One boiler manufacture told us they are now producing more High Efficiency (HE) boilers than Standard Efficiency (SE) boilers. Good news indeed for future generations but that optimism is dulled by uncertainty. With the looming 2005 deadline for High Efficiency products to take centre-stage, there is a question mark over whether any demand could be met. The cause manifestly, is dithering by Government and the need to take firm action to ensure compliance under Building Regulations Part L (England and Wales) and Part J (Scotland).

Acknowledgements are due to the Energy Saving Trust for sponsoring the press room and their hospitality.

We stumbled into the bathroom section, having spotted a McAlpine & Co. Ltd stand. The website is not yet complete but their display was and that included products I have not seen before, some new. One cute little addition to the range is a small translucent in-line fitting that we will be introducing to High Efficiency boiler condensate drains so that we (and the customer) can see it working.

I am unashamedly a McAlpine fan. When I walked into a well known merchant last week and asked for McAlpine sockets I was given an inferior substitute (the merchant’s own). They were promptly, politely and firmly refused. Then the product I asked for was provided. The moral is, make sure you get what you want. The better the product, the less chance of a call-back and I know what I’m talking about. If they can’t supply what you want then migrate and they’ll soon get the message if we all do it.

There is a huge danger in too few and too powerful merchants. Last year we got messed about quite a bit due to store-wars between merchants and manufacturers. That included radiators and plastic waste pipes. Take note that we will get involved if it happens again and go public. If they want to squabble let them but don’t mess us about or we’ll join in.

SPLIT KLICK

Support a colleague. One enterprising Installer who’s been there, done it and got the T shirt was first spotted at PHEX last year and although he has a website, there was no email address. Now there is. Experienced Installers will not need me to explain the benefits of the made-to-last fittings opposite. Not yet mentioned on the website, they are available in handy tubs and get the job done. Remember, do it right and you only do it once.

TRACPIPE

Another website under construction, this plastic coated, stainless steel (gas) product is available in various sizes and would have saved a great deal of time on a job we did last year. Convoluted and semi-rigid pipework joined with compression fittings which have a split olive. No olive and the joint falls apart therefore you can’t forget. Exposed bits wrapped with a (supplied) tape that bonds to itself. You can’t bury compression fittings but this pipe arrives in various (lengths) rolls. They advise installation of copper pipe first, clean off flux and then connect your TracPipe distribution pipework.

This is another company making helpful noises (many were) about Installer support. Although the system is clearly intuitive, they are happy to provide instruction to get you and yours kick-started. We can’t explain everything, give them a call.

POWERGEN

I have to be honest. Until I visited the Powergen website after the show, I had no idea of the extent to which they seem committed to energy efficiency.

You are now looking at what is probably the first production and domestic (micro) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit which is manufactured by WhisperGen.

To be clear, supply and installation is currently restricted by Powergen to ensure a carefully controlled launch by properly trained personnel. Installation centres are initially focused around Ipswich, Nottingham and Manchester.

No bigger than a small fridge, we hope they will become generally available in 12 months time, with due support being provided.

VIESSMANN

Not To be outdone, the Viessmann Heat Pump (Vitocal 300 illustrated) works on a reverse fridge principle including a compressor (no routine maintenance required) to extract ground heat and requires bore holes or trenches into which connecting pipes are first laid to collect residual heat.

Particularly suited to low temperature systems such as underfloor. Viessmann.co.uk and their international site Viessmann.com include the whole range of heating and hot water options.

Their underfloor heating manifold includes miniature flow-rate gauges so you can see the system responding when controls are adjusted. Clever that. We have barely scratched the surface and this is a company we will be watching with interest, including the solar systems (plural) which we hope to cover again.

We are promised some PDF files for My-Mate.co.uk on their new High Efficiency boilers.

SONNENKRAFT

Love at first sight. Tragically I have no images at the present time but we stood in awe of a complete solar system based upon a 2.5 square metre toughened glass panel for fitting to (preferably) a south facing roof slope, complete with thermal storage (stainless steel) cylinder combining coils for the solar collector and a separate heat producing appliance which of course could be CHP, Geothermal or a High Efficiency boiler. The system includes everything you will need which is a huge attraction.

The thermal store can be mains (secondary supply) driven like popular UK models or tank fed (my preference) to guard against future interruptions in water flow rates. As our island becomes more crowded we are seeing some evidence of reduced water flow rates. Stored cold water options are now superbly clean and safe.

We should be able to introduce images soon.

NORSTROM

Bursting with enthusiasm you could taste, for what are undoubtedly top-drawer powerflushing products, we were given the tour of options to suit everyone. That included the machine capable of withstanding over 80 degrees of hot water and a stunning – most important – flow rate which leaves my several years old model standing. I like the stable footprint and wheels.

Opposite is the pump (cut away) which will accept, then lift and shift condensate drainage from High Efficiency (condensing) boilers. The pump includes a cunning device to switch off the boiler if the outflow is interrupted for any reason.

Unknown to me (which is why we attend shows ?) there are different models of pumps. There is also a range of water testing options including electronic instruments to save wearing a white coat and safety goggles. See the new NORSTROM website for details.

BENCHMARK et al

No hint of Benchmark, HHIC other than in conversation. The HHIC website has been stuck in a rut for months (time they got moving) so we have no idea where they are up to on the Installer network. You may recall ages ago that the network was naively restricted to PIA members and annual fees had to be paid per area covered by the Installer.

The PIA requirement was quickly dropped as we publicly predicted but the annual fee was double for non-PIA members. That has also now been dropped as predicted. There is now a one-off flat rate (£50) fee (for the life of the HHIC website).

We are reliably informed (by a boiler manufacturer) that a system is actively being developed whereby Installers will remove a tear off slip from boiler Benchmark books and pass those on to Corgi. Such information must somehow be relayed to the boiler manufacturer. It is claimed that unless proof of Corgi registered installer installation can be provided, no warranty will be offered on any boiler. It is also claimed Corgi will select which Installer jobs to inspect rather than the current system whereby Installers decide what Corgi sees.

However noble the sentiment, I have several problems with that which suggest the scheme will not work:

(a) Will manufacturers all have the bottle to stick with the idea ?

(b) Will manufacturers be able to withhold warranty claims (statutory rights) ?

(c) What about technically competent people who are not registered (only a few I accept such as just retired RGI doing their own thing).

(d) Corgi (inspections) can only enter premises by invitation. They have no powers of access.

(e) Word has it Corgi are fed up of combi boilers and also need to see more technically challenging jobs.

(f) Data Protection – Can we be reassured there will be no abuse of privileged commercial information ?

BS 7967 (Flue Gas analysis)

I met a guy who currently sits at times on the BSI Committee and has suggested a lot of work has been done. I say there has not been any work done. However many hours have gone into the BSI, we have had no benefit from that. FGA is still legally worthless without a British Standard. Corgi and others have promised that the BS is just around the corner for a long time when they must have known that is not the case.

If there is another major push on FGA in TGI without mentioning the reality with regard to BS 7967 (which you can check for yourself at any time), we will refer the whole matter to the advertising standards authority, who have a surprisingly broad mandate (I’ve already checked).

Some manufacturers refer to the British Standard for manufacturer of FGA. We know all about that and do not doubt that FGA products are superbly built. That is not the problem. BS 7967 will relate to use of FGA. Without 7967 FGA is largely worthless. Unless you have a specific application, we suggest you wait until the boffins deliver on promises. As my old boss used to say, thought is a prelude to production, not a substitute for it; We need results not waffle.

They’re not doing us any favours. We may (note the adverb) do them a favour and buy the stuff once there is a suitable BS.

Without raising the subject ourselves there was surprising disquiet expressed in the manufacturing fraternity about the impartiality of CORGI. They would be advised to keep that subject in check. Corgi undoubtedly have an important role in gas safety but need to remain firmly detached.

Overall

I always enjoy mixing with our mainland European colleagues immensely and would suggest Her Majesty’s Government take a peep at their licensing and training opportunities for Installers, where they are obviously more valued.

An excellent day and thanks once again to the Energy Saving Trust for hosting the press room and their kind hospitality.

We clearly need to beef up our own contribution to energy efficiency and will repair that with the new website.