Heating and Ventilation News
Arlene Martin
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£100 million boost for fuel poverty scheme
4 December 2008
Warm Front, the Government’s controversial fuel-poverty programme, is to get a £100 million funding boost under plans outlined in the 2008 Pre-Budget Report. -
Government rescues Constructionline
4 December 2008
The Government is working with multiple organisations to address the industry’s collective condemnation of Constructionline. -
Specialists in call for more action on reform
27 November 2008
The industry has broadly welcomed the Government’s overall approval for the Business and Enterprise Committee’s recommendations, outlined in July’s Construction Matters report.But it is urging it to set up a taskforce or implement a programme of activity to ensure that concrete measures are taken to reform the construction industry in line with its endorsements.The call was made by Professor Rudi Klein, chief executive of the Specialist Construction Group, ... -
New Govt incentive for project bank accounts
22 November 2008
Contractors wishing to benefit from the Government’s speedier payment terms may have to agree to work on contracts where project bank accounts are in place, H&V News has learned.The plans were revealed by Claire Curtis-Thomas, the Labour MP for Corby; and Professor Rudi Klein, chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group. They were both speaking to H&V News after attending a meeting with the business secretary ... -
Quarter of Warm Front clients left dissatisfied
20 November 2008
One in four fuel-poor households are dissatisfied with the central heating installation work carried out by WarmFront installers, data from an unpublished Government-commissioned report has revealed.In April and May this year as part of its appraisal of the Eaga Partnership Warm Front (WF) Scheme, White Young Green (WYG), a Department for Energy, Food and Rural Affairs-appointed quality assurance assessor, polled 1,400 households to gauge their level of satisfaction with ... -
SMEs face higher finance costs
20 November 2008
Specialist contractors wishing to re-finance their existing business loans and overdraft facilities or seeking new finance should expect lending conditions to remain tough, despite the Bank of England’s decision to reduce interest rates.That was the unanimous view of financial services professionals and SME commentators who see last week’s unprecedented 1.5 per cent base rate cut as signalling a deep and extended recession, coming less than a month after the Treasury’s £500 ... -
Devil is in tariff detail, say renewables firms
13 November 2008
The renewable energy industry has applauded Government efforts to boost the take-up of microgeneration technologies with financial incentives. But it said insufficient detail and the absence of a timetable for implementation risks watering down the impact and suggested it was up to industry to keep the Government on track. The comments were issued last week after Ed Miliband, the energy and climate change secretary, tabled two amendments to the Energy Bill: the ... -
Jail term for crooked aircon company boss
13 November 2008
The Government should strengthen the vetting procedures relating to company directors, making it harder for corrupt individuals to operate after being declared bankrupt.That call was made after 67-year-old Roy Harold Goss, from Cambridge, was convicted in Croydon Crown Court last week of 18 charges relating to the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Companies Director Disqualification Act 1986.He was sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment and disqualified ... -
Amendment to kick-start UK renewables
6 November 2008
The Government has tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill which makes provision for the introduction of a feed-in tariff (FiT) for all small-scale micro renewable technologies. It has also tabled an amendment to make way for the introduction of a production-based FiT for renewable heating technologies such as solar hot-water, bio gas and micro combined heat and power (mCHP) technologies.The amendments were published earlier this week as the Government seeks to bolster ... -
Eaga invites new tenders amid ‘closed shop’ claims
6 November 2008
Eaga, the body responsible for administering the Warm Front (WF) Scheme, is embarking on a new tendering process, seeking installers wishing to register with the programme.Rik Kendall, Eaga group media relations manager, said the move would address comments expressed in the letter pages of this magazine, specifically those accusing it of operating a closed shop (see Letters, page 6 and H&V News, October 18). Eaga last sought installers via a similar procurement ... -
Darling frees up cash for public sector jobs
30 October 2008
Billions of pounds of cash, which had been allocated to fund future public sector construction projects, is to be fast-tracked into next years’ spending plans, the Chancellor has said.In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Alistair Darling said cash allocated for the 2010-11 public sector spending cycle would be made available to fund building projects now as the Government seeks to use “taxpayers’ billions to shore up the jobs market at a time of rising unemployment”. ... -
OFT names and shames eight recruiters
30 October 2008
Eight recruitment agencies supplying staff to specialist contracting firms throughout the UK have been accused of breaching competition law. The accusation was made by the Office of Fair Trading in a Statement of Objection published earlier this week.A Warwick Associates, Beresford Blake Thomas, CDI AndersElite, Eden Brown, Fusion People, Hays Specialist Recruitment, Henry Recruitment and Hill McGlynn Associates were charged with alleged price fixing and collectively boycotting ... -
Specialists hail Govt’s pledge on payments
30 October 2008
The Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group has welcomed Whitehall’s pledge to pay its bills within 10 days of receipt of invoice. -
Case against gas installer thrown out of court
23 October 2008
The Crown Prosecution Service has defended its decision to pursue a manslaughter case against a Corgi-registered gas installer which was later thrown out of court. -
Confusion remains over NI gas registrar
23 October 2008
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) said it has not yet decided who will operate its gas installer registration scheme after April 2009. -
Parliament to okay tougher H&S fines
23 October 2008
The Health and Safety (Offences) Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent imminently, H&V News can reveal.The Bill, which seeks to impose prison terms on any gas, solid fuel or oil-fired heating engineer found to be in serious breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (H&SW Act), has now had its third reading in the House of Commons.It has also completed the stage where it passes between the House of Lords and the House of Commons so ... -
Government says ‘yes’ to construction champ
16 October 2008
The chairman of an influential group of cross-party MPs has spoken of his delight that one of his committee’s key recommendations has received Government approval.Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire and the chairman of the Business and Enterprise Committee, said: “I’m delighted the Government has taken up the committee’s proposal for a chief construction officer (CCO), and I’m sure my committee colleagues would agree. “Industry has long been pressing ... -
Corgi to remain gas registrar in four areas
7 October 2008
From April 1 2009 there will be two gas installer registration schemes and two gas safety brands in operation in the UK, H&V News has learned. -
EU reaches compromise on air source heat pumps
2 October 2008
Industry has welcomed the EU’s decision to categorise air source heat pumps (ASHPs) as a renewable energy source technology. -
Payments reform in by 2010, says HVCA chief
25 September 2008
Amendments to the Construction Act will be introduced during the next parliamentary session, the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association has predicted. -
Safety alert sparks flue check at Barratt homes
25 September 2008
The gas central heating systems in 300 properties built by Barratt Developments are undergoing safety checks after concern was raised about the standard of their installation.Residents living in 179 new build properties in the Balkerne Heights development in Colchester were warned by the UK’s largest housebuilder that they could be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning because of problems with flue installations.Other residents of 90 properties on the Horizon developments ... -
Blast for H&S consultants
18 September 2008
Some H&S consultants are exploiting SMEs by persuading them that the regulatory regime is too onerous to manage in-house, a Government-sponsored review suggests. -
Gas supplied in plastic pipes cut off
18 September 2008
The gas supply to 25 affordable apartments was switched off last month after it was discovered that the pipes carrying gas to the homes were made from plastic in an apparent breach of the gas safety and Building Regulations.According to an investigation conducted by Northern Gas Network (NGN), the emergency service provider called in to investigate a gas leak at the Iceworks development in Leeds, the pipes were made from polyethylene tube (32mm MDPE).NGN said this ... -
Air source heat pumps to remain ‘renewables’
11 September 2008
The EU is not seeking to relegate air source heat pumps (ASHPs) to ‘energy-efficiency instrument’ status but is working with experts to develop criteria enabling the technology to retain its renewable energy source status. -
Capita made installer registrar for 10 years
11 September 2008
The Health and Safety Executive has awarded the contract to operate the new gas installer registration scheme to Capita, the controversial public sector outsourcing business.In a worrying departure from its original proposal – which stipulated a five-year contract – the HSE revealed that Capita would be awarded a 10-year deal, worth £14 million a year. Defending its decision, an HSE spokesman said: “During the competition it became clear that there could be significant ... -
‘Let local authorities police building regulations’
4 September 2008
Local Authority Building Control should devolve its enforcement activity to local authority policing teams endowed with powers to force compliance, stop illegal building work and penalise rogue builders. -
Give us powers to offer mortgages say councils
4 September 2008
Metropolitan councils are lobbying the Government to pass legislation allowing them to offer competitive mortgages in an effort to halt the collapse in the housing market and the slide into recession. -
Daikin set to buy Rotex
1 September 2008
Daikin Europe announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire the Rotex Group of Companies. The acquisition is expected to take place by 1 October 2008.Rotex, which is based Güglingen, Germany, is engaged in the production and distribution of heating products and complete heating systems. The acquisition, which is subject to the approval of the German anti-trust clearance authorities, is expected to contribute significantly to Daikin’s strategy to expand ... -
Scot HVAC workers to face police checks
28 August 2008
Specialist contractors delivering building services to schools, children homes and care homes for the elderly and vulnerable in Scotland are to undergo police checks, H&V News has learned.The Scottish Government is considering policy proposals for secondary legislation for the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.One of these is that Scottish local authorities introduce a policy specifying that firms which win a contract to provide ... -
90% of solar heating jobs fail Part L
28 August 2008
Nine out of 10 solar thermal installations passing through the Government’s official accreditation processes are in contravention of Part L of the Building Regulations. The startlingly high figure was revealed by Chris Roberts, the associate director with BRE Global, who said: “Ninety per cent of the solar installations we inspect don’t come up to scratch or comply with Building Regulations.“I’ve assessed in excess of 100 solar installations over four or five years ... -
Electrical heating to overtake gas by 2018
14 August 2008
The number of electrical boiler and electrical heating system installations is set to overtake their gas counterparts in 10 years’ time, predict industry groups. -
Tories to pay SMEs £2k per apprentice
31 July 2008
The Conservatives say they will pay small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which take on and keep an apprentice a £2,000 bonus if they are returned to power. The promise was made in Building Skills, Transforming Lives: A Training and Apprenticeship Revolution, a green paper published this week.The proposal, along with others, is designed to encourage more SMEs to take on unskilled workers and create 100,000 new apprenticeship places a year, a Conservative ... -
CC forces LPG suppliers to provide a better deal
24 July 2008
The LPG industry has provided a muted response to the Competition Commission's Draft Order, published last week, which aims to force a change in the way the industry operates. -
Constructionline under fire in strategic review
24 July 2008
Constructionline should either reduce the burden that multiple public sector pre-qualification schemes impose on main and specialist contractors, suppliers and consultants, or be scrapped. -
UK bosses axed as Wolseley retrenches
22 July 2008
The Wolseley Group has axed two UK senior management positions as it seeks to manage costs and stay within its banking covenants. -
Tories offer £2,000 apprentice bonus
21 July 2008
The Conservatives are proposing to pay small and medium sized enterprises a £2,000 bonus if they take on an apprentice. -
Critics say housing plan is inadequate
18 July 2008
Government measures being introduced to prop up the ailing housebuilding sector are inadequate, critics have warned, because there is no new money entering the system. The news may come as a blow to some m&e firms, which were expecting the raft of initiatives to stimulate activity in the private and public sector residential markets. Earlier this month, housing minister Caroline Flint said she was allocating £270 million to build 1,500 shared-ownership homes ... -
Engineer family makes civil claim
17 July 2008
The family of an air conditioning engineer who suffered a serious brain injury after a fall at work is pursuing a civil action against his former employer and a second firm. -
Industry supports call for construction czar
17 July 2008
The HVCA and the SEC Group have endorsed Select Committee calls for the Government to appoint a chief construction officer. -
Industry sceptical over FiTs paper
10 July 2008
The renewable energy industry expresses doubt over the Government's willingness to introduce a feed-in tariff (FiT) model which stimulates consumer appetite. -
EIC directors stage £40m MBO
8 July 2008
The board of directors at EIC have managed to stage a £40 million management buyout (MBO) of the company, despite the collapse in the UK's lending infrastructure. -
Government could ban oil-fired boilers
3 July 2008
The Government may introduce legislation forcing householders to replace oil-fired boilers with green, energy-efficient alternatives, according to details contained in a consultation paper leaked to The Guardian last week.Although the measure is only a proposal, it is understood the Government intends to push ahead with the plan as it seeks to reduce the UK’s dependence on oil by 7 per cent and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by almost 20 per cent by 2020. -
Worthington Nicholls under investigation
3 July 2008
The SFO is investigating the events surrounding the admission of the Worthington Nicholls Group on to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) amid allegations of accounting irregularities. -
HVCA: Gas safety training is robust
26 June 2008
The Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) has hit back at claims that the gas safety training undertaken by authorised heating engineers needs strengthening. -
M&E firms warned to avoid social housing
26 June 2008
M&E firms seeking public sector housing contracts in response to the collapse in activity in the private residential property market are wasting their time – that market is at a virtual standstill too. -
Contractors busy in spite of commodity price hikes
19 June 2008
M&E contractors remain busy, despite being squeezed by surging energy and commodity prices, falling house-building workloads, and discounting on invoices and poor payment practices.That was the defiant message being issued from organisations representing specialist contractors after it emerged that in the past six months, HVACR manufacturers had raised product prices by an average of 10 per cent in order to absorb raw-material increases. Manufacturers ... -
Gas safety inspections deemed unsatisfactory
19 June 2008
The father of Elisabeth Giauque, the six-year-old girl who died of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, has described the gas safety inspection and servicing processes which allowed a faulty boiler to be deemed safe as “weak”. -
Charity calls for yearly gas servicing
12 June 2008
A charity is urging the Government to introduce legislation making it mandatory that all domestic dwellings have their gas appliances serviced yearly. -
CORGI is victimising me, says heating boss
10 June 2008
A heating engineer has accused CORGI of embarking on a twelve-month campaign of harassment and victimisation against his business. -
Times are getting tougher, says RICS
9 June 2008
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is warning construction professionals to expect tougher employment conditions as housebuyer transactions collapse to levels last seen in the 1970s.The alert was issued at the same time that RICS published its May 2008 UK housing market survey in which 92.9 per cent of surveyors polled reported house price falls against 94.7 per cent in April. The survey results also revealed that the average number of completed ... -
Guidance is a joint effort, says CORGI
5 June 2008
CORGI has said it is not solely responsible for the information contained within Technical Bulletin 200, the controversial guidance surrounding flue systems routed within voids.The comments were made by Jamie Cooper, CORGI technical support manager, after the Association of Registered Gas Installers described the document as flawed (see H&V News, May 24).“Although CORGI published the guidance within Technical Bulletin 200, its contents were originated ... -
Bill proposes to tackle payment abuse
29 May 2008
The industry has said it is ready to lobby hard to ensure the amendments do not fall off the political agenda. -
ACS Committee replaced after gas safety review
14 May 2008
The 16-member ACS (Accredited Certification Scheme) Committee has been replaced by an eight-member body called the ACS Executive Committee, H&V News has learned. -
New gas register to come under greater HSE control
13 May 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has inserted a service concession agreement (SCA) or clause into the contract for the new provider of the gas installer registration scheme preventing it from “taking undue commercial advantage from its position”. -
Two-pipe flues in place on CO poisoning estate
8 May 2008
The housing development where a young woman died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning contains boilers which feature a two-pipe flue system, H&V News has learned. -
Collaborate for sake of the consumer, says Judd
8 May 2008
Sector bodies should put their commercial interests aside and work together to create a distinct standard, which would steer consumers in the direction of the professionals, away from the cowboys.This rallying cry was made by Blane Judd, chief executive and secretary of the Institute for Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE), in response to the emergence of CORGI’s Customer First Charter (CFC).The gas safety registration body claims CFC fosters professionalism. ... -
Green call for solar energy push
3 May 2008
Solar hot water systems and passive solar systems are two renewable energy solutions that have been overlooked when improving the energy efficiency of existing homes, a member of the Green Party has said.Dr Rupert Read, the lead candidate for the Eastern Region in the 2009 European Parliament elections, was speaking ahead of his keynote speech at the Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers annual conference, which will be held later this month. -
CORGI charter may breach its own rules
1 May 2008
CORGI’s Customer First Charter (CFC) appears to have been set up in contravention of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Council for Registered Gas Installers. -
Installer threatens to sue CORGI over charter
12 April 2008
A CORGI-registered heating engineer is threatening to take legal action against the gas safety registration body over the introduction of an initiative designed to improve customer service. -
Training for indigenous workforce is essential
12 April 2008
Industry bodies are calling on the sector to acknowledge the positive contribution migrant labour has had on their businesses by investing in training initiatives designed to up-skill the indigenous workforce. -
ACS system under review after industry concerns
10 April 2008
The ACS Committee is to undertake a review of the ACS scheme in order to address some of the concerns raised by the industry and by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) review of domestic gas safety. -
Renewables boss slams 'biased' MCS procedure
10 April 2008
The managing director of a firm which supplies and installs renewable energy systems has denounced the Microgeneration Certification Scheme’s (MCS) complaints procedure as biased. -
Charities demand an end to fuel poverty
9 April 2008
Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged are taking the Government to court for not doing enough to meet its legal obligation to eradicate fuel poverty. -
Worries over LSC transition
3 April 2008
Employer groups and training organisations have expressed concern about aspects of the Government plan to axe the Learning Skills Council (LSC), the public body charged with improving the UK’s skills. -
HSE refutes registrar claims
28 March 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has hit back at claims that it ignored a number of crucial recommendations on the issue of multiple registrars. -
Installer and apprentice arrested over CO death
27 March 2008
An apprentice heating engineer and a CORGI-registered gas installer have been arrested and risk being charged with gross negligence and manslaughter following the death of a 41-year-old man from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Mark ... -
M&E body slams failures over Part L
14 March 2008
The Government’s failure to support its own legislation threatens to undermine the industry’s sustainability drive, according to leading contractors.Building services contractors’ group M&E Sustainability has denounced the Government’s reluctance to enforce Part L of the Building Regulations. Describing the situation as “shambolic”, it has raised serious doubts about the future impact of other sustainability measures.“The grassroots of the industry has seen ... -
Late payers named and shamed in league table
13 March 2008
Carillion, Speedy Hire, the Wolseley Group and the BSS Group are some of the worst offenders for paying their bills on time, according to their rankings in the Payment League Table (PLT). -
Low carbon funding initiative set for revamp
1 March 2008
The Government is planning to overhaul the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) in an attempt to stem the embarrassing decline of grant applications to the scheme.The move was confirmed by a spokesperson from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) who said: “We acknowledge that demand for the programme has fallen and we have been looking at ways to encourage uptake. “We met with industry representatives in February to gather ... -
HSE inspector issues stark warning on gas
28 February 2008
Organisations engaged in the servicing and maintenance of gas appliances must provide their heating engineers with manufacturer- and appliance-specific training if they wish to avoid the same fate as Gateshead council. -
Woman dies in CO leak
28 February 2008
A woman has died and a man is seriously ill in hospital after being poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO) fumes emitting from an appliance in their home. -
Green bodies unite to challenge LEED
25 February 2008
In a nod to an article published in H&V News, BRE Global and the UK Green Building Council have announced that they are to begin working together to better promote and develop BREEAM. The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, developed in 1990, is ... -
Partnering in the spotlight after Hills sale
25 February 2008
The partnering arrangements under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme look set to come under scrutiny after Hills Electrical & Mechanical was sold to a rival last month for the nominal sum of £1. -
LABC demands more power
21 February 2008
Local Authority Building Control (LABC) is seeking greater powers in an attempt to force widespread compliance with the Building Regulations. -
H&S Bill could spell jail for installers
19 February 2008
Gas, solid fuel and oil-fired heating engineers face jail sentences of up to two years if they are found to be in breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA). -
Government reconsiders stance on feed-in tariffs
18 February 2008
The Government has signalled that it is ready to submit to industry demands to introduce feed-in tariffs (FiTs). -
HVAC moves higher up the BSF agenda
14 February 2008
Industry experts have welcomed the Government’s commitment to engage with HVAC professionals at the design stage of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. -
Goddard unhappy as Smart PFI is ignored
14 February 2008
The head of a group of local authorities, schools, architects and building companies has expressed disappointment with the procurement process review of BSF. -
Sector bids fond farewell to Timms
1 February 2008
The sector has responded with dismay to the news that Stephen Timms, the construction minister, is to leave his post at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), despite spending only six months in the role. He is to become the new employment and welfare ... -
Worthington Nicholls' accounting exposed
1 February 2008
The new Board at the Worthington Nicholls Group has expressed disdain at the shoddy accounting practices adopted by the firm. -
Olympic spend on consultants defended
1 February 2008
The ACE and the HVCA have defended the Government’s decision to spend £100 million on services delivered by three engineering consultancies. -
BSRIA spies massive opportunities in China
31 January 2008
HVAC firms seeking to expand into the Chinese market can look forward to high growth rates but they must be prepared to fight for them. -
Baxi hires new CEO in strategy drive
21 January 2008
Baxi Holdings has appointed a new chief executive officer (CEO), as it seeks a change in strategy as the heating markets become more competitive. -
Tough years ahead for HVAC sector
14 January 2008
The head of the UK arm of a global air conditioning business has warned the HVAC sector to expect a “tight” two years. Speaking to H&V News last week, Gboyega Obafemi, the new managing director of Toshiba Carrier, predicted that 2008 would begin promisingly before tailing ... -
Cooling giant buys rival for $10 billion
3 January 2008
Trane Inc has been bought by Ingersoll-Rand in a hvac industry mega-deal -
Clients face responsibility for any m&e onsite deaths
3 September 2007
Clients risk prosecution if an m&e contractor is killed while working on site. Under the revised Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2007, which came into force in April, it is the client who commissions a new building that has the obligation to ensure that the contracted workforce adheres to the relevant Health and Safety (HS) Regulations. Previously, it was the principal contractors, sub contractors, designers and managers who faced liability for any H&S breaches. Ke -
UKMCS to start in August
19 July 2007
The UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (UKMCS) is to go live in August H&V News has learned. The UKMCS is the third-party certification scheme for installers and product manufacturers wishing to install or sell renewable products. It was supposed to go live on 30 April this year, replacing the Clear Skies and Photovoltaic accreditation programmes which officially closed on March 31. However, its start date was pushed back while the scheme underwent further development and ... -
Vent-Axia moves into air-conditioning
13 July 2007
Vent-Axia, the ventilation manufacturer, is entering the air- conditioning market. The company is hoping to steal a march on Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric by partnering with Samsung, the global electronics company. The alliance, which will be marketed as Vent-Axia Samsung Air-conditioning, will see Vent-Axia selling Samsung’s splits and VRF systems via its sales and marketing projects division. Vent-Axia will also provide logistics, distribution, technical and application support ... -
Scheme goes ahead despite opposition
12 July 2007
The sector has expressed concern that the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (UKMCS) is set to go ahead. -
F-gas regs offer new business opportunities
9 July 2007
The F-gas regulation-driven market provides a strong driver for future growth, said one of the leading installers of air conditioning, heating, ventilation and chilled water systems. Commenting on its recently-signed nine-year F-gas compliance contract with IHG Managed Services, part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group, Peter Worthington, chairman of Worthington Nicholls Group, said: “Having secured our first F-gas contract recently, we believe this regulation-driven market will ... -
DCLG to hold Part L compliance survey
28 May 2007
The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is planning to carry out a survey next year to gauge the extent of compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations. The DCLG said it has already started investigating how the new requirements in the Domestic Heating Compliance Guide were taking shape. In November last year, Department officers held the first of a series of workshops with building control officers and approved inspectors to discuss their experiences. A ... -
BSRIA to study chilled beams market
26 May 2007
BSRIA is planning to launch a new market intelligence report focussing on chilled beams. The market research, consultancy and testing organisation said its study on chilled panels, chilled ceilings, chilled slabs and active, passive and multipurpose beams will be published later this year. The study, which begins in September, will examine the UK, German, French, Dutch, Swiss and Scandinavian markets, the most advanced markets for these products. Despite high initial set up ... -
Conflicting planning rules hurt business
26 May 2007
Inconsistent planning policy and persistent changes to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) grant are damaging the fledging renewable energy industry. The claim was made after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that householders wishing to apply for a LCBP grant to help with the costs of installing microgeneration devices in their homes must have planning permission in place first. The DTI’s declaration was made just five weeks after communities secretary, ... -
Energy Performance Certificates at risk
26 May 2007
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were placed at risk earlier this week after the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) announced it was taking the Government to court. In an unprecedented move, RICS said it had begun Judicial Review proceedings against the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for its failure to carry out proper consultation prior to implementing new legislation to bring in Home Information Packs (HIPs). EPCs provide an energy performance ... -
EPCs postponed
26 May 2007
A Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) official predicted that the widespread introduction of energy performance certificates (EPCs) would not take place by the June 1 deadline. The forecast was made by Ted King, head of DCLG’s Sustainable Buildings Division, at the Institute of Domestic Heating & Environmental Engineers’ (IDHEE) annual conference in Hatfield on May 17. The prediction was made almost a week before Ruth Kelly, Communities Secretary, was forced to announce ... -
EPCs to undergo new consultation
26 May 2007
The Government is being forced to enter into a new consultation period with stakeholders on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). The decision was taken earlier this week after the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) was successful in its private application for a judicial review of the certificates. The Honourable Mr Justice Collins agreed with the surveyors’ trade body that EPCs should not yet be included with Home Information Packs. RICS has agreed to “stay” its legal ... -
Report predicts steep drop in boiler sales
26 May 2007
A report from Market and Business Development (MBD) has predicted that demand for UK domestic boilers will decline significantly in 2007. The report, which measures the value of components of the UK domestic central heating market, projects boiler sales to fall 11 per cent in real terms in 2007 to £709.1 million at 2006 prices. MBD expects this to be followed by moderate year-on-year growth to £750 million in 2011 at 2006 prices. Nonetheless, compared with 2006, this is equivalent to a ... -
Two safety bodies move closer to one
26 May 2007
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is taking another step towards merging with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The health inspectorate said it had invited Lord McKenzie of Luton, the health and safety minister, to undertake a consultation on the merger proposals as required by the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006. The ministerial consultation will take place before a draft Legislative Reform Order is presented to the relevant Commons and Lords committee for scrutiny. ... -
UK business plc remains dubious of skills pledge
26 May 2007
Almost of a fifth (15 per cent) of all UK businesses are unlikely to sign up to the Government’s skills “pledge”, a joint survey has found. The latest quarterly survey, Labour Market Outlook, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and KPMG was published earlier this week. It discovered that almost half (46 per cent) of those businesses unlikely to make the pledge cited costs or resources as their main reason for not doing so. A third remained sceptical of the ... -
Waterloo targets Europe
26 May 2007
Waterloo Air Products is seeking to expand its share of the European market in an effort to strengthen its UK business. The air terminal device supplier and manufacturer has carried out a comparative review of selected foreign markets and is aiming to increase market share in Germany, Holland and France by five per cent over the next three years. Carl Gipson, Waterloo sales director, said: “One of the reasons the company is looking at these countries is because they provide us with natural ... -
Low Carbon Consultants in demand
19 May 2007
Low Carbon Consultant (LCC) status can lead to a 10 per cent rise in earnings, claims Hays Building Services. The specialist recruiter said it was witnessing an increase in the demand for professionals with skills and experience in sustainability and energy efficiency. Mike McNally, UK Manager of Hays Building Services said: “Sustainability is a key issue within the building services industry and professionals need to make sure that they are fully equipped to work to current and upcoming ... -
Unlimited fines to hurt rogue traders
19 May 2007
The Cabinet Office laid two consultation documents before Parliament earlier this week in an effort to tackle businesses that persistently flout the law. The draft Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions (RES) Bill aims to give regulators new powers to impose prohibitive fines on firms whose wilful neglect of regulations, because of cost implications to their business, places people or the environment at risk. The draft Bill, which also aims to provide greater consistency in local authority ... -
Industry lobby groups unite on skills gap issue
14 May 2007
Construction lobby groups are calling on the Select Committee to urge the Government to tackle the skills crisis facing the industry. Tom Hardacre, Amicus construction lead, said this is a major problem. “It is widely recognised throughout the industry that, in the near future, there is going to be a major requirement for skilled workers,” he said. “Demographics have identified that the current baby boomers will be retiring in the next 3 or 4 years. There is going to be a need to fill ... -
Sector given chance to have its say
14 May 2007
The industry has been given an opportunity to influence the way the UK construction industry is administered by the Government in the future. The chance presented itself when the Trade and Industry Select Committee (TISC) announced (March 29) that it was holding a “wide-ranging inquiry” or Parliamentary review into the UK construction industry. Parliamentary reviews are designed to inspect, on behalf of the House of Commons, the expenditure, administration and policy of a Government body ... -
Code of practice for carbon offsetting
12 May 2007
The Government is considering the responses to its proposed voluntary code of best practice for all providers of carbon offsetting products and services. The proposed code is based on the use of certified credits from the regulated market which incorporates the Kyoto mechanisms, the Government said. These credits are backed by an international framework to ensure that robust and verifiable emissions reductions occur. The credits also aim to provide a clear audit trail, ensuring transparency ... -
HSE too lenient on rogue bosses
12 May 2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is too lenient on companies found to be in breach of health and safety legislation. That was one of the damning findings to emerge from the Internal Audit of Regulatory Decision Making (RDM) - Incident Investigation, made public late last month. The internal review was conducted to examine the actions taken by the HSE and Local Authority (LA) inspectors in cases where health and safety breaches resulted in deaths, major injuries and over-three day ... -
Legionella school hit by asbestos scare
12 May 2007
A Croydon secondary school which had been forced to close after legionella bacteria was detected in its water systems opened this week, despite discovering asbestos on its premises.The asbestos was found two weeks ago, embedded in concrete underneath an existing water tank. A Croydon council spokesperson said: “The asbestos was found underneath some debris contained within the floor void, which is six inches solid. It was left there, in situ, and the void resealed by the contractors.” ... -
London 2012 budget under control, says ODA chairman
12 May 2007
The 2012 London Olympics will come in on time and within budget, says the man charged with making sure it does. In an interview with the Guardian earlier this week, Sir Roy McNulty, acting chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) rejected claims that the budget, currently, set at £9.3 billon, would continue to rise. He suggested that final construction costs would probably come in under budget and said the trebling of the original £2.4bn estimate was probably “realistic”. Detractors ... -
New ODA chief knows construction
12 May 2007
A man with a wealth of construction sector experience has been tasked with bringing the Olympic build in on time and to budget. John Armitt, CBE, a civil engineer by training and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, was appointed to the chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) last week. One of the chief architects of the Channel Tunnel Rail link, Mr Armitt has spent almost 35 years with construction companies John Laing and the Costain Group. In 1993 he became the chief ... -
Training group founder killed in helicopter crash
12 May 2007
Phillip Carter, co-founder and group chief executive of vocational training company Carter & Carter Group, died in a helicopter crash in Cambridgeshire last week. The millionaire businessman, whose company offered a range of engineering and construction apprenticeships, was on his way home from the champions’ league semi-final in Anfield when the helicopter he was travelling in developed a fault. Mr Carter, who founded the firm in Nottingham 15 years ago with his wife Judith, died alongside ... -
ACE to scrutinise recruitment agencies
5 May 2007
The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is setting up a taskforce to determine what impact the activities and unethical behaviour of some recruitment agencies is having on the industry. The working group, which met for the first time last week, consists of 14 individuals from some of the UK’s top 10 engineering consultancy firms, the trade body for the UK consultancy and engineering industry said. ACE, whose members include FaberMaunsell and Buro Happold, intends ... -
CIBSE seals agreement with CSA
5 May 2007
CIBSE has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commissioning Specialist Association (CSA) in an effort to raise the role and standards of commissioning within the industry. The agreement was reached last week at the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers’ (CIBSE) national conference. Stephen Matthews, CIBSE chief executive, said: “This agreement will allow our organisations to better understand the way in which we can work together to promote and develop excellence. ... -
Global carbon trading market worth £15bn
5 May 2007
The global market in carbon credits tripled to £15 billion last year up from £5bn in 2005, according to a World Bank report published last week. State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2007 attributed the bulk of carbon trading, valued at approximately £12.5bn, to the sale and re-sale of allowances under the European Union’s emissions trading scheme. Officially-backed carbon offsetting projects, where under the Kyoto agreement companies and countries can invest in emission reduction schemes ... -
HSE left red-faced over Freedom of Information Act email
5 May 2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been forced on the back foot after an email, obtained under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, shows that it was unwise to dispute the findings in a recently-published report. Levels of Convictions and Sentencing Following Prosecution Arising from Deaths of Workers and Members of the Public in the Construction Sector was published to coincide with Workers Memorial Day (April 28). The report was undertaken by the Centre for Corporate Accountability ... -
Offsetting industry lacks credibility, says FT study
5 May 2007
The carbon offsetting market faces increased scrutiny after a national newspaper investigation revealed that firms and consumers were spending millions on offsetting initiatives yielding questionable environmental benefits. Unveiling the results of its six-week investigation last week, the Financial Times (FT) discovered that people and businesses were being duped by offsetting suppliers into paying for emission reductions that were difficult to validate. Some companies, the newspaper ... -
Systemair buys Matthews & Yates
5 May 2007
Systemair Group (Systemair), the multinational ventilation product manufacturer, acquired Matthews & Yates (Matthews) for an undisclosed sum last month. The move sees Systemair owning the intellectual rights, trading name and a number of assets of the 125-year old tunnel, axial and bifurcated fan manufacturer, which went into administration in January this year. Systemair plans to sell the Matthews range of products within the Systemair product portfolio. Matthews’ manufacturing business ... -
DCLG strikes back
28 April 2007
The Government has hit back at claims that it is not doing enough to ensure installers are kept up to date or are complying with Part L of the Building Regulations. Last week (H&V News April 21), the water treatment industry accused the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) of insufficiently communicating and disseminating revised regulation guidance. As a result, some installers remained unaware of the changes and were not complying with the new guidance. The DCLG was ... -
Lack of green skills leads to target slide
28 April 2007
Whitehall is missing its sustainability targets because the UK lacks the requisite renewables expertise both in and outside government. That was one of the damning conclusions of a recently-published National Audit Office (NAO) report, Building for the Future: Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment on the Government Estate. Auditors discovered that between 2005-06, the majority of Government departments were not carrying out mandatory environmental assessments when building new premises ... -
Tories seek Ofgem reforms
28 April 2007
The Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) remit must include a statutory obligation to reduce carbon emissions if the UK renewables market is to grow. That was another of the ideas put forward by Gregory Barker, shadow environment minister and Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle. Speaking exclusively to H&V News last week, Mr Barker said the Conservatives would reform Ofgem’s sphere of activity to reflect 21st century energy concerns, providing a welcome boost to the renewables .. -
BSS Group to report good year-end figures
21 April 2007
Heating, plumbing and pipeline equipment distributor the BSS Group is to post better than expected results later this month. In a trading update BSS said it continued to make solid progress and anticipates that revenue and profit for the year ending March 31 will be slightly ahead of expectations. The Group said its industrial and domestic divisions were showing encouraging like-for-like sales growth, compared with the same period last year. The Domestic division continued to grow market ... -
Defective air conditioning system triggers CIS pause
21 April 2007
A faulty air conditioning unit in one of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) data centres created havoc with the new Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), introduced last week. Contractors were unable to verify the employment status of their sub-contractors online. A HMRC spokesperson refuted suggestions that the problem was caused by defective CIS system software. “Contrary to popular reports,” he said. “This was not due to a computer glitch – our IT systems were working perfectly. ... -
EMCOR unites construction and engineering businesses under single head
21 April 2007
M&E contracting giant EMCOR Group (UK) is bringing its Engineering Services and its Infrastructure and Rail Services businesses under one management head. John Matthews, managing director of Engineering Services for the last three years will preside over the two divisions. Ivor Goldsmith, managing director of Infrastructure and Rail Services, is retiring from his full-time position later this month. He will remain with the company, but in a part-time consultancy capacity. Integrating the ... -
Part L improvements comes into force
21 April 2007
The water treatment industry has accused the Government of not doing enough to ensure installers are kept up to date with or are complying with Part L of the Building Regulations. The comments were made in light of The Domestic Heating Compliance Guide, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in May 2006. Although changes to Part L of the Building Regulations were made available last year, the industry was given an eleven-month interim period to become familiar with ... -
Tories plan green heating revamp
21 April 2007
Viable alternatives to the ‘stop go’ nature of funding to the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) grant are vital if the UK wants to establish a stable renewables market. This was one of the conclusions put forward by Gregory Barker, shadow environment minister and Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle. Speaking exclusively to H&V News, Mr Barker outlined some of the issues the Conservatives were exploring in order to reform the LCBP to create a long-term credible system that would meet ... -
Energy White Paper to reveal official strategy for sustainable heat
14 April 2007
The Energy White Paper will reveal details of the Government’s strategy for sustainable heat, says the minister charged with reducing the UK’s carbon footprint. Ian Pearson, climate change and environment minister, made the revelation at the launch of the Green Alliance’s Manifesto for Sustainable Heat in the House of Commons last month. Mr Pearson also revealed that the Government is publishing its biomass strategy, in May, on the same day the white paper is launched. The Government has ... -
Specialised diplomas under fire
14 April 2007
The Department for Education and Skills is making 10,000 building services engineering diploma places available to young people throughout the UK. From September 2008, 6,000 students will be able to study for a new diploma in engineering, while a further 4,000 students will be able to study for one in construction and the built environment. The specialist diplomas have been developed to meet industry requirements and offer students English, Maths IT, design and communication skills. They ... -
Super-union seeks US arm
14 April 2007
Unite, the Union (Unite), is planning to hold talks with America’s United Steelworkers (USW) union in an attempt to create the world’s first international trade alliance. The move comes as Unite, the new super-union formed from the merger between Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G), seeks to improve pay and conditions for its members working in multinational companies. Amicus already has co-operation deals with IG Metall, the German engineering union and the International .. -
Apprenticeship numbers continue to slip
7 April 2007
The number of young people taking apprenticeships fell last year, according to official statistics released by the Department of Education and Skills. The number of basic apprenticeships, equivalent to GCSEs, declined by 12 per cent, from 159,500 in January 2006 to 140,100 in January this year. Advanced apprenticeships, mandatory for supervisors and managers, fell by 4.2 per cent to 96,200 over the same period. The figures continue the long-term trend that has seen advanced apprenticeship ... -
Barrow council condemned for air-conditioning system failure
7 April 2007
A catalogue of failures by Barrow Borough council led to the outbreak of worst case of Legionnaires’ disease in the UK. That was the damning find in a Health and Safety Executive report published earlier this week. The outbreak occurred when the cleaning chemicals in the air-conditioning system at the council-run Forum 28 Arts Centre were not replaced. This led to a build-up of sludge-like substance in the cooling towers, which caused the system to spray infected droplets onto people walking ... -
Building Control System under review
7 April 2007
The Government is planning to revise the Building Control System (BCS), according to an official document issued last week. In the Future of Building Control, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the Department outlines its plans for creating an effective framework within which the BCS can be reformed. The report states: “The system is not broken but it has some serious failings and weaknesses that must be tackled if we are to ensure that it remains ... -
Unite, the Union
7 April 2007
The new trade union formed from the merger between Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) earlier last month is to be called Unite, the Union. The name will be unveiled on May 1 when the union, which consists of two million members from the public sector and private companies, including approximately 150,000 construction workers, comes into force. A T&G spokesperson said the new name had been agreed between the two unions after much discussion. Various names were considered, .. -
Wolseley axes 180 staff and closes 47 branches nationwide
7 April 2007
Heating and plumbing products distributor the Wolseley Group (Wolseley) is making 180 of its UK staff redundant. The building materials supplier is also closing 47 of its 1900 branches as it seeks to reduce its cost base and benefit from improving markets while it sits out a slowdown in the US residential market. America is key market for the Group. Cazenove, the financial advisors, estimate that Wolseley extracts approximately 28 per cent of its underlying earnings from new house sales ... -
Clear Skies’ successor charges massive registration fee
1 April 2007
The Government is planning to charge installers £1,800 and renewable product manufacturers £3,600 just to register with the UK Microgeneration Certification scheme (UKMCs). This is before they have passed the assessment to the new requirement, allowing them to install or offer renewable technologies to their customers. The UKMCs is the third-party certification scheme for microgeneration products and installers, developed and operated by BRE Certification Ltd (BREC). From April 30 2007, ... -
Hospital fined £80k for failing to follow safety guidance
1 April 2007
A hospital was fined £80,000 by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last week for failing to control the risks associated with the legionella bacteria. The Royal United Hospital (RUH), Bath, NHS Trust was fined for being in breach of Regulations 6 and 7 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. It was also ordered to pay costs of £23,883. Daryl Eyles died in February 2004 after contracting Legionnaire’s disease from a dirty showerhead hours before he was due ... -
Ormandy buys Rycroft
1 April 2007
Offsite fabrication and water heating firm Ormandy bought commercial water heating manufacturer Rycroft from the Baxi Heating Group (Baxi) last week for an undisclosed sum. As part of the deal, Baxi’s Dreh and Heatrae industrial businesses will join the Ormandy stable. Rycroft, which is over 100 years old, will continue to operate under its own brand and from its headquarters in Bradford. It will also retain 89 members of staff. Six-year old Ormandy is headed up by former Rycroft managing ... -
Planning permission on microrenewables to be relaxed
1 April 2007
Householders will be allowed to install solar panels and wind turbines on their properties without having to apply for planning permission, under proposals announced last week. The Department of Communities and Local Government is launching a consultation paper, Changes to Permitted Development: Consultation Paper 1 – Permitted Development Rights for Householder Microgeneration, on the proposition, designed to encourage more householders to reduce their carbon emissions by generating their ...
