From the CEO

KEVIN WELLMAN

Chief executive officer kevinw@ciphe.org.uk

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“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

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 artifi cial refrigeration, which can be noted as the beginnings of the heat pump’s scientifi c principle. In 1852 Lord Kelvin took the scientifi c concept further and between 1855 and 1857 Peter von Rittinger developed and built the fi rst heat pump system. Some years later, Robert C. Webber is credited as having developed the fi rst 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 fi rst British Standard Code of Practice on the use of Solar Energy, published in 1980. However, in 1839, scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic e ect 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 fi rst solar cell in 1883 and the fi rst 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 confi dence 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 qualifi cation 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 defi nitely 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