WWW.HPMMAG.COM Got a story? Ring us on 01732 748041 or e-mail twood@unity-media.com SPECIALREPORT Digital showers outperforming market Digital showers are a growing sector, but Roger Crabb, marketing manager at Mira Showers, can’t stress enough the importance of choosing the right model... There is one sector of the showers market that is continuing to perform well - and that is digital products. We are seeing digital showers become more affordable and widely available as the technology crosses over from the prestige and commercial bathroom market where it has been common for some time. The technology is established and bomb-proof as precise temperature control and no-touch technology is an essential feature in healthcare and similar markets. Digital showers currently account for around five per cent of the UK shower market by volume, but that share is increasing as consumers become more familiar with the technology. To put it in context, when digital showers first appeared in 2001, the smartphone had yet to be invented, laptops were rare and so was wi-fi. Now the British public is aware of the potential of new wireless and networkable devices, while ever-cheaper technology is making the concept of the “smart home” within the budget of the 16 million UK households that have a shower. Installers are also realising that digital showers offer them considerable benefits as they are easier to install, while giving the customer an upmarket product. However, not all digital showers are the same and it is important to check through the features that they offer to make sure that both the end-user and the installer are getting all the features that are available. CHOICE OF VALVES For the installer, the shower needs to be easily installed in any location. So the shower should have both ceiling or rear fed fittings available, and a choice of valves - a high pressure valve for mains pressurised systems, or combination boilers, or a pumped valve for low pressure or gravity fed systems. Ideally, it should be possible to site the valve remotely from the shower - under a bath or some other discreet and convenient location. Similarly controls - or user interfaces - are important, ideally you should be able to locate the interface almost anywhere and mount extra interfaces outside the cubicle. The beauty of digital is that the user interface needn’t be next to the actual shower at all, which simplifies installation. Installing extra interfaces away from the cubicle also enables the user to ‘warm’ the shower to the desired temperature before they get in. Some showers use radio frequency communication between the interface and Digital showers, such as the Mira Platinum (main), account for just five per cent of the market but controls (inset) mean that functions can now be set in advance to meet all customer needs control valve so that the valve can be sited up to ten metres from the interface. This means that the customer can easily have extra controls or even one that can be ported in the same way as the TV remote. The wireless control or interface should also meet customer needs and be fully functional. For example, all the shower controls should be programmable so that a number of functions can be set, including maximum and minimum temperatures and flow rates, as well as a warm up mode, an eco mode and shower duration. The temperature and flow controls should be separate because, although single lever operated showers definitely have their place, this gives the user greater convenience and flexibility in choosing the shower that’s ‘right’ for them. The user should also be able to set their own maximum temperature limits - within safe bounds - because otherwise that would have to be set by the installer in the valve assembly, making any future adjustment rather inconvenient. The shower should have a digital display so that the user can easily find out what settings have been programmed and which one is in operation, together with a clock display because many users need to keep an eye on the clock or programme the duration of the shower. Digital showers are already outperforming the rest of the market and this trend will increase as the economy picks up. Consumers are expecting the same digital functionality in their showers as they enjoy from other appliances and installers can benefit from this. But it is vital to ensure that the recommended shower is the one that offers all the relevant features. 16 DECEMBER 2013 HEATING & PLUMBING MONTHLY enquiry number 172
HPM December 2013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above