COMMERCIAL HEATING
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Cracking the contractor confi dence gap for district heating
The decarbonisation of the UK’s new homes is well underway, with funding allocated to facilitate the rollout of district heating networks across the country. But while these plans are ambitious, they cannot be achieved without the eff orts of mechanical contractors, who are ideally placed to support this ongoing transition. Steve Richmond, sales & marketing director at REHAU Building Solutions, looks at how these can be overcome to meet the increasing demand for heat networks
D
istrict heating has often been referred to in terms of potential – what it could be, if the right support was in place. But in this, the
future is now current. The transition to low-carbon heating is in full swing across the entire UK, with heat networks supported by strong regulatory frameworks and fi nancial investment and grants. To support the accelerated deployment mechanical contractors are key, already possessing the skills with tooling and knowledge of fi tting techniques required to implement polymer district heating systems. However, their expertise for installing polymer heat networks has yet to be truly adopted at the scale required. Given the building momentum towards more sustainable heating, this is not ideal. For instance, as of Autumn 2025, the long-awaited Future Homes Standard proposes phasing out the installation of gas boilers in new residential buildings. urging a rethink on the technologies used to heat new homes. The urgency of this re-evaluation is further exacerbated by the Government’s ambitious aim to build 1.5 million homes over this parliament’s fi ve- year term.
government’s housing targets. However, many existing mechanical contractors already have the core competencies required for polymer district heating installations. It is also crucial to note that polymer heat networks do not require specialist contractors, such as coded welders. As such, these contractors are well-placed
to diversify and take advantage of lucrative opportunities within the growing pipeline of heat network projects. The uptake so far for diversifying has been slow which suggests this is a confi dence issue, and one that can be resolved with supply chain support.
Rising demand, static workforce
The pressing need for heating infrastructure that can be rolled out sustainably and at scale cannot be denied. District heating, and more specifi cally fourth-generation networks that use centralised heat pumps, stand out as a clear choice for the future. Indeed, the UK’s decarbonisation strategy is
projecting that up to 20% of the country’s heating demand could be met with district heating by 2050. This forecast is a sizeable jump from the two-to- three percent this technology currently provides, and this 17 percent gap will undoubtedly be diffi cult to bridge. The Government has invested £7 million in 49 heat network projects across the country to further accelerate the shift to low-carbon infrastructure. This is on top of the £380m that has been allocated across the country through the Green Heat Network Fund since March 2022. Such support further underlines the long-term policy direction and the scale of the opportunity for contractors ready for this transition. Yet this fi nancial assistance will only translate to success if the technology can be eff ectively and practically rolled out on a nationwide level.
Building knowledge to prepare
As things stand the Construction Industry Training Board is forecasting a shortfall of around 240,000 workers needed to meet the
12 November 2025 Keeping up confi dence
With the right knowledge, access to training resources and manufacturer support; contractors can dispel uncertainty around district heating technologies and unlock valuable new revenue opportunities. It is with this in mind that manufacturers are encouraging these vital building services professionals to explore how their current skills and knowledge can be adapted to meet the demands of modern heat networks. REHAU, for instance, provide hands-on training
around jointing techniques, system installation and utilising existing tools and technologies – including the company’s own EVERLOC compression-sleeve fi tting system – for these schemes while also off ering onsite installation support. Through initiatives such as these, mechanical contractors can build the confi dence they need to meet demand for heat network systems in the residential sector, and further afi eld in commercial and public works projects. It is clear construction is facing multiple large-
scale challenges when it comes to housebuilding, decarbonisation and the sector’s ongoing skills shortage. Upskilling will be vital in alleviating these issues and delivering the heating infrastructure the nation needs while helping mechanical contractors win new business. The supply chain is well-equipped to off er this support, and it is advised these contractors go out and explore what resources are available.
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