HEATING & PLUMBING THE FUTURE OF HEATING HOMES
The IOBAC and BSRIA both forecast big changes in the way we heat homes, but how?
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ccording to the IOBAC, time is running out for the UK to meet its carbon reduction targets. A big part of that will be saying goodbye to gas and oil boilers, which the UK is looking to phase out almost completely by 2050. Indeed, in March 2019 it was confirmed that from 2025 it will be illegal to install gas boilers in new build homes. It’s a tall order, especially when you consider that the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has vowed to try and keep energy bills as low as possible. BSRIA recently published its World Radiator and Underfloor Heating reports, covering 24 countries, spanning across Europe, Asia and North America. The global radiator market slowed down in 2018. Figures from BSRIA’s recently published heating study indicate that sale volumes have dipped by 5% in volume terms over the course of 2018, this decrease was mostly driven by a slowing in Asian countries (China, South Korea). There remains a large refurbishment and renovation market for radiators, however in 2018 this remained flat. Forecasts however indicate that this dip is only limited to 2018, and the total radiator market is expected to grow by 2% up to 2023 per annum in terms of volume.
Heated flooring to the rescue (but not as you know it!) The global market for Underfloor Heating (UFH) also saw a decline in 2018. However, of the 24 countries covered, only three, China, South Korea and Turkey, saw a drop in the sales of underfloor heating, the other 21 countries covered in BSRIA study collectively grew at 5.3% in volume terms. Generally, underfloor heating operates at a lower temperature when compared with standard radiators; it retains heat for a good length of time after it has been switched off; and the even distribution of heat can allow a room to heat up more quickly and stay warm. However, it’s still considered by many as an expensive luxury product with a disruptive, complex installation processes. It can also be difficult to remediate if there’s a problem. And the big one: typically, there are limited options for renewable energy inputs.
“IOBAC heated flooring was developed to overcome issues commonly associated with conventional electric mats and water-based underfloor heating systems. Our heated flooring solution doesn’t require you to dig up your floor or cause any disruption to any
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existing pipework or electric system.” IOBAC’s CEO, Paul Woolvine explains.
“This solution uses infrared heat. Research suggests that infrared heat has numerous health benefits, including increased blood circulation, an enhanced immune system, and reduction of joint pain and inflammation. Infrared heat is typically more budget friendly; designed with sustainable inputs the running costs are significantly less than conventional solutions and the temperature tends to be more consistent.”
Forecasts indicate that the total market will return to growth as from 2019 and is expected to grow by 2.5% per annum up to 2023. The sales of all related UFH components such as manifolds, controls, insulation sheets and panelling are, of course, closely linked to the amount of UFH piping sold per country. Unsurprisingly, new multi-dwelling construction accounts for nearly half of all UFH sold worldwide as opposed to new single dwellings which represent one quarter of sales. Renovation projects as well as the non-residential sector will continue to cover a fraction of all UFH pipe sales.
Low temperature systems such as heat pumps work efficiently with UFH, and the increasing popularity of heat pumps in new build properties in European Countries is believed to be a driver for an increasing growth in UFH.
So, you’ve heard of heated flooring, but heated walls? “Our heated walling technology is a modern- day alternative to traditional radiators. It’s a micro-thin radiator which can essentially be ‘painted’ onto the wall using a special patent-pending Graphene based technology. This enables more design freedom and can be connected via an AC or DC supply. Imagine your home without bulky radiators! This technology essentially works in the same way as our heated flooring: conductive copper strips, apply conductive resin, dielectric paint, and connect copper strips. It shares further similarities with heated flooring: it’s non-disruptive, cost-effective, and enjoys all the benefits of infrared heat.” continues Woolvine.
“Of course, we don’t necessarily anticipate 20 million-plus households to rip out their existing radiators overnight. Initially, we envisage that this technology will be best suited to the new-build market. It’s also why we’ve developed a smart radiator cover for retrofit applications that will be available later this year.”
Retrofit radiators do of course currently exist, but some can be inefficient and fairly expensive. Woolvine explains IOBAC’s imminent answer: “Retrofitting radiators can be costly and time- consuming – often you have to deconstruct the radiator. IOBAC’s technology enables you to effectively cover the existing radiator with a highly efficient Graphene based heating system, which is really simple to do yourself. This is again utilising our super conductive graphene technology and, as with our heated flooring and heated wall technology, it can be designed to be more efficient than traditional solutions. This will be available to buy over the counter later this year.”
Straightforward switching Woolvine concludes: “We think these technologies could enable the government’s 2050 target to potentially become a reality by the mid-2020s. But, crucially, it needs to be straightforward for people to switch to more sustainable solutions and energy sources. As The Guardian says, most people, unfortunately, are unaware of the alternatives. More needs to be done about that and alternatives need to become more accessible.”
What’s for certain is that the built environment will have to adapt as it moves further away from a reliance on fossil fuels. More and more individuals, organisations, and now the government, are beginning to seriously consider the alternatives. Indeed, this year’s Futurebuild was themed around “Time for Action”, focused specifically on sustainability and the need for a healthy future for us all. The challenge is clear, but what will the built environment’s solution be? Technologies like IOBAC may well be an integral part of it – especially given the need to do it as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net November 2019
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