NEWS Daikin adds three new centres to Sustainable Home Network D
aikin UK has opened the doors of three new Sustainable Home Centres in partnership with Clima-tech HVAC in Suffolk, Richmonds Plumbing
and Heating Merchants in Glasgow and Duftons Plumbing and Heating Supplies in Harrogate, adding to its national network. The air source heat pump (ASHP) manufacturer is partnering with builders’ merchants, heating specialists and energy companies across the UK. As well as winning projects and sourcing products via the centres, installers can access training, resources and stock, to help them diversify into renewable heating
solutions – and to ensure the long-term competitiveness of their businesses as fossil fuels are phased out. Each of the three new centres invited homeowners, installers, housing associations and government representatives to celebrate their openings and recognise the important role they can play in driving the adoption of renewable heating systems. The growth of Daikin’s Sustainable Home Network coincides with growing demand for heat pumps, boosted by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Home Upgrade Grant and removal of VAT on heat pump installation. Iain Bevan, commercial manager – heating & renewables at Daikin UK, commented: “To be a Sustainable Home Centre is the top tier of Daikin Sustainable Home Network membership – an opportunity for specialist renewable heating businesses to step up and lead the movement towards a low carbon future, by opening a state-of-the- art heat pump showroom and where applicable, a training facility, jointly funded by Daikin. “These latest additions follow a busy year for launches across our network. We’re proud
to be supporting Clima-tech, Richmonds and Duftons as, together, we can tackle the green skills shortage and make a significant contribution towards our national Net Zero targets.
“Being able to explore and discuss heat pump technology and the significant cost savings they offer in person is vital, as is knowing that it will be installed by a highly trained professional – and that’s what our Sustainable Home Centres are all about.”
Concerns grow as HSE records biggest growth in HAVS cases for five years O
ver 300 new cases of HAVS were reported in 2021, in addition to 165 new cases of carpal tunnel syndrome (up 412 per cent) and 255 new instances of Depuytren’s Contracture (a rise of 392 per cent).
More than two million people are at risk from developing HAVS and approximately 300,000 people suffer from HAVS in the UK alone, with companies already feeling the impact of successful worker litigation to the tune of £2.5m in fines alone in the last seven years - and almost £1.4m of these fines have been since 2018. Russ Langthorne, managing director of SIXIS Technology, the company behind
HAVSPRO, a solution for the accurate, real-time measurement and monitoring of workplace vibration, is concerned at these significant increases. He said: “These statistics are particularly concerning because the number of new cases is at a five-year high, and not just skewed as a result of the recent pandemic. It is clear that companies need to be taking this growing risk factor more seriously, given the significant impact it can have on both their workforce and their bottom line. Action must be taken now.” HSE regulations stipulate that “An employer who carries out work which is liable to expose any of their employees to risk from vibration shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk created by that work to the health and safety of those employees, and the risk assessment shall identify the measures that need to be taken to meet the requirements of these Regulations”. However, the regulations further state that “There is no legal requirement for continual monitoring and recording of vibration exposure and that to do so would probably not be a good use of your or your employees’ time, unless there are very specific circumstances.” Mr Langthorne added: “Clearly, this huge rise in new cases in a number of related
Swegon qp BSEE July22.qxp_Layout 1 23/6/22 13:43 Page 1
HAVS conditions and across a host of industries, indicates that there is now a very real requirement for businesses to prioritise vibration exposure measuring and monitoring, both to protect their workers and to avoid costly litigation and fines.
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www.bsee.co.uk
BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2023 5
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