NEWS & APPOINTMENTS
Pump industry calls for clamp down non-compliant central heating pumps
Pump industry leaders are calling on the government to target the ‘swarm’ of non-compliant central heating pumps being imported into the UK potentially costing consumers hundreds of pounds every year. The appeal is being driven by increasing concerns that Far Eastern exporters have penetrated the traditional merchant distribution channels to target the UK, with more than 100,000 non-compliant pumps being sold in the UK every year.
Steve Schofield, chief executive of the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) says the UK is being swarmed by non-compliant pumps. “We estimate that circa 10% of the one million central heating pumps, technically known as circulators, being brought into the UK are non-compliant. It is blatant and it is now over-the-counter. Once fitted, they are costing consumers hundreds of pounds every year on their heating bills, and it is seriously impacting the UK’s ability to meet its Net Zero obligations.” The situation has deteriorated since April 2022 when the global microchip supply crisis was at its height, according to Mr Schofield. “The imported pumps use old-style AC motors that are less than half the price of permanent magnet motors equipped with microchips to vary the speed of the pump to reduce energy consumption. The non-compliant 3-speed pumps use circa 100 watts of energy compared to 30 watts for the permanent magnet design.” Lee Tebbatt, managing director at Wilo UK and incoming Vice President of the BPMA, says that the key problem is in the stand-alone pump replacement market. “The stand- alone market, where a non-condensing boiler is being used with a hot water cylinder and header tank, is the target for non-compliant pumps. Typically, this market is circa one million units per year.”
Non-compliant pumps that Wilo experts have seen are being manufactured to look like genuine OEM pumps, even sometimes equipped with fake CE markings that stand for China Export. “We’re seeing pumps that are illegal in terms of their energy efficiency being disguised with fake CE markings. The installer won’t know that they are buying a fake pump over the counter and the consumer won’t know that it’s being fitted,” says Mr Tebbatt. A clampdown from government is needed says Mr Schofield. “We have been very lax in the UK in terms of policing the market and eradicating non-compliant pumps. Continental European countries have much stricter regulatory policing regimes and are not being targeted in the same way.” He continued: “It is the legal responsibility of the importer to ensure that only compliant pumps are brought into the UK. However, legal responsibility does not stop there. It is the distributor’s responsibility to only sell CE marked pumps and it is the installer’s responsibility to ensure that what they are fitting is compliant.”
Appointments
Vent-Axia’s director joins EDA Data Services Board
Vent-Axia has announced that Richard Paine, its product and marketing director has joined the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) Data Services Board to lead the strategic development of the EDATA data pool. The Board comprises volunteer representatives
from EDA wholesalers and manufacturers involved in the EDATA data pool. EDATA, which was launched by the EDA in 2020, offers EDA wholesalers free access to information on hundreds of thousands of products from 60+ leading manufacturing brands that have signed up to date, with the data pool expanding rapidly. Richard’s election to the Board comes as Michael
Wright, product development manager at Aico Ltd, steps down after serving his term.
Speaking of his appointment, Mr Paine said: “As a business, Vent-Axia has put considerable effort into harnessing the value of our product data and the extensive benefits this has, delivering Gold standard data has opened new conversations with our customers and is leading to new commercial opportunities. Like many we are on a journey and still have plenty of work to do, but I want to share our experience and collectively raise the standard in relation to digital transformation for the good of this sector.
J S Wright appoints new IT manager
Birmingham-based mechanical and electrical services specialist J S Wright has appointed Dean Burgess as IT Manager.
Key milestones for world-first hydrogen project with Fife Council
Gas distribution company SGN hosted senior members of Fife Council and local housing associations on Wednesday 8 March to mark the beginning of construction of the H100 Fife hydrogen homes demonstration facility. Participants also welcomed the news that the project has surpassed its minimum goal of signing up 270 participants and is continuing to allow more households to opt-in.
The new demonstration facility will comprise of two hydrogen show homes where visitors will be able to try out domestic hydrogen appliances. The facility is due to open this summer and is being built by contractors Marshalls Construction in
Fife Energy Park alongside the project’s hydrogen production and storage site. Market leading boiler manufacturers Baxi and Worcester Bosch are project partners and will be providing hydrogen boilers for the show homes and for the project. The H100 Fife project enables households in Buckhaven and Denbeath to opt-in to be supplied with hydrogen through a new network which is due to go live in 2024. It will be the first 100% green hydrogen-to-homes zero carbon network anywhere in the world and will provide important evidence to help the UK decarbonise home heating. Support for the project means SGN has surpassed its goal of at least 270 participants, with more households being encouraged to opt-in. SGN CEO Mark Wild OBE said: “We’re delighted to announce that we’ve gone beyond our minimum target of 270 households registering to take part in H100 Fife, and are still welcoming more homes in the area. We’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received from residents and the wider community. Boiler manufacturer Baxi will be supplying its 100% hydrogen boilers for the H100 Fife Project. Karen Boswell, managing director of Baxi UK and Ireland, said: “With such projects, we can help the public, Government and wider heating industry better understand the potential of hydrogen to provide safe and low-carbon heating in the future, alongside other options available today such as heat pumps, hybrid systems and heat networks.”
4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2023
Based at the company’s HQ on Portland Street in Aston, Dean has more than 15 years of experience in the IT industry. He was previously Head of IT for national children’s charity NYAS (National Youth Advisory Service), where he was instrumental in gaining the charity Cyber Essentials accreditation vital for gaining government contracts. Dean will be responsible for developing and maintaining the electronic network systems for both J S Wright and its sister company Wright Maintenance, which includes ensuring that all their systems remain secure and compliant. Working with Associate Director IT and Support Services Simon Bevin and Finance Director John Stevenson, Dean will also play a key role in the ongoing digitalisation of the company’s management systems that will increase efficiencies by making all data accessible as a single source of truth.
Peter Grierson, Managing Director, said: “Dean will help support our ambitious growth plans and enable us to provide an even better service to customers.”
Female appointee to Nuaire and Domus board
Experienced marketing professional, Jessica Cook, is making her mark on the ventilation manufacturing industry, moving into an executive role at global ventilation leader, Nuaire – becoming the first woman to join the board in over ten years. The South Wales based company officially announces the move, naming Jessica, strategic marketing director within the Climate Management Solutions business unit at Genuit Group, for the brands Nuaire and Domus Ventilation. Motivated by people and business growth, Jessica’s strategic thinking will add considerate value to the business. She will be focused on developing and deploying solution-based strategies, centred on the core Group values of creating an inclusive and diverse environment for the division. After just two years at Genuit Group, firstly as Head of Marketing for Nuaire and Domus Ventilation, before taking on the role of General Manager for Domus Ventilation, Jessica now actively joins industry leaders from around the business as they tackle sustainability, inclusivity, and diversity together. The board’s overall aim being to create an innovative and prominent business and a collaborative culture for its talented employees to flourish within.
Jessica says, “It’s my absolute pleasure to support the business in my new role and I’m incredibly proud to be the first woman appointed to the Nuaire board in 10 years. The manufacturing and construction industry is predominantly male-dominated but times are changing, with more women wanting to work in STEM and I’m excited to be around to see that happen and help lead the way.”
Read the latest at:
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