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Around the industry
Jail for illegal fitter who showed ‘blatant disregard for the law’
A Portsmouth plumber who had been prohibited from working with gas has been sent to prison after fitting a gas boiler. Peter Read traded as ACE Plumbing and Heating in Portsmouth and was contracted to install a new gas boiler for a customer in January 2020, Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard.
A few days later, the customer had problems with the boiler. A Gas Safe registered engineer inspected and found numerous faults. Water was leaking from the boiler and radiators, and three out of five radiators installed did not work. The gas meter was not supported correctly, the chimney/ flue was sealed incorrectly, the external condensate pipe was uninsulated and terminated above a drain cover, and the condensate discharge pipe was fitted incorrectly and in the wrong size pipework.
The Benchmark boiler commissioning checklist had not been completed, and the boiler installation had not been notified under Building Regulations.
The qualified registered engineer had to carry out repair work to ensure that the installation was safe.
The HSE investigation found that Mr Read was not registered and not competent to carry out gas work. His competencies had expired in 2008. He had been prosecuted by the HSE in April 2016 for working on gas illegally and had then received a suspended prison sentence. He was also given a Prohibition Notice not to work on gas until he was registered, with which he failed to comply.
Peter Read of Seafield Road, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) and 3(3) of the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998 and section 22 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was sent to prison for 20 weeks.
HSE inspector Karen Morris said after the hearing: “He has shown a blatant disregard for the law and continues to put people at risk despite previous enforcement against him by the HSE. His actions have not only caused considerable stress for the customers concerned but have also resulted in additional financial outlay required to put right his poor-quality work.”
First Vaillant heat pumps roll off the line in Derbyshire
Vaillant has unveiled a multimillion-pound heat pump production line at its Derbyshire HQ, making it the first manufacturer to produce both heat pumps and high-efficiency boilers in the UK.
The new line was officially opened by John Forkin, MD of Marketing Derby, who was joined by Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire. The £4 million investment in low-carbon production capabilities reinforces the company’s commitment to ensuring that all UK homes can be heated via the most effective technology for that property – a heat pump or boiler.
The line in Belper will produce Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump. It can achieve hot water flow temperatures up to 75°C for stored water without the need for a back-up heater.
Henrik Hansen, managing director of Vaillant Group UK & Ireland, says: “We know there is no single solution when it comes to heating our homes in the UK as the breadth of property type is diverse. Heat pumps are a here-and-now technology that can offer decarbonisation benefits: however, the future is likely to be made up of a mix of heat pump, hybrid and boiler technologies.
“Ultimately, we want to help consumers feel in a position to make an informed choice about what will work for both their lifestyle and their property.”
L-r: Joe Dunn, Vaillant; John Forkin, Marketing Derby; Pauline Latham MP; Henrik Hansen, MD Vaillant
HHIC welcomes new ECO+ insulation plans
The HHIC has welcomed the government’s new ECO+ scheme as a step in the right direction to improving energy efficiency.
Set to launch in the spring, the scheme will set aside £1 billion to improve insulation, helping to reduce energy costs, and extend support to those in the least energy efficient homes.
HHIC’s own research of 2,000 UK homeowners found that the majority (93 per cent) say they are worried about the price of their heating this winter. It also found nine in ten (89 per cent) people will be changing their home heating behaviour in some way to reflect the increasing costs.
The HHIC’s guide, Improving the Efficiency of Home Heating, includes advice on boiler servicing, how thermostats increase efficiency, system water treatment, and the use of inhibitors, in addition to ways that gas engineers can support with efficiency.
Director Stewart Clements says: “We are pleased to see the government join the heating industry in giving people the tools to reduce their energy consumption and save money with crucial measures like insulation.”
www.hhic.org.uk/resources/10
Competition winners
Congratulations to the winners of our October and November competitions. October’s winner was Ian McGregor from Strood, Medway, who wins a DAB radio and six months’ worth of beer from Fergus.
November’s winners take home a new TapBoost from Salamander and were Rob Evans from Gloucester, Nick Kirk from Bristol and Lawrence Bristow from Hurstpierpoint. • You can enter this month’s competition on page 39.
New team against tool and van crime
ARMD and Van Guard have announced a new partnership to help protect tradespeople against tool theft and van crime. The partnership brings together Van Guard’s range of van security products with ARMD’s smart insurance and fast digital claims.
Female plumbing learners can test their skills in 2023
HIP has launched its first national Female Skills Competition for plumbing learners. HIP, which organises the HIP Learner of the Year competition, aims to build confidence and advocates skills development, along with getting the best people into the industry regardless of their gender.
Level 2 and 3 plumbing students of all ages will be able to compete in a live practical installation for the chance to win a place in the grand final on 30 March 2023. Two regional heats in February and March will see the top three from each heat go on to compete in the final, at Loughborough College.
Competitors will be judged on practical tasks by Jerry Whiteley, CIPHE’s technical manager; professional plumber Becky Bates and Glenn Scholfield from Pegler. Becky says: “This exciting platform is just the place for women to feel confident in showing off the incredible skills and knowledge they have gained so far. It enables them to step into the limelight and showcase to other women the kind of opportunities that are available.”
HIP managing director Zoë Tanner adds: “We’re thrilled to see the HIP Female Skills Competition launch this year. It’s a fantastic way for learners to build their confidence and take pride in their work. Now more than ever is the time to support the next generation of plumbing and heating talent.”
Low carbon will boost business, say heating engineers
Heating engineers are optimistic about the future of their business as more households explore low-carbon heating solutions, according to new research from Daikin UK.
The company’s Installer Confidence Monitor, which surveys members of its Sustainable Home Network, found that over half (53 per cent) predict that between half and all their business will come from installing heat pumps and hybrids in the next five years.
Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) expect their profits to increase over the next 12 months and four in five (88 per cent) expect profits to rise over the next five years.
The research comes amid increased calls for government support for households to make the heat pump transition, with nine in ten (93 per cent) agreeing that more must be done to make heat pumps affordable and accessible. More than half (59 per cent) agree that the government should support hybrid heat pumps as a transitional technology.
Product and training manager Martin Passingham says: “It’s encouraging that Sustainable Home Network installers see a bright future for heat pumps and hybrid heat pumps, and are confident (84 per cent) about the future of their businesses.” Logic4training is celebrating two decades in business with a new look and a new website. The company opened in 2002 as Gas Logic, focusing on gas ACS re-assessment. The business has grown, adding electric, plumbing, F-Gas and renewables training. Logic4training’s first centre in Northolt has been joined by locations in Basildon, Luton and most recently Sittingbourne.
Director Mark Krull says: “The past 20 years have been a period of evolution across the building services engineering sector, and Logic4training has been along for this ride. From the dawn of the Gas Safe Register to the renewables boom stimulated initially by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed-in Tariff (FiT), we have adapted our business to meet the needs of installers and the sector at large.
“Building Services Engineering (BSE) continues to face a skills shortage, so we must encourage the existing installer base to upskill to meet the demands of a low-carbon future, while communicating the great career to as many people as possible.”
New look for Logic4training as it celebrates 20 years
The deadline to complete your Self Assessment tax return online is 31 January 2023 for the 2021 to 2022 tax year.
There may be a different deadline if you are a partner in a company and need to submit Partnership Returns. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Self Assessment tax return deadlines’ for more information.
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