News Archive - October 2010
Spending review 'will increase demand for energy efficient technologies'
29 October 2010
Demand for energy efficiency technology set to soar as UK firms face impacts of Government's changes to carbon legislation, says Sabien Technology.
Contractors risk liability over minimum wage rules
29 October 2010
As TUC general secretary Brendan Barber calls for minimum wage to increase 21p to £6.14 per hour, tax consultant Accountax has warned of "the significant risk" already facing the construction industry following the introduction on October 1, 2010 of the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
Dimplex welcomes CSR announcement on RHI
29 October 2010
Dimplex has welcomed the announcement in the government's Comprehensive Spending Review that the Renewable Heat Incentive will be introduced as planned in 2011.
Training firm helps defuse F-Gas timebomb
29 October 2010
With experts estimating that 35,000 gas engineers still need to update their accreditation before the new F-Gas legislation comes into force in July 2011, Develop Training has launched a new e-learning training package.
Cosaf supports Bolton charity
29 October 2010
HVAC installer Cosaf has pledged its support to local charity 'KiDs of Bolton'. The charity, launched by Bolton Wanderers captain and newly selected England player, Kevin Davies, was established to give young people in the Bolton area a chance to get involved with activities, particularly sport, without the burden of financial restrictions.
Daikin reveals five new 'dealers'
28 October 2010
Daikin UK has confirmed rumours that it has signed a series of new "dealerships".
Heatrae Sadia appoints commercial director
27 October 2010
Steve Rickards has been appointed commercial director for Heatrae Sadia Heating and Baxi Group New Build & New Design.
Sector makes guarded response to CSR
27 October 2010
The Government's long-awaited Comprehensive Spending review was announced last month. Reactions to it have been mixed, as the following quotes illustrate:
HEVAR takes to the national stage
26 October 2010
Following extensive consultations with the hvac industry, the HEVAR team has announced that the HEVAR exhibition will move to the NEC in Birmingham in May next year.
New chairman for European energy group
25 October 2010
Kjeld Staerk of Danfoss in Denmark is the new chairman of the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), representing the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe.
Fernox joins Heat Pump Association
25 October 2010
Water treatment manufacturer Fernox has become the first chemical water treatment company to become a member of the Heat Pump Association (HPA).
BEAMA welcomes Whitehall's RHI commitment
22 October 2010
The British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) has welcomed the Government's sustained commitment to develop the renewable heat market by announcing its intention to launch the Renewable Heat Incentive from June 2011.
New chairman for Fan Manufacturers Association
22 October 2010
Members of the Fan Manufacturers Association (FMA) have elected Mark Jones, managing director of industrial fan manufacturer Woodcock & Wilson, as their new chairman.
Polypipe appointments
22 October 2010
Polypipe Terrain has made three new appointments. Martyn Turton has been appointed regional sales manager for Polypipe Rainstream, Bill Ross is business development director for Terrain HydroMax and Chris Moyes is business development manager for the public sector.
'StreetwiseSubbie' sub-contractor support initiative launched
22 October 2010
A new initiative designed for specialist sub-contractors working in the construction and engineering industries signed up its first businesses this week.
Vaillant Group declared 'master of manufacturing'
22 October 2010
Vaillant Group has won two accolades at the Best Factory Awards 2010. The annual awards, supported by the world renowned Cranfield School of Management, recognise businesses that seek to achieve the highest standards in manufacturing excellence.
Mitsi appoints London and SE manager
22 October 2010
Mitsubishi Electric has appointed Steve Warrington as territory manager for its London and South England region air conditioning sales team.
RHI survives spending review
21 October 2010
The Renewable Heat Incentive has survived the Government's massive spending review and will proceed as planned in 2011. Chancellor George Osborne announced that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will be introduced to allow the UK to have the best possible chance of meeting its 2020 carbon targets.
Mayor opens privately funded and operated Olympic energy centre
20 October 2010
The 90 million Euro Kings Yard energy centre in the Olympic Park in East London, which will heat, cool and power the Olympic Games in 2012, has been opened by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Buderus strikes deal with biomass boiler supplier
18 October 2010
Bosch Thermotechnology - owner of boiler manufacturers Buderus and Worcester - has formed an alliance with biomass heating supplier Econergy to "provide investors, consultants and contractors [with] the most comprehensive system and service solution for commercial biomass installations in the UK".
Whitehall calls for energy investment
18 October 2010
A surge of investment in new energy sources will be needed to ensure our energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels in the decades ahead, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has warned.
Sabien appoints non-exec director
18 October 2010
Dr Martin Blake has been appointed a non-executive director of Sabien Technology Group.
Installer prosecuted over illegal work
18 October 2010
A self-employed plumber has been prosecuted after carrying out illegal work on gas boilers that was so bad it put his customers' lives at risk.
Heat pumps demand careful specification, warns BSRIA
18 October 2010
To get their maximum benefit, heat pumps need to be used in the right place and the right time. research organisation BSRIA has warned.
Skills minister backs professional apprenticeships
18 October 2010
Professional apprenticeships like those developed by HVCA subsidiary Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) have received the approval of skills minister John Hayes.
CTC wins MCS approval for heat pump
15 October 2010
Renewables manufacturer CTC, part of UK owned heating and combustion specialist Enertech Group, has been awarded Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approval for its EcoAir air to water heat pump range.
Xpelair and Fläkt Wood form joint trading alliance
15 October 2010
Xpelair and Fläkt Woods have formed a strategic trading agreement whereby the two organisations will offer market access and routes to distribution for each other's products.
Feed-in-Tariff 'distorting solar market' claim
15 October 2010
The Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) is distorting the market for solar technology and urgently requires rebalancing, according to Neil Schofield, head of sustainable development at Worcester, Bosch Group.
BSRIA publishes new commissioning guide
15 October 2010
BSRIA has launched the new Commissioning Job Book available to order for a limited time at a 20 per cent discount.
Camfil Farr first to join BSI energy reduction scheme
14 October 2010
Air filtration manufacturer Camfil Farr has become the first company to join the British Standards Institution's (BSI) recently launched Kitemark scheme for Energy Reduction Verification (ERV).
New product marketing manager for Vent-Axia
13 October 2010
Vent-Axia has appointed Joanna Smith as product marketing manager with the responsibility of targeting the residential retrofit sector.
Parts and Plumb Center plug into iPhone
13 October 2010
Distributors Plumb Center and Parts Center have launched an iPhone application designed to allow installers to locate their nearest branch quickly and easily. It also promises to keep them up-to-date with the latest offers and promotions as well as industry news.
AmbiRad celebrates record year
13 October 2010
Gas-fired radiant heaters and ventilation systems manufacturer the AmbiRad Group has announced record sales for the financial year ending July 2010.
BBES appoints business services director
13 October 2010
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) has appointed John Sharp to the new position of business services director.
Wilson wins IMechE award
13 October 2010
Ant Wilson, business unit director - sustainability - building engineering at consultant AECOM, has won the construction and building services division prize 2009, an annual award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
MSS wins LEGOLAND contract
13 October 2010
Managed Support Services (MSS) has been awarded a maintenance contract at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in The Trafford Centre, Manchester.
Much CO poisoning remains undetected, claims report
13 October 2010
Reporting of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the UK is massively underestimating the problem, according to the Gas Safety Trust.
CIBSE Graduate of the year announced
13 October 2010
Michael Gardner is the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Graduate of the Year 2010.
Bower Fuller appointment
12 October 2010
Suffolk-based mechanical and engineering contractor, Bower Fuller, has appointed Paul Wombwell as its new business development manager.
BPEC achieves Awarding Body status
12 October 2010
Provider of training and certifications services to the building services sector BPEC has been recognised by OFQUAL as an Awarding Body.
Joint Investment Programme success for environmental technologies
11 October 2010
SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the building services engineering sector, has been successful in its bid for the Joint investment Programme (JIP) to implement and deliver environmental technology training.
Travis Perkins revenue rises
11 October 2010
Turnover at builders' merchant Travis Perkins was up 6 per cent for the first nine months of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009.
Envirotec moves into trench heating with Verco
11 October 2010
Envirotec has struck a deal with Verco to extend its product portfolio from air curtains and air handling units to include trench heating.
First MCS accredited solar installer in Salford
11 October 2010
Jacob Eco Energy claims to be the first business in Salford and central Manchester to pass the official certification as an installer of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.
Altecnic launches iPhone app
11 October 2010
The latest iPhone app from Altecnic is designed to help calculate the size of expansion vessels for a central heating installations.
Swegon buys Blue Box
08 October 2010
Scandinavian indoor climate and air conditioning supplier Swegon AB has bought Italian chiller and heat pump manufacturer Blue Box Group S.r.l. for an undisclosed sum.
Innovation & Sustainability Awards announced
08 October 2010
Winners of the Innovation & Sustainability Awards (ISAs) 2010 have been announced.
Employment Agency alliance claims steady growth
08 October 2010
Membership of the Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance has grown modestly over the last year, according to its independent chairman, Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan.
Briton moves up Wilo hierarchy
08 October 2010
Englishman Richard Crookes (42) is the new head of group marketing at leading pump supplier Wilo SE. He will be responsible for the global orientation of the marketing of the Wilo Group and for the company's branding.
Illegal gas fitter sentenced
08 October 2010
A man who falsely claimed to be a registered gas engineer has been sentenced for illegally installing gas appliances at addresses in York.
Sabien warns against 'fly by night' green tech companies
05 October 2010
A warning against 'fly by night' firms that form part of the UK's £112 billion low carbon economy has come from energy efficiency technology supplier Sabien Technology.
Firms 'dazed and confused' by CRC regulation
05 October 2010
The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), which came into force this April, continues to confuse UK businesses, according to a group of leading business leasers.
Vent-Axia forges partnership with Mantle Panel building system
05 October 2010
Ventilation equipment manufacturer Vent-Axia has partnered with Surrey-based Mantle Panel, the company behind the UK-manufactured Mantle Building System.
Heatrae Sadia launches hotline contractor support
05 October 2010
Heatrae Sadia has established a hotline and advice team to provide help to heating and water heating equipment specifiers.
JS Wright to provide eco services for major care scheme
04 October 2010
Birmingham building services provider JS Wright has won a £900,000 contract to fit out what it claims is one of the UK's greenest social housing developments.
Kershaw wins TA contract
04 October 2010
The Territorial Army has awarded the maintenance of 10 of its centres to Cambridge maintenance company Kershaw Mechanical Services for a further five years.
SMEs squeezed hard by late payers
04 October 2010
An independent survey by online debt recovery service positivecollections.co.uk reveals that small to medium-sized UK firms are more likely to accept excuses from late paying customers than before the recession.
Part L controls changes 'good news for efficiency'
04 October 2010
With the new version of Part L of the Building Regulations now in force, much of the focus has been on the aim to reduce carbon emissions from new buildings by 25 per cent.
Vent-Axia wins MVHR contract LIVINHOME project
04 October 2010
Vent-Axia has been made preferred ventilation supplier for the 'livinhome' housing project, a new approach to affordable housing developed by Geraghty Taylor Architects and Guildhouse-Rosepride.
Construction product sales rise, but uncertainty remains
04 October 2010
Sales of construction products continued to rise during the third quarter of 2010, according to the latest Construction Activity Barometer from Ernst and Young and the Construction Products Association (CPA).
Briggs & Forrester apprentices celebrate academic success
01 October 2010
Building services firm Briggs & Forrester is celebrating the academic success of four of its technical apprentices.