INDUSTRY UPDATE THE BMA COLUMN THE TILE ASSOCIATION COLUMN


BMA –Water, water everywhere?


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he BMA’s Chief Executive, Tom Reynolds, welcomes the new year with a renewed focus on reducing water use in


the bathroom.


According to a weather data recorder from the Isle of Wight, January 2023 is set to be one of the wettest, already beating the levels from 2020. The flood defences are out across stretches of many rivers in an attempt to hold back the tide, but we know floods are becoming ever more regular and severe.


And yet, the UK’s water scarcity problem continues. According to the Energy Savings Trust, Britain uses around 840 billion litres of water annually and spends around £2.3 billion on heating water for showers alone. Each person uses about 142 litres of water per day, yet the Government’s target for 2050 is to reduce average personal consumption to 110 per person per day. Clearly, we have a way to go. With around 27 million homes in the UK, the opportunity for retrofitting for water efficiency should be as popular as the measures we are all currently taking to reduce our energy consumption. The wins are clear – using less water, especially heated water, will save consumers money and help tackle water scarcity.


On average, 16% of a typical household’s energy bill comes from water use within the home, and 25% of the water use is in the shower. Therefore, promoting water-efficient products is in all our best interests. Aerated showers and taps, flow regulators and smart showers are easy to retrofit. Reducing the flow of a shower from 12 litres per minute to 9 litres could save a small fortune with minimal impact on the shower experience. Educating consumers on dual-flush loos would help to reduce the 740 billion litres of water we flush away.


If everyone in a four-person metered household with a “power” shower shaved just one minute off their daily shower, it could save around £60 on energy bills and £60 on water bills every year.


With the continued efforts from bathroom manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and installers, the message should be clear. There are products available to help consumers reduce their water consumption and behaviours we can adopt to mitigate a water crisis. We need to get that message across to the end user and fast.


Tom Reynolds Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association


 For more information contact BMA on 01782 631619 or email info@bathroom-association.org.uk


40 BKU FEBRUARY 2023


 For further information or to join TTA visit www.tiles.org.uk/join


TTA introduces new version of its popular Tiling Guide


TA has introduced a revamped version of its popular Tiling Guide. Featuring the new TTA branding, this 28- page full-colour A5 booklet includes help and support for tilers in their day-to-day work. It contains practical information on how to deal with key installation issues which most tilers will encounter in the course of their work.


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TTA’s Technical Committee produced the content for the Guide, which covers all the key areas – training, different tile types, slip resistance, substrate preparation, movement joints, the requirements of BS5385 and many other important topics. It also includes sections on adhesives and grouts, as well as trowel choice. The Guide includes a substantial section on Special Installation Considerations, such as tiling on to anhydrite screeds, installing uncoupling membranes, wet rooms, underfloor heating and much more.


“TTA now holds a wealth of technical information on all subjects related to tiling,” says Paul Luff, TTA Chairman. “I’m delighted that we have been able to bring this all together in such an attractive and easily accessible format. I am confident that our new Tiling Guide will be of benefit and interest to everyone in the tiling industry, whether they are just starting out or are a time-served professional tiler.”


TTA’s comprehensive range of technical documents are referenced within the Guide, which are available on TTA website for free download by members and registered architects. Finally the Guide includes a list of manufacturer members.


Copies of the Tiling Guide can be downloaded from TTA website at: www.tiles.org.uk/tiling-guide. It is also possible to request a hard copy version from the same page.


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