P & H Engineering Q 4

QUARTER FOUR / 2021 THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PLUMBING AND HEATING ENGINEERING

LEARNING CURVE

BALANCING ACT

TRUST ISSUES

The CIPHE’s new design qualification

Heating and cooling buildings sustainably

Helping customers to feel confident

BUILDING IMMUNIT Y THE NEW STANDARD AIMING TO PANDEMIC-PROOF INDOOR SPACES

W E L CO M E / CO N T E N T S WE’RE ONLINE! Visit pandhengineering.co.uk for regular updates and archived features

Welcome shortage in the UK highlights the ongoing issues within supply chains. This will ultimately have an impact on the heating and plumbing industry, as well as its customers. As winter looms there could be dark days ahead for vulnerable customers, so now’s the time to encourage them to book a boiler service.

Following the pandemic, the issue of health in public spaces has resulted in the development of the Immune Building Standard. We look at what impact this blueprint for healthy buildings will have on the public and installers (p26) As the race to become net carbon zero gains pace, we take a look at a heat pump village that’s already benefiting from this technology and the positive impact it can have on fuel poverty in the UK (p22).

We are also interested to see what developments COP26 brings towards the end of the year. More on that in the next issue…

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THE CURRENT FUEL

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Contents FE ATURE S

6 Frontline

11 Fond farewell

The new heat pump grants, action to ease supplies shortages and more

The CIPHE reflects on Ben Bradshaw’s life

14 The perfect balance

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Editor Sarah Welsh 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

Alan Marcon’s quest to go greener

30 Training

18 Trading on trust

CIPHE’s Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Design course explained

How CIPHE members can help to maintain public confidence in the profession

22 Power to the people A sustainable communal heating project for social housing residents

26 Forward thinking

R EGUL ARS Editor

12 Meet the member

The multi-technology solutions to keep Britain’s buildings comfortable

How buildings can affect human health

SAR AH WELSH

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5 From the CEO Kevin Wellman discusses technology’s role in the industry’s future 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

Copyright notice and disclaimer P&H Engineering is published quarterly 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.

34 International outlook How the Hong Kong Branch is spreading the word

36 The Fix Boiling water, filter and three-way taps

40 Your membership The CIPHE at InstallerSHOW and the Heating Installer of the Year awards

42 Wellbeing How installers can protect their knees and a licensed member of the Engineering Council.

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 four 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

F RO M T H E C I P H E C E O

“It perhaps goes without saying that doing nothing is not an option” The CIPHE leads the way upskilling the industry with its Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Design course KEVIN WELLMAN Chief executive officer kevinw@ciphe.org.uk

YOUR INSTITUTE, YOUR VALUES The CIPHE’s manifesto details the Institute’s mission to safeguard public health, improve education, support research and further our members’ career development. Find out more at https://bit.ly/32zq3EX

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ESTABLISHED IN 1906, the CIPHE (formerly

IoP) has supported the plumbing and heating industry for 115 years. It is incredible to think that in the same year Willis Carrier, an American inventor and engineer, patented what we know today to be an air conditioner.

With so much talk about new and emerging technologies it is worth considering how long plumbing and heating related technologies have been in existence.

It is widespread knowledge that the (pressurised) Unvented Hot Water System was invented in 1861, by Thomas Hawksley, and adopted throughout the world. However, the UK delayed its recognition until legislation in the form of the 1985 Building Regulations and the 1986 Model Water Bylaws was introduced.

Over 100 years before this, in 1748, William Cullen demonstrated artificial refrigeration, which can be noted as the beginnings of the heat pump’s scientific principle. In 1852 Lord Kelvin took the scientific concept further and between 1855 and 1857 Peter von Rittinger developed and built the first heat pump system. Some years later, Robert C. Webber is credited as having developed the first ground source heat pump during the late 1940s.

Many people regard solar panels as a relatively new technology, dating back to the 1970s with BS 5918, the first British Standard Code of Practice on the use of Solar Energy, published in 1980. However, in 1839, scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect by experimenting with electrolytic cells. During the process, he realised that more electricity was produced if the cells were exposed to sunlight. Further progress was made in 1876, when a group of

scientists discovered that selenium could turn light into electricity without heat. Selenium was then used to create the first solar cell in 1883 and the first commercial solar water heater was patented 10 years later.

Whilst the above technologies have moved on immensely since their original development, describing them as ‘new and emerging technologies’ is not completely accurate. The good thing is that they are more accessible and sustainable and therefore they have an important role to play in the future.

There is no doubt that competency and confidence is required for all those involved with plumbing, heating and renewable technologies, especially those responsible for the design and installation of them. It is further reason why I am delighted that industry has collaborated to produce the CIPHE’s Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Design qualification which has attracted great interest during its development.

The government has ambitious targets for reducing its carbon footprint and its aspirations will only be achievable if the industry upskills itself and the public buy into the government’s vision. It perhaps goes without saying that doing nothing is not an option and that change is definitely going to happen. We certainly have an interesting few years ahead of us!

For further information on the above qualification please contact jerryw@ciphe.org.uk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING

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FRONTLINE ALL THAT ’ S HAPPENING IN PLUMBING AND HE ATING

It is hoped the new grant will encourage homeowners to adopt green technology

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Government announces heat pump grants Three-year plan aims to decrease Britain’s dependence on gas for domestic heating and hot water NEXT APRIL, HOMEOWNERS in England and Wales will benefit from £5,000 government grants through a £450m, three-year Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Through the Heat and Buildings Strategy, the government plans to incentivise people to install low-carbon heating systems. This will significantly reduce the UK’s dependency on fossil

fuels and exposure to global price spikes, whilst supporting up to 240,000 jobs across the UK by 2035. The transition over the next 14 years will see households move away from fossil fuel boilers when they need replacing, rather than forcing households to remove existing boilers.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “We are backing our brilliant innovators to

make clean technology as cheap to buy and run as gas boilers – supporting thousands of green jobs.”

Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer of the CIPHE, said the project will require greater focus on training. “The industry needs support to train up to 100,000 installers in low-carbon technologies to ensure systems are designed and installed correctly. It is imperative that installers are trained to NVQ level 3 or equivalent and be in possession of the CIPHE’s Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water design qualification [see page 30]. The world is watching the UK closely, so it’s crucial that the government strategy pulls together the many strands required to make it work.”

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

UWLA welcomes net-zero strategy

Yvonne Orgill says she hopes the sector will use UWLA products in making changes

The Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) has welcomed the launch of the CO2nstructZero change programme, which details the commitments made by the industry to reduce carbon emissions.

The initiative, led by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), includes a Performance Framework, which sets out how the sector will commit to and measure its progress towards net zero.

Yvonne Orgill, UWLA managing director, said: “This represents a step change in opinion about the need to act

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now, with more than 2,500 comments received to shape the framework. Whilst many of the metrics focus on the activities and output from firms within the sector, others relate to the delivery of energy savings in the building of new homes and the CLC retrofit strategy of existing properties.

“We are looking forward to continuing the dialogue with the construction industry and the retrofitting sector to encourage the use of UWLA products.”

Read more at: bit.ly/3B48TyV

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F RO N T L I N E

Uponor awards over 2,000 certificates Uponor’s on-site installation training programme, which provides bespoke training on the company’s range of products, has issued a staggering 2,000 certificates, trained staff from around 300 companies and provided bespoke on-site training for over 200 projects.

The free, certified training for sub-contractors, mechanical contractors, main contractors and consultant engineers gives delegates an in-depth understanding of how Uponor’s components work, how to install each of the connection technologies correctly and professionally, how items integrate to provide a complete, safe system as well

as advice on tooling. The courses also cover important health and safety aspects of carrying out an installation, including the correct handling of hydraulic press tools.

“Our training is seen as essential skills development and an essential part of the support we give to our customers,” said Luciana Kola, marketing manager at Uponor. “The success of this training programme is reflected by the number of certificates we have issued in such a short time and shows the popularity of our core products.”

For more information visit www.uponor.co.uk/services/ services-for-installers/ uponor-training

SAFET Y

Bath scalding death was avoidable CIPHE Industrial Associate Intatec has outlined the importance of fitting and servicing TMVs, following the death of a care home resident from scalding.

Frances Norris, a 93-year-old who had dementia, was placed into a bath of scalding water at Birdsgrove Nursing Home in Bracknell, Berkshire. Aster Healthcare pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter following her death.

Under building regulations, baths in healthcare buildings must be fitted with thermostatic mixing valves that are TMV3 certified. Cynthia Fisher, commercial director at Intatec, said: “There is no excuse for a scalding death in a healthcare setting. Every TMV2 and TMV3 accredited valve should meet strict operating criteria to not

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allow a bath to fill with scalding water. A valve should be fitted and regularly serviced. What has happened is tragic and it’s incredibly disappointing that we’re seeing yet another avoidable death.

“The reports I’ve seen covering the case don’t mention that the bath should have been fitted with a safety device, so I think it’s important to reiterate that new baths in healthcare environments need to be fitted with anti-scald devices – it’s the law.”

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

TRAINING

Triton Showers awarded Carbon Trust Standard Triton Showers has achieved the Carbon Trust Standard for Carbon, underlining its commitment to reduce carbon emissions year-on-year, as part of the group’s ambition to achieve carbon net zero by 2025. During the assessment period, Triton lowered its CO2 footprint by 38%.

David Tutton, managing director at Triton, said: “We are delighted to have received such a well-recognised and notable accreditation thanks to everyone’s hard work and determination. Attaining the standard is the culmination of many different strands of activity taking place throughout our entire business to make a cumulative change – but we are not done yet.”

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS All baths should be fitted with anti-scalding devices

Read all the latest news, updates, and member benefits Facebook/CIPHE twitter.com/CIPHE www.ciphe.org.uk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 7

F RO N T L I N E

Europe’s commercial buildings aren’t ready for the transition to net zero

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

High emission property prices fall

Owners who fail to take action to retrofit carbonsaving measures are warned they will lose money

ACCORDING TO IPSX and

Carbon Intelligence, high emission real estate, with no plans to slash carbon emissions, is set to depreciate in the next five years.

Carbon Intelligence’s real estate commercial director, Oliver Light, said: “By not investing CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) now into a long-term net-zero strategy, not only will building owners miss out on the short-term advantages associated with a building that drives high tenant demand, due to minimal energy costs, prestige, and ESG credentials, but they will also have to invest the same or more to deal with obsolescence as a result of non-compliance, voids, and capital deprecation of the building.”

David Delaney, group chief executive of IPSX, said: “Investors need actionable data to benchmark a building’s energy efficiency performance in order to make informed investment decisions.”

Separate research from investment management services provider Fidelity International found that 97% of commercial real estate in Europe cannot currently support a net-zero transition: “Today’s liquidity conditions mean valuations do not yet reflect the stark difference between buildings that are ready to support the low-carbon transition and those that are not. That won’t last forever and owners who delay investment in retrofitting could come to regret it.”

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LOGIS TICS

Changes to HGV test The government has announced changes to the HGV driver test in order to free up capacity for 50,000 additional tests per year to address a shortage of drivers. However, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has said this is a risk to road safety.

Drivers will now take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, as opposed to two tests spaced three weeks apart. The government says this will free up 20,000 HGV driving tests a year, enabling drivers to get their licence more quickly. In addition, car drivers will no longer need to take another test to tow a trailer or caravan, allowing roughly 30,000 more HGV driving tests to be conducted every year.

Tests will be made shorter still by the removal of the reversing exercise – and for vehicles with trailers, the uncoupling and recoupling exercise – and having it tested separately by a third party.

Brian Kenny from the RHA said: “According to HSE, there are about seven people knocked down and killed in yards each year with vehicles reversing. I think it is a step back.”

More HGV driving tests are needed

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Read all the latest news, updates, and member benefits Facebook/CIPHE twitter.com/CIPHE www.ciphe.org.uk

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F RO N T L I N E

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y AFFORDABILIT Y

Helping hand According to a survey of 1,000 people, 82% believed the Scottish government should make some form of financial contribution towards net zero home improvements, with over a third believing that the government should meet all costs.

The Welsh government has pledged to build 20,000 lowcarbon homes for rent

EVENTS

Fossil fuels banned in Welsh new build homes THE USE OF fossil fuels to heat new-build social housing ended on 1 October 2021 in Wales, where residential emissions account for 10% of all carbon emissions. The ban reinforces the Welsh government’s aims to significantly reduce emissions to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

Minister for climate change, Julie James, said: “How we live and heat our homes over the coming years will be pivotal in reaching our net zero goals.

I have every confidence the social housing sector will prove themselves trailblazers of the ambitious standards,

as they deliver on our pledge to build 20,000 low-carbon homes over the next five years.”

However, installers say they needed more time to prepare. “While it is good that fossil fuels have been phased out in Wales, there has not been an opportunity to develop skills for new technology,” says Paul Williams, MCIPHE, owner of Albert Williams Plumbing and Heating. “The Welsh government should have put some forethought into this decision to ensure installers knew where to train before the ban was implemented.”

COVID 19

BEAMA webinar series BEAMA has partnered with the elemental community for advancing innovations in heat, water, air and energy to present three weeks of digital events in October, all relating to BEAMA’s series of white papers and its Net Zero Campaign.

The BEAMA Zero Carbon Homes webinar series, powered by elemental, will include seven talks covering the delivery of 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, thermal storage, heating controls for zero carbon homes, reducing the cost of net zero, net zero healthy homes, home electrical infrastructure of the future, and skills for net zero.

To find out more information about the webinars and to register, visit www.beama.org.uk

Worcester Bosch uses COVID app BUSINESS

Worcester Bosch has been using a new COVID-19 app in order to help continue its vital work throughout the UK. The CSC App provides complete visibility for both employer and employee, giving the workforce complete peace of mind that the working environment is as safe as possible.

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The new software allows people to take a quick and easy test and log their result in the app, before heading back to work on the result of a negative test.

Allan Ovington, service engineering manager at Worcester Bosch, said: “We used the CSC App to better control the safe working of field

service engineers and apprentices who have had to work in pairs during the pandemic.

Giving these colleagues the opportunity to regularly take lateral flow tests and the ability to demonstrate their negative status to each other on the app has given them greater confidence to work together.”

Boost for SMEs New analysis from Powered Now has revealed that the home improvement boom experienced during lockdown has seen sales for SMEs in construction during 2021 increase by 35%, compared to those in 2020, with the average value of an invoice increased by 6%. Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now, said: “This golden year for tradespeople has meant that the trade has become a hugely popular sector for job seekers.”

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 9

F RO N T L I N E

TRAINING

BUSINESS

Tax digital penalties

High-quality training results in better installations

REHAU calls for new training Polymer pipework specialist says training is needed to support the growth in district heating projects RE H AU B UILDING SOLUTIO NS has called for comprehensive training to support district heating development in the fight against climate change.

The rising popularity of district heating developments across the UK as a means of decarbonising heat in buildings has served to highlight the importance of training across the supply chain.

With the push to net zero likely to result in further growth for the district heating market, Steve Richmond, head of marketing and technical at REHAU Building Solutions, explains how training must be emphasised as more projects are established: “The increased uptake of district heating networks is a heartening sign

for the UK’s net zero targets. However, we need to ensure that as more mechanical and civil contractors become involved with district heating, they are trained to a high standard to ensure new district heating installations run smoothly.

“The key advantage of district heating networks is the efficiency – a factor which will ultimately form the crux of our wider efforts to decarbonise the heating sector. A poorly installed project may result in lower efficiency, so it is critical that proper training is deployed to ensure that all district heating networks remain high-quality.”

Read more about REHAU’s low-carbon heat management systems on page 14.

According to new research

by Mazuma, 41 % of plumbers are unaware of the Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules due to come into force in April 2023, with one in eight at risk of penalties.

Of the 200 plumbers who took part in the survey, 83% are at risk of falling foul of MTD penalties when the law is enforced due to not using online apps or software to keep a track of income.

Lucy Cohen, co-founder of Mazuma, is calling for HMRC to be more transparent around MTD to help self-employed workers avoid unnecessary fines.

She said: “While this system intends to make filing tax returns easier, it’s clear that HMRC hasn’t been transparent enough. If you extrapolate our figures, we could be looking at over 124,000 plumbers who are currently falling foul of the new legislation.”

Tax rules change in April 2023

LOGIS TICS

Selco launches Driver Academy

Employees can learn to drive HGVs by next May

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Selco has launched its own Driver Academy to help address the nationwide shortage of qualified HGV drivers by giving colleagues from any areas of the business the opportunity to apply to for a Level 2 HGV Apprenticeship.

Successful applicants completing the apprenticeship will become a

fully qualified HGV driver, with a Category C Licence, by May 2022.

Marc Lucock, HR director at Selco, said: “We have more than 20 vacancies to fill and that number is rising. We wanted to be proactive, not only to fill our vacancies but also play a small part in helping to address the national shortage.”

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B EN B R A D S H AW | O B I T UA RY

CIPHE REMEMBERS

BEN BRADSHAW Former CIPHE President and area co-ordinator for the South West, Ben Bradshaw, has died

BEN BRADSHAW EngTech MCIPHE RP was an enthusiastic member of the heating and plumbing engineering fraternity and he exuded passion for the industry.

Ben left school at 15 and joined the Territorial Army. He worked as a type setter at the Bedfordshire Times with his brother-in-law, Les. Eventually, he went on to work in Fleet Street, London, setting the type for the national newspapers.

It was while on a cruise that Ben met the lovely Gladys, who, on returning to England, invited him to a dinner party.

They went on to marry, in 1973.

Ben took a redundancy package at the age of 43 and, in 1975, he and Gladys moved down to a small village in Devon called Lifton, where they bought a derelict school house with no utilities. Never daunted by the magnitude of a task, Ben converted it into a comfortable home and along the way began taking on projects for other people too.

Ben soon decided retirement wasn’t for him and went to college, where he attained his City and Guilds and became a registered plumber. He started his own business, building it up to become a highly successful enterprise. He also joined the local

“Ben had an infectious enthusiasm, which encouraged members to support the CIPHE”

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branch of the CIPHE and progressed from member to treasurer and then secretary, eventually serving as branch president.

Moving on up Ben had his sights set on much higher

ambitions and put himself forward for National President of the Institute and his ambitions were eventually realised when he was inaugurated on 29 May 2009 at Warwick University Conference Centre. As with everything Ben did, he gave his all to the role, visiting as many branches of the Institute as he could, as well as attending functions and being entertained by members of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers while visiting London.

Ben advanced within the national framework of the Institute becoming the South West Area Co-Ordinator in 2011 and went on to mentor many Branch Secretaries, working extremely hard to keep branches in the South West going as well as putting an enormous amount of work into the Plymouth Branch, which later became South West Peninsular.

Following Gladys’ death in 2014, Ben decided to move to Scotland.

His daughter Carole sent him details of a smart bungalow in Polmont, near Falkirk, and when she called him after sending them she found that he was already on his way up to view the property.

Always an independent man, Ben thought nothing of driving over to see friends or down to see family in Devon, usually arriving unannounced to be fed and watered, regaling those he visited

Above: Plumbing was a second career for Ben, but his passion for the industry led him to become President of the CIPHE in 2009

“He gave his all to the role of President, visiting as many branches of the Institute as he could” with stories of his many exploits. He was also a keen gardener and a very competent cook, often entertaining friends to an excellently prepared lunch of home grown produce.

“Ben had an infectious enthusiasm, which encouraged many members to support the CIPHE,” says Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer of the CIPHE. “He went out of his way to help and mentor others who benefited significantly from his knowledge. Ben will be missed by the CIPHE and all those who knew him.”

Ben Bradshaw was a man of many talents who made his mark in so many ways and his sudden appearances will be missed by many as will his countless stories. Our deepest condolences go out to Ben’s family at this difficult time.

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M E E T T H E M E M B E R | A L A N M A R CO N

The world is moving towards cleaner technology and I wanted to be a part of that” Alan Marcon’s interest in heating engineering began at the age of 11, while helping his CIPHE member father, Tony, on jobs whenever he could. He has now built his own business, focusing on energy efficient heating systems

AL AN’S YEARS of experience working alongside

his father created a career path that was only headed in one direction. At 16 he applied to Whitwood College in Wakefield for a Joint Industry Board for Plumbing, Mechanical Engineering Services (JIB-PMES) five-year indentured apprenticeship, training with his father’s business.

Initially, Alan continued working in the family business carrying out plumbing, heating and gas work on private jobs, in addition to subcontracted work for British Gas. However, he started to look to the future and realised that diversifying into other areas was the way forward and in 2012 he launched Green and Reliable Heating.

“The world is moving towards cleaner technology and I wanted to be a part of that,” explains Alan. “I wanted to be involved in providing cleaner heating technology, which includes heat pumps, zero carbon fuels like HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), solar thermal power and bespoke customer systems.”

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ALAN MARCON E n gTe c h MCIPHE RP RHP Founder, Green and Reliable Heating Alan’s company specialises in sustainable oil heating

Sustainable solution An estimated 4 million UK homes and 1 million businesses aren’t connected to the mains gas supply, particularly in rural areas. Based in Yorkshire, where this is true of many homes that therefore rely on oil for heating, Alan saw potential for a move to a more sustainable solution for his customers.

Alan’s company supplies, installs and services heating systems and oil storage tanks. Keen to push the green agenda, he has championed the use of HVO fuel to his customers.

HVO is a biofuel produced from many kinds of vegetable oils, using hydrogen as a catalyst. Using hydrogen instead of methanol as part of the process means HVO is widely considered a more environmentally friendly, sustainable biofuel than traditional crop biofuels.

“We install energy-efficient oil heating systems that are kinder to the environment and customers’ pockets,” he explains. “Tests have proved the boilers we install have a winning combination of the lowest

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A L A N M A R CO N | M E E T T H E M E M B E R

emissions and oil consumption along with the highest performance.”

HVO is a zero-carbon fuel that consumers can easily swap with traditional oil to become carbon neutral immediately. From 1 April 2022, distributors will only be able to supply agricultural red diesel under license and it will be banned from domestic and commercial use. At the moment HVO is slightly more expensive than oil, but these changes next year will mean it will be in higher demand and prices should even out as a result.

Although the vast majority of people would like to reduce their carbon footprint, the technologies often make it prohibitive. “People want to be green but can’t afford it, but we can make them carbon zero overnight with HVO,” says Alan. “The fuel itself burns hotter, so you use less fuel for the same zero-carbon output.”

Green machines The majority of heating and plumbing engineers drive diesel-fuelled vans, which pump out significant amounts of emissions and are often the biggest cause of roadside air pollution. Well aware

“We need more apprenticeships and skilled workers to bring the UK up to speed”

of this, Alan decided to switch to HVO. “I would estimate that around 99% of engineers run a diesel vehicle, but within 24 hours they can be carbon zero,” enthuses Alan.

“HVO is currently the most sustainable option for running my van. It’s fossil-fuel free and there are no particulates as with diesel, which means all the engine components are free from carbon. This means less likelihood of needing repairs. However, I would consider moving to an electric vehicle when the technology improves and prices come down.”

Rising stars The buzz around sustainable solutions for heating and plumbing is growing as consumers become increasingly aware of their impact on the environment. However, there is mounting concern from the heating and plumbing industry about the practicalities of installing them on a grander scale, particularly in light of the ongoing skills shortage.

“It is a good time to be in the industry as we have such a diverse range of carbon zero products out there,” says Alan. “However, we need more apprenticeships and skilled workers to bring the UK

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up to speed, but there is no help from the government to achieve this. We have to help the youth because in another 10 years we are going to be stretched and the problem is only going to get worse unless more investment is put into training young people in how to use new technologies.

Setting the agenda “The UK needs a balance of heat pumps, hydrogen and HVO,” says Alan. “However, we need a fresh mindset. We need to get young people into the industry by letting them know it is worth the wait training and that they can earn a decent wage. If we don’t encourage the younger generation to train then we won’t move forward as an industry.”

Alan is in no doubt that by being part of the CIPHE, his co-workers in the sector can help to find solutions to both the climate crisis and the skills shortage.

“The CIPHE is pushing the industry forward, which gives some guidance to engineers on the future of business and reducing emissions by offering training on better practices that contribute to lower CO2 production, warmer homes, lower energy bills and very happy clients,” he adds.

“Being a member helps me feel proud to push forward and share these new practices, learn from them and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Without the CIPHE I would most likely not have my engineering recognitions and extensive qualifications. We need tradespeople to join and learn, and to get the recognition which helps get more valuable clients that respect the journey we travel to become better engineers.”

As a result of lack of inspections, water gets into oil fuel tanks which destroys the fuel pump and fuel lines

GET IN TOUCH Would you like to share your story? Contact the editor on pandhengineering@ jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 13

F E AT U R E | H E AT I N G A N D CO O L I N G

The perfect balance As temperatures continue to fluctuate, is taking a multitechnological approach to heating and cooling the only way to meet the government’s net-zero target?

D

espite the naysayers it’s clear that global warming is becoming a big issue for the world as temperatures soar to uncomfortable levels. As the mercury rises, so too does the temperature inside buildings, which can be extremely dangerous for vulnerable people.

The fact that UK housing stock is the oldest in Europe means that they are amongst the quickest to heat up and they struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature. Within Britain there is some disparity between houses in the north and south, with English homes heating up by 4.7°C, on average, after three hours,

“TABS can produce up to 80% less operational carbon dioxide than a traditional HVAC system”

whereas Scottish home temperatures rise by 5.6°C in the same conditions.

The most common solution is air conditioning, but the more people use this to cool their homes, the greater the UK’s energy consumption. This will in turn put huge demand on the energy grid. In fact, according to a report from Rethink Energy, global utilities will need to lay on more than 1,500 TWh in fresh power resources – collectively about the same amount of electricity that India supplies to its 1 billion citizens.

It’s not just hot summers that need to be considered when it comes to keeping the inside of buildings a comfortable temperature. As we experience more fluctuations through the winter months, keeping homes warm can be an issue for many buildings too.

Thinking ahead The fact that around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint comes from buildings

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means it’s vital that innovative systems are introduced to help decarbonise the UK. Although the government has unveiled plans to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 to improve buildings’ performance, there still needs to be a partnering with other technologies to meet zero emissions targets.

While solutions such as heat pumps and air conditioning are good options for existing buildings, Thermally Activated Building Structures (TABS) are the way forward for new builds, according to REHAU Building Solutions.

“TABS fits the bill here – their larger surface areas mean cooler water temperatures can be used to distribute heat, making structures using the system ideal for integration with low-temperature heat pumps,” explains Franz Huelle, head of technical at REHAU Building Solutions.

“Alongside this, TABS reduce the demand for cooling at warmer times as heat is continually regulated throughout the day.

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H E AT I N G A N D CO O L I N G | F E AT U R E NET ZERO Efforts to reach net zero carbon will be under focus at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) ukcop26.org

In turn, this further increases sustainability.

In the right circumstances, TABS can produce up to 80% less operational carbon dioxide than a traditional HVAC system.”

How does it work?

TABS refers to innovative systems of pipework that are embedded within a building’s concrete structure that heat or cool the entire premises. This is achieved by circulating either low-temperature hot water through the pipes to provide space heating, or running an elevated chilled water temperature that enables cooling via radiant and convective absorption.

“As the building’s elements are actively regulated, TABS can help lower peak load requirements, instead using the structure’s dynamic thermal behaviour to offset this demand,” explains Huelle. “This is because the process activates the concrete’s large thermal mass, acting as a buffer for the day’s changing cooling or heating loads.

“An example of this in action can be seen during the evening, when natural cooling takes over as outdoor temperatures fall. This makes the system more cost-effective and energy-efficient when compared to other temperature control strategies.”

What are the benefits?

TABS are thought to be beneficial in a number of ways, including high thermal inertia, large surface areas and radiative heating and cooling that facilitates the use of low-carbon energy sources.

Additionally, these systems can also lower construction costs and improve indoor conditions, according to REHAU. By making use of a building’s existing thermal capacity, TABS have the potential to create more space. As less air conditioning is required in TABS, smaller ventilation air systems are required. This means potentially fewer services are needed, freeing up space between concrete floors and ceilings where they

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Smart TRVs allow each room to be kept at a different temperature

Help your customers to get smart Due to a recent report on Boiler Plus published by BEIS, installers are permitted to undertake an additional measure when replacing a combi-boiler to help improve efficiency and reduce energy usage.

Options for this measure include either a flue gas heat recovery system, a load gas compensating room temperature controller, smart controls, or a weather-compensating controller.

“The majority are now installing smart controls or load compensating controllers to meet these new requirements and

smart controls are very effective in helping homeowners reduce energy usage and cost,” says Martyn Bridges, director of technical communication and product management at Worcester Bosch.

For example, the Bosch EasyControl offers a 4% efficiency gain which increases when coupled with smart thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs).

Such changes to an uncontrolled system could save up to 40% of energy costs.

It is expected that the forthcoming Building Regulations for 2022 will require all radiators to be

fitted with TRVs when replacing a boiler, if the home does not already have them.

“Many installers will likely select smart controls to comply with Boiler Plus and advise their customers that the additional smart TRVs will allow them to operate every room to a different temperature,” adds Bridges. “With energy prices set to rise further, now is a great time to introduce smart controls to your customers.”

Find out more at: www.worcester-bosch. co.uk/products/ boiler-controls/ bosch-easycontrol

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F E AT U R E | H E AT I N G A N D CO O L I N G ACT NOW Make sure you’re trained in low-temperature heating and hot water design.

Find out more on page 30

“TABS reduce the demand for cooling at warmer times”

would normally be laid. By reducing this dependency on suspended ceilings, developers using TABS can potentially recover an extra level every 10 floors.

“TABS also eliminates the need for radiators,” explains Huelle. “For high-rise properties in urban centres where space comes at a premium, this is a key concern.”

This technology uses water for thermal transfer as opposed to air, so less energy

is needed to maintain environments within a comfortable temperature range.

REHAU notes that operating costs are comparatively lower than other HVAC systems because TABS use radiant cooling, which means minimal maintenance costs after installation.

TABS can also be made using off-site modular techniques, which speeds up construction times while lowering labour requirements and costs. According to REHAU, situating the cooling and heating system within a building’s concrete structure, project costs are reduced by between 20-30%, resulting in more cost-effective construction.

“Additionally, occupier health and comfort are enhanced with TABS,” adds

Huelle. “This is because radiant exchange means heat from occupants, lighting and other sources flows to the system’s cooled surface. By doing so, air temperature is kept unaffected regardless of the building’s furnishings or occupants.

“The draught-free heating and cooling also means that airborne pathogens, allergens and volatile organic compounds are less able to travel, so those using the premises are better protected against issues such as Sick Building Syndrome.”

What are the typical applications?

Although TABS have been used in Europe for the last 20 years, the technology is relatively new to the UK market, with just a few landmark projects to date.

Waste not, want not Waste Water Heat Recovery makes the most of energy that would otherwise go down the drain Approximately 85% of the heat energy delivered to showerheads is lost as waste water, equating to 10-20% of a home’s energy output.

Existing buildings can reduce their carbon footprint using Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR), particularly when it comes to showers.

“Waste Water Heat Recovery for Showers (WWHRS) is a simple heat exchanger technology, designed to recover heat energy from shower drain water and use this recycled energy to pre-heat the incoming cold water that feeds the shower mixer and/ or the water heater, cylinder or boiler,” says Dr Ellis Maginn, business development manager at Recoup.

Most WWHRS installed in UK new-build homes is designed to preheat the water supplying both the shower mixer and the hot water source, so as to maximise the energy savings by up to 55%.

RETROFITTING The good news for homeowners and installers is that this technology can be retrofitted. A leading group of independent energy-industry professionals suggested that if WWHRS was retrofitted to just half of existing UK homes, it could result in annual energy savings of 7.79 TWh. That’s potentially more energy saved per year than upgrades to heating controls, loft insulation, and LED lighting combined. .

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“For the average home owner, WWHRS can save anywhere from £52 (gas) to £204 (electric) per year in hot water costs and typically offers payback in between two and 10 years,” says Maginn.

“WWHRS can be ideal for retrofit, with stand-alone WWHRS systems designed to locate under a standard bath, or vertical systems that can be installed as part of a whole-house upgrade scheme. There is no increased legionella risk if the unit is installed according to the instructions.”

COST There are different WWHRS products available for different applications, with the process starting around the £370 mark

for domestic systems, it’s a very accessible technology.

“Most energy saving measures focus on space heating efficiency via insulation and airtightness, yet showering equates to around 50-80% of hot water use,” explains Maggin.

“WWHRS can reduce the energy demand for showering by 30-55% depending on product type and installation method. As WWHRS is a demand reduction technology, it can be thought of as insulation against hot water loss and part of the building infrastructure. It has an incredibly long serviceable lifetime in the region of 40 to 60 years and requires no planned maintenance.”

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H E AT I N G A N D CO O L I N G | F E AT U R E

Help customers get the best out of their gas-fired system For many domestic customers in the UK, gas-fired central heating is still the norm. Use these tips from Worcester Bosch to help your customers maximise the efficiency of their heating systems.

1. Advise them to get to know their controls – read the manual or watch the manufacturer’s ‘how to’ videos online (if available). This will help them quickly learn just what the controls can do.

2. Encourage them to vary the on and off periods of the system based on their lifestyle. It may be that the house is empty for different times each day, so they should programme the heating to be off during those periods.

TABS make use of a building’s structure to store heat

“Where they are used, it is typically for larger buildings such as offices, educational buildings, hospitals, shopping centres and sports arenas,” says Huelle.

“It must be noted that TABS are growing in popularity for these applications, as it is more cost-effective and energy-efficient to counterpart systems used in larger structures. This is because using water flow to influence the temperature of concrete eliminates the need to regulate temperature in individual rooms within large buildings that may have different load requirements.

Instead, the building’s mass operates like a living organism to maintain comfortable conditions whilst reducing the demand for cooling systems.”

What are the installation methods?

“There are three main installation methods for TABS,” explains Huelle. “The first, using in-situ concrete slabs, allows for larger circuits and minimal connections within the structure. It can sit anywhere within the structural slab

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and roughly 300m2 can be installed per day when two people work together. The second method of installation uses pre-cast planks made off-site, allowing for a quicker installation and easier connection with other building services.

“Thirdly and finally, contractors can use pre-fabricated mesh for the same purposes as pre-cast concrete planks to speed up installation. Ideal for reverse return systems, this installation method offers better outputs when near the slab surface. This method is available either for conventional TABS modules, or for near surface TABS, otherwise known as sTABS, which use smaller 14mm pipes situated closer to the soffit for boosted cooling and improved response time.”

With all the benefits that TABS offer it’s clear to see why this method has proved to be extremely popular in Europe. As temperatures become increasingly volatile it’s likely that this type of technology will become more commonplace in the UK as we strive to reach net-zero carbon.

3. Explain the value of using a smart controller if they have one. This allows customers to control their heating system wherever they are.

They can delay their heating switching on if they are delayed coming home or switch it on sooner if coming home earlier.

4. Turn the thermostatic radiator valves down or off in rooms that are not in use.

5 . Try turning down the boiler thermostat so it operates at a lower temperature and runs more efficiently.

6. Suggest turning room thermostats down by 1°C. If they are still comfortable, this small, simple change can help save energy.

FIND OUT MORE For more information, visit energysavingtrust. org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy

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drain

R O G U E T R A D ER S A N D T R A I N ER S | F E AT U R E

Skills shortages and lack of regulation have given rise to cowboy traders. Is licensing the only solution?

Trading on trust A

lthough the heating and plumbing industry is awash with qualified tradespeople, the issue of rogue trainers and traders has become more commonplace in recent years.

Not only does this leave consumers in a vulnerable position, risking their homes, health and finances, but it creates a poor public perception of heating and plumbing professionals that is simply not accurate or fair.

Skills shortage The current lack of skilled installers has negatively impacted homeowners and businesses, widening the gap for rogue traders and trainers to infiltrate the heating and plumbing industry. The fact that increasing numbers of installers are retiring early is also having a large impact on the industry.

The dwindling number of trained installers means that consumers will have to wait longer for installers to visit.

This isn’t too much of an issue when the weather is warm, but with boiler failures and the like commonplace in the colder months, wait times could be even longer this winter.

“Long waits for call-outs could be devastating for vulnerable people,” says Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer of the CIPHE. “All this has come at a time when we are already experiencing materials shortages and the ongoing impact of COVID-19. This, coupled with

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the continuing lack of training, is likely to make the situation over the next few years very bleak.”

Inside story Stretching the current workforce beyond capacity will result in consumers struggling to get installers out to their

The CIPHE’s view Our recommendations to government and industry are: 1 Vigorously enforce Water, Gas Safety & Building Regulations, with prosecutions and heavy penalties for those who do not comply.

2 Increase links between regulation enforcement and grass roots engineers.

3 Recognise the skilled and professional part of the workforce. Protect the title of ‘plumber’ by introducing statutory licensing of plumbing and heating engineers.

4 Introduce an evidence-based mandatory and relevant CPD requirement for those operating in the plumbing and heating industry.

5C rack down on rogue training providers in the industry.

6 Provide an achievable route to recognition for the existing experienced workforce.

homes. This in turn will leave them vulnerable to untrained individuals undertaking work they simply don’t have the skills to carry out safely. As a result, the CIPHE is calling for tighter licensing for the heating and plumbing industry, which would help prevent situations like this from occurring.

CIPHE member, Alan Marcon, has experienced his fair share of unskilled people attempting to carry out work on oil heating systems over the years and blames the lack of clarity in the sector.

“The oil heating industry is a small niche and there are a lot of have-a-go handy men,” says Marcon. “A lot of customers try to repair their boilers themselves which is a big problem. You don’t have to be OFTEC registered to be an oil engineer and the fact that there is little regulation surrounding oil heating systems leaves it open for anyone to have a go.

“The regulatory bodies need to up their game to stop customers trying to fix their own boilers as it can be very dangerous. I have seen leaks from tanks that haven’t been installed properly or well maintained. Plastic oil tanks are vulnerable to global warming, as UV rays are now stronger, so they don’t seem to last as long. There need to be more inspections to improve consumer and installer safety.

“I find that in the oil industry more people are carrying out poor

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F E AT U R E | R O G U E T R A D ER S A N D T R A I N ER S DID YOU KNOW? 76% of homeowners are concerned about rogue traders

“Almost all escapes of water are attributable to unqualified or poor workmanship”

installations. Customers are allowed to fit their own oil boilers and I am not allowed to condemn an oil boiler if it is leaking, I can only advise them to repair it or turn it off. However, if I determined a gas boiler was dangerous I could ring the gas provider and they would make sure the house is safe immediately. I just want people to be safe.”

Consumer impact Poor quality workmanship can not only set consumers back financially, but can cost people their lives. With the risk of injuries caused by scalding from hot water appliances, in addition to burns and legionella, it’s vital that the industry cracks down on imposters.

The CIPHE’s manifesto states: “The CIPHE maintains accessible lists of qualified installers in plumbing, heating and renewables for the public benefit.

However, the lack of publicised enforcement of Water, Building and

Gas Safety Regulations is exacerbated by the fact that, with the exception of gas installers, anyone can establish a plumbing and heating business regardless of relevant and supporting qualifications. This has allowed a small, but undesirable rogue operator culture to arise, which puts public safety, health and welfare in jeopardy. The UK now sees more deaths each year due to poorly designed, installed and maintained plumbing systems than deaths caused by gas appliances.”

There have been instances where CIPHE members have provided expert witness statements for cases where children have been scalded or died, as well as cases where people have lost their lives due to gas leaks from boilers that have been serviced incorrectly by unqualified individuals.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), around 500 children, mainly under-fives, are admitted to hospital or A&E every year as a result of bath water scalds.

“Poor plumbing can cause consumers stress and anxiety in addition to the costs for rectification,” points out Wellman. “When plumbing goes wrong it can be fatal and the impact is devastating. We need more people to wake up to the reality and

Rogue trainers It’s not just rogue traders that the industry is battling against – it’s rogue trainers too. There are unqualified trainers that are teaching people who believe they are paying for a recognised qualification.

“Installers should always

use companies that are recognised training organisations,” advises Wellman. “Opt for City and Guilds, EAL, LCL and BPEC, and make sure the course itself is accredited by Ofqual.

“Manufacturers have helped to underpin the

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industry to provide high calibre training to ensure their products are installed right the first time, but colleges also have skills shortages too, which is part of the issue within the plumbing and heating industry.”

Alan Marcon: “I just want people to be safe”

consider the implications of poor plumbing and the desperate need for licensing for our industry.”

According to Alexander Wildish, principal consultant at Engineering Forensics, it’s “extremely common” for insurance companies to be contacted about damage caused by escape water, following shoddy work carried out by untrained individuals at a cost of around £1.8m per day.

“Almost all escapes of water are attributable to unqualified or poor workmanship,” reveals Wildish.

“Insurance companies will pay out if the person isn’t qualified unless there is a condition on the policy. However, if the claim arises during the works, then they may not pay.”

Building bridges The UK’s qualified heating and plumbing engineers carry out quality work every day, but it just takes one bad story breaking in the news to tarnish the industry’s reputation.

“The credibility of the industry is impacted as a result of rogue trainers

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R O G U E T R A D ER S A N D T R A I N ER S | F E AT U R E

Building trust Do your bit to maintain public confidence in our profession: •K EEP QUALIFICATIONS UP TO DATE

Don’t attempt to carry out work you’re not qualified to do, such as installing new technologies.

•O FFER ADVICE Point customers to the

CIPHE verification tool on your website and through social media.

•B E TRANSPARENT Highlight CIPHE

membership along with professional credentials, such as Gas Safe registered, on vans, invoices, websites, and marketing materials.

•S PREAD THE WORD Reach out to

local media during peak times, such as autumn and winter, to remind the public to use qualified professionals.

•S PEAK OUT If you come across work

that has been carried out incorrectly, report it to the Gas Safe Register. Find out more at bit.ly/3BbIpvt

and installers, which is magnified because of the bad press coverage in the national media,” says Wellman.

“Installers can build consumers’ confidence in their abilities by sharing their qualifications and proving that they are a member of the CIPHE. They should reinforce the idea that consumers should check that people who carry out work in their homes are qualified and competent.”

Installers should encourage all their customers to use the CIPHE verification tool, www.ciphe.org.uk/consumer/ verify-member/, to ensure the tradespeople they are using are fully qualified and competent.

“We all need to raise our game and have a minimum qualification equivalent to Level 3 to help upskill everybody and provide a greater

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service to the public,” asserts Wellman.

“For those wanting to get involved with renewable technologies and heat pumps there is no doubt that without adequate training they will not have the necessary skills to do that work. The CIPHE’s Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Design qualification will go some way to address this and will also give installers greater competence and confidence when designing and installing these technologies.

“The call for ongoing CPD is essential for everybody and the government’s low carbon aspirations reaffirm that the industry has to adapt accordingly. There is no doubt that the plumbing and heating industry is a fantastic place to work and, for those that are qualified and experienced, it can be a fantastic vocation that can

keep them in employment for many years. With the evolving technologies there is always plenty to do to keep everybody busy.

“For the competent installer, there should be many opportunities to grow their business, especially in view of government targets for renewable technologies and the net zero agenda.

There is no doubt that there will be an enormous amount of work available in the future, which means that there is further reason to train and upskill sooner rather than later.”

FIND OUT MORE Find the CIPHE’s Code of Professional Standards at www.ciphe.org.uk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 21

DID YOU KNOW?

Power to the people

To date, around 265 properties have benefited from the project’s systems

A shared commitment to low carbon heating resulted in a collaboration between Kensa Contracting and social housing provider, Stonewater, to create a heat pump village

T

he housing sector is responsible for a large portion of carbon emissions in the UK, so if there is any hope of hitting the government’s target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the way in which we heat our homes needs addressing. However, with five million homes in the UK social sector, there is a mammoth task ahead in order to create housing that fits the bill.

Stonewater has committed to playing a key role in achieving the national net-zero carbon target and has been exploring how innovative low-carbon heating

technology can help realise this ambition.

“With rising energy costs forcing more vulnerable people into fuel poverty, there is a real need for social landlords and housing providers to help tackle the problem, which affects thousands of people across the UK,” says Nick Harris, Stonewater’s chief executive. “Effective measures such as replacing night storage heaters with more efficient, affordable and carbon-friendly home-heating technologies can make a big difference to people’s lives, particularly their health and wellbeing.”

“Fuel poverty is a significant problem across the UK”

Breaking the mould In 2017, CIPHE Industrial Associate Supporter, Kensa, partnered with Stonewater to deliver a pilot ground source heat pump project at a site in North Herefordshire, with the aim of providing

22 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

residents with warmer and cheaper home heating systems.

The scheme at Burton Gardens, near Weobley Village, involved replacing the night storage heaters in 49 bungalows with Kensa’s Shoebox ground source heat pumps. It features Kensa’s innovative Shared Ground Loop Array system architecture to serve the individual properties.

“An average two-bedroom bungalow typically costs £800 a year to heat with night storage heaters, compared with £390 from a ground source heat pump,” explains Harris. “Our Burton Gardens residents have seen a significant reduction in their energy bills with their new ground source heat pump system, which enables them to heat their homes at an affordable cost and stay warm during the cold winter months.”

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H E AT P U M P V I L L AG E | P RO J E C T F O C U S

Far left: (Left to right) Kensa’s David Broom and John Bruton with Leon Storer from Stonewater at Burton Gardens Left: Residents are pleased to have been left with lower energy bills and more comfortable homes

Ground work Ground source heat pumps are a tried and tested technology that have been shown to produce significant carbon savings and low running costs, which is why Stonewater chose this route.

Ground source heat pumps are electrically powered, non-combustion devices that produce no local emissions or air pollution. Using freely available and naturally replenished heat energy, stored just below the surface of the ground, they can achieve higher efficiencies than any other heating system.

Properties in Burton Gardens where storage heaters were replaced were predicted to save around 40% of their running costs and the ground source heat pumps reduced the carbon output associated with heating each home by around 70%.

Fuel poverty The new heating system had a big impact on people’s lives by providing warmer, more comfortable homes and substantially cutting their energy bills, while reducing their carbon footprint. The social housing provider’s commitment to reaching net zero carbon also enables clean heating to be brought to people that otherwise may

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not be able to afford it.

According to Community Action on Fuel Poverty, 4.5 million UK households are living in fuel poverty and struggling to heat their homes. The primary causes of fuel poverty are low incomes, high energy bills and energy inefficient homes, which is why the government is keen to implement more efficient methods of heating in homes.

“Fuel poverty is a significant problem across the UK and one that has been exacerbated by the pandemic and

increasing utility prices,” says Adam Masters, environmental sustainability manager at Stonewater. “It is crucial that social landlords mitigate the risk of fuel poverty and continue to improve the efficiency of their homes, alongside supporting customers to access cost effective energy tariffs and maximise their income.”

Stonewater has set a target to improve all of its existing homes to a minimum EPC rating of Band C by 2030. One way in which the social housing provider is achieving this target is through upgrading heating in some of its homes, working in partnership with Kensa.

“We are also developing other measures to support our customers including energy saving advice videos and we recently employed a fuel engagement specialist to provide more in-depth support for those customers in need,” explains Masters. “At Stonewater, we put customers at the heart of everything that we do, which is why it is so important that we find solutions to decarbonise our homes, whilst reducing running costs for customers.”

Getting pumped Kensa has pioneered an innovative district heating infrastructure, known as an ambient Shared Ground Loop Array

Mass rollout Stonewater was so pleased with the outcome of the pilot project at Weobley that it upgraded more of its homes to ground source heat pumps. To date, around 265 properties have benefited from the systems, with ground source heat pumps also going into some of the social housing providers’

recent new-build developments.

Not only is Stonewater benefiting from significant lifetime cost savings, but tenants will benefit from improved health, with homes now fully heated and building repair costs and health risks associated with condensation and mould significantly reduced.

By investing in renewable heating on this scale, Stonewater is reducing the carbon footprint of its housing stock and demonstrating a commitment to future-proofing its properties, while protecting the wellbeing of its tenants, many of whom may be classed as vulnerable.

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P RO J E C T F O C U S | H E AT P U M P V I L L AG E

“Individual heat pumps help residents with the lowest possible running costs”

system, which allows ground source heat pumps to be installed in multiple properties or shared occupancy dwellings. Clusters of communal ground arrays, typically boreholes, act as the heat source for a loop of ambient temperature pipework, which feeds heat to decentralised ground source heat pumps installed inside individual dwellings.

Each property contains an individual ground source heat pump, meaning all heating and hot water is delivered and, more importantly, billed at the point of use.

This removes the need for individual metering and the administration and management cost of managing a traditional district heating scheme. This also allows residents to shop around for the cheapest electricity tariff to ensure running costs for the system are minimal.

As the residents have independent control over their own heating and hot water, the temperature within the buildings’ pipework is kept between -5°C and 20°C (ambient), only being upgraded when a heat pump calls for heating and hot water. This greatly minimises the problem of overheating within multiple occupancy buildings, reducing heat losses and therefore residents’ energy bills, while maximising the overall efficiency of the system.

“Individual heat pumps help residents with the lowest possible running costs and

Boreholes were drilled between bungalows during the installation

individual billing, while the communal ground array allows the housing association to access funding and maximise efficiency as there are no system distribution losses,” explains David Broom, commercial director of Kensa Contracting.

“Running costs for this type of system compare well to mains gas boilers, with half the carbon footprint, and have been proven to deliver the lowest carbon emissions of any renewable technology.”

Super savers As a result of the pilot project in Weobley, many of the residents’ heating bills have halved, with some reporting savings of hundreds of pounds annually, following the installation of the ground source heating system.

“We have had some really positive feedback from our residents, with some

Crunching the numbers The heating upgrade at Burton Gardens cost the housing organisation £700,000 to install.

However, the scheme was subsidised by an upfront ECO grant of £95,000 and had an expected payback of 16 years, with Stonewater

receiving an additional £800,000 income over 20 years from the government’s Non-Domestic RHI scheme.

Although the Non-Domestic RHI closed to new applications in March

24 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

2021, there are a number of grants currently available that can support projects and to incentivise the adoption of ground source heat pumps in the UK. Find out more at www.kensaheatpumps. com/funding/

describing the new system as ‘life changing’,” reveals Leon Storer, assistant director of Homes – capital investment, at Stonewater. “They’ve gone from struggling with uncontrollable expensive night storage heating, which often would have run out by the time they needed it in the evening, to fully controllable, affordable heating.”

The borehole installations located 150m below ground level are providing an infrastructure which will deliver 75% of the heat required for these properties, for free, for the next 100 years.

The homes are warmer, more comfortable and the cost of heating is significantly reduced. Residents are also protected from future cost increases as the majority of the energy required comes from the ground beneath their homes.

“For every ground source heat pump installed at Burton Gardens, we took the equivalent carbon emissions from two cars off the road,” says Broom. “It is vital to work with forward-thinking housing providers like Stonewater to improve the condition of the UK’s housing stock.”

These projects are vitally important because they demonstrate that mass decarbonisation needs to be deployed strategically on a community-wide, street-by-street basis and at even greater scales, to get to the projected 600,000 heat pump installations a year required to meet the UK’s current carbon reduction commitments.

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Illustrations: Adam Gale

F E AT U R E | I M M U N E B U I L D I N G S

26 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

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I M M U N E B U I L D I N G S | F E AT U R E

Forward thinking

residential buildings. However, the standard is under constant development, with the aim to extend its outreach to other types of buildings, like retail, hospitality, healthcare and education in the future.

“Immune is a blueprint for the healthy buildings of the future, leading to healthier people, businesses and economies,” says Tudor. “Inspired by technologies and procedures grounded in science, this innovative standard better prepares people, businesses and communities to withstand health threats and has the power to transform the future.”

With COVID-19 shining a spotlight on the transmission of viruses, focusing on human health inside buildings will play a vital role in keeping UK businesses running

F

ollowing the pandemic, information released from the US national public health agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stating that people are most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 while indoors, has put greater focus on people’s health and wellbeing inside buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices. This information, coupled with the fact that people spend 90% of the time indoors where viruses such as COVID-19 thrive, has led to the development of the IMMUNE Building Standard™ (Immune).

Developed by Bucharest-based Genesis Property in collaboration with The National Institute for Infectious Disease in Romania, Immune is the world’s first standard to assess and certify health and safety measures, and the immunity of the built environment.

Many buildings, including offices, logistics and industrial sites, sports and recreation centres, educational institutions, retail and hospitality buildings have had to close due to COVID-19 lockdowns. As a result, Immune was developed to enable these properties to re-open and operate safely.

“Immune is a collaborative standard developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a very short timeframe,

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following an initial investment of one million euros in research, development and implementation,” explains Liviu Tudor, founder of Genesis Property and president of the European Property Federation. “It was developed in Romania in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with an international team of experts in health, technology, architecture, construction, engineering, and facilities management.”

The low down The Immune award, issued by the Healthy

by Design Building Institute (HDBI) in Brussels, is an evidence-based, third-party certified rating for the built environment.

It focuses on providing building operators with information and strategies to monitor, communicate and adjust the health properties of inside spaces, which involves an efficient response protocol in case of viral, bacteriological, or toxicological events.

The standard incorporates a network of devices and technology, specialised equipment, dedicated personnel and new amenities that help to promote operational and health rules in spaces where occupants and visitors interact.

Initially designed for offices, Immune has now been extended to industrial and

Tick list The Immune Assessment Scoring Index is made up of over 135 recommended measures, technical solutions and facility management practices to certify the level of resilience of a building to present and future health challenges.

“Any building owner or tenant can consult the list of measures and implement them – entirely or partially, as needed – in their workspace and follow the Assessment Scoring Index to independently evaluate the level of resilience of the assessed building against health threats,” explains Tudor.

“To receive an Immune certification, an authorised assessor – an independent third-party company specialised in the field

Liviu Tudor, president of the European Property Federation

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 27

F E AT U R E | I M M U N E B U I L D I N G S STAYING SAFE The government’s advice on making workplaces COVID-safe is at https://bit.ly/3ljtSZh

“Immune is a blueprint for the healthy buildings of the future”

of sustainable building design, development and certification – needs to evaluate the building using a scorecard.

The assessor verifies how the architectural engineering and design measures are implemented in the building and how the facility management team is carrying out operational practices.”

Each measure that a building has earns a number of points and, based on the total score, a building will be awarded with one of the three Immune labels in order of importance: Strong – equivalent of 3 stars Powerful – equivalent of 4 stars Resilient – equivalent of 5 stars Defensive approach Immune aims to safeguard the health of people inside buildings by addressing the risks and implementing health measures such as thermal scanning at entrances, de-densification of outdoor and indoor space, and automatic hand sanitiser dispensers to defend against health threats, such as COVID-19, and mitigate their impact.

“In the face of the pandemic, Immune is not alone in its effort to implement health measures,” points out Tudor. “LEED has

28 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

Touchless controls at the entrance and exit of Immune buildings help minimise spread of viruses and toxins

Features of an of an Immune-rated building Many aspects within the Immune recommended engineering and design criteria will require involvement from heating and plumbing engineers.

The workplace of the future could include: • Built-in technologies to enhance the sanitisation of indoor spaces.

• Bathrooms to be equipped with bio sanitisers – urinal and WC flushing system.

• UV lighting disinfection and air purification systems installed in the elevator shafts.

• Hydrogen peroxide ions air disinfection installed in the ventilation system to keep the indoor environment as healthy as possible.

• UV-C air disinfection system installed in the

AHU unit.

• Humidity comfort control system combined with the extra filtration in the ventilation system to reduce health risks related to fine particles and air pollution.

• High-class water purification system using the reverse osmosis technology designed to remove a large majority of contaminants.

• Walls covered with antimicrobial paint proven to prevent bacteria as well as mould

and mildew growth.

• Rounded corners to minimise bacterial deposits in toilet cubicles, crowded areas such as meeting rooms.

• High-class air filters across cafeterias and break out rooms.

• Entry and exit for an Immune building through touchless access control technology.

Self-cleaning technology in highly used areas like doors, lift buttons or vending machines.

CIPHE.ORG.UK

I M M U N E B U I L D I N G S | F E AT U R E

“Health and safety requirements have become paramount”

The Future Designs factory has had no cases of COVID-19 among its staff in the factory and assembly facilities

Trail blazer British lighting solutions designer, Future Designs, was the world’s first industrial building awarded with the Immune Building Standard for its factory and headquarters in March this year. The company achieved the label Immune – Strong, following its successful implementation of 120 health and safety measures for its employees.

“At Future Designs, we have spent hundreds of hours and great resources investigating the most effective and efficient means to ensure our premises are sanitised to bat away the coronavirus,” says David Clements, chief executive at Future Designs. “Our sole goal was to make our place of work as safe as possible for all team members and to give them confidence and peace of mind during these extraordinary

CIPHE.ORG.UK

times. As a result, we have implemented measures recommended by The Immune Building Standard and we have also installed FUZONE500, our airborne and surface bacteria removal system, to all areas of our facility.

Proof of our success is that to date we have had zero COVID-19 cases within our factory and assembly facilities and today we are delighted to be the first industrial facility in the world to become Immune – Strong.”

The certification marks the Healthy by Design Building Institute’s first major milestone in expanding Immune beyond office buildings into other real estate sectors that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The world’s first Immune factory stands as proof of the flexibility and versatility of this

truly global standard,” says Tudor. “In the current economy, still facing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are companies like Future Designs that are laying out a coherent path to recovery, while demonstrating a ground-breaking approach and great leadership in protecting people’s health and wellbeing.”

Among measures recommended by Immune are very efficient air filtering systems and technologies to enhance the sanitisation of surfaces. Another important measure is the Immune quarantine room, acting as a dedicated area in case of immediate need to isolate people at risk, and the emergency Immune warehouse, which is a rapid logistic system for immediate pandemic-response.

deployed several ‘Safety First’ pilot credits.

The International WELL Building Institute has presented the Health-Safety Rating, which is a broader system for verifying safety-related issues as they pertain to design and operational policies. Arc Skoru, a USGBC subsidiary, has developed a set of tools called Arc Re-Entry that can be used to assess health measures, occupant experience, and air quality. Similarly, the AIA Re-Occupancy Assessment Tool offers an array of suggested measures and can be used for assessing a variety of facilities.”

While the rapid spread of COVID-19 has been a driving force for change in public buildings and spaces, measures such as Immune will have health benefits beyond the pandemic. Understandably, health has become a priority for people worldwide and it’s the responsibility of developers to address this by identifying problems and implementing solutions to ensure the health and safety of their developments moving forward.

“As a result of COVID-19 and to minimise future pandemics, we need to protect our workforce and the public as best as we can,” says Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer of the CIPHE. “If Immune ensures the safety of plumbing systems to minimise water-borne diseases, then any measure to improve plumbing and sanitation is welcome. It’s important to accommodate how we safeguard the welfare of the public and, in some cases, after a cost benefit analysis, Immune may be one way of achieving that.”

MORE INFORMATION Find out more about protecting yourself and your customers from COVID-19 in the Coronavirus section of the CIPHE’s website www.ciphe.org.uk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 29

EDUCATION

VIEWS , NEWS AND DE VELOPMENT S AFFEC TING NEW RECRUIT S TO OUR INDUS TRY

COURSE

Train the trainers proves a great success The CIPHE’s Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Design qualification gets off to a flying start

F

ollowing the government’s announcement that gas-fired boilers would be banned from new homes by 2025, the CIPHE recognised the immediate need to provide an opportunity for plumbing and heating engineers to learn new skills. As a result the CIPHE introduced a course, supported by the Heat Pump Association and manufacturers, which gives installers an overview of system design.

The Low Temperature

Heating and Hot Water Design course acts as a foundation for installing any heat generator.

Installers will receive a qualification, awarded by LCL Awards, on completion of the Ofqual-approved course.

“The course aims to increase installers’ skills to help achieve the government’s net zero target,” explains Mark Krull, director of LCL Awards.

“As an industry, we need to design and install efficient heating and hot water systems that meet customers’ needs, whether that’s using gas,

30 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

hydrogen, oil or heat pumps.

LCL Awards is excited to be partnering with the CIPHE to deliver this course, which enables installers to prepare the industry for a more sustainable future.”

The focus of the course is to build upon installers’ awareness of heating design, when implementing low temperature heating and hot water systems, as this plays a vital role in installing any kind of heat generator effectively.

“The course aims to give installers an appreciation of the risks and effects as we transition towards net zero,” explains Paul Harmer CEng MIET, CIPHE lead technical consultant, who led its development. “There needs

The course is supported by manufacturers

to be more emphasis on a co-design process which will lead to increased engagement between installers, consumers and manufacturers. The more installers understand about the design aspect of heating and hot water systems, the better they will be at installing systems that are efficient and best suited to their customers’ needs as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach.

“With the government’s ambitious targets, the industry needs to start investing in training for the future now.

However, we have to walk before we can run and this course is the first step in raising awareness and knowledge among installers.”

CIPHE.ORG.UK

E D U C AT I O N

FAQs Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer of the CIPHE, explains more about the Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Design course Is it compulsory?

Not at the moment, but it is hoped that the government will endorse the course. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has been involved in its development and is supportive. It will also be an entry point for the new heat pump specific training course just launched by the Heat Pump Association (HPA).

Will it provide any self-certification route for any heat source, hybrid or multi-fuel systems?

There are not many recognised courses available with the exception of BESA and MCS. If the government supports the qualification, it is hoped that the course will be attended by anyone wanting to access government grants to install heat pumps.

Self-certification and ongoing competency should thereafter be monitored by a recognised organisation.

Can we expand on this and use this as a module for a new and updated IDHEE Diploma for Domestic Heating Design course?

Yes, we have plans to develop the CIPHE Design Guide and the IDHEE training course to

provide a suite of courses and supporting Insight Guides.

Could all this then lead to the foundation for licensing plumbing and heating engineers?

We hope so and we will continue to promote licensing at every opportunity. We refer to licensing, mandatory CPD and the need for the industry to upskill in just about every communication we have with the government. We have expressed our support for a Protection of Title in Scotland for the plumbing industry akin to the case put forward for electricians.

What is the longer term vision and aspiration?

To make the course the foundation qualification prior to commencing any of the manufacturers’ heat pump training programmes. In linking the two lots of training provision into a formal managed learning programme, it would undoubtedly attract the interest of the Department for Education (DfE). As other courses and qualifications are developed, the CIPHE’s technical stature will increase immensely. As well as growing the CIPHE’s membership, our

“The course aims to give installers an appreciation of the risks and effects as we transition towards net zero” CIPHE.ORG.UK

The course will provide a foundation for learning about low-carbon technologies

relationships with Industrial Associates, colleges and approved training providers will also be enhanced.

Why should they do it?

Complete installations need to be sized accordingly as it will not be appropriate to replace boilers in isolation.

Installers will need to be familiarised with the relevant design criteria, especially with retrofit installations. Attending the course and achieving the qualification should enhance knowledge and competence and also give installers confidence with technologies that might be new to them.

What is the need?

The government will continue to promote its net zero agenda and, as public demand for low temperature technology increases, there should be significant opportunities available.

Is the course accredited?

Yes, the qualification is approved by Ofqual, making it unique to the industry.

Is funding available?

The DfE is keen for the CIPHE to apply for funding under phase 3 of its ‘Boot Camp’.

Such training is often held over a 16-week timescale but in reality a minimum of 45 guided or managed learning hours must be provided if the CIPHE is to pursue such funding.

Does the industry support the course?

The HPA is saying you should attend this course in order to attend its own course, showing that a knowledge of heating design is essential to the success of a heat pump specification. Manufacturers also support the course, as do awarding organisations such as LCL Awards and City & Guilds.

What is the CIPHE’s involvement with the course?

We have prepared the slides for the course which will be accessible via a licence agreement with training providers. We have also

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 31

E D U C AT I O N

COMING SOON The new CIPHE website will launch with an events diary for Industrial Associates and Approved Training Centres to add their 2022 dates for this, and other, training

It is hoped that at least 4,000 installers will attend the training

produced an Insight Guide which training providers will be required to purchase to assist with the training.

The costs for this will be announced shortly.

How many installers are anticipated to attend the training?

It is estimated that a minimum of 4,000 installers will be trained in the next two years.

How will the course be promoted?

In addition to CIPHE publications and mailshots to manufacturers, the Heat Pump Association and LCL

Awards will promote the course. City & Guilds will promote it via their Smartscreen facility and direct to their training centres. InstallerSHOW will be the first exhibition where it will be promoted. Industry editors will also be encouraged to report on the course throughout next year.

When will the course commence?

A Train the Trainer course took place at the end of September with a view to promoting the course from October this year. We anticipate running further

“As an educational charity we believe that access to this course should be available throughout the industry” 32 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

Train the Trainer events throughout next year, with colleges and manufacturers then delivering the training for engineers.

Is the course only for CIPHE members, or can anyone complete it?

As an educational charity we believe that access to this course should be available throughout the industry.

Has there been any sign of support from the government for the qualification?

At a meeting of the Electrification of Heat Task Group on 9 September, the Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water design course was accepted as a recognised qualification.

What does the government think of the training that the CIPHE offers with assistance from the Heat Pump Association?

Rt. Hon. MP Kwasi Kwarteng said: “While heat pumps are fast becoming the natural option for households, we need to ensure we have enough skilled tradespeople to hit our target of 600,000 installations each year by 2028 – so the Heat Pump Association setting up this training scheme is absolutely critical to this endeavour.

“Today’s news is a great example of how government and industry can work together to accelerate progress and create the high-skilled jobs needed to make homes greener and more energy efficient.”

CIPHE.ORG.UK

H O N G KO N G

Spreading the word The Hong Kong Branch of the CIPHE is working hard to bring clearer focus on the industry

I

n Hong Kong, the scope of work in the heating and plumbing industry is considerable. From project planning developers and consulting design advisory firms to main contractor/ sub-contractor engineering companies, there are plenty of opportunities to join the industry.

“Engineers are indispensable to the development of local society and even the world,” says Derek TS Chan, honorary treasurer, CIPHE Hong Kong Branch (CIPHE-HKB). “Engineers are committed to improving human life and creating a better future for society.

Therefore, there will be many young people engaged in the water industry and all of them will be potential members of the CIPHE-HKB.”

The water industry in Hong Kong encompasses the processing and supply of raw water and tap water, sewage collection and the utilisation of reclaimed water.

“In addition to traditional water supply and drainage management, the current water industry also includes protection and expansion of water resources, water conservation and emission reduction,

“Engineers are committed to improving human life and creating a better future for society”

34 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

reclaimed water reuse, water demand management, community planning, and water safety,” explains Chan.

“Due to the increasing focus on water safety and the COVID-19 pandemic, the public is paying more attention to the design and installation of plumbing and drainage systems.”

Developing skills There are plenty of educational opportunities for water engineers, including professional training provided by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), with most graduate engineers promoted to engineer after two years of training. They will then be promoted to senior engineer or project engineer every two to four years,

CIPHE.ORG.UK

H O N G KO N G FIND OUT MORE Stay in touch with what’s happening at CIPHE-HKB – visit ciphe.org.hk

“We believe that new knowledge and technology will be absorbed by young people more quickly” depending on their performance.

Normally, a senior engineer can be appointed to handle a project with the supervision from a project manager.

“In recent years, there has been another major reform in science and technology, which is the simultaneous introduction of different construction methods such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and Multi-trade Integrated MEP (MiMEP),” says Ryan SC Tam, chair – social of the CIPHE-HKB. “Now, young engineers have more opportunities because the whole industry is a novice in this area and there will be a greater demand for people. We believe that new knowledge and technology will be absorbed by young people quickly, and companies are also willing to train their own employees.”

To help progress the industry further, the branch has developed a professional diploma course that focuses on strengthening the existing knowledge of water engineering.

“Many companies arrange for their employees to take our professional diploma courses to deepen their understanding and knowledge of water engineering, especially for young people without the relevant academic background,” says Tam. In addition to that, the branch regularly holds seminars to enable engineers from different fields to learn more about the knowledge and expertise of the water industry and to

CIPHE.ORG.UK

make the public more aware of its importance.

“As in the UK, the Institute assesses member applications and requires a certain level of academic qualification with post academic work experience,” explains Chan. “In addition, in response to recent hot topics, such as modular integrated construction, we will invite experienced designers and contractors to share their knowledge, difficulties and solutions encountered.”

Communication The branch regularly communicates with various government departments such as the Water Supplies Department, or other societies such as the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, sharing the challenges encountered in the implementation of projects.

“Hong Kong branch acts as a bridge between the engineering industry and the different fields, so that water engineering continues to have a more professional development,” explains Chan. “We have always cooperated with both professional engineering societies and held some academic lectures to exchange knowledge in different fields.”

A few years ago, the branch organised some technical visits to learn more about the development of waterworks projects in mainland China. The impact of the pandemic has meant this activity has been put on hold for the time being.

“Instead, we have had more opportunities to visit existing local factories and investigate new construction methods,” says Tam. “CIPHE HK Branch will focus on local design, and will prioritise its promotion to members for now. Once the impact of the pandemic has been stabilised, we will have the opportunity to communicate more, reintroduce our face-to-face member events and develop further in the Greater Bay Area.”

Derek TS Chan, honorary treasurer

Ryan SC Tam, chair – social

GET IN TOUCH WITH CIPHE-HKB For details of CPD, events and to register with the Engineering Council from Hong Kong, contact info@ciphe.org.hk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 35

THE FIX

ADVICE ON INS TALLING THREE-WAY, FILTER AND BOILING WATER TAPS

J E R RY W H I T E L E Y CIPHE technical manager Jerry has worked as a self-employed installer and also has experience teaching. He advises on technical issues and compliance jerryw@ciphe.org.uk

Go with the flow Filter, three-way and boiling taps are increasing in popularity, presenting installers with a lucrative line of revenue to tap into

C

onvenience is a big factor when it comes to consumer spending, which is why innovations within the tap sector have focused on developing products that can dispense boiling, chilled and filtered water. Due to high demand, this market is growing every year.

Safety first Popular with consumers wanting to simplify their kitchen and maximise worktop space by removing the need for a kettle, boiling water taps have become increasingly common and are now available from a number of manufacturers.

“There are one million kitchens sold a year and there’s currently around 150,000 boiling water taps supplied per annum,” says Stephen Johnson, managing director of Quooker UK. “That number is growing

36 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

significantly. As a company we grow by around 50% a year.”

Although the idea of having boiling water on tap is extremely appealing for many customers, there are questions surrounding safety, particularly for households which include children or vulnerable adults.

“Instant boiling kettle taps are designed with safety in mind,” reassures Dario Palumbo, marketing manager at Monarch Water. “These types of taps feature child-proof safety locks and are made using a specialised anti-scald material.”

Safety features on a Quooker tap, like the one pictured above, include a mechanism where the user must press the handle twice and then turn it for boiling water; a light indicates when the boiling water feature has been activated, to warn the user. In addition, boiling water taps

CIPHE.ORG.UK

B O I L I N G WAT ER A N D F I LT ER TA P S | T H E F I X

Monarch's units deliver filtered water as well as boiling water

tend to operate at much lower water pressure than regular taps, which prevents the hot water from splashing uncontrollably. These taps are ideal for people who have problems with mobility as they remove the need to lift kettles and the associated risks.

“If you do lots of activity in your kitchen that requires the use of boiling water, then a boiling water tap is by far the quickest, safest and most sustainable way to deliver true boiling water,” says Johnson.

Inside information The majority of houses should be able to install a boiling water tap as long as there is space to mount the water tank, access to a power supply and adequate water pressure. The water tank is connected to a power socket in addition to the cold water supply. A heating element inside the tank, much like a kettle, brings the water to temperature, which is then fed through to the tap.

“In most cases, kettle taps come with under sink filter systems which remove scale and scum, bad tastes, odours and organic chemicals, providing the perfect water for hot beverages,” explains Palumbo. “The filter also protects the tap’s boiler tank from limescale, ensuring that it’s running at optimum efficiency.”

Although tanks vary in size and capacity, most are compact and will fit easily under kitchen sinks. Despite the fact that the boiling point of water is

"Instant boiling kettle taps are designed with safety in mind"

CIPHE.ORG.UK

100°C, not all boiling water taps reach that temperature.

“Most kettle taps dispense water around 98°- 99°C due to the time it takes to travel through to the tap,” explains Jerry Whiteley, CIPHE technical manager. “Hot water taps should come with adjustable temperature options, so end users can choose the appropriate level of heat for themselves.”

Installation advice In most cases, boiling water taps are made in a monobloc style, meaning everything is contained in one unit. As most kitchens have one mixer tap, swapping them out for a boiler tap should be a straightforward process.

“If installers are replacing two separate hot and cold taps, then they’ll need to adapt the plumbing,” points out Whiteley. “Installers also need to check the cold water pressure to ensure it is adequate or that it doesn’t exceed that tap’s maximum pressure. If it does, then a pressure-reducing valve will need to be fitted, otherwise the warranty could be void.

"Isolation valves should also be fitted for maintenance and filter changes and installers should remember to leave a maintenance schedule with the user.”

Commissioning of the tap and the filter is also important to ensure that it performs to meet the requirements and expectations of the customer.

“Check the power rating of the boiling water tank against the circuit it will be connected to and employ the services of a suitably qualified electrician for electrical work,” adds Whiteley. “Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to each specific product.”

Pure and simple As consumers become increasingly focused on health, filter water taps are becoming more popular and there are a variety of products on the market which feature stand-alone taps in addition to three-way taps, which provide hot, cold and filtered water.

The majority of water filter taps use carbon block filters (activated charcoal), which reduce or remove unwanted impurities in water such as

Positive impact on the environment Reducing energy consumption is a high priority in the UK and, when it comes to boiling water taps, they can be more economical to run than a bog standard kettle.

Although kettle taps keep the hot water on ready, Quooker says that its taps cost 3p per day on standby compared to the cost of boiling a litre of water in a kettle, which costs just over 2p. Therefore, if the kettle is being boiled multiple times a day then there are energy savings to be made with boiling taps. This means they are not only better for the environment, but consumers’ bank balances too.

With an estimated 13 billion plastic water bottles being used in the UK each year, reducing plastic consumption is essential. Fitting a water filter at home can help consumers reduce their use of plastic bottles. Filter cartridges have a long life – six months to a year, depending on usage – and they are usually made from food-grade plastic, so can be put in a recycling bin after use.

scale-producing minerals, chlorine, herbicides and pesticides, resulting in clean, ultra-clear and fresh-tasting water.

“Some filters feature auto-shut-off heads, which allow the cartridges to be changed without having to turn off the water supply,” explains Palumbo.

“Although compact, some filters have capacities of around 10,000 litres, catering for the needs of all lifestyles.”

When it comes to fitting filtered water taps, it is pretty straightforward.

When fitting a three-way tap, you can simply swap out the old for new and connect the water filter that’s installed under the sink according to the manufacturer's instructions.

TECHNICAL GUIDANCE Visit the Advice section on the P&H Engineering website to find archived TechTalk articles www.pandhengineering.co.uk

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 37

KEEPING UP YOUR CPD?

THE FIX | CPD

For all the 2020 answers go to www.pandhengineering.co.uk

TA P S

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

Completion of these assessments can count towards this requirement.

Boiling taps or three-way taps 1

How is the question around safety of a boiling tap addressed?

Select two correct answers below. a Keep out of a child’s reach b Child-proof safety locks c Anti-scald material d Age restrictions apply

2

If you are replacing separate hot and cold supply taps for a boiling tap, what alterations might be applicable? a Altering the pipework, bringing an electrical supply across and two double-check valves, one pressure-reducing valve b Altering the pipework, bringing an electrical supply across and two single-check valves, one TPR c Altering the pipework, bringing an electrical supply across, two gate valves, two check valves and one pressure-relief valve d Altering the pipework, an electrical supply, two isolation valves and a pressure-reducing valve

3

If the property has a lead or copper water main coming into the

dwelling, how might the filter perform? a The charcoal activated filter will not remove lead or copper particles b The carbon block filter will reduce the impact on taste c Filters work in all scenarios as long as you change them every six months d Lead or copper pipes will be fine as they are commonly found and make no difference

4

Why is it important to correctly commission a new boiling tap? a To make sure it boils at 90°C b To make sure filter settings are correct c To make sure the cupboard door closes afterwards d To make sure it makes a good brew

5

Which component helps protect the tap's boiler tank from limescale? a Installing a separate limescale reducer is a must b The filter supplied c Installing a magnetic

38 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

scale reducer nearby d Installing an electronic limescale reducer nearby

6

Which important documents should be left behind with the consumer after commissioning? a Manufacturer’s instructions b Warranty card c Maintenance schedule d Your invoice

7

The boiling tank requires a power supply, identify the correct checks to be made for the power requirements. a Find the nearest socket and extend from this b Check the circuit power rating before you connect c Change a single socket behind the washing machine for a double d Connect in behind the electric cooker supply as this is a 6mm cable

W H AT T O D O Answer the questions (using an additional A4 sheet if necessary) and return by scanning and emailing or posting to the address below.

Y O U R D E TA I L S Please complete this form YOUR NAME:

CIPHE MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:

EMAIL:

RETURN TO: CPD Assessment, CIPHE, 64 Station Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 6NB

info@ciphe.org.uk Or visit the members-only area of the CIPHE website: www.ciphe.org.uk/cpd

8

A three-way filter tap can remove the need for which items a Bottled water b Kettle c Pans d Blending valves

CIPHE.ORG.UK

PRODUC T NEWS | THE FIX

Vernis taps and showers are available in chrome or matt black

Perfect pairing

WAT E R S AV I N G

Flexible style VERNIS, THE LATEST

collection from Hansgrohe, features a range of taps and showers, designed by Phoenix Design Studio.

The taps are available in two styles – Vernis Shape and Vernis Blend – in chrome or matt black and come with EcoSmart technology, reducing water

consumption by up to 60%.

Vernis showers also feature green technology, which means they only consume 6L per minute.

Fitted with AirPower, water is enriched with air to produce plump droplets. Vernis overhead and hand-held showers come with two distinctive spray patterns, Rain and IntenseRain. pro.hansgrohe.co.uk

New additions The Grant Uflex underfloor heating range has several new components. Two new controls are available to suit the Uflex and Uflex MINI systems and the popular PEX-AL-PEX pipe will also be available from Grant UK for use with Uflex installations. The new Uflex Neostat V2 and Uflex Edge thermostats have a clear display and easy navigation. www.grantuk.com

The Dene Basin Mono Mixer Tap from Triton Showers provides a sleek and aesthetically pleasing solution for any bathroom.

This compact unit has a single handle and is supplied with simple-to-fit flexible tap connectors, so installers are able to carry out installations within confined spaces. It comes with a slotted click clack waste, making it easy to operate, and ideal for replacing existing fittings.

The horseshoe fixing plate, which is also included, ensures precise fixing for extra peace of mind. For more information, please visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk

Smart shower The new Aqualisa Quartz™ Smart Retrofit Shower is an all-in-one upgrade solution that transforms any brand of wall-mounted exposed mixer shower into a smart digital shower system, without the need for major pipework alterations. Its patented shelf design also provides storage space for bathroom accessories.

It features personalised shower profiles, remote activation of the shower/bath using voice or app control (Google and Amazon Alexa compatible), in addition to eco-friendly, water-saving features. www.aqualisa.co.uk/quartz-smart-retrofit-shower

ADVERTISEMENTS

CIPHE.ORG.UK

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING 39

MEMBERSHIP

YOUR KE Y MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT S AND HOW YOU C AN G E T MORE INVOLVED WITH THE CIPHE

one-time hit so what do we do next year? Answers on a postcard (or to the email address above) please…

TIM SAINT Y CIPHE membership director Tim looks after the growing CIPHE membership, enhancing services for members and improving communications Heating Installer of the Year runner-up, Paul Clark EngTech MCIPHE

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

EVENT

Full house Despite the success of digital events, there’s nothing like meeting in person, as the CIPHE team found out at the busy InstallerSHOW in September

NEW WEBSITE FOR CIPHE MEMBERS! This month will see the fruition of a two-year project with the launch of a new website for CIPHE members.

We are committed to providing you with an ever-increasing number of services and guides to help you in your professional life.

In order to get the most out of the site, it will be essential that we have an up-to-date email address for you, If you think we might need to update yours, please contact membership@ ciphe.org.uk

CIPHE at the InstallerSHOW After a two-year hiatus, it is hard to express how fantastic it was to actually get out and meet people again at this year’s InstallerSHOW, held at the Coventry Building Society Arena at the end of September.

Moving quickly on from the experience of attempting to collect a van hired from Europcar (not high on my personal recommendation list) and then setting up the stand, once the event got underway, there was a real buzz around the venue, and we had a great presence afforded to us by the Installer organising team.

For the first time, we

40 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

partnered with a number of our Industrial Associate Supporters to run a competition that would get visitors to the show engaging with all of our exhibition stands. Any last-minute doubts about how bingo was going to go down with plumbing and heating engineers were soon dispelled by the regular flow of traffic coming our way.

Industrial Associate Supporters involved provided some amazing prizes that we are now in the process of distributing, which is no small task as we ended up with 32 different prize winners! My only remaining problem?

I think bingo might be a

Heating Installer of the Year Awards 2021 The CIPHE is a supporter of the Heating Installer of the Year Awards, and 2021’s winner was announced at the InstallerSHOW. Whilst, of course, huge congratulations go to this year’s winner, Grant Gundelfinger from Yorkshire, I must admit that I did have my fingers crossed for CIPHE member, Paul Clark EngTech MCIPHE of Hoylake. So, I was both delighted and disappointed to see him finish as runner-up. Well done, Paul!

Speaking of his achievement, Paul said: “I was so proud winning the North West regional title, but to come runner-up in the national finals is something I never imagined would happen. I must admit it was tough, but I am very passionate about my work and to be recognised by top names in the industry, as well as by the public, for what I’ve achieved so far is incredible.”

I must also mention Carl Ladd of Leamington Spa and Benjamin Lee of Salcombe, who won the Rising Star and Sustainable Installer Awards, respectively.

Celebrating the best of the plumbing and heating industry is of huge importance to the CIPHE and I hope that more members will be involved in next year’s competition(s).

Find out how to enter next year’s awards at heatinginstallerawards. co.uk/enter

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MEMBERSHIP

R E N E WA L S

Membership fees 2022 AS WE reach the end of the year, so we must confirm pricing for the next one. Having frozen fees in 2021, this year there is a small increase in all membership categories.

2022 rate

Monthly by Direct Debit

Fellow (FCIPHE)*

£180

£15

Member (MCIPHE)*

£126

£10.50

Associate (ACIPHE)*

£126

£10.50

Trainee

£30

£2.50

Affiliate

£60

£5

Companion (Comp CIPHE)

£99

£8.25

Registered Plumbing/Heating Company

£220+VAT

£22

Listing on CIPHE Business Directory

£50+VAT

£5

Upgrade to Member

£45

£3.75

Upgrade to Fellow

£60

£5

Category Voting membership categories

Non-voting membership categories

New WaterSafe images help public get the picture New ‘doodle’ designs help UK approved plumbers register WaterSafe to promote key messages

* WaterSafe interviewed 2,000 UK homeowners in October 2020

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aterSafe has added a fresh new set of ‘doodle’ images to its image library to help promote its national register for approved plumbers.

The cartoon-style images will help promote future campaigns and themes close to WaterSafe’s heart.

These include: • Winter preparations Now’s a great time to encourage customers to wrap up exposed pipes and taps before cold weather sets in, especially important as our latest customer survey* reveals that only 20% of UK homeowners insulate pipes and fix dripping taps to prepare their homes for winter.

• Notification WaterSafe advises homeowners, landlords, tenants, developers, building managers and plumbers that anyone who is planning most types of plumbing work must inform

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their local water supplier, and gain approval, before they start. WaterSafe approved plumbers are able to carry out some types of work without notification. This is because they have specific training in the strict regulations required to install pipes and fittings to supply drinking water. Visit watersafe.org.uk/notification for details.

See the new images on WaterSafe’s social media channels – and please share them on yours to help us spread the word about the importance of using a qualified, approved plumber. You’ll find WaterSafe on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.

*Reduced fees for those not working are available on application

Additional services available

Organisation membership categories Industrial Associate – Small (<£2m annual turnover)

£399

£33.25

Industrial Associate – Large (>£2m annual turnover)

£540

£45

Approved Training Centre (Industrial Associate)

£660

£55

Approved Training Centre (College) Entry level

£168

£14

Approved Training Centre (College) Professional level

£600

£50

CIPHE members pay less for membership than members across a wide range of related organisations and, with the launch of the new members’ website (see opposite) and the addition of a number of new member benefits and resources, CIPHE membership has never been better value.

DID YOU KNOW? If you are registered as an Approved Contractor Person (ACP) with the CIPHE and have a recognised water fittings certificate, you can join WaterSafe at no extra cost.

To sign up please visit ciphe.org.uk/ professional-members/ professional-support/ watersafe For more about WaterSafe and the many benefits of membership, visit watersafe.org.uk/ howtojoin

“Being a member of WaterSafe sets me apart from other engineers around me and shows my potential customers that I am qualified, have credibility and am an approved plumber.

It shows that they can trust me to do things correctly when it comes to water issues.”

WaterSafe member Damon Blakemore

2021 | QUARTER FOUR | P&H ENGINEERING

41

MORE ONLINE

WELLBEING | PPE

Read all the latest news, updates, and member benefits www.pandhengineering.co.uk

Kneepads prevent long-term injuries

Ground zero Knee protection is essential for the industry’s workforce

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orking in the heating and plumbing industry is physically demanding, so it’s important that engineers do all they can to protect themselves. With the amount of time that installers spend on the floor, looking after their knees is vital.

According to Business in the Community, musculoskeletal problems such as back, shoulder and knee pain are the leading cause of lost working days in the UK, costing the country’s economy a staggering 31 million days every year.

Serious business Knees are one of the most complex and important joints in the body. Kneeling down puts considerable pressure on these joints and the longer spent in this position the greater the damage. This puts heating and plumbing installers at particular risk.

“One of the most common injuries stemming from long periods of kneeling is prepatellar bursitis, where a small fluid-filled sac (the bursa) at the front of the kneecap becomes inflamed as a result of being under too much pressure for too long,” explains Matthew Handley, head of marketing at ToughBuilt. “The condition makes it difficult and painful to bend the knee.”

According to a survey conducted by The IPG, almost 60% of plumbers felt they would need to undergo knee replacement surgery in the future. Two thirds of those surveyed felt knee injuries related to work would force them to retire early, whilst many stated they had already had to undergo physio or surgery on their knees as a result of their occupation.

Release the pressure Kneepads are the obvious solution to reducing work-related knee injuries, but there are other steps that installers and employers can take to further protect these vulnerable joints. In addition to rotating staff or tasks to reduce the amount of time one person spends in a certain position, it’s also important to take regular breaks from kneeling and walk about.

“Research conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that

“Wearing kneepads can decrease the risk of occupational and other knee injuries”

42 P&H ENGINEERING | QUARTER FOUR | 2021

wearing kneepads can decrease the risk of occupational and other knee injuries by more than half,” explains Handley.

“Of course, as well as preventing injuries, kneepads can also improve comfort and productivity.”

Look for kneepads that feature integrated thigh support, which keeps the knee perfectly centred and prevents it twisting out of the kneepad. Pads with a lower platform, which raises the shin off of the ground, will alleviate pressure on the ankles, whilst thigh and calf straps can help to keep pads in place.

To ensure you choose knee pads which are fit for purpose, ToughBuilt advises checking performance in three key areas – force distribution, penetration resistance and certification such as CE, UKCA or BS EN 14404.

“Employers have a legal obligation to protect their staff,” says Handley. “The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers, by law, to carry out risk assessments of activities undertaken by their employees. Where a need for knee protection is identified, it is important this is supplied to avoid financial penalties.”

ToughBuilt’s KneelSmart, KneelSafe campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks posed by work-related injuries and of the ways in which they can be prevented.

“Ultimately, we want to see kneepads treated with the same importance as other forms of PPE such as hard hats, safety glasses or safety boots. After all, the consequences of not using adequate knee protection can be every bit as devastating.”

Matthew Handley: “Employers have a legal duty to protect staff”

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