January 2017 by PHAM News

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Volume V o olume 55 | Issue 1 | J January anuary 2017

Review R eview rrecommends ecommends n new ew quality q uality m mark ark ffor ar or iinstallers nstallers

An independent An independent review review o off cconsumer onsumer protection protection and and the the standards standards of of domestic domestic energy energy efficiency efficiency and and rrenewable enewable installations installations h has as called called for for the the introduction introduction of of a new new quality quality mark mark to to help help raise raise standards. standards. The llong-awaited The ong-awaited rreview ev iew iinto nto d domestic omest ic energy Matters’ e nerg y efficiency ef ficienc y – ‘Each ‘Each Home Home M atters’ – has h as m made ade 27 27 rrecommendations, ecommendations, iincluding ncluding tthe he iintroduction ntroduction o off a g government-backed overnment-backed q quality uality mark green home measures. m ark k for for g reen nh ome iimprovement mprovement me asures. P eter B onfield, Chief Chief E xecut ive of of the t he BRE, BR E, Peter Bonfield, Executive was by w as commissioned commissioned b y the t he Government Gover nment to to llook ook iinto nto ways ways that t hat consumers consumers could could be be ensured e nsured a successful successf ul outcome outcome when when they t hey energy efficiency orr rrenewable iinvested nvested iin ne nerg y e fficiency o enewable energy e nerg y ffor or ttheir heir h homes. omes. T The he rreview ev iew w was as originally expected o r ig inally e xpected tto o iissue ssue a report repor t in in March M arch llast ast year, year, b but ut finally finally published published its its conclusions c onclusions iin n December. December. IIn n his his introduction introduction to to the the report, report, Bonfield Bonfield argues a rg ues that: t hat: ‘there ‘t here have have been been too too many many iinstances nstances of of poor poor quality quality installations installattions being being made m ade b by y companies companies who who do do not not have have the t he sskills, kills, q quality uality llevels evels o orr c core ore v values alues rrequired equired tto o operate operate responsibly responsibly y iin n this t his market’. market’. IIn n rresponse, esponse, iitt iis s pr proposed roposed tthat hat a n new ew q ualit y mark mark be be established established and and an an quality overarching o verarching standards standards framework framework based based on on a new new consumer consumer charter, charter, a code code of of conduct conduct and a nd codes codes of of practice. pract ice.

The ‘Each The ‘Each Home Home Matters’ Matters’ review review published published iits ts conclusions conclusions on on 16th 16th December December

T he rreport eport h as rreceived eceived a m ixed rresponse esponse The has mixed from bodies, many off w which are from iindustry ndust r y b odies, m any o hich a re critical off tthe prospect off ffurther off cr it ical o he pr o sp e c t o ur t her llevels e v el s o administration. administ rat ion. OFTEC O F TEC Registrations Reg ist rat ions Director Director Adrian Ad r ia n Lightwood comments: Light wood c omments: ““We We ssupport uppor t tthe he need high need ffor or h igh sstandards tandards within within the the heating heating industry consumers have industr y and and for for c onsumers tto o h ave confidence use. confidence iin n tthe he ttradespeople radespeople tthey hey u se. However, we we would would be be concerned concer ned at at any any However, proposals proposals that p that increase increase the the already already onerous onerous financial financial burden burden on on heating heating businesses, businesses, or or that that could could potentially potent ially confuse confuse the the public.” public.”

The T he IDHEE IDHEE argues argue u s that that the the industry industry already already offers high offers h igh levels levels of of consumer consumer protection. protection. “These “These proposals proposals appear appear to to be be another another layer layer of of bureaucracy bureaucracy on on top top of of a sector sector that that already has Gas Safe, Persons already h as G as S afe, Competent Competent P ersons Schemes and Schemes a nd MCS,” MCS,” says says IDHEE IDHEE Chief Chief Executive Executive David David Matthews. Matthews. “We “We believe believe that are that tthe he main main requirements requirements a re iimproving mproving existing existing certification certification schemes schemes and and codes, codes, rather ratther than than bringing bringing in in yet yet another another scheme scheme to to add an accreditation add tto oa n already already y overcrowded overcrowded a ccreditation marketplace.” marketplace.” The Master T he Federation Federat ion of of M aster Builders Builders has ha s welcomed aspects off tthe but welcomed a sp e c t s o he rreview, ev iew, b ut argues arg ues that t hat more more needs needs to to be be done done to to help help generate generate consumer consumer demand. demand. Chief Chief Executive Execut ive Brian Br ian Berry Ber r y says: says: “The “The FMB FMB is is fully drive higher off f ully behind behind tthe he d r ive ffor or h igher llevels e v el s o consumer confidence. However, alone consumer c onfidence. H owever, tthis h is a lone will w ill not not be be sufficient suf ficient to to drive dr ive the t he quantity quant it y of of low low carbon carbon refurbishment refurbishment which which will will be be necessary upgrade UK’s housing necessary tto ou pgrade tthe he U K’s h ousing sstock. tock. We also We a lso need need financial financial incentives incentives from from the the Government encourage homeowners Gover nment tto o en e courage h omeowners tto o invest invest in in these t hese improvements.” improvements.”

Consultation C onsultatio on np proposes roposes m mandatory andatory ccontrols on ntrols The Department The Department for for Business, Business, Energy Energ y & IIndustrial ndustr ial Strategy Strateg y (BEIS) (BEIS) has has launched launched a c onsultation entitled entitled ‘Heat ‘Heat in in Buildings: Buildings: consultation The T he Future Future of of Heat Heat – Domestic Domestic Buildings’. Buildings’. IInstallers, nstallers, s m anufacturers a nd c onsumers manufacturers and consumers a re encouraged encouraged to to express expr p ess their their views views on on are how h ow tto om make ake n new ew a and nd rreplacement eplacement b boiler oiler iinstallations nstallations as as efficient efficient as as possible possible without without adding add ing b burdensome urdensome costs costs and and d inconvenience. incon nvenience. Central C entral tto o tthe he c consultation’s onsultation’s pr proposals oposals iis s tthat hatt a appropriate ppropriate ttime, ime, ttemperature emperature a and nd weather w eather compensation compensation controls controls become become a mandatory m andatory requirement requirement at at the the time time a new new boiler b oiler is is installed. installed. HHIC HHIC (Heating (Heatting and and Hotwater Hotwater IIndustry ndustry C Council) ouncil)) ssubmitted ubmitted a p paper aper ‘Boiler ‘Boiler

plus plus – tthe he next next sstep tep in in heating heating regulation’ regulation’ to to BEIS, BEIS, making making these these recommendations. recommendations. HHIC H HIC D Director irector S Stewart tewart C Clements lements ssays: ays: ““We We know know tthat hat changing changing regulations regulations in in 2005 2005 to to mandate mandate the the use use of of a condensing condensing boiler boiler remains remaiins one o he m ost ssuccessful uccessful government government one off tthe most interventions iinto nto tthe he rresidential esidential e nerg y interventions energy market market to to date, datte, and and I believe believe that that m mandating andating the the iinstallation nstallation o off ttime ime and and temperature temperature controls with with new new boiler boiler installations installations will will controls prove prove equally equally successful.” successful.” JJeff eff H House, ouse, R Regulatory egulatory M Marketing arketing Manager Manager at at Baxi, Baxi, says: say ys: “The “The proposals proposals are are centred centred on on the the introduction introduction of of relatively relatively small, small, mandatory mandatory changes changes to to retrofit retrofit boiler boiler installations installations –

involving measures involving measures tthat hat m many any installers installers will will actually a ctuallly y be be doing doing already. already. These al These m measures easures w will ill also a lso be be easy easy and and sstraightforward traightforward for for installers installers and cost-effective.” tto o iimplement, mplement, a nd c ost-effective.” T Tim im Pollard, Pollard, Head Head of of Sustainability Sustainability at at Plumb Plumb Center, C enterr, adds: adds: ““II w would ould e encourage ncourag ge a all ll installers installers to to use consultation voice on u se this this c onsultattion tto ov oice ttheir heir opinion opinion o n tthis his issue. issue. There’s There’s a popular popularr view vie ew that that the the views vie ews and a nd experiences experiences o off tthose hose a actually ctually sspecifying pecifying and heating a nd installing installing domestic domestic h eating systems systems are are HHIC, sseldom eldom ssought, ought, sso, o, tthanks hanks tto o tthe he H HIC, tthis his iiss your your opportunity opportunity to to guide guide future future policy.” policy.” T To op provide rovide your your v views iews tto o the the consultation, consultation, ttake ake the the online online ssurvey: urvey: beisgovuk.citizenspace. beisgovuk.citizenspace. ccom/heat/heat-in-buildings-online-consultation om/heat/heat-in-buildings-online-consultation

Get fit in 2017 with Salus Three Fitbits to be won Turn to page 53 to enter

Church C hurch goer g er go

Kamara powered Kamara powerred flue flue heaters heate ers from from DRU DRU have h ave been been installed in nstalle ed at at the the historic his storiicc St St Peter’s Pete er’s C hurch iin n Norton Norton Disney, Disney, Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire e. Church C hriis sttopher Dunphy Dunphy y Ecclesiastical Ecclesia ast stiical specified specified Christopher th he equipment equipment for for th he picturesque piccturesque cchurch, hurch, the the which w hich d dates ates o originally rig ginally ffrom rro om a around round 1150. 1150. The T he new new heating heating s system ystem m iis s a straight straight replacement re eplacement o off tthe he o original riginal D DRU RU w wall all h eaters, which which had had been been in in service ser vice for for heaters, 14 1 4 years. years. As As the the church churcch is is only only used used ffor or s services er vices o once nce e every ver y ttwo wo w weeks, eeks, iitt needed system warm n eeded a s yste em tthat hat ccould ould w arm up up the the building quickly and maintain b uilding q uickly a nd m aintain a cconstant onstant ttemperature emperature when when needed. needed. The The heaters heaters are a re e powered powered by by LPG LPG cylinders cylind ders that that are are e housed h oused in in a special special enclosure enclosure outside outside the the walls. cchurch hurch w alls.

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January 2017

NEWS N EWS SR Review eview

New ew m market arket report report Editor’s IInside nside this this issue issue N Editor’s points growth p oin nts tto o gr owth Viewpoint V i e w p o i nt Gas opportunities op portunitties Safety by C Chris hris JJones one es

Fitting a reliable CO al alarm arm is one way that installe installers ers can demonstrate their professionalism

Starts page 19

Heating Controls Some of the latest adva advances ances in boiler controls and smart heating controls s technology

Starts page 23

Training T rraining & Education What are the challenge challenges ges facing the industry in recruiting the workforc workforce ce for tomorrow?

Starts page 35

Underfloor Heating Whatt installers Wh i t ll need d to t know before they take on their first underfloor heating project

Starts page 43

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

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

A new new report report from from AMA AMA Research R esearch ffocusing ocusing on on the the UK domestic central heating U Kd omestic c entral h eating market m arket suggests suggests that that at there there is is sstrong trong potential potential for for further further growth particularly g rowth – p articularly tthrough hrough smart sm art heating heating innovation, innovation, used energy u sed to to improve improve e nerg y efficiency and e fficiency a nd control. control. Although A lthough the the UK UK market market has been h as b een ssubdued ubdued iin n 2015/16, market has 2 015/16, tthe he m arket h as benefitted growth b enefitted ffrom rom tthe he g rowth off smart o smart heating heating controls, controls, and a nd demand demand from from the the housebuilding h ousebuilding sector sec ctor has has continued c ontinued to iincrease. ncrease. The suggests T he rreport eport suggests tthat hat UK UK householders househollders are a re becoming much more b ecoming m uch more environmentally aware en vironmentally aware and a nd are are looking looking towards towards smart sm art heating heating solutions solutions in in order o rder to to minimise minimise energy energ y usage u sage and and to to save save money. money. However, will be H owever, tthere here w ill sstill t ill b e many homeowners who will m any h omeowners w ho w ill continue demand more c ontinue tto o d emand m ore conventional c onventional ssolutions. olutions. With W ith around around 40% 40% of of all al l boilers b oilers installed installed in in the the UK U K being being g non-condensing non-condensing models, are also m odels, tthere here a re a lso ssignificant ig nificant opportunities opportunities to to upgrade existing boilers u pg rade e xisting b oilers tto o more m ore ffuel-efficient uel-efficient models. models. Although A lthough the the immediate immediate outlook market ou tlook ffor or tthe he m arket more rremains emains relatively relatively flat, flat, m ore

Review Review e ma akes its its ma ark makes mark steady growth steady g rowth is is anticipated anticipated from 2018 driven from 2 018 onwards, onwards, d riven by by the the replacement replacement ssector ector and and the the increasing increasing concerns concerns about about energy and energy efficiency effi ficiency a nd energy energy costs. 2020, costs. By By 2 020, iitt is is estimated estimated that domestic thatt the the UK UK do mestic central central heating will have heating market market w ill h ave increased by 14% value increased b y 1 4% iin n v alue terms compared 2016. terms c ompared d to 2 016. Keith Director Keith Taylor, Taylor, D irector of of AMA AMA Research, Research, comments: comments: “The “The future future performance performance of UK domestic heating of tthe he U K do mestic he ating market market will will be be influenced influenced by by overall overall trends trends in in househousebuilding, building, home home improvement, improvement, fuel fu uel prices, prices, energy energy efficiency efficiency legislation, legislation, renewable renewable techtechnologies, nologies, and and technologitechnological With cal developments. developments. W ith tthe he evolving evolving trend trend ttowards owards smart smart IoT IoT devices devices in in the the home, home, the the development off ssmart developmen nt o mart heating heating controls will have controls w ill h ave a significant significant impact on impact o n the the overall overall domdomestic central estic c entral heating heattin i g market.” market.” The The rreport eport is is available available now now and and can can be be ordered ordered online online att www.amaresearch.o.uk w w w.amaresearch.o.uk

Charity C harity calendar calendar a

JJust ust in in case case anyone anyone w as sshort hort o it of of reading reading o ver was off a b bit over Christmas hols, by tthe he C hr istmas h ols, the the industry industr y was was blessed blessed b y tthe he publication p ublication o off tthe he lo long-heralded ng-heralded B Bonfield onfield Review Review just just a ffew ew days day ys before before ffestivities, estivities, w which hich w was as pr p preceded eceded b by ya consultation document on potential changes Part c onsultattion d ocument o np otential c hanges tto oP art L of of tthe he B Building uilding R Regulations egulations ((see see tthis his m month’s onth’s ffront ront c cover). over). Neither was best-seller N either publication public i ation w as llikely ikely tto o ttrouble rouble tthe h b he est-seller but make any llists, ists, b ut tthey hey sshould hould m ake iinteresting nteresting rreading eading ffor or a ny business b usiness engaged engaged with with the the installation installation of of heating heating or or rrenewable enewable ttechnologies. echnolog ies. Both B oth papers papers are are ultimately ultimately about about encouraging encourag ing the the ttake-up ake-up of of measures measures to to improve improve the the energy energ y efficiency efficiency off our o our homes, homes, something something that that the the Government Government has has so so ffar ar failed failed tto oa achieve chieve o on n a sscale cale o off a any ny ssignificance. ignificance. T The he Bonfield Review B onfield R evie i w was was tasked tasked with with coming coming up up with with ways way ys tto o ensure ensure that that customers customers could could rely rely on on the the advice advice they they are given energy and are a re g iven about about e nergy ssaving aving a nd a re protected protected against against and under-qualified sshoddy hoddy workmanship workmanship a nd u nder-qualifie ed iinstallers. nstallers. Given his brief, not Gi iven h is b rie ef, iit’s t’s n ot ssurprising urprising that that Bonfield Bonfield advocates advocates off more and tthe he introduction introduction o more sstandards tandards a nd the the launch launch of of another quality mark, but many would argue a nother q ualit y m ark, b ut m any w ould a rg ue tthat hat tthe he llast ast tthing hing this this industry industr y needs needs is is more more ‘quality ‘quality control’. control’. There consumers are generally T here iis s a ssuggestion uggestion tthat hat c onsumers a re g enerally dissatisfied d issatisfied with with the the service ser vice they they have have so so far far received received and a nd that that this this has has held held back back the the market, market, but but confusion confusion over Government-backed and o ver various various G overnment-backed ttariffs ariffs a nd iincentives, ncentives, coupled with multiple accreditation have c oupled w ith m ultiple a ccreditation sschemes, chemes, h ave ssurely urely contributed disillusionment. new quality mark c ontributed to to this this d isillusionment. A n ew q uality m ark won’t necessarily w on’t n ecessarily rraise aise sstandards, tandards, but but it it will will raise raise costs, costs, and without massive publicity campaign a nd w ithout iinvestment nvestment iin nam assive p ublicity c ampaign aimed att consumers a imed a consumers there there seems seems little little prospect p ospect of pr of it it becoming widely b ecoming w idely rrecognised. ecog nised. Follow F ollow u uss on

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©C Copyright opyright 2017 2017 | Plumbing, Plumbing , Heating Heating & Air Air Movement Movement News N ew s All rrights ights rreserved. eserved. No par partt of this publication ma mayy be rreproduced eproduced or stor stored ed in a rretrieval etrieval system without wr written i itten consent from fr om the publisher publisher.. A Attributed ttr t ibuted ar articles ticles rrepresent epresent the vie views ws of the A Author(s) uthor(s) and ar aree not the necessar necessarily ily those of the EEditor. ditor. The T he publisher publisherss accept no rresponsibility esponsibility ffor or claim claims ms made bbyy man manufacturers ufacturers or adv advertisers. ertisers. TThis his mag magazine azine includ includes des a nnumber umber of colour editor editorial ial photo photographs graphs paid ffor or bbyy supp suppliers. pliers.

UK boiler UK boiler manufacturer manufacturer Baxi Baxi has has launched launched a charity charity calendar calendar ffor or 2 2017 017 featuring featuring children’s children’s drawings drawings that that send send a serious serious m essage tto og rown-ups. The The calendar calendar features features 12 12 different different message grown-ups. pictures, p ictures, drawn drawn b by y children children o off B Baxi axi c colleagues. olleagues. E Each ach o one ne o offers ffers a ssafety afety ttip ip d designed esigned tto om make ake sure sure their their parents parents come come home home ssafely. afely. The The children’s children’s top top tips tips include include not not using using a mobile mobile phone phone while w hile driving, driving, taking taking rregular egularr b breaks, reaks, w wearing earing p protective rotecttive c clothing lothing and a nd looking looking out out for for h hazards azards in in the the workplace. workplace. A All ll proceeds proceeds ffrom rom the the sale sale of of the the calendar calendar will will go go to to Baxi’s Baxi’s national national charity charity p artner Marie Marie Curie, Curie e, a p rovider o are and and support support for for people people partner provider off c care lliving iving with with a terminal terminal illness illness and and their their families. families.

Email: info@mvfh.co.uk • www.mvfh.co.uk ENQUIRY EENQUIRY NQUIR RY

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January 2017

NEWS N EWS R Review evi v ew

nstaller chosen chosen as as face face of of W Worcester orcester Consumers C onsumers sshould hould IInstaller b ep repared tto ow ait be prepared wait A survey survey from from the the Association Association off P Plumbing and Heating o lumbing a nd He ating C ontractors ((APHC) APHC) h as Contractors has over 50% off 2 2000 ffound ound tthat hat o ver 5 0% o 000 h ouseholds questioned questioned would would households only be o nly b e prepared prepared to to wait wait for for ttwo wo weeks weeks for for tthe he sstart tart of of a major m ajor home home iimprovement mprovem ment before b efore looking looking for for another ano other ttradesperson radesperson with with more m re mo availability a vailabilit y – potentially potentially quality ssacrificing acr ificing q ualit y ffor or a jjob ob done quickly. do ne q uickly. Only O nly 12% 12% of of the the people people ssurveyed ur veyed w ould b ew illing would be willing tto ow wait ait m more ore tthan han ffour our w weeks eeks major, non-urgent ffor or a m ajor, n on-urgent project pr ojject or or improvement, improvement, such such ass a new a new b bathroom athroom o orr b boiler oiler u pg rade, tto ob eg in. upgrade, begin. Consumer C onsumer d decision-making ecision-making iis s also also showing showing an an increase increase iin nA APHC PHC m members embers c called alled o out ut tto o fix fix sub-standard sub-standard work, work, as as c ustomer iimpatience mpatience is is b eing customer being exploited e xploited b by y rrogue ogue traders traders prepared pr epared to to cut cut corners, corners, tturn urn a b blind lind e eye ye tto oB Building uilding Regulations, R egulations, or or leave leav ve work work u nfinished. unfinished.

A larmingly y, 3 8% of of people people Alarmingly, 38% questioned said said they they would would questioned not be be concerned concerned or or question que u stion not why a tradesman tradesman h ad why had immediate c apacity tto o sstart tart immediate capacity major project. project. Professional Professional a major and reliable reliable ttraders raders a re and are often often iin nh high igh d demand, emand, w with ith a healthy healthy p pipeline ipeline of of jobs jobs booked booked iin. n. T They hey al allow llow rrealistic ealistic timeframes timeframes dedicated dedicated t d to o each each job job tto o avoid avoid juggling juggling projects. p ojects. pr APHC A PHC ssays ay ys that that in in some some cases, cases, immediate immediate availability availability should ring ring alarm alarm bells bells with with should consumers, consumers, as as it it may may be be due due to to sub-standard sub-standard work, work, b bad ad reputation orr unrealistic reputation o unrealistic pricing pricing to to complete complete a job. job.

Following F ollowing a social social media media ssearch earch ffor or tthe he p perfect erfect iinstaller nstaller to to be be the the ‘face ‘face of of Worcester’, Peter Booth W orcester’, P eter B ooth of of G V Booth Booth Plumbing Plumbing and and GV Heating He ating in in Loughborough Loughborough had h ad the the opportunity opportunit y to to join join UK tthe he U K boiler boiler manufacturer manufacturer iin n an an unusual unusual road road trip. tr ip. As As part Worcester’ p art of of its its ‘Rely ‘Rely on on W orcester’ promotional campaign, p romotional c ampaig n, a Worcester van was clad W orcester v an w as c lad iin na giant g iant knitted knitted cosy cosy which which then then around country ttravelled ravelled a round tthe he c ountry tto o rremind emind homeowners homeowners they they could on company c ould rrely ely o n tthe he c ompany keep tto ok eep warm warm this this winter. winter. Peter, P eter, known known as as @pbplumber @pbplumber on Twitter o nT witter and and a co-founder co-founder

off the o the Gas Gas Safety Safety Superheroes Superrheroes movement, was m ovement, w as only only too to o happy h appy to to jump jump in in front front of of the the cameras what he c ameras and and discuss discuss w hat h e rrelies elies on on in in his his day-to-day day-to-day role role

as a s a heating heating engineer. eng ineer. After After a day day of of filming filming in in London, London, north visit tthe he van van headed headed n orth tto ov isit other around o ther landmarks landmarks a round tthe he country. c ountr y. The The van van tour tour was was

by ssupported upported b y a nationwide nationwide TV T V advertising advertising campaign, campaig n, which debuted w hich de buted on on Channel Channel 4 iin n November. November. Peter Booth P eter B ooth comments: comments: ““II really really enjoyed enjoyed the the day day off fi filming, o lming, although although it it was was sslightly lightly nerve-wracking nerve-wracking being being off tthe camera! iin n front front o he c amera! Both Both my dad m y d ad and and my my grandad g randad were heating engineers, w ere h eating e ng ineers, sso o II’m ’m really really honoured honoured to to have have been chosen b een c hosen tto o rrepresent epresent tthe he industry. industr y. There There are are lots lots off tthings on as heating o hings I rrely ely yo na sah eating engineer, e ngineer, whether whether it’s it’s my my van, van, my merchant m y local local plumber’s plumber’s m erchant orr other o other iinstallers nstallers within within tthe he Twitter community.” T witter c ommunit y.”

Donation D onation on of of warmth warmth Boiler Boiler ssales ales h hit it b by y market m arket sslowdown lowdown

Br i xton S Brixton Soup oup K Kitchen itchen w will ill ssoon oon h ave a new new c ent ral have central heating h eat ing ssystem ystem tthanks hanks tto o W ayne Tomlinson, Tomlinson, who who runs runs Wayne Brixton B rixton b based ased c company ompany L LS1 S1 Boiler B oiler Installation. Installat ion. Wayne, Way ne, w ho once once w as homeless homeless who was himself, h imself, was was moved moved tto om make ake tthe he donation donat ion a f t er h is P A, after his PA, Nicola N icola P Pacitto, acitto, ttold old h him im off the o t he cold cold conditions condit ions she she

found found w when hen volunteering volunteering at t he ffacility. acilit y. the Wayne Way ne Tomlinson Tomlinson says: says: “Br i xton S oup K itchen d o “Brixton Soup Kitchen do amazing work work and and are a re amazing inundated inundated with with d donations onations o off food, b ut they they aren’t aren’t able able to to food, but afford afford a n new ew h heating eating system, system, so it’s it’s really really cold cold in in there. t here. so “I’m h appy to to be be in in a “I’m happy position position to to donate donate a central central heating system system because because I’ve I’ve heating exper ienced h omelessness experienced homelessness myself a nd k now h ow c old iitt myself and know how cold is o n tthe he sstreets. treets. JJust ust h aving is on having somewhere somewhere w warm ar m to to go go to to and eat eat a meal meal c an make make all al l and can t he d ifference.”” the difference.”

Fig Figures gure es published published by by the the Heating Heating and and Hotwater Hotwater Industry Industry Council C ouncil (HHIC) (HHIC) show show that that sales sales of of domestic domestic g gas as boilers boilers iin n September September 2016 2016 fell fell by by 4.3% 4.3% in in comparison compar ison with w it h S eptember 2015. 2015. Y ear-to-date fi gures showed showed a fall fall of of September Year-to-date figures 0.7% 0 .7% ccompared ompared with w it h 2015. 2015. Stewart S tewar t Clements, Clem e ent s, Director Director of of H HHIC, HIC , ccomments: omment s: “It “It llooks ooks llike ike tthe he s slowdown lowdow n iin n tthe he p property roper t y m market arket over over tthe he past past few few months mont hs is is having hav ing an an impact impact upon upon sales. sales. IIn np ar t icular residential resident ial property proper t y transactions t ransact ions in in Q3 Q3 particular showed s howed a m marked ark ked decrease decrease compared compared to to 2015, 2015, despite despite year-to-date y ear-to-date increases increases from f rom activity act iv it y earlier earlier in in 2016. 2016. ““New Ne w b build u i ld a activity ct iv it y iis s a also lso llower ower tthan han e expected, xpected, both starts and b ot h for for s t ar t s a nd completions, complet ions, which which is is a worry wor r y for f or tthe he o overall verall construction const r uct ion sector.” sector.”

New working New working partnership pa rtnership The B The Builders uilders Merchants Mer e chants Federation Federation (BMF) ( BM F ) and a nd the the Chartered Charte erred Institute Instittute of of Plumbing Plumbing and and Heating Engineers an H eating E ngineer e s ((CIPHE) CIPHE) have have formed formed a n alliance a lliance that that will will see see the the two two organisations org ganisations ccollaborating ollaborating iin nk key ey a areas. reas. The The aim aim of of tthe he p artnership iis s tto op romote rraising aising q ualit y partnership promote quality standards s tandards within witthin their th heir respective respectiv ve industries. industrie es. They T hey have have a also lso ccommitted ommitted to to having hav ing one o ne v voice oice o on n m mutually utually a agreed greed topics topics tto o G overnment a nd d other other rrelevant elevant b odies, a nd Government and bodies, and existing memberships tto o add add value value tto o both both e xisting m embership ps tthrough hrough guidance, guidance, training training and and standards. standards. recent IIn n re ecent years years the the BMF BMF has has strengthened stre engthened specialist plumbing iits ts support support ffor or s pecialist p lumbing and and h eating m erchant and and supplier supplier members. members. heating merchant IInitiatives nitiatives include include a bi -annual P &H F orum bi-annual P&H Forum tthat hat has has b been een instrumental instrumental in in encouraging encouraging m any more more P&H P&H specialists specialists to o play play an an active active many rrole ole iin n tthe he B MF. BMF. Speaking S peakin ng ffor or tthe he C CIPHE, IPHE, C CEO EO K Kevin evin nW Wellman elllm man says: s ays: ““There There a are re a great gre eat many many synergies synergies between b et ween our our two t wo organisations. organisations. Working Working ttogether, ogether,, w we e ccan an more more effectively efffe f ctively p promote romote need professional plumbing and tthe he n eed ffor or p rofessional p lumbing a nd heating engineers quality products h eating en gineerrs tto o iinstall nstall q uality p roducts s supplied s upplie ed b by ys stockists tockists w who ho rreally eally u understand nders stand process. We are tthe he p rocess. W ea re also also looking looking to to engage engage domestic end-users, iin n ccampaigns ampaigns to to help help d omestic end -users, ffor or e example xample o on n llow ow ccarbon arbon s solutions, olutions, and and to to support vulnerable s upport v ulnerable e members members of of the the public.” public.” ENQUIRY

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Get rewarded Get rewa arded with w ith bo boilers ilers Throughout T hroughout JJanuary anuary a and nd F February, ebruary, iinstallers nstallers purchasing p urchasing V Vitodens itodens 200-W 200-W commercial commercial b oilers can can take take advantage advantage of of a special special boilers pr omotion. IIndividual ndividual iinstallers nstallers can can make make promotion. an a nu unlimited nlimited n number umber o off c claims laims d during ur ing tthe he pr omotion p er iod, m aking iitt p ossible tto o promotion period, making possible qualify q ualify for for rrewards ewards worth worth hundreds hundreds or or even even tthousands housands o off p pounds. ounds. Ap urchase o -150kW V itodens 200-W 200-W purchase off 49 49-150kW Vitodens m odels c an e ar n L ove2shop multi-retailer multi-retailer models can earn Love2shop v ouchers, rredeemable edeemable iin n m ore tthan han vouchers, more 20,000 2 0,000 sstores, tores, restaurants, restaurants, and and attractions attractions n ationwide. Installers Installers will will be be entitled entitled to to claim claim nationwide. £75 £ 75 for for o one ne b boiler, oiler, £ £175 175 ffor or ttwo wo b boilers, oilers, £ £350 350 ffor or tthree h re e a and nd £700 £700 for for five. five. More M ore d details etails ab about out tthis his o offer ffer c can an be be found found att b a by yg going oing to: to: http://bit.ly/2iipZjB http:// bit.ly y/2iipZjB

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NEWS N EWS R Review evi v ew

Conference C onference o on n ssmart mart future future The next The next a annual nnual c conference onference o the Institute Institute of of Domestic Domestic off the He ating & Environmental Environmental Heating E ng ineers (IDHEE) (IDHEE) will will Engineers ffocus o c us o n tthe he llatest atest sm ssmart ar t on ttechnology. echnolog y. Under Under the the ttheme heme ‘‘The The Smart Smart Future’, Future’, tthis his year’s year’s c conference onference will w ill

bring together bring together k key ey fi figures gures iin n tthe he industry industr y to to llook ook a att h how ow tthis his technology technolog y iiss affecting affecting do mestic he ating a nd how how domestic heating and heating h eating e engineers ng ineers c can an ensure e nsure tthey hey a are re b best-placed est-placed tto o pr provide ovide ttheir heir c customers ustomers with w ith iinformed nformed a advice dvice o on n tthe he

most most appropriate appropr iate solutions solutions for ttheir heir ne eds. for needs. “Smart “Smart a and nd re remote mote technolog y iis s p laying an an technology playing increasing increasing role role in in all all aspects aspects of of life, life, iincluding ncluding h how ow w we e heat heat our our homes,” homes,” ssays ays IDHEE IDHEE President President John John D Doherty, ohert y, “so “so by keeping keeping up up to to date date w ith by with new new de developments, velopments, iinstallers nstallers will will maintain maintain their their reputation reputattion and m aximise o pportunities and maximise opportunities to to grow g row their their business.” business.” The 2017 conThe 2 017 annual annual c onference fe erence and and exhibition exhibition of of the the Institute off D Domestic Heating Institute o omestic H ea ating & Environmental Environmental E Engineers ng ineers will w ill be be held held at at the t he National Nat ional Motorcycle Motorc ycle Museum Museu um near near the on t he NEC NEC in in Birmingham Bir mingham o n Thursday Thursday 8th 8t h June. June. e

News Ne w ws iin n brief b ief br r # #BYJ BYJ ( (FOVJOF FOVJOF 1 1BSUT BS UT Baxi’s spare parts B axi’s s pa r e pa r t s business, b usiness, h has as rranked anked fi fifth fth iin n the the Top Top 50 50 Companies Companies Customer Service ffor or C ustomer S er v ice Awards A wards iin n the t he UK. U K.

Trays Tr ays m made ade ssimple im mple UK Plumber UK Plumber of of tthe he Y Year ear S Shaun haun S Scott cott has has starred starred in in an an video the shower manufacturer. iinstallation nstallation v ideo ffor or JJT, T, th he s hower ttray ray m anufacture err. The The video v ideo features features Shaun Shaun explaining explaining the the three three simple simple stages stages off iinstalling o nstalling tthe he ‘‘Evolved Evolved b by y JJT’ T’ 25mm 25mm tray tray – preparation, preparation, fitting fi tting and and finishing. finishing. With With step-by-step step-by-step instructions instructions and and visual v isual demonstrations, de emonstrratio ons, th the he v video id deo ccan an b be eu utilised tiilis sed b by yp plumbers lumbers s on smartphone orr ttablet while on go. To access o nas mart phone o ablet w hile o n tthe he g o. T oa ccess tthe he video, v ideo, go go to: to: http://bit.ly/2ieytbR htt p:// bit.ly/2ieytbR

Plumbing umbing skills skillls rrewarded ewarded Customer reviews Customer reviews Pl gett greater ge greeater reach reach TrustMark TrustMark has has joined joined forces forces with with Referenceline.com Refferenceline. e com o to to provide better provide a b etter customer customer feedback feedback forum. forum. ReferenceReferenceline is is an an independent independent line review service service a pprroved review approved by T rading Standards. Standards. by Trading By working working ttogether, oget e her, By TrustMark Tr ustMark n now ow offers offers impartial independent independent cuscusimpartial tomer reviews reviews to to help help put put tomer more consumers consumers iin n ttouch ouch more with quality qualit y and and reliable reliable with firms in in an an open open and and firms transparent w ay. As As well well as as transparent way. leaving a rreview, eview, c ustomers leaving customers are encouraged encouraged to to give g ive a are

detailed de scription o he detailed description off tthe work c arr ied out out to to help help work carried future customers customers make make future ore iinformed nfo ormed c hoice a m more choice about w hich fi rm h as the the about which firm has r ight experience exper ience to to meet meet right their ne eds. their needs. Simon A yers, C hie ef E xSimon Ayers, Chief Executive o rustMark, says: says: ecutive off T TrustMark, “Our c ollaboration with with RefRef“Our collaboration erenceline b rings an an added added erenceline brings layer o ransparency and and layer off ttransparency fairness tto o o ur ffeedback eedback fairness our facility a nd benefits benefits both both facility and consumers tto o fi nd tthe he rright ight consumers find tradesperson a nd firms firms to to tradesperson and showcase their their great great work.” work.” showcase

to to be be completed completed within within a The T he SkillPLUMB SkillPLUMB competicompetistrict and was strict timeframe timeframe a nd w as ttion ion 2 2016 016 has has named named 2 22 2 marked criteria marked against against ttough ough c riteria year y ear old old Gareth Gareth Jones Jones from from including including jjoint oint quality, quality, bend bend Hyfforddiant H yffforddiant Ceredigion Ceredigion angles and clearance, angles an d c learance, and and T raining and and D B Lewis Lewis & Training measuring measuring and and marking marrking out, out, Son S on UK UK champion champion after after which which had had to to be be accurate accurate excelling e xcelling in in an an intensive intensive within +/-2mm. within + /-2mm. practical exercise tthree-day hree-day pr actical e xercise Taking place and Taking ssecond econ nd pl ace a nd a att tthe a he Birmingham Birmingham NEC NEC silver year old silver medal medal was was 21 21 y ear o ld Skills Sk ills Show. Show. Ben off B Bridgwater Ben Randoll Randoll o ridgwater Gareth and his G areth a nd h is ffellow ellow College Third College and and Handiheat. Handiheatt. T hird finalists had fi nalists h ad tto o iinstall nstall a place and place a nd a bronze bronze medal medal ssmall mall sealed sealed domestic domestic went went to to 22 22 year year old old David David central c entral heating heating system system with with Blewett Moray College Blewett ffrom rom M oray C ollege expansion e xpansion vessel, vessel, pump pump Gold G old medal medal winner winner G Gareth areth J Jones ones UHI and Phil Bird ZETGAS. UHI a nd P hil B ird Z ETGAS. and ancillary equipment, a nd a ncillary e quipment, with w ith BPEC’s BPEC’s Neil Neil Collishaw Collishaw The The Gold Gold Medalist Medalist will will also also off tthree small iinclusive nclusive o hree sm all get opportunity part Grundfos et tthe h he op portunity tto o ttake ak ke p art iin n tthe he eG rundfos bespoke water b espoke rradiators, adiators, a simulated simulated hot hot w atter g nstaller Championship, Championship, being being held held att the the ISH ISH cylinder, boiler jig with c ylinder, a b oiler mounting mounting ji g ttogether ogether w ith IInstaller exhibition year rade e xhibition this this y ear iin n Frankfurt. Frankfurt. associated a ssociatted copper copper pipework. pipework. The The task task had had ttrade

Stokvis E Energy rr Stokvis nerrgy Systems Syste ems has h as relocated re elocated its itts operaoperattions io ons to to a new new head head office office iin n West West Molesey, Mole esey, Surrey. Surre ey. rr *OEFQFOEFOU *OEFQFOEFOU IFBUJOH IFBUJOH contractor Swale Heatc ontractor S wale He athas iing ng h as announced announced first tthat hat iitt rreached eached iits ts fi rst million pound m illion p ou und tturnover urnover private work ffor or pr ivate w ork in in one one mon t h. month. moulding r Rotational Rotational mo ulding Polytank Group ccompany ompany P olytank G ro oup has h as successfully successfully transitransittioned ioned tto o ISO ISO 9001:2015 9001:2015 an ccertification, ertification, a n iinternante ernaquality managettional ional q ualit y m anagement m ent standard. stand dard. rr 5PJMFU TFBU NBOVGBDUVSFS 5PJMFU TFBU NBOVGBDUVSFS Bemis Manufacturing B em i s M a nu f act u r ing Company has C ompany h as acquired acquired Dubourgel Grange SAS, D ubourgel - G range S AS, a plastic injection plastic injje ection molder molder markets tthat hat m arketts ttoilet oilett sseats eats and fill a nd toilet toilet tank tank fi ll and and flush fl ush valves. valves. r The The Institute Institute of of Customer Customer Service has awarded S erv vice ((ICS) ICS) h as a warded Nu-Heat Underf N u- H e at U nd er f loor lo or Heating Renewables H eating & R enewables with w ith iits ts National National Customer Customer Service Award. S ervicce A ward.

Scrappage S crappage flop f lo op Lessons must Lessons must be be learned learned from from tthe he disappointing disappointing uptake uptake of of tthe he London London B Boiler oiler S Scrappage crappage Scheme S cheme – so so says says Ne Neil il S Schochofield, fi eld, Head Head of of External External Affairs Affairs att Worcester, a Worcester, Bosch Bosch Group. Group. He ssays ays the the initiative initiative was was too too complicated c omplicated to o encourage encourage homeowners h omeowners to to upgrade upgrade their their iinefficient neffi ficient b boilers. oile ers. The T h ‘Boris he ‘Boris Boiler’ Boile l r’ scheme sche h me was w as introduced introduced last last January, January, promising pr omising residents residents of of tthe he c capital apital £ £400 400 c cash ash b back ack tto o rreplace eplace ttheir heir o older lder g gas as appliances a ppliances w with ith new new models. models. Yet down Y et 12 12 months months d own tthe he has lline ine tthe he scheme scheme h as sstill till not not exhausted e xhausted this this funding. funding. According A ccording to to Schofield, Schofield, could tthe he sslow low ttake-up ake-up c ould be down b e d own to to the the scheme’s scheme’s ‘‘overcomplicated’ overcomplicated’ criteria, criteria, which any w hich sstate tate tthat hat a ny boilers boilers being b eing rreplaced eplaced must must be be band b and ‘‘G’ G’ o orr b below. elow. He says: says: ““Homeowners Homeowners a are re sstruggling truggling ENQUIRY

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to w to work ork o out ut iiff ttheir heir b boiler oiler iis s eligible. There aren’t e ligible. T he ere a ren’t ttoo oo many people m any p eople around around who who can c an identify identify a b band and ‘‘G’ G’ b boiler. oiler. IIn n llight ight of of this, this, those those who who developed de veloped tthe h sscheme he cheme have have probably pr obably learned learned ffrom rom ttheir heir mistakes m istakes in in that that the the scope scope off tthe criteria o he sscheme’s cheme’s c riteria was was perhaps p erhaps too too complicated.” complicated.” ““Opening Opening tthe he scheme scheme up up tto o a any ny appliance appliance tthat hat sstill till has h as a pilot pilot light light or or an an open open flue, fl ue, for for example, example, would would have h ave e eliminated liminated these these complications.” c omplication ns.”

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Elite way to earn and convert points Installers of Devi’s underfloor heating systems can now claim rewards through the company’s Elite benefit programme. Designed to help installers expand their skills and business potential, the scheme enables members to earn points every time they participate in activities and services available through the programme. Qualifying activities include mobile web tools, e-learning courses and competitions. Devi Elite installers can even collect points when they introduce a friend to Elite or visit

Smarts awarded The evohome connected multi-zone heating control system from Honeywell has been named ‘Smart Product of the Year’ at the Energy Awards. It was singled out for its ease of installation and use, as well as its ability to deliver energy efficiency. “Evohome is one of our flagship products, so for it to be recognised as an example of best practice is a tremendous honour for us,” says Andy Mansfield,

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Marketing Communications Manager. “Honeywell prides itself on listening to the market and providing both installers and homeowners with sophisticated heating controls which have ease of use at their core.”

the company’s stand at a trade show. Points can be converted into a selection of business and leisure gifts. Depending on the number of points collected, members can choose from items such as a topquality tool bag, in-car USB charger or a digital radio. Full details about the new benefit programme, including qualifying activities and the range of rewards, plus information on how to sign up to Elite are available on the dedicated website: www.elite.devi.co.uk

Latest oil ﬁgures The latest quarterly data from the Sutherland Tables reveals that oil continues to hold the top spot as the cheapest domestic heating fuels, beating mains gas on price by some 18%. The average annual cost of heating a threebedroom home in Great Britain with an oil condensing boiler is currently £818 per year, up 9% on last quarter. However, heating oil is still 18% less expensive than mains gas, the second cheapest option at £967 per annum to heat the same average home; 42% cheaper than an LPG condensing boiler at £1402 per annum, and 49% cheaper than electric storage heaters at £1600 per annum. OFTEC points out that running an oil condensing boiler is cheaper than renewable heating options, saying that it is 44% less expensive than an air source heat pump with radiators and 37% cheaper than biomass wood pellets.

New premises for Glasgow business

Marking its 25th anniversary in Scotland last year, heating manufact urer Vokèra has relocated its Scottish headquarters to Hillington in Glasgow. The company has had a presence in Glasgow since 1991, but says it has outgrown its original offices. “Scotland is an important market for us, which is why the office was set up 25 years ago,” comments Alister Maclachlan, Product Director. “We were in our previous premises since the

beginning, but as business and market requirements change, it no longer met our needs. “We decided to re-locate nearby to new bespoke premises in Hillington, which provides fantastic connections via road, rail and air. We have specifically designed our new offices to meet our requirements, providing a fresh, modern feel, reflecting the innovative and forward-thinking approach Vokèra is known for.”

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MERCHANT News Growing the Graham network As part of plans to extend its network of branches, Graham Plumbers’ Merchant has linked up with a number of existing Jewson sites and invested in the relocation of some key branches. Last year saw an expansion of branches in the West and East of England with new locations in Gateshead, Maidstone, Norwich, Blackpool, Barnstaple, St Austell and Redruth The new additions in Barnstaple, St Austell and Redruth as well as the Newmarket Road branch in Cringleford, Norwich are all on sites shared by Jewson while the Blackpool branch is located with Chadwicks. The Northampton branch has joined Jewson & CTD on Orbital Trade Park, while the Maidstone branch has joined CTD in its new Trade Centre in Tovil. The collaboration means that customers will have easy access to Graham’s plumbing and heating products, alongside a range of building materials. “We are focused on making our customers’ work as simple as possible by making products easy to access and always

available,” says Ian Kenny, Marketing Director at Graham. “Opening more branches across the country, including an increasing number on the same site as Jewson, means customers can get everything they need, from specialist supplies to general building materials, in one trip and exactly when they need it.” As part of its pledge to trade customers, if an item is ordered from Graham’s ‘Always Available’ range and is not in stock – the merchant says it will give customers a £10 voucher for their next purchase.

Getting Stock investment the best ensures core range is always available parts

With the aim of helping customers to identify the correct heating parts, Heating World of Spares (HWOS) has invested in PartsArena, the parts identification software from Infomill, for use with its new ecommerce website. Customers can now use PartsArena via a secure login to identify the correct parts to fix the fault, understand stock availability and order directly from HWOS via the ecommerce website. Aaron Scott, HWOS MD, comments: “We are always looking to improve our services to trade customers, to be at the forefront. We therefore believed that giving our customers the advantage, by having direct access to the industry leading parts database – even when out in the field – would make the task of accurate parts identification and ordering a great deal quicker and easier for them.” ENQUIRY

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As part of a £7 million stock investment, Pipe Center and Climate Center has completed the roll out of a more streamlined product range. The company says that it wants to ensure immediate availability of key product lines across its branch network. The recent roll out into the larger Slough, Basildon and London City branches means all 51 combined Pipe Center and Climate Center branches will now stock a core range of between 1000 and 1500 core products, depending on geographical demands. Each product has been selected based on customer and employee feedback together with research of buying patterns to ensure that branches have the depth of stock that customers need on a daily basis.

Overhaul MD Andy Wighton says: “This is the biggest overhaul of the business in the past 10 years, making us famous for pipes, fittings and valves. We have developed a core range of installation products which covers various application requirements and installation methods, from soldering through to press fitting – all of which are commonly found on any construction and maintenance project. “By making sure all combined branches have the right levels of stock for every single product in this core range, we will be able to improve efficiency and reduce the time our customers need to spend in branch – giving customers what they want when they want it.” ENQUIRY

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PEOPLE on the Move AKW has welcomed Andrew Crown as its new Sales and Marketing Director. Andrew will help drive the company’s ambitious plans for double digit growth in the care, social housing, retirement and mainstream markets for accessible living solutions. Reporting directly to AKW Group CEO Paul Massey, Andrew will lead a 40 strong sales and marketing team. The new Business Development Manager at Stelrad is Paul Woodbourne. Paul has been working in the heating industry for more than 20 years, during which time he ran merchant branches for Plumb Center and PTS. He was also Business Development Manager for Plumbase Industrial, where he played an instrumental role in establishing the industrial arm of the business. OFTEC has appointed Tim Lock (pictured) as its new Technical Director, a role previously held by Paul Rose, who has stepped up to the post of CEO. Tim joined OFTEC in 2011 as a field based inspector before becoming inspection service manager in 2014, a role which involved overseeing the work of 13 sub-contracted inspectors and contributing to OFTEC’s Competent Persons and MSC schemes. Viega, the manufacturer of press connection, prewall and drainage solutions, has expanded its team with the appointment of Paul Taylor as its National Sales Manager. Paul has over 25 years industry experience and joins from a national sales role at Cistermiser. Paul and the national team of Technical Sales Managers will provide expertise to customers across all regions of the UK. Heating and hot water solutions provider, Sime Ltd has appointed John Moran as its new National Sales Manager. Tasked with developing the company’s UK sales strategy and raising awareness of the Sime brand, John has over 32 years experience within the industry. He has spent 15 years in senior management positions at PTS and was most recently with Ferroli UK. Hamworthy Heating has promoted Trevor Struck from Product Manager to Area Sales Manager for Central Southern England. Having joined the Hamworthy Engineering group in 1985 as a mechanical engineering apprentice and progressing to a whole range of technical roles at Hamworthy Heating from 1990 onwards, Trevor brings a wealth of product and application knowledge to his new role. Saniflo has appointed David Scarlett to the role of Specification Sales Manager. David has extensive experience in the bathroom sector, joining from Bristan where he was responsible for contract sales of brassware and accessories to regional builders. Prior to that he was at Twyford Bathrooms working with contractors to specify sanitaryware for new builds. Walsall-based home assistance provider, HomeServe has appointed Thomas Rebel as MD of its newly-formed UK installations business, HomeServe Connect. The move is part of a strategy by HomeServe to enter two key UK markets – the boiler installations market and the emerging smart and connected home market. Thomas was previously HomeServe’s Customer Director. Following the merger with Johnson Controls some 12 months ago, Hitachi Air Conditioning Europe has appointed a new MD. Gboyega ‘Femi’ Obafemi joins Hitachi from the Amsterdam office and European HQ of US manufacturer Watts Water Technologies, where he was Vice President and MD for Emerging Markets. Femi has a wealth of experience, having been MD at both Carrier Corp. and Toshiba Carrier. ENQUIRY

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January 2017

12 New Year Prospects As we consider what 2017 holds for the plumbing and heating sector, PHAM News asked manufacturers and installers about their expectations for the next 12 months, how they see their business evolving and what changes they would like to see in the industry.

g ide Heatin obus, Mills : e ir Mark Antr h s ork td, West Y Serv ices L with a 60company n io e at ll a nt base, th “As an inst mestic clie o d le a ci m er ft us and le 40% comm s good for a g w in w 16 o ll 20 f start o come. Fo lf the year to t se u it o t o ab o ed sh relax g ness to n li il n w a ’s th y as more the countr mmer, I w su . 17 is 20 th t d o onths an in the fo maining m r re u e o th d r fo se worried we focu in mind, ercial “With this the comm g n si ea cr d in n o ave increase attentions ness and h si u e b w r rs ou ee aspects of al engin commerci d f o o go er b e m m u the n cured so ng ti e have se is W ex r y. ou lo p em top of contracts on some 2017 with commercial to in go e w d n ckle a s a h er m. Wit fi custom ith enthusias w atic ed m ix ra d m a caution has seen h ic h w t ke p ar ith peo le’s domestic m few years, w st la e istic th er eing unreal change ov ectations b p ex es, I d m an ti attitudes response r work and ore fo g m in d n st a co with ming more o ec b y ll a er market. was person the consum h it w able ed n a more reli disillusio change to to ving d ie ee h n ac “The ing and e, and build has as s b ip er sh om n cust al relatio ci er m rd m king forwa stronger co ed and loo at to en v rs ju ea re many y left me dustry for e in b e l il th w g in 17 to serv team 20 e and our m r Fo e. com me.” very welco

Phill Jackson, Marketing and Business Development Director, Pegler Yorkshire: “We hope that 2017 will see sense prevail and Thermostatic Radiator Valves are legislated within Building Regulations. Research and indepth testing, particularly by the University of Salford, has proven tangible results with the installation of TRVs into domestic heating systems. Peer reviews have also taken place and CIBSE itself has validated the research that proves the benefits brought by TRVs. “For Pegler Yorkshire, we are really optimistic for 2017. We have a dedicated programme of growth in product innovation and are excited to be on the verge of launching the latest innovation in pipe connection technology.” Andy Buch an, Energy Consultant Cirencester

“For the ren ewable indu stry, the pas has been to t year ugh – the G reen Deal h a disaster, as been the Gover n ment has d DECC, and th itched e MCS regist er now has installers le more av ing than joining. “So to 2017, I see the com mercial mar being the ket holy grail for renew including ables, PV w it h d ecent tariff the long te s over rm. I would like to see companies the who have in vested tim money in b e and ecoming M CS accredit who have n ed and ot carr ied ou t any instal the past ye ls in ar hav ing their cert ifi being put in cation to abeyance . They wou a small fee ld pay to remain on the register when they and have a renew able install, then conta they ct their cert ification bo the process dy and is reinstated . “The domes tic market I see as bei very much ng a cottage in dust ry, w it ever-presen h the t greenies being those pursue the who various tech nolog ies. “On a positiv e note, the m any renewab installs I se le e are per fo rming very with the en well, d users hea ping praise technolog ie on the s they are u sing.”

Mustafa Findik, MD at

Ariston:

“While 2017 could prove interesting on the politic al front, there is cause for heating sector to remain the optimistic. Domestic boiler sales remained pretty sim in 2016 to the previous yea ilar r, and this stability is like ly to continue during the 12 months. One factor tha next t could affect this is the pro perty market, because if slows down it could have this an impact on boiler sales, as we saw in September last “However, other technolog yea r. ies – particularly controls – look set to remain popula this year, especially ‘smart r ’ devices. “The introduction of an inc entive similar to the boiler scrappage scheme would be welcome, as this would encourage people to rep lace their inefficient mo with the latest condensin dels g versions. This is where initiatives such as the HH ‘retro labelling’ scheme IC’s could prove beneficial, as making consumers aware low efficiency boilers sho of uld see them asking the ir installers about the hig efficiency options availab her le.”

Tim Pollard, Head of Sustainability at Wolseley UK: “In the coming year I believ e air quality will be an increa singly important issue, especially in congested metropolitan areas, and this will have an imp act on all equipment produc ing emissions. Also, if pow ers are devolved to newly ele cted Metropolitan Mayors, then we can expect to see some ‘interesting’ policies and reg ulations. “There’s no question tha t smart home products wil l also continue to develop and boost the forward-thinking install ers’ businesses, including the possibilit y of ‘smart boi lers’.”

wn Richard Brown, RA Bro : ich Heating Ser vices, Norw in a “It feels like the industry is we and ce pla d goo y reasonabl ng goi n itio pos ng stro a in are new of nty into 2017, with ple new enquiries. There are lots of h, oug thr ing com ns pla housing rket. ma the g win gro is ich wh the “One of the challenges ugh eno ing hav is industry faces have trained engineers, so we w of vie m ter g lon a en tak orce creating our own workf n ow our g inin through tra e hav tly ren cur We s. tice appren r.” fou t “I would like to see the hea w gro to e tinu con t pump marke will and that the Government t hea continue to support the en wh 7 201 pump market in ents further RHI announcem il.” Apr in de are ma

Peter Boo th, GV Bo oth Plum Heating, bing and Loughboro ugh: “I am opti mistic ab out our in 2017. Since dustry for getting inv olved in so and conne cial media cting with other plum gas engine bers and ers, I have seen the p our trade assion for and the sa tisfaction others ge and pride t from do in g a good jo gives me a b and it great feeli ng about th think more e future. I people are getting wis cowboys a e to the nd looking to pay a profe for their k ssional nowledge and skill. growing p With the opularity of smart co the way p ntrols and eople wan t to know system wo h ow their rks and wa nt increase options, I th d control ink there w ill be more than ever demand for our se rvices. “One regu lation I w ould love introduce to see d is that g a s appliance spares be so s and ld only to G as Safe or e qualified in quivalent dividuals. I know this a very hard would be law to imp lement, bu and many t to me other gas e ngineers it sense. The ’s co mmon re aren’t a ny regulati abolished ons being that would benefit me but I would directly, like to see the back o my opinio f ErP. In n it’s a wast e of time a that could n d money have been spent bett many oth e r er things. on so I am very the retro b sceptical o oiler label f scheme to it’s just an o. I think other wast e of time a gimmick. nd money I would p refer they on-the-too consulted ls-enginee rs before th up these sc ey dreamt hemes.”

n Contract : 2017 and will have Ian Anfield, MD at Hudso s and political agenda in new the te ina dom l wil fact that Brexit on EU labour to man our “There’s no escaping the ause we rely so heavily bec rily ma pri is 2017, is Th . constr uct ion the mater ials markets in a massive impact on UK tionism could shake up tec pro US and iffs tar le trade constr uct ion sites. Possib t of imported goods. t whichever pound increasing the cos the of g nin ake we sis. My prediction is tha the as as well ngraded from a skills cri dow – ges d due to a rta lve sho she lls be ski not l of building schemes wil “There is already talk but es, rat pay in n atio in the last three years, 7 we may see infl men have increased 12% language you use, for 201 des tra yed plo f-em sel commanded by lack of labour. The rates le forecast.” in 2017 would be a sensib se rea inc 3% so a fur ther

ector at Gavin Watson, Sales Dir s: on uti Sol Elco Heating ging year “This is sure to be a challen industry, g tin hea l for the commercia identify to g itin wa wit h investors ending imp the m fro file pro the risk on. changes to our constit uti out look is “However, at Elco the prevailing the see we positive and r challenge conditions as simply anothe rcome. ove the indust ry will need to up in letno e ese “Certainly we for able tain sus m ter g lon the demand for s. tem For and efficient heating sys greater ate this reason, we ant icip lations tal ins P integration of CH g boiler sin den con gas ven alongside pro ring offe ups technolog y, with such set ts – cos al ion long ter m low operat ant ort imp an be which is sure to es.” tur ven l rcia me com ny factor for ma

Grant: Paul Wakefield, MD at 6 and this looks set to ellent growth dur ing 201 “The oil market saw exc l be exhibit ing at ain compet itive. Grant wil rem ces pri l fue ilst wh continue g some exciting new and we will be previewin rch Ma in urt nkf Fra in ISH ts. UK and European marke e heating products for the the per for mance to dat of iew ial to have a rev t pas the r “I feel it would be benefic ove declined e, as installer take-up has . ers sum con of the cur rent MCS Schem for t difficul to the domestic RHI more .” too lers year. This has made access tal ins but that of p not just our business, A rev iew of MCS may hel Charlie M ullins, Pim lico Plum “The New bers: Year is alr eady shap sharp inc ing up to rease in d b e a bu s y emand fo the Capita one for Pim r our serv l, has resu ic lico Plum e s, even be lt ed in our “We expe bers – a fore the la busiest si ct 2017 to test cold sn ngle week be a record announce aps hit si n c -b e d the crea I founded reaking y tion of 50 ear for the the busin and Heati new jobs. ess. co m ng Merch pany and In additio ants is ac have alrea this time n, business celerating dy last year! at Pimlico at a stagg It now ha its team, Plumbing ering pac s three of ready to b e – sa le its ow n v s are up 1 uild on th ans on th 00% on is success e road an in the Ne d expand w Year.” ing

PHAM NEWS JAN17 ad2edit:Layout 1 22/12/2016 10:09 Page 13

January 2017

NEW N EW YEAR YEAR Prospects Prospects Jeffff Hous Je se e, R Re e

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ÂŁ100 ÂŁ 100 ST STAR TAR L LETTER ETTER

Solar S olar needs needs VAT VAT reduction red ducttion Ever ssince Ever ince DECC DECC decided decided to to pay pay consultants consultants a and nd heating h eating hot hot water water experts experts millions millions of of pounds pounds up tto o write write u p tthe he tterms erms and and conditions conditions of of the the RHI and Green R HI a nd G reen Deal, Deal, installations installations are are now now days my company and many llower ower tthan han tthe he d ays m yc ompany a nd m any others o thers were were making making sales sales and and installations installations with no w ith n o ssuch uch ssubsidy. ubsidy. O n the the introduction introduction of of tthe he C lear S kies On Clear Skies iinitiative, nitiative, which which I was was invited invited to to by by the the STA STA a long with with a nother 1 00 p rofessionals ffrom rom along another 100 professionals water heating att tthe he ssolar olar w ater h eating ((SWH) SWH) iindustry ndustry a organisers tthe he ttime, ime, tthe he o rganisers were were seeking seeking ffrom rom tthe he real real experts experts in in SWH SWH what what words words could could be used marketing. My comment back b eu sed iin n tthe he m arketing. M yc omment b ack question tto o one one q uestion was was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tax â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tax free free energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which which was w as dismissed. dismissed. T he ssuccess uccess o lear S kies rrelated elated tto o tthe he The off C Clear Skies rreduction eduction of of VAT VAT from from 17% 17% to to 5%, 5%, as as long long as as tthe he sale sale and and installation installation was was completed complleted by by one one c ompany w ho was was registered registered fo AT. company who forr V VAT.

was Itt w as this this single, single, simple simple reduction reduction in in VAT VAT tthat hat enabled enab blled m e iin n2 006 tto o sship hip ssix ix c ontainers me 2006 containers o off o our ur h heat eat p pipe ipe c collector ollector tto o ssigned-up igned-up U UK Kw wide ide distributors with back-up off sstock and parts d istributors w ith a b ack-up o tock a nd p arts ffrom rom o ur D orset w arehouse. our Dorset warehouse. I have have spoken spoken to to many many in in the the industry industry since since who used tthen hen w ho I u sed tto o ssupply upplly ssolar olar rready eady ssystems ystems year, all convey tto. o. Over Over tthis h is y ear, tthey hey a ll c onvey tthe he ssame ame message me want Government m essage tto om e tthat hat tthey hey w ant tthe he G overnment out off iinterfering with what was working well o ut o nterfering w ith w hat w as w orking w ell u pu ntil tthe he introduction introduction o he F iT p ayment, up until off tthe FiT payment, with money house tto o those those w ith the the m oney and and a h ouse to to pay pay ÂŁ10,000 forr tthe PV panels earned tthe he ÂŁ 10,000 fo he P Vp anels tthat hat e arned tthe he h homeowner omeowner a nice nice return return of of 10% 10% tax tax free free for for 25 years 2 5y ears iindex ndex llinked. inked. Att a time when bank att A time w hen b ank iinterest nterest rrates ates were were a half percent, no brainer ah alf p ercent, a n ob rainer you you could could ssay, ay, tthat hat was death off S SWH day. w as tthe he d eath knell knell o WH ffrom rom tthat hat d ay. Erik Hawkins Er i k Ha wk ins Wimborne, Dorset Wi mbor ne, D or s et

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January 2017

14 POINT of View

Is hydrogen use really feasible? With the great majority of UK households reliant on natural gas to meet their heating and cooking needs, could hydrogen represent the most feasible low carbon alternative? Mark Crowther, Technical Director at Kiwa Gastec, argues that conversion is a realistic option.

carbon emissions, t’s a well known would have a huge fact that the and beneficial imClimate Change pact on our carbon Act commits us to generation levels. reducing our carbon Working alongside emissions by 80% of the likes of Northern their 1990 levels by Gas Networks, KPMG 2050. It’s a less well and the Department known fact, however, of Energy and that our heating Climate Change system accounts for as was, the team over 30% of our carbon of experts at Kiwa emissions. It follows, therefore, that if we Mark Crowther, Kiwa Gastec Gastec have looked to assess the benefits can decarbonise the heat sector, we’ll go a long way of a change to hydrogen over other towards reaching our overall carbon low carbon forms of energy. The team have addressed the reduction targets. We’ve recently played a significant technical feasibility of using our and integral role in the development existing infrastructure to store and of a series of reports investigating transport hydrogen; the practicalities the feasibility of converting our gas of establishing a supply chain for the transmission network from natural appliances that would ultimately use gas to hydrogen. With around 90% it; and investigating a viable location of the country’s heating systems for piloting a physical conversion. powered by natural gas, a change In other words, we’ve looked at each to hydrogen, which produces zero piece of the jigsaw puzzle and have

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created a whole picture view of what conversion would entail. And the conclusion of all this work? From our unique standpoint of having been involved in all aspects of the research, I can say with certainty that conversion of the heat sector to hydrogen is technically feasible.

Risk assessment But of course the most important aspect of all is safety, and before any widespread roll-out of hydrogen can take place, the risks associated with a small, low pressure leak as can sometimes happen in domestic environments have to be understood. Although gas leaks are rare, they do occur from time to time from sources as diverse as a faulty gas appliance to DIY accidents, and so it’s imperative that we can reassure end users that hydrogen poses no greater risk than the natural gas currently used in the heat sector. To do this, we set up and ran the ‘Hy House Project’. Using a two storey,

three-bedroom farmhouse in a remote area of Scotland, we simulated realistic leaks using five test gases (100% hydrogen, 100% The tests took place in a remote farmhouse in Scotland natural gas and three different mixtures of the two). risk than natural gas in a domestic The test leaks were carried out in setting. In fact, because hydrogen various locations of the house, to is much lighter than natural gas, if represent a living room, kitchen and there is a leak in a house it is less under-stairs cupboard, and at three likely than natural gas to build up levels of air tightness to simulate to dangerous amounts. As a result, we can say with different ages of construction. In all, we carried out 122 tests, ensuring certainty that hydrogen would be the project was thorough and a safe replacement for natural gas as a fuel source. comprehensive. Combine this with the fact that Safe house it has a zero carbon footprint and Overall, the project has given us a it becomes easy to see how, in real insight into the risks associated the grand scheme of things, the with using hydrogen as fuel gas and, widespread use of hydrogen will from a safety point of view, has almost certainly be safer for the reassured us that it poses no greater future of mankind.

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January 2017

ENERGY Matters 15 Ice at the heart of new eco home

Premium manufacturer of offsite manufactured eco homes, Stommel Haus, has equipped a private dwelling in Aberdeenshire with ground-breaking ‘Heating with Ice’ technology by Viessmann. The ice store system works with a heat pump that recovers heat from renewable sources only, such as the sun, air and ground, to heat, cool and provide hot water. The system, which consists of an underground water tank in combination with solar air absorbers, supplies energy to the heat pump that in turn generates domestic hot water as well as UFH on all floors. The system also cools the

Solar thermal spared axing from RHI Solar thermal will not be dropped from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), as had been feared when the Government launched a consultation last March. It has been proposed that solar thermal be removed from subsidy support, but campaigning by the Solar Trade Association (STA) and others in the industry has seen the technology spared the axe. 92% of respondents opposed the

changes. BEIS has retained solar thermal within the RHI on its current tariff of 19.74p/kWh. Applications of solar thermal in industry up to 200kW in size will also continue to be supported.

Good news Commenting on the announcement, STA Chief Executive Paul Barwell comments: “Solar thermal is back, which is great news for businesses and

families who want to bring down their energy bills and do their bit to mitigate climate change. It is to the new Energy Department’s credit that they listened to the very strong arguments we made for retaining solar thermal within the RHI.” Retaining solar thermal will also help the fuel poverty alleviation agenda, says the STA, as well as the Government’s aim to reach 12% renewable heat by 2020.

George Goudsmit, Director of solar thermal panel manufacturer AES Solar, adds: “The renewable industry, particularly solar, has taken some knocks over the last year, but this announcement can only mean good things. “The possible removal of the RHI has been looming over us for the last nine months, but now we, as the only manufacturer of solar thermal panels in Scotland, can breathe a sigh of relief.”

home in summer months. A heat source management system draws energy from either the ice store or solar air absorbers on the roof. The ice store also draws energy from the surrounding ground. Christian Engelke, Viessmann’s Technical Director, comments: “The standard ice storage tank measures 10m3, which corresponds to the energy content of approximately 120 litres of heating oil. The key difference is that, while the oil is eventually consumed, the water content of the ice store represents an almost limitless heat source that is continuously regenerated with energy from the sun and air.”

New homes half as much to heat A new home built to the latest Building Regulations can cost half as much to heat as a Victorian house of the same size, according to a new report by the NHBC Foundation. The findings are based on a survey of 2000 people who had recently moved into a new home and were asked what they considered the advantages of new homes to be. Many pointed to the energy efficiency benefits of new homes – the better standards of insulation, enhanced draught-proofing and improved ‘airtightness’ that help to lower household annual energy bills and improve levels of comfort. The report shows that energy bills are expected to be around £440 lower in a modern one-bedroom

ground floor flat, compared to its Victorian equivalent. And for a new build fourbedroom detached house, bills are estimated at £1050 – saving £1400 compared to those of a 19th century house. The report also outlines the safety advantages of new homes identified by some respondents, such as mains-powered smoke alarms interlinked throughout the home, safety glazing, safer stairs and the additional security features. “This report is a useful reminder of the benefits of buying a new home, designed and built in accordance with up-to-date standards,” comments Neil Smith, Head of Research and Innovation at NHBC. ENQUIRY

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January 2017

Advertisement Feature

Getting to know you

16 PRODUCT Spotlight

The T80 Pro-Fit: all pros, no cons

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: Daniel Dean

Proving that the best can get better, Triton has launched the T80 Pro-Fit, the ultimate retrofit solution and latest addition to The Great British Shower Company’s trusted T80 electric shower family.

COMPANY: Durham Gas Services

ew developments in the product’s design have been made possible by analysing installer feedback gathered through training days at Triton HQ and direct communication to ensure the new unit meets every need and expectation. Combining this insight with more than 40 years of expertise in the UK bathroom market, Triton has made some seriously useful advancements to the eleventh generation of its iconic T80 range. With customer opinions in mind at all times, each feature and benefit included within T80 Pro-Fit has been crafted with ease of installation whilst maintaining a user friendly product experience. The end result is a product that you can rely on to address the growing demand for retrofit shower solutions and replace almost any electric shower, whatever the brand or model.

Retrofit royalty Boasting eight water and eight electric entry points, the market leading T80 Pro-Fit offers various fitting possibilities. In addition, carefully designed entry point trims adapt to provide a snug clean finish around pipe and trunking in any corner of the shower, and can be fitted before or after the shower is fitted to the wall. For added convenience, wider channels within the backplate allow pipe to run alongside large cable up to 16mm, and are perfectly aligned for straightforward connection to the water inlet and terminal block.

FROM: Durham

At work... At play... Simple commissioning On the new T80 Pro-Fit, the centralised dials will only fit one way onto the spindles, providing an error free as well as a wire free cover fit ensuring that no time is wasted lining up components. Due to these enhanced features, the T80 Pro Fit can be commissioned in as little as 30 seconds, so you can move onto the next job.

Hard water solutions The model also features Triton’s Dura-Flow™ heater, which helps to reduce the build-up of limescale by up to 80%, maximising the flow and extending the life of the shower. Performance is also maintained by the removable Dura-Flow™ debris filter, the Dura-Flow™ anti twist shower hose, and the Dura-Flow™ rub clean showerhead with removable spray plate for easy cleaning.

Quick connections

Smart accessories

With a dual water inlet for easy left or right pipe connection and Triton’s very own Swing-Fit™ terminal block, there are an array of choices, whatever the set-up on site. It is also suitable for all fitting materials and types – copper and plastic, compression and the popular push fit. The shower is supplied with left inlet plugged and the popular right inlet open, plus Triton has included a nut and olive in the box, making it even easier and quicker to get connected when re-using an existing compression fitting.

The contemporary white T80 Pro Fit is accompanied by a 670mm riser rail (up to 620mm fixing centres) to allow for the direct replacement of any standard rail. In addition, both wall brackets can be positioned along the length of the rail, providing the flexibility to fix either on the grout lines, in the centre of tiles or to any previous holes. For the perfect end result, the position of the riser rail itself is also adjustable to guarantee even overhang either side of wall brackets. For complete convenience, the T80 Pro-Fit also includes a longer reach 1.5m hose, a hose retainer and an optional clip-on bottle tray. So when it comes to any replacement job, the only unit installers need to know about is Triton’s T80 Pro-Fit – the brand and electric shower you can rely on to deliver all pros and no cons. Prices start from RRP£145 for the new Triton T80 Pro-Fit electric shower. For further information about the ultimate retrofit solution, visit tritonshowers.co.uk, follow @tritonshowers on Twitter or ‘like’ TritonShowers on Facebook.

Topping the leaderboard Will you accept the Triton ‘Pro-Fit Challenge’ to show off your shower installation skills and speed to win prizes? Grab your smartphone now and download the app free of charge from the Apple and Android stores (available from 9th January) – simply search ‘Pro-Fit Challenge’ and see your name appear on Triton’s leaderboard.

www.tritonshowers.co.uk

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What time do you start work in the morning? “I start work at 8am, and usually finish around 5-5.30pm, depending on that particular job. We do an on-call service once a week which is until 7pm but is only for emergencies such as gas or water leaks. We don’t generally work weekends unless we’re really busy – I’ve probably only worked about three or four over the last few months.” How busy was 2016 for you? “Very busy, really. As a company we’re growing, so that means we work as much as we can during the day, and last year was definitely a busy time. I prefer being busy though – I’d rather just get on and have a good day of work. The oil side of the business has definitely picked up due to the price of oil staying low.” How often do you attend training courses? “A lot depends on the jobs we have coming up and the courses that are available. That said, we get sent on refresher courses quite regularly, so I probably go on about three or four a year at least. I’ve been on a couple quite recently, one to renew my oil qualification and also an oil one at the Worcester Training Academy in Clay Cross.” What are the best and worst parts of the job? “I take a lot of pride in my work, so it’s great when I can take that time to make it all look really good. The worst parts of the job are the on-call hours, and then some of the more disgusting jobs that you associate with plumbing.” Do you use social media to promote the business? “We’ve just started to, yes. We’ve had a new webpage designed and have begun to use Facebook more to show off our work to potential customers, as well as give advice on servicing and that sort of thing.” How do you expect 2017 to play out? “We’ve started branching out into a lot more commercial work, so I’m expecting to be pretty busy throughout this year.”

Do you have any hobbies? “I like walking with the dogs and I play a bit of golf when I can. I don’t have a handicap or anything – if I hit it, it’s a bonus!” Do you watch a lot of television? “We usually watch a couple of hours in the evenings – nothing in particular, just whatever’s on. We’ve watched Game of Thrones when that’s been out, but I don’t think I could tackle the books!” What mobile phone do you have and how often do you use it? “I’ve got the latest iPhone, the iPhone 7. It’s pretty good – it’s a bit quicker, but I’ve not really noticed the difference. I got it because we use our phones a lot for work, it’s where we keep our diaries for work and note down what type of job we’ve got booked in and so on.” Have you got any holidays booked for this year? “We have a holiday booked in Spain for two weeks with the in-laws, and we’ve also booked to go down to Cornwall for a week, which I’m looking forward to.” Do you do much around the house? “Well I’ve recently re-done the bathroom, I suppose you’d class that as DIY. We’re always decorating and I generally do all of that. We don’t usually get anyone in to do it – my wife just expects it to be done!” Do you cook? “I do all the cooking, actually. I make some homemade burgers that are pretty good.” Would you rather give up alcohol or meat? “Oh alcohol, definitely. I couldn’t be a vegetarian, I love my burgers and my steaks too much.” What was you favourite subject at school? “It was probably Design Technology. I always preferred working with my hands and making things, which makes sense considering the route I went down.”

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January 2017

Gas Safety 19

Protecting customers and retaining trust Any good tradesperson will know how important it is to win the trust of a customer, and fitting a good and reliable CO alarm can be one way to demonstrate your professionalism – so says Martyn Walley, National Technical Manager at Aico.

ith more than one in five enclosure, plus any room that has a flue running through it. homeowners in the UK naming In all cases, the CO alarms must be BS gas and heating engineers EN 50291 Kitemarked. They can be mains as the most trustworthy tradespeople or battery powered, although if the latter (according to a HomeServe poll last year) is the case the battery should last for the you hard working engineers have clearly life of the alarm. been doing a great job – but at the same Unlike fire alarms which come with time you have a lot to live up to! Trust different sensors to detect different types is an essential element when employing of fire, CO alarms have one sensor type. any tradesperson, especially so when that This makes alarm selection far simpler as person’s work has the potential to impact the only decisions that need to be made are on the occupants’ safety. about which power source to use, whether Trust has to be earned, normally through to link the CO alarm with other alarms the provision of expert services carried or systems, and which manufacturer’s out in a professional manner. This must alarm to opt for. extend not only to the core parts of your Power source work but also to the supplementary aspects. In the case of heating systems, Aico’s AudioLINK enables data Battery CO alarms were once considered to be extracted from a CO alarm this means extending your knowledge the poor relation to mains powered alarms, using a free app to an understanding of the dangers and but manufacturers are now producing sources of CO and when, where and how to fit a CO alarm. battery CO alarms that use the same quality technology

Regulations

To add to the challenge of identifying when it is necessary to fit a CO alarm, there are different Building Regulations across the UK. In England and Wales, Building Regulations Document J requires a CO alarm to be fitted when any new or replacement solid-fuel appliance is installed. The alarms should be fitted in the same room as the appliance. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, Technical Handbook 2 and Technical Booklet L apply respectively. Both require a CO alarm to be fitted when any new or replacement fuel appliance is installed (except cookers). This covers any fuel burning appliance, including those that burn gas, oil, coal and wood. Alarms should be fitted in the room with the appliance or, if it is an enclosed boiler, just outside the

found in mains powered alarms, along with many of the features that weren’t previously available in battery alarms. As with any battery powered alarm, one of the biggest issues is missing or flat batteries. Therefore, it is essential you select an alarm that has a tamper proof battery that lasts the life of the alarm. CO alarms with sealed in lithium batteries, such as our Ei208 range, are ideal as they cannot be removed from the alarm and cannot be used in any other household devices, deterring the resident from removing them to use elsewhere.

Interconnection Some alarms have the ability to be interconnected with each other and with other life safety systems, including smoke/heat alarms and warden call systems. In certain

circumstances this provides added safety for occupants, especially the more vulnerable such as the elderly and those living in sheltered accommodation. When one unit goes into alarm, all the alarms interconnected on the system will sound, increasing audibility and giving occupants the best chance of exiting the property safely. The use of wireless alarm interconnection, such as Aico’s RadioLINK, is ideal here as it removes the need for hard wiring and so will minimise disruption or the need to redecorate. When interlinking CO and smoke/heat alarms on the same system, a method of identifying the source of the alarm – smoke or CO – is essential.

Which CO alarm? As we are dealing with life safety protection, it is vital that you choose a good quality CO alarm that is able to provide reliable protection to occupants. Poor quality, cheap alarms can also lack added functionality and accessories such as the ability to wirelessly interconnect alarms, as mentioned above, and data extraction technology. This facility provides the ability to quickly and easily retrieve useful and meaningful data from the alarm, such as battery life, alarm sensor status, number of times tested, if it’s ever been removed and any alarm activation with details of when it occurred. In addition it can even provide information on detection levels of CO during any activations and background CO. This is important as long periods of exposure to low levels of CO, especially for vulnerable people, can cause long term health issues and can also indicate a developing maintenance issue. Understanding the dangers of CO and ensuring customers are fully protected with suitable CO alarms shouldn’t be an afterthought to the main work – it should be an essential part of the service you offer – especially if you are to remain the nation’s most trusted tradespeople! www.aico.co.uk

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Five things you should tell your customers about CO safety Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is still responsible for more than 50 deaths every year in the UK, yet only around one-third of UK households have a working CO alarm. Here Adrian Keats, National Account Manager at Honeywell, highlights five points that every installer should be telling their customer. (1) The silent killer Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless and tasteless. Unlike a fire, which you can see and smell, a CO leak provides absolutely no warning. What’s more, depending on the scale of the leak, a homeowner could be suffering from low-level symptoms for months,

completely unaware of the cause. As an installer, communicating the most common symptoms could eventually save a customer’s life. A low level leak could result in headaches, nausea, dizziness, tiredness and shortness of breath. CO poisoning often manifests in such a way that it can be confused with flu or food poisoning; however, it does not cause a fever – an important differentiating factor. (2) A colour change spot detector isn’t enough You may find that certain homeowners already believe that their CO protection is complete, relying upon a

colour change spot detector that works in a similar way to litmus paper by changing colour in the presence of CO. These detectors are inadequate for a number of reasons. Firstly, no matter how prominently the detector is located, it is unlikely that the homeowner will check the unit every day, so if a colour change is triggered, there is every chance a homeowner will fail to notice. Secondly, if there is a major CO leak during the night, then the detector is effectively useless. In addition, because the sensors degrade over time, these spot detectors need to be regularly replaced, typically every three to six

months, or they become ineffective. (3) Legal compliance does not equal best practice When completing an installation for a landlord, you may find that whilst their property complies with legal CO requirements, it’s still unsafe. Many incidents of CO poisoning are the result of badly maintained or faulty gas appliances such as boilers or cookers, which are not specifically addressed by the legislation. In light of this, it’s best to recommend a CO alarm in every room housing a fuel burning appliance, and for proper protection, an alarm in any bedroom above these, too.

(4) Siting is crucial Locating an alarm inappropriately can have a serious impact on its functionality, reducing its efficiency and effectiveness. Ideally, a CO alarm should generally be positioned high up on a wall, typically 30cm from the ceiling, and 1m away from boilers, fires, cookers or heaters. It can be free-standing on a shelf, as long as the recommended positioning requirements are met. Bear in mind that the location could be different for a gas-fired appliance and a wood burning stove. The nature of a solid-fuel stove means that the doors will be opened intermittently

in order to add further fuel, which means occasional bursts of CO will enter the room, potentially triggering the alarm if it is sited too close to the appliance. (5) Quality matters It may be tempting for homeowners to find the cheapest option online, but it’s important for installers to communicate the benefit of choosing a well-established brand with BSI certification: EN50291-1 2010 / EN50291-2 2010.The difference in price is negligible, and when it comes to safety it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. For more information, please visit: www.homesafety. honeywell.com

January 2017

20 GAS Safety

Understanding the regulations Do you need to renew your ACS qualification this year? Steve Mulvany, Scheme Director for Logic Certification, looks at what’s changed in the world of gas safety over the past few years and how this may effect installers who may be in line for re-assessment this year.

ny heating installer or service engineer needs to keep up to date with ACS because it is a legal requirement that ensures both you and your customers remain safe. Obvious stuff you might think, but with recent research by the Gas Safe Register showing that illegal gas fitters are putting households at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, it Steve Mulvany, Scheme seems many who say they Director at Logic Certification are qualified gas installers are simply lying, or taking a lax attitude to maintaining their professional training and all-important ACS re-assessment. Between 2014 and 2015, over a million jobs were carried out by installers who weren’t properly qualified, with one in five gas appliances deemed so dangerous they had to be disconnected immediately. These are frightening statistics which suggest a complacency amongst some of the less scrupulous tradespeople and a trusting public who are failing to check Gas Safe Register ID cards. If your ACS is coming up for renewal you should be aware that standards, regulations and best-practice have changed over the last few years, with safety in particular high on the agenda. Here’s an overview of some of the most important changes:

New standards The key UK standard for small low pressure gas pipework installations (BS 6891:2015) has been updated, bringing it in line with current industry practice. The new standard covers the specification for the installation and maintenance of low pressure gas installation pipework of up to 35mm – the small diameter gas pipework commonly used in domestic residential premises, including park homes and caravan holiday homes. BS 6891:2015 has superseded most of the requirements of BS 5482-1 to make up a single standard, covering installation pipework for both natural gas and LPG. This has meant the inclusion of a number of new safety initiatives. For example, in addition to a regulator, an over pressure shutoff (OPSO) must now be included as part of the pipework installation (even where there is no meter installed). Guidance on designing, sizing and commissioning the regulator and gas pipework installations is also provided.

New modules CMDDA1 – Investigating CO – is a new ACS module which was published in 2012 and is necessary for gas installers who need to investigate a report of fumes or CO alarm activation, in accordance with BS7967. The module assesses whether the installer is able to use an electronic combustion gas analyser (ECGA), interpret readings and determine the cause of the fumes or alarm activation. Note that CMDDA1 is not required for general safety checks following gas work and is not suitable for incident investigation either, for which you need a specialist qualification.

Notification of work Gas installers in England and Wales must notify the installation of heat-producing gas appliances to their Local Authority Building Control. Since April last year, there is no longer an option to undertake notification under a Building Notice, which has led to amendments in the Gas Safe Register’s Rules of Registration. All heat-producing gas appliances (boilers, fires, air

making it clear that any unsafe appliances must remain switched off. The action taken in the event of a dangerous appliance remains unchanged, however. In the first instance a gas engineer should seek permission to turn off the appliance. If permission is not given to make the installation safe in ‘ID’ situations, the Emergency Service Provider (ESP) or gas supplier for LPG must be contacted, which are able to use their powers of entry and make the installation safe. The Not Current Standards (NCS) category has been removed to enable both end users and gas engineers to focus on the key safety message, as by definition, NCS situations are not unsafe. As a Gas Safe Registered business, you may still record NCS situations, but this no longer forms part of the official Unsafe Situations Procedure.

Taking responsibility

Gas installers working in England and Wales must notify the installation of any heat-producing gas appliances

heaters, etc.) installed and commissioned must be reported as a requirement of the Building Regulations. Many boiler manufacturers have arrangements in place that allow automatic notification of the installation of a boiler when you register the appliance’s warranty (if you are a member of their loyalty programmes.) You can also notify directly through Gas Safe Register by logging into your account – simply click on Notifications then click ‘Report Gas Work’. Once the transaction has been completed and payment made (£2.50 + VAT if completed online), Gas Safe Register will send a Building Regulations Compliance certificate directly to your customer and advise the relevant Local Authority Building Control department of the work on your behalf. Note: You do not need to notify the installation of a new gas cooker under the Building Regulations, but you may report it if your customer would prefer to receive a Declaration of Safety Certificate confirming that the work has been completed by qualified and registered installer.

Gas installers have a responsibility to keep their customers safe. Nobody wants to be responsible for causing an incident, and by maintaining your ACS and Gas Safe Registration you will benefit from being kept up to date with the latest industry developments, as well as taking advantage of a brand that customers trust. Always show your Gas Safe Registration ID card and take time to explain what this means to your customers. As the Gas Safe Register’s survey suggests, there is still a lack of understanding amongst end users when it comes to making sure the tradespeople they use are reputable. By putting a stop to the ‘cowboys’, more business is created for qualified installers and the quality, safety and reputation of the gas industry is maintained and improved.

Further changes

CO monitoring Since 2014, installers have been required to check and record levels of flue gas carbon monoxide (CO) and the combustion ratio when commissioning condensing boilers at both high and low fire. To be able to do this, installers need an appropriate electronic combustion gas analyser with a valid calibration certificate as specified in BS7967. The requirement to check the combustion performance is part of the Benchmark Commissioning Checklist, designed to protect both installers and customers by recording that the appliance has been commissioned and was left running safely and efficiently. The completed checklist should be left with the customer for future reference. Installers should also advise customers to fit a CO detector with an audible alarm, in addition to ensuring an annual service is carried out on the new boiler.

Unsafe situations Last July saw GIUSP (Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure) Edition 7 come into force, covering unsafe gas situations in domestic and non-domestic premises. The latest edition focuses on clearer labelling, including the introduction of a ‘Danger Do Not Use’ warning label, to be attached to any appliance that is deemed ‘At Risk’ (AR) or ‘Immediately Dangerous’ (ID). The new warning label is intended to deliver a single message to the customer,

What does 2017 have in store? This year will bring a number of further changes to ACS assessments due to the publication of the following normative documents: • IGEM /UP/3 Edition 3 – Gas fuelled spark ignition and dual fuel engines. • IGEM/UP/10 Edition 4 with amendments • PD 54823:2016 Guidance for the design, commissioning and maintenance of LPG systems in small craft. In addition, the industry working group is currently reviewing the ACS re-assessment criteria and assessment strategy. It is anticipated that recommendations for change will be published later in the year. IGE/IG/1 Standards of Training in Gas Work is also being introduced, designed to ensure quality in training provision. All providers of courses leading to ACS or other gas qualifications recognised by Gas Safe Register will be required to have their training programmes approved to ensure they are fit for purpose and meeting industry standards. www.logiccertification.com

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What level of CO is too much? With long-term exposure, even low levels of CO can cause lasting health damage. James King, Sales Director at Sona, discusses the effects of exposure to low concentrations of CO and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imperative the industry moves towards low-level detection.

he effects on health of severe exposure to CO are well understood. However, the same canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be said of prolonged but low level contact. The majority of CO studies focus on either shortterm effects in experimental settings or long-term effects in accidental poisoning cases. With the latter, it is often unknown what levels of CO an individual has been exposed to and for how long, which makes it difficult to determine which type of exposure is responsible for any subsequent health problems. It has been suggested that prolonged exposure to low levels of CO over many weeks or months can have subtle effects on the brain. If this is true, it is clearly worrying, as such exposure may well occur as a result

Being unable to distinguish between the symptoms of low level CO poisoning and the flu, for example, means householders will generally wrap up warm and turn up the heating within their property as a form of treatment. This advice may even come from a doctor but in reality the problem is only being worsened. James King, Sales Director at Sona, the trade-only brand from Sprue Safety Products

of malfunctioning heating devices in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes. One of the biggest issues concerning low level CO poisoning is that the signs and symptoms of exposure are not always obvious and are often confused with other conditions with similar symptoms such as food poisoning or flu.

CO measurement The level of CO concentration is measured using a system called parts per million (ppm). For example, 100ppm CO means that for every 999,900 molecules of air, there are 100 molecules of CO. Certain people in a household may be affected by CO poisoning quicker than others, with those at particular risk being babies and young children, pregnant

women and people with heart or breathing problems. In addition to measuring the level of CO concentration at a particular point in time, another measurement used is the time-weighted average (TWA), which determines your average exposure. For example, if you were exposed to a large dose of CO at the start of the day, but none for the remainder, then your TWA would be low. r QQN JT UIF NBYJNVN recommended indoor CO level before any health effects may be experienced r QQN JT MJLFMZ UP IBWF health effects with long-term exposure r QQN JT UIF NBYJNVN TWA exposure for an eight hour day r QQN JT UIF NBYJNVN permissible exposure in the workplace

r QQN XJMM SFTVMU JO B slight headache in just one or two hours r QQN XJMM SFTVMU JO dizziness, nausea, fatigue, headache after just two to three hours of exposure r QQN X JMM CF MJGF threatening in three hours. With a CO alarm being the only proven method of detection, correct selection is vital. Furthermore, with potentially serious health effects caused by long-term exposure to only 10ppm of CO, the utilisation of low level CO detection technology has never been more important.

Staying alert Carbon monoxide poisoning continues to be a serious issue that can be easily prevented through awareness of its dangers and the measures that can be put in

place to minimise them. At the core of this is being able to alert people to potential CO incidents when carbon monoxide levels are low and allowing the maximum escape time possible to minimise any potential health issues. The sooner a householder becomes aware of even a low level CO leak, the sooner they can contact their heating engineer to locate the source, assess the appliance and either repair or replace the cause of the leak. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s therefore vitally important that the utilisation of lowlevel CO detectors becomes more and more common within the industry to help save lives and protect householderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health over the long-term. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Why time matters! Any installation business is likely to be working against the clock, but use of the right controls and service back-up can help to reduce time spent on site and also minimise the risk of callbacks. Dean Jepson, European MD at Salus, explains more.

ou hear people say ‘time is money’ in just about every job, but it’s particularly true for the heating and plumbing industry, where home renovation or extension projects can suffer the knock-on effects of delays caused by being ‘second fix’ on site. Such delays can have a significant impact on the job, preventing you from moving on to other jobs, forcing you to juggle staff, and potentially increasing costs. Even with a simple boiler upgrade or new heating controls, delays can occur from waiting for other parts of the home to be completed – redecorating, rewiring, new kitchen, etc. Indeed, recent research shows that although construction productivity has increased since the last recession, only 40% of projects were completed on time in the last 12 months. The heating industry is no exception. Whether you’re the owner of a heating and plumbing company or an employee, it’s likely that you’re always working against the clock. So, if that’s the case, how do you find time to save time?

Product choice When you’re working to tight deadlines, having confidence in the products you use makes all the difference. Product selection has a massive impact on getting the job done

quickly. After all, the last thing you need is a faulty heating control or a part that can cause setbacks or even callbacks, so it pays to only source those products that have passed rigid quality assurance checks. Certain heating controls can also help speed up installation. Take wireless controls, for instance. Not only can they be added to any system with no dust or damage to room décor, there are no visible cables upon installation. They also make it possible to divide a system into zones that offer individual time and temperature control. By choosing a reputable manufacturer, you can also buy yourself and your customer extra peace of mind by installing controls that come fully backed by support. For example, all our smart controls are backed by a dedicated team of engineers who offer onsite support to homeowners. This service extends across the UK to users who may need added support and education on the use and set-up of their internet enabled controls. Hence, once installation is complete, you don’t have to worry about callbacks; leaving you free to move to the next job.

Ongoing training

Installation skills and a good product knowledge can also help to reduce time spent on site. Regular training can help to develop a competitive edge and ensure both you and your workforce are highly skilled and are able to offer the best levels of service to your customers. With a properly trained workforce you’re also less likely to experience mistakes that cost time and money, so installation can always be kept to a minimum. By expanding your skills through training, you can deliver additional value to your customers and unlock new business opportunities at the same time. Take smart heating controls, for example. These are just the start of a new wave of home Salus offers a broad portfolio of heating controls to satisfy a range of applications automation in which we will soon be

Reintroduction of an old favourite Responding to customer demand, the Westherm 5 TRV has been reintroduced by Westco. Designed to European EN215 standards and described as combining high build quality with everyday functionality, the TRV features an ergonomic, hand-friendly shaped head, neat vents, and easy-to-read controls. MD Nick Horton comments: “Over the past 12 months, we have been inundated with requests from merchants and installers alike asking for the reintroduction of the Westherm 5 TRV. And, not one to fly in the face of popular demand, I’m pleased

to announce that it’s back in stock.” The product is manufactured in Abbeville by Comap – one of Westco’s European sister companies – and the new TRVs will be produced on a highly automated production line with the latest in computerised technology. Nick Horton adds: “In addition to meeting its statutory requirements, Comap develops its own specifications for each product that it brings to market. So you can be sure of the reliability, performance, and durability of the Westherm 5 TRV.

controlling just about every major component of our homes and lives via our smartphone or tablet, no matter where we are. Are you up to speed with the latest developments in this fast-growing sector of the market?

Reliable supply There’s nothing more frustrating than being let down on a delivery – it scuppers your installation plans and leaves your customer frustrated and potentially without heating. Therefore, it’s vital that you’re able to access the right products for the job in good time. A smart supplier will provide a core range of heating controls that are always available, thereby saving time and enabling you to get on with the job at hand. They will also have invested time and energy in sourcing a comprehensive range. Today, heating controls are available in various formats – from mechanical, programmable, and wireless thermostats, to the latest smart controls and home connected devices – so it’s important to source from a supplier who offers a ready-made range of controls suitable to showcase to customers. Time transcends almost everything in business. Regardless of what type of job you may be working on, there will always be new and better products that will save time, along with time-saving business opportunities to help your business grow, and new legislation to help save time through new methods of working. Don’t let the clock govern you. Instead, be clever with the controls you recommend, choose your suppliers wisely, and always invest in ongoing training. In that way, time will always be on your side. www.salus-tech.com

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Easy to use programmer

“And because of Westco’s long-standing relationship with Comap, and our standing as a leading UK supplier, we’re confident that the Westherm 5 is manufactured to the highest of standards, and that we can offer it to our merchant and installer customers at a great price.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Aimed at the domestic market, the RWB2007 electronic programmer from Siemens Building Technologies gives users an easy way to control heating for maximum comfort and affordability. The programmer makes it straightforward for users to take control of heating, with weekday or weekend programmes. Siemens says it has focused on making this product user-friendly, with an easy-to-read backlit display that automatically sets to the correct time and date straight out of the box. There is also a useful onehour boost facility, which can be used, for example, if someone gets home early on

a winter evening. Additionally, the RWB can help ensure heating systems are maintained regularly. The RWB has a service interval function that can be enabled by the installer. This means the system will display a message on the screen

with a reminder that servicing is due – it can even be set to count down for 50 days. Social housing tenants can contact their landlord to book a boiler service once the countdown starts. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Keeping up with the technology The home energy market is growing rapidly, with over one million thermostats and heating control installations expected per year by 2018. Steve Keeton, Technologies and Marketing Director at Vaillant, advises how to take advantage of this business opportunity.

ver the past decade, significant advances have been made in the heating industry, with many boilers now getting closer to 100% efficiency. These developments, coupled with the rapid growth of smart technology, have opened up some exciting opportunities in the controls sector, both in terms of product development and revenue opportunities for installers. Gone are the functional white boxes that simply served as a routine part of the specification process, and in their place are a range of technologically–advanced, multi-functional products that not only cater to the needs of the equally tech-savvy homeowner, but also engage consumers’ interest, enough for them to put their installer to the test. As a result, installers need to ensure that they have the most up-to-date knowledge of the latest control products available. This will not only enable them to answer homeowners’ well-researched questions, but it will also provide them with everything they need to confidently upsell to today’s tech-obsessed consumer.

Beyond boiler efficiency Today’s controls can further enhance a boiler’s efficiency. A number of boiler manufacturers who supply smart controls have developed their own communications protocols with their boiler ranges, meaning that the controls have been designed to work at even higher efficiency levels, but exclusively with their appliances, such as Vaillant’s eBUS. The most obvious benefit is the flexibility to control heating and hot water wherever a homeowner is, whenever they need to. This is supported by simple, user friendly interfaces that allow homeowners access to advanced functions. From an energy usage perspective, smart controls can deliver savings through features such as online weather compensation, which adjusts the boiler flow temperature according to local weather forecasts. Homeowners can also be better informed about energy usage through the

Connected thinking

Homeowners can now quickly access information about their heating system from mobile phones and other devices

use of apps which can record and display consumption levels and provide essential information that can influence their future behaviour. Controls are set to get even smarter in the near future. 2017 will see the introduction of new solutions which are able to work with voice recognition software, enabling consumers to adjust their heating simply by speaking to other existing technology within the home. Furthermore, we are also set to see greater connectivity between smart controls and other smart brands. For example, being able to activate a ‘welcome home’ heating setting from the convenience of your connected car. Advances made in the heating controls industry don’t just serve the specification process and user convenience. Many new products have been designed with the homeowner/ installer relationship in mind. Smart controls will streamline the boiler servicing process by providing homeowner alerts and service reminders to minimise paperwork and secure repeat business for installers, whilst providing customers with peace of mind that their complete system will be taken care of.

Vaillant’s Advance installer programme already enables installers to manage their product registration for warranties, gas safe notification and benchmark online or using an app, as well as automatically sending reminders to themselves and their customer when a service is due. This approach has now been extended using the connected smart control. For example, at Vaillant we have enhanced connectivity between our boilers and controls, and our vSMART app based control is able to alert a homeowner when a service is due and advise them to contact their installer. This is likely to become even more prevalent in the installer/homeowner relationship in the future. Installers will be able to offer a more holistic service including the ability to proactively monitor and fix issues remotely. For instance, if a boiler is experiencing low water pressure, the system will automatically notify an installer, direct them to key information on repairing the fault and advise them to get in touch with the homeowner, perhaps even before the user has noticed an issue. By establishing more frequent connections between installer, product and homeowner, installers can provide a smarter, better service that enables them to maintain long term customer relationships.

Stepping stone Heating controls should not just be considered as the latest smart innovation. They should be viewed as a stepping stone to a potential new way of working. They will enable installers to move their business forward, add value to their annual service work by taking a more remote and preventative approach, and provide homeowners with peace of mind. In short, the controls market is certainly one to watch. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.vaillant.co.uk 116

Have a conversation with customers about smart stats Controls manufacturer Drayton offers some useful advice on how best to recommend a smart thermostat to your customers.

elling smart thermostats to your customers can seem like a daunting task. You might be worried that the customer is a technophobe, or concerned that you don’t have enough knowledge to answer all their questions. Although you may be apprehensive about jumping on the smart controls bandwagon, there is an increasing demand for these devices. Sales of smart thermostats are set to rise by 40% in 2016, meaning there is great potential to boost business with smart controls installations and upgrades. So what top tips can you follow in order to best recommend a smart thermostat to your customer? Ask about energy concerns Discuss any worries they have around their current energy usage – are they looking for ways to reduce consumption to save money? Have they noticed the cost of gas and electricity has gone up

nearly £800 in eight years? That’s a massive 151% since 2004 . If bills are becoming too high to afford, they will need to look into ways of being more energy efficient. Discuss plans to reduce usage Chat to the customer about how they plan to reduce the amount of energy they use. Maybe they

will turn the heating on less often, rationing it throughout the winter months. But is this the most effective way to lower bills while keeping happy and warm at home? The answer is likely to be no, and this offers the ideal opportunity to present a better option.

Talk through the options A better way to reduce bills is to make sure they have an efficient heating system in place. Maybe they could install a new boiler that offers higher efficiencies and save up to £350 a year. If the cost of boiler replacement is too high, they could have a smart heating controls system fitted. Chat about return on investment Although a smart thermostat can cost anywhere from £150 to £250, the customer can quickly get this back in the money saved on energy. Adding a modern ‘TPI’ room thermostat plus TRVs to a conventional heating system can reduce energy costs by 53%, which for an average UK household equates to around £564 – and new smart devices can take this even further with the enhanced control they offer. Discussing these savings with your customers can persuade them to opt for a smart controls upgrade.

Recommend the best smart stat There are many smart thermostats available on the market – some are highly advanced, but these devices often require tricky wiring and a lengthy set up process. If the homeowner is looking for a simpler system that is great value for money and doesn’t require lots of personal information, there is a range of options to choose from. Our miGenie collection starts from £149.99, so homeowners could recover that cost in no time at all. Deliver a quick installation A simple smart thermostat that is wireless and features an industry standard backplate makes controls upgrades quick and easy, taking as little as ten minutes to install. So don’t be afraid to suggest a smart thermostat to your customers, as there is the potential for your customer to save a significant amount on their energy bills. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Helping customers get connected Modern heating controls can provide users with greater functionality and lower fuel bills. Mustafa Findik, MD at Ariston, looks at how controls have evolved and the important role installers have to play in helping customers get the best out of the latest devices.

hen fitting a new heating system, it is important for installers to take the needs of their customers, and their lifestyles, into account. This applies not just to installing an energy efficient boiler, but all other parts of the system as well – especially controls. Indeed, devices from weather compensators to the latest smart thermostats are all capable of reducing end users’ energy use and lowering their fuel bills. A significant development Ariston MD Mustafa Findik over the last 18 months has been the evolution of the ‘Internet of Things’ (or IoT) – a general term used to describe the growing network of objects that can communicate with each other and complete tasks without any human involvement having to take place. The general belief is, as the IoT becomes more widespread, people’s daily routines will become simpler thanks to devices connected to each other and the internet. Items such as fitness trackers and watches have already become popular in everyday lives, alongside smartphones. However, more significantly for the heating industry, thermostats and

Cloud coverage for heat pumps The Aquarea H Series heat pumps from Panasonic can now work with an internetconnected control system. The Aquarea Smart Cloud enables users to manage and monitor their heating and hot water with an easy-to-use interface. This can be accessed via web-enabled devices. The Aquarea Smart Cloud interface enables installers and maintenance operators to control a number of functions of the Aquarea H Generation heat pump. Users can adjust the temperature in two different zones and view the current room temperature. Additionally, it is possible to change the temperature of the hot water supplied by the Aquarea system. The control system also allows users to set holiday timers, weekly timers with different instructions for the separate zones and hot water, and check the system for faults. This enables users to programme their heating and hot water system to meet their exact requirements and reduce energy usage through unnecessary heating and hot water. The interface can also provide a detailed breakdown of the system’s energy consumption on a daily, weekly, monthly or even annual basis. This can help users to reduce energy usage by identifying times when the system does not need to be operating and reducing its activity. Panasonic plans to add new services to the Aquarea Smart Cloud throughout this year. ENQUIRY No. www.aircon.panasonic.eu/GB_en 118

The Sensys multi-zone control system from Ariston

heating controls are really making waves in this sector. Consumers now have the ability to control the heating and energy used in their homes remotely, via apps on their smartphones or tablets. People no longer have to be in their properties in order to adjust their heating programmes, helping to ensure the boiler only comes on when required. Enabling thermostats to be controlled remotely also means if someone is going to arrive home later in the day than planned, they can adjust their controls accordingly, so the heating switches on later than originally programmed. Some controls will even provide users with the ability to switch off the hot water if it isn’t required (perhaps due to them having already showered at the gym, for example). Whatever the circumstances, it is certainly safe to say things have evolved from the basic on/off and temperature control offered by the humble room thermostat.

Installers can help customers maximise energy savings

more accurate adjustments. So, in the event of the outside temperature increasing, the boiler responds accordingly by adjusting the system flow temperature, further reducing energy consumption – and costs. Although all these control options offer end users excellent means of maximising energy efficiency, it is important to note their effectiveness is actually dependent on how individuals opt to use them. After all, if a homeowner opts to repeatedly turn their heating system on earlier (and therefore for longer) every day of the week, there will clearly be more energy used than saved. Such possibilities highlight the importance of installers explaining heating control systems fully to their customers – in terms of their operation, effectiveness and all the potential cost implications. Installers can put themselves in the best position to offer up-to-date advice on controls (be they traditional or Economy drive smart) and apps by ensuring they attend the latest training Affordability is another key driver. Indeed, with energy courses on the subject. Having considered the wealth of prices seemingly in a constant state of flux, keeping fuel options available, it is apparent that simply fitting the latest bills low remains a top priority on the consumer agenda. condensing boiler is not enough – thermostats, sensors Fortunately, the latest smart controls and apps offer the added and smart apps have all become key ingredients for a truly functionality of monitoring users’ energy consumption and efficient heating system. Fortunately, manufacturers are patterns of behaviour. Doing on hand to provide installers so then allows the controls with detailed information “Thermostats, sensors and smart to set heating preferences and demonstrations of the automatically, according to apps have all become key ingredients latest controls and accessories the data they have gathered. available as part of their for a truly efficient heating system.” Consider our own Ariston NET training schemes. app, for instance; such a device Training will benefit provides users with an array of energy recommendations installers by teaching them the latest developments in and management tips – with the intended aim of enhancing smart controls, monitoring and remote diagnostics, as efficiency while lowering fuel bills over time. well as practicalities such as wiring and setting up the A key point of note is that more than smartphone apps system correctly. This should be conducted alongside alone are required for controlling heating systems. With boiler training, given the crossover with aspects such as the apps merely acting as the ‘remote control’, other installation, servicing and commissioning. devices are responsible for ensuring an efficient means Essential role of operation alongside a condensing boiler. One crucial element is a modulating room thermostat. This type of So, while controls have advanced significantly – and look set control is primarily responsible for adjusting boiler outputs to continue their evolution – installers are still essential to consumers, from simply fitting the latest devices through to within 0.1°C of a set level, while flattening any peaks and to offering advice on how to use them to their maximum troughs in the system. Plus, they have the additional benefit potential. With the IoT set to spread to other appliances of preventing a heating system from firing unnecessarily, throughout the home, installers need to keep up to date such as periods of time when a property is unoccupied. with the latest technological developments, including the Quick adjustment energy saving benefits of smart heating controls. Doing so The levels of efficiency offered by heating controls can will ensure they continue to be presented with business be further enhanced by implementing the latest weather opportunities from homeowners looking to save money compensation devices. Having already outlined how room through their heating systems. Plus, as trained experts, modulating sensors adjust boiler output according to installers can confidently advise even the most tech savvy internal conditions, outdoor weather sensors provide a customers. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No. www.ariston.co.uk 119 supplementary line of external system data, resulting in

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Intelligent tech for everyone Advances in connected technology may grab the headlines, but non-connected thermostats are still in high demand. Andy Mansfield, Marketing and Communications Manager at Honeywell, argues that connectivity isn’t the issue.

echnology has had a key role to play in getting the heating industry to where it is today, and the issue is not so much about the pace at which it has advanced, but rather the misconception that sophisticated technology has to mean an all-singing, all-dancing, internet-connected heating control. This isn’t the case. Advances in modern technology mean the same comfort and automatic energy efficiency features can be incorporated into any control – whether connected or not. There are still around 6.5 million homes in the UK without an efficient thermostat. Thanks to technology, there is now an intelligent heating control available to suit every homeowner. Whether it is connected or not is no longer the focal point. With this in mind, installers need to place the emphasis on making intelligent, smart heating controls accessible to everyone. For example, a recent Building

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Research & Information report on ‘How installers select and explain domestic heating controls’, conducted by UCL, has revealed that there is still a lack of understanding amongst homeowners on how to use heating controls. It’s clear there is still an education to be done, and though there’s no denying that connected controls achieve great results and are the way the future of the connected home is going, this research alone indicates that perhaps they aren’t yet for everyone, and the industry has some catching up to do.

Making it easy Enter the programmable thermostat – designed for modern day but with the future in mind. Manufacturers have listened to the needs of the installer and homeowner and developed products as intelligent as their connected siblings. There genuinely is now a thermostat to suit any user, installer and abode, all of which place ease of installation, ease

of use, comfort and energy efficiency at their core. These programmable thermostats are designed to be used by anyone, and incorporate a level of automatic control for minimal user interaction to deliver easy energy savings, and to fit around their user’s lifestyles – simple. Whether the thermostat is connected to the internet or not is no longer the primary focus and becomes personal consumer choice. And consumer choice is exactly what it comes down to. With the upsurge in social media advertising and increase in brand competition, consumer choice has never been more important to consider than it is now. Homeowners are inundated with options and are more informed than ever before. As a result, it’s vital that installers are able to offer advice as well as install the right heating controls for their customer. To ensure that this happens, installer training should be taking a front seat. The only way to remain one step

Honeywell’s T4 programmable thermostat has been designed with ease of use in mind

ahead of customers is to know the full range of products available on the market, which ones are the best, understand how the technology within them works, be able to offer advice on each and be fully trained in fitting all of them – whether connected or not. In this way the installer will become a technology advisor, and to get to this level of knowledge they need to invest in professional training. For some installers, this means taking the leap and getting on board with both connected and non-connected

controls to cater for every type of customer. Manufacturers have worked hard to develop technology which makes heating controls more sophisticated in what they can deliver, but rather than making them more complex for the homeowner they have simplified them. These thermostats are highly intelligent and can control heating so efficiently that the results are evident in heating bills, without the user taking any action. Technology has enabled the industry to garner all the tools needed – whether it’s an entrylevel smart control, an all-singing all-dancing multi-zone control, or a programmable thermostat – it’s all there for the taking. Every homeowner deserves an effective thermostat, regardless of technical knowledge or budget. It’s important that consumers know this and even more so that installers can deliver it. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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HEATING Controls

The beneﬁts of networking What is meant by the Internet of Things (IoT) and what are connected devices? Neil Mattock, Marketing Director at Vokèra, explains what they are and how this technology is changing.

he Internet of Things (IoT), can be defined as a network of physical devices that can connect and collect data. These ‘things’ could be anything from a hi-tech hot tub or a kettle to, in this case, a heating thermostat. In Europe, the total number of homes with a smart thermostat is now 1.4 million. This is incredible growth and provides heating contractors with a business opportunity to sell smart controls to their customers.

Way to save With the growth of IoT and technological advances, home heating systems are set to be pivotal in allowing homeowners to control fuel consumption and save money on their energy bills. Traditionally, controls have been used to simply turn the boiler on and off, but technology advances and wifi enabled devices now mean that the latest boiler controls can do so much more. New thermostats can talk directly to the boiler and instruct it on the required warmth for the flow temperature. They can allow homeowners to monitor and adapt their heating systems when on the move and even send alerts if something goes wrong. Smart thermostats can work with the majority of central heating systems and boilers. For example, BeSMART from Vokèra is an internet enabled thermostat that is not only compatible with Vokèra’s own products, but also works universally with the majority of residential boilers, making it an ideal replacement for any old thermostat. This type of device is extremely easy and quick to install, making installers’ lives much easier as they have wi-fi connection and no need for extra wiring. They can often be installed anywhere in the home and simply connect to the wifi router, which allows for control via an end user’s ENQUIRY

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time consuming. Visiting customers’ homes and diagnosing faults can take up a lot of time in an engineer’s diary. With these thermostats, heating contractors have the opportunity to connect to the boiler remotely and identify any faults or servicing requirements without having to actually visit the property. Neil Mattock, Marketing Director at Vokèra

mobile device or desktop computer. Homeowners also have the power to control a number of different heating zones, meaning they can adapt the room temperatures in downstairs rooms compared to the bedrooms during the daytime, and vice versa in the evenings.

More features With Vokèra boilers that feature OpenTherm technology, smart thermostats can also interact with weather conditions, meaning on milder days, they will automatically adjust to the ambient temperature. When connected via this protocol, wi-fi enabled thermostats are also capable of sending reports on the boiler operating condition, system pressure and any alarms via the internet to the user’s smartphone or tablet; even resetting a boiler lockout is possible.

Complete control Another advantage of IoT enabled devices is their compatibility with mobile technology and apps. The majority of smart thermostats have a corresponding app that can be accessed and operated from any location. So, whether an end user is away on holiday, out shopping or just working late, they can easily make sure that they’re coming home to a cosy house and a hot shower. This generation of smart controls can also make servicing easier and less

Help at hand Homeowners can also benefit from support and assistance. With some control solutions and the right systems in place, manufacturers can be permitted access to the boiler and have faults or problems flagged on their systems immediately. For instance, if connected to a compatible Vokèra boiler, BeSMART will alert both the customer and our service centre if something goes wrong, minimising disruption. There are also benefits to social housing landlords, private landlords and tenants. The cost and inconvenience of sending contractors out to check boilers in properties can be very expensive for landlords. For tenants, the wait or delay in getting their boiler serviced can result in significant problems or leave them completely without heating in the worst cases. With more vulnerable tenants, extra support for heating can be a critical requirement. Internet connected controls allow landlords to monitor servicing requirements and settings remotely to make sure no one is left without heating. The number of smart sensors and devices is only going to increase as technology develops. Connected/smart thermostats are set to revolutionise the way we heat homes and now is a great time for contractors to get to know smart products and what they can do for their clients. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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32 HEATING Controls

Putting the customer ﬁrst Installers are best placed to ensure that their customers know how to get the most from their heating system. Jon Phillips, Head of Product Management at Baxi, highlights the importance of understanding their needs.

ccording to the Energy Saving Trust (EST) heating accounts for about 60% of what we spend in a year on energy bills, so an efficient boiler makes a big difference. But a boiler must also be properly controlled so that it runs efficiently and its performance better matches the heat and/or hot water needs of the homeowner. Heating controls are included in Part L of the Building Regulations, and most recently in the Energy Labelling (ErP) legislation, which came into force in September 2015. Using the package energy labelling system, it’s easy to demonstrate to homeowners how a new suite of controls can represent a considerable improvement in the overall efficiency of an installation. It’s worth remembering that controls can also make a big difference to comfort levels and fuel bills, as well as reducing emissions. So it’s win-win for the homeowner and the environment.

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Modern high efficiency boilers can work with a number of different controls, ranging from basic room thermostats to the latest smart technology, which allows for remote operation of the heating system.

Basic requirements Room thermostats and TRVs should be viewed as standard for the heating system, and are a basic requirement for any property. According to the EST, installing and correctly using a basic room thermostat and TRVs in a typical three-bedroom semidetached home heated by gas could result in average annual savings of £80-£165 and up to 680kg of carbon dioxide. In most homes, it makes sense to go one step further and incorporate a programmable set of controls, which offer greater flexibility and more control over comfort levels and how much they are spending on energy. It is important to think about ease of use. If homeowners can’t

use their controls effectively, they are unlikely to see any benefits. Thankfully, many manufacturers have focused research and development on controls in recent years, and installers now have a suite of more user-friendly controls available to them. These include smart heating controls, which can be managed remotely through a smartphone or tablet. Homeowners can get an update on their current heating status, adjust the temperature or schedule the heating to go on or off before they get home. Some smart control units can also learn a user’s behaviour and typical temperatures, and can operate independently based on this learned data. All-singing, all-dancing smart controls won’t be for everyone though, so it’s worth taking the time to find out about the customer’s lifestyle and preference before recommending these. A busy household is more likely to benefit

from a smart control than a retired couple who are at home most of the time and may prefer using more traditional controls. As well as smart controls, there are also intelligent controls available on the market that work in much the same way as smart controls but do not require a connection to the internet. An example of an intelligent control is weather compensation. Some newer commercial boilers come fitted with weather compensation controls as standard, which allow the boiler to regulate its output in line with the temperature outside.

Informed decision It’s important that installers understand the needs of the customer as much as the needs of the property. At the beginning of every new job we would advise installers start with a full survey, taking into account what is already in place and opportunities for upgrading the

system as well as getting to know the customer and their routines. After every installation, installers should make time for a proper handover with the homeowner to ensure they are confident using their complete heating system – from the boiler to the controls. Skipping this step to save time and get to the next job is a false economy because if the homeowner is unable to get the most out of their system it will ultimately culminate with a call back for the installer. By taking extra time to guide the homeowner, installers can give customers a heating system which is tailored to their needs and contributes to lower energy bills and carbon emissions. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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HEATING Controls 33 TRVs use wireless Getting smart about latest controls communication New from Salus is a TRV pack featuring a digital thermostat and a battery-powered mini-sized t her most at ic radiator valve that can be w a l l-mou nt e d or freestanding. The temperature reading is taken from the thermostat and not the radiator, which is said to be more accurate than a conventional TRV, as this product is not affected by its surroundings, such as curtains hung near the radiator or direct sunlight. When the thermostat is used in conjunction with the Salus Universal Gateway, every room or zone can be internet-enabled and controlled via an app.

Game-changer European MD Dean Jepson says: “This pack is a game-changer in heating controls. For the first time, homeowners can now benefit from individual room control of their existing system that is highly efficient and reliable. And, when internet-enabled, they have the freedom and flexibility to maximise the comfort,

This heating season has seen more than 500 branches of Plumb and Parts Center become smart controls hubs, with Honeywell and Nest touring the country to offer hands-on training to staff and customers. Installers have been given the opportunity to ask the experts about new technologies as well as receive advice on how to upsell and introduce the features to their own customers. Simon Allan, Category Director for Smart Controls, comments: “The popularity of smart controls is set to continue to grow, opening up a striking market opportunity in the heating sector. Installers already own the skills to capitalise on this shift, they just need the support to go out and sell. We’re leading the way by becoming the only merchant to offer a full portfolio of smart controls.” All products in the smart controls range are available for next day delivery, both online and in-branch. www.plumbcenter.co.uk

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convenience and control of each room and make energy savings, too.” The TRV uses ZigBee wireless communication and can be fitted by simply replacing the existing, passive head on the standard radiator valve. Meanwhile, the batteryoperated thermostat features a touch sensitive button, and can be used as digital or programmable. It also boasts temporary override, and holiday, boost and schedule modes. Just one thermostat is needed to control up to three radiators, and further thermostats can be easily added to the system, if required. Dean Jepson adds: “From the installer’s perspective, the opportunities for upselling TRVs are endless.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Zone controller saves on space The zone controls range from Emmeti has been enhanced with the addition of the EWC-4 four channel wiring centre. The new product complements the existing EWC-1 and EWC-2 products. Its more compact shape saves on installation space and is cost effective for smallscale underfloor heating and wall hung radiator systems. For applications where independent zone control is required, the EWC-4 provides central electrical control to all system components. The EWC-4 has external timer/night setback inputs, four thermostat channels with dedicated electrothermic head wiring terminals, 230V UFH pump terminal, and a volt free boiler terminal for interlocking a mains or low voltage heat source. In addition, the EWC-4 incorporates power and operating LEDs – all this contained within a solid, compact case. www.emmeti.co.uk

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34 PRODUCTS in Action Fan convectors in Warm, fresh air for construction trainees the school library

Caspian Low Level fan convectors from Smith’s have provided the perfect heating solution for a newly refurbished school library. Established in 1935, Ashlyns School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Three old, dysfunctional fan heaters and a radiator have been replaced with four Caspian Low Level units as part of the library’s refurbishment. The school needed an updated system with the ability to heat the entire space quickly and efficiently. Safety was also a paramount concern. All Caspian Low Level models are fitted with tamper proof controls and ‘pencil-proof’ grilles and their low surface temperature means they are entirely safe. The fan convector’s ability to heat large spaces quickly and effectively, their compatibility with the existing heating system and low noise were other reasons why the Caspian heaters were considered ideal for the project. www.SmithsEP.co.uk

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Trainees learning building trades at a Skills Centre in Birmingham are enjoying a comfortable learning environment all year round, thanks to an Econo-Air warm air unit, manufactured by Stokvis Energy Systems. The Econo-Air DF14 VAV 650 was selected for the Erdington Skills Centre by Robinson Cartwright Design (RCD), while Cannock-based E H Humphries was the specialist M&E installer carrying out the work on the

new-build project. The unit will not only provide heating during the winter months,

but has also been specified to provide ample fresh air during hotter weather for a

total heating and ventilation solution. Design coordinator for RCD, Will Wright, says: “Erdington Skills Centre has a lot of trainees in close proximity, so it was important to provide a fresh air supply. It is also potentially a dirty environment so having the ability to provide positive pressure and fresh air within the space helps to create a healthier environment.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Pipework for district heating project As part of Sheffield City Council’s district heating project, Rehau’s Rauvitherm specialist pre-insulated polymer pipework has been used to replace steel pipework in two social housing developments, where there was the problem of leaks. Rauvitherm PE-Xa pipe was used because of the longterm benefits of polymer over steel, including the corrosion resistance of PE-Xa and the ease and speed of installation. The Sheffield project involved the replacement of pipework in two separate networks feeding nearly 170 properties in total. On one of the projects, all of the distribution pipework from the plant room into the individual properties has been replaced, using a variety of pipe sizes from the extensive Rauvitherm range.

www.rehau.co.uk/districtheating

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Delivering the skills that employers need SummitSkills, the standard setting organisation for the building services industry, will close in March this year. Chief Executive Nigel Hollett looks at some of the organisation’s achievements and outlines some of the training challenges that lie ahead for the industry.

t’s said that the only constant is change and that is never truer than in the world of skills. For over 12 years SummitSkills has steered the plumbing industry and wider building services engineering (BSE) sector through the myriad of policy changes affecting the skills and training landscape. Throughout this time the industry has looked to SummitSkills to be the guardian of industry standards and ensure, Nigel Hollett, Chief Executive above all, that the needs of SummitSkills and views of businesses on the ground are taken into account when qualifications and the skills agenda are being developed and revised. We’re sad to report that in March 2017, for reasons beyond our control, SummitSkills will no longer be in operation. But we’re also proud of what we have achieved in that time to provide a strong voice for the BSE sector and champion its needs at government level. Plans are currently being developed to ensure that our areas of work will be protected or taken over, and further details will be provided when confirmed.

Flexible approach Positioning the BSE sector as a distinct set of employers, separate to the construction industry, is something we have campaigned hard for and have succeeded in. Our message was always clear – there is not a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to the specific needs of the plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilating, refrigeration and air conditioning industries, and so we must look at each discretely to ensure the skills needs of each are addressed. Just as one size does not fit all for construction and building services, we have been as equally conscious to work across all four nations of the UK, as a blanket approach would not have sufficed. With each successive Government having differing skills agendas, funding mechanisms and, in Scotland, different qualifications, we have always dedicated time and effort to make sure the employer voices in all four countries are heard.

Up to standard One of our key areas of work and achievement has been the sector’s National Occupational Standards (NOS), which describe the competencies required for each occupation and ultimately form the basis of qualifications. SummitSkills’ role was to bring together employers, trade associations, professional bodies and other partners to ensure the NOS developed for each industry are appropriate to relevant working practices, technology and legislation. As new technology and regulations are introduced, qualifications and NOS have to be updated to reflect these changes, so our role was to make sure this happened in a way that met with employer needs. Just as NOS underpin qualifications, apprentice frameworks form the basis of apprentice training programmes and it has been important to safeguard the sector’s apprentice frameworks. Our job was to revise and introduce new frameworks in line with new developments,

so that the workforce of tomorrow have the right skills and training to prepare them for life in the industry. Once an apprentice completes their training, they receive an apprenticeship completion certificate – for over a decade SummitSkills has issued these certificates, amounting to over 23,000 certificates in the last four years alone. It has been encouraging not only to see the numbers completing their training each year, but also to fulfil this important role for apprentices and their training providers, to mark the point they graduate into a fully skilled worker.

Promoting skills In addition to our sector and UK-wide work to cover NOS, qualifications and apprenticeships, we’ve also been involved in numerous specific projects that target a particular skills need at the time. This might have involved running a local training initiative to upskill workers with regional funding support, or working with Government to ensure only industry-recognised training was used to retrain redundant workers and help them back into jobs. We’ve also been a champion of promoting BSE skills to the ‘outside world’, whether it’s via our careers material and widely-used careers map, or the SkillPLUMB and associated skills competitions which we ran for a number of years and provided a great showcase for craft skills to students and parents.

Looking ahead So what next for the future of skills in the BSE sector? As always, employers will be ultimately affected by changes at Government level. The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy and how this might be filtered down to SMEs through the supply chain is still to be clarified. The Government has stated its commitment to allowing levy-paying employers to transfer training funds to other employers or training agencies. In theory this has great potential for companies in our sector who subcontract to larger construction companies, but if and how it comes about remains to be seen. Traditionally in our sector SMEs represent the vast majority of apprenticeship recruiters, so we are keen for this industry to become rewarded and not alienated with the introduction of the levy.

The annual SkillPLUMB competition has been an effective showcase for promoting craft skills within the industry

However, the challenge will be for the sector to remain close to the new Institute for Apprenticeships during this process of reform and ensure BSE employer voices are heard. The Government has made it clear that in England employers will take full control in the design of the standards by considering what is needed to move into employment and then working backwards. If it’s done correctly it can help to position technical education as a viable and more attractive alternative to academic study at 16+. It’s something we have long sought to achieve and we wish our trade association partners well in taking forward this work on behalf of the sector.

New routes In England, the Government’s Skills Plan outlines proposals that will change the plumbing training landscape. The thrust of the plan is to reform technical education and bring it on par with academic study. Current vocational training will be streamlined to ultimately create 15 routes across all technical education – these routes will group occupations together to reflect where there are shared training requirements. Within these routes, there will be only one approved technical level qualification at Level 2 or 3 for each occupation or cluster of occupations. The details of how this might work are still not clear, but within the Construction route there might be one approved technical qualification for plumbing, one for ductwork installation, and so on. How this works in practice will become clearer as this year progresses, but the idea of removing complexity and duplication in the system is a good one. We also welcome any move to ensure that the NVQ is the clear standard to meet in order to join the industry. ENQUIRY

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36 Training & Education

Taking a closer look at showers It used to be the case that one shower was like any other, but technological advances have made this market sector a bit more challenging when it comes to specification and repair. Carol Hitchcock visited Triton’s installer training course to find out what it has to offer.

hen you fit a shower, do you understand what is happening behind the casing to deliver an as-expected performance? Is it easy to diagnose problems when you’re called out to a customer’s home? Are you confident with electric showers? If you answered no to any of these questions, you might find it useful to take some time off and sit in on one of Triton’s courses. Not many shower manufacturers offer training, but Triton recognises that there are some who would like to know more about their shower installations and to build their confidence. I recently joined a two-day course that covered electric showers on the first day and mixer and power showers on the second (you can take the one or the other, but it’s worth staying for both – either way, it’s free). The 13 installers in attendance were not there to learn how to fit a shower – they already know how to do that. Instead, their purpose was to get a greater understanding of the range of technologies so they can provide a better service to their customers and be able to quickly diagnose faults when they are called out to resolve an issue.

Who’s in charge? Steve Saunders, Senior Technical Manager, is responsible for leading Triton’s training. An experienced plumbing and heating engineer, Steve brings decades of experience that helps us easily understand both the workings of showers as well as the pitfalls to look out for and the professional tricks that will ensure a happy customer. Steve runs his courses with a minimum of Power Point slides and plenty of example parts and products to get your hands on. The day includes both theory and practical, and throughout he encourages questions and lively discussion among the students. Steve described the installers on the course I attended as having years of experience. He told me: “They may be fitting boilers and plumbing systems proficiently, but some will have learned shower installation by trial and error, learning on the job as they went along. There isn’t a great deal of knowledge provided at the college level, so this course will give them a better appreciation of the variety of showers on the market. Many are here because they have gone out to repair a shower and couldn’t find the problem. That can lead to replacing a shower that still has years of life left in it.”

Electric showers Steve begins day one with an overview of how electric showers work – there’s more going on in them than you might think. We break down all the components inside and get an insight into the features of operation from a user’s point of view. In essence, we find out about the controls and what they are supposed to do from the front, and equally what’s going on inside the box. “Once they understand how it works,” explains Steve, “we make sure they know

Steve Saunders introduces installers to the fundamentals of electric shower technology

how to get the pressure and flow rates right, and that is where most of them tend to be unfamiliar. They fit a lot of showers but many have never thought about pressure and flow, and how to test them. There are times a shower goes in and it doesn’t work from day one for these reasons. That’s why it’s important to be well versed in this area of knowledge.” Steve also shows us how to diagnose an electric shower using a test meter. Many of the installers on the course were looking for a better understanding of this process in particular. Testing electrical components is a good way to know if you just need a new part or whether it’s a better idea (and cheaper) to replace it completely. Sometimes the problem may be as simple as a blocked filter, or absolutely nothing related to the shower itself, such as poor water pressure. Steve covers the whole gamut of how electric showers work so we will know which ones to specify to meet customers’ expectations. Knowing what is required on the plumbing and electrics means the shower is more likely to work as it should, and if something does go wrong, installers will know to check the supplies as much as the product itself.

Mixers showers Pressure and flow rates are also important issues when it comes to mixer showers, and this is a recurring theme on day two. You’ve got to ask yourself what pressures are you working with and consider other factors such as the height of the cold water cistern above the showerhead and restrictions within the system, such as pipes, fittings and valves. There is more to installing mixer showers than connecting the hot and cold water services and slapping it on the wall. Steve tells us: “You have to understand what is suitable for the plumbing of the house, whether it’s a low or high pressure system, whether it’s gravity or mains fed, and so on, to specify the right product to get the best effect. It’s also important to warn the client that simultaneous draw-offs of hot water may affect the temperature

Testing the water pressure in the workshop

of the shower if it’s not thermostatic.” they see you’ve done an installer course. It He says that in his experience as an gives them a bit more confidence in you.” Another installer, who has done gas instructor, he finds that many of his students don’t understand the pressures within a work for years, said he signed up to Triton system as a whole, which is why this is a because he recently added bathrooms big message of the day. “Some don’t give any to his service offering. “I started doing thought as to what they are connecting on bathrooms six months ago, relying on a to. Take boilers for example. They provide bit of guess work with showers. This course the hot water, but do you know if it’s a combi was helpful because we could break down on the system and what difference this can the equipment. I found out there was more make? And if so, have you checked the kW to it than I thought.” Learning to troubleshoot electric showers output? These things should be accounted for.” Over the course of the day, we look closely was the main point for another. He said to me: “It was an eye-opener at the wide variety of to see the various tests I can mixers on the market, from “Showers are more do on showers. I feel much manual valves through to complex than most more confident in myself digital showers to pumps. We get to take apart and people think they are” and feel that I can provide my customers with a better handle the components, service. It was also good to hear other people’s and when we go into the workshop we are able experiences in fitting showers.” to conduct tests for temperature and pressure. One of the younger installers said: “You We consider a wide range of installation issues as well as commissioning requirements and don’t want to go into someone’s house and be faced with something you’re not familiar handing over to the end user. with. If you take advantage of these courses, Installer opinion they make you better at what you do and During the breaks, I spoke with the students you’re more marketable to customers.” on the course about why they had chosen Concluding the day, Steve told me: to attend Triton’s shower course. Virtually “Showers are more complex than most people every one of them said their main aim was think they are. Years ago showers were all the to get confidence with electric showers. One same, but now we use all sorts of different told me: “I don’t know much about electric devices to improve the performance. We are showers, and it worries me, even though developing new technology all the time, and I have Part P. I fit a bunch of showers but I it’s important to stay on top of it. Hopefully just wanted to know about the parts and how they go away a bit more the wiser.” they work and why they might fail. It was really helpful when we broke down all the How to sign up components and did fault finding. That was Triton’s free shower training courses are held more of what I was interested in.” at its head office in Nuneaton throughout One of the students had come over from the year. The next opportunity to join is 21 Ireland for this course because he wanted February, and you can register online. The to understand the fundamentals of the day starts at 10am and runs to 4pm, with showers he was working on. “I do a bit of coffee breaks and a free hot lunch in the property service work, and one of the bigger Triton canteen included. brands they use is Triton, so this training To sign up for an installer training course will help me there. The other thing is, from a from Triton, visit the website below. customer point of view, training looks good ENQUIRY No. 132 www.tritonshowers.co.uk when you are trying to sell your service and

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January 2017

Get ready for R32 system installs For a complete overview of how to install and commission R32 systems, Daikin UK offers courses that incorporate both theory and hands-on training. With the introduction of the 2015 F-gas regulations and the EN378 update, Daikin says it is essential that installers are not only moving towards using lower environmental impact refrigerants such as R32, but should also feel confident when installing the new systems. To ensure this, Daikin UK has designed and launched a new training course called ‘R32 System Installations – Are you ready?’ to provide a

comprehensive understanding of R32 systems as well as best practice for installation, commissioning and servicing. Exploring the F-Gas and EN378 updates and the future of the sector, the course covers in detail all aspects of working with R32 systems, such as handling, safety, transportation and storage. In addition, to accompany the theory-based session, a practical session details the specific tool requirements and attention points during R32 system installation, commissioning, repair, and pump down. Available at Daikin UK Air

Conditioning training centres in Woking, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow and at the DoubleTree Hilton in Nottingham, the programme runs until the end of March. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Water regulations and more The new 2017 training programme from The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) includes one day courses on water regulations; Legionella cold water risk assessment and disin-fection; sanitary and above ground drainage; and wetroom design and installation. The courses are delivered at APHC’s offices in the West Midlands and are open to all plumbing and heating businesses in England and Wales.

However, if a business has a requirement of eight or more employees needing to attend a course, then APHC can deliver their programme of one-day courses off-site at an employer’s premises or at a suitable local location. Graeme Dryden, APHC’s Technical Services Manager, says: “I can’t emphasise enough just how important it is for plumbers and heating engineers to keep up to date with new technologies and to develop their existing

skills. Not just from a safety and compliance point of view, but additionally from a commercial point to ensure they have the skills to capitalise on growing markets such as wetrooms, which is forecast to increase by 34% between 2014 and 2019, making it the fastest growing sector of the UK bathroom market.” For information on the courses available, price and schedule, please visit the website: aphc.co.uk/training_ information.asp

Preparing for Passivhaus The Comfo Air Q MVHR system from Zehnder is part of a new training initiative designed to help tradespeople upskill in Fabric First and Passivhaus building methods. The Fabric First Institute opened its doors last November to address the shortage of installers with the skills necessary to carry out work to the Passivhaus standard. The Institute has been made possible by grant funding from the New Anglia Skills Deal and by the donation of materials and equipment by project partners, including Zehnder Group UK. The training programme will be run by energy and sustainability experts Whole House Energy at Easton College in Norwich. The aim is to begin a step-change in

construction practices. The Institute has constructed a bespoke Fabric First demonstration unit, which is a small fourwalled stage-set house incorporating construction fabric types to showcase how energy standards can be met

in all buildings. Zehnder’s ComfoAir Q heat-generation heat recovery system with associated ductwork and grilles is amongst the demonstration unit’s energyefficient technologies. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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38 Training & Education

A good time to be an apprentice The recently introduced Apprenticeship Standards means there has never been a better time for employers to think about recruiting and training apprentices. Paul Guise, Curriculum Manager at Leeds College of Building, looks at the opportunities for industry to grow.

kills shortages currently being experienced in the industrial heating, ventilating and air conditioning industries can only be addressed through the ongoing training and development of talented young engineers who have a passion and dedication for the trade. Contractors need qualified workers that can be trained professionally whilst also working on site. Leeds College of Building is the only specialist further and higher education construction college in the UK, so we firmly understand just how much businesses can benefit when we train their new recruits.

Financial backing The majority of companies that send their apprentices to us receive financial grants and funding to support the training of young heating and air conditioning engineers. Next year this is set to change, which will make it easier for many companies to remain committed to quality training, which means that we can remain committed to producing the next generation of qualified construction workers and help to ease the current skills shortages. Under the recently introduced Apprenticeship Standards, which are designed by employers for employers, apprenticeships are even more geared towards supporting businesses to grow and prosper. Plus, as part of the changes, at the end of the apprenticeship, the apprentice is put through a rigorous end point assessment to ensure they really can do the job they have trained for. There are also many more apprenticeship standards in the pipeline that will be introduced over the coming months and years. In addition, and depending on the age of the apprentice and the size of the company they work for, the Government may fund the full cost of the apprentice’s external training, and in some cases extra incentives are available for apprentices aged 16-18 years old. All this combines to make apprenticeships even more popular and we are confident that our apprentice numbers will continue to grow, especially because our heating, ventilating and air conditioning courses have always been amongst the most popular here at Leeds College of Building. Under the new standards, we will offer Level 2

Emphasis on the hands-on aspect Mr Combi is calling on installers who may be suffering joint and back problems after years of boiler installations to join his courses focused on diagnostics and wiring. “Installing boilers is for young people,” says George Staszak. “When we get to 40, our body says No! What next? Clever installers learn how to fix them, correct badly installed systems – there’s George Staszak: Mr Combi loads and loads of them – change old rubbish controls and systems, learn how to set up boilers, make them lean and green, not gas guzzlers.” George runs training courses in Bedford that include one for using a multimeter to diagnose faults and test parts, and a wiring course that covers Danfoss and Honeywell controls. He says: “Hands-on is the best way to learn this difficult job, but with coloured course notes and drawings we make it easier to get a new skill. I won’t let you fail!” www.mrcombi.com

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Apprenticeships are geared to help businesses prosper

Leeds College of Building offers Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships

and Level 3 Apprenticeships to people already working in the industry or those who have secured a work placement. These courses can take between two and four years to complete. In addition we offer a wide range of part time courses for those looking to move into the heating and ventilation industry. To get into our college, school leavers need to pass a strict entry test that looks at their numeracy and literacy capabilities. As it’s one of the more demanding trades, we need to be certain that those joining us can handle what lies ahead.

are the very best in the country, and this is something we are all very proud of. The courses are very well thought of by the industry, and we have many award winning students who have competed at the large national and international trade competitions like World Skills and the National Apprentice of the Year. We attract more heating, ventilating and air conditioning apprentices than any other educational establishment in the country and have students from as far afield as Scotland and London. The feedback we receive from employers and students is always incredibly positive, with all parties seeing the benefit in working with the College. We are very privileged to be involved in such a dedicated and talented industry and it’s so rewarding to see the progress of our students and the positive impact of their learning on the businesses they work for. We now also regularly train a second generation of apprentices, with many of our former apprentices sending us their latest young recruits, which is the ultimate endorsement of what we do.

Businesses of all sizes The businesses that send apprentices to us range from small owner managed companies to medium sized family-run firms and then a lot of the larger PLCs that operate in the UK and across Europe. What all of these businesses have in common is a desire to access quality training that ultimately saves themselves time and money. All the apprentices that come to Leeds College of Building are working towards an industry recognised qualification and their employers all see huge benefits from them learning with us. Our courses, as well as our team of lecturers and support staff, workshops, and assessment centres really

Find out more For more information about the college and its courses visit www.lcb.ac.uk or call 0113 222 6000.

Installer events focus on shower pumps A series of installer events are planned for this year by Salamander, the shower pump manufacturer. The evening events will be held at local merchants and give installers a chance to talk to experts about the latest pump technology and discuss any issues they might have. They will also be able to see demonstrations of Salamander’s brass CT Force range and its mains booster pump, HomeBoost, which is designed for combi boiler systems struggling with low water pressure.

The company will also promote its online training modules. Installers who complete them are eligible to

join the Plumbers Network, which gives them access to an added value support package including sales leads, training, advertising and product offers and promotions. The installer events kick off in the South West, beginning in Weybridge on 10th January, followed by Redruth on the 11th and then Liskeard on the 12th. For more information on the roadashow and to find out how to attend, please contact Claire Thompson on 0191 516 2002.

Qualification for industrial engineers I-GAS is a new qualification tailored to contractors, maintenance technicians and gas operatives working with gas in industrial premises. Training and certification is a legal requirement for domestic and commercial gas engineers, but until now

there hasn’t been a scheme tailored to the industrial sector. The I-Gas Industrial Accreditation Scheme has been developed by the CEA to fill this gap. There are five levels to the I-GAS scheme. Training for all levels is delivered

as a mix of practical assessments and written exams. The course levels are comprehensive, from level one which is aimed at people with limited experience, to level five which is aimed at industrial gas designers. I-Gas is not

a substitute for Gas Safe qualifications. It is described as a test of a person’s competence to work with gas-fired equipment. For more information about I-GAS courses, please contact training@kiwa.co.uk or call 01242 662121

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TRAINING DIRECTORY 39

39 Training & Assessment 1st TRAINING LTD ASSESSMENT & TRAINING CENTRE Domestic and Commercial, ACS, NG, LPG and appliances, Un-vented hot water TEL: Huntingdown (01480) 450 872 www.1st-training.co.uk 1st Training Ltd info@1st-training.co.uk 1st TRAINING

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40 TR TRAINING RAINING & E Education ducation New N ew facility facility open open T Take ake ttime ime o out ut ffor or wetroom wetroom ttraining rainin ng tto o professionals professionals s

A new new Professional Professional Development Development C Centre entre (PDC) (PDC) has has been been opened by Doncaster. off o pened b y Polypipe Polypipe in in D oncaster. The The manufacturer manufacturer o above ab ove and and below below ground g round drainage, drainage, plastic plastic plumbing plumbing and and underfloor u nder floor heating heating has has teamed teamed up up with with training training provider prrovider BPEC B PEC tto o ensure ensure that that installers installers can can keep keep up up to to date date with with the the developments. iindustry’s ndustr y’s technological technolog ical de velopments. Courses C ourses on on offer offe er include include a BPEC BPEC accredited accredited course course in in the the off w warm iinstallation nstallation o arm water wat ater underfloor underfloor heating heating systems, systems, and and ventilation a two-day two-day training training programme prog ramme for for domestic domestic v entilation installers incorporates and in stallers which which in cor porates ttheoretical heoretical ttraining rainin ng a nd practical exercises. p ractical e xercises. Head off M Marketing Rachel Smith comments: new PDC He ad o arketing R achel S mith c omments: ““The The n ew P DC will also help us gap head on by working w ill a lso h elp u s ttackle ackle tthe he sskills k i l ls g ap h ead o nb orking yw with and colleges w ith schools schools a nd c olleges to to help help train train the the plumbers plumbers of of the the ffuture, uture, and and will will also also ensure ensure that that Polypipe Polypipe continues continues to to serve serve workforce by developing new tthe he local local and and national national w orkfor o ce b y de veloping ne w ttalent.” alent.” www.polypipeufh.com/rin www .polypipeuf h.com/rin

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Following iits Following ts p popular opular ‘‘We We Are A re Wetrooms’ Wetrooms’ UK UK tour tour last last year, y ear, IImpey mpey has has announced announced n ew ttraining raining d ates ffor or 2 017. new dates 2017. The company T he c ompany argues argues that that a n understanding understanding of of how how to to an design d esign a and nd fit fit a wetroom wetroom is is an a n essential essential skill skill in in today’s today y’s market m arket and and has has responded responded tto o demand demand by by providing p oviding pr wetiinformative nformative ‘‘hands-on’ hands-on’ w etrroom oom installation installation training. tra r ining. The T he ‘We ‘We are are Wetrooms’ Wetrooms’ 2017, which ttour our 2 017, w hich sstarts tarts iin n March and M arch a nd runs runs through through to to November, No vember, sstarts tarts at at Ascot Ascot Racecourse R acecourse in in Berkshire B rkshire Be and a nd will will then then be be staged staged at at 10 10 other easy-access o ther e asy-ac access ssporting porting

venues. The day courses venues. T he one one d ay c ourses incorporate incorporate training training on on all all of of Impey’s wetroom Impey’s w etroom m solutions, solutions, including including g the the AquaDec AquaDec EasyFit EasyFit floor floor former former and and the the AquaDec AquaDec Linear Linear floor floor former. fo ormer.

The The Waterguard Watterguard tanking tanking solution and AquaGrade solution a nd tthe he A quaGrade and and AquaGrade AquaG Grade Linear Linear screed screed templates templates for for new new pour pour concrete concrete floors floors will will also also be be addressed. addressed.

ailored pr p ogramme a nd A ttailored programme and small group ensure small g roup ssizes izes e nsure that thatt there off opportunity there is is plenty plenty o opportunity for for all all attendees attendees tto o iinteract nteract in in the the hands-on hands-on n demonstrations demonstrations and and participate participate in in one-to-one one-to-one Q&As with Q&As w ith tthe he IImpey mpey ttraining raining team, by Technical team, led led b y T echnical Manager Manager Shaun Shaun Hunt. Hunt. With With a maximum maximum of of 25 25 places places available av vailable b on on each each day, day y, interested interested iinstallers nstallers sshould hould ensure contact ensure tthey hey c ontact tthe he IImpey mpey Training Training Centre Centre as as soon soon as as possible possible to to secure secure a place. place. There There is is a one-off one-off rregistration egistration fee of of £15. £15. To To reserve reserve a place place fee visit: v isit: www.impeyshowers. w w w.impeyshowers. com/wearewetrooms com/wearew wetrooms

Free F ree tto oa attend ttend ccommercial ommercial seminars seminars A series series o off C CIBSE-accredited IBSE-accredited CPD are on offer C PD sseminars eminars a re o no ffer ffrom rom H Hamworthy amworthy He Heating. ating. The company T he c ompany ssays ays it it has h as already already ttaught aught over over 1600 1 600 pr professionals ofessionals ab about out energy rrefurbishment, efurbishment, energ y efficiency e fficiency a and nd reducing reducing energy e nerg y consumption consumption iin n commercial c ommercial heating heating and and

hot water applications. The hot w ater a pplications. T he courses courses can can be be booked booked on on a flexible basis flexible b asis tthroughout hroughout the the year year at at a location location of of the the customer’s customer’s choice, choice, and and three are currently three sseminars eminars a re c urrently available: available: ‘Best Heating ‘Best Practice Practice He eating & Hot Hot Water Water Plant Plant Refurbishment’ Refurbishment’ looks att the looks a the best best way way y to to carry car r y out out an an assessment assessment of of the the current current heating heating and and hot hot water water plant. plant. It It covers covers how how to to conduct conduct a plant plant rroom oom ssite ite survey sur vey in in order order to to identify identif y areas areas of of non-compliance non-comp pliance as well as opportunities as w ell a so pportunities for for improvement. improvement. It It explores explores best best practice practice in refurbishment refurbishment projects and projects a nd how how to to achieve achieve speed on minimising any speed o n ssite, ite, m inimising a ny potential downtime. potential d owntime. ‘Energy Saving in ‘Energ y Saving in Commercial Commercial Heating Heating and and Hot Hot Water’ looks looks a racticalities Water’ att p practicalities of of how how to to save save energy energ y in in commercial commercial heating heating and and hot water projects, and hot w ater pr ojjects, a nd tthen hen quantifies quantifies those those savings savings from from the whole-life perspective. the w hole-life p erspective. Real Real energy energy saving sav ving examples examples are explored, as are e xplored, ssuch uch a s comparing compar ing the the total total life life costs modular costs of of mo dular condensing condensing

boilers over boilers ov er ttraditional raditional atmospheric and atmospher ic a nd ssteel teel sshell hell boilers. boilers. ‘Best ‘Best Practice Practice in in Domestic Domestic Hot Hot Water’ Water’ is is split split into into five five modules and covers modules a nd c overs ttopics opics such design, such as as system system d esign, safety safety issues, issues, water water ttreatment, reatment, legislation and leg islation a nd iincentives.: ncentives.: A look both pending and look at at b oth p ending a nd current UK and EU current U Ka nd E U llegislation, egislation, including ErP, WRAS, HSE L8 including E rP, W RAS, H SE L 8 and and HSG274. HSG274.

Time T ime w well elll spe spent nt One rrecent One ecent attendee, attendee, Damien Damien Norton No rton from from the the Norton Norton Group G roup ((pictured), pictured), ssays ays he was w as v very er y iimpressed mprressed b by y tthe he content c ontent o off tthe he sseminars: eminars:

“They a “They are re ttime ime w well ell spent!” spent!” he give you h e ssays. ays. ““They They g ive y ou a good g ood iinsight nsightt into into different different products and as well p roducts a nd sservices ervices a sw ell ass best a best practices practices for for designing designing and a nd looking looking a after fter h heating eatting and and water hot w ater ssystems. ystems. ““The The E Energy nerg y S Saving aving C CPD PD gave us good understanding g ave u sag ood u nderstanding iinto nto w why hy h higher igher upfront upfront c costs osts ffor or llong ong llasting asting pr oducts w ill products will pay This p ay off off down down the the line. line. T h is has our h as helped helped us us explain explain tto oo ur customers c ustomers tthe he iimportance mportance off llooking o ooking at at lifetime lifetime costs, costs, particular when iin n p articular w hen tthey hey are a re considering consider e ing cheaper cheaper alternatives.” a lternatives.” PHAM P HAM N NEWS EWS ENQUIRY ENQUIRY No. No.

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Good G ood way way to to boost boost business business Available A vailable from from B Baxi axi iis s a rrange ange of of free f re e ttraining raining courses courses and and a accredited ccredited ccourses ourses ffrom rom 1 15 5 ttraining raining ccentres entres a across cross the the UK UK and a nd IIreland. reland. C Courses ourses a are re d delivered elivered iin n a rrelaxed elaxed and and friendly friendly atmosphere atmosphere and and iinclude nclude training training on on boiler boiler diagnostics, diagnostics, system s yste em w wiring, iriing, ccombi ombi b boiler oile er a and nd multimeter multimete er ttraining. raining. ““With With a n new ew y year ear underway, under way, many many iinstallers nstallers w ill be be considering considering how how they they will ccan an boost boost their their business business and and their their profits,” profits,” says s ays Baxi’s Baxi’s National National Training Training Manager, Manager,, Steve S t e ve O Owen. wen. ““One One o off tthe he b best est w ways ays tto o d o tthis his iis s tto o ensure en nsure that that your your training training iis s do ENQUIRY

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ttopped opped u pa nd tthat hat you’re you’re e up up to to date date e with with up and tthe he latest latest b best est p practice. ractice. ““Most Most installers installers w work ork k ffor or tthemselves hemselves a and nd as a m manufacturer anufacturer we we understand understand tthat hat ttime ime iis sm money oney a and nd a day day spent spent away away ffrom rom wo work rk ccan an ffeel eel llike ike a lo loss, oss, b but ut tthe he rright ight ttraining raining course course ccan an b be e iinstrumental nstrumental iin n h helping elping a h heating eating en engineer gineerr to to sell sell more more s services er v ices or or products products to to their their customers. customers. O Over ver ti time ime tthis his m means eans th the he fi financial nancial benefits benefits ccan an e easily asily o outweigh ut weigh tthat hat rrelatively elatively s small mall iinvestment nvestment o off a d day ay o orr ttwo wo o out ut o off w work.” ork k.” PHAM P HAM N NEWS EWS ENQUIRY ENQUIRY No. No.

www.baxi.co.uk/training w w w.baxi.co.uk /training

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Installation success first time around If you’ve lacked the confidence to undertake your first underfloor heating project there’s plenty of support available for first time installers. We asked UFH experts Nu-Heat to highlight some of the key areas that will need to be addressed in order to achieve a successful installation without previous experience.

n underfloor heating system can provide an efficient way to heat a home that also frees up wall space and makes every floor covering feel luxurious. The big bonus for heating and plumbing engineers is that UFH is simple to install in a wide range of projects. But if you’ve never worked with UFH before, we know that there are bound to be some questions that need answering. For example, how do you choose the right UFH system? Is training necessary? And how much support might you need?

Team effort First off, you should spend some time selecting a reputable supplier to work with. Before settling on a company, it’s a good idea to ask for examples of the design outputs (electrical and wiring diagrams, manifold positions, tube layouts, pipework sizing back to the boiler, etc.), installation manuals, and information on how they can support you during the installation. A good supplier will provide you with helpful advice on how to choose the right system for each job and you ought to be offered a site visit for trickier installations. Site visits can be very helpful, allowing you to get together with your

Tips for installers

With the right system design and back-up support there’s no reason why an installer should run into any problems

supplier and customer on site to talk through the details of the project. All of these elements make a big difference, especially when you are first getting started with UFH.

Watch and learn

Design service When it comes to installing UFH, the quality of the system design can make all the difference. A bespoke design should always come as standard for any multi-zone system you work with. Aside from the tube layout drawings that make the system easy to install, a design will also give you and your customer complete confidence that the UFH will effectively heat the property. Your system designer will take all of the work related to heat losses and system performance off of your hands, giving you more time to focus on the installation.

Training course

• Speak with your customer about how they would like to use and control their heating early on. This helps with zoning the system during the design stage and the choice of thermostats. • Consider where the UFH manifold could be located. Is there a suitable space, such as under the stairs or in an existing cupboard? • Always install the UFH as per the design drawings. Straying from these could affect the response times, the heat distribution, and the amount of materials supplied. If you are unsure, give your supplier a call. • Check you are using the correct loops of UFH tube for each room. Specific lengths of tube are often supplied and labelled for each zone, as per the design, to save on wastage. • Use a marker pen to label which zone the tube corresponds to. This avoids any confusion with manifold connections and ensures the room stats are paired correctly. • Always pressure-test the system and keep it pressurised during a concrete pour to ensure that everything is working as required before it is covered.

An experienced supplier will provide detailed design drawings and clear manuals to help you install your first system. However, if you want to build your confidence and familiarise yourself with the various UFH options on offer and how these are installed, you could consider booking onto a supplier’s training course. These tend to cover the key installation considerations for UFH and a run-through of the solutions on offer. Training sessions are a good way to check out the quality of the systems, when you would recommend them and the level of support you can access, and for this reason they are worth the small fee. Some suppliers also have a selection of online resources, such as short installation videos, that give you an overview of the different UFH systems on offer and how they are fitted.

Read the manual It sounds obvious, but it’s really important that you follow the installation manual before fitting the UFH. The manual will make you aware of any prep, such as repairing or levelling floors, that is essential before the tube can be laid as per the CAD layout drawings. This ensures a straightforward installation, avoiding any delays or call-backs that could have been avoided.

Support options Need some reassurance when setting up the manifold, or at any point throughout the installation? Remember that you can always ask your supplier for help. At Nu-Heat we have a dedicated and qualified technical support team who

Nu- Heat has produced a series of short videos to help explain how the most popular UFH systems are installed. The videos feature Lee Woodhatch, one of the company’s Registered Installers, who has been fitting UFH systems for more than 10 years. Videos in the series include a demonstration of how to install screed systems, the installation of Nu-Heat’s ClippaPlate system (for suspended timber and upper floors) and laying down the company’s LoPro system. “The complete, bespoke package that Nu-Heat delivers is great,” says Lee. “The design process, literature and the people we deal with day-to-day are superb. The Technical Support team is always there for me to tap into, as well as giving support to my customers. Knowing that Nu-Heat provides all that I need cuts out the headaches for me.” are always happy to help installers with any questions before, during or after installation. You can recommend UFH in a wide range of projects, whether a new-build, renovation, or extension. It’s a versatile heating solution that can be installed throughout a whole property, on one floor, or in just one room. Make the most of this opportunity by enlisting your supplier’s help. You could access website support (such as photos, videos and info on UFH), support to produce promotional flyers explaining the benefits of UFH, or even free product samples. www.nu-heat.co.uk

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Efficient transfer of heat beneath the feet With advances in technology, there are more and more applications for underfloor heating systems. Here, Michael Bennett , Giacomini UK’s Sales and Design Manager, discusses how UFH is increasingly being selected for retrofit projects as a means of boosting efficiency.

ith the fifth carbon budget set midlast year, the UK must now adapt to the ambitious new targets for cutting UK carbon emissions (57% by 2032 on 1990 levels). To support these ambitions, new methods to improve the efficiency of existing nondomestic properties has gained greater attention, with the sector accounting for approximately 17% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions. With around Michael Bennett, Giacomini 1.8 million non-domestic buildings in the UK, the challenge is big but the industry is adapting.

Right for retrofit Underfloor heating companies, like Giacomini UK, are facing up to the challenge by developing new systems to enhance the suitability of wet underfloor heating, more specifically in retrofit projects. Building regulations parts L1 and L2 were produced as a way of outlining how companies can help to reduce CO2 emissions. As underfloor heating works at much lower temperatures than traditional radiator systems, and also produces much higher levels of comfort, its popularity continues to grow within projects that are looking to reduce emissions. It is also estimated that in commercial properties underfloor heating can reduce heating costs by up to 40% when compared to the energy costs of conventional radiator or hot air heating systems. Previously, the main deterrent of installing underfloor heating into existing properties was the reduction in room

The Spider system can be embedded into 25-35mm of screed

Low profile UFH is ideal for retrofit applications

height, due to increased floor build-ups once insulation and screed were added. In order to address these concerns, low profile systems have been developed which can be laid on top of existing concrete or suspended timber floors. For example, our new Spider system has a patented geometry that enables the underf loor heating system to be embedded in to just 25-35mm of screed, making it perfect for retrofit projects.

rather than a traditional screeded floor from around 80mm, the saving in floor heights is around 69%.

Low on floor height The Spider system is available with a 6mm layer of HD insulation glued to the underside of the panels, reducing downward heat losses, whilst keeping the floor build-up to a minimum. Since releasing our new low profile system, we’ve had growing interest in the commercial sector. Take a London apartment block for example, where space is a premium, low profile systems are becoming a sought-after option. If the designer can specify a Spider system at just 25-35mm

Modular construction has benefits Giacomini is highlighting the benefits of using modular underfloor heating systems in building projects. Modular UFH consists of pre-built sections, which are created in a controlled factory environment and then delivered to site. They can be craned into position and simply connected together. Supplying UFH in modular sections can provide speedy installation and minimise disruption on site. When it comes to schools, the benefit is that it helps keep the installation within budget and tight timeframes, such as during school holidays. Recent examples of Giacomini equipment in schools saw the company supply its UFH materials for the plated modular systems. The company factory pressure pre-tested the systems and fitted the manifolds on site.

The first project was at Prae Wood Primary in St Albans where the UFH was installed on the ground and first floors as part of the school’s £2 million expansion. This was followed by two further school projects, which saw the installation of modular systems within a nursery and primary school in Milton Keynes. All these projects were carried out with Hull-based Servaccomm. Matt Lowe, MD of Giacomini UK, comments: “Underfloor heating is proving to be increasingly popular within schools due to its safety benefits as well as being cost efficient. Further to this, by working with Servaccomm’s modular builds we can ensure minimal disruption is caused to the customer, due to the majority of the construction and installation taking place in the factory, with only the final connection taking place on site.”

Renewable compatibility Another benefit of underfloor heating for energy efficient retrofit projects is its ability to complement additional renewable sources, due to its low flow and return temperatures. Heat pumps are particularly suitable for use with water-based underfloor heating because, unlike conventional gas or oil boilers that heat water to between 65 and 85°C, a heat pump generates hot water at around 40°C. This temperature can directly feed the underfloor heating system, without having to inefficiently cool the water down from a higher temperature. To ensure the underfloor can operate at the low flow and return temperatures from the heat pump, yet overcome the heat losses of the building, U-values of the building are another important consideration. Part L states ground bearing levels should have a U-value of less than 0.15, so thermal insulation should be designed to ensure sufficient heat transfer from the underfloor heating.

In control Controls also form part of the guidelines set forth in Part L, so the underfloor heating designer should also consider controls that act quickly in switching heating off when there is no demand. Energy efficient ErP compliant pumps and controls that avoid overheating again help us to design appropriate systems. Underfloor heating can also successfully be combined with solar thermal systems and biomass boilers. By heating almost entirely by radiation, underfloor heating is one of the most efficient and comfortable forms of heating. Traditional radiator systems only heat the area around them, causing the heat to rise above the cooler air surrounding it. With underfloor heating the whole floor becomes an emitter for the radiated heat. The energy reaches into every corner of the room evenly, giving a consistent temperature throughout the space. The emergence of low profile systems has opened up the benefits of underfloor heating to the retrofit market, helping existing properties to reduce their carbon emissions.

Find out more For more information on the UFH solutions from Giacomini, enter the number below on the freepost reader enquiry and registration card inside this month’s issue. www.giacomini.co.uk

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Get it right from the ground up UFH can provide homeowners with an efficient and comfortable heating system, but pipe layout and the quality of installation can make all the difference to the success of the project. Andy Coy, UFH Product Manager at Polypipe, explores some of the potential issues.

or consumers, underfloor heating means complete design freedom, consistent heat and a way to achieve that Pinterest-worthy home. Technological advances in underfloor heating means more and more of your customers are ditching unsightly radiators in favour of a heating system that’s out of sight and out of mind. However, to guarantee effective and long lasting operation of the system, Andy Coy from Polypipe installers must first ensure that the initial design and installation is right for the property in question. There are many types of underfloor heating system available on the market, from systems for retrofitting over existing floors to solid floor systems for installation within a completely new floor construction. Errors made during installation can create underlying issues which will in turn hinder the system’s overall performance.

Overlay system An overlay system is ideal for renovation projects where traditional systems would require expensive excavation. Our own Polypipe Overlay system sits at just 18mm above the existing floor. For the system to work correctly, it is essential that the boards are laid on an even surface. At just 800 x 600mm, the overlay system boards are relatively small in size, and so depending on the size of the room, you could lay a lot of them. If installed on to an uneven surface, the boards may not sit flush and therefore will have space to move around, disrupting the even flow of water through the pipes and therefore affecting the system’s performance. To create an even base on which to lay the boards, some

An even base, good pipe layout and the location of the manifold are crucial to the effectiveness of any underfloor heating system

installers will use a generic self-leveller, however this is not advised. Self-leveller products are made from liquid which will seep through the gaps between the boards. Instead, it is recommended that installers use a fibre reinforced screed compound, such as those manufactured by Bal or Mapei or equivalent, which can be used from 3-40mm on most floor materials.

Heat distribution Installers should also be aware of the importance of manifold positioning when installing underfloor heating. The manifold should be positioned as central as possible to the rooms in which underfloor heating is being installed. This minimises lengthy pipe runs and increases the efficiency of heat distribution once the system is active. As with all other piping jobs, a pressure test must be carried out after the pipe has been fitted, before the screed is poured or the final floor covering is applied. When installing underfloor heating, the system should be pressure tested to 6 bar to ensure the integrity of the pipe and catch any potential leakages. If using a solid floor system, this pressure should be maintained whilst the screed is being poured. Finally, make sure the customer is comfortable with the

controls associated with their underfloor heating. Underfloor heating controls have come a long way in recent years and can now provide homeowners with an unprecedented level of flexibility and control over their home heating. Nowadays, underfloor heating systems can be controlled remotely via mobile phones and tablets. Your customers have the power at their fingertips to create and edit preset programmes, or to make changes to their on and off times and temperatures, ensuring their home is at the desired temperature in case of last minute change of plans. Efficient design and controls are a large part of a successful underfloor heating installation and will ensure the system functions at its best.

Accredited training To make sure you’re on top of your next installation, Polypipe offers nationally accredited BPEC training in warm water underfloor heating at its Professional Development Centre. For more information on getting trained, and the various underfloor heating systems that Polypipe has to offer, please visit the website. www.polypipeufh.com

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Updated UFH design and installation guide The Domestic Building Services Panel, in association with CIBSE, has produced a new edition of the Underfloor Heating Design & Installation Guide to provide the designer and installer with up-to-date information on floor warming systems. The latest guide has been rigorously reviewed and updated with industry cooperation to meet the needs of an ever changing market. The revised content includes a new Chapter 4 ‘Applications & Strategies’ which expands on the fundamentals when UFH systems become allied to renewable energy, heat pumps, and district heating schemes. Chapter 5 now contains a wider range of the popularly available heated floor systems

on the market today, with the exception of hybrid systems, such as micro-capillary tube systems, thermo active building slab systems, and electric cable heating systems. This time it includes floor finishes information which exceed the original EN1264

limits of 1.5Tog (0.15m2K/W) following comments received from other industries. A section on heat loss calculations provides a latitude map of the entire British Isles (pictured left), upon which the expected winter external design and mean winter temperatures are given, together with an OS web-link for retrieval of a project ‘door-step’ altitude for those exposed sites, which should reassure installers working mostly in rural areas. In addition, there is a listing of all room temperatures for residential buildings, with natural air-change rates included for three ‘age’ types of building, namely (pre-2000), (2001-2005) and new build (>2006). The overwhelming influence of securing almost

air-tight buildings has had a considerable effect on whole building heat loss, and this influence will continue in the future as renovation projects add secondary double glazing and other air-path blocking measures.

Heat output Heat output tables have been amended and expanded from the original chart formation to include the system thermal conductivity factor Kh-value within EN 1264-2, which is intended to be used with any water to air temperature differential the designer wishes, rather than restricted to work with the fixed table values. For installations which use glycol in the circulation water, an extended chapter

(6.11) now deals with the differences caused by this infrequent practise, and refers to datasheet C3 (entitled ‘Pressure loss in pipes’), which has been extended for use with smaller pipes and operation at a range of different water temperatures, with and without glycol in circulation. The section on design layout (Chapter 7) has been amended to improve reader understanding and provides additional information on the health and safety aspects of pipe proximity to domestic cold water services and power cables. There is also updated advice on system start-up, which separates the ‘initial start-up’ from system commissioning,

which usually takes place later. The aim is to create a defining point in new screeds where final drying out is helped by the UFH system to disperse or dry out the last vestiges of trapped moisture after curing. For further information and to order your copy of the guide, please visit the Domestic Building Services Panel website below. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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48 UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Warming up historic buildings Contrary to what some might think, a modern heating system is often the best solution for some of our oldest buildings. Michelle Taylor, Product Manager for Myson underfloor heating, looks at how underfloor heating is breathing warmth into some historic properties.

he perfect heating system for any property demands an assessment of the building itself, its construction, levels of insulation, windows and doors, room sizes, ceiling heights and any other aspects which might limit the choice of heat emitter. Introducing a first heating system into a historic building is a really interesting challenge. Not only were most built with little thought for insulation, they were designed when the open fire was the sole form of heating, or when heating was not considered important at all, as in church buildings where congregations were simply expected to endure the cold for an hour or two.

Church service At the 12th Century St Helena’s church and community centre in the village of South Scarle, Newark, no central heating system had ever been installed in the building’s 800-year history. Formerly using just a few stand-alone under-pew gas heaters, the church is now transformed throughout with Myson Floortec underfloor heating and ultra-efficient ULOW E2 radiators. The underfloor heating was laid after digging up the existing stone floor and excavating several tons of underlying dirt. In its place, a system of joists and battens was installed, with plentiful insulation added. With a new framework in place, aluminium diffuser pates were installed to allow the hydronic underfloor pipework to be installed across the church floor before a new wooden floor was laid. Although the underfloor heating system provides reliable ambient warmth for scheduled community weekday events and for Sunday services, the parish council wanted to be able to adjust heat levels to accommodate short notice events and to provide additional warmth during exceptionally cold spells. The radiators, which have a bank of built in fans, can provide a rapid response in static radiator mode and an additional burst of heat in response to a sudden drop in temperature.

Refurb solution for a neat finish

Underfloor diffuser plates installed at St Helena’s Church

Floortec fitted in a small room at the Battle Abbey School

School project

not wish to introduce heating with a modern appearance, especially in the ground floor reception rooms. The ironic choice therefore, was an ultra-modern underfloor heating system for the ground and lower ground floors, with radiators limited to the upstairs bedrooms. In the ground floor reception rooms, a bespoke 750m2 Floortec underfloor heating system was installed. As the wooden floors were being replaced as part of the renovation process, it was possible to install a fairly conventional underfloor system within a new screeded floor.

A similar heating challenge was faced at the Battle Abbey School in Sussex, which sits on the site of the legendary Battle of Hastings in 1066. The building dates from Tudor times and has Grade I listed status. Room sizes vary greatly and are of irregular shapes. Most walls have highly prized original panelling and the floors slope noticeably, up to 30° in some places. Some 70% of the building was previously unheated. However, as the building was destined to become a sixth form study centre, used for long hours by young adults, a comprehensive new heating system was required. The heating system needed to leave the floors, walls and beams undisturbed, severely limiting the options. The solution proved to be a specially designed Floortec underfloor heating system which followed the undulating contours of the floors and unusual footprints of each room. A specially designed batten system was devised, allowing the installer to tailor a unique framework in each room. With this in place, insulation could be added and aluminium diffuser plates could be cut to exact shapes and installed to accommodate hydronic pipe to cover each distinctive floor space. With new flooring and carpeting installed, the only sign of the heating system in the 16th century building is the warm environment.

Total solution Built in 1810 by a gold merchant and extended in 1860 by artist John Ruskin, Grade II listed Stanmore Hall in Shropshire is a relatively new building compared with some that we have seen, but it too presented some interesting challenges. Undergoing extensive renovation by its new owners, the Hall was in need of its first total heating solution. The owners were going to great lengths to preserve and restore as many of the original features as possible, so did

Best of both The preconceived ideas about the uses of underfloor heating have been thoroughly dispelled in recent years. As we have overcome challenges and developed new products, almost every application could be a candidate for underfloor heating. Retrofitting is now so much easier with the advent of new fixing systems, aluminium plates being just one. A more recent breakthrough, in the form of the very low profile Myson Microboard, can accommodate hydronic pipe in just 18mm, so it barely alters floor height and therefore makes fitting underfloor heating in existing properties and on upper floors highly practical, especially when end users wish to use renewable heat sources. Increasingly, we are using underfloor heating in combination with other products, pairing this technology with radiators, towel warmers or fan convectors. Each project requires its own total solution and that’s what we should be determined to establish in every case. Finding solutions for historic properties, providing comfort while maintaining the building’s aesthetic, has definitely challenged our thinking and made underfloor heating more mainstream as a heating option in every situation. www.myson.co.uk

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UFH system keeps care homes warm The Low Build Max system from Wavin is described as a quick and easy-to-fit heating alternative to radiators, particularly on renovation projects. The Low Build Max panels have been specially designed to keep overall floor height to an absolute minimum. At just 15mm deep and featuring prerouted channels for easy pipe placement, the system allows UFH to be installed quickly on all refurbishment projects – from kitchen re-fits to new spaces created by knocking

walls through – without the need for existing flooring levels to be lowered. Low Build Max is also suitable for new builds and extensions. The panels are of a large enough size – 1200 x 600mm – to allow installers to cover large areas at speed without the bulk. As the panels can be neatly trimmed using a hand saw and secured using adhesive, installation is simple and can be carried out by just one person. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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A hydronic UFH system has been installed by Anglia Heating throughout the new Bowthorpe Care Village near Norwich. The package supplied by Gaia to cover some 11,500m2 included piping, fixing rails, thermal and acoustic insulation, manifolds and actuators. The Gaia system was laid throughout an 80-bed specialist dementia section of the care home and the central ‘hub’ with facilities such as a restaurant, hairdressers, bar and community shop. It is divided into zones served by

a variable temperature circuit connected to 50 separate manifolds. Overall control is via the main building management system.

In another section of the care home, the communal areas are treated similarly while the 92 individual apartments, 14 of which have

two bedrooms, each have their own manifold, with the temperature regulated by heat interface units. EPS or foam board thermal insulation was installed beneath the UFH system throughout while Yelofon HD10 acoustic insulation was provided for key areas, such as above the plant room, to prevent noise transmission to residents. The entire UFH system is supplied from a central gas CHP unit with back up from eight gas boilers. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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50 WHat’s New Expand into the commercial Aimed at domestic installers looking to enter the light commercial market, Potterton Commercial’s 50kW boiler is part of the Paramount four range of wall-hung condensing boilers. Said to be easy to install, the new boiler is designed for large residential and light commercial applications. Potterton says this boiler allows domestic installers to take their business to the next level without undertaking extra training. They can use their current qualifications to install a single Paramount four 50kW boiler in large residential and commercial properties, such as doctors’ surgeries, guest houses and flat conversions. The Paramount four has an ErP rating of ‘A’ and a 6:1 modulation ratio, which means it can meet variable heating demands

while optimising energy efficiency. It is lightweight, weighing just 61kg, and is slimline at 480mm wide, making installation easy and straightforward. Commenting on the launch, Neville Small, Business Development Director at Potterton Commercial, says: “Qualified domestic installers

can fit boilers up to 70kW, which can open up a whole new revenue stream. Our new 50kW Paramount four model makes it easy for domestic installers to expand their business and move into light commercial installations, without the need for further qualifications. Furthermore, its lightweight design, high efficiency rating, ease of installation and costcompetitive price mean it’s a best-value solution.” The Paramount four 50kW comes with a two year parts and labour warranty if it is commissioned by Potterton Commercial. It is also being offered with a special deal on a flue package. See the website below for more information. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Tough, elegant, thin ceramics DuraCeram is a new material from Duravit that enables thinner designs of basins and other bathroom products without any loss of durability or form. Suitable for homes and public buildings alike, the smooth hygienic surface glaze is robust, easy to clean, and scratch and wear resistant. According to Duravit, conventional bathroom ceramic material requires a thickness of 12-14mm to

ensure the necessary strength after firing, but DuraCeram is thinner while still delivering accuracy, high strength and an elegant finish. DuraCeram features in Philippe Starck’s design for the Cape Cod washbasin (pictured above, left). In the round and square versions, the taps are mounted on a ceramic platform integrated in the basin. The challenge of precision fitting of the

tap is overcome with DuraCeram. The material is also used with c-bonded technology, by which the furniture washbasin is joined seamlessly with the vanity unit (pictured right). Thanks to the accurate and precise fitting connecting technology, ceramic and furniture merge to form a single unit. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Quiet, efficient whole house unit Electric radiator that programmes itself Designed for large apartments or houses, the HRV 10.25 Q Plus is the latest addition to Titon’s range of MVHR systems. This continuously running whole house ventilation unit with heat recovery has been designed in accordance with new building design requirements – providing improved performance compared to other models within Titon’s range. The HRV 10.25 Q Plus combines low power consumption with a heat exchanger (up to 90% efficient), which has been specifically designed to enhance SAP performance via Appendix Q. Units also benefit from an extremely low specific fan power (SFP) down to 0.39 W/litres/sec. The HRV 10.25 Q Plus range

consists of two models: ‘Eco HMB’ and ‘Eco B’. Each offers a 100% summer bypass, as recognised and listed in the UK Product Characteristics Database (PCDB). Units also boast intelligent humidity options: Eco HMB models are compatible with Titon’s auralite status indicator, while Eco B versions can also be fitted with aurastat and auramode

controllers. The auramode offers a fourth speed (high flow) in order to assist with purge flow ventilation requirements. Each product’s lightweight EPP construction provides high levels of thermal insulation, as well as easy handling. In addition, the HRV 10.25 Q Plus range accepts 125mm or 150mm ducting for flexible design options, while also benefitting from independent fan adjustment and intelligent frost protection. As with all Titon MVHR systems, units are effective in reducing pollutants in the home and improving indoor air quality (IAQ) – reducing the risk of Toxic Home Syndrome. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Blue flame tech reigns Supreme Building on its expertise in Blue Flame technology, Firebird has unveiled the Blue Supreme range, which exceeds stringent ErP legislation requirements to reduce NOx emissions, which come into force from September 2018. Available in two fixed outputs of 20 and 25kW, the Blue Supreme range offers affordable Blue Flame technology. The Firebird Blue Supreme range incorporates the latest German Blue Flame technology and utilises a patented heat recovery system. The efficiency is made possible by way of a third heat exchanger which extracts more energy from the combustion

gases. This is achieved by recycling and re-using lost heat to pre-warm the air for the ignition of the Blue Flame. In addition, the clean burning Blue Flame also facilitates totally soot free combustion. Featuring multiple tapping points and multi directional flue options for ease of installation, all Firebird Blue Supreme boilers come with a free five year warranty as standard. Providing a low maintenance option due to the long life of serviceable components, Firebird Blue Supreme boilers are available in a range of Kitchen, Boilerhouse and External Heatpac models. www.firebird.uk.com ENQUIRY No. 154

The latest electric radiator from Haverland is a smart, self-programming model with sensor technology. Ultrad’s self-learning and programming capability recognises patterns of room usage, removing the need for manual control, and allows energy efficiency to be improved – providing savings in running costs. The oil-filled radiator has a built-in thermostat that holds the set temperature to within 0.2°C, which eliminates temperature fluctuation. Ultrad offers a range of programming modes to provide flexibility. The self-programming mode is set as standard and will start working as soon as the radiator is switched on, which eliminates the need for any configuration at installation. When used in conjunction with Haverland’s Smart Box system, Ultrad can also be controlled through a free app. www.ultrad.co.uk

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Put the tap on for tea Reditap is the name of Redring’s three-inone tap that dispenses both boiling water as well as conventional hot and cold water. For the installer, Reditap is said to be straightforward to install, requiring minimum tools for connection as it comes complete with all the necessary fittings in one box. A safety lock on the tap control prevents accidental dispense of hot water and the tap spout is insulated so it does not get too hot during operation. Other safety features include boil dry and thermal overheat protection. ENQUIRY No. www.redring.co.uk 155

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WHAT’S New Pre-plumbed and self sustaining A pre-plumbed version of Fabdec’s Excelsior i range of unvented hot water heaters is now available. Fabdec launched the Excelsior in 2015 as a self-sustaining unvented heater using 3S Technology to circumvent the need for an external vessel or floating baffle. The pre-plumb version is primarily aimed at the domestic sector, allowing for a simple and fast installation, even in small spaces. Stuart Doggrell, General Manager for water heating, says: “The Excelsior i range offers a wealth of benefits to installers, developers and specifiers, and the preplumb version just takes it an extra step further in

terms of ease of installation. With 3S Technology, the vessel requires absolutely minimal maintenance and this is proving particularly popular with social and private landlords. Add in the negligible heat loss and ease of operation, and the Excelsior i is an efficient and cost-friendly hot water solution.” The Excelsior i pre-plumb range ensures that the Venturi, the control valves, combination inlet valve, and pump are all pre-assembled and wired to a central wiring centre, adding further to the ease of installation and compact packaging. It will be available in a range of sizes from 175 to 305 litres to suit most domestic needs.

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www.fabdec.com

Concentric mixer is small in size, big on performance The Minilite concentric mixer from Mira Showers is now available in a more compact body. Retaining the aesthetic and performance of its predecessor, the new Minilite is around half the size of a traditional mixer and has a smaller body size, both in height and depth, making it suitable for the confines of smaller enclosures or new en-suite applications. There are three showers in the collection: the exposed valve Minilite EV, and builtin Minilite BIV, both with a 90mm multi-function showerhead with rub clean noz-

zles, and the built-in Minilite BIR, which offers a generous rigid 200mm drench head. That the Minilite delivers a satisfying showering experience within its small body is thanks to the company’s Magni-flo

technology, which is said to enable delivery of up to three times more flow than competing products, even at low pressure. The overall aesthetic has also been enhanced by the removal of a concealing insert on top of valve for reversible inlets, which also makes the shower easier to clean. Instead of reversible inlets, the cartridge can now be reversed inside the body. The addition of an indicator ring gives the user an at-a-glance indication of shower temperature. ENQUIRY No.

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Get commercial protection Triple Power water treatment chemicals are designed to protect commercial heating and cooling systems from corrosion and limescale. Able to dose systems over three times larger compared to the previous formulations, the Triple Power X10 0 I n h i b it or, X300 Cleaner (for new systems), and X400 Cleaner (for older systems) chemicals mean 1 litre will treat approximately 20% more system volume than the next best competitor product. The new range comprises a 5 litre drum, which treats a system volume of 1667 litres,

a 10 litre drum, which treats 3333 litres, and a 20 litre drum, which treats 6666 litres. By comparison, the previous formulations were available in drum sizes of 10 and 20 litres and treated system volumes of 1000 and 2000 litres respectively. “By cleaning or protecting systems up to three times bigger, the new Triple Power chemicals give installers and service engineers the option to use a smaller sized drums for the same job,” says Chris Shelton, Sales Director. ENQUIRY No. 158 www.sentinelprotects.com

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Bring the natural look to the design

Cylinders designed for electric homes

Reacting to the trend for the natural stone look in bathrooms, Frontline has created the Aquanatural freestanding baths. Each solid surface bath has been crafted from stone resin for strength and durability, whilst featuring stain resistant properties for easy maintenance, and thermal properties to help keep water warmer for longer. From the sleek curvature of the slipper-style Hamilton Bath (pictured) to the angled Elite (available in both 1700 x 750mm and 1800 x 800mm models) and the chic, minimalist shape of the Sleek Bath, there is a model to suit a variety of design schemes. Each Aquanatural freestanding bath comes with a solid surface cleaning kit to aid in maintaining the bath.

Two slim models have been added to Dimplex’s Quantum range of intelligent electric hot water cylinders. The QWCd135-480 (135L) and QWCd180-480 (180L) models are suited for social housing properties and those where space is limited. Quantum electric cylinders use off-peak electricity to deliver cost-effective hot water, working directly from the mains to ensure mains pressure from all outlets in the home. They enable better planning of water usage thanks to the controls, which tell users at a glance how much hot water is available. With the latest in electric heating technology and heat retention capability, they also ensure that the correct amount of water is stored to accommodate the needs of the household, whilst using the minimum amount of energy. All models are available as part of the Dimplex Quantum

www.frontlinebathrooms.co.uk

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Adapter for fuss free powerﬂushing The new Fernox TF1 Omega Filter Flushing Adapter provides a simple and convenient way to attach any powerflushing machine with a standard 3/4in BSP connection to a central heating system via a Fernox TF1 Omega Filter. The adapter replaces the filter body and allows a full flow rate powerflush to be achieved quickly and efficiently. The adapter is rated up to 85°C. 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. Connecting a powerflushing machine to the system is said to be simple. 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.” PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

www.fernox.com

Alternative way to get the scale out Monarch Water has unveiled the Scaleout XP, the company’s best performing scale protection system. Monarch says this product is the next best choice to a water softener and describes it as the only limescale control device to permanently remove and prevent the damage caused by hard water. Whilst reducing the impact of scale, it is now more powerful in its performance and protection to remove existing scale and prevent new scale forming. It is compact, uses no electricity and is said to be easy to install. Through extensive product research and development, Scaleout XP has been designed to give that extra power, performance and protection to prevent limescale for the whole house and its appliances.

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heating system together with Dimplex’s Quantum off-peak heaters, or operated as a standalone hot water system for electrically heated homes. PHAM NEWS ENQUIRY No.

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Anti-ligature stainless steel

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The Vortx range from Saint Gobain PAM has been extended with the launch of stainless steel anti-ligature floor and shower gratings for applications such as prisons and mental health care facilities that demand a high level of safety and security. The range is available in five different options: circular and square for shower applications and three further options that can be used in general applications with tiled,

marble, vinyl and resin floors. The grating bodies are threaded NPSM and supplied with Torx security screws. In common with all Vortx gratings and rodding eyes, they can be installed with a removable bottle trap and filter basket. The Vortx Floor drainage range has been designed to comply with BS EN 1253, with the anti-ligature range also complying with the Home Office requirements. ENQUIRY No. www.saint-gobain-pam.co.uk 163

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