P&H Engineering September/October 2020

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PLUMBING AND HEATING ENGINEERING

FRESH STARTS

SPORTING CHANCE

CLEAN THINKING

How you could have a vital role in teaching the next generation

The race against time to build a state-of-the-art aquatics centre

Meeting consumer expectations with lowcarbon showers

FLOW STATE Fixing the UK’s water supply problems

14

10

Welcome We’ve gone from a standstill to changes coming thick and fast.

Legislation changes coming soon will affect the industry for generations.

With performance improvements having slowed to a trickle in recent years, the big water firms are feeling the heat from parliament and the regulator, and the building regulations are getting an overhaul.

We’ve also got good news. The 2022 Commonwealth Games is going to be a welcome relief, not least in creating jobs. Hosting the event has been an unexpected bonus and, as you’ll see, building the venues at short notice has led to some ingenuity.

It’s a bumper edition with our focus on education opportunities for new entrants planning their futures in the industry, and, just maybe, those already in the industry looking for a change in direction too.

We’re online!

Visit pandhengineering. co.uk for regular updates and archived features

Contents FEATURES

Editor pandhengineering@ jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

Editor Chris Smith Project manager Lizzie Hufton Head of design Simon Goddard Publisher James Houston Published by James Pembroke Media, 90 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BG Tel 01225 337777 Advertising sales executive Harvey Falshaw, harvey.falshaw@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) 64 Station Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 6NB Tel 01708 472791

6 Frontline

10 In hot water

Water shortages, the effect of COVID-19 on our members, and more

The big water firms aren’t taking action quickly enough to conserve our supply

22 Your membership

14 Making a splash

Details of free legal advice for CIPHE members through Law Express

Building a new aquatics centre for the Commonwealth Games 2022

23 Advice

20 Carbon dated

How talking about worries – with a professional or friend – can help

The CIPHE’s work to keep members up to speed with low-carbon solutions

25 THE FIX

SPECIAL SECTION

Education and training Find out about helping the next generation of plumbers and heating engineers

CHRIS SMITH

22

REGULARS 5 From the president Mel Gumbs on why we need to think long term to protect our industry

Membership Founded in 1906, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) is the professional body for the UK plumbing and heating industry. Membership is made up of consultants, specifiers, designers, public health engineers, lecturers, trainers, trainees and practitioners.

The CIPHE has a membership of 7,500, including over 150 manufacturers and distributors. The majority of members live in the UK, although over 1,000 are residents in Hong Kong.

The CIPHE is a member of the Construction Industry Council and a licensed member of the Engineering Council.

Low-carbon, low-water showers that meet consumer expectations

30 Q&A: Haydn Harris The company director and legionella inspector on taking a leap of faith

ON THE COVER Making sure action is taken in time to save our dwindling water supply Page 10 Illustration: Adam Gale

Subscriptions P&H Engineering is the magazine for the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, containing technical articles, latest industry news and environmental and educational updates.

It is published six times a year and sent free to members.

Annual subscription for non-member £120 Annual subscription for overseas non-member £145 To join CIPHE, email tims@ciphe.org.uk

Copyright notice and disclaimer P&H Engineering is published bi-monthly by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. All material is copyright of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering and may not be reproduced without written permission. The publishers do not accept responsibility for errors or omissions. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Institute and publication of an advertisement or article does not necessarily mean the Institute endorses those products, materials or techniques.

www.ciphe.org.uk

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 3

FROM THE CIPHE PRESIDENT

MEL GUMBS CIPHE President

Word of mouth is how we can tell people that a training course isn’t any good Helping people find an approved training course will save their livelihoods and the industry’s reputation

I

t’s good to hear from almost everyone I’m meeting, from merchants to members, that things are slowly getting back to normal.

Work is picking up again but, as referenced in the Eureka survey on page 7, it’s going to be a long haul.

Everybody is just about getting up and running and we’re all trying to do our safe distancing to comply with the government advice. It’s tricky, and not always entirely practical, but we’ve just got to hang in there.

Learning the right way

Training To find out about approved courses, go to the CIPHE website: www.ciphe.org.uk

GET INVOLVED We’re campaigning for better safety standards and the more people involved, the stronger the case we have.

We’d love for you to get involved. If you’d like to help, contact our membership director Tim Sainty by emailing tims@ciphe.org.uk

www.ciphe.org.uk

There are already signs of just how many people have lost or are going to lose their jobs and there are a lot of people looking for work who will try to join the industry. We can help them and we can raise standards at the same time.

We all know there are unscrupulous people out there who will offer plumbing courses that aren’t worth the paper they’re written on and that people could end up handing over redundancy money to them.

Word of mouth is how we tell contacts that a training course isn’t any good but we need to use tools such as digital to extend the reach of that message. If someone asks about joining the industry, point them to the CIPHE website. If the Institute hasn’t approved it, it’s not going to help them. They could pay money for the course but not get the expertise and that’s useless.

It’s not just about being able to do the basics required today. Sustainability legislation is going to change and if they

are not up to speed on things like sizing appropriately for heat pumps, they will lose out. It’s something we, as industry representatives, need to nip in the bud.

All our tomorrows The other thing we all need to think about is how we can make sure the young people trying to get started aren’t affected by the impact of COVID-19. Traditionally, it’s apprentices that suffer first – and then the industry finds itself short of people when business picks up again.

It’s a difficult one. It’s often the small selfemployed outfits that take people on and they have it the hardest. There’s not much help coming from the government at the moment but I know the CIPHE is pushing them hard on this.

We’ve got to invest in someone for at least two years and that can look a long way in the distance at times like these. But, most people know it’s easier to build your own workforce rather than trying to find it. When you buy talent in, they aren’t always to the standard that you want, so training someone up tends to work out better in the end.

Really, we’re thinking about the long-term versus the short-term. Work will be there and we need the best people with the best skills to make the most of it in our own businesses and across the wider industry.

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 5

Frontline

KEEP INFORMED Read all the latest news, updates, and member benefits Facebook/CIPHE twitter.com/CIPHE

All that’s happening in plumbing and heating

www.ciphe.org.uk

South East Water’s Steve Andrews says demand has been high

Training

APPRENTICE TRAINING GETS GOVERNMENT HELP

Water supply

LOCKDOWN AND HEATWAVE CREATE WATER SHORTAGE

Got a news story?

Get in touch with editor Chris Smith using the email address on p3

A huge spike in usage from customers has left major water firms unable to match supply to demand

W

ater companies are urging customers to cut water use after a summer heatwave and the COVID-19 lockdown hit supplies.

Thames Water warned consumption increased by 20% and despite one of the wettest winters on record, peak periods saw customers using water faster than it could be treated and pumped to homes.

Andrew Tucker, water efficiency manager at Thames Water, said: “Increased temperatures mean increased demand for our water, which stresses our network’s ability to produce it fast enough

Our water technicians have been working round the clock 6 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

and accelerates the draw on rivers and underground aquifers.”

South East Water was also pushed to the limit. Despite producing an extra 150 million litres of drinking water a day, August’s heatwave resulted in low water pressure and left some customers without supplies.

Steve Andrews, head of central operations at the company (pictured above), said: “When we draw water from deep underground or from rivers it has to be treated to a very high standard before being sent along our 9,000 miles of pipe to our 2.2 million customers.

“Our water technicians have been working round the clock to produce this extra drinking water, the equivalent of almost half a million baths, but with this record amount of water being used every day it is getting harder to keep up.”

Incentives and advice to help keep apprentices in their placements have been announced by the government following the COVID-19 crisis.

With colleges adjusting to the outbreak and uncertainty continuing about the economy, details on payments for hiring new apprentices have been shared by the Department for Education (read more in our Education and Training section, following page 18).

Two big changes are that the Level 2 suspension of the rule on Functional Skills assessments has been extended until 31 December and all new apprenticeship starts will be focused on Standards.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “From September, there will be no limits on apprentices, at any age, attending on-site delivery. The policy for apprenticeship funding in England has been updated to cover support for employers during the economic recovery.”

Diversity

OFWAT CHIEF CALLS FOR EQUALITY Women are still being excluded from working in the water industry, according to Ofwat’s chief executive officer.

Rachel Fletcher said the industry is not diverse enough with women still mainly in customer-facing roles. She predicted COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement would be catalysts for change.

“We need to be able to draw the very best talent, wherever it is, and not be limited to drawing from pools of people who look like us on paper,” she said.

www.ciphe.org.uk

FRONTLINE

FLOW STATE Why the UK’s big water firms have been told to take swift action to conserve this precious resource Page 10

Insight

Post-COVID-19 confidence fragile, members reveal BUSINESS HAS PICKED UP SINCE the lockdown but confidence is fragile, according to an industry-wide survey including CIPHE members.

Almost 900 respondents shared that working capacity has passed 42% – up from 13% – but confidence is still just 36%. The sector’s weekly takings are down by £150m a week and the jobs pipeline is still sluggish with just a fifth of members reporting that their order books are back to normal. But the survey concluded the autumn could be a turning point for firms.

The survey, carried out by Eureka Research in the summer, also revealed that emergency repairs were up 27% compared to the beginning of lockdown and general repairs were up 35%.

Cashflow remained a major concern for many respondents, but as some have gone back to work, supply chain concerns have increased markedly – 60% for those with ‘normal job enquiries’, showing the impact of enforced

shutdowns on supply chains.

Membership director Tim Sainty said: “The huge response makes this a very significant snapshot of the industry during the pandemic. This will help us plan our own response for what very clearly is going to be a long haul.”

Find out more at: www.eurekaresearch. co.uk/covid19report

HSE FINES FIRM AFTER BURNS INJURY (HSE) has fined a plumbing and heating company after an employee suffered serious burns.

John Leadley Limited was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,756.35 at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court following an explosion at a domestic property in Preesall, Lancashire on 13 March 2019.

An employee of the company had been replacing a gas boiler in the hallway of a bungalow and was soldering new water pipes when there was a sudden explosion.

An investigation by the HSE found that a gas supply pipe had been cut prior to installation of the new boiler, but the open end of that pipe

www.ciphe.org.uk

The Institute and members have been influencing the big issues on social media This year’s #NationalAllotmentsWeek came with a call for gardeners to swap their hosepipes for a watering can in a bid to #savewater. Hoses and sprinklers can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour – that’s more than 12 baths https://t.co/PSjSvxAVnL

Safety

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE

TWITTER TALK

had not been sealed with an appropriate fitting.

John Leadley Limited, of Victoria Road East, Thornton Cleveleys pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

HSE Inspector Anthony Banks said: “The injuries sustained to this employee could so easily have been avoided, simply

by John Leadley Limited carrying out the correct control measures and safe working practices.

“Employers, and others, should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

As plumbers returned to the tools while observing social distancing measures to help keep everyone safe, customers were advised by @WaterSafe “It’s best to call in the experts to work with the fittings and fixtures that supply your drinking water.” @CIPHE also took to social

media to get the industry talking about efficiency.

“Please take 2 minutes of your time to complete our #water #efficiency #survey.

With Government focusing on environmental issues and decarbonisation, it’s vital we understand the challenges installers face when helping consumers choose water saving products.”

The hot weather also got @CIPHE talking about safety.

“Stagnant or standing water can cause conditions ripe for #Legionella and other #biofilm-associated #bacteria.”

The pandemic won’t be stopping Gas Safety Week (14-20 Sept), organisers have pledged. On Twitter, follow @GasSafetyWeek and use the hashtag #GSW20

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 7

FRONTLINE Find out more TESTERS URGED TO EXTEND CERTIFICATION

Read more news and advice from the CIPHE at www.ciphe.org.uk/ newsroom

PRODUCT TESTING BODIES should extend certificates to help manufacturers survive the COVID-19 outbreak, an industry leader has urged. Testing was halted in March, so manufacturers have been unable to bring new products to market and current appliances could see their certification go out of date. Stuart Gizzi, managing director at Intatec, said: “For products where the certification is about to expire, there is any easy temporary fix, and that’s for the testing bodies to grant an extension on expiry dates, just like the government did for MOT tests on cars.”

TRUMP’S POWER SHOWER TRIP PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS complained that laws limiting water use are stopping him from having perfect hair. He created a Twitter storm after a re-election campaign visit to Whirlpool Corporation’s plant in Clyde, Ohio, where he pledged to a rollback of federal laws limiting showers to 2.5 gallons of water per minute.

Read the Whitehouse statement at bit.ly/2EcZQUk

Legislation

Building regulations set for radical overhaul THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced radical plans to change the planning and building regulations and push through legislation that will speed up and modernise the regulations to help build more homes.

The government also pledged to help SME firms that have been squeezed out by major developers.

An MHCLG spokesman said: “We will cut red tape, but not standards, placing a higher regard on quality, design and the environment than ever.”

The government also said that changes to the Building Regulations will mean toilets for severely disabled people will become compulsory in new public buildings in England from next year.

Kevin Wellman, CIPHE chief executive officer, said: “We warmly welcome regulatory changes that will aid some of the most vulnerable in our society. Those with disabilities should not have to battle to find facilities that enable them to leave the house with dignity.”

Campaign

FIRMS BACK ENERGY HUB FOR NORTH WEST

CIPHE URGES PUBLIC TO FLIP ‘N’ FLUSH

A GROUP OF 15 companies have come together with trade unions to promote a clean energy hub in the North West. EDF Energy was among those to argue that new renewable energy generation, hydrogen production plus energy storage at Moorside in Cumbria could create thousands of jobs. Jude Brimble, GMB National Secretary, said: “Rapid development of this clean energy hub can play an essential part in rebuilding our economy after coronavirus.”

A PUBLIC HEALTH campaign has been launched by the CIPHE to reduce disease spread from toilets. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Institute has urged the public to flip down the toilet seat before they flush to help stop the spread of coronavirus and other germs.

Kevin Wellman said, “This has long been discussed and evidence shows that toilet plume could be a contributing factor in the spread of disease.

We should take all the measures available to help stop the spread of coronavirus and other illnesses such as staphylococcus and E. coli.”

Read the research here (aip.scitation.org/doi/ full/10.1063/5.0013318)

Social media

PLUMBER SIGN-UP BID GOES VIRAL AN ONLINE VIDEO has been launched that encourages more qualified plumbers to sign up to the UK approval register. The CIPHE-backed campaign created by WaterSafe is aimed at installers in Wales and Northern Ireland and prompts potential customers to check credentials.

CIPHE member Paul Williams, pictured, featured in the Welsh version of the film. He said: “It’s a transparent way for the public to see that I hold the relevant qualifications and insurances.”

8 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

www.ciphe.org.uk

GUIDANCE UPDATE

POOLING RESOURCES Behind the scenes of the ambitious project to build an aquatics centre for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Page 14

Find out more You can find more regulation updates at www.pandhengineering. co.uk Health and safety

HVAC CAN LOWER COVID-19 RISK SAYS HSE

Training

Failure to complete the update by January will mean taking a new course

Water testers must update or face exam, WRAS warns WATER TESTING SPECIALISTS will face exams or losing their status if they don’t update their training, the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme has warned.

The approved fitting procedure for RPZ valves has changed but many testers have yet to do the free training offered by WRAS to be compliant.

The Approved Installation Method (AIM) for Type BA devices (RPZ valves) changed to Issue 2 of AIM 08-01 at the start of the year and the transition period ends in January 2021.

Failure to do the update before the deadline means testers will not be recognised beyond 7 January and will have to sit a full training course.

RPZ valves play an important role in protecting people from

www.ciphe.org.uk

the risk of contamination from plumbing systems. The AIM has been updated detailing the standards for commissioning and compliance testing RPZ valves, ensuring all test equipment is calibrated and improving how tests are reported.

Paul Millard, technical manager at WRAS, warned: “Whilst WRAS has been making efforts to contact all registered testers since the start of the year, more than half have still not registered for the training.

“If you fall into this group, it is important to make contact as soon as possible, check your details are up to date and of course sign up for training.”

To sign up go to: bit.ly/2XUNwyt To read the full WRAS advice, go to www.pandhengineering.co.uk/ news/wras-testers

GOOD VENTILATION CAN help reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, according to the safety watchdog.

The Health and Safety Executive updated its guidance on heating and ventilation systems to prevent further spread of COVID-19, making it clear that most types of air conditioning system can continue to be used as normal.

It added HVAC could reduce the risk of spread by preventing pockets of stagnant air.

But it also warned that if you use a centralised ventilation system that removes and circulates air to different rooms it is recommended that you turn off recirculation and use a fresh air supply instead.

The HSE said: “The risk of air conditioning spreading COVID-19 in the workplace is extremely low as long as there is an adequate supply of fresh air and ventilation.”

To read more go to: bit.ly/2POcA5C Sustainability

ISO TACKLES CLIMATE CHANGE AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD for any work tackling climate change has been launched.

The ISO, which sets global standards, has issued Guide 84 which provides a systematic approach, relevant principles and useful information to help standards writers address climate change impacts, risks and opportunities.

For the first time, any work in any industry to mitigate and adapt to climate change has a set of rules to measure their activities against.

Find out more: bit.ly/3gQYIDE

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 9

Illustrations: Adam Gale

IN HOT WATER Britain’s water supply is the centre of a battle between water firms, their regulator and Westminster

D

usty committee rooms in Westminster aren’t often places for a take-down of conglomerates and regulators but occasionally they can catch out the unsuspecting.

The powerful Commons Public Accounts Committee, which has oversight of the Treasury and more, has delivered a damning verdict on the water industry, its regulator and the Whitehall department in charge.

In the committee’s report, published just ahead of the summer recess, the MPs slammed all involved for having “taken

10 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

their eye off the ball” in the management of water resources.

The charge sheet was blunt: “Demand for water in England will exceed supply by between 1.1 and 3.1bn litres a day by the 2050s. Currently 3bn litres – a huge 20% of total supply – are lost every day through leakage from pipes.”

Reducing water waste is an issue the CIPHE has been calling on for years and that requires water companies to improve infrastructure, and highlights the issue of water loss through poor workmanship in an under-regulated industry. We are glad that the new

report will strengthen our voice and accelerate action.

The committee’s report condemned the government for failing to be clear with water companies, privatised in 1989, on how they should balance investment in infrastructure with reducing customer bills or efficiency.

“Defra has yet to announce a target for personal water consumption despite a commitment to do so by the end of 2018,” it says. And “ponderous” water companies have made “no progress” in reducing leakage over the last 20 years.

Meg Hillier (Lab), chair of the committee,

www.ciphe.org.uk

WATER SUPPLY / FEATURE

regulations in future. But a year later we don’t know what that will look like.”

We continue to lose one fifth of our daily supply to leaks warns: “It is hard to imagine, in this country, turning the tap and not having enough clean, drinkable water come out – but that is exactly what we now face. Defra has failed to lead and water companies have failed to act: we look now to the Department to make up for lost time and see we get action before it’s too late.”

Called to task And they haven’t been the only powerful voices of concern. In March, the National Audit Office’s investigation into water supply and demand management told the industry to get its house in order.

The NAO, England’s spending watchdog, told Defra to back the demands from Ofwat on the utility firms.

“Reducing demand is essential to prevent shortages as water companies are running out of low-cost options for increasing water supply,” the NAO says.

“Water companies’ long-term progress on tackling leakage and reducing water consumption has stalled over the past five years, and companies are only now starting to develop bulk water transfer solutions at the scale required.”

It adds: “Defra will not be able to achieve value for money unless it provides stronger leadership across government, and a much clearer sense of direction to water companies, the water regulators and water consumers.”

Meanwhile, the chief inspector of drinking water, Marcus Rink, is set to ask for an update from the government on his call for mandatory registration of plumbers in a bid to improve the quality of installations.

His annual letter to the government last year said: “Competency and training

www.ciphe.org.uk

CIPHE’s manifesto

of plumbers, and the control of products and the fittings they use, would reduce future risks, particularly if required through an obligatory accreditation scheme such as WaterSafe.”

The trigger for all this was last year’s warning by James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, who warned that England will be caught in the “jaws of death” and face severe shortages unless attitudes changed to water efficiency.

So why has it taken this long for people to start demanding action?

Cash flow Change will come at a cost. The National Infrastructure Commission suggests we need £21bn of investment by 2050 to secure our supplies. That money will have to come from somewhere. And with the population forecast to reach 75m by 2050, the country has a deadline to overhaul a worn-out system that dates back to the Victorian era.

Julie Spinks, director of the Water Regulation Advisory Scheme (WRAS), explains: “Water efficiency is a massive issue for the resilience of the network.”

So Defra has begun by consulting on the per capita water consumption figure. It’s currently 141 litres per day, which is unsustainable as the number of households increases. Spinks says: “The current rate is too high. Defra has consulted and wants to review the water

The CIPHE has been leading the push for the industry to radically rethink its approach. That work was showcased in the manifesto shared with policymakers and politicians during December’s election. Our ongoing lobbying of both industry and government to make it happen has continued to review, update and strengthen enforcement of the Water Regulations.

Through its role on the WaterSafe Board, the Institute has also been working with Approved Contractor Scheme Operators to present an industry-wide united message on matters of competency and efficiency.

Government relationships built during the focus on the net-zero agenda also enable the Institute to get the same officials to understand the how integral water efficiency will be to its success.

CIPHE chief executive officer Kevin Wellman explained the next steps in delivering on the manifesto commitments – targeting consumers. He advises: “A sustained campaign should be introduced to change consumer attitudes towards water conservation.

“We are working to influence the Comprehensive Spending Review because the government should support and invest in environmentally targeted projects, including conservation and harvesting of water.”

In its defence, Ofwat is in the final stages of setting tough targets for water firms and is pledging to be tougher on managing them.

We cannot have a safe water supply without a minimum standard SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 11

FEATURE / WATER SUPPLY Did you know?

The UK has 346,455 kilometres of water pipes, enough to go around the world eight-and-ahalf times *Source: Water UK

Defra has failed to lead and water companies have failed to act Evolving efficiency A spokesperson for Ofwat tells P&H Engineering: “This is an important issue and Ofwat will carefully consider the committee’s report and recommendations. This is why we have taken action to improve long-term planning and have set out a £51bn programme over the next five years to make major reductions to leakage, cut pollution by a third, and back new infrastructure. We have also unveiled an innovation fund to find imaginative ways to tackle these complex issues.

“This [PAC] report also serves as another reminder that water companies must stay focused on reducing leakage and improving water efficiency. We will continue to push ourselves and work with government, regulators, companies and others to make sure we all deliver for customers and the environment.”

Unsurprisingly, the water firms have hit back, defending their record. Water UK, which represents all the major water companies, says the industry has changed since privatisation when supply and treatment made the UK the “dirty man of Europe”.

It says firms have reduced the amount of water leaked from pipes by 7% to the lowest level since records began in the mid-1990s. Supplies are passing 99.96% of quality tests.

Water UK says: “We know more needs to be done, however, which is why we have ambitious plans to halve leakage by 2050. We also want to help

12 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

Changing an industry won’t be cheap; especially for a network that dates back to the Public Health Act of 1875

government embed water efficiency in our national psyche.”

The water firms say consumers and manufacturers have to be involved too as repairing pipes alone won’t be enough. They also want labelling on products that rate their efficiency, similar to energy ratings.

Spinks backs the idea of nudging consumers in the right direction. A labelling scheme has started, but at the moment it is voluntary: “There’s a role to publicise the fact that the labels are there to share information on products so consumers can save money as well as water. But unless there’s take-up by the manufacturers and installers, it won’t change anything.”

Changing an industry financed around increasing customers and consumption is not going to be cheap.

Money is the big issue and it’s not just the regulators that are concerned. In June, Yorkshire Water’s credit rating was

downgraded to BBB by ratings agency Fitch because of “Ofwat’s challenging final price determinations”.

It had already raised concerns for the industry due to the fallout from the coronavirus, including “delayed customer payments, increased bad debts and modified consumption volumes”.

Setting standards And that’s not the end of it – Brexit is looming. Julie Spinks explains: “Brexit affects our water regulations from January. The government will enact changes on labelling products but they need to get their act together.”

This autumn the EU will ratify its drinking water directive, setting new standards on safety, cleanliness and sustainability – and that will include training for plumbers.

The text received political agreement from the European Council at the Environment Council on 5 March 2020.

www.ciphe.org.uk

WATER SUPPLY / FEATURE

LIQUID ASSETS

Industry bodies have warned that consumer demand will soon outstrip supply in England

Under the new rules, the quality standards that drinking water must meet are brought up to date, and a cost-effective risk-based approach to the monitoring of water quality is introduced. The updated rules also set out minimum hygienic requirements for materials in contact with drinking water, such as pipes.

A clean job The updated directive also addresses growing concerns about the effects of chemicals in water – endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals and microplastics – on human health.

It will also “promote training for plumbers and other professionals dealing with domestic distribution systems and the installation of construction products and materials in contact with water”.

The UK will have to decide if it will follow the directive. Spinks says: “I’m keen for the UK to adopt that principle.”

CIPHE chief executive officer Kevin Wellman says the Institute is as well: “We cannot have a safe, sustainable water supply without a minimum standard for a competent person. That means registration – and action from the government.”

The water firms have committed to cleaning up their act with £5bn of investment over the next five years.

Water UK says: “We are passionate about addressing climate change, protecting the environment and serving customers with clean and resilient water supplies and are working with all our stakeholders to address the challenges ahead.”

After years of inertia, registered plumbers and higher standards could be on their way. Spinks says changes could come quickly: “The autumn will give us all a clear indication of what happens next with a lot of things.”

Read more You can find the NAO’s verdict in full at: www.nao.org.uk

The autumn will give us a real indication of what happens next www.ciphe.org.uk

Get the latest from Water UK: www.water.org.uk CIPHE members can qualify for WaterSafe membership.

Apply by emailing colina@ciphe.org.uk

After a summer of recordbreaking temperatures, customers are becoming more conscious about conserving water.

WaterSafe has come up with these handy hints to encourage your customers to reduce demand: • Fit water-efficient showerheads. They use as little as seven litres of water per minute – saving you more than 26 litres of water for an average sevenminute shower.

• Recommend aerated taps.

Aerators can simply be screwed onto the faucet head and can reduce the flow of water by up to 10 litres per minute.

• Toilet flushing accounts for a third of household water use.

Dual-flush toilets have two separate flushing volumes for disposing waste. They use as little as 2.6 litres per flush – only 20% of older toilets.

• For a new build, ask your water supplier about a ‘trickle feed’ before a full connection.

• The installation in newbuilds of greywater or rainwater harvesting systems can generate enough water to flush the toilet, wash the car or water the garden.

• Green the garden. Water butts will collect water in rainy weather for watering cans. Changing the lawn to gravel saves effort and water.

Famous gardener Beth Chato championed dry gardens with less demanding plants.

For more WaterSafe advice go to: https://bit.ly/2DKiW3n For gardeners, go to the RHS: https://bit.ly/3ksy1Yd

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 13

MAKING A SPLASH Not even COVID-19 is standing in the way of the construction of the world-class aquatics centre that will host part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. P&H Engineering finds out how they are doing it

N

othing focuses attention like a deadline that has billions of people, including Her Majesty the Queen, at the end of it.

Contractors across Birmingham are racing against the clock to be ready for the XXII Commonwealth Games which will run from 28 July until 8 August 2022.

It will be bringing together more than 4,000 of the world’s elite athletes from 71 countries, in an 11-day festival of sport and culture.

Sounds like plenty of time to prepare?

The challenge is that Birmingham was never intended to host one of the world’s largest multi-sport events. It should have been hosted by South Africa but financial problems hit the organisers and extraordinarily the Games was given to the UK. Thanks to the 2012 Olympics and previous events, there are

14 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

enough specialist facilities – except for a suitable aquatics centre.

The London 2012 venue was reduced in size – as planned – to become a community and national sporting venue.

It can’t be changed back and, in any case, it’s in London. So the only new venue for the Games will be the aquatics centre in Sandwell on the site of a council-owned swimming pool.

A report to Sandwell Council’s Cabinet members at the beginning revealed they were pressed for time: “The development

The development has a heightened level of urgency

of a new facility in Sandwell has a heightened level of urgency as this will need to be delivered well in advance of the Games and no later than the summer of 2021 to allow sufficient time for testing and preparation for the Games.”

Getting started The design and specification for the project was agreed by the Games Committee and signed off by the local authority. The £73m centre will have two lives: one for the event and then another as a multi-sport community facility.

All the pools at the site need to be built to the standard to meet the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA) facilities rules: an Olympic sized pool (50m x 25m x 2m), a 25m diving pool and 5,000 spectator seats.

The temporary building must also

www.ciphe.org.uk

Did you know?

COMMONWEALTH GAMES / FEATURE

A cool £14m is being spent on temporary HVAC for the Games

be able to deal with the heat generated by specialist TV lighting. Part of the specification also includes installing HVAC systems for temporary chillers and air handling units using fabric ducting at high level for the warm-up pool tent and link corridor. Temporary power is estimated to equate to 90 per cent of the requirement, and HVAC approximately 10 per cent.

After the Games, the venue will be reduced in size for community use with seating for 1,000 people.

The main build is being led by Wates Construction. The firm was appointed in January last year as the contractor via Major Works UK – part of the Scape National Construction framework. It is based just four miles away in Quinton.

The project contract goes beyond design and build. Wates has other commitments, including supporting its supply chain in taking on apprentices and helping them transfer into permanent positions upon completion.

The company will also engage with local schools to deliver work experience placements on site and encourage a more diverse demographic into an industry

The centre will provide elite-level facilities, like those at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia

www.ciphe.org.uk

combating growing skills shortages.

How are they progressing?

The cleared site was handed over to Wates Construction in July last year and it’s at the halfway stage.

Dan Sadler, operations director (MEP), is leading a team of more than 30 specialists and has many more on site. He tells P&H Engineering how it’s coming together.

“I’m used to working on large-scale infrastructure but nothing with this time scale. All the Games projects are having to be delivered very, very quickly from concept to completion,” he says.

“We tend to get involved early in a project – Stage Two design – because you’ve got to inform the outcome and

We’ve contributed to 3D modelling extensively to pinpoint everything

the budget. We do a feasibility study and that guides the budget. We know the risks and that gives the client a really robust indication of whether the project can proceed in line with their aspirations.”

He explains how they’ve handled the dual use issue by working back from its final configuration: “We’ve integrated lots of modularisation. Ultimately, the primary purpose of the building is a recreation and leisure centre. It’s been designed from day one as that function and the Games is on top of that.”

Speeding the planning process was achieved by a “brilliant” community engagement process by the council.

The community specification includes a 50m competition pool, a 20m community pool, fitness studios plus a sauna and steam room. The centre, designed by Roberts Limbrick Architects, will also have three activity studios, two four-court sports halls, a 108-station gym, a 25-station womenonly gym, dry diving facilities, an indoor cycling studio, new football pitch and changing facilities.

Water, water everywhere That’s a lot of heat and even more water to control. The Olympic-size pool alone holds 660,430 gallons of water – which has to go somewhere.

“There’s lots of pools. There’s a lot of varying temperatures and supply rates,” says Sadler. “At this stage there’s a massive number of people on the ground and contractors ensuring the coordination of the pipework and drainage system. That’s been a challenge.”

It has to be right, especially for sections of the building that will be underground such as the plant rooms.

He says: “There’s lots of in situ concrete pouring. We’ve contributed to 3D modelling extensively to pinpoint everything. There are 130 people doing re-bar excavations and pouring concrete.

It has to be done that way to make sure the structure is robust.”

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 15

FEATURE / COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Like the London 2012 swimming venue (pictured), Sandwell’s centre will be given over to the public after the Games

But there’s a twist – making sure a pool doesn’t leak. Sadler explains: “We have to fill it to test it before we can put any sort of façade around it. Then there’s the challenge of getting rid of it and we’ve had to think about how we use it.”

The solution is to store the water in a portable tower and lorries and re-use it for each test. That will be five million litres by the end of the process – “all whilst the rest of the building is going on,” he explains.

Complex challenges Ventilation is just as challenging: “A leisure centre doesn’t usually have 5,000 spectators. The environment during the competition will be completely different in terms of design. Putting the distribution vents through the building requires lots of coordination, particularly in the sub-level basements.

Every fitting has to be in the right place and sized correctly,” he says.

Another part of the challenge is ensuring there’s access to the service rooms to make sure the systems are

16 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

It’s great to see how much progress has already been made on site maintainable. And some are high up in the building.

Coordinating this hugely complex project is the biggest win for those involved.

Sadler says: “I’m proudest of the way all of our businesses have worked together really well. The teams have collaborated together and worked as one from day one.”

The Games team are delighted with the results so far. Ian Reid, chief executive officer for Birmingham 2022 says: “This is a hugely exciting moment for us as organisers of the Commonwealth Games, as this fabulous centre is going to be one of the jewels in the Birmingham 2022

crown, especially as it’s the only brandnew competition venue being built ahead of the Games.

“It’s great to see how much progress has already been made on site and I’m looking forward to receiving regular updates over the next two years.”

Despite the intensity of the delivery – and the work to come after the event – the Sandwell team involved are already excited for 2022.

Sadler says: “I’m a real sports fan. I applied for lots of tickets for 2012 but didn’t get any. I definitely won’t be missing out this time. I will be really proud to view it at the opening.”

Just the job: Working at Wates Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Wates dates back to 1897.

Today it is an award-winning construction, property services and development company employing 4,000 people.

There’s an early careers programme for apprentices. Find out more at www.wates.co.uk/careers

www.ciphe.org.uk

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 EDUCATION AND TRAINING MAT TERS FOR PLUMBING LECTURERS

EDUCATION &TRAINING

Stepping up The exciting challenges awaiting young people joining our industry

Building a brighter future Ready to pass on your skills to the next generation of plumbers and engineers?

Find out how you can take on the varied and vital role of a trainer or lecturer

www.ciphe.org.uk

INSIDE PROTECTING JOBS Government help for apprentices must go further in future

NEW TECHNOLOGY Why training will need to be adapted to the growth in modular builds

SEP / OCT 2020

EDUCATION&TRAINING

01

TEACHING

Be confident and you’ll hold students’ attention

Find out more Make sure your students know about the resources at ciphe.org.uk

02

EDUCATION&TRAINING

SEP / OCT 2020

www.ciphe.org.uk

TEACHING Good communication skills are key to teaching well

www.ciphe.org.uk

SEP / OCT 2020

EDUCATION&TRAINING

03

CAREERS

Take pride in your work, and you have a good future ahead

Read Read more more

Take Takeinspiration inspirationfrom from case casestudies studiesof ofpeople people ininour ourindustry industryatatwww. www. pandhengineering. pandhengineering. co.uk/careers co.uk/careers

04

EDUCATION&TRAINING

SEP / OCT 2020

www.ciphe.org.uk

CAREERS Learning can include both classroom work and on-the-tools work

www.ciphe.org.uk

SEP / OCT 2020

EDUCATION&TRAINING

05

FUNDING

Apprentices are vital to keep skills alive

Read more You can find archived features on training and education at www. pandhengineering. co.uk/careers

06

EDUCATION&TRAINING

SEP / OCT 2020

www.ciphe.org.uk

FUNDING Employers have been offered help to keep learners on

www.ciphe.org.uk

SEP / OCT 2020

EDUCATION&TRAINING

07

NEW TECH

Factory-built homes could become more common

08

EDUCATION&TRAINING

SEP / OCT 2020

www.ciphe.org.uk

CARBON DATED Industry is embracing low-carbon emissions and the CIPHE is working hard to make sure you’re not left behind

T

he low-carbon emissions future is heading towards us at a rapid pace. Training on how to install new heating systems could be going live as early as next year.

Manufacturers are already placing their bets with new products and, beyond them, global energy firms are also setting their direction.

A clue on how fast they are moving can be found in the analysts’ notes that go to institutional investors – that’s the

20 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

people who run our pension funds and government bonds. The people deciding on long-term investments are focusing on low-carbon emissions including energy supplies.

COVID-19 has driven oil prices down but analysts say prices were already low and are not predicting big leaps up as the world recovers.

A note from S&P Global Platts, which compiles intelligence and data on the commodities markets, has this from an

The only thing slowing us down is moving through transition to scale www.ciphe.org.uk

SUSTAINABILITY / FEATURE

FOLLOW THE MONEY

We wanted to give installers something to focus their minds international panel of energy leaders held in London this summer: “Several key trends are moving in hydrogen’s direction, including policy, supply networks and investment appetite for decarbonising fuels,” they were told by Randy MacEwen, president and chief executive of Canada-based Ballard Power Systems. “The only thing slowing us down is moving through that transition to scale.”

That includes supply, knowledge and – critically – changing consumer behaviour.

The CIPHE is already working with the government to ensure the industry is ready. Online information sharing, including webinars and open-source data, is part of the industry overhaul and the Institute is rapidly moving to be a part of this.

An early glimpse how came with the online Installer #NetZeroFESTIVAL this summer, where the CIPHE brought together industry experts to discuss the implications of meeting the low carbon agenda – including changes in training.

Designing a difference Paul Harmer, the CIPHE lead technical consultant, explains: “We wanted to give installers something to focus their minds. We have to bring the consumer with us and design is critical. If the system’s not designed right, you’re never going to get the best out of it.

“As a Professional Body and an educational charity focused on public safety and health, the CIPHE is perfectly placed to assess how the industry can best contribute to the long-term

www.ciphe.org.uk

Global financiers ridiculed BP for its pledge to become a green energy company as it reeled from the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in 2010.

Now the firm’s current CEO is being urged to go faster by investors. Current boss Bernard Looney says the coronavirus pandemic underscored BP’s efforts to “reimagine energy” by taking a leading role in the push to cleaner, low-carbon fuels.

He has set out ambitious new targets for the firm to become a “net-zero” carbon emitter by 2050 or sooner.

wellbeing of the consumer and the planet. Involving the installer in the debate from the outset is critical.”

What came out of the debate is that manufacturers see the biggest risk from low take-up by consumers who, over a couple of generations, have become used to gas boilers and water tanks being replaced by the rise of combi units. A move towards heat pumps, for example, will ask those same people to move back to on-site water storage.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester Bosch, says the industry can’t change them alone: “The government needs to get every house ‘sort of agnostic’ to every technology. We know heat pumps will not work particularly well at high flow temperatures. Their efficiency goes down, for example.”

What do installers need to be thinking about for the future?

He says: “If we can get the heating system to be warm enough for the home at 40-45°C flow or return temperatures then we’d have achieved what government wants to see.”

But that means installers will have to rethink their approach to lower temperature differentials, he says: “We’re so used to sizing radiators for significantly higher flow or return temperatures. To go back to basic heating systems and designs is very necessary. It’s quite a short timescale – but we are starting from scratch.”

Beyond that, it’s persuading consumers that they will still be warm enough if their radiators aren’t stinging hot. “That’s probably my main worry: the consumer,” says Bridges. “I’ve no fear that the installers will grasp this quite comfortably. If the heating system performs differently to heating systems homeowners have been used to, that’s always presented us with issues.”

Consumer education cannot be left solely to the installer. In its manifesto, the CIPHE calls for a public awareness campaign on the realities of low-carbon heating in order to drive the necessary change in consumer expectations and decision making.

Although Ian Rippin, chief executive officer of Microgeneration Certification Scheme, rightly observes installers’ crucial role: “The biggest influence over a consumer’s purchase of a renewable energy solution is their existing installer.

It’s quite often the case that it’s a distress purchase: the boiler’s going wrong.”

Refreshing skills will have to include communicating why a system works, Rippin says. “If an installer can convey the benefits are of renewable energy, then they can help educate.

Of course, it can’t just be about the installer influencing the consumer, it has to be wider. But you’ve got to start somewhere. We’ve got to start with those installers who are keen to embrace renewable energy.”

Rippin warns though: “We’ve got to start now. Time’s ticking, isn’t it?”

Not seen NETZEROFEST? Go to: https://bit.ly/31ddWwn

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 21

Your Membership One of the key benefits of being a CIPHE member is being kept informed on the industry issues that matter TIM SAINTY CIPHE Membership Director

Member benefit

Tim looks after the growing CIPHE membership, enhancing services for members and improving communications

WE’LL FIGHT YOUR CORNER WHEN IT COUNTS

tims@ciphe.org.uk +44 (0)1708 463102

We’ve partnered with Law Express to give our members access to free telephone legal advice and guidance

F

rom late payments to employee complaints, you can face a range of legal challenges that you could do without.

It’s especially worrying if you’re a sole trader and any time spent away from the business is costing you money.

So we’ve teamed up with Law Express Limited, which provides advice on all sorts of problems and queries including employment issues within the workplace, commercial and company law as well as data protection (GDPR).

Using the service is really easy.

All Law Express advisors and call handlers are based in the UK (and cover all UK jurisdictions). When you call Law Express, a call handler will ask you some questions about the nature of your enquiry so that they can match you to the best adviser.

An experienced legal advisor who

You now have direct, expert advice that is one call away 22 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

Did you know?

Legal cover is among member benefits which also include pension and health cover

specialises in the area of law that you need will call you back, usually within two hours. If you wish to speak to an advisor straight away the call handler will do their best to help you.

Jilly Sainsbury-Bow, client services director at Law Express, says: “We’ve already had a lot of calls from members because of the COVID-19 lockdown about coronavirus and returning to work.

“In one case the advisor explored whether risk assessments had been conducted, can social distancing measures be implemented in their hardware store? Have they ensured that there will be adequate PPE?” Advisors can also explain how to explore employers’ own grievance

policies and procedures.

Here’s an example where the service has already helped:

Q: What steps can I take against a customer that has failed to pay for services that I have provided in their showroom?

In this case, the advisor discussed invoicing for the final payment and after the deadline how to serve a pre-action complaint letter, then how to consider enforcement through the County Court (small claims track).

We get a lot of calls from members about legal issues and we’ll always try to help. You now have direct, personalised, expert advice that is one call away so it’s one less thing to worry about.

HOW TO USE OUR SERVICE • Call the Law Express helpline 01275 405 600 to speak to an advisor.

• Lines are open from 8am-8pm, MonFri and 9am-12pm, Sat-Sun • Go to: www.ciphe.org.uk/professionalmembers/benefits/lawexpress

www.ciphe.org.uk

D

ER

PRES

S U

RE

UN

WELLBEING

Under pressure: It’s good to talk

Talking to someone about mental health issues, whether it’s your GP, someone at work or a counsellor, can be a really big help

G

etting advice or help from an expert is always the best route but what if you don’t have access to them?

Most people don’t get involved in conversations about mental health issues because they think they can’t help or don’t want to seem like they’re prying.

But there’s a lot you can do as a friend, colleague or employer that can make a real difference. The most simple thing, according to charities, is to listen to someone.

Small gestures can make a big difference: praising what they’ve done or helping with an everyday task can boost confidence and encourage someone to open up.

Anyone can help a friend or colleague to open up Another top tip is that sometimes a person doesn’t feel like meeting or phoning so of 57% on the previous year. being open to text messages, emails or The charity also says employers can Facebook messages can help. If someone help to: doesn’t want to talk to a person they • Build employees’ confidence to know, helplines like the Samaritans are have open conversations around available 24 hours a day. mental health According to Lighthouse Club, one • Encourage people to access support of the construction industry’s mental when problems first start health charities and a partner of Under • Empower anyone with a long-term Pressure, last year 2,615 cases were mental health issue or disability to presented to their helpline, an increase thrive in work • Promote a mentally healthy environment •E mbed a long-term positive culture across the whole organisation The charity’s chief executive officer Bill Hill says: “Many of the workforce

ARE YOU LISTENING? Listening can help solve mental health issues and there are some simple steps that could make a difference.

The mental health charity Time To Change has this advice to help conversations: • Let the person speak – people are more likely to be able to listen to you if you’re listening to them.

• You can show people you’ve heard them by paraphrasing what they’ve said, e.g. “It sounds like you’re really passionate about your community.”

• Asking open questions can help get people talking e.g. “Could you say a bit more about that?”

SUPPORT NETWORK The NHS has also created a series of podcasts to help. You can find them at: https://bit.ly/3hRkYO2

remain anxious about the safety of their work environment. Now, more than ever, it is vitally important to ensure that every company and building site has some level of mental wellbeing support.”

Resources to help Find more on dealing with mental health issues at www.lighthouseclub.org Construction Industry Helpline 24/7 telephone number 0345 605 1956

The most simple thing is to listen www.ciphe.org.uk

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 23

TheFix

Advice on low-carbon, low-water usage solutions that meet consumer expectations when showering PAUL HARMER Lead technical consultant CIPHE CEng MIET Paul is a chartered engineer who has consulted and led on many high-profile plumbing and heating industry projects paulh@ciphe.org.uk

Using new technology, we can reduce carbon emissions and water usage by showers

Sustainability

The decarbonisation of showering Industry innovation and the knowledge gained from new regulated qualifications is needed to accelerate the decarbonisation of heat

O

ne of the biggest challenges that the UK plumbing and heating industry faces, as we decarbonise our heating and hot water systems, is consumer behaviour. The majority of UK homes have their heating and hot water delivered by gas and oil boilers with an estimated 17.5 million homes currently using a combination boiler.

The consumer expects comfort and hot water on demand, but if the market

www.ciphe.org.uk

diverts its attention to the mass deployment of heat pumps during the 2020s, will it be faced with not only a skills gap but also an innovation gap?

The industry is now assessing the challenge of how it can train an additional 35,000 heat pump installers by 2028 to deliver more than 600,000 heat pumps per year. One of the hurdles that installers will need to navigate, when converting a high output gas combination boiler to a

heat pump, is ensuring the domestic hot water (DHW) cylinder is sized correctly to deliver a showering experience that is the same, if not better. As we tackle this challenge, can innovative showering technology help reduce the issues surrounding the demand and space constraints of the new modern home?

SIZING THE HOT WATER CYLINDER TO MEET THE CONSUMER NEEDS The standard BS EN 12831:2017 Part 3 demonstrates the method required to successfully calculate the correct DHW cylinder volume to meet the needs of the consumer. The first thing that the installer needs to do is to understand the consumer’s hot water requirements before attempting to specify a specific storage volume. Common practice in the UK would be to size the DHW cylinder based upon various rule of thumb factors such as the number of bathrooms or the

SEP / OCT 2020

P&H ENGINEERING 25

THE FIX / SUSTAINABLE SHOWERS

FIGURE 1

Aerated showerhead

1

2

3 01 Water path 02 Atmospheric air inlet 03 Aerated water changes the ‘feel’ of the shower but has no measurable boost in performance

number of litres of water usage per person per day. However, without the benefit of the high output safety net delivered by a typical 30kW system boiler, it is critical that the installer pays more attention to the consumer’s hot water usage and volume patterns. This is an example of why the industry has highlighted a need to create a new qualification in low temperature heating and hot water systems, as there has never been a more important time for installers to expand their knowledge and skills in low-carbon systems.

which, unless we take action to change things, we will not have enough water to supply our needs?” This quote highlights the problem with the public’s expectation that the supply of clean water is infinite. One of the unique challenges of saving water compared to carbon is that we can install a new heat source and insulate our properties whilst maintaining consumer comfort, however, saving water requires a huge shift in consumer behaviour. Is the consumer prepared to sacrifice their powerful shower to reduce water consumption, and how will innovations in shower technology help support the consumer on this journey, without compromising their experience?

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE IMPORTANT TIME TO INNOVATE The holy grail of hot water innovation would be a technology that reduces carbon emissions through the saving of both energy and water, without affecting the consumer experience.

There is one such disruptive showering technology that aims to try and solve this problem which is designed to

inject forced air into the flow stream of water as it enters the shower head. The novel feature of this type of technology is its potential to deliver the same consumer showering experience whilst using less energy and water, although the big question is: what does the consumer think? It is worth noting that reducing consumption at the shower outlet also plays a role in reducing carbon emissions through the pumping and treatment of water in both the supply and waste parts of our critical infrastructure.

THE VENTURI PRINCIPLE The use of air is not a new concept for improving the showering experience using the Venturi principle. This principle restricts the water flow whilst drawing atmospheric air into the water through a small hole in the shower head (figure 1, above left). Shower heads using this technology are often referred to as “aerating”. However, it has limitations with the boosting of performance. In fact, the Venturi principle is also used by one of the CIPHE’s Industrial Associates, Fabdec, which uses it to draw air into the cold water flow feeding the hot water

FIGURE 2

Fabdec’s Venturi system

2 1

01 Venturi 02 Expansion air gap in unvented hot water cylinder 03 Cold water inlet into cylinder with integral air bubbles

SAVING CARBON WHILST SAVING WATER While industry and Government are focusing their efforts into reducing energy consumption, could they be overlooking the importance of water as a resource? Sir James Bevan, chief executive officer of the Environment Agency, asked last year: “How do we avoid the jaws of death – the point at

26 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

3 www.ciphe.org.uk

SUSTAINABLE SHOWERS / THE FIX

FIGURE 3

Kelda’s air-powered shower

1 2

3 4

5 6 POWERFUL SPRAY 01 Injected water 02 High pressure air, delivers 300 litres of air per minute 03 Large water nozzle,resists limescale and blockage 04 Acceleration chamber, water injected into air at the ratio of 1:10. Water broken up into droplets 05 Air stream, provides a low-resistance air path for droplets maintaining momentum 06 Large droplets,improve heat retention for a more invigorating shower experience

cylinder. Fabdec’s inventive step aimed to recharge the expansion air gap within the top of the hot water cylinder, mitigating the risks associated with losing expansion (figure 2, left).

HAS THERE BEEN A BREAKTHROUGH?

propelled through an array of nozzles forming a low-resistance air stream. The laminar water flow is injected into the air where it accelerates and breaks up into perfect sized droplets (larger droplets are better at retaining heat). Thanks to the low-resistance air stream, each droplet is able to travel further with more momentum to deliver an increased effective spray force.

So how could this affect the way installers design a hot water system?

Before an installer attempts to select a specific hot water cylinder, they need to assess the needs and behaviours of the consumer and the property first. One method, which is stated in BS EN 12831, is to carry out an installer/consumer co-design process by finding out the consumer’s typical peak day for hot water usage and ensuring they install a system that exceeds that demand.

Figure 4 (below) illustrates a typical medium hot water user profile from the standard that looks at the percentage of daily hot water consumption that is used at different times of the day. As designers and installers, we need to design to peak requirements with an appreciation of not oversizing a system; but the consumer may require a system greater than that

which a typical house would demand.

Therefore, apart from having the right qualification and competence for installing a low-carbon heating and hot water system, communication is the critical ingredient to a happy consumer.

So, if we specify a low-carbon, low-water usage shower such as the one designed

by Kelda Technology, can we reduce the size of the hot water cylinder?

Figure 4 illustrates a typical effect of retrofitting an air-powered shower compared to a standard bar mixer. It is clear that as long as the consumer showering experience is not affected, then technically the amount of hot storage volume required would be lower.

The CIPHE is working with the industry to develop a regulated qualification in low-temperature heating and hot water systems in dwellings which will include the relevant core competencies required to be a low-carbon heating and hot water installer.

Technical guidance Visit the Advice section on the P&H Engineering website to find archived TechTalk articles on designing and installing heating and hot water systems in a variety of settings: www.pandhengineering.co.uk

FIGURE 4

Potential hot water savings from air-powered showering

Another Industrial Associate, Kelda Technology, has invented a new patented shower product using ‘air-powered’ technology that is capable of providing an energising shower using a flow rate as low as five litres per minute – without compromising shower experience.

www.ciphe.org.uk

Volume of water

HOW DOES IT WORK? The air-powered technology uses the principle of gas turbine fuel injection technology (figure 3, above). Each shower features an intelligent microprocessor and powerful digital fan which delivers the water and air to the shower head.

Within the shower head, the air is

0

Peak day hourly profile [Illustration only]

SEP / OCT 2020

24 P&H ENGINEERING 27

A new-generation Kelda shower

Your CPD CIPHE members are expected to complete 30 hours of CPD each year.

Completion of these assessments can count towards this requirement.

What to do

Career progression

YOUR CPD

Assessment: Sustainable showers 1

The Venturi principle increases the flow of water whilst drawing in atmospheric air. True or false? ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... .....................................................................................

2

Which standard covers the design of hot water storage systems?

A: BS EN 12831 part 1 B: BS EN 12832 part 3 C: BS EN 1264 D: None of the above

3

5

What component of the Kelda shower works in conjunction with the fan to control and modulate the flow rate to the shower head?

A: Microprocessor B: Solenoid C: Expansion relief valve D: Mini pump

6

4

7

28 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

Your details Please complete this form Your name:

C: To draw air into the cold water to maintain the expansion air gap at the top of the cylinder D: None of the above

The Kelda shower technology utilises a high powered fan to deliver water and air to the shower head. True or false? ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... .....................................................................................

Fabdec used the Venturi principle for which purpose: A: To increase the flow rate of the shower B: To remove any unwanted air out of the cold water pipework

Under the CIPHE Code of Professional Standards, members are required to participate in CPD

Answer the questions (using an additional A4 sheet if necessary) and return by scanning and emailing or posting to the address below.

Installing water saving technology for your customer leads to the reduction in carbon emissions: True or false? ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... .....................................................................................

What is the flow rate of a Kelda ‘air-powered’ shower?

A: 5 l/min B: 8 l/min C: 10 l/min D: 12 l/min

CIPHE membership number:

Email:

Return to: CPD Assessment, CIPHE, 64 Station Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 6NB Email: info@ciphe.org.uk Or visit the members-only area of the CIPHE website: www.ciphe.org.uk/cpd

www.ciphe.org.uk

MEET THE MEMBERS

Haydn Harris MCIPHE MWMSoc The company director and legionella consultant is wary of workmanship but not jumping out of aeroplanes…

Q A

Q

What do you love about your job?

Have you got a standout moment?

The variety. I get to go to buildings where people have never been since they were built. Having such a wide breadth of knowledge from plumbing to electrics has kept me interested.

Q A

A

How did you get into your current role?

It’s a new business; we started in September last year. I worked for Oakleaf for 14 years and started their legionella service. It was a natural progression to start my own business.

I’m quite an outgoing person and like to progress and not stay in one area.

Q A

Being on an RAF base one day and three levels under Heathrow airport on another.

But really it’s investigating when someone has caught legionella and establishing the source and preventing anyone else from being sick.

How did you get into the industry?

I left school early. I was 15 and wanted to start work. I began in a factory making shoes then applied for every job in the newspaper and a place in London wanted an apprentice engineer. Then I worked my way up.

Q

A

Haydn enjoys variety at work

Q

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned?

A

We all know that in the plumbing industry we’ve got the rogue traders who always do a bad job. The HVAC industry is the same. A company – no matter how good they profess to be – is still capable of doing bad work. Suppliers need to be able to prove their worth. There are experts who are doing woeful work – and it’s measurable.

Tell us something people don’t know about you

I did skydiving for five years. It’s ironic given my job is about safety and risk. I’m sure some of those aircraft were never completely good. The wings wobbled. Sometimes we were glad to get out of them…

The lack of funding has caught up with me now – it’s not cheap. I’m more of a family man these days.

30 P&H ENGINEERING

SEP / OCT 2020

Q

What are the benefits of a CIPHE membership?

Q

Would you do it all over again?

A

It’s a broad group of plumbers and more. The CIPHE is pushing for high standards and that’s a good thing.

They bring the heating and plumbing industries together. A lot of things can be saved by good plumbing. Anyone that’s ever worked for me, I’ve always put forward for membership.

A

I would because it’s provided me with a varied career. I’ve had the opportunity to work up from the bottom to become a leading consultant. If I would do anything differently I would look at getting a professional qualification earlier in my career.

Get in touch Would you like to feature here?

Contact the editor on pandhengineering@ jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

www.ciphe.org.uk