Workplaces encouraged to climb the safety ladder

Posted on by Posted in Health and Safety

safety-ladderInstallers are being encouraged to get involved with the Ladder Exchange Scheme, which aims to eradicate dangerous ladders from UK workplaces by offering substantial discounts when they are exchanged for new ones.

Run by the Ladder Association and workplace equipment supplier Slingsby, the scheme is open to all workplaces until 31 December 2014.

Lee Wright, marketing director at Slingsby explained:

“Falls from height still cause huge numbers of injuries, and even deaths, in all types of workplaces,”

“A large number are down to ladders and stepladders that are not fit for the job. It’s estimated that 2 million ladders are used every day in the UK, across all industries, by people who spend all day working at height through to those who might just occasionally change a light bulb.

“Every year The Ladder Exchange Scheme proves to be a huge success and results in workplaces handing over all types of truly frightening ladders that are often bent, wobbly and have rungs missing. Any workplaces with such a ladder can simply call us and we will help to exchange it for a brand new model.”

Cameron Clow, chairman of The Ladder Association said:

“This is our third year running the Ladder Exchange, which has been an excellent means of getting out the ladder safety message while helping people in a practical way. Thousands of ladders were traded in last year, saving a lot of people and businesses money and hopefully lives as well.”

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MyTub Launch Kingspan Castle Cylinders

Posted on by Posted in Plumbing Industry News

kingspanMyTub.co.uk has just launched the latest Kingspan Environmental range of hot water cylinders, Castle.

The range consists of Copper Vented, Stainless Vented and Stainless Unvented cylinders in a variety of sizes and types.

Castle Copper Vented are high performance cylinders suitable for use in traditional open vented hot water systems. Available in a range of capacities and patterns to suit a variety of domestic applications the cylinders are designed to heat up quickly and retain their heat for long periods.

Castle Stainless Vented are an alternative for replacement of standard copper vented cylinders – the tapping configuration is manufactured to match BS1566 copper counterparts so installation is quick and easy. These high quality Duplex stainless steel hot water cylinders feature excellent corrosion resistance and provide long operational life.

Castle Unvented range is particularly suitable for use in properties with multiple bathrooms and high hot water demand. They offer fast reheat times and exceptionally low heat loss. Manufactured from Duplex stainless steel the cylinders provide mains pressure hot water for powerful showers and fast filling baths and come with 20-year guarantee for the stainless steel vessel.

To view our discounted priced cylinders, click the following:

Castle Stainless Vented Cylinders – Click here

Castle Copper Vented Cylinders – Click here

Castle Stainless Unvented Cylinders – Click here

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FMB welcomes prospect of small sites extension

Posted on by Posted in Construction

FMB-Small-Sites-ExtensionThe Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said that an exemption for small sites from the off-site elements of the zero carbon standard will allow more new homes to be built by small local builders.

This will help create diversity and choice in the housing market, said the FMB in response to the government’s consultation on the small sites exemption.

FMB chief executive Brian Berry said:

“The FMB is supportive of the zero carbon objective but we are concerned about the disproportionate cost implications for smaller house builders. The Allowable Solutions element of zero carbon will be added in 2016 and could result in smaller building firms paying out an additional £2,000 for every single detached home. It is therefore absolutely right that adjustments are made to ensure small local builders can build as many new homes as possible at a time when we are building only half the number of new homes required to meet demand.“

Berry concluded:

“Let’s be clear – an exemption from Allowable Solutions will have no impact on the quality or energy efficiency standards of the new homes being built. These homes will still be built to the same energy performance standards as all other new homes but will avoid impeding the delivery of new homes by SME house builders.“

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More households are able to benefit from renewable heating

Posted on by Posted in Heating, Home improvement, Renewable Energy

more-benefit-renewablesMore social landlords and their tenants could soon be benefiting from renewable heating, helping them have warmer homes and lower bills.

Changes to the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) mean that from Spring 2015 registered social landlords will no longer be required to have a Green Deal Assessment in order to apply for the RHI scheme.

If social landlords already have Energy Performance Certificates for their properties, and these are less than two-years-old, they will be able to apply to the scheme without requiring a Green Deal Assessment.

Amber Rudd MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Climate Change said:

“Renewable heating is a win-win for everyone – landlords, tenants and the environment.

“Social landlords often provide homes for some of the most vulnerable people, by making the RHI more accessible to them, we hope more of their tenants will be able to enjoy warmer homes and lower bills.”

Latest statistics on fuel poverty show there are 2.28 million fuel poor households in the UK, and 365,000 of them live in social housing.

Fuel poverty can be exacerbated for some if they need to pay upfront for their heating as is the case for many with oil fired systems.

Ralph Retallack, energy efficiency project manager at Coastline Housing, in West Cornwall, already has over 200 properties using renewable air source heat pump (ASHPs) heating systems, 130 of which have so far been accredited under the domestic RHI.

Ralph said:

“Where we have installed ASHP in our properties the feedback from tenants has been very good. Those who were previously unable to afford oil to heat their homes say it has transformed their properties.

“The upfront cost of oil is the problem – the minimum order is 500 litres which costs from around £270 up to £370, depending on market fluctuations.

“Electricity is required to run the air source systems, but our tenants can budget weekly for heat and hot water which is preferable, and enables them to enjoy a comfortable living environment at an affordable price.

“Our tenant customers have much warmer homes and lower bills – and Coastline receives the RHI payments to offset the cost of installation, so it works well for everyone.”

Andrew Burke, of the National Housing Federation, said:

“These changes to the RHI will reduce the unnecessary bureaucracy and costs for social landlords applying for the RHI but the real benefit will be for their tenants, who will have warmer homes and lower energy bills. Renewable heating makes a big difference by reducing fuel poverty in off-gas grid areas.”

A further change to the domestic RHI scheme will see the list of eligible technologies expand to include cooker stoves from spring 2015. These are biomass stoves with back boilers, mainly designed for space and hot water heating, but can also be used for cooking. As cooker stoves are biomass stoves, they will receive the biomass tariff of 12.2p/kWh.

This means the list of heating systems now eligible under the domestic RHI scheme includes:

Technology Tariff
Air-source heat pumps 7.3p/kWh
Ground and water source heat pumps 18.8p/kWh
Biomass-only boilers and biomass pellet stoves with integrated boilers (including cooker stoves) 12.2p/kWh
Solar thermal panels (flat plate and evacuated tube for hot water only) 19.2 p/kWh
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A quarter of households are worried about boiler breakdown this winter

Posted on by Posted in Heating

gocompare-boiler-breakdownA new survey from Gocompare.com has revealed that a quarter of householders are worried about boiler breakdown and many would be left struggling to pay for the cost of repairs.

When questioned as to how they might pay for a £300 repair bill for their boiler only 27% of those surveyed said that they had money set aside for such an emergency, 23% held specific boiler cover, while ten per cent would have to pay by credit card.

But many householders could have cover for emergency boiler or central heating repairs under their home buildings insurance. Home emergency insurance covers household misfortunes, typically insuring against your boiler breaking down, plumbing or drainage trouble or, home security issues. It generally covers the cost of call-out, labour and materials for temporary or permanent repairs up to a maximum limit per claim.

Gocompare.com reviewed over 300 policies and found that the majority (71%) provide cover for home emergencies as either a standard feature (20%) or as an upgrade for an additional fee (51%). Of those policies providing cover for home emergencies, 98% cover the home’s main central heating system and 72% provide insurance against hot water failure.

The ‘boiler trouble’ consumer research, commissioned by Gocompare.com, also found that:

  • 42% of those surveyed had experienced boiler trouble in last three years. Of these, 22% required a complete replacement of their system, 19% had to have emergency repairs, and 54% needed just minor repairs;
  • The average cost of these repairs was £469 (12% had a bill of over £1,000);
  • Well over half (56%) of those surveyed said that they have had their boiler serviced in the last 12 months, but nine per cent haven’t had their system checked for over two years, while 11% admitted to never having had their boiler serviced
  • The level of cover varies from policy to policy, but most provide cover of £500 to £1,000.

Jeremy Cryer, Gocompare.com’s energy spokesperson, said:

“Boilers are one of the most expensive items in your home to replace or repair but, many people don’t give them a thought until they let them down. We strongly advise people to have their system checked on an annual basis, this helps ensure that it is running safely and efficiently.

“Several energy suppliers offer specialist boiler insurance which covers you against the cost of emergency repairs and the price usually provides an annual service. If you are considering insurance, you should check your household buildings insurance policy for home emergency cover first – because your boiler might already be protected. But, while insurance covers the failure of, or accidents to, essential services to your home, policies generally exclude problems, which result from systems not being properly maintained. So, for example, the failure of boilers or heating systems are usually only covered when they have been inspected or serviced by a qualified person within the preceding 12 months.”

 

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