HPM
NEWS
DESK
The Energy and Utilities Alliance has appointed
its first female president, Elaine Lancaster of Groupe
Atlantic UK Division.
INSTALLERS BAFFLED BY
WORCESTER BOSCH
BOILER PLUS
WELCOMES REVISION TO EPBD
IDEAL BATHROOMS
FIFTY-SEVEN PER CENT OF INSTALLERS
THE ADDITION OF MANDATORY INDIVIDUAL
SURVEYED by Logic4training have little or no
ROOM TEMPERATURE CONTROLS to the Energy
INVESTS IN
knowledge of the Boiler Plus legislation and how it
Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is a
DISTRIBUTION HUB
will affect them.
welcome validation of best practice for the plumbing
Brought in to improve efficiency in domestic
and heating industry, according to Worcester Bosch.
IN GLASGOW
heating systems, the scheme came into force
The revision requires individual room temperature
on April 6 and heating engineers should now be
controls, such as Thermostatic Radiator Valves
IDEAL BATHROOMS HAS invested
working to it.
(TRVs), to be installed during the construction of new
heavily in its Scottish distribution
Among the survey’s 184 respondents, opinion
buildings, or when boilers are replaced.
with a move to a new 33,000ft2
was evenly split as to the benefits of the new
Martyn Bridges, director of technical
distribution hub in Glasgow.
scheme for consumers and installers, and around
communication and product management, said: “TRVs
The move more than doubles
half felt they were equipped to take on the work
are highly effective at improving heating efficiency
the capacity of the previous
that the new requirements would demand, which
and comfort in the home. This has long been known
warehouse, allowing for over 1,500
pallet spaces.
includes ensuring timers and room thermostats are
by many installers in the UK, but has only recently
The investment in Scotland
installed with all heating systems going forward.
been acknowledged in this legislation despite being
mirrors additional improved
Despite Boiler Plus encouraging energy efficiency
overlooked in the Boiler Plus scheme.”
facilities over recent years at Ideal
improvements, two thirds of respondents (64%)
Many installers already opt for this type of
Bathrooms’ other distribution
felt that its introduction would not lead to more
temperature control as a common method of
hubs in Milton Keynes, Hayes
business – an opinion that could be in part due to
improving energy efficiency in the home, with the 2014
and Wakefield, bringing total
information not getting through to the very people
English Housing Survey Energy Report revealing that
warehousing space to over
Boiler Plus will affect.
76% of homes with gas central heating had either a full
190,000ft2 across the four sites.
Mark Krull, from Logic4training, said: “The
system or at least a partial system of TRVs.
Craig Gillespie, Scotland area
government has stipulated the addition of various
“TRVs are far more sophisticated, creating heating
sales manager, said: “Having
measures to improve the energy efficiency of
zones and supplying a controlled level of heating to
the larger warehouse enables
domestic heating systems and engineers will be
suit individual rooms,” said Martyn. “By making their
us to fulfil more orders from
responsible for delivering these.
installation a legal requirement, thousands more
our customers and offer next
“However, it appears that the general sense
homes across the UK can now benefit from the energy
day delivery on a wider range of
of confusion about the scheme has led to a feeling
efficiency and cost savings that they provide.”
products.”
of negativity, which is masking the real potential.
According to the EPBD, individual room controls
Boiler Plus represents a great opportunity for
need only be installed ‘where technically, economically
installers and their customers will reap the
and functionally feasible’.
benefit of more energy efficient heating that has
The benefits of TRVs are enhanced further when
less environmental impact and saves money on
paired with smart controls, which allow users to easily
fuel bills.
monitor and control a household’s heating and hot
“It is clear from our survey that more needs to be
water.
done to help installers understand and get on board
“Given that TRVs are fairly inexpensive, have a
with Boiler Plus. We will help where we can through
fast payback period and, in most cases, can be easily
our training and information on our website, but
installed onto existing radiators, I can foresee them
the powers that be may need to re-look at the way
becoming a requirement for most installations moving
Total warehousing space has been
information is disseminated to key groups.”
forwards,” added Martyn.
increased across Ideal’s four sites
ENQUIRY NUMBER 309
10 Heating & Plumbing Monthly | JANUARY 2018 | www.hpmmag.com KAMCO_QS.indd 1 05/06/2018 12:03
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