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INSTALLERS WARNED ABOUT NON-APPROVED FLUE SYSTEMS
nstallers have been urged to take extra caution over their choice of boiler components and accessories, amidst a growing number of controls and flue systems being sold on the internet as compatible with certain manufacturers’ boiler models. The warning comes from Martyn Bridges, director of
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technical communication and product management at Worcester, Bosch Group, who believes installers could run the risk of compromising their customers’ safety by fitting flue plume redirection kits which haven’t been tested, approved or certified for use with their boiler. Martyn commented: “We’re seeing a growing number of
suppliers sell generic heating accessories such as flue kits that they claim are compatible with a given manufacturer’s boiler, but have never actually been tested to the required standards. “While these products may match the physical size and dimensions of the manufacturer’s flue, it is important for installers to realise that the absence of a CE mark means there is no proof that they meet the UK’s safety, health and environmental requirements. Worse still, with no testing having taken place, there is no evidence or guarantee that the flue kit won’t be susceptible to damage such as freezing, cracking, or degrading in the sun.
“Boiler manufacturers in the UK generally have their
appliances and flue systems approved to C1, C3 and C5 classifications, which are essentially horizontal, vertical and flue plume redirection categories. Under these categories, the manufacturers are required to have their boiler and flue system approved as a partnership, and with good reason. The generic alternative may be cheaper and its aesthetics might appeal, but buying one is a risky move for something as critical as a flue system – not least because it will not hold the essential CE marking and will also invalidate the boiler’s warranty. The sheer number of unknowns surrounding these products should be reason enough for installers to be very wary.” Martyn believes the rise in the number of generic, third- party boiler accessories available means installers need to be extra cautious with their product selection. He continued: “There is a plethora of replica boiler
accessories being launched into the market and we’ve seen issues where installers and homeowners have been caught out by third-party timers and controls which are not covered by the boiler manufacturer’s warranty. This emphasises the need for installers to be vigilant when selecting the most suitable appliances and accessories for their customer’s property.”
Gettingitright T
It’s time to take data security more seriously Unravelling regulations that drive residential HVAC
he Heat Network (Metering & Billing) Regulations are resulting in more information being gathered about customers’ habits.
Peter Westwood, managing director of Insite Energy, explains why this needs to be properly safeguarded to comply with the Data Protection Act. Data security breaches pose an increasing
commercial risk in our industry. Businesses involved in holding or processing personal data are required to safeguard it under the Data Protection Act, yet leaks are all too common. Sometimes these breaches are deliberate and malicious, but just as often they’re the result of human error. And now two things are escalating the risk: the widening use of portable data-carrying devices, such as tablets and smart phones, and the additional information being obtained through the Heat Network (Metering & Billing) Regulations. The Heat Network Regulations were introduced to empower the end users of communal heating systems to better manage their energy use through the installation of individual heat energy meters and free access to consumption data. This data can form a picture of the domestic habits of a building’s residents, such as what time they take a
shower or go to bed, and when they’re more likely to be in or out of their home. It also reveals how promptly and reliably they pay their bills. More advanced data-gathering systems could even indicate whether residents sit up late watching television on certain nights of the week and what times of the year they take their holidays. This kind of information increasingly has a market value for selling-to or blacklisting people. If this sounds a bit dramatic, consider the facts: the government’s latest annual Security Breaches Survey reveals that a breach was suffered during the previous year by 90 per cent of the large organisations surveyed and 74 per cent of the small businesses. Half of the worst breaches were caused by staff errors. At Insite Energy we hear similarly worrying stories during our day-to-day work as a supplier of heat metering and billing solutions to housing associations. There’s no evidence yet to suggest that data is being shared with malicious or commercial motives, but it is being shared without full appreciation of the implications. This lack of understanding could lead to significant legal and reputational repercussions.
Heat suppliers and housing associations need to get to grips with data protection and to remember what the law demands. The current Data Protection Act states: “Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.” The EU General Data Protection Regulation, which comes into force next May, will be more extensive in its scope and application, requiring organisations to develop clear policies and procedures to safeguard personal data and to adopt stringent technical and organisational measures. To ensure compliance, I suggest contracts between all parties involved in heat networks - heat suppliers, heating and billing specialists, and housing associations or commercial property managers – must always specify who is permitted to see the data and its analysis and who is not. Contracts also need to clearly state that this data can only be used for the purposes of billing residents and for analysing the efficiency of heat network systems. Now’s the time to implement these measures, before the industry unwittingly blunders into a scandal of its own making.
DOMESTIC NEWS Got the job
OFTEC has welcomed a new manager to its technical team. In his new role, Steve Webster will draw on his theoretical and practical knowledge to provide expert advice and guidance to OFTEC technicians, sector professionals and consumers.
www.heatingandventilating.net
July 2017
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