Vent-Axia recommends key actions to take this World Ventilation Day

Vent-Axia has welcomed the second World Ventilation Day, a day dedicated to recognising and promoting the importance of ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ). Taking place on 8 November 2023, this year’s theme is 'Breathe Better, Live Better'. The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of ventilation as a crucial part of enabling health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on mould mitigation and the vital importance of good IAQ vital for a healthy living environment. World Ventilation Day was initiated by a group of researchers and professional bodies who are passionate about the importance of ventilation. The pandemic brought new clarity to the importance of good IAQ, but since the tragic death of two-year-old, Awaab Ishak, due to a mouldy home, the air we breathe has come into even greater focus. We spend more than 90% of our time indoors, breathing up to 50 times more polluted air than outdoors. Add to that the fact that indoor air can contain over 900 chemicals, particulates, biological materials, viruses and bacteria and the essential role ventilation plays in our health is clear. On World Ventilation Day, Vent-Axia, is therefore, continuing to recommend three key actions to take to improve IAQ: reduce the number of pollutants introduced into the air; dilute the pollutants in the air by ensuring there is adequate ventilation introducing fresh clean air into the home and buildings; and purify by adding an air purifier to remove the remaining pollutants from the air. “Each of us breathes 9,000 litres a day with poor IAQ affecting the health of everyone in our homes. With 70% of the air we breathe in our lifetime being indoor air, it is therefore, vital to reduce indoor air pollution by reducing the number of pollutants put into the air, diluting the pollutants in the air with effective ventilation and then purifying the air by adding an air purifier to remove the remaining pollutants from the air you breathe,” says Lena Hebestreit, Marketing Manager. “Our message of reduce, dilute and purify is simple but essential for achieving a healthy indoor environment. We are delighted to support World Ventilation Day again and continue to raise awareness of the vital role ventilation plays in our homes and businesses.” The UK Government recently launched guidance, ‘Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home’. The guidance aims to ensure that social housing and private sector landlords have a thorough understanding of their legal responsibilities and of the serious health risks that damp and mould pose. The key messages within the report include explaining the health risks of damp and mould; clearly outlining the regulation on damp and mould in social and private rented properties; guidance on how landlords should respond to damp and mould; and how landlords should take a proactive approach to reduce the risk of damp and mould. Ventilation features significantly in the guidance for both preventing and addressing mould issues. Vent-Axia’s Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution has been specifically designed for easy, lower cost retrofit of heat recovery to save maximum energy and emissions and comply with the requirements of PAS 2035 in the social housing sector. The range consists of three different mechanical ventilation with heat recovery units, which can be used together to help improve IAQ and maximise energy savings by introducing heat recovery to the property. The range comprises the Lo-Carbon Heat Save and the Lo-Carbon Tempra, which are both wall-mounted through-the-wall units and the Lo-Carbon Calido, which utilises a simplified ducting system that can run within the home to supply heat recovered fresh air to a different room. Another ventilation option for landlords are intelligent filterless unitary fans. The Lo-Carbon Revive has a raft of useful original features to provide powerful, quiet and efficient ventilation while the Lo-Carbon Response 7 features an ultra-low profile for discreet installation; increased airflow performance; a digital control menu; as well as a seven-year guarantee. For properties with hard-to-treat mould, Vent-Axia’s PoziDry range of PIV units are designed to improve IAQ and prevent moisture build-up within social housing properties, providing a highly effective solution to help households and landlords control condensation and mould, as well as offering high levels of air filtration. Find out more about World Ventilation Day here.

Latest boiler range for social housing and new build projects

Baxi has launched its latest range of boilers for social housing providers and housebuilders, providing best-in-class SAP performance and maximum efficiency for refurbishment and new build projects. Designed specifically to make installation and maintenance run even smoother, the new Baxi Assure 500 2 range provides efficient output of 24kW to 36kW for Combi boilers, and 15kW to 24kW for System models, now supplied in new fully recyclable packaging. Improvements to the new Baxi Assure 500 Combi and System 2 boilers include a pre-heated siphonic condensate trap, which prevents freezing and boiler lockouts in adverse winter conditions, a combined Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) and separate primary boiler drain for quick, simple draining and maintenance access, and removeable colour coded wiring blocks for easier wiring. In addition, the new boiler ranges are manually convertible between natural gas and LPG, without the need for a conversion kit. They are also compatible with the new one person internal fit horizontal telescopic flue range for a safer and quicker installation from inside the property. For new build projects, the new Baxi Assure 500 2 range now tops the efficiency listing in the Product Characteristics Database (PCDB). For social housing providers looking to make upgrades to their housing stock through energy saving enhancements, replacing older boilers with newer, more energy-efficient models could give better efficiency and performance for tenants. Property efficiency can be further improved by using Baxi’s range of compatible accessories, such as its Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHR) unit, and In-Flue Outdoor Sensor (IFOS) for weather compensation, in line with boiler plus regulations. Not only does the new Baxi Assure 500 2 excel on the PCDB listing, but when combined with either the Baxi Assure FGHR or IFOS, efficiencies are unbeatable. The new range follows the launch of the Baxi Assure HP50 air source heat pump (ASHP), with compatible Baxi Assure hot water cylinder for new build and retrofit projects. With outputs from 4kW to 13kW suiting a range of property sizes, the new HP50 range will further support accelerated progress in meeting decarbonisation goals. Lee Caulfield, Head of Sales, Residential Specification at Baxi, says, “We understand that housebuilder, developers, and social housing providers are under more pressure than ever to deliver efficient and comfortable homes to residents. To support them with achieving this, it is important that we have the very best in efficient heating products available for them to use. “These upgrades to the Baxi Assure product range also reinforce our commitment to being a partner for social housing providers, supporting them with different approaches to decarbonisation that suits budgets and individual properties. Every house is different and requires different solutions to suitably improve it for the environment and tenants. We have over 150 years’ experience of heating the UK’s homes, making us well equipped to provide the efficient products, design expertise, comprehensive training, commissioning, servicing and aftersales support for our social housing customers.”

White paper: Call to improve building safety with ‘fire survival’ circuit cables

Wrexham Mineral Cables (WMC) has published a white paper on how to address serious failures of vital building safety systems through enhanced understanding of cable specification. Published this week, and free to download from the company’s website, the white paper, titled, ‘Expecting the unexpected: specifying safety-critical circuit cables for fire survival’, was written in response to a growing frustration at the lack of progress made on building safety as a result of the lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower fire. WMC shares the view of the London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Commissioner, Richard Mills, “In many cases the built environment sector is still not seeing a culture change in all those responsible for fire safety in high rise buildings.” Cable specification: key to protecting buildings’ ‘beating heart’ Building systems depend on the electricity supply being maintained in order to help keep occupants safe as they evacuate, advises WMC. As several recent high-profile building fires show, when this critical system or so-called ‘beating heart’ fails it causes extra damage to property and puts more lives at risk. The cables that supply those systems are inherent to fire safety. The purpose of the white paper is to guide and educate specifiers and installers about the impact cable specification has on safety-critical systems. At present, specifiers are presented with a choice between polymeric cables and mineral-insulated copper clad (MICC) cables. Buildings and lives are at risk The current regime of testing means both cable types are classed as fire-resistant. It creates an impression that the two options are in some way equal. However, as the paper demonstrates, this is not the case and MICC cables are proven to perform to higher safety standards in 'real fire’ scenarios. But with no requirement for better-performing MICC cables to be used in safety-critical applications, WMC believes building safely, and therefore human life, continues to be put at risk. Building understanding After reading this technical paper, specifiers will have a better understanding of how fire performance cables work and their role; fire performance cable testing, and issues with that testing; and why cables classified as fire-resistant might not perform in true fire scenarios. WMC’s paper concludes with an explanation of the reasons why MICC is the true ‘fire survival’ cable and can make a genuine difference to improving building safety, regardless of progress in the regulatory landscape. Important and timely Commenting on the launch of the white paper, Colin Hughes, Group Manager at Wrexham Mineral Cables, has doubt over the pace and extent of change, “This paper is an extremely important and timely document. Questions over the effectiveness of cable testing regimes and current certification methods are nothing new. For many years, Wrexham Mineral Cables has made the case for better testing standards, especially for fire performance cables. Our paper looks at cable specification in the context of current attitudes towards building safety, and the shifting regulatory landscape – and explains the clear benefits of mineral-insulated copper clad cable – and its role in building safety. We welcome downloads from anyone involved in ensuring the built environment is a safer place.” Click here to download a free copy of Wrexham Mineral Cables’ white paper.

MCS Data Dashboard celebrates its first year

One year on from the launch of the Data Dashboard, MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) has further developed the platform based on feedback from users. The MCS Installations Database (MID) holds the details of every MCS certified, small-scale renewable energy installation in the UK since 2008, making it the most comprehensive reference for small-scale, renewable energy installations in the UK. Since its launch in November 2022, the interactive Data Dashboard has drawn on data from the MID to provide a detailed analysis of the volume of domestic renewable energy installations in the UK freely to the public. There are now almost 3,500 users registered for the MCS Data Dashboard, predominately researchers, consumers and installers. Users access the online platform to monitor the current uptake of small-scale renewables, highlighting current and past trends, and identifying opportunities for further sector growth. Data is updated every 24 hours, instantaneously providing the most accurate picture of home-grown energy available across the industry. Following on from a survey of this user base, MCS has developed a series of updates planned for the launch of the Data Dashboard Phase 2, which is set to be released in early 2024. These updates will include improvements to the user experience and aesthetics of the platform as well as an expansion of the data provided and how it can be filtered. In phase two, users will be able to view the changes to the overall base of MCS certified contractors over time since 2008; they will also be able to view uptake of battery storage technologies, which will be added to the scope of the Data Dashboard. Timeline sliders, which can currently be used to view changes in installation volumes and uptake for each of the technologies certified by MCS, will be updated to allow all data to be viewed by both month and year, providing more granular data for research and analysis. Adam Padilla, MCS Scheme Analyst, says, “The MCS Data Dashboard remains the most comprehensive repository of data on small-scale renewables in the UK and we are proud to share our data with the public completely free of charge. “Phase two is the first of a planned series of iterative updates to make the Data Dashboard as useful and user friendly as possible for the thousands of people using it on a regular basis. These updates will make a tangible difference for private and public sector low-carbon researchers in the UK as well as homeowners, installers, and journalists reporting on our national progress to net zero.” You can sign up free to the MCS Data Dashboard ahead of the updates in Q1 next year here.

Knightsbridge Torlan battens pass the acid test

Robust and easy to install, the TorlanComm LED battens from Knightsbridge have answered the need for a non-corrosive, energy-efficient and high-performance lighting in variety of applications from residential to industrial or agricultural. Ideal for commercial applications, both inside and out, the TorlanComm comes in two versions: CCT adjustable and Digital Addressable Lightning Interface (DALI) CCT. The wattages vary from 26W to 62W, outputs are from 3955lm to 9025lm, and colour temperatures offered are 3000K (warm white), 4000K (cool white) and 5700K (daylight). The options available include self-test emergency, microwave and microwave self-test emergency. TorlanComm is IP65 and IK08 rated, with bodies and diffusers manufactured using impact-resistant, non-corrosive polycarbonate with durable stainless steel clips, and with ceiling and end conduit fixings. The DALI version has built-in control gear for intelligent control integration. Accessories enable the units to be installed onto BESA conduit boxes or suspended from the ceiling where necessary.

Screwfix Foundation pledges to help charities for its 10th anniversary

Set up in 2013, The Screwfix Foundation has been donating to charities and non-profit organisations to help fix, repair, maintain and improve facilities for those in need. Screwfix customers, colleagues and suppliers, have raised an incredible £13 million over the last 10 years, which has been donated to more than 2,500 organisations. In the last two years alone, the more than half a million people have been impacted by donations from The Screwfix Foundation. Every quarter The Screwfix Foundation receives more than 1,000 requests for funding. The need to support worthwhile causes in our communities is higher today than ever. John Mewett, Trustee, shares, “If we donated much-needed funds to every request we receive, we would have to raise over £20 million each year!” To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the trustees decided to reinvigorate the charity, including its branding. Designed in-house by Spark Studio, the new branding is being launched to take on the next chapter of the foundation’s journey. Liz Bell, Trustee, explains, “Customers and colleagues enable us to donate around £400,000 every quarter to charities and not-for-profit organisations, no 'thank you' is big enough for what they do to make this possible. As we head into Christmas, we are hoping to raise more than ever before in our raffle to help local communities. I especially love how our colleagues will go the extra mile to find ways to raise money too!” The Screwfix Foundation has supported projects from renovating counselling rooms to funding kitchens for people with disabilities. Spadework, an independent charity based in Offham, provides opportunities for adults with disabilities has been supported to convert a room into a studio for its trainees to make their podcasts. A spokesperson says, “Sometimes, adults with learning disabilities are unable to get their voices heard. Creating podcasts is a brilliant way to explore creativity without fear of judgement and improve social skills and confidence at the same time. We would like to send a very big spadework ‘thank you’ to the Screwfix Foundation.” The Vale Pantry, a social supermarket that helps over 360 families each week who struggle financially and face food insecurity, installed a new floor and air conditioning in its store with the donation it received from the foundation. A refuge in Cambridgeshire, which provides safe and stable accommodation for women and children fleeing high risk domestic abuse, has refurbished its counselling rooms with its donation. A spokesperson says, “Having a room with new furniture and decoration means so much to the women and children we support. Moving to a refuge is very daunting and to walk into a room with home comforts, new beds, wardrobes, and floors makes the families feel valued and welcomed. Thank you to The Screwfix Foundation for supporting us in our refurbishment, and giving families who use our facilities the accommodation they deserve.” Kelvin Jackson, Trustee of The Screwfix Foundation, says, “Since becoming a trustee in 2022, I was amazed at the requests we received. I had never thought about how charities often don’t get funding for fixing, repairing or maintaining their buildings, so being able to see how we can help is amazing. Visiting some of charities has shown me first-hand how the little things make a big difference.” The generous donations from Screwfix’s customers, suppliers and colleagues have also enabled the foundation to donate funds to its charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support. To date, more than £700,000 has been donated to the Macmillan Grant Scheme which provides home improvements for those affected by cancer. The Screwfix Foundation has received more than 34 million donations from customers rounding up payment for their orders on Screwfix.com, raising over £5.6 million.

Kidde launches new Cavius Relay unit for comprehensive fire safety

Kidde Safety Europe has announced the launch of a new relay unit under its Cavius brand, designed to provide enhanced safety for building occupants. The new Cavius Relay unit serves as a dedicated connection between smoke and heat alarms, and third-party safety systems in the event of a fire. Enabling an emergency signal to be transmitted to systems such as telecare systems, strobe lights and sounders, this offers an ideal specification for dwellings that house vulnerable people or where compliance with the Equality Act is essential. Kidde is also a part of Carrier Global Corporation. The mains powered Cavius is an interface between Cavius RF smoke and heat alarms and hard-wired third-party inputs, such as fire panels, break glass boxes and sprinkler flow switches, and output systems, such as telecare systems, strobes and sounders. When any of the input devices are triggered, it sends a message to the Cavius Relay unit, which in turn activates all the other appliances within the system, quickly raising the alarm and ensuring the safety of building occupants. Notably, this versatile product can be connected or interfaced to Warden Call or Telecare systems, making it suitable for specification in assisted living and sheltered housing facilities where enhanced safety and care is paramount. In addition, the Cavius Relay is ideal for use in houses of multiple occupancy (HMO) and other environments where a full portfolio of lifesaving devices is required, alerting the whole building even when a fire is detected in an individual flat. “We are excited to share the new addition to our Cavius product range, the Cavius Relay, which will support fire safety plans in multiple occupancy buildings,” says Simon Jones, Marketing Manager at Kidde Safety Europe. “By linking different fire safety systems and accessories, the Cavius Relay ensures an alert is quickly communicated throughout the whole building in the event of an emergency, enabling occupants to get to safety. What’s more, its interface with sounders and strobe lights means it supports system compliance with the Equality Act 2010, to maximise safety for everyone.” The Cavius Relay is mains powered and features a battery backup, which will power the device in the event of a mains power failure and comes with a full 10-year guarantee. The new product is available from electrical wholesalers and distributors nationwide. For specification projects and larger schemes, speak to one of Kidde’s expert team to discuss your requirements or receive a product demonstration.

Carhartt's uncompromising comfort and protection for your feet

Brave the elements with confidence even on the chilliest building sites with the Carhartt Wylie Rugged Flex Waterproof S3 Safety Boots (F705159). These boots are not just any footwear, they can withstand the harshest conditions, promising dry, secure and toasty feet all day long. Certified to the exacting S3 standard, the Wylie boots have an aluminium toe and a versatile dual density injection outsole. Clamber up ladder rungs, tackle cement floors and conquer uneven terrain with unwavering traction. The cushioning system, complete with an ABS shock absorber, reduces fatigue and keeps you firm on your feet for longer. The Wylie boots also incorporate Carhartt’s Storm Defender technology, no matter how unrelenting the weather, your feet will stay comfortably dry. Rugged Flex technology ensures a free range of motion, while a breathable mesh lining keeps your feet fresh. The Vibram sole unit gives you high performance, good traction and abrasion resistance. Made from hydro-treated full grain leather, these boots come in a wide fit design for extra comfort. When it comes to conquering tough conditions, the Carhartt Wylie Rugged Flex Waterproof S3 Safety Boots are your ultimate ally.

IronmongeryDirect switches on new electrical range

IronmongeryDirect has expanded its product range with the introduction of over 1,100 electrical products. Many leading brands in sockets and switches, lighting, heating and ventilation are now available, to complement the company’s existing portfolio and meet even more of its customers’ needs. The new electrical range includes decorative sockets and switches from brands such as Knightsbridge and Eurolite, in a wide range of finishes that can be beautifully coordinated with IronmongeryDirect’s wide selection of door and cabinet hardware. This includes the Knightsbridge 13A 2 Gang Screwless Flat Plate DP Switched Socket in matt black with black insert. Interior and exterior lighting solutions have also been added, with a wide range of wall, ceiling and cabinet lights now available for both domestic and commercial projects. Customers can choose from trusted trade names that include Forum and Integral LED, as well as IronmongeryDirect’s exclusive own brands Altro, Touchpoint and Hampstead. The Integral LED Perform+ 100W High Bay Dimmable light for instance, is ideal for bringing bright light to large indoor facilities and has 100,000 long lifetime hours. Leading brands, Vent Axia and Everything Ventilation, have also been brought on board, with a wide range of extractor fans. For example, the app-controlled Vent Axia Lo-Carbon Svara Bathroom fan in black, is a low running cost bathroom fan with humidity and light sensors. Manrose and Awenta ducting and ducting accessories are also now in stock. Kelly Wing, Senior Category and Direct Sourcing Manager at IronmongeryDirect, says, “Our new electrical range has been expertly curated to offer our customers a wide range of products that they are likely to be installing alongside items from the wider IronmongeryDirect portfolio – giving them access to more of what they need, when they need it.” Customers can also choose from a range of flexible delivery options to meet the needs of their busy schedules, including next day delivery, same day delivery to postcodes in selected areas of London and the East of England, as well as click and collect from 6,500 pick up points across the UK.

EV boom: The opportunity for charge point installers

If you’ve seen the most recent EV news, you’ll have heard about the huge demand for public chargers right now, which is only expected to soar as the UK looks to meet targets of having 300,000 chargers in the ground by 2030. Because of this promised growth, everyone’s talking about the EV industry. But regardless of your personal view of electric vehicles, they provide an opportunity to put additional money in your pocket. And it’s not just down to the practical decision to diversify your electrical business to include chargers. Think multiple revenue streams and value adds for customers… Often overlooked, it’s a little-known fact that chargers require software to get the best out of them. And whilst you can charge a car and access basic charge data using the average charger, software does the rest, leaving you to focus on getting chargers in the ground and handing over any post-installation work to a trusted partner. Becoming an installer: easier than ever Earlier this month, the BBC reported on London South Bank Techincal College offering the first higher education course aimed at EV charger installation, standing alongside a number of courses available to provide EV installation training.  This marks recognition in the industry of the value of installers right now, and shows that the demand is there for established installers in a high-demand market, with a customer base guaranteed to grow. That’s where partnering with a reputable software company can help give you a head start. With a good back-office provider, you’ll be able to complete quick and easy installs of software onto a compatible OCPP charger, to make sure your customers have access to smart, cost-saving features. Imagine giving your customers a way to set the time they want their car to charge so they benefit from cheaper nighttime electricity whilst they’re sleeping. Once the installation is complete you’ll be remembered and linked to finding ways to reduce energy bills or make money. Software reduces the risk and helps deliver the glory Good software providers make it easy for your customers to switch to deals that suit their needs. On top of this, you’ll be relieved to hear that costs are generally low. Most basic subscriptions are free, and paid packages tend to start as low as £5 a month while likely saving you much more. Lastly, it’s worth considering customer support options so you don’t spend valuable earning time sorting out issues with the hardware or software. Most suppliers offer 24/7 support but only some employ people technical enough to resolve issues quickly so you’re not hanging around on a job. Choose wisely. Earning ideas for electricians It’s easy to significantly increase your monthly pay packet and install chargers that continue earning you money long after you’ve left the site. One way is to partner with software or hardware manufacturers who offer referral programmes, like Clenergy EV. Clenergy EV gives preferred installers a fee for every charger they upgrade, as well as a percentage of the transaction fee every time that charger is used. In reality, it means some add up to £800 to their monthly pay packet and earn passive income on every charger for its lifetime. Think smart Get in on the ground with an industry guaranteed to grow. Partner with a reputable software company that tests for charger compatibility. Find easy-to-use software that does what you and your customers want it to do. Look for features that pass on cost savings and other benefits to customers. If you’re interested in maximising your earning potential without straining your workload, find out more by visiting the link here. Read more from Clenergy EV here.