PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026 News Review 9


The appeal of wall panel speed


A survey commissioned by Wetwall suggests demand for quicker bathroom renovations is driving installers and homeowners towards wall panels over traditional tiles. Research among 250 professional


bathroom fitters found all had used bathroom panels, with the products now used across refurbishments, new builds and commercial projects. Homeowner demand is also increasing, with 59% of installers saying customers specifically prompted them to start using panels. Some 87% reported increased customer uptake over the past one to two years. Speed is a key factor, with 58% of fitters


citing quicker installation and better overall value as reasons for adopting panels, while 55% said they chose them because they can complete projects faster than traditional tiling. For homeowners, this can mean less disruption and shorter project times. However, quality remains important.


Installers said durability and reliability are the top priorities for homeowners (62%), followed by finish and visual appeal (59%).


Price ranked third (50%). While residential refurbishments remain


the main application, installers also reported strong uptake in commercial and contract projects. Joanne Mailen, product lead at Wetwall,


says the findings show a shift in attitudes towards panels, with wider design choice, straightforward installation and low maintenance helping drive demand.


EUA welcomes a new president


Following its recent AGM, energy trade body EUA (Energy and Utilities Alliance) has announced its new president. Henrik Juhl Hansen, MD of Vaillant Group UK & Ireland (left in picture) takes the helm for the next 12 months. Welcoming the election of the


new president, Mike Foster, CEO of EUA, says: “Henrik is a strong advocate for a pragmatic, whole- system approach to decarbonising heat. He believes that there is no single solution, and that progress will depend on a balanced mix of technologies, supported by clear policy, long-term investment and a resilient energy system. “Henrik has already played a key role in


the rebranding of EUA and we look forward to building on our strengths, guided by his 30 years of international leadership, to make sure EUA remains the body where the whole of the heating industry is given a voice.” Henrik Juhl Hansen comments: “I look


Guide to cooler heating systems


Heating engineers are being offered a free guide to whole-system thinking as lower operating temperatures become an increasingly important part of heating system design and installation. Warmur Academy says its new ebook, Rule


the System Before It Rules You, explains how boiler and heat pump systems work and what engineers need to understand as operating temperatures fall. Building Regs already set a maximum


design flow temperature of 55°C for new and fully replaced systems in England and Wales, as well as major upgrades in Scotland. The government has also said it will seek to require gas boiler installers to undertake low-temperature system design training. The ebook covers the principles governing


boiler and heat pump systems, how lower temperatures affect their operation, building


regulations and the role of pumps. Understanding how different parts of a system interact could help engineers identify problems more quickly and avoid issues during installation and operation. The guide is available as a free download, with readers also offered a discount on Warmur Academy courses. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/09


Report on reducing hot water demand


A new report from Triton Showers has claimed the Future Homes Standard compliance framework could miss an opportunity to further reduce household energy consumption, water use and running costs if domestic hot water demand- reduction technologies are not properly recognised. The report, ‘Recognising


Domestic Hot Water Demand- Reduction in SAP 10.3’, explores how the SAP 10.3 methodology treats DHW, which is expected to represent a significantly larger proportion of regulated household energy use as space heating demand falls in highly efficient, low-heat- loss homes constructed under the Future Homes Standard. It is claimed that the current SAP 10.3 approach appears to place greater emphasis on central heating system efficiency, fabric performance, PV provision than on reducing DHW demand at source.


Showering is one of the


most significant uses of DHW, making it an important area for improving efficiency and reducing consumption. The report examines the benefits of specifying the latest shower demand-reduction technologies, including high- efficiency instantaneous electric showers and waste water heat recovery systems (WWHRS). Based on standard SAP assumptions and two daily showers, it is estimated that choosing an instantaneous electric shower paired with a WWHRS could reduce annual shower-related energy use by


35.1% and carbon emissions by 36.7%. Annual combined energy and


water costs, meanwhile, would drop by £137 compared with


a conventional mixer shower supplied by a heat pump and hot water cylinder. Paul Ravnbo-West, market development manager at Triton, comments: “The Future Homes Standard is a welcome and necessary step forward in the transition to low-carbon homes. While it will play a crucial role in reducing space-heating demand, there must also be a plan for the next major source of regulated household energy use: domestic hot water. “The framework should


do more to encourage homes to reduce hot water demand, but the proposed compliance methodology does not currently provide sufficient recognition of technologies that reduce demand at source.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/08


forward to the fresh challenge of being President of EUA, a trade body that can look back over 100 years of history and looks forward to meeting the challenges of the energy transition. Working with over 250 member companies is a privilege and a great responsibility as we drive forward with the changes the UK needs in adapting to a low-carbon future.”


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