Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

MKM Launches ‘Dug the Digger’ Competition

MKM Building Supplies (MKM) Launches ‘Dug the Digger’

Competition to Celebrate Upcoming Tool Hire Milestone

 

MKM Building Supplies (MKM), the UK’s proper independent builder’s merchants, has announced its ‘Dug the Digger’ competition, coinciding with the upcoming addition of the 100th machine to its Tool Hire fleet this October. To mark this significant milestone, MKM is offering customers the chance to win a JCB 16C-1 Canopy Mini Excavator, affectionately named “Dug the Digger,” complete with an exclusive MKM wrap.

 

The competition is part of MKM’s effort to spread the word about the wide range of tools, machinery, and equipment we have available for hire. With the 100th machine on the way, it marks another step forward for our Tool Hire division and shows our dedication to offering customers an even bigger selection of top-quality hire products.

 

“Since launching MKM Hire back in 2022, I’ve had the pleasure of watching it thrive as the business has invested in what is now an outstanding range of equipment.” said Lee Armsby, MKM’s Head of Tool Hire.

 “The ‘Dug the Digger’ competition is our way of saying thanks to our loyal customers while showing off the variety and strength of our hire range. With the 100th 1.5T excavator coming soon, it’s proof of how well our Tool Hire service is doing, and we’re thrilled to give one of our customers the chance to win this awesome prize.”

 

How to Enter the Dug the Digger competition:

Customers who spend £250 (EXC VAT) or more on Tool Hire at any of the 18 participating MKM Tool Hire branches between 07:00 am on October 1st, 2024, and 11:59 pm on October 31st, 2024, will automatically be entered into the prize draw.

 

MKM Tool Hire branches are Banbury, Berwick, Bromsgrove, Blackpool, Eastleigh, Edinburgh, Grantham, Kings Lynn, Leeds, Lincoln North, Manchester Central, Norwich, Perth, Retford, Derby, Chester, Galashiels, Alnwick

The competition is open to both new and existing customers.

 

Robert Wilson, MD of T C Harrison JCB, one of MKM Hire’s partners, added,

 

“Since their Tool & Plant Hire launch in 2022 MKM Hire have purchased over 300 JCB units including micro and mini excavators, site dumpers, compaction rollers, access platforms as well as tracked dumpsters.  I would like to say a huge thanks to the team for their continued business and support”

 

Tool Hire at MKM

 

MKM offers an extensive range of equipment to meet the needs of both construction professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Working in partnership with leading brands including JCB, Dragon, and Bosch, MKM provides everything from power tools and site dumpers to lighting and landscaping equipment, ensuring that whatever your project demands, you have access to the best tools for the job.

 

The Prize

One lucky winner will receive their very own JCB 16C-1 Mini Excavator, ‘Dug the Digger’. The mini digger, featuring a limited-edition MKM wrap, is a powerful addition to any business, offering unmatched versatility and performance.

 

The winner will be drawn on 4th November and announced shortly after.

 

Terms & Conditions:

Participants must spend £250 (EXC VAT) on hire in October at participating Tool Hire branches to be eligible for the competition. The winner will be selected at random, and the prize cannot be exchanged for cash or any other monetary value. The winner will be responsible for the storage and maintenance of the mini-digger. Full terms and conditions can be found on the MKM website.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MKM WEBSITE

 

 

 

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MODULAR SUCCESS FOR INTEGRA

From left, Chris Turner and Gary Parker

 

 

Modular construction business Integra Buildings has celebrated a record year, and has highlighted a string of contracts which have underpinned this growth.

East Yorkshire-based Integra recorded turnover of £50m in 2023 for the first time in the company’s 27-year history.

Income reached £50.4m in the year ending December 31, 2023, up 18% on the previous 12 months, with pre-tax profits of £6.6m, up from £2.8m in 2022.

Key to the success were a series of projects, including the delivery of a £6m new facility for a world-class sports organisation, as well as contracts won with blue chip clients including Network Rail and Transport for London.

Integra says it continues to deliver major investments at its headquarters site in Paull, near Hull, including an expanded head office and wide-reaching sustainability initiatives.

It has set its sights on exceeding £60m turnover in 2025 and is investing in its team to lay the foundations for continuing growth.

CEO Gary Parker said:

“Hitting £50m turnover for the first time reflects a hugely successful period for Integra, delivering impactful projects for clients spanning both the public and private sectors.

“As we have grown organically, we have evolved from a modular manufacturer to a full-service modular construction company which is delivering turnkey projects spanning design, consultation, planning, manufacture, delivery and installation.

“Throughout our history, we’ve remained focused on delivering buildings of outstanding quality. Our reputation for excellence and consistently exceeding expectations is driving ever-growing numbers of enquiries from clients looking for modular solutions to their projects.”

As well as smaller scale contracts, a total of 15 projects worth at least £1m each were successfully delivered during 2023.

Integra’s single biggest project during the year was a development for one of the world’s best-known sports organisations.

The business also delivered a Wellbeing Hub for NHS staff at Southampton General Hospital.

Other important contracts included a staff accommodation and maintenance building at Transport for London’s Neasden Depot and a new training centre for Network Rail at its Innovation & Development Centre in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire.

Integra continues to work with leading organisations including National Highways and the Ministry of Defence with a healthy order book and pipeline of high-quality contracts.

Chris Turner, managing director, said:

“Our strong performance is in line with a structured growth plan which was put in place to ensure we remain at the forefront of a fast-growing modular construction industry.

“It means, as a business, we are well placed for the next chapter of our story, as we continually look to evolve the services we offer to our clients.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of our team who have played a massive part in what was the most successful year in Integra’s history.”

The firm is also midway through a £2m investment programme at its East Yorkshire site, including a self-built expansion to its modular head office.

Over the past six years, Integra’s workforce has grown from a team of 80 to around 180, and the new space will cater for the company’s expanding office-based team.

 

Source: Business Desk

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UK COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC AIR COOLING: A POLICY BLIND SPOT

 

Rinnai’s Tony Gittings looks at the future demand and effects of air cooling on domestic and commercial properties across the UK and Europe. As global temperatures increase, air conditioning units will likely become a requirement for UK and European domiciles and the built environment. What will the effect of air cooling be upon the national electrical grid and UK/ European NetZero ambitions?

 

All present energy policy is firmly centered on reducing fossil fuels and increasing renewables as well as the effects these two fuels produce. Nothing is mentioned of an increase on future demand for commercial and domestic cooling and air conditioning technologies that will influence energy demand and NetZero aims.

Considering rising global temperatures and an increase in UK national humidity levels it would make sense to examine available information that provides some insight into what could happen when domestic and commercial cooling & air conditioning units become a property necessity.

A recent article in the Independent newspaper quoted a survey held by insurers Direct Line questioning London estate agents on air conditioning demand.

“Some 95% of estate agents are seeing an increase in demand for homes with air conditioning as temperatures rise, a survey has suggested. More than four in five agents (88%) also reported a rise in homes coming to the market with built-in air conditioning,” said the report.

 

This survey suggests that air conditioning is at the very least a sought-after luxury, if not a ‘must have’ appliance such as a washing machine or microwave. A sharp rise in future UK cooling & air conditioning unit demand is expected and the extra power they require for operation passes on strain to the electrical grid.

Last June when temperatures exceeded 30°C (86˚F) the national grid had to utilize coal to provide enough power created by air conditioning usage. This was the first time in 48 days the UK grid had to use fossil fuels.

The Statista webpage has published a number of projections solely focused on the UK air conditioning market. The UK air cooling market is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 3.78% between 2024-2029. Additionally, there is an anticipated volume growth of 2.9% in 2025. There were also record UK sales of air cooling in 2021 at 213,000 confirmed purchases. 2021 is the last available year for definitively confirmed statistics in air cooling sales.

International usage of air-cooling units is also expanding due to sharp rises in regional temperature. Southern France, Italy and Spain now regularly experience plus 40°C heat throughout their summer months. All mentioned countries have had to place into effect a limit on air cooling temperatures so not to place too much strain on the electrical grid.

According to Idealista, a European real estate company, 41% of Spanish housing stock is equipped with air cooling technology. The Spanish air conditioner market is expected grow an annual rate of 4.25% from 2024 to 2029 and an anticipated volume growth of 3.6% in 2025.

In 2022 Spain had to introduce measures that ensured a reduction of energy usage following the Ukraine invasion and successive heat waves that have been attributed to global warming. Spanish authorities maintain legitimate concerns that an increase of electrical demand from air cooling technology could potentially lead to grid malfunctions.

Italy has experienced grid difficulties that amount to periodic blackouts specifically in the business capital Milan during July of this year – 2024. A spike in air cooling technology used to negate severe heat is thought to be a major contributing factor towards these electrical grid shutdowns due to exceeding grid capacity.

Growth in Italian air cooling is projected to increase sharply in the coming years due to excessive heat caused by rising global temperatures. An annual growth rate of 6.96% from 2024 to 2029 is expected as is volume growth of 6.9% in 2025 of Italian purchases of air-cooling technology.

France is another country affected by a rise in uncomfortable summer season temperatures. French domiciles and commercial properties are resorting to purchasing air cooling technology.

French electricity operator RTE has reportedly decided to refrain from exporting end-product electricity. RTE aims to protect the grid from increased demand attributed to air conditioning technology usage. Italy relies on French electrical imports to meet demand and could potentially feel ramifications due to the heat and air-cooling demand in France and in Italy.

French purchases of air conditioning technology are projected to increase over the coming years, with a domestic market annual growth rate of 8.45% between 2024 and 2029 and volume growth of 8.5% in 2025.

Separate national electric grids from across notable economies in Europe are struggling to provide energy demand that satisfies domestic and commercial air-cooling requirements during elevated temperatures. UK, European and international growth in air conditioning units is expected to rise in the coming years with electrical grids requiring updating and maintenance in order to deal with added demand.

UK, European, and global NetZero objectives will be impacted by an expansion in air-cooling technology usage due to the added pressure they impose on electrical grids. In a global movement towards electrification supplied by renewables, national infrastructure that transports electrical energy requires updating costing billions in finances and many, many hours of intricate labour.

It could be argued that grid complications will undoubtedly become more prevalent whilst rising global temperatures cause customers to seek air cooling solutions for their commercial and domestic properties.

Rinnai is determined to keep all customers informed of any changes relating to policy amendments and nuances that affect customer energy options and choice.

 

 

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION

PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND

OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY  

  • Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions.
  • Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
  • Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
  • Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
  • Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
  • The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY of

   ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS-

  SAVINGS OF

  20%    REDUCTION of opex cost – 30%   REDUCTION of initial cost

15%   REDUCTION in carbon – 75%   REDUCTION of space

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Bold Plan to Revolutionise UK Housing with MMC

Image: Ten Degrees, HTA Design

 

Construction Leadership Council and Supply Chain Sustainability School Unveil Bold Plan to Revolutionise UK Housing with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

20 September 2024, London, UK – The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the Supply Chain Sustainability School have today published a groundbreaking report aimed at addressing the housing crisis through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The report lays out key policy recommendations designed to accelerate the adoption of MMC and deliver high-quality, affordable homes at scale.

The report’s development was led by the CLC Housing Working Group’s Smart Construction Sub-Group, which includes representatives from:

  • Housing providers
  • Architects
  • Local authorities
  • MMC suppliers and manufacturers
  • Trade and professional bodies
  • Homes England
  • The Greater London Authority (GLA)
  • The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

 

The report proposes a series of long-term policy goals for the Labour Government to consider, including the creation of a dedicated MMC Taskforce. This taskforce, once convened, would be responsible for developing a comprehensive MMC strategy within six months. The strategy would focus on:

  • Improving productivity in housing construction
  • Enhancing speed of delivery and reducing outturn costs
  • Lowering embodied carbon in construction materials and processes
  • Maximising societal benefits through local employment and skills development

 

Addressing the Housing and Skills Crisis

The report identifies MMC as a key solution to the UK’s housing shortage, proposing that the adoption of MMC could counter the current 225,000-person skills gap in construction. With the ability to rapidly scale up housing delivery to meet demand for 300,000 – 500,000 homes annually, MMC offers a pathway to reversing decades of stagnation in the sector, which has seen construction productivity lag behind most other UK industries.

Global Lessons and High-Level Targets

Drawing on international case studies from countries including Australia, China and Japan, the report emphasises the need for high-level, published MMC targets that link both quantity and quality outcomes. It calls on the UK Government to implement clear, achievable goals that provide the construction industry with the certainty it needs to invest in MMC innovation and growth.

The report also supports the National Housing Federation’s call for new towns and settlements to include a mix of housing tenures, with MMC prioritised for its ability to rapidly deliver high-quality, sustainable homes.

A Clear Call to Action

The CLC is urging the Government to adopt their recommendations, particularly the creation of the MMC Taskforce, as a matter of urgency. By doing so, the UK can tackle its housing shortage, address the construction skills crisis, and deliver environmentally sustainable housing at scale.

Rory Bergin, Partner at Sustainable Futures said: “To meet the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2029, we need to double housing output and remove barriers that limit productivity. MMC is a key part of this strategy, and the sector has invested heavily in it. Now is the time to build on that progress, modernise housing delivery, and release the benefits of increased productivity, sustainability, and quality.”

Access the full report here.

 

 

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Low Carbon Insulation could Support Rural Economies

The production of low carbon, plant-based insulating blocks by agricultural workers from farm materials could help to support rural economies and tackle labour shortages, experts believe.

A major new study will test if the materials, for use in local construction, could lead to a “Harvest to House” system of building.

The University of Exeter-led study will show if small-scale farmers could diversify into making sustainable building materials for use on their own farms, or for construction in the local area. This could also benefit their own businesses, communities and the environment.

Arable farm workers in the region will be involved in the small-scale trial of a manufacturing process.

Researchers will explore the human, environmental, and infrastructural barriers and opportunities for production through working with farmers and farm workers.

Diversification may be useful to tackle the rural labour shortage which already threatens the viability of

many farms. This project will investigate how diversification into building material production might complement, rather than conflict with, food production.

The project is led by Dr Caroline Nye and Professor Matt Lobley from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research in partnership with Local Works Studio

The project, “Ag.Lab: Off-Season Farm Production of Building Materials”, grant was awarded from the £3.3 million Ecological Citizen(s) Network+, established in 2023 by UKRI’S Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Researchers will interview farm and agricultural workers so they can discover challenges faced and identify opportunities for future uses of the system or building materials.

Dr Nye said:

“The needs of rural communities are often overlooked in policy decisions and rural poverty is exacerbated by low pay, insecure employment, unaffordable housing and poor public transport infrastructure. Participation and employment in a pioneering, environmentally sensitive new industry, centred in the countryside, could foster a closer engagement of deprived rural communities with the land and bring benefits of a distributed local economy.

“Producing building materials could offer stability to local farm workers who need employment out of season, allowing them to remain in the local area; benefits to the farmer of experienced, consistent, higher skilled workers and repeat ‘returners’ to seasonal work; and stability to farmers who need to find other markets or make more from a crop. This would hopefully translate into more competitive pay for farm workers.

“We hope this project will be a beacon for a new potential cohort of workers – the growing number of young people from non-agricultural backgrounds attracted to the promise of land-based ecological citizenship.”

 

The results of the project will be showcased via a podcast series and with a local network of farmers.

Researchers will make a short animated, visual ‘manual’ of the pilot manufacturing system, in an accessible and easy to digest format that can be readily shared and referred to by time-pressed farmers and workers, as well as people outside agriculture.

The project is part of the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+, led by The Royal College of Art, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York and Wrexham Glyndŵr University, as well as a range of partners from industry, charities, culture and civil society.

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“Impact printing” for green building

Researchers at ETH Zurich pioneered a new robotic additive manufacturing method to foster sustainable construction through “impact printing.”

Researchers at ETH Zurich have done a new robotic additive manufacturing method to foster sustainable construction through “impact printing.” This new, innovative process utilizes earth-based materials such as clay and excavated earth-very inexpensive, abundant, and environmentally friendly-alternatives to traditional cement-based building methods.

The impact printing overcomes the labor-intensive and costly nature of the current earth-based construction techniques by adopting construction robots shooting material from above, developing walls gradually upon impact. Such materials bond together, often with just a few additives, to form a strong, stable structure, without the need to stop and wait for the material to solidify, as is the case in concrete 3D printing.

The impact printing method can deposit dense materials at huge velocities, say up to 10 meters a second for strong bonding between the layers. It does not seem entirely dependent on additives, as with typical layer-based 3D printing. That way, it will allow a more stable and efficient construction process.

ETH Zurich researchers designed a custom printing tool that could be outfitted on various robotic platforms, including offsite production systems and autonomous legged excavators, for construction in everything from vertically constrained urban areas to remote, natural areas. Indeed, the robotic system has already been used to build walls as high as 3 meters-or nearly 10 feet-to demonstrate its ability to undertake major building projects.

ETH Zurich’s team developed the method from scratch, using only circular, low-carbon materials to keep environmental impact as low as possible. The earth-based mixture used in construction consists basically of local, sustainable materials with only a few additives.

In collaboration with Eberhard Unternehmungen, one of the leading companies working on circular construction methods, the researchers want to be able to extend this technology even more into other materials and applications in the future. Impact printing can revolutionize the building industry as it holds the potential for speeding up processes, being ‘greener’, and making the process less expensive when constructing a structure with a minimal environmental footprint.

Source: Parametric Architecture
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LEADING CABLE MANUFACTURER CALLS FOR NEW STANDARD

Colin Hughes, Group Manager at WMC

Wrexham Mineral Cables (WMC), a leading UK cable manufacturer, is calling for the establishment of a new fire-resistant cable standard to improve building safety and potentially save lives.

 

WMC’s call to action comes as the industry reflects on the 1,700-page Grenfell Inquiry report, which sets out how ‘decades of failure’ across government and the construction sector led to Grenfell Tower becoming a site of tragic loss of life.

The report makes 58 recommendations, including the establishment of a new construction regulator responsible for developing suitable methods for testing fire resistance in materials and products used in construction.

WMC says the industry reform must include a new standard that enables architects and specifiers to identify true fire survival cables, which are proven to perform to safety standards in real-world scenarios. The company warns the current regulatory framework allows for inferior cables to be used in safety-critical applications, putting lives and property at risk.

Currently, specifiers are presented with a choice between polymeric ‘soft skin’ cables and mineral insulated copper clad (MICC) cables. Due to the existing testing regime, both cable types are classed as fire-resistant, creating a misleading impression of equivalence. However, MICC cables have consistently demonstrated superior performance and are proven to perform to measurably higher safety standards in ‘real fire’ scenarios.

Colin Hughes, Group Manager at WMC, explains:

  • “Fire-resistant cables are integral to maintaining a building’s critical electrical systems during a fire. For example, emergency lighting, sprinkler systems, emergency generators, smoke dampers and shutters, and fire alarms. If these systems fail, the consequences can be catastrophic.
  • “Current testing standards create an unclear picture of cable performance; they treat polymeric and MICC cables as equivalent, despite their vastly different fire-survival capabilities. It’s all too easy for manufacturers to claim that products meet a required standard, even though the test methods themselves are not representative of ‘true fire’ scenarios.

“As the Grenfell report has made clear, everyone involved in construction is responsible for keeping people safe. However, architects and specifiers must be equipped to make informed choices. We need a new standard that allows specifiers to identify true fire survival cables – and potentially help save lives.”

WMC has long advocated for stricter testing standards and better fire-resistant cable specifications. In 2023, WMC published a white paper outlining how cables directly impact building safety. The paper advocates for the introduction of a higher classification of fire survival cable, which can continue to power critical circuits in the event of a fire.

Colin Hughes adds:

“Last year, the UK Government introduced stricter building regulations in England as part of new secondary legislation to implement the Building Safety Act. Unfortunately, recent events in London, such as fires at a residential block in Dagenham and at the historic Somerset House, serve as reminders that buildings of all types remain at a high risk of fire.

“This is why we continue to call on the government and industry to take action and improve building safety with the introduction of a new standard that subjects all fire-resistant cables, regardless of size or construction, to true fire scenario tests.”

CLICK HERE TO Download WMC’s white paper:

Expecting the unexpected:

specifying safety-critical circuit cables for fire survival

 

 

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RINNAI: SOLUTIONS AT LUXURY COMPLEX IN THE CITY OF LONDON

RINNAI HYBRID HEAT PUMP SYSTEM PROVIDES PRACTICAL, ECONOMIC,

AND TECHNICAL SOLUTION AT LUXURY COMPLEX IN THE CITY OF LONDON

Rinnai Low-GWP 50kW Heat Pump, bespoke thermal stores, Plate Heat Exchangers and ten cascaded I2HY20 Hydrogen- ready continuous flow water heaters specified at new development in the heart of Farringdon district of London.

On this site Rinnai’s Hybrid water heating H2 array of Low-GWP 50kW heat pump plus bespoke thermal water stores, with optimised coil transfer to maximize heat pump performance, have been combined with ten cascaded Hydrogen blends ready (I2HY20 certified) continuous flow water heaters. The systems were delivered in one complete consignment, ready for installation at a new multi-million-pound development in the Farringdon district near the City of London. The expansive complex will comprise of a new luxury hotel, prestigious & contemporary office space plus affordable housing units.

The multi-purpose use of the site meant that only a fit-for-purpose design would satisfy the practicalities and nuances of space, demand, and energy usage in ensuring hot water requirements are met and exceeded 24/7.

The site was originally a Victorian-era schoolhouse for poor children. It was a ‘Ragged School’ – the term ‘ragged school’ was used by the London City Mission as early as 1840 to describe the establishment of schools, ‘formed exclusively for children raggedly clothed’. From around 1845 until 1881, the London ‘Ragged’ schools gave rudimentary education to about 300,000 children who were the poorest of the poor – orphans, waifs, and strays.

The expansive retrofit site will pay respect to this heritage with many of the original features retained in the 150+ bedroom luxury hotel, almost 20,000 sq ft of opulent capital city office space and nine new-build affordable residential units. The hotel group already has one other unit in London with two others planned.

Comments Darren Woodward for Rinnai,

’The site is very complex and still has many original features from the Victorian era – meaning that a full and comprehensive site survey with capital expenditure, operational expenditure and carbon modelling was conducted. We paid special attention to the practical requirements of the site which included 150 luxury bedrooms that needed constant hot water on demand, but we also needed to meet the site’s decarbonisation credentials. The overall system design meant that a truly hybrid system employing a heat pump, plate heat exchangers, bespoke thermal stores plus Hydrogen-ready hot water heating units was supplied in one complete consignment.

“We believe that a solution like this is the way forward on the bigger retrofit sites in London and all other UK cities. Once we had the data for capital expenditure, operational expenditure, and carbon modelling we were able to demonstrate to the clients a value proposition of a delivered-to-site-in-one-package. This site has proven that Hybrids can create a practical, economic, and technical feasible solution whereby all technologies and appliances work efficiently in terms of operational costs and lowering the carbon footprint without impacting overall system performance.

Or CLICK HERE for more information on the RINNAI product range

 

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION

PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC

AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT H3

 

  • Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions.
  • Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
  • Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
  • Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
  • Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
  • The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

CLICK HERE for the Rinnai Website

Or email engineer@rinnaiUK.com 

 

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TURN KNOWLEDGE INTO POWER: New CPD on Heat Networks

TURN KNOWLEDGE INTO POWER

WITH UPONOR’S NEW CPD ON HEAT NETWORKS

 
GF Building Flow Solutions (formerly Uponor) has launched a new CIBSE accredited CPD: ‘Minimise the heat and energy losses of heat networks’, developed for building services engineers looking to broaden their knowledge. The hour long, face-to-face session looks at the importance of community and district heating networks, the relevant legislation, and advises how to optimise their performance through the use of efficient, pre-insulated pipe systems.

 

The comprehensive CPD will cover the types of heat networks, their role in reaching net zero, the relevant codes of practice and offer valuable insight into the funding available. The CPD will go on to look at system structures for sustainable heating and cooling, from outside to inside the building, the main issues to consider when it comes to system design and the benefits of pre-insulated pipework.

 

Sam Barker, Head of Commercial at GF Building Flow Solutions said:

“Decarbonising how we heat homes and buildings through methods such as heat networks is critical for meeting net zero goals. However, they have to perform as intended and making an informed decision when it comes to the specification of pipework is a factor in their success. Attendees should leave this CPD with a greater understanding of heat networks and how, through careful pipe selection, they can enable low temperature operation and minimise heat loss.”

 

GF Building Flow Solutions, a division of GF, is a leading global provider of sustainable and innovative solutions, making water flow in buildings. The division, stemming from the 2023 acquisition of Uponor by GF, provides safe solutions for hot and cold water supply and control, noise-reducing wastewater systems, as well as energy-efficient heating and cooling. Its focus is to enable its customers in the residential and commercial space to be more productive and sustainable, while ensuring comfort, health and efficiency. GF Building Flow Solutions has sales companies in 30 countries and production sites in 13 locations across Europe and the Americas.

 

CLICK HERE

To register interest and book the new CPD

 or call a member of the team on 01923 381212

 

 

 

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Government Policy Upends Green Belt Planning

 

The country’s largest housebuilder has decided to withdraw a series of planning applications due to concerns about the Government’s plan to include a 50% affordable housing requirement for green belt sites under an updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

In a consultation launched last month, the Government revealed a list of proposed changes to the NPPF, which included the 50% affordable homes reform, alongside the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets, the inclusion of ‘grey belt’ land and the requirement for councils to conduct green belt reviews where they are not meeting their housing targets.

The policy changes are angled at achieving the Government’s target of building 1.5m new homes by 2029.

However, Philip Barnes, Group Land Director at Barratt Developments, warned that the affordable housing policy would deter developers from building on green belt land.

In a blog post published last week (28 August), he said that Barratt has pulled three “in-flight” planning applications being prepared on draft allocated sites “because the spectre of 50% renders the scheme unviable due to the unacceptably reduced (or removed) land value for the landowner”.

According to Barnes, existing green belt sites in a draft local plan allocated for housing “will not be able to provide 50% affordable housing”.

He added: “Even a Reg 18 plan will have been viability tested against a lower affordable housing percentage, so a change to the 50% affordable ‘ask’ will upend the whole plan.

Barnes, who said he has discussed the changes with “peers, public and private sector planners, land agents, lawyers, land promoters and landowners”, also raised questions about the consultation’s land value proposals.

“Everyone seems to be in full agreement – namely that the proposed disruption to the land market is likely to cause many in-flight schemes to be abandoned and stymie many other upcoming projects,” he said.

“Why? Because many landowners aren’t going to sell their land in such a policy environment.”

Barnes added that the 50% affordable homes requirement would hobble the new measures concerning ‘grey belt’ sites, which the Government defines as previously developed land within the green belt or green belt parcels that contribute minimally to the five primary green belt purposes.

 “Grey Belt summary = fantastic policy, at long last focusing new land releases in the most sustainable locations.

“But delivery challenges unless there is a realistic approach to the land market.”

Barnes also raised concerns about the consultation’s proposals regarding setting a national benchmark land value.

The document does not settle on specific figures, but suggests introducing benchmark land values for the purposes of viability-testing local plans and planning applications.

“The consultation document assumes that the existing use value of agricultural land is c.£20-25,000 per hectare or £8000-£10,000 per acre.

“So, if we assume the Government is aiming at x10 agricultural value they are expecting landowners to sell land for £100,000 per acre.

“Other than on larger sites, 100k will not happen in many places and I won’t spend time justifying that statement, with reference to the obvious issues such as capital gains tax, revenue vs capital, and long-term perspectives.

The NPPF consultation began on 30 July and closes to responses on 24 September.

Source: Local Government Lawyer

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