and efficiency the key

With the recent Boiler Plus legislation once again driving the importance of system performance and energy efficiency, Dan Wild, UK Business Unit Director for Conex Bänninger, looks at other ways that installers can be more efficient.

Efficiency has been the hot topic in the heating industry for decades now as the Government looks to phase out old boilers and reduce carbon emissions in line with EU targets.  The latest legislation to address this is Boiler Plus.  Introduced in April this year, the most notable change to come into force is that the minimum efficiency level of all boilers manufactured and installed is now set at 92% ErP.

Ultimately, this new legislation is all about raising the bar once again in efficiency.  The aim is to make homes more efficient to live in, making heating bills more cost effective for home owners, whilst also encouraging installers to ensure that the heating systems they are installing perform to the highest possible standard.  Alongside the 92% ErP rating, Boiler Plus also outlines that time and temperature controls are required for all gas and boiler installations, and combi boiler installations must include either smart controls, load compensation, weather compensation or Flue Gas Heat Recovery.

But it’s not just Boiler Plus that is driving efficiencies within the heating sector, there are other contributing factors.  As we all know, this isn't an industry that rests on its laurels, with manufacturers constantly investing in research and development to bring the most innovative and forward-thinking solutions to the market.  Professional installers are also constantly looking at ways that they can make themselves more productive, whether this be through selecting the latest products to meet their customers’ requirements, or looking at technologies that they know will make their working practices more efficient.

One area where installers can be certain that they are optimising efficiency is with the type of jointing technique they choose for their installations. Traditionally, brazing or welding have appeared to be the most typical jointing techniques amongst installers. However, whilst both still continue to have their place in the industry, for many installers they are increasingly becoming an impractical solution.

There are a number of reasons as to why brazing and welding are gradually becoming less popular. Firstly, both require a hot works permit in order to legally complete a job, which, to obtain, can be very time consuming and costly.  Brazing and welding can also prove to be a difficult task when installers are limited to working in tight and restricted spaces.

These factors, coupled with the investment made by manufacturers into product development, have led to the rise in popularity of press-fit technology.

The majority of installers tend to look for a fit and forget solution; completing the job in a good, professional manner but in as quick a time possible, reducing the need to make a return visit to the home to complete additional works, that can’t be charged. This time saving element has been central to the appeal of press fitting as the process is significantly more productive. It also eliminates the requirement to stay on site for hours after completion, which can be the case with flame-based fittings.

The issue of working in confined spaces is also a contributing factor for the shift towards press fitting.  In many instances, it can be almost impossible to correctly make a joint when using traditional techniques. For example, if installers face a situation where the blowtorch cannot be passed the whole way around the fitting, then there is a real risk that the join will be incomplete and will therefore leak as a result.  

In contrast, press-fit technologies, which do not require any need to use heat or solder, are a very clean, quick and safe method. Installers also don’t have to worry about any carbon deposits or flux, so there is less risk of corrosion or subsequent issues arising in relation to system flushing. There is also no localised annealing from high-temperature working and there is no need for the pipework to be dry for effective jointing.
 

Security is often cited as a key reason for why installers opt for press fitting technology too, and increasingly, 3-point press is being chosen over 2-point press variants for this very reason. Both will do the job, but the 3-point press is arguably the safest and most secure fitting on the market. In contrast to 2-point press variants, 3-point press systems add an extra added layer of protection, ensuring that a leak-free, secure and permanent joint is achieved.

Conex Bänninger’s >B< Profile 3-point press works by making sure that the pipe is parallel to the fitting before any contact is made with the O-ring, greatly reducing the chance of causing any damage to the O-ring during assembly.

The EPDM seal features a reduced section on two positions, which will cause leaks even at low pressures when press-fitting has not been carried out (from 0.1 to 0.5 bar). When pressed, the O-ring material compresses itself to form a secure and leak-free joint. The major benefit with this method is that joints that have been not been pressed previously can be quickly identified and corrected without the need to drain the system down, or risk having to return to fix joints that have leaked.

Whatever jointing technique installers use, there is no doubt that the importance of working efficiently and delivering the right solutions to home owners to help them save energy and reduce carbon emissions is paramount.  Many are already up to speed and delivering in line with the Boiler Plus legislation, but there are always opportunities to improve more.  By utilising press fittings as well as recommending a heating system that meets the 92% ErP, it can only add to the efficient service that installers provide to their customers.

Conex Bänninger’s >B< Profile 3-point press

Conex Bänninger’s >B< Press range utilises the company’s 3-point press system, which provides extra durability and security to the fitting. This provides the installer with added assurance that once pressed correctly, the fitting will stay safe, strong and reliable. The >B< Press technology also offers installers a fail-safe function to check for leaks at low pressure by using the pressing indicator, reducing the need to go to full test pressure.

The >B< Press portfolio includes >B< Press Copper, >B< Press Inox, >B< Press Gas, >B< Press Solar and >B< Press Carbon. These are suitable for a variety of applications such as drinking water, cooling water, gas, solar, heating systems, compressed air (oil free), oil/fuel, rainwater and waste; all of which are key for installers working in domestic and commercial environments and also in more specialist sectors.

For more information on Conex Bänninger’s >B< Press range, visit www.conexbanninger.com.