inside the pipes, and just how contaminated it might be.

Bringing this to the customer’s attention provides a platform to discuss how this contamination can be impacting on their heating

system, and the different options available to resolve this. This simple device is also extremely effective in showing homeowners the impact that regular maintenance can make by being able to visualise the difference between before and after – showing them just how worthwhile the investment has been.

Beyond cleansing and flushing, a magnetic filter plays a key role in keeping a system running as efficiently as possible – as well as helping to ensure ongoing protection and energy savings. Here installers and service engineers alike have an opportunity to help consumers save money and energy through the employment of adequate filters to help protect systems long term.

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WATER Treatment 35

Providing peace of mind Installers have an important part to play in educating homeowners about the importance of looking after their heating system with effective water treatment solutions – says John Vaughan, Chief Executive at ADEY.

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t’s true that most homeowners know little about their central heating system, only giving it attention when something goes wrong. In fact, we commissioned a recent survey that revealed very few people realise just how much its operation contributes to their household bills. For example, most believe that tumble dryers, washing machines and kettles are the most energy-hungry appliances in the home when it’s actually the boiler that’s responsible for over 80% of household energy consumption.

Statistics like these reinforce why it’s up to professionals to help them understand that simply giving their heating system some TLC can pay big dividends.

Many homeowners also don’t realise the critical role an annual boiler service plays in keeping a system running efficiently and effectively. Our survey found that more than a quarter of 2000 homeowners hadn’t had their boiler

serviced in the past 12 months.

However, of those who had, 41% did so because they were reminded by their local installer, whereas just 15% had one as part of their boiler insurance package. This is an opportunity for installers to provide peace of mind, sharing expert knowledge and insight to encourage and educate customers on the benefits of planned and ongoing maintenance and how it helps prevent issues occurring.

Full protection As a business started by a heating installer, we know that an effective maintenance cycle ensures heating systems are protected from a buildup of damaging magnetite, the number one cause of heating system problems by a significant margin.

As such, we’ve designed a range of products, from cleansing kits and magnetic filters to chemicals and water testing solutions, that work hand in hand together.

While initially all this may mean very little to homeowners, when installers take the time to explain that using these proven tools will cut heating bills by 6% year-on-year, increase the lifespan of the boiler, reduce the need for maintenance call-outs and help prevent costly boiler issues and breakdowns, the benefits quickly become clear.

Furthermore, extensive product testing also means that installers can be absolutely confident in their performance. In fact, this is what has led to the recent launch of our new 10-year warranty on the MagnaClean – the whole product, and not just the shell of the filter.

It reassures both installers and their customers that they can trust MagnaClean to provide optimum boiler protection for the long-term without issue.

The installation of a magnetic filter is also a very visual way an installer can show to a homeowner that sludge is being collected and

removed from the system. However, dosing the system with a premium chemical inhibitor alongside this will be even more effective, helping to provide ongoing protection and preventing system corrosion and scale. While the sludge collected in the filter can be easily seen, the benefits of dosing the system with inhibitor are less obvious unless a water test is carried out.

As well as helping to ensure the long-term efficiency of boilers, following best practice also supports the longer warranties being offered by boiler manufacturers. While this is great for homeowners, it’s important they are aware that the onus is also on them to ensure that the boiler is fitted to a clean system as well as implementing a programme of ongoing maintenance to ensure it remains intact. The installation of an effective magnetic filter and a water test is the most effective way to show this is being done.

The benefits of a magnetic filter can be easily demonstrated

The test means installers and householders benefit from the evidence of a thorough system treatment programme and checks if the inhibitor level in the system is adequate. It is the final step in our ‘Best Practice’ approach and closes the loop for the manufacturer, installer and homeowner, ensuring that all three are confident in the quality of the system water and the ongoing efficiency of the boiler and system as a whole.

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36 WATER Treatment

Why you should spread the word The latest developments in water treatment keep heating systems efficient and reliable while helping installers deliver a better service.

Daniel Cheung, UK Trade Marketing Manager for Sentinel, explains how training can keep installers on top of water treatment approaches.

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ong gone are the days (thankfully) when some might have deemed it okay to clean a heating system using a bit of washing-up liquid and a mains pressure flush. Water treatment has come a long way since specialist brands began several decades ago to develop effective solutions that help to protect boilers and heating systems from harmful corrosion and Daniel Cheung, UK Trade limescale.

Marketing Manager Of course, much of the change reflected the marked shift in boilers from noncondensing, cast iron types that were more tolerant of untreated water but huge and very inefficient – to cupboardsized, high efficiency condensing boilers. With modern boilers came smaller waterways, higher heat loads, more heat transfer efficient metals, compact circulator pumps, and a number of other changes which all result in greater vulnerability to corrosion. Homeowners and legislators are demanding increasingly smaller, lighter, smarter and more energy efficient heating systems. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why regular training in water treatment is so vital.

Stepping up So, what are the most recent advancements in water treatment, and how can they help heating and plumbing engineers stand out from their competitors?

Let’s start with lifetime protection. At Sentinel we’ve developed a simple, best practice system that, when followed and used with boiler manufacturer endorsed chemicals and products (these recommendations can be found in boiler installation and servicing manuals), help installers to deliver lifetime protection from corrosion and limescale related problems in heating systems.

Our system is simple, consisting of just three steps: clean, protect and maintain. These can briefly be described as follows: Step one – clean – is the process by which corrosion, sludge and foulants are removed from older heating systems (also restoring efficiency to the system), and flux residues, installation debris and greases are eliminated from new heating systems. Cleaning also prepares a system for inhibitor, which may otherwise fail to work effectively if contaminants remained in the system.

Step two – protect – is simply the dosing of inhibitor into a heating system to prevent corrosion and limescale. As part of this step, an inhibitor quick test kit should be used immediately after dosing to confirm that the concentration of inhibitor in circulating water is adequate. For extra insurance against residual corrosion debris, a filter can also be installed.

Step three – maintain – involves checking inhibitor concentration (with a quick test kit) on a regular basis, such as during annual boiler services, and is designed to ensure ongoing protection. Maintenance is important to undertake because inhibitor levels will drop if the system is subject to mains water makeup, and this can occur for numerous reasons such as leaks, radiator replacements (most common when homeowners upgrade to towel rails in toilets and bathrooms) and even house decorating (since radiators are often temporarily removed for painting or wallpapering).

The idea of maintaining water treatment is quite new to most heating and plumbing engineers, yet it is the only way to

Installers can illustrate the importance of water treatment to customers with turbidity tubes (l) and manufacturer leaflets (r)

continue to ensure protection from corrosion and limescale.

There are also lots of product advancements, such as the development of a cleaning agent range that comprises individual chemicals designed to tackle specific problems and, therefore, achieve better, faster, more effective cleaning results. For example, fast acting cleaners for use with powerflushing machines (in older systems), heavy-duty deposit removers to shift extremely tough deposits, and chemical cleaners that target and remove foulants specific to new heating systems.

Filter technology has also evolved dramatically, expanding from simple magnets to innovative cyclone powered filters.

The latter was developed to overcome the drawbacks of some traditional filters – such as loss of performance over time, leaks, and limited debris removal – to reliable, leakfree cyclone filters that capture both magnetic and nonmagnetic debris.

Educating customers In addition to best practice systems and new and better products, developments in water treatment also include sales tools for heating and plumbing engineers, such as homeowner leaflets. This valuable literature succinctly and effectively explains the nature and benefits of water treatment to homeowners who are likely to have very little, if any, prior knowledge of the process. Turbidity tubes, infrared thermometers, and quick test kits – while not sales tools per se – can also be used to illustrate the principles of water treatment to customers.

One of the most interesting things about all of the developments mentioned is that each of them can make a difference to an individual installer’s business. Take lifetime protection, for example. Few plumbing and heating companies currently offer lifetime protection from corrosion and limescale related problems, which include breakdown, premature parts repairs and replacements, higher heating bills, colder radiators, etc. But it makes a great headline, doesn’t it? One that’s sure to catch the attention of homeowners who are looking for confident and reliable heating and plumbing services.

Of course, a default benefit of best practice water treatment is helping to keep boiler (and potentially component) warranties intact, since most manufacturers require water treatment on their terms and conditions (when a boiler manufacturer investigates a problem, one of the first things that’s checked is water quality). Warranties are important to homeowners, especially for large, expensive purchases like boilers.

Free online training is available via the Sentinel website

Better results In short, better and more effective products help installers deliver improved results. For example, the correct use of a high-performance sediment remover on an extremely sludged-up system will transform a customer’s previously cold, ineffective radiators to warm and efficient ones (while a general all-purpose cleaner is unlikely to achieve such results).

The effect of sales tools is quite obvious as they literally assist installers to educate customers about water treatment – and educated customers are more likely to opt for the installer’s recommended water treatment services, and be satisfied with the results.

All in all, being able to impart knowledge on water treatment and its benefits will help installers to develop better relationships with customers, sell more water treatment services and gain more referrals. Additionally, any installer adopting enhanced water treatment practices is also likely to develop improved rapport with boiler manufacturers, which may reciprocate with extended warranties, for example.

Accessing water treatment training couldn’t be easier or more convenient. In addition to classroom-led training operated by some water treatment manufacturers and boiler manufacturers, installers can undertake free online training via the Sentinel website. Free literature-based training packs, and homeowner leaflets can also be ordered online.

Whether you’re an old hand or spring chicken in the heating and plumbing industry, it is clear that staying abreast of the latest advancements in water treatment is not only important for basic boiler protection, but also beneficial to business. www.sentinelprotects.com

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WATER Treatment 37 Plug into luxury Get adapted to straightforward flushes water solutions Compact and easy to install, the WS range of Luxury Water Softeners from BWT are available in sizes from 10 to 25 litres.

These units feature a low voltage transformer, so they can be plugged into any suitable nearby electrical socket. They are designed specifically with UK homes in mind, and installation to a standard plumbing system is straightforward.

The company offers free commissioning so installers can leave the fine tuning to BWT. The WS range incorporates a number of features to make

them more attractive to homeowners. The compact size allows most models in the range to slip neatly out of sight into a kitchen cupboard, whilst their frugal salt and water consumption results in lower running costs.

Similarly, the advanced electronic control system helps ensure there is always plenty of luxury water on tap. The compatibility with a variety of central heating and hot water systems makes it hassle-free to get them installed and the two year on site labour and five year parts warranty that comes as standard on all the models in the WS range gives greater peace of mind.

Once the softener has been installed all the homeowner needs to do is occasionally top it up with salt, making it reassuringly lowmaintenance.

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Offering a quick and easy way to connect a powerflushing machine to a central heating system, the Fernox TF1 Omega Filter Flushing Adapter can be used to replace the main body of a TF1 Omega Filter in order to attach any powerflushing machine with a standard 3/4 in BSP connection. The adapter, which is rated up to 85°C, will allow a full flow rate powerflush to be performed quickly and efficiently.

For systems with a combination boiler, powerflushing via the filter connection has the added benefit of allowing the primary side of the secondary heat exchanger to be cleaned. This can be achieved by turning the hot water tap on to engage the boiler diverter valve.

Before connecting a powerflushing machine, the central heating system should be drained and the TF1 Omega Filter body removed. This is replaced

with the flushing adapter unit. The powerflushing machine can then be connected to the adapter using the standard fitting.

“The benefit of connecting via the adapter is that it allows for a quick, simple and thorough full flow rate clean,” says Francine Wickham, Global Marketing Director. “The TF1 Omega Filter Flushing Adapter is part of our drive to make installers’ work straightforward and convenient.”

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Pour efficiency into the system

EndoTherm is the name of a liquid heating system additive that works by improving the ability of water to transfer heat around a heating system. This leads to quicker heat-up times, and lower return water temperatures – allowing boilers to condense more efficiently and recover more latent heat.

The Energy Saving Trust has granted EndoTherm ‘verified’ status, making it the only product of its kind in the ‘heating system

additives’ category on the EST register of energy efficient products.

Typically installed in just 10 to 15 minutes, EndoTherm is simply added into a central heating system’s feed/ expansion tank, or into a partially drained radiator.

A 500ml bottle is suitable for use in medium-sized properties with a maximum of 12 radiators.

This product also carries WRAS approval.

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June 2017

38 Products in Action Domestic heat and Sound solution for warmth in library cooling on the wall A recent refurbishment project at a Victorian detached home in the Milton Keynes area has seen the use of LG’s multi split air conditioning equipment to provide the primary heating source for the home as well as comfort cooling in the warmer months of the year.

The project involved the installation of two multisplit condensers which are wall mounted outside the property and are connected to Artcool gallery units indoors – two in the lounge and two in the upstairs bedrooms. The upstairs Artcool units can deliver a cooling capacity of 2.64kW and a heating capacity of 2.93kW whilst the downstairs units can deliver 3.52kW of cooling and 3.87kW of heating. The AC units are backed up by a traditional condensing boiler.

The owner of the property was keen to incorporate as many renewable and low energy solutions as possible, so the LG system was installed along with triple glazed window units, underfloor heating downstairs and high levels of insulation as well as solar panels installed on the south side of the property. www.lg.com/uk/business/air-conditioning-systems ENQUIRY No. 126

Dunham-Bush Pedestal Finvector perimeter heating, together with fan-assisted Aerocourse trench heating, has been installed in the new Smythe Library at Tonbridge School as part of a recent £6.1million refurbishment.

Trench heating was chosen as the most suitable solution for heating in the library, stairwell and office areas.

Approximately 50m of fanassisted trench heating was supplied to ensure heat is delivered as and when needed.

Equipment from Stokvis Energy Systems has been used in the upgrade of the Network Rail Tyseley depot in Birmingham. An advanced Modupak R40 Series Boiler arrangement was installed in place of the former boilers.

This now provides heating to the vast inspection pits, which enable the rail company’s maintenance teams to work on the train’s running gear and various systems.

The contract was supervised by Byron Eaton of George Birchall Ltd., who

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comments: “We have made extensive use of Stokvis boilers over the years.

We were able to install the Modupak Skid Arrangement complete with the 3 NO R40/150 boilers and associated F&R pipework – along with the boiler pumps – within the same space as the previous redundant boilers. Stokvis provided good technical assistance and carried out the commissioning, and everything is working well.” www.stokvisboilers.com ENQUIRY No.

down as low as 17kW when required for more efficient energy use.

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For residents of Meadowlark Care Centre in Forres, Morayshire, keeping warm is crucial to their health and wellbeing. When it was time to upgrade the boilers, the contractor, CHES Ltd, recommended Alpha Heating Innovation to maintain thermal comfort with an efficient heating solution.

Meadowlark generates a high demand for heating and domestic hot water needs and required a heating system that could cope.

CHES specified two Alpha ProTec Plus 50 boilers with header kits, mixing pots, and weather compensating controls for the two plantrooms.

Because it includes a cascade manager, the system can adapt to changing demands easily and efficiently. Alpha provided products to meet the technical requirements and also offered after sales technical support.

At a hotel in Edinburgh, MPUK again installed a BoilerMag XL on a new 60kW boiler connected to a towel radiator circuit heating 40 of the hotel’s en-suite bathrooms. Again, the heating system was heavily contaminated with black sludge and was difficult to flush, but the company is confident that the BoilerMag XL filter will prevent contamination in the future, keeping the system free from sludge and working efficiently.

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boilers. The boilers can provide a total heat output of up to 1.8MW to meet peak demand, with the ability to be turned automatically

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Care centre gets the comfort

An artful exchange of boilers The Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington House has seen the installation of 16 Quinta Pro 115 boilers on a bespoke-designed Remeha rig system to successfully achieve high environmental standards of domestic hot water and space heating.

Burlington House had previously relied on six large-output ageing boilers located in the basement plant room. To meet the building’s f lexible heat demand requirements, contractors specified 16 Remeha Quinta Pro 115

aesthetically pleasing design and the high quality building materials, the AFA-1 type trench heating units were

Providing heat for rail maintenance

Filters oust sludge at hotel County Durham based MPUK Mechanical Services has recently installed several BoilerMag XL commercial boiler filters in two large hotels in the UK. At one hotel in York, the company was faced with two four year old boilers, one of which had failed completely, and the other on its last legs. Both were completely full of black sludge that had built up over the years as a result of being connected to the old heating system. Two brand new boilers were fitted, including two BoilerMag XLs.

The quick response time of the Aerocourse units deliver economy and comfort.

In keeping with the library’s

installed and finished with 180mm wide solid oak grilles that add a further look of luxury.

The stairwell areas were fitted with AFA-2 type heating units and finished with 270mm wide solid oak grilles to match the flooring. Attractive anodized aluminium grilles were fitted to the AFA-1 and AFA-2 trench systems installed in the learning support offices.

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UFH in new luxury homes Berkeley Homes is now using Gaia’s underfloor heating system across its Woodhurst Park development of 750 homes at Warfield in Berkshire. The underfloor heating provides hidden comfort while freeing up wall space.

As well as supplying all the necessary components of the underfloor heating systems, Gaia’s specialist teams are undertaking the installation, testing and commissioning on site. Gas boilers are used at Woodhurst Park, with the

water flow in the underfloor heating system controlled by Gaia manifolds and thermal actuators. Digital controllers

and thermostats also form part of the package.

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TRAINING & Education 39

Repairing and servicing combis Knowing how to install a combi boiler doesn’t necessarily mean knowing how to repair one, which is why Baxi has developed a set of courses that demystify the process of fault finding. Carol Hitchcock recently joined three installers in Warwick to find out what’s on offer.

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ombination boilers have a reputation of being difficult to fault find and expensive to repair, but for properly trained engineers there is no mystery to getting to the root of the problem. To help installers get to grips with the inner workings of combi boilers, Baxi offers a three day course which provides attendees with all they need to know about repair and service. The first day provides instruction on using a multi-meter, the second day focuses on how combi boilers work, and the last day is dedicated to diagnostics and fault finding. Together, these three sessions build upon one another to deliver a body of knowledge that may prevent you from randomly replacing parts or, worse still, ripping out the PCB because you can’t figure out what else might be going wrong.

I dropped in on the second day to observe the ‘How do combis work?’ course held at Baxi’s training base in Warwick. The instructor in charge was Lance Rowley, a gas engineer with nearly 40 years experience and a Baxi trainer since 2016. I asked Lance to tell me what the three engineers on the course could expect to learn that day.

“The most important thing we are going to cover is the sequence of operation in combis,” Lance told me. “There is a logical path to follow when you’re looking for a fault, and you need to understand what the various components do along the way. We will strip down the boiler to its constituent parts and find out how they work, and if there is any setting you need to do on a component, we address how to set it. The point is to understand how each component affects the boiler and how you can affect that component.”

Theory and practice The morning session delivers the theory side of combis, and Lance keeps it engaging by illustrating his points with example parts stripped out of the boiler. Although we are working on Baxi combis, Lance says this knowledge is easily transferred to most other brands.

“A whole range of combi manufacturers use similar components, so what I am trying to get them to do is recognise the individual parts for what they actually do,” says Lance. “So whether it’s a motorised diverter valve or a thermistor, it doesn’t really matter who makes it as long as you recognise it and understand how it works.”

The main theme throughout the day is sequence of operation, and Lance emphasises how important it is to trace the fault through a logical progression. “It’s no good looking further down the line for a faulty component when the boiler’s sequence hasn’t got that far,” Lance explains.

Installers are tasked with performing a series of assigned tasks at individual work stations

Trainer Lance Rowley supports the theory part of the day with a variety of component parts (l) and live boilers in the workshop

“By going thorough this training, you realise there is a methodology to it, and by following a series of procedures you can detect a fault with confidence.”

After a lunch provided by Baxi – a selection of sandwiches, nibbles and cake – Lance takes us into the workshop for the hands-on portion of the course. By this time, we have covered the principles behind both condensing and non-condensing combis, the function and operation of principle components, installation requirements and commissioning procedures.

Lance puts the students through a series of activities that bring together the morning’s presentation with what they learned the day before on using multi-meters. They do adjustments on live combis – a condensing one and a older, non-condensing type – giving them a chance to see how the gas valve works differently in each one. They also practice setting burner pressures and getting correct combustion readings, which gives them a chance to use both a multi-meter and a flue gas analyser.

After working as a group, the installers are then set a series of tasks and assigned their own boiler for independent work. The assignments are designed to bring unite what they have learned over the course of the first two days, and this sets them on track to take on day three – boiler diagnostics – where they will have to repair boilers with faults worked into them.

change parts. Tomorrow it will all come together, because we will do the testing and fault finding.”

Who’s it for?

Baxi has designed these three courses (Multi-Meter, How do Combis Work?, and Boiler Diagnostics) for any installer that wants a better knowledge of how combis operate, as well as those who want to move into service and repair. They are also useful for installers who already do boiler servicing and repair but are after more knowledge and confidence to make sure they are doing the job efficiently and correctly.

Further details Together the three courses cost £200, or £75 separately, and are available at a number of Baxi training centres around the country, including the Warwick base I visited. Lessons commence at 9:00am each day and wrap up around 4:00pm, depending on how many people attend, with a limit of six people per course. Attendees will receive all the paperwork associated with the courses as well as a comprehensive notebook containing all the information covered in the presentations. Lunch is included and there is plenty of tea and coffee on tap to keep everyone going. www.baxi.co.uk

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Installer opinions When the day was through, I had a chance to chat with the installers to find out their impressions of the courses so far. One engineer, who works with his father in Birmingham, told me: “This course is definitely in depth and the best part is getting familiar with the different components. It’s been really enlightening to see what the various parts actually do inside the boiler. When I’ve gone out to breakdowns in the past, I didn’t know where to start. I now feel like I know how to proceed, that I can go straight to the problem much more quickly.

I definitely would recommend this course, especially the day on how combis work.”

Another installer from Cardiff said: “I know how to install the boilers, but I’m a bit lost in terms of breakdowns. I signed up to the course because I wanted to get a better understanding of how the boilers go together and what the components are, and it’s good to understand the sequence so I have a logical method of working. Lance is very knowledgeable and he gives us good information and tips of the trade that otherwise we would never know.”

The third student, an installer from Port Talbot, had some experience with breakdowns, but he was looking for more expertise. He said: “Learning about multi-meters was the hardest thing to get my head around. Today is a bit better because we can get our hands on so much stuff. Some of the components are cut in half, so it’s the first time I can look at what’s inside. We learned about how to access and ENQUIRY

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40 TRAINING & Education

Putting installers in the frame If you’re thinking about installing wall-hung sanitaryware, then Geberit’s free training course offers a good introduction to what’s involved and the various systems on offer. PHAM News recently attended a training day at the company’s new Warwick facility to find out more.

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o longer exclusive to luxury hotels and top end bathrooms, wall-hung sanitaryware systems are fast becoming part of the mainstream for the UK bathroom market. A growing number of homeowners aspire to a clean looking and uncluttered bathroom and want to reproduce the look that they may have encountered whilst on holiday or at a bathroom showroom. But if you thought installation is likely to prove a bit of a challenge, then a day’s learning at Geberit’s impressive training facility in Warwick is a great way to allay any fears. The Sanitary Systems Installer Training Day also provides an opportunity to learn about Geberit’s AquaClean shower toilets – another area of the market that some experts predict will be embraced by many more Brits over the coming years.

Held at Geberit’s recently opened UK headquarters, the training course is free of charge and – scheduled to run from 9:45am to 4pm – allows travelling installers plenty of time to complete their journeys or attend to any pressing business. On arrival, delegates are invited to sit and wait at the company’s comfortable cafe and breakout area where they’re encouraged to mingle with other guests and staff and take advantage of the free hot drinks and bacon sandwiches on offer – just a taster of Geberit’s hospitality which includes a hot lunch and enough coffee breaks to settle the nerves of the most hardened caffeine addict.

Our host and tutor for the day was Technical Sales Manager Amos Awofesobi. Amos begins the session by admitting that his primary area of expertise is on the company’s Mapress pressing system rather than sanitaryware, but he knows his way around the product range and has all the information we’re likely to need at his fingertips. Amos is also supported

by Graham Aird (Product Manager – Training) who will later be on hand to demonstrate the shower toilet range.

Business begins with an introduction to Geberit by way of a video and slides – a useful place to start for those who may be unfamiliar with the size of the Swiss company’s operation, which also encompasses roof drainage systems and brands such as Twyford and Mapress. Anyone who

Visitors have the opportunity to see Geberit’s pride and joy in action – a multi-level hydraulic tower which provides an effective demonstration of good and bad drainage practice

Installers have the opportunity to put what they’ve learned into action by going against the clock and seeing if they can produce a time that will get them on the Duofix leader board

wonders if their time is being well spent may be heartened to learn that the Geberit group puts installer training at the heart of its business, with around 100,000 installers passing through its training facilities every year.

In the training room, Amos demonstrates the difference between the various frame systems and their installation – which is virtually tool-free – and also highlights potential installation errors and how to avoid them. For those who like a bit of competition, there is also a chance to put your skills to the test in a timed installation of a Duofix system and the fastest installers will have their names chalked up on a ‘Top Gear’ type leader board.

On the move Those who don’t welcome the thought of sitting down in a classroom for any length of time will also be pleased to know that the day involves plenty of getting up and down.

It’s not long before we’re ushered into the product showroom area which provides a better guide to the full spectrum of the company’s portfolio and includes an illustrated timeline of some key dates and innovations. Apparently, the first wall-hung system was introduced in 1964 – perhaps a little fact worth passing on to any consumers concerned about trying something ‘new’.

Before we’re taken into the company’s well-equipped training room, there is time to take in the workings of Geberit’s famous hydraulic tower which stands in the reception area and reaches into the ceiling of the next floor up. It is used to provide a visual demonstration of good and bad plumbing, with coloured water showing how the right (and wrong!) design can impact on water flow.

Clean minded The afternoon session includes an introduction to Geberit’s expanding range of AquaClean shower toilets, complete with remote controls, heated seats, squirting pipes and air drying options. As Product Manager Graham Aird points out, such luxury may appear novel to the UK market but they’ve been commonplace in Japan for many decades, and if you wouldn’t clean your car with a dry bit of paper why would you clean yourself without water?

Geberit is clearly keen to get more installers on side in its mission to encourage UK homeowners to take advantage of the latest technology in the bathroom – and this course is a great way to ensure you can help meet that demand.

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Flexible approach to courses can address the skills gap The provision of mobile training by boiler manufacturers can help save time for installers and address skills shortages within the industry. John Moran, National Sales Manager at Sime, looks at the benefits of adopting a more flexible approach to training.

The skills shortages within the building services sector have been a heavily debated subject, particularly since the last Employer Skills survey in 2015 identified significant skills shortages. The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in April has brought the subject of training back into focus again (not that it was really ever out!). For the H&V sector in particular, low uptake of apprenticeships is often cited as the root cause of the skills gap, but the skills shortage goes beyond the lack of apprentices coming into the profession; regulation of the quality of training provided to apprentices also has a part to play.

While it is undeniable that there is a shortage of school leavers entering the trade, it can be argued that there is also a

attempt to bridge the skills gap, but there is still a shortage of Gas Safe registered heating engineers that are qualified to address postinstallation needs.

Top heavy

John Moran, National Sales Manager at Sime Ltd

skills shortage among qualified industry professionals, more specifically with regards to what they are qualified to do.

We’ve seen a rise in the number of courses available that teach plumbing and installation as an

The industry seems to be top heavy at the moment – there’s plenty of installers out there that can fit a boiler, but not as many that are qualified to handle repairs, maintenance and service requirements. This is where the real skills gap in the industry is and it’s a harder one to bridge.

Generally speaking, better promotion of heating engineering apprenticeships at school level and investment in better quality and more highly regulated training are what will help fix the skills deficit. But manufacturers have a

part to play too by ensuring that newly qualified professionals maintain an emphasis on keeping their skills current by regularly participating in manufacturer training.

This training landscape has changed significantly in the last decade – gone are the days of seminar style manufacturer training. Courses are now more interactive and hands-on, allowing participants to learn by doing as opposed to just watching.

Many now utilise mobile training units, taking the product knowledge to the installers, overcoming the problem of poor attendance. While it may be free, the associated cost of the ‘down time’ required in order to attend manufacturer training is often too high for some installers. By

taking the training to the installer, manufacturers are making it an easier and more cost-effective option for installers to keep their skill levels at their optimum.

Looking to the future I would hope to see this flexible approach taken one step further, with the provision of on-demand training that utilises virtual reality technology, delivering training on the job regardless of location. We’re a technology-driven industry and I think our training should reflect this. We have a responsibility as manufacturers to shoulder some of the responsibility for the skill levels of our industry professionals and we need to become more involved in addressing this current skills shortage.

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42 TRAINING & Education

New blood needed in the industry With the UK currently facing its biggest skills shortage for a generation, particularly across trade sectors, David Knipe, OFTEC Training Manager, says more must be done to encourage the next generation of professional heating technicians to sustain a buoyant industry.

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ccording to latest research from the Federation of Master Builders, the ongoing skills crisis in the construction industry has deepened and spread to other associated trades, with 40% of the key sectors monitored reporting skills shortages are at their highest level since 2013. Figures from the latest Employers Skills Survey (2015) also highlight a 43% shortfall of professional tradespeople in the UK, such as heating and plumbing technicians, electricians and construction workers. This is despite the number of apprenticeship starts during 2015/16 rising by 9500 to 509,400 – so what is going wrong?

On face value the apprenticeship figures are encouraging.

But when you drill down further, as with previous years, almost three quarters (71%) of the qualifications started were in service sectors rather than professions where the need is greatest. We clearly need more young people trained for jobs that the economy needs and this will be even more important as the UK prepares to leave the EU. Skilled tradespeople make a vital contribution to our economy and without their valuable work, productivity will falter.

Annual levy OFTEC has welcomed the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy as a step in the right direction to help heating businesses recruit fresh, young talent and contribute towards stemming the industry’s skills shortage. From April this year, all employers with a payroll of £3million or more are required to pay an annual levy of 0.5% on their total wage bill.

Businesses can then spend the money accrued on approved apprenticeship training for new and existing employees, with Government providing an additional 10% top-up.

Crucially for the many smaller heating businesses across the country, employers who are not large enough to pay the Levy can also benefit and only need pay 10% of any approved apprenticeship training costs, with Government footing the remainder of the bill. Under further reforms introduced in May, those employers who take on an apprentice under 25 years old may also be exempt from paying Class 1 National Insurance Contributions (13.8% of wages) on their earnings.

10% under 30, so there is an urgent need to bring new blood into the industry.

As an industry we are at risk of a ‘generation gap’ as older, highly experienced technicians retire and there are not enough young people entering the profession to replace them. More needs to be done to promote the value of trade professions as a career choice in schools. It will take time to close this gap but if apprenticeships can be given parity on the education agenda, this will help to accelerate the process.

Consumer confidence Funded apprenticeships can help businesses to expand

Valuing skills For too long, the focus of higher education has been on obtaining degrees, which has devalued traditional skills and trades. The notion that vocational qualifications are second rate couldn’t be further from the truth. With the current skills shortage, those school leavers equipped with professional training and qualifications hold a valuable key to a secure and rewarding future.

Funded apprenticeships can also provide a cost-effective way for heating businesses to expand when resources are limited. An additional benefit is that candidates are trained within the culture of the business so you have a team player from the start who will carry out work in the same way and to the same standard. But to truly upskill the industry, we need to ensure that training meets the needs of employers – so quality over quantity has never been more important.

Skills shortages are also being exacerbated by the number of people in the heating industry reaching retirement age.

Encouragingly, our registered technician base has grown considerably over recent years and now stands at almost 9000 – the highest since 2013. However, almost two thirds of technicians are currently aged over 40 years, with only

Providing quality training that is relevant to business and industry has always been a key priority for OFTEC and as the heating industry evolves, this will continue. Since the launch of our Competent Person Scheme 15 years ago, registration has become a recognised benchmark of quality, providing reassurance that technicians have undergone professional training and are competent in their work.

However, we recognise there are also skilled, unregistered technicians with many years experience who should not be devalued, providing a challenge for the industry.

Consumers are beginning to place greater emphasis on employing a competent professional, so there are clear business benefits for technicians who can prove they have undergone professional training. However, we understand there are unregistered technicians out there who have been working on the tools for many years and are highly skilled.

As an industry body, our primary concern is maintaining the highest possible standards to protect consumers and technicians alike, and there has to be a benchmark.

The industry is rapidly evolving, so it’s vital that heating businesses keep up to date with training to remain competitive. OFTEC is constantly evolving too and we will continue to listen and respond to the needs of both heating technicians and end customers to ensure that our training and services are practical, relevant and add value. www.joinoftec.com

Kiwa UK Expert and Independent Training

A personal and relaxed training experience is promised at the Bromley Training and Assessment Centre (BTAAC) based in Kent, with easy access from London and the South East. BTAAC has been providing a range of domestic gas training and assessment courses for installers for the past six years and is now accredited to offer ACS Commercial assessments, which will take place in a newly commissioned commercial gas workshop and training room.

“We pride ourselves on our professionalism and the fact that we can accommodate operatives at short notice,” says Course Administrator Sarah Bygraves. “Our courses are delivered by very experienced and knowledgeable trainers who have been in the gas industry for over 20 years and we offer competitive prices for all courses.

We get fantastic feedback from all of the engineers who train with us and most of them return time and again to take our re-fresher and initial courses on offer.”

BTAAC is also looking to introduce a course for Essential Electrics and 18th Edition in the near future.

For more information on available courses, please visit the website below or call 0208 315 5678.

Gas, Solid Fuel and Oil Training

Kiwa is one of the UK’ UK’s companie es. s leading training, testing and certification companies.

Our new training centre, just off o the M5 near Cheltenham, has been designed design ned to provide a comfortable and relaxed re elaxed environment.

CCNI Domestic Gas COCN1 Commercial Gas I-GAS Industrial Gas

Tel : 01 Tel: 01242 242 662121 6 6 2121 Email: E mail : training@kiwa.co.uk tr aining @ k i wa . c o.uk www.kiwa.co.uk/training w w w.k i wa.c o.uk/t raining

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TRAINING & Education 43 Opportunities at award winning college Trafford College is promoting its heating and ventilation programme, which includes the Centre of Excellence for Heating & Ventilation Apprenticeships. Launched in 2015, the centre is sponsored by construction company Laing O’Rourke and building services providers Crown House Technologies. The partnership has enabled the college to develop a Centre of Excellence for mechanical, electrical and plumbing apprentices.

The college was recently recognised for its outstanding facilities and the quality of delivery for the heating and ventilation programme at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) Training Awards. The college was given the Chairman’s achievement award, with special mention made for its willingness to meet the high standards within the industry, and for its commitment to raising the standard of education in STEM-related trades.

A complete look at heating systems Professional development and more

Installers looking for an indepth look at breakdowns, fault finding and multimeter use are encouraged to try Mr Combi, which has been providing these courses for the past 15 years. The training aims to take a comprehensive view of the heating system, including s en s o r s , s t at s , P C B s , expansion vessels, etc.

Mr Combi also offers a wiring and controls course,

where delegates spend more than five hours working on Danfoss and Honeywell rigs. The course covers two and three port rigs, frost protection, S.I. programmers, zone valves, sequence of wiring and fault finding.

The man behind Mr Combi is George Staszak, who has been a Gas Safe heating engineer for 45 years.

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A wide range of training and consultancy services are provided by Sanctus Training at its two centres in Gloucestershire. Health and Safety and CITB Site Safety Plus training is available at the Stonehouse facility while UKATA-accredited Asbestos Awareness and Non-Licensed Work with Asbestos is available in Cam.

The Cam site also offers HVACR and electrical training aimed at engineers in the building services, construction, facilities management, and oil/ gas/marine sectors. This training, some of which leads to a diploma and NVQ qualifications, is accredited through City & Guilds and CITB, among others.

www.trafford.ac.uk

One of the latest additions to Sanctus’s provision is a range of professional development courses aimed at new managers as well as those whose skills need refreshing or where there is an identified skills gap.

Bite size modules are also on offer to enable training to be completed in a few hours. Subjects included

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are Decision Making, Time Management, and Continuous Improvement, plus information-based topics like Equality and Diversity and Data Protection.

Another new offering is a range of consultancy and specialist services for the low carbon energy sector.

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44 TRAINING & Education Expanded facility Promoting a best practice approach to meet demand

A registered provider of CPD courses, Rinnai has reported an upswing in demand for its training from specifiers and engineers. The manufacturer of gas fired continuous flow water heaters has recently redesigned and enlarged its Runcorn training facility to cope with the demand.

For installers, specific hands-on training can be tailored to cover all aspects of commissioning and servicing processes.

The courses don’t just look at the individual units but also explore system design and how to deal successfully with legionella. Engineer courses are held on the first and last Thursday of each month, and more courses are in the process of being added.

Rinnai says that the most popular course modules are ‘Understanding ACOP L8 and hot water system design’ and ‘System design incorporating continuous flow and renewables’. www.rinnaiuk.com/resources/training

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Water treatment specialist ADEY has launched six high-tech training centres across the UK to provide installers with hands-on experience of the latest equipment, and to help them understand the importance of industry best practice.

Building on the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) accreditation awarded for its Cheltenham-based training and conference centre last year, the company has also equipped five colleges with test rig laboratories, equipment and the full portfolio of its water treatment products.

The facilities offer courses on the latest heating system protection

ADEY’s Training Managers Glen Stonehouse and Colin Yearp

products, including ADEY’s magnetic filters and MC+ chemicals, with demonstrations on a range of current branded boilers rigged to fully

operational central heating systems.

“In a rapidly changing industry, our training centres have been carefully developed to equip installers with the best tools for heating system protection and the latest best practice know-how,” says Global Technical Director, Dr Neil Watson.

“We have invested significantly so that heating and plumbing businesses across the country can access our comprehensive training. The training centres will help them get the most out of their day-to-day application of our best practice approach to deliver the best possible results for their customers.”

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www.adey.co.uk

Controls courses in person and online Designed to help installers capitalise on the growing demand for heating controls, Honeywell’s product training is split into two product groups: standard and connected controls.

The standard course provides an introduction into the world of heating controls covering everything from

regulations to system design to product information.

Delegates then put this theory into practice with a practical wiring session to guide them through the basic steps of wiring.

The connected course takes these principles and applies them to wifi-enabled thermostats. Installers will learn about the wider home automation market as well as Honeywell’s connected product range: Single Zone, evohome and Lyric T6.

All on-site training courses

take a full day, with lunch and refreshments included in the package. Honeywell also has an online training platform so that installers can learn about two of its flagship products – Lyric T6 and evohome – from the comfort of their own homes.

Both online courses are split into digestible chunks, with users able to track their completion as a percentage.

The evohome course covers everything from unboxing, to testing wireless signal strength, to handing over

to the customer. The Lyric T6 course also guides users through the installation and commissioning process.

“No matter the level of experience, or time restrictions, we have a training course for everyone,” says Andy Mansfield, Marketing Communications Manager. “And with the uptake of smart thermostats on the rise, now is the time to get clued up and on the way to smart installer status.”

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Training for factory work Kiwa Training is now approved by the Combustion Engineering Association (CEA) to deliver the new I-GAS Level 1 (entry), Level 2 (maintenance) and Level 3 (technician) Industrial Gas training and assessment for engineers working in factory premises with gas fired equipment.

The courses are suitable for engineers working on gas equipment in factory

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premises who can demonstrate suitable, appropriate experience and who have completed an approved gas qualification such as CCN1 and COCN1 or equivalent.

An entry level (Level 1) is available for less experienced operatives.

To register your interest or find out more please contact Kiwa’s training team at training@kiwa.co.uk or call 01242 662121.

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TRAINING DIRECTORY 45 1st TRAINING LTD ASSESSMENT & TRAINING CENTRE

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We Provide Quality Commercial & Domestic Gas Training, Assessment and Re-Assessment Call 0208 315 5678 or to view the range of courses we offer, competitive rates and special offers visit our website

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June 2017

46 COMPANY Spotlight

An app by professionals used by professionals Designed by a qualified gas engineer, Gas App Uk provides installers with a one-stop resource for downloadable manuals, gas safety documents and advice from fellow professionals. We recently spoke to founder Antony Provan about why he developed the app, how it works and how it might evolve in the future.

A

fter four years running a successful Birmingham based heating and plumbing business, Antony Provan decided to put away the tools and focus on the development of a new information resource for gas engineers. With a previous background in software and marketing, it seemed like an ideal opportunity to make the Antony Provan, the designer and founder of Gas App Uk most of his unique set of skills. Gas App Uk – an app designed to specifically meet the needs of trade professionals – was launched in January last year and has quickly been embraced by thousands of regular users.

When did you first get the idea of designing the app?

“There was a eureka moment one Friday afternoon. I was in a loft and I needed the telephone number of a manufacturer and I couldn’t get it because I didn’t have an internet signal. I went down to the homeowner and she looked it up on her laptop. I suddenly thought to myself that evening, if I created a website with all these manuals on, I could offer installers a one-stop-shop for all the information they needed. Rather than a website, I thought an app on a mobile would be more useful, because if you’re in a house with no internet connection, a website is not going to be a lot of use.”

It’s one thing coming up with an idea, but quite another putting it into practice. How easy was it to get the app off the ground?

“I spent sometime searching specialist app developers, and after going to London and speaking to guys out in India, or wherever, I actually found a good one that was very local to me! They understood what I wanted to do. We started off with manuals – and it took me three months to put 11,000 manuals on there – but then it became obvious that I needed something that was going to get people to keep coming back.”

So what did you come up with?

“I thought if I could tap into installers, effectively have a Facebook type forum for gas engineers, there would be something to get them back every few hours to find out what’s happening. So ‘Breaktime’ was developed, which is a subscriber only part of the app which engineers can use to communicate with each other. I know there are obviously Facebook forums, but the problem with them is that there are too many engineers on there who are too quick to judge and criticise others. The beauty of the Gas App is that I can make sure that there is no bullying going on because I monitor it closely all the time.”

How difficult a decision was it to close your installation business and work full time on the app?

“There was a make or break situation in my mind where I thought I could either continue what I’m doing with the installation business or I could give the app my full attention. The problem was I was burning the candle at both ends. I was installing boilers in the day and then

Gas App Uk is easy to access via a mobile or laptop and is downloadable via Google or iTunes

Antony is a qualified gas engineer and spent four years running his own installation business

working on the app at night. I wasn’t giving it the full attention it needed. I’m literally on the app 12 hours a day. There’s an enormous amount of work involved.”

Are users mostly asking for installation advice and looking to solve problems or is there more general chat?

“We’ve got a fault finding section where users can ask questions, but ideally I would like it to be 30% business and 70% social because I think it would be good if guys can go on the app and just relax – use it more as a social tool rather than just talking business the whole time.”

Any regrets about giving up your installation business?

“I sometimes miss being on the tools. It was a great job and I met some great people. I was also earning a lot more money, but this is the route I want to take and it’s very much a long term project. I’m passionate about making it work and it’s really starting to take off. I’ve gone from no users in January last year to over 18,500 today.”

Is there a danger that once you’ve been off the tools for a while that you could lose touch with some of the issues that installers are concerned about?

“Yes, that could be a problem so I need to keep my hand in to some extent. I’ll keep going on some of the courses and look to retain my gas card. One of the reasons that the app has been so well received is that they can see I’m a gas man myself. I don’t think I would have got anywhere near the same amount of respect if I was just a software developer. I’ve done the job that these guys have done and that holds a lot of clout.”

As you said, the app is very much a long term project but you clearly need sufficient revenue to justify your time.

How easy has it been to generate that income?

“Some revenue comes from partnerships with supportive manufacturers such as Intergas, ADEY and Grundfos.

And while it’s free to download the app, access to some areas, such as ‘Breaktime’ is only available to paying subscribers. What I’m trying to create is a club made up of elite members rather than just a free for all. I always believe that something in life that’s free really isn’t worth having. I’m trying to keep the premium low, at just £10 a year – which is just 19p a week – but whether it’s £10 or £100, it’s important that they view membership as having some kind of value.”

Is it likely that you would look at developing different levels of membership at some point in the future?

“Possibly. One thing that’s quite close to my heart is doing something for apprentices. I believe that these guys are the new blood for the industry, but they can get put off by some old timers being quite negative. I’m looking at putting a Breaktime session in there that is just for apprentices or newbies joining the trade. They know that they will be communicating just with other apprentices.

They would be able to go into a separate area where they can talk openly about their experiences.”

So does social mean nothing at all to do with work?

“No, I don’t mean that necessarily, but it doesn’t have to be serious all the time. When I first started the app, it was all business related. It was very matter-of-fact and straightlaced. Some users might be a bit cheekier now, perhaps sending a picture of the brew they’ve just been given. It’s important to have some lighthearted content on there, things that make it just a bit more entertaining.”

What happens if you have members who are very critical of a particular product or brand?

“What I would do in the first instance is look to take the heat out of the situation, see what the gripe is and try to sort it out. I would then ask a representative of the manufacturer to address the concerns, but I don’t want the manufacturer jumping in straightaway because it is meant to be a forum for installers. Sometimes it’s just a question of letting them get things off their chest.”

Do you ask for user’s Gas Safe numbers?

“We don’t at the moment because some users might be at college learning the trade. But if I spot someone on there who is asking a question and it looks like they’re a homeowner or DIYer, then they’re off straightaway. You can usually tell when they’re not a professional. Alarm bells start ringing. The app is for professional users, so I’m trying to weed them out as much as I can.”

As numbers grow, do you think there’s an opportunity to be a more influential voice within the industry?

“I’m not trying to rule the world, but if we can get a big enough community more manufacturers and decision makers will sit up and take notice. It’s not always easy for installers to get their voice heard, so this is one vehicle they can use to express their opinions. As numbers grow, it will also become easier to approach companies for potential discounts and exclusive offers. Watch this space!”

The app is available on both IOS and Android by simply visiting the stores and searching for Gas App Uk. Do you use a Kane analyser? Sign up to the app now and you will receive £10 off your Kane calibration!

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VENTILATION & Heat Recovery 47

Taking care of indoor air quality Poor indoor air quality has been shown to have a detrimental impact on public health and wellbeing. Larry Soper, Technical Training Manager at EnviroVent, highlights some of the key problems and advises on how ventilation installers can help to provide a solution.

T

he Prime Minister recently stated that ‘poor air quality is the fourth largest risk to public health, behind only cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease’.

But whilst the Government was looking at this in the context of toxic air pollution outdoors, what is less well known or publicly discussed is how people are affected by poor indoor air quality inside the home.

Professor Awbi at the University of Reading has revealed in his report ‘Indoor air quality in UK homes and its impact on health’ that there is a predicted 80% increase in asthma cases as a direct result of poor indoor air quality. The study also reported that indoor air quality can be 50 times more polluted than outdoor air, containing more than 900 potentially harmful chemicals and mould spores, plus pollen, radon and carbon monoxide. As a result ‘toxic home syndrome’ has been revealed as a major problem in the UK, increasing the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Mould growth High humidity levels in the home is one of the major causes of poor indoor air quality, as it leads to condensation and mould growth.

Wet rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens can produce high levels of humidity, causing problems in these areas as well as spreading throughout the rest of the house, creating unsightly mould on walls, around windows and on ceilings. This becomes a problem when a home has inadequate ventilation – or no ventilation at all.

Spores released from mould and fungal metabolites can exacerbate existing respiratory or dermatological problems such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Mould is a very clear, visible sign of an air quality issue in the home, however with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) these are not visible to the naked eye but can be equally potent. Acetaldehyde and benzene are two VOCs that are given off when washing dries.

These are carcinogens and they can also irritate the lungs. VOCs are also present in

Larry Soper, EnviroVent Technical Training Manager, with the company’s PIV Air Source Unit (left) and installing an EnviroVent system in a loft

cleaning products, furnishings and smoke.

Many homes these days have wood burning stoves, and particle pollution from fires can lead to serious respiratory problems when breathed in high concentrations.

Similarly, paints and cleaning products release VOCs that may have a range of detrimental health effects if breathed in over a long period of time. In addition, carpets harbour dirt, dust mites, pet dander, fungi and other potentially harmful particles that can aggravate the lungs and trigger asthma.

As awareness increases of these hazardous chemicals in our homes, demand is growing for effective whole house ventilation solutions. Positive input ventilation (PIV) is therefore an attractive retrofit solution, as these systems are relatively straightforward for trained professionals to install and are effective in improving indoor air quality from day one.

The rising demand for effective mechanical ventilation systems has led to demand for installers to become qualified in domestic ventilation installations. Since 2010, revisions to Building Regulations Part F meant domestic ventilation became notifiable work, requiring ventilation provision to

be installed by a competent and qualified person. It is vital that the installation of any domestic ventilation system is correct and meets the minimum requirements set out in regulations and standards, because research suggests that over 90% of faults with ventilation systems are down to poor installations.

Effective installation Installers are therefore looking to approved training centres to deliver relevant and appropriate training. By undertaking NICEIC training it means that installers can work with the latest types of domestic ventilation products safely and efficiently, receiving technical information and advice plus practical support.

Training via an approved centre also ensures that installers are qualified to inspect and test ventilation systems, as well as to commission and provide information about them. It is advised that candidates have some knowledge of installing ventilation systems or are experienced in the construction industry.

Research reveals that only 8% of UK residents currently have a continuous

ventilation system in place, which shows the huge potential as the UK moves towards a ‘whole house’ approach to ventilation.

As the effectiveness of ventilation systems is largely down to correct installation by trained and experienced installers, then a focus on training provision is essential.

Homeowners also need to understand clearly how the systems work to ensure they are able to provide adequate ventilation for the long term.

With increasing demand for whole house solutions there are potentially lucrative opportunities for installers to become NICEIC approved to take advantage of demand for ventilation system installation in new and renovated homes.

With the correct training, installers can help improve indoor air quality through effective ventilation solutions that offer health benefits to all occupants and prevent damage to the fabric of the building. Once certified, installers also have the opportunity to join the NICEIC approved installer scheme, further increasing their credibility as a competent and qualified installer.

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48 VENTILATION & Heat Recovery

Is legislation missing a trick?

The Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD) may still be one of the main drivers of reduced energy use in buildings, but could ventilation play a bigger role? Alan Macklin, Group Technical Director at Elta Group, explains why ventilation is a missing piece of the puzzle.

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notable absence from the legislation up to now has been any standards which define specifically what comprises good indoor air quality (IAQ). Granted, this may well change given early suggestions that the next version of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD) will detail some form of standard designed to ensure minimum health and comfort levels, but we remain in a position where Alan Macklin, Group ventilation requirements fall Technical Director at Elta some way short of other areas of focus, such as heating or lighting, for example.

When we do finally see actual, tangible targets for indoor air quality, manufacturers will be able to follow suit by bringing fans, air conditioning systems, and air handling units to market which deliver to these targets in the most practical and efficient way possible.

That said however, one challenge looks likely to still remain, and that is the need for the ventilation performance within a building to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

Moving with the times Ventilation rates in buildings have a tendency to fall short of their original performance specification over time as the characteristics of the building change. The usage of the building itself, the equipment within it, and its level of occupancy throughout the day can all affect air quality, so there is a clear need for levels to be checked regularly over time.

Ventilation rates are prescribed by the Building Regulations, but it is only through regular monitoring –

and adjustment where required – that these prescribed rates can be maintained. By introducing a requirement whereby ventilation systems have to be checked every two years or so, the policy makers would be going some way towards ensuring the occupants of a building are all but guaranteed to be enjoying adequate air quality.

Without this however, we are simply left vulnerable to blocked filters, faulty systems, and a whole plethora of potential issues which limit the capacity for a system to operate as intended.

Time for change

regulating airf low according to the air quality.

By relying on a self-regulating system, building users may only need to check their ventilation levels once every three years or so, safe in the knowledge that their DCV can adjust itself whenever the air quality fluctuates – and in doing so, energy efficiency is maximised at the same time.

Find out more

The f ac t i s , dem a nd c ont r ol le d v ent i l at ion s hou ld h av e a mu c h higher profile within the legislation that covers the energy our buildings use.

Modern buildings need to be flexible to accommodate fluctuations in occupancy levels, yet need to also deliver energy efficiency, so the Efficiency on demand While we remain hopeful that we may see some form of fact that systems which can do this automatically are monitoring requirement in the not too distant future, the not given any real profile is a huge missed opportunity.

In a similar vein, a look at the Renewable Energy air movement industry is working on systems which are Directive, which rewards the use of heat pump technology, capable of self-regulating air quality without necessarily raises the question of whether more could be done to needing to be kept under such a watchful eye. encourage the use of heat recovery units or When it comes to the ventilation systems heat retention fans – both of which act available to specifiers and contractors, in a similar manner by making use we’re now in a position where of heat which would otherwise be demand controlled ventilation released into the atmosphere.

(DCV) can be installed within a In their present guise, the building to adapt to the demand of standards governing energy use in the occupied space. Such systems British buildings appear guilty of failing ensure the space is provided with to acknowledge how modern ventilation the right amount of air, while energy methods can help to achieve maximum consumption is reduced, yet there is no real VAV (variable air volume) comfort and health levels for occupants encouragement for this type of technology diffusers regulate airflow to while boosting energy efficiency.

Up to ensure good indoor air quality within the EPBD. now, ventilation systems have generally The latest demand controlled ventilation technology operates by using VAV diffusers (see pictures been regarded as an out of sight, out of mind product above), which effectively control ventilation levels by category, but it is high time that stance was changed.

For more information on Elta’s range of ventilation solutions, including its demand controlled ventilation, enter the number below on the reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. egbuildingservices.co.uk

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5 tips on reducing nuisance noise Good design is the best way to avoid potential complaints about noisy ventilation, says Rupert Kazlauciunas, Technical Product Manager – MVHR at Zehnder Group UK. Noise from MVHR units doesn’t need to be a nuisance – you can easily design out any excess sound. Overall issues with noisy units are caused by shortcuts at the design stage, poor installation, or blocked filters.

Here are our top five noise-busting tips when it comes to MVHR: 1 Design out t he noise: By addressing key considerations at the initial design stage, noise can be eliminated from MVHR systems from the outset, avoiding costly correctional measures later on.

Ensuring ductwork is the right size, limiting the amount of bends in the ducting, and utilising coanda effect grilles all help to reduce the system pressure along with noise levels. In addition, designing in attenuators where appropriate helps to ensure noise is reduced at the source and in individual rooms.

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2 Select the right unit and location: It sounds simple, but making sure you choose the right unit for the property is hugely instrumental in eliminating noise. If a unit is too big, its bigger motors will mean more noise, and if the unit is too small, it will have to work harder and faster to be effective.

Location can also make all the difference. Units should be located away from noise sensitive areas such as bedrooms, and grilles should be located away from beds where even low noise levels can disturb sleep.

3 Good installation: Good design can all-too-easily be undone on site.

At the installation stage it is essential that ductwork is supported and sealed properly, that none of it is crushed, and that excessive lengths of flexible ductwork are not used. Otherwise there may be leakage which requires the unit to be turned up, causing

noise, or which builds up pressure in the system, also increasing noise.

4 Correct commissioning: Following commissioning procedures and conducting the right checks will also help to eliminate nuisance noise. At this stage it is vital to balance the supply and extract air and to set trickle and boost speeds to minimise operating noise. It is also essential to check that the correct valves are fitted in each room and to fine tune each room grille.

5 Remember maintenance: If the filters become blocked, it will have to run at higher speeds. To prevent this, and to keep on delivering the healthiest indoor air quality, filters must be cleaned or replaced every six months, or in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

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VENTILATION & Heat Recovery 49

How to keep the peace in urban apartments Although ventilating city apartments with an MVHR unit is the best way to combat external noise while meeting Building Regulations, the specified unit may be too noisy. Andrew Nash, Business Development Manager at Nuaire, looks at the conflict between the design of apartments and the MVHRs being specified.

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the overheating risk and the equating to NR25 for bedrooms and a daytime he design of modern airflow required. apartments can often level equating to NR30. These are ‘libraryUp to three air changes per quiet’. Living room NR’s are just 5dB higher lead to over-heating. hour in habitable rooms have in each mode. Meeting NR25 in bedrooms The location of city-centre been shown to reduce the risk whilst ventilating to avoid overheating apartments is often next to below the guidelines. More usually requires extensive attenuation inrailway lines or busy roads recently, the introduction of duct and acoustic wrapping of the units to and roundabouts, meaning TM52 has complicated matters prevent breakout. This is often hastily applied air and noise pollution restrict by considering occupants’ retrospectively after occupant complaints. the use of openable windows ability to adapt to changing which might otherwise help Walls aren’t what they used to be, and temperatures, and further standard MVHR units were designed to be to control temperature or to increases in fabric energy- mounted on walls with mass. Partition walls provide purge ventilation. efficiency have resulted in up have minimal mass and are prone to convert Another issue is the to six air changes to combat low levels of vibration from MVHR units into drive towards super-sealed the problem. buildings which lose little Andrew Nash, Nuaire low frequency noise. Bolting a unit to a light, This means moving air flexible structure frequently results in lowenergy through their fabric.

This, along with the use of low-emission glass, volumes of up to of 150 litres/sec. Simply adding frequency noise being regenerated from the which maximises solar gains and minimises a ducted extract fan to boost extract airflow rear of the wall. the amount of energy required to heat the will fail to solve the problem. Extract must be Holistic solutions building, also leads to a tendency for buildings balanced with an equivalent supply. The most cost-effective means is to increase the size/ At Nuaire we have worked closely with to overheat in summer.

Affordable apartments tend not to include speed/capacity of the MVHR unit and to run consultants and contractors to design comfort cooling. Where these are affected by it at different rates to cover the three modes: a holistic solution to the problem. The external noise or security issues which limit background – the continuous rate prescribed MRXBOX95AB-WH1-1Z is a fully acousticallytreated unit. Designed window opening, they cannot achieve the in part F according to floor to operate at moderate prerequisite 1/20th of the floor area required by area; boost – the high rate “The only option for speeds in the normal Part F for purge ventilation. Purge ventilation from part F based on the reducing heat build-up background and boost is primarily designed to allow rapid ventilation number of wet rooms; modes, it can be run at to deal with volatile organic compounds like overheating – a high airis to move more air near-maximum speeds the smell from burnt toast or paint fumes. It change rate to combat through the property” to control overheating is not intended to be a solution for potential overheating, determined whilst still meeting the by thermal modelling. summer overheating. acoustic criteria.

This ability to run at high The big issue lurking in the background is Air movement speeds whilst still meeting the acoustic noise. Not the external noise that the planners criteria is critical to solving the problem.

With comfort cooling eliminated either sought to shut out when they called for a There are many units on the market which on the grounds of cost or energy, and sealed façade, but the internal ventilation can do high air-flows, but none of these can natural ventilation often ruled out, the plant noise caused by higher airflows. Larger achieve high ventilation levels and low noise. only option for reducing heat build-up is units moving lots of air create more noise, but The 1Z solution places the unit together to move more air through the property. whilst the ventilation rates have increased The SAP calculation will indicate a ‘risk drastically, the acceptable room noise levels with a four-way attenuator with AV-mounts of overheating’, but thermal modelling will have not increased at all. and flexible duct connections, all within be required to establish the full extent of Part F requires a nighttime noise level an acoustic enclosure. The 1Z replaces the

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Nuaire’s 1Z MVHR unit can control overheating while meeting acoustic criteria

time-consuming, often inaccurate and untidy noise mitigation solutions that are commonly seen on apartment design projects, giving designers a more effective and easily replicable solution to tackling MVHR noise issues on site.

This design removes the need for heavyweight, expensive acoustic treatment to service cupboard walls. It comes in a smart, white-goods finish that is infinitely neater than solutions currently in use.

Additionally, the 1Z is ideally-suited to the construction of service cupboards being used in off-site construction.

The 1Z considers all elements of noise and vibration. Its design doesn’t require better quality build fabric. It enables the consultant to meet strict noise guidelines in the planning stage, and enables the contractor to fit a standard all-in-one solution, rather than designing an on-site solution that could change with each installation.

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50 VENTILATIon & Heat Recovery

Getting to grips with new MVHR solutions To be able to advise on ventilation options, installers need to be clued up on new technology and the latest advances. Craig Cundey, Training Manager at Redring Xpelair, highlights some of the latest learning resources for those who want to find out about modern MVHR solutions.

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t’s a time of great change for the modern ventilation category.

Last year, we saw the Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive come into effect, outlawing inefficient and poorly performing fans.

Prior to this, changes to the Building Regulations have demanded better air tightness and lower energy consumption as part of the Government’s wider green agenda.

Craig Cundey, Xpelair The impact of these changes, coupled with an increased emphasis on SAP, has coerced a definitive market shift from traditional individual ventilation products to more efficient whole house systems.

Cue the advent of the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) unit. Although they’ve been around for decades, MVHR systems have often been overlooked as they can be more difficult to install than traditional options.

However, with huge environmental benefits that can no longer be ignored, as well as being essential to ensuring good indoor air quality in very air tight buildings, these clever systems are going to play an increasingly important part of the ventilation category.

As a result, today’s installers need to be fully clued up on the MVHR solutions so that they can advise and provide their customers with the right products, and be qualified to install these technologies. This is why a solid training programme is essential. And the good news is that there are many options available, such as internal schemes with mentors, industry associations and from leading manufacturers.

At Xpelair, for example, we currently offer four levels of learning – designed to help customers to stay ahead of the game when it comes to modern ventilation, particularly in terms of MVHR and the opportunity it presents.

The Xpelair training facility offers plenty of opportunities for installers to benefit from hands-on experience

The Natural Air 180 from Xpelair is easy to install and service

Fully equipped For a more holistic learning source, installers can take advantage of our BPEC course for the modern ventilation industry. Through both theoretical and practical training, attendees can learn about the main types of domestic ventilation systems and how to install them safely and efficiently. As part of this, our training centre is fully equipped with a full working ducted MVHR ventilation system where visitors can get a hands-on experience as part of their practical assessment. On completion, they are then certified to install four core ventilation systems for five years – including (MVHR).

With most of our customers working alone, we realise that taking time off the tools is a big sacrifice and we find being as practical and hands-on as possible unlocks the full benefit to be had. It also helps that all of our trainers are ventilation experts and know the inside track; they understand our customers’ requirements, as well as the products, inside out. What’s more, we also offer several free industry-approved CPD seminars which cover the principles of heat recovery, meeting Passive House standards and best practice for domestic heat recovery – ideal for those seeking to gain a basic understanding of the MVHR opportunity within a limited time frame.

We even have the ability to provide bespoke training presentations for customers on any of our ventilation and water products. One of the most popular options, we find this can be an incredibly useful asset for businesses when trying to enhance their skillset, keep on top of new legislation or diversify into a new product arena.

E-learning option While face-to-face learning is always the preferred method, we also offer an e-learning academy which covers everything from the basics of ventilation to legislation. Delivered in collaboration with a leading e-learning provider, the online academy consists of numerous short modules and learning videos which are regularly updated in line with the changing market and new product offers.

As a direct consequence of investment in training and upskilling, installers can become more experienced and efficient working with our products, and in turn, this means that installation and maintenance times improve. It also means that they can confidently ensure maximum efficiency of ventilation systems, can fit more jobs into their working week, and increase their profitability.

As MVHR continues to rise up the ranks to be the ventilation product of choice, today’s contractors need to be fully clued up on the latest solutions so that they can provide solid, informed recommendations to customers, and be qualified to install these new technologies. In this way, by investing a little time and money in upskilling they can look to widen their profit opportunity in the long run. www.xpelair.co.uk

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Taking control of your ventilation needs Now available from the Surrey based heating and ventilation component supplier Anglo Nordic is the Tempero Eco Ceram, a new energy recovery fan unit incorporating ceramic heat exchanger technology and long life ball bearing motors. This controlled mechanical ventilation product offers single or multi use operation, wireless remote and CO2 control options, low power c on s u mp t i on , automatic shutter, filters and thermal efficiency of up to 90%.

The Tempero Eco Ceram has been designed and manufactured by Italian ventilation specialist

O.Erre and works by the fan bringing exhaust air across a ceramic heat exchanger and then reversing the process, heating or cooling incoming air. When heating a space, the warm air is recovered by the heat exchanger and transferred to the incoming fresh air. This process also works during hotter days when the air is cool inside the property and the cool air is recovered by the heat exchanger.

Air filtration and protection for the heat exchanger is provided by two dedicated G3 filters – one for air extraction, the other

for intake – while the highly efficient EC brushless motor provides near silent operation.

Available in two different sizes with 100 or 160mm wall duct, the unit can be installed using the space currently occupied by a basic extract fan situated on an outside wall.

The system can be used either on its own or linked with other units to give opposite and synchronised air flows. For a more far ranging ventilation arrangement, up to 16 units can be installed in sequence.

On the Active and Wireless variants, the Tempero Eco Ceram can be supplied with remote control units and control panels.

Along with basic functions such as on/off, fan speed and airflow (intake or extraction), the remotes and control panels offer automatic settings where the unit will operate as and

when required, such as when humidity or (with the optional wireless version) when CO2 reaches certain preset levels.

The main duct supplied with the product is adjustable to fit walls of varying sizes (from 250 to 400mm), with a maximum duct length of 3m. The unit is designed to be easily dissembled for cleaning or replacing the two anti-dust G3 filters, the heat exchanger, and for performing routine maintenance and inspection.

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IAQ matters in schools and offices Studies have shown that indoor air quality has implications for human health and productivity. Here, Andy Williams, Technical Consultant at Jaga Heating Products, explains why specifiers should choose a controlled and responsive ventilation solution for schools and offices.

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or many, it may seem as if air pollution isn’t a threat in the UK. After all, gone are the days of smoke-spewing furnaces, and coal mines have wound down considerably in recent years. However, just because we can’t physically see air pollution doesn’t mean that it isn’t present. The UK – alongside Germany, France, Italy and Spain – has been issued a final warning by the European Commission for failing to address breaches of air pollution limits for Good air quality correlates with better behaved pupils and better performance Andy Williams, Jaga nitrogen oxide. Whilst EU Member States have been repeatedly asked complications later in life. The UK not only by the University of Exeter, the cognitive to implement air quality plans to safeguard has the highest prevalence of asthma in performance of an occupant decreases by public health, it appears that these requests the world, but poor IAQ can also lead to the 5% when CO2 levels rise above 1500ppm. development of cardiovascular diseases and These symptoms can be exacerbated in have fallen on deaf ears.

However, this problem hasn’t gone unnoticed lung irritation; the latter is more common the school environment – an often densely among the UK population. In a survey of 1670 in children as their lungs are not yet fully populated space.

Poor IAQ is an issue which doesn’t just adults, 58% believed that the current levels of developed. affect student environments. In the working air pollution in the UK are either harmful or Guidelines for schools world, enhancing employee productivity very harmful to overall health. This issue of air pollution has been felt particularly acutely in For schools, there are regulations which is key. On average, people work for 212 the capital. Just one month ago, it was recorded stipulate what the IAQ should be. The days each year, so it is important that the that the air in London was far worse than Government is close to releasing the long- environment isn’t stuffy or polluted and that in the notoriously polluted Beijing, hitting a awaited update to the Building Bulletin their performance is not hindered by poor air peak of 197 micrograms per cubic metre for 101 (BB101) – ‘Guidelines on ventilation, quality. The Building Engineering Services particulate matter on the Air Quality Index . thermal comfort and indoor air quality Association (BESA) reported that almost 70% in schools’. This advises that the average of office workers believe that poor air quality Indoor air quality concentration of carbon dioxide – a direct in their place of work is having a negative What risk does poor IAQ present for pupils indicator of IAQ – should not exceed 1500 effect on their day-to-day productivity and and employees? Whilst there has been a ppm (1000ppm for mechanical or hybrid wellbeing. tremendous amount of dialogue concerning ventilation systems).

The same study also revealed that 68% Failing to have the right concentration of office workers experience lapses in air pollution, little has been said about poor IAQ. It is vital that IAQ is at an acceptable of CO2 in an educational environment, concentration on a monthly or more frequent level in indoor work environments, such especially in the months of January and basis, and over two thirds of recipients as schools and offices, in order to create a June when exams dominate the school reported suffering from frequent fatigue healthy working environment and improve calendar, can also significantly impact while at work. A number of office studies performance and behaviours. Poor IAQ is pupil performance. It has been proven also concluded that poor IAQ – combined with often a result of ineffective ventilation, and that there is a direct correlation between elevated temperatures – consistently lowered the consequent build-up of CO2 in an indoor inadequate ventilation in schools and poor performance by up to 10% on measures such environment can lead to serious health pupil performance. According to a study as typing speed.

Breath of fresh air To maximise occupants’ productivity both in educational and working environments, it is clear that effective ventilation is essential, and we have a long way to go to achieve this in many buildings that are in use today. The nature of the ventilation system chosen for use in a building is vital.

Whilst manual methods of ventilation such as opening a window may marginally improve air quality, it can be difficult to measure and maintain CO2 levels this way, and it invites in noise and air pollution from outside. Instead, specifiers should be encouraged to choose mechanical demand controlled ventilation (DCV). A mechanical DCV solution constantly measures the concentration and rate of change of CO2 in a room via carefully placed sensors, and automatically adjusts the volume of fresh, filtered air that is brought into the room, matching it with the quantity of stale air extracted.

Ventilation solutions Mechanical DCV systems also only ventilate a room when needed. This means that when a building is unoccupied or in light use – such as schools or workplaces during holiday periods, or even at certain times during the day – the ventilation can work at a very low level. On the flip side, for schools, on days or times when levels of CO2 are incredibly high due to the occupancy of pupils, then the system can kick in at a more intense level and ensure that the IAQ remains at the optimum level for the building’s occupants.

A controlled mechanical ventilation strategy has the power to enhance the productivity of pupils and employees. As Winston Churchill famously stated: “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” Specifiers must support the educational and workplace endeavours of building occupants to ensure that pupils and workers are able to thrive.

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52 VE VENTILATION ENTILATION & H Heat eat Recovery Recovery

Filter F ilter removes remo oves tthe he p pollutants ollutants New to New to Titon’s Titon’s MVHR MVHR portfolio portfolio iis s tthe he T rimbox F ilter, ssuitable uitable ffor or n ew b uild a nd Trimbox Filter, new build and rrefurbishment efurbishment projects. projects. The The unit unit is is available av vailable ass lined each a lined and and unlined unlined versions, versions, e ach offering offering extra e xtra pr protection otection a against gainst e external xternal p pollutants. ollutants.

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Th e The Adroit A d r o it MVHR M V HR rrange a ng e from f r om Airf A i r f low lo w Developments D evelopments is is suitable suitab ble forr high-end fo high-end househouseb uilders and and property prroper t y builders de velopers. T he P assive developers.

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tthrough hrough the t he roof, roof, then t hen iinternal nter nal spaces spaces that t hat have have n oe xter nal ffaçade açade c an sstill t ill no external can b e e f ficient ly y v ent ilated, be efficiently ventilated, be b e iitt v via ia n natural at ural o orr h hybrid ybr id pr inciples. principles.

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The T he Premier Premier DX DX collection collection off centrifugal o centr ifugal pressure pressure developing Xpelair de veloping ffans ans ffrom rom X pelair offers air o ffers high high performance performance a ir extraction variety off e xtraction ffor or a v ar iet y o applications. a pplic i atio i ns. The Th he DX400 DX400 range range kitchens, utility iis s ssuited uited ffor or k itchens, u tility and rrooms, ooms, llarger arger bathrooms bathrooms an d commercial c ommercial installations installations ass individual ssuch uch a individual offices, offices, kitchens and k itchens a nd toilet toilett blocks. blocks.

The T he llow ow watt wattt fans fans have have the the benefit operating costs b enefit of of llow ow o perating c osts and a nd are are available available iin tandard, n sstandard,

and pullcord ttimer imer ((DX400T) DX400T) a nd p ullcord ((DX400PC) DX400PC) models, models, the the DX400 DX400

can orr rrange ange c an be be ssurface urface o recessed mounted walls re cessed m ounted iin nw a l ls and ceilings. a nd c eilings.

Xpelair also offers X p el a i r a l so o ffers a rrange ange of of Premier Premier CF40 CF4 0 ffans ans iin n the t he same same family family l off products, o products, offering offer ing an an humidistat iintegral nteg ral hu midistat for for condensation control co ndensat ion co ntrol and and a room room size size performance per for mance with boost sspeed peed selector selector w it h b o o st and a nd trickle t r ickle ventilation vent ilat ion making ssettings, ettings, m aking iitt a ssuitable uitable kitchen use. ssolution olut ion ffor or k itchen u se.

All are A ll models models a re ssupplied upplied with backdraught w ith a b ackdraught sshutter hutter and outlet a nd ou tlet grille, g r ille, are are IPX5 IPX5 rrated, ated, ErP ErP compliant compliant and and 220-240V 50Hz ssuitable uitable ffor or 2 20-240V 5 0Hz mains They also m ains operation. operation. T hey a lso ffeature eature external external rotor rotor motors motors with balanced w i t h iintegral nt e g r a l b a l a nc e d iimpellers, m p el l er s, sealed-for-life s ea l e d -f o r- l i f e maintenance bearings m aintenance ffree ree b ear ings and a nd safety safet e y thermal the h rmal cut-out cut-out protection. p rotection.

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Wall W all k kit it rrequires equires no no outside outside access access The T he Deluxe Deluxe Quick Quick Internal Internal Fit Fit Wall Wall Kit Kit by b y Manrose Manrose has has been been developed developed tto o ssimplify implify ventilation ventilation installation, installation, as as it it can c an be be installed installed entirely entirely from from the the inside inside off a property. o property. It It has has no no loose loose parts parts and and tthe he external external grille grille is is fixed fixed to to the the wall wall eliminating off d dropping lliner, iner, e liminating tthe he rrisk isk o ropping grilles g rilles from from a height. height.

Suitable high-rise first S uitab ble ffor or h igh-rise applications, applications, fi rst floor bathrooms and anywhere fl oor b athrooms a nd a nywhere tthat hat iis s not accessible outside, n ot rreadily eadily ac cessible ffrom rom tthe he ou tside, tthe he Wall Wall Kit Kit simply simply l pushes pushes through through a

hole off tthe building. h ole ffrom rom tthe he iinside nside o he b uilding.

An external A ne xternal grille grille is is then then deployed dep ployed that that doesn’t d oesn’t require require reaching reaching through through the the entire off tthe wall e ntire llength ength o he w all tube, tube, and and spring spring

pins p ins hold hold the the wall wall kit kit securely securely in in place. place.

Notches No tches iin n the the internal internal face face allow allow it it to to be b e aligned aligned and and then then the the external external grille grille and can be pulled a nd sseal eal c an b ep ulled back back against against tthe he external wall fit.

This provides e xternal w all ffor or a ttight ight fi t. T his pr ovides water w ater iingress ngress protection, protection, rresulting esulting in in a secure secure installation. installation. The The kit kit is is also also differing ssuitable uitable for for d iffering wall wall thicknesses thicknesses a and nd fan fan types, types, including including those those with with and and without w ithout iintegral ntegral shutters. shutterrs.

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WHAT’S W HAT T’S New New

53 5 3

Mr with new M r Slim Slim wi ith n ew rrefrigerant efrigerant E Efficient fficieen nt b boilers oilers ccome om wi ith extra extra features featur u es with

A new new range range of of air air conditioning conditioning units units has has been u nveiled b yM itsubishi E lectric de signed been unveiled by Mitsubishi Electric designed to to use use the the more more environmentally environmentally friendly fr iendly R32 refrigerant. refr igerant. The The range range includes includes ten ten R32 outdoor outdoor units units offering offer ing single-phase single-phase and and 3-phase options, with capacity 3-phase o ptions, w ith a c apacity range range from from 3.5 3.5 to to 14kW. 14kW. 25 25 individual individual indoor indoor units units are are also available ass ceiling cassettes, ceiling also a vailable a ceiling c assettes, c eiling concealed wall-mounted concealed d ducted, ducted d, w all-mounted d and and ceiling ceiling suspended suspended models. models. For For extra extra design design flexibility, flexibility, Mr Slim Power Mr S l im P ower Inverters Inverters are are also also available available in n twin twin and and triple triple multi-split multi-split configurations. configurations.

“The and “The ssize, ize, llook, ook, ffeel eel a nd controls controls ffor or tthe he new new R32 R32 models models remain remain the the same same as as existing existing R410A Power changing R410A P ower Inverter Inverter models models sso o tthat hatt c hanging over R32 will be as easy as possible over tto oR 32 w ill b ea se as y a sp ossible ffor or building owners,” Product Marketing building o wners,” ssays ays P roduct M arketing Manager Manager Carl Carl Dickinson Dickinson The new new models models will will be be available available at at the the The same price as R410A units and can same pr ice a s tthe he R 410A u nits a nd c an be be used with with existing existing pipework, pipework, but but also also offer offer used longer longer pipe pipe runs, r uns, with with 100m 100m available available on on the 25m the 10, 10, 12.5 12.5 and and 14kW 14kW models models – 2 5m llonger onger than equivalent R410A versions, allowing than tthe he e quivalent R 410A v ersions, a llowing systems systems to to be be installed installed where where previous previous site site restrictions may not have restr ictions m ay n ot h ave allowed. allowed.

“R32 “R32 units units have have already already been been available available in over years now and we in Japan Japan for for o ver ttwo wo y ears n ow a nd w e

have knowledge and have ttaken aken tthat hat k nowledge a nd rrefined efined iitt to d evelop this this advanced advanced line-up, line-up, w hich to develop which improves efficiency, pipe and improves e fficiency, iincreases ncreases p ipe rruns uns a nd adds other benefits adds o ther b enefits ttoo,” oo,” explains explains Dickinson.

Dickinson.

The The new new R32 R32 Mr Mr Slim Slim line-up line-up is is available available from and available from JJuly uly a nd further further information information iis sa vailable on dedicated website on a d edicated w ebsite (see (see below), below), which which also product also includes includes pr oduct information information ssheets, heets, videos videos and and infographics infographics on on the the background background to off R R32 to the the introduction introduction o 32 rrefrigerant. efr igerant. www.timeforr32.co.uk/pr4 w ww.ti t meforr32.co.uk/pr4

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Evolve name off a n new E volve iis s tthe he n ame o ew ‘‘feature feature rich’ rich’ boiler boiler range range Vokèra which ffrom rom V okèra w hich iis s ssaid aid tto o offer offer models models and and outputs outputs tto o suit suit virtually virtually any any domestic domestic application.

All boilers a pplication. A ll b oilers iin n tthe he range range are are ‘A’ ‘A’ under under the the ErP E rP directive, directive, and and by by adding adding Vokèra’s BeSMART V okèra’s B eSMART iinternet nternet connected c onnected thermostat thermostatt tto o tthe he ssystem, ystem, will will become become an an ‘A+’ ‘A+’ heating he ating package. package.

Att tthe heart off E Evolve A he h eart o volve iis s tthe he REC10 REC10 liquid liquid crystal cr ystal display user interface. d isplay u ser interface.

The menu driven T he full full ttext ex t m enu d r iven control c ontrol enables enables both both the the user iinstaller nstaller and and end end u ser tto o n avigatte tthrough hrough tthe he b oiler’s navigate boiler’s parameters p arameters and and settings, settings, including programming in cluding p rogramming the the heating on and off as h eating o na nd o ff ttimes imes a s desired. d esired. A new new efficiency efficiency iindicator ndicator will will also also provide provide homeowners h omeowners with with a visual visual

iindication ndication of of ‘high’ ‘high’ or or efficiency, based ‘‘optimal’ optimal’ e fficiency, b ased on return o n tthe he re turn te ttemperature. mperature.

IInstaller nstaller friendly friendly features features iinclude nclude a reduced reduced height height flue pre-fixing fl ue bend, bend, a pr p e-fixing jig, jig, concealed valves c oncealed service service v alves a and nd p pump ump k kick ick ffunction. unction. A As s an added a na dded ssafety afety ffeature eature tthe he

boilers CO b oilers incorporate incorporatte a C O monitor which will m onitor w hich w ill ffail-safe ail-safe iiff excessive excessive C O iiss detected. detected.

CO Both combi and B oth c ombi a nd ssystem ystem b boilers oilers are are available, av vailab ble, w with ith a an n open vent o pen v ent version version tto o follow follow n next ext y year. ear.

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www.vokera.co.uk www .vokera.co.uk

Versatile V ersatile sshower hower eenclosures nclosures P Pipe ipe g goes oes tthe he eextra xtra llength engt gh ccater ater ffor or a ll k inds o sers all kinds off u users The IItalian The talian b bathroom athroom b brand rand Novellini No vellini has has developed developed Lunes L unes 2.0, 2.0, a n new ew rrange ange o off ‘‘all all iinclusive’ nclusive’ shower shower enclosures, enclosures, ssaid aid tto o c ombine c utt ing combine cutting e dge d esig n w it h g reat edge design with great ffunctionality. unct ionalit y.

T he e nclosures c an b e used used The enclosures can be with w it h No Novellini v el l i n i w wetrooms etrooms orr sshower o hower trays trays and and are a re available a vailable iin n a w wide ide rrange ange o pt ions iincluding ncluding a n off o options an iinnovative nnovative semi-frameless semi-frameless ttriple r iple sliding sliding door door that t hat can ca n b e installed installed in in a recess recess or or be w it h a sside ide p anel. O t her with panel.

Other ffeatures eatures range range from from chrome chrome fframework, ramework, U V b onded UV bonded h inges, m etal rise-and-fall r ise-and-fall hinges, metal

hinges which which o pen in in and and hinges open out out ffor or e easy asy a access, ccess, a and nd llarge arge door handles handles w hich a re e asy door which are easy to g r ip. to grip. ““Our Our n ew L unes 2.0 2.0 range range new Lunes is without w it hout d oubt the t he most most is doubt v er sat i le, co mp r e h e n s i v e versatile, comprehensive

and universal universal range range on on tthe he and market and and great g reat value value for for market money,” ssays ays St ua r t W e st , money,” Stuart West, UK S ales and and Marketing Market ing UK Sales Director.

Director.

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Responding tto Responding o customer customer demand, d emand, JJG G S Speedfit peedfit h has as iintroduced ntroduced ttwo wo n ew v ariants new variants off its o its Layflat Lay yflat pipe. pipe. Previously Previously a vailable iin n 50 50 and and 100m 100m available llengths, engths, tthe he c company ompany h has as now n ow llaunched aunched a 2 25m 5m c coil oil llength ength o off tthe he 1 10mm 0mm L Layflat ayflat p ipe. The The 25m 25m range range will will pipe. offer o ffer iinstallers nstallers a sshorter horter rrun un o ipe ffor or sm aller, d omestic off p pipe smaller, domestic pr ojects and and is is suitable suitable for for projects central c entral heating heating installations, in nstallattions, rrefurbishment, efurbishment, m maintenance aintenance w ork a nd n ew b uilds. work and new builds.

Also A lso n new ew iis sa2 28mm 8mm L Layflat ayflat pipe p ipe available available iin na5 50m 0m c coil, oil, tthe he largest largest pr product oduc u t av available vailable within w ithin tthe he rrange. ange. D Developed eveloped tto o plug plug a g gap ap iin n tthe he rrange, ange, new pipe has been tthe he n ew p ipe h as b een

requested req uested by by installers installers to commercial ssuit uit c ommercial plumbing plumbing projects new pr ojects iincluding ncluding n ew builds b uilds and and refurbishment refurbishment maintenance m aintenance work. work.

First 2012, F irst llaunched aunched iin n2 012, tthe he Layflat pipe L ayflat p ipe ffeatures eatures llow ow

memory mem ory retention, retention, which which means m eans that that it it stays stays straight straight and a nd lays lay ys flat flat once once removed removed coil, without ffrom rom tthe he c oil, w ithout ttrying rying back place. tto o spring spring b ack iinto nto p lace.

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COMPETITION

Xpelair’s GX6 marks 65 years W hilst t ur ning 65 is traditionally associated with retirement and putting your feet up, Xpelair’s iconic GX6 axial fan is still going from strength to strength with impressive sales figures around the globe!

Xpelair GX6 fans are purpose designed for use in domestic kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms and small commercial applications such as offices. The GX6 range is suitable for direct ventilation to the outside and can be window or panel mounted, with optional kits for wall mounting available separately. With an integrated safety thermal overload protection and built-in silent action electro-thermal shutter cassette, the GX6 window & panel extract fan fans are operated by an on/off switch, pullcord or humidistat, depending on the model. *Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your network access charge.

Today’s sixth generation of GX6 fans retain their rugged reliability and styling and can be used for a range of specialist tasks. Conforming to Part F of the Building Regulations mechanical ventilation for kitchens, the fans are designed for easy cleaning and maintenance.

As well as the iconic GX6 model, Xpelair’s GX family of products also includes the GX9, GX12, PX, RX and WX variants.

The prize To celebrate 65 years of the GX6, we are giving FIVE lucky PHAM News readers the chance to win a GX6 fan plus £65 of high street shopping vouchers!

How to enter

Simply read the question below and then write your answer on the freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. So, for example, if you think the answer is ‘Elton John’, you should write 101 on the card. The five winners will be drawn from all the correct entries received before the closing date of 10th July 2017. Only one entry allowed per person.

Which of the following famous people turns 65 this year?

Mr T 102

Gutters come in living colour Add a little colour to homes with Polypipe’s Elegance Colour range. The eyecatching rainwater collection is suitable for brightening the exterior of any refurb home or new build development.

Elegance Colour is available in 11 vibrant colours across three collections, providing developers with the chance to add an extra feature to their designs.

The range provides a choice of distinct hand-applied colours incorporating antichip technology, which can be supplied in a cast iron or matte finish. The rainwater collection comes in a range of colours, including Chartwell Green, Brilliant Blue and Pastel Pink..

Each system is available in the classic Sovereign

and contemporary Square profiles to cope with the level of rainwater a home may be exposed to.

Elegance Colour is manufactured from modern PVCu, is resilient, light and easy to install and will not be weathered by heavy rain or years in the sun, ensuring high performance many

years after installation.

The range comes with a 10-year guarantee for extra peace of mind, while the guttering and downpipes are 100% recyclable, ensuring minimum impact on the environment when they are finally replaced.

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Cleaning hands completely

For further information, please visit xpelair.co.uk or call the sales hotline on 0844 372 775.*

Elton John 101

What’s New

Stephen Fry 103

Loctite is highlighting its latest cleaners, which conform to European Cosmetics Regulations and are also biodegradable. The SF 7850 and SF 7855 are highly effective hand cleaners for use in the workshop or factory environment, with or without water. A paper towel easily removes the excess along with dirt. Neither contain any artificial fragrance but include aloe, lanolin, jojoba oil and vitamin E for skin conditioning.

The SF 7850 is effective at removing ground-in dirt, grease, grime, oil and a wide variety of products used on the shop floor. It is available in three sizes – a

400ml squeezable bottle, a 3 litre pump-action dispenser and a 10 litre container for filling and topping-up wall mounted dispensers.

The SF 7855 product removes polyurethane, paint, resins, primers, adhesives, silicones, varnish and enamel in seconds and is supplied in a 400ml squeezable bottle or a 1.75 litre pump dispenser. It is light grey in colour and has a pleasant floral scent.

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Cylinders for all applications The StainlessLite hot water cylinders from Gledhill have been enhanced with a new product collection.

The portfolio now includes the StainlessLite Plus range developed specifically for one-off installers, the StainlessLite Pro for contractors, and StainlessLite Pre-Plumbed, which has been designed to provide a plugand-play solution specifically for the new build market.

The StainlessLite Plus range replaces Gledhill’s existing StainlessLite cylinders and offers a wide range of capacity options and retains a selection of models including slimline cylinders, units designed specifically for use with renewables, and a horizontal cylinder for installation in loft spaces.

The StainlessLite Pro range for the contract market incorporates the same design innovation, updating Gledhill’s existing range of contract market cylinders. StainlessLite Pro units are desig ned to offer the

same appearance, energyefficient performance and maintenance requirements for legacy management as the StainlessLite Plus range.

The new design features a flat base for increased stability and a flat top which allows for 20% more insulation. This has improved ErP ratings for StainlessLite models across the range, securing a ‘B’ rating for the 210 indirect cylinders.

The StainlessLite PrePlumbed models also carry through Gledhill’s design and improved energy performance across the range, providing a plug-andplay solution for new residential schemes, including modular buildings.

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June 2017

WHAT’S New 55 Catching a wave with Surf radiator Offered as a contemporary heating solution is the Surf radiator from Aestus.

Designed to reflect the simplistic form of a modern surfboard, the Surf is manufactured from high quality mild steel and is available in either a matt white or matt black finish.

The Surf’s round tail design and contemporary matt façade is made to complement any living, kitchen or bathroom space and, because it’s wall-mounted,

Linking to more devices As the market in home automation continues to grow, Honeywell has made its connected thermostats range compatible with an even wider range of smart home systems. The Lyric T6 and T6R connected thermostats can be controlled centrally by using the Amazon Echo, IFTTT, Apple Watch and Apple HomeKit. The evohome and its Single Zone Thermostat work with Amazon Echo, and users can add further layers of control by using IFTTT commands.

Google Home compatibility is set to be added.

the radiator will provide heat without impacting the room’s available floor space.

Shown right with Roscoe angled valves (straight valves also available), the Surf measures 1595mm high by 450mm wide, with a depth of 66-96mm and 50mm pipe centres. Suitable for closed heating systems, it produces a heat output of 576W and has a 15 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

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blocks, high rise apartments, schools and supermarkets, the K65 system simplifies specification, as there is no tube gauge variation in both Wieland’s alloys and Conex Bänninger’s complementary fittings range.

Both the tube and fitting components of the K65 system are UL 207 certified for installer safety. The K65 fittings can be easily brazed to the tubing without the need of expensive or special equipment.

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Greater control over HVAC systems Field control specialist Sontay has introduced the SC-ST-x Smart Temperature Controller to provide local control of an HVAC system.

Communicating via the BACnet MS/TP protocol, the new controller brings greater efficiency to the operation of commercial buildings, such as hotels or offices, and even smart homes.

The Smart Temperature Controller offers close

in mind, we will continue to develop these integrations, increasing the opportunities for installers to upsell connected heating controls.”

Electronic tap ease

Fittings take the pressure Aiming at the commercial sector, Conex Bänninger, in partnership with Wieland K65 tubes, has developed its K65 fittings for high-pressure ACR applications. These CO2 solutions can deliver pressure ratings up to 120 bar. In addition, the K65 system enables businesses to retain their green credentials by utilising the highly pressured CO2 R744 refrigerant.

Suited to a range of highly pressured refrigeration and air conditioning applications such as installations in office

Andy Mansfield, Marketing Communications Manager, says: “As these home hubs become more popular, they will influence homeowners’ decisions when purchasing heating controls. With this

control of heating, cooling and ventilation demand within modern building control systems. Depending on the chosen model, the controller operates as a proportional integral (P+I) controller, switching HVAC devices or outputs modulating 0-10V control signals for modern EC fans and actuators.

Additional inputs include window contact, occupancy

detectors and remote temperature sensing into the built-in control strategy.

The control signals are transmitted via the 2-wire RS-485 bus communicating on the BACnet MS/TP protocol. The controller gives centralised supervision of the HVAC systems and predefined local access to the control strategy.

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Designed to ease the installation of electronic taps in public washrooms, the Geberit tap system is available in wall and deck-mounted versions in two design options: Piave and Brenta.

The tap system works in conjunction with the Geberit Duofix installation frame behind the wall for a seamless finish in front of it. Only the tap and the infrared sensor are visible.

The electronic components, as well as the mixer, valves and power supply, are housed in a separate function box, installed in the pre-wall under the washbasin.

All key components are height-adjustable. This means that the Geberit Duofix installation frames can be adapted to suit virtually any installation situation. A robust retainer for the wall-mounted tap makes final installation simple, with no further alignment of the tap housing needed once it is in place. For precision fitting, the frame features a pre-mounted crossbar which can be adjusted to allow the distance between the wall-mounted tap and washbasin to be set with ease.

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ENQUIRY

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Advertorial

TECHNICAL Tips Best practice push-fit As more people are opting for plastic over copper fittings, this presents new challenges for installers. Nigel Sanger of JG Speedfit outlines some key considerations surrounding plastic push-fit fittings and what needs to be done to unlock their full potential.

W

ith growing time pressures for plumbers and installers, we have seen an increase in the uptake of plastic fittings over recent years.

Plastic fittings allow for a considerably faster installation over their copper counterparts, in most cases by as much as 40%, making them the ideal choice of material for first-fix plumbing. Only by understanding best practice for plastic push-fit installation can installers truly take advantage of the time and efficiency gains made possible with plastic.

The role of inserts

Plastic fittings should be kept clean and dry, stored in a tool box or their original packaging

completely disproportionate, therefore it’s much better to prevent such issues during installation.

Inserts exist for a variety of purposes.

The main role of an insert is to ensure the pipe is nice and round, helping to Housekeeping minimise any loss of shape from cutting. When working with plastic fittings, it is vital They also offer a degree of protection they are kept clean and stored safely. When for the pipe in the event of sideloading, fittings are removed from their protective helping to minimise the risk of leaks if packaging and tipped onto the floor, dirt the recommended operating conditions and grit can get stuck in the O-ring and aren’t met. Inserts come in two types, a can even scratch the pipe. When pipes plain insert and a super seal. are scratched or damaged, they limit the The super seal insert features two effectiveness of the O-ring and the seal, additional seals, one of which is located leading to trenches which allow water to on the stem that is pushed into the pass from underneath. It is also essential pipe and helps prevent water from to keep plastic away from inside the pipe passing the O-ring, flux or any other corrosive the other on the end of the chemicals which may insert which seals inside contaminate the material. the fitting. If you’re When it comes going to use a plastic to first-fix plumbing, pipe with a compression prevention is better fitting then you should than the cure. Leaking always use the plain insert. pipework or fittings can be Compression fittings vary notoriously challenging in terms of depth and and expensive to repair using a super seal may once the first-fix phase restrict the full insertion has been completed and of the pipe, not allowing the pipework is no longer the compression ring to go into the accessible. Therefore, it is pipe. When you push a pipe into a essential to ensure that the compression fitting, the compression correct testing has been washer is tightened onto the pipe and carried out to guarantee the nut becomes tighter, causing the peak performance. At compression ring to compress. If The right tools will John Guest, we typically the pipe isn’t fully inserted to the enable clean cuts in recommend carrying out optimum level, the compression ring the pipe to achieve a pressure tests at 2 bar for nice, sharp edge could sit on the edge of the pipe and a duration of ten minutes. not clamp on correctly.

Providing there are no

Cutting the pipe

When cutting plastic pipes, care must be taken to cut the pipe as squarely as possible. It is therefore essential to use the correct cutting equipment to get a nice sharp edge. If you cut plastic with a hack saw the action of cutting leaves a plastic burr around the edge of the pipe. During insertion into the fitting, the plastic burr will disengage from the pipe and fit in between the pipe and the O-ring, resulting in microleaks and potential damp patches over time. The cost and effort of repairing such faults is

issues, further testing should be carried out at 10 bar for an additional ten minutes. Once you cover everything up, you can be confident that you’ve carried out the required tests and that you are well and truly covered in the event of a fault – better to be safe than sorry!

Find out more For more information on the range of controls available from JG Speedfit, visit the website below.

www.speedfitufh.co.uk

WHat’s New Trap stops the bad smells Drainage ventilation expert Studor has developed the Trap-Vent, a combination of a water trap and an air admittance valve (AAV). It can be retrofitted to an existing bathroom and is also suitable for small group venting in settings such as hotels, care homes and hospitals. It protects the water trap seal between the drainage system and the room, stopping bad odours and pathogens escaping from empty traps.

The trap features a 50mm water seal and an integral AAV. It reduces the need for secondary ventilating in small fixture groups and

replaces conventional ‘S’ and ‘P’ traps. It is height adjustable for fully flexible installation, has integrated self-cleaning, and is suitable for bath and shower

Roof clamp help With the aim of making the installation of roof outlets easier and faster, SaintGobain PAM has developed a universal roof clamp.

The clamp ring has been designed to work with all roof types, from liquid membrane installations with a typical thickness of just 2mm up to standard felt or bitumen with a depth of up to 8mm.

Mike Rawlings, Marketing Manager for Saint-Gobain PAM UK, says: “We are constantly developing the Vortx range of outlets. The development of the universal roof clamp is in response to customer demand. It will help make both specification and installation simpler for the roofing contractor.” www.saint-gobain-pam.co.uk

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Right Pumps will simplify selection Following a re-engineering of its centrifugal range of shower, bathroom and whole house pumps, Salamander has launched the range under the Right Pump label. The new range replaces the company’s former ESP, RHP, RSP and RGP range, and much of the r e de v e lop ment has been done in response to installer feedback.

The new benefits include a reduction in noise, the use of crossover technology to allow the former RSP ‘shower only’ pumps to power the whole house, and the inclusion of a spider web design to strengthen the plastic end

caps for enhanced strength, rigidity and reliability.

On the universal variants of the Right Pumps, Salamander has also improved the electronic system protection which is designed to guard the pump against the three most common faults which can cause damage to pumps: dry running, excessive heat and leaks in the system.

The launch of Right Pump means a simplified range with clearer product names to help installers. The upgraded pumps have the same price, but with added functionality.

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rooms, providing a solution for problem solving in new builds as well as the retrofit market.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Secret is in the air delivery The Airstream range from Methven features technology that draws air into the shower and allows it to mix with the water, creating more voluminous water droplets that result in a refreshing, rain-like shower.

The user can choose a particular shower experience via the three spray options: full body, massage and combination spray. Methven’s Easy Click technology allows users to switch between the different spray settings with a simple click of a button.

The new range is made up of three shower kits.

The EKIT01/A features a chrome and white Airstream handset and a lever operated slider adjustment. The chrome EKIT02/A features a button operated slider adjustment and a rectangular handset, whilst the chrome EKIT03/A has the button operated slider and a fan shaped handset. Each kit consists of an Airstream handset, 1.5m anti-twist hose and an Easy Fit Rail Kit. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.methven.com/uk/home

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June 2017

WHAT’S New 57 Energy control in Revamped for more control a convenient app The EcoKnight range of gas-fired condensing water heaters has been revamped by Lochinvar to include a number of enhanced control functions.

There are eight models available with hot water outputs ranging from 709 to 3819 litres per hour based on a temperature rise of 50°C. As circulating-type water heaters, they provide higher hot water recovery rates than traditional storage equivalents. This makes them suitable for a wide range of medium to large commercial projects and some industrial applications.

Fast recovery hot water is generated in the high efficiency grade 316L stainless

steel, corrosion resistant heat exchanger.

The hot water is then ‘circulated’ to a storage vessel or a series of storage vessels.

It is possible to install a wide range of multiple water heater and storage vessel combinations, providing design and installation flexibility. This can be useful in applications that have high hot water demand, but limited plant room space.

The range also benefits from built-in SMART System controls, which gives a wide variety of control options without the need for a building management system (BMS), although it can be connected to a BMS if required.

www.lochinvar.ltd.uk

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Materials for sustainable projects The Energy Control app from Nobo is designed to give users the ability to lower their energy consumption and gain greater comfort from electric heating. The app is compatible with the NCU 1R and NCU 2R Nobo thermostat modules, available as optional extras with the Nobo Top electric panel heater.

The Nobo EcoHub also allows users to create heating zones by controlling heaters on a room-by-room basis.

Sensors and switches can be assigned to zones to allow detailed control of a Nobo heating system.

Nobo’s Christian Hadley says: “The Energy Control app gives users complete control of their heaters from anywhere in the home or even outside the home, which makes it easy to reduce the temperature in rooms they do not use and cut energy consumption.”

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.credaheating.co.uk

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To support the professional installation of elastometric insulat ion mater ials, Armacell offers a range of solutions the latest of which are new solventfree cleaners and reduced solvent adhesives, aimed at sustainable construction projects.

The thixotropic, non-drip Armaflex RS850 adhesive can be applied more quickly and neater than standard adhesives, and releases only

minimal amounts of solvents when idle. It also has a threeyear shelf life.

Another new addition is a solvent-free cleaner, Armaflex

SF, which can be used to clean soiled surfaces of technical installations as well as the surface of insulation materials.

Armaflex Ultima and Armaflex Rail SD, synthetic rubber insulation materials, require the use of adhesives that have been specially formulated for this type of foam. For these materials, the company offers, in addition to the standard Armaflex Ultima 700 adhesive, a gel-like, non-drip product, Armaflex Ultima RS850 adhesive.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.armacell.com/uk

176

Chunky tubes come together Top mount delivers top style Linear design is the main characteristic of Vogue’s new Chube contemporary towel warmer. It’s a minimalist ladder-style heating solution with bold, round, tubular rails. This high capacity model comes in a choice of 12, 18 and 24 cross rails to accommodate most sizes of bathrooms and provide ample space to hang and dry towels.

Made from polished stainless steel with rear air

vent for aesthetics, Chube delivers a high heat output of up to 536W. Suitable for all hot water, dual fuel or sealed electric systems, the version pictured right is shown with the recommended VL003 Arne valve.

The Chube is available in three heights (800, 1200, 1600mm) and four widths (300, 400, 500, 600mm). It comes with a 30 year guarantee.

PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.vogueuk.co.uk

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From Teka comes a new range of Top Mount Taps featuring a top-mount fixing kit. There are a variety of styles to choose from and include single lever mixers through to professional style spray taps. A locking mechanism is designed to give the tap stability without leakage or movement. They are also said to be easy to install, requiring only one person to fix the tap from above the work top and typically in less than three minutes.

Featuring in the new range is the Teka TTM 110c Top Mount Single Lever Pro-Style Spray Tap (pictured), which with its chrome finish and black hose is a striking addition to any kitchen. It has a moveable spray spout and dual function spray. This model has a height of 427mm and is suitable for water pressure of between 1-5 bar. www.tekasinks.uk

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June 2017

58 W WHAT’S HAT’S New Ne ew Longer L onger warranty warran a ty backs b acks k showers showers

Booster B oosterr o overcomes vercomes rrestricted estricte t d mains m a i ns Stuart Turner Stuart Turner h has as de designed signed Flomate F lomate iBoost iBoost to to boost boost mains tthe he m ains ssupply upply tto o llarger arger properties pr operties with with multiple multiple b athrooms u sing high high flow flow bathrooms using combination boilers an c ombination b oilers or or a n unvented cylinder u nvented c ylinder ssystem, ystem, where higher pressure and w here h igher pr essure a nd flow are required. fl ow a re req uired.

The T he fully fully integrated integrated Flomate Flomate combines iiBoost Boost c ombines a 200 200 litre litre cold water break c old w ater b reak tank tank that that overcomes ov ercomes restricted restricted mains m ins ma water w ater flow flow with with a high high performance multi-stage p er for m a nc e m u lt i- s t ag e pump dramatically p ump tto od ramatically boost boost pressure, pr essure, making making it it capable capab ble off d delivering water up 4.5 o elivering w ater u p tto o4 .5 bar and b ar a nd flow flow rates rates in in excess excess 100 off 1 00 ltrs/min. ltrs/min.

The T he rresults esults deliver deliver better better and sshower hower performance performance a nd higher h igher flow flow rates rates from from taps taps and water-using a nd multiple multiple w ater-u using appliances a ppliances throughout throughout the the property any given pr operty att a ny g iven ttime. ime.

The be T he ssystem ystem is is said said tto o b e ssimple imple to to install, install, with with an an access ac cess aperture aperture designed designed within w ithin the the appliance, appliance, and and

Leaks L eaks k un under nder control co ontrol

yet enough yet is is compact compact e nough tto o ssit it within within any any standard standard 600mm 600mm kitchen cupboard. kitchen llarder arder c upboard. The The product has WRAS approval. product ha sW RAS ap pproval.

PHAM P H A M NEWS NEWS ENQUIRY ENQUIRY No. No.

www.stuart-turner.co.uk w ww.stuart-turner.co.uk

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The latest The latest addition addition to to Honeywell’s Honeywell’s L Lyric yric rrange ange of of connected connected home products W1 Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze h ome p roducts iis s tthe he W 1W i-Fi W ater L eak a nd F r e eze Detector.

D etector.. The The device dev ice provides prov ides a cconvenient onvenient s solution olution tto o monitor water humidity and damage m onito or w ate er lleaks, eaks, h umid dity y llevels evels a nd d amage ffrom rom llow ow ttemperatures emperatures around around the the home. home. It It sends sends an an alert aler e t through through tthe he L Lyric yric a app pp iiff a w water ater leak leak o orr ffreezing reezing cconditions ond ditions a are re detected, enabling homeowners d etected, en abling h omeowners tto o take take quick quick action. action.

The T he detector dete ector monitors monitors freezing freezing conditions conditions or or impending impending moisture m oisture iissues ssues tthrough hro ough built-in builtt-in sensors sensors that that track track indoor indoor ttemperature emperature and and moisture moisture levels. levels. Leaks Leaks are are also also detected detected by b y the the 1.2m 1.2m long long fully fu ully sensing sensing cable, cable, which which can can detect detect lliquids iquids tthroughout hroughout iits ts e ntire llength. ength. T he cconnected onnected ccable able entire The ccan an be be placed placed around aro ound pipes, pipes, along along floors, floors, and and other other spaces spaces a risk o ater d amage. A dditional ccables ables ccan an be be added added att risk off w water damage.

Additional areas up 150m.

The Lyric W1 Wi-Fi tto o ccover over llarger arger a reas of of u p tto o1 50m. T he L yric W 1W i-Fi iis sao one-box ne-box s solution olution cconnected onnected d directly irectly y tto oah home’s ome’s w wifi. ifi. getconnected.honeywell.com/en g etconnected.honeywell.com/en

PHAM PH A M NEWS NEWS ENQUIRY ENQUIRY No. No.

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As a result As result of of focus focus groups g roups with w ith iinstallers, nstallers, Redring Redr ing has has created c rea ated a tthree-year hree-year warranty warranty p ackage for for a h ost of of n ew package host new sshowers howers sset et tto o llaunch aunch llater ater tthis h is y ear. year.

T hree new new sshowers howers – the the Three B right, G low a nd Si mple C are Bright, Glow and Simple Care m odels – w ill o fficially b e models will officially be llaunched au unched later latter this this year year with with tthe he w arranty p a kage, w ac hich warranty package, which Redring R edr ing says says reflects reflects the the products’ ease off p roducts’ rreliability, eliabilit y, e ase o iinstallation nstalllation n and and performance. performance.

Richard Braid, Head off R ichard B raid, He ad o Showers S howers and and Water Water Heating, H Heatting, comments: Redring, c omments: ““At At R edr ing, iit’s t’s vital v ital that that we’re we’re not not just just seen seen as manufacturer, but as a sam anufacturer, b ut a sa provider, and ssolutions olutions pr ovider, a nd tthis h is new n ew extended extended warranty war rant y package new core products p ackage on on n ew c ore pr oducts off tthe iis s a perfect perfect example example o he direction we d irection w e are are taking. taking. ““After After our our focus focus group g roup was clear ssessions, essions, iitt w as c lear that that an extended ffor or iinstallers nstallers a n e xtended warranty offers peace off w ar rant y o ffers p eace o mind and confidence m ind a nd c onfidence tthat hat

tthese hese new new sshowers howers are a re and This, rreliable eliable a nd rrobust. obust. T his, alongside product availability a longside pr oduct a vailability within merchants w ithin m erchants and and wholesalers, w holesalers, is is key key to to our our core base and we c ore customer customer b ase a nd w e are to ensuring a re committed committed t ensur ing we w e deliver deliver on on these these fronts.” fronts.”

PHAM P HAM N NEWS EW S E ENQUIRY NQUIRY N No. o.

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www.redring.co.uk w ww.redring.co.uk

DIRECTORY Biomass Boilers

ECO ANGUS

Safety Products

Heating (Water)

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Heating Controls

Underfloor Heating

Controls Underfloor Heating Systems Total project design High quality products New wireless controls Trade only prices Fast delivery

28

Kiwa UK

Altecnic Ltd

33

Kohler Mira Ltd

10

HEATING CONTROLS ONLINE

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12

GAIA

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LG Electronics UK Ltd

20

Anton Industrial Services Ltd

8

Logic 4 Training

39

4

MV Fluids Handling Ltd

BES Ltd

3

BWT

29

Novellini

Baxi Heating UK Ltd

43

NuAire Group

47

CMR Controls Ltd

51

Nu-Heat UK Ltd

41

EG Training Services Ltd

44

Pegler Yorkshire Group Ltd

23

Delabie

26

Plumbase

27

Flakt Woods Ltd

49

Polypipe plc

16

7

Geberit Sales Ltd

13

42 24, 25

Anglo Nordic Burner Products Ltd 48

21

9

Protean Software Ltd

2

Practical Refrigeration Training

Grasslin UK

6

Centre Ltd

42

Graham, The Plumbers' Merchant

5

Redring Xpelair Group

17

Screwfix

60

HVAC & Refrigeration Show 2018 52

Spirotech UK Ltd

31

Intatec Ltd (Zilmet)

Viega Ltd

Grundfos Pumps Ltd

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14

Advertiser’s Index Adey Innovation LLP

Ford Motor Company

www.gaiacs.com 0845 434 9488

BANICO CONTROLS

ENQUIRY

19 15, 37

12, 13

John Guest Speedfit Ltd 53, 55, 57

Viessmann Ltd

10

Kamco Ltd

Wirquin Ltd

11

Kingspan

35 1

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June 2017

DIRECTORY 59 Radiators

Green Deal Provider

Green Deal Provider for Sale Fully authorised for domestic and non-domestic green deal and includes FCA Lending and Credit Broking permission

Call David on 07887 552 442 for more information Specialist consultant for FCA and Green Deal Compliance APOLLO RADIATORS

15

ENQUIRY

THE RADIATOR FACTORY

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16

GREEN DEAL

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17

INFORMATION Centre Danfoss & Honeywell Book of Wiring

Central Heating combination boilers fault finding & repair

For years electricians and heating engineers have commented that wiring heating controls is a difficult subject to learn, existing diagrams are not always easy to follow.

Mr Combi® Training has developed a fantastic set of easy to follow coloured wiring diagrams for Danfoss and Honeywell Controls, 2 / 3 port systems, Faults, Frost stats, testing components, everything you need in one handy A5 book.

John Reginald has released his easy to read, easy to understand book that takes the reader through the background and operation of each major component within combi boilers past and present.

The comprehensive fault finding logic guides provide professional solutions helping you to achieve professional standards.

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

COPPER JOB

ENQUIRY

371

Hultafors’ New Knives and Hand Axes

Robustness, quality and long-lasting sharpness are the hallmarks of these superb products.

With a selection of toughened, corrosion-proof Heavy Duty Knives, Safety Knives, Chisel Knives and Utility Knives for general purpose tasks on site, there’s also precision products for Plumbers.

They’re all are ergonomically designed with comfortable, secure grips and, made from the highest quality Japanese steel, which is honed and sharpened for durability, effectiveness and to withstand corrosion.

Download Hultafors Tools New Product Catalogue www.hultafors.co.uk, call the helpline on 01484 854788 or enter the PHAM No. HULTAFORS

ENQUIRY

372

Please order from www.mrcombi.com or enter the PHAM No. CIBSE DBSP

ENQUIRY

374

Snickers are extending their range of protective wear for professional tradesmen and women with even more market-leading products. With its broad assortment of safety wear, including flame resistant protective clothing and strong track record in the market, Puvab is the ideal partner to complement the Snickers Workwear product range”.

Check out Snicker Workwear product families for precisely the right garments to fit your workday.

Visit www.snickersworkwear.co.uk , call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788 or enter the PHAM No. ENQUIRY

375

377

In addition to the extensive range of heating, plumbing and bathroom products, the new Green Book also features an extended range of both light commercial and connected homes products, including electric boilers from ACV, gas boilers from Zanussi and a section on Renewable Energy products.

Many of the product lines listed in the Green Book are in Graham’s Always Available range. This means these products are guaranteed to be in stock, or customers can claim a £10 voucher for use on their next purchase.

The Green Book is available now in all Graham branches. For more information and to download your copy visit www.grahamplumbersmerchant.co.uk or enter the PHAM No. GRAHAM

ENQUIRY

378

Plasson’s New 2017 Price Catalogue

Myson writes the book on heating products

Plassons’ latest price catalogue features its new non metallic 3703 mains stop valve, the first WRAS approved stop valve for 50mm (1½”) and 63mm (2”) mains pipes. The pushfit Universal 10017 fittings are proving to be a great success especially with the recent addition to the range, the 10017C connecting to 22mm copper/PB and PEX. With technical details and images of the extensive ranges of fittings: mechanical, pushfit, valves, electrofusion the 2017 price catalogue is available to download from www.plasson.co.uk or if you would like a hard copy please email marketing@plasson.co.uk or enter the PHAM No.

Myson is now displaying the UK’s most versatile range of heating products in its latest product brochure, available in both print and online versions offering unbiased advice and helping to select the most appropriate heating products for every project.

To view the new Myson brochure in convenient product chapters, please visit the downloads section of www.myson.co.uk or it can be downloaded to use offline or enter the PHAM No. MYSON

ENQUIRY

Latest Green Book from Graham

Hultafors Group Acquires Puvab – To Complement The Snickers Workwear Range

SNICKERS

MR COMBI

ENQUIRY

373

BOSS

ENQUIRY

376

PLASSON

Features appearing in July/August 2017 issue of PHAM News Bathroom Design, Renewable Energy Technology, Light Commercial Heating

ENQUIRY

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PHAM JUNE17 SCREWFIX:Layout 1 30/05/2017 11:27 Page 1

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