DOMESTIC RADIATORS


www.heatingandventilating.net Taking stock of 2024


Heating is one of the areas undergoing almost constant change due to new legislation, targets and evolving customer requirements. Here, Andrew Phillips, managing director of Clyde Radiators, outlines the key developments in the sector with regard to radiators and convectors over the last year and looks ahead at 2025


T


his year seen a significant number of changes, from a new UK government to an explosion in the applications for artificial intelligence


(AI). In the HVAC industry, however, it is the long- term factors that have been the driving force behind many of the most important developments this year.


Net Zero


The first and perhaps the most important is the push for net zero. With the 2050 deadline drawing ever closer, the decarbonisation of heating has never been more important. While the shift to low carbon heating technologies, such as heat pumps, has not been as swift as predicted, we have seen a marked increase in the uptake of products suitable for low temperature heating systems. For well-insulated new build properties, underfloor heating is often the go-to for use with heat pumps. However, a range of different options are needed when it comes to retrofitting the aging UK building stock. For example, a core growth area has been in low temperature fan assisted convector systems that make it possible to heat a space efficiently even with low flow temperature. In addition, there has been an expansion in the number of customers choosing electric radiators as an alternative to hydronic systems. With the decarbonisation of the electricity grid and the expanding solar capacity, electric heating can offer a greener alternative for various types of building.


Hybrid systems


Another area that has seen significant development in 2024 is hybrid radiators. These use both radiant and fan coil assisted heating to deliver efficient space heating. In addition, when connected to a heat pump, some models can also deliver cooling to offer users with the flexibility to adjust the room temperature according to season – providing consistent heat in the winter and, with appropriate system specification, cool air in the summer.


CE Marking


An important announcement made by the new government was that it was scrapping the June 2025 deadline for transition from CE to UKCA marking for construction products. With a lack of assessment capacity and a vast number of products that would need to undergo re-testing, this was set to be a major challenge for the industry. Currently we have no indication about if, or when, the move will be made but the government has said any


26 December 2024


switch will be subject to a minimum two-year transitional period.


Misleading output claims


It is encouraging to see that there has been a growing awareness around non-compliant radiator products. In the UK, it is a legal requirement for radiators to be tested based on the Delta T50 calculation. Therefore, manufacturers should provide these radiator performance figures tested using BS EN442 protocols. However, we know that the information provided by some less-reputable manufacturers and retailers, is not accurate, either inadvertently or intentionally. Without the correct figures, the radiator cannot be correctly sized, and the heating system will never perform as designed. Despite increased awareness, organisations such


as Trading Standards and Office for Product Safety and Standards are not yet consistently investigating and challenging those who are supplying false information. To avoid this issue, the advice remains that products should only be sourced from manufacturers who can back up their product


information. Also, Manufacturers’ Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC) membership is a good indication of trustworthiness.


Looking ahead to the new year


It is clear that energy efficiency and decarbonisation will continue to influence the direction of our industry with the Future Homes and Buildings Standard due to be implemented. This will see energy efficiency standards for new buildings increase once again as well as driving further adoption of renewable technologies. Innovation also looks set to be a key feature of 2025 with many industry challenges remaining that still require solutions. New product development and the innovative application of technology has a significant role to play in lowering the cost and environmental impact of heating our buildings. www.clyderadiators.co.uk.


Left: Andrew Phillips, managing director of Clyde Radiators


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