PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2026 Products in Action 27


Upgrade to warmer times


An existing all-electric heating system in a two-bedroom detached house in Bacup, Lancashire, has been replaced with a Navien PEM750 monoblock air source heat pump by Magna Renewables. The retrofit included fitting


larger radiators and checking the property’s insulation to ensure the new system could provide the required heat. The PEM750’s monoblock design houses its


main components within the outdoor unit, simplifying the installation and wiring. Heating and hot water are


controlled through smart controls


and the Navien Smart Plus app, which also allows the homeowner to monitor electricity use and adjust settings remotely. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/47


Rainwater system supports crop irrigation


A rainwater harvesting system has been installed at the Big Meadow Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) site in the Gower, Swansea, to collect water from its polytunnels for use in crop irrigation. The installation uses Wavin


Osma SquareLine guttering, adapted to fit between the structural tubes of the polytunnels. Two sections of gutter have been nested together and riveted, creating a composite section with sufficient strength to span the gaps between the tubes. Rainwater collected by the


vegetable boxes to local households from its organic growing operation. The rainwater system forms part of the site’s approach to managing its water requirements, particularly during periods of dry weather. The project was developed with


guttering is directed into large storage tanks or a reservoir. It can then be used to irrigate crops when required, reducing the site’s reliance on mains water. Big Meadow supplies weekly


support from Travis Perkins and Wavin, with Wavin supplying the Osma SquareLine components. The installation uses a standard above-ground drainage product in a configuration adapted specifically to the polytunnel structures and the site’s rainwater collection requirements. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/48


Ground source on ground loop


Homes being built by CG Fry & Son at Welborne Garden Village, north of Fareham, will use NIBE ground source heat pumps connected to the development’s shared ground loop ambient heat network. The system uses a shared


ground loop to distribute low-grade heat around the development, with a NIBE ground source heat pump in each property providing space heating and hot water. The units can also provide cooling during warmer weather. The arrangement forms part


of the infrastructure for the new homes at Welborne, a planned residential community designed around a shared energy network. Rather than each property having its own ground loop, the homes will draw energy from the


communal system. Paul Smith, MD of NIBE,


says: “CG Fry & Son has built its reputation on craftsmanship, quality and creating homes that stand the test of time. What makes this partnership so exciting is the opportunity to combine that heritage with heating technology designed for the future, helping homeowners enjoy comfort, efficiency and confidence for years to come.” The collaboration marks a


further step in NIBE’s growing role at Welborne Garden Village, supporting multiple housebuilders in delivering connected, future-ready homes built around long-term sustainability, comfort and performance. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/49


£9,000 BUS grant helps to replace LPG


The first Clivet EDGE PRO installation in the UK is demonstrating the potential for heat pumps in challenging rural retrofits, replacing a 40kW LPG boiler with a correctly specified 16kW R290 heat pump in a Lincolnshire home built in 1844. The landmark installation has taken


place at Gorse Cottage near Boston, the home of Simon Wardle and Diane Saunders of Ultimate Renewables Supplies, Clivet’s sole UK distributor. This is the second time Simon and Diane have chosen Clivet for their own home. The five-bedroom, multi-generational


Low carbon approach for new rental homes


Four Baxi air source heat pump (ASHP) systems are supplying efficient, low-carbon heating and hot water at Hedsor Billinghurst, a new-build housing development in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, comprising two four-bedroom and two five-bedroom properties. Copas Brothers Construction specified


two Baxi HP50 7kW units, each paired with a 250-litre Baxi ASHP cylinder, and two HP50 11kW units with 300-litre cylinders. The properties form part of a development being delivered by the construction business, which retains its new-build homes as rental properties. Baxi provided design support during the project, including heat-loss calculations


and SAP inputs, alongside site visits and technical assistance. Copas’s in-house plumber also completed Baxi’s heat pump installer training, covering system design, installation and commissioning. The first system was commissioned on site with Baxi’s heat pump engineers. The development is part of Copas


Brothers Construction’s move to specifying heat pumps across its new- build projects, ahead of the Future Homes Standard. Ian Mason, project manager at Copas,


says: “This was our first project with Baxi, and from system sizing to technical support, we always knew there was someone we could pick up the phone to for advice. Heat pumps are more complex than gas boilers, and, like many developers, they are still comparatively new territory to us. This is why having a direct route to the manufacturer, alongside expert training, is incredibly valuable.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/50


property, which includes a two-bedroom annex, had a calculated design heat loss of 14.58kW. This allowed Simon and Diane to specify a smaller system rather than matching the output of the existing boiler. Using the Minimal Disrupt approach, only three of the property’s 19 radiators


needed changing. The installation also includes Clivet Adia Zero Disrupt, a 300- litre Supercoil cylinder and a whole-house booster pump, with the equipment housed in an insulated external plant room. EDGE PRO is a reversible monobloc


system using R290 refrigerant. It can deliver water temperatures up to 80°C and operate at outdoor temperatures as low as -25°C. It also provides cooling and incorporates low-noise technology designed specifically for residential applications. The off-gas-grid property qualified for


a £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant when switching from LPG. Moving away from LPG will also give the household greater control over future energy costs and reduce its exposure to volatility in fossil-fuel markets. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/51


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