Insidethis issue 3 FEBRUARY 2025 VOLUME 63 ISSUE 1 Editor’s
Viewpoint by Chris Jones
Black mark on standards
Recent reports have highlighted the prevalence of mould issues in UK homes, which seems to be a problem in many private properties but reaching almost crisis levels in the rented sector (see this month’s cover story). A black stain in the corner might just be an unsightly inconvenience, but living in a home with damp and mould could also have serious consequences for the health of inhabitants, including skin conditions and breathing problems. NHS England has estimated that it spends £1.4m a year on treating illnesses associated with people who are obliged to live in such unwelcome environments. While a brief online search would suggest that consumers are not short of advice when it comes to methods of dealing with mould once it has formed, homeowners, landlords and tenants might be forgiven if they remain confused by how best to prevent it from forming in the fi rst place. We have been encouraged to invest in good insulation and double-glazed windows, but are then told that airtight buildings trap moisture inside and retain more humidity. Consumers have been persuaded to save on heating costs by not wasting money warming unused rooms, but are then advised that condensation will thrive on cold walls. Is the solution less washing, more heating, better in-house ventilation, or simply more open windows? Confi dence in professional tradespeople being able to provide a
solution has not been helped by stories of substandard installation work being carried out under government-backed schemes (see page 4). Routine checks have revealed a number of concerns and it is feared that, if left unrectifi ed, the poor quality of the insulation fi tted will inevitably result in damp and mould growth. While it is good that the government is insisting that the work will be remedied at no extra cost to the householder, it seems unlikely that such checks have unearthed all cases of second-rate work. Ultimately, it’s a black mark on the reputation of all associated trades that’s not going to be easily removed.
Special Features 19
Pipes, Fittings & Valves
Highlighting the benefi ts of multi-layer pipework, plus valve solutions for multi-occupancy buildings
Regulars
04 News Review 10 Talent show 10 People on the Move 11 Merchant News 12 Letters 12 MCS Column 13 Gadgets & Tools 16 Training Update 17 Business Matters
14 Trophy winners
18 Energy Matters 25 Point of View 26 Products in Action 35 Product News
Don’t forget to use our online reader enquiry service to quickly fi nd the web page you need
Last year’s winners take to the stage 27
Domestic Boilers
An overview of the latest government plans for improving the effi ciency of domestic boilers
33 Test &
Measuring Instruments
The importance of gas detection in commercial environments, plus a round-up of the latest instruments
Contributors
Ian Rippen MCS
12
Why more transparency is crucial to building trust and driving confi dence in renewable technology
Martyn Bridges Domestic Boilers
27
Discussing some of the current government consultations and the issues they hope to address
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© Copyright 2025 Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement News All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without written consent from the publisher. Attributed articles represent the views of the Author(s) and are not the necessarily those of the Editor. The publishers accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers or advertisers. This magazine includes a number of colour editorial photographs paid for by suppliers.
Managing Editor Chris Jones Assistant Editor Carol Hitchcock Consultant Publisher Chris Evans Southern Advertisement Manager Nathan Wood Production Paul Forster Design Consultant Tim Plummer
Shaun Evers Test & Measuring Instruments
33
How the latest gas detection technologies can help to prevent refrigerant gas leaks
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