PHAM NEWS | NOVEMBER 2026 6 News Review


Recording Benchmark digitally


Heating engineers are being urged to move from the traditional paper Benchmark Commissioning Checklist and Service Record to the digital platform, which now covers commercial appliances and water treatment records. For many years, the Benchmark


Flue checker QR code to tackle counterfeit parts


Targeting counterfeit fl ues, Baxi has developed a new integrated flue checker verifi cation feature within its app that will expose fakes, protect installers’ professional integrity and maintain their customers’ trust. According to Baxi and industry


groups such as the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), a growing number of counterfeit parts are entering the UK heating market. The concern is that installers who unknowingly fi t a counterfeit part could find themselves exposed to liability and fi nancial risk. Counterfeit flues are illegal and


potentially harmful. While they may look similar to genuine parts, they are frequently manufactured using inferior, non-compliant materials and without testing and accreditation. Fitting a counterfeit flue can also invalidate a boiler’s warranty. Flues are designed to exhaust


products of combustion which contain carbon monoxide. They are a safety-critical part and are produced and tested to very tight tolerances. Flue components need to fi t together functionally on the 100mm outer diameter as well as the 60mm inner diameter. Any breach of this seal can cause a safety issue to which non- genuine fl ues are essentially out of control and may not be safe.


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Flue verifi cation The company’s verifi cation system gives everyone across the supply chain a quick, consistent solution to verify what they’re buying and fitting. The integrated solution connects each flue terminal, its packaging and its labels with the ‘check your flue’ feature in the Toolbelt app. Toolbelt is freely available for anyone to download – installers and merchants do not need to be a Baxi Works member to use it. It reads the unique QR code and checks the flue’s serial number against the company’s production records to confi rm it’s genuine. The QR code and app feature are now live. Rob Pearse, Baxi’s residential


business director, comments: “As manufacturers, we have a duty to ensure installers can make safe choices about the product they purchase. A fl ue isn’t just another part – fi t, safety and integrity matter. And with the introduction of our Flue Checker, we are arming everyone in the supply chain with the tool they need to verify genuine parts. Just look for the ‘Scan in Baxi Toolbelt App’ prompt.”


Installers and merchants can download the Baxi Toolbelt app by using the reader link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1126/02


Checklist has provided a record that domestic heating appliances have been installed, commissioned and serviced in line with manufacturers’ instructions, Building Regulations and relevant British Standards. However, the paper-based version is no longer maintained. The


Benchmark apps. Commercial appliances can now


be included, providing contractors and building owners with records of installation, commissioning and servicing. Steve McConnel, director of ICOM, says: “For commercial heating, where


system performance,


digital Benchmark Commissioning Record allows installers to maintain installation, commissioning and servicing records, while giving householders access to their heating system history. It is available at www. benchmark.org.uk or through the


reliability and ongoing maintenance are critical, keeping accurate commissioning and servicing records is essential.” The platform also allows installers to


record water quality data, including inhibitor checks at commissioning and annual servicing. This provides a


record of treatment processes and products used, helping engineers check inhibitor levels and carry out any necessary top-ups. The move supports compliance with BS 7593:2019+A1:2024, which covers best practice for domestic heating and cooling water systems, and BS 9593:2024, the test standard for chemical inhibitors. With paper versions no longer maintained, future updates will only be incorporated into the digital platform. Installers are therefore encouraged to use Benchmark Online or the app to keep complete records. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1126/03


BESA’s fi ve priorities for government


A manifesto has been presented to 10 Downing Street by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) outlining how the industry can help the government reach its goals of increasing housing supply, improving public services and meeting net zero targets. Building Britain’s Future sets out a practical programme for the government to unlock the potential of the UK’s building engineering services sector so it can deliver safer, more sustainable


and healthier


buildings that support energy security and healthier communities. “Building engineering services


are central to the government’s major growth ambitions,” says BESA president Anna Shephard, who presented the manifesto along with the Association’s CEO David Frise, president-elect Nick Mead, and vice-president Paul


• Business growth: Support investment through fair payment, responsible procurement and long- term policy certainty. • Skills and productivity: Invest in


Eagle. “The systems the industry designs, installs, commissions and maintains determine whether buildings remain safe, healthy, comfortable, resilient and energy effi cient throughout their lives.” The manifesto lays out fi ve priorities for the government: • Building safety: Establish a


clear and proportionate regulatory system that recognises competence and improves safety.


apprenticeships, technical education and lifelong learning to develop the workforce. • Energy and net zero: Improve building effi ciency, accelerate retrofi t and provide certainty for investment in low-carbon technologies. • Healthy buildings: Improve


ventilation, indoor air quality and building performance in homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces. BESA is urging the government to


work with the building engineering services sector to turn these priorities into practical actions and ensure Britain’s buildings support economic, environmental and public health goals. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1126/04


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