PHAM NEWS | APRIL 2024 6 News Review Research shows industry’s busy workload


New research undertaken as part of Wavin’s annual ‘State of the Nation’ survey, suggests that plumbers have seen an increasing number of issues as a direct result of customers not turning their heating on. Almost two thirds of the 500 respondents said they were receiving more callouts for faulty heating systems, at a time when the majority of those surveyed said they were already facing a workload that was too high. There are also concerns about the long-term impact on


the industry as a whole. A combination of busy workloads and overrunning jobs is reducing the time being spent training the next generation, with less than half (45%) of those asked saying that they had an apprentice. Steve Harris, technical support engineer at Wavin UK, comments: “This research lays bare the situation we are now in. Plumbers are under more pressure than


ever before to accept work that they can’t realistically handle to ease the strain on their customers. This could have serious repercussions on work / life balance, risking a skills exodus from plumbers who cannot keep pace with the demands being placed on them. “At the same time, there


is already a skills defi cit that needs to be addressed. We need more plumbers entering


the industry, not less, which makes the lack of time that can be given to training apprentices even more worrying. “That’s what makes this research so crucial in raising awareness of the challenges we face. Plumbers pride themselves on hard graft and it’s better to be busy than have no work on at all – but unless plumbers are supported in addressing the skills shortage and tackling issues associated with the cost-of-living crisis, the industry is at risk of sleepwalking into a situation that will be diffi cult to come back from.”


Growing network


Heat pump manufacturer Daikin has cut the ribbon on four new Sustainable Home Centres this year to help installers and their customers get to grips with renewable heating technologies. These four new centres follow the opening of nine locations in 2023 and represent nearly 40% growth in the network year on year. The four latest Sustainable Home Centres are: Connect Plumbing & Heating Supplies in Benfl eet, Stuart HVAC renewables in Narborough, Jones & Shuff s in Stoke-on-Trent, and MKM Building Supplies in Malton.


Future focused


NIBE’s S2125 air source heat pump (ASHP) has been selected by the Science Museum in London to be showcased in the Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery. The S2125 is a high temperature ASHP and is considered the most effi cient model in NIBE’s range. The heat pump is featured in the ‘Future Power’ section alongside other advanced technologies, such as nuclear fusion experiments and tidal turbine blades. Olivia Powell-Maycock, head of marketing at


NIBE (pictured with MD Paul Smith), says: “We are delighted that the S2125 has been chosen for this important gallery. It’s exciting to see our heat pump sitting alongside innovative examples from the past, present and future.”


Step into the virtual village experience


Installers wanting to learn more about the products from LG can visit the company’s Air Solution Village, an online virtual experience for HVAC installers. Developed on the Spatial platform, the metaverse offers a seamless journey from showroom exploration to functional installation, without requiring special equipment. HVAC professionals can navigate the metaverse using intuitive controls and interactive elements. The fully rendered product showroom


allows a comprehensive understanding of LG Air Solution’s range through a 360° view. It also provides access to maintenance solutions and software options, simplifying tasks like model selection and refrigerant calculations.


The metaverse will also serve as a virtual venue for product launches, Q&A sessions, and industry talks. To visit the LG Air Solution Village, please


use the online reader link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/07


Water Regs online only


Water Regs UK has launched its new guidance online, marking the retirement of the Water Regu- lations Guide. The move is said to represent the most significant change in guidance for more than 20 years and aims to provide more accessible, up-to-date information on complying with the water fi ttings regulations and byelaws. The decision to replace the


Water Regulations Guide with online guidance was taken by water companies which aim to provide the latest information in a freely accessible format. The new online guidance is available on the Water Regs UK website now, using the link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/06


NEWS IN BRIEF


◼ The Bathroom Manufacturers Association’s charity partner Band of Builders will attend the BMA’s annual conference in September to raise funds for BoB’s work in helping construct ion industry members in their hour of need.


◼ Mitsubishi Electric was the official heating and cooling partner for this year’s Ideal Home Show, which took place between 22nd March to 7th April. Visitors to the show were able to see how low carbon technology could be harnessed to create eco- friendly and comfortable homes.


◼ Radiator supplier Stelrad has announced the results of its performance in 2023, reporting that despite a decline in volume, operating profi ts saw a 17.9% improvement to £26.7m, driven by a 13% increase in contribution per radiator thanks to ‘proactive price and cost management’.


◼ Unico System, a provider of small-duct high-velocity HVAC systems, has announced its new membership of the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA), joining the organisation’s Fan Coil Group.


◼ Harrogate-based ventilation manufacturer EnviroVent is celebrating winning two prestigious regional business awards: The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business – and the Insider Media Made in Yorkshire awards, winning the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ category.


◼ Stiebel Eltron UK has been awarded the ISO 14001 Environmental Management accreditation for its efforts to


reduce greenhouse


gases, streamline waste management and improve its environmental performance.


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