The Evolution of the UK HOT WATER & HEATING MARKET

   

Rinnai’s Chris Goggin examines the current UK heating and hot water markets with a detailed statistical analysis of each notable sector to reveal the preferred methods of supplying both residential and commercial properties with warmth and DHW. This review will also look at the impact of legislation upon customer options.

 

Technology used for heating and hot water options is both a major contributor and solution for lowering emissions. Gas boilers have long been identified as a cause of rising global temperatures but still the gas boiler maintains a central position in heating and hot water options due to customer convenience, cost, current infrastructure and regulations allowing for their permissibility for the mid to long term.

 In time, if hydrogen gas mixes are made available, UK emissions emanating from natural gas-powered systems can also be reduced. However, despite a large increase in the portfolio of available appliances that deliver domiciles and commercial properties with heating and hot water, there is still widespread UK customer reluctance to purchase alternative forms of technology, such as solar, heat pumps and hybrid DHW systems. If gas boilers and water heaters are readily available and there are plentiful reasons as to why this is the case, ranging from a distress sales situation to a lack of trained installers through to cost and perceived practicalities.

 This is problematic towards the aim of decarbonising 28 million dwellings and a further 2 million commercial premises in the UK. By 2028 the UK is determined or at least has the ambition to install 600,000 heat pumps nationwide. In 2024 the total number of heat pumps that had been installed in households across the UK stands at around 320,000. More than 65,000 have been installed from January 2024 to May 2025. UK heat pump installations throughout 2024 experienced a 40% increase – predominantly due to the government funding afforded to them.

Although, renewable energies and technologies are undoubtedly rising and have never been more attractive to UK customers, the problem is centred on more convenient, familiar and cost-effective energy – natural gas.

Gas boilers remain the dominant form of heating and hot water provision for domestic and commercial properties. Domestic gas boiler fittings are greater than heat pump connections by more than 15 to 1 in 2024. Despite national heat pump targets, only one in eight newly constructed homes were equipped with low carbon alternative technological options. Of the new build homes constructed in the UK throughout 2024 13% were finished with heat pumps as a primary source of heating and hot water. This is set to change with the Future homes standard and future building standard – however the replacement market remains a serious barrier for adoption.

A recent article published in the national UK media revealed that 1.5 million gas boilers were fitted across all sectors in the UK, most of which were replacements. Cost is an important factor once a UK household decides not to accept heat pumps over gas boilers. Costs relating to initial heat pump purchase for domestic properties range in between £5,000 and £18,000 whilst initial purchase costs of gas boilers start at £1,600 and can be up to as much as £6,000 – the figure skyrockets with commercial systems yet the sizeable cost difference between gas fired systems and heat pumps remains. High income households and successful commercial enterprises are more likely to view heat pumps as a viable purchase option.

Domestic and commercial Heat pump utilisation is vital towards UK national decarbonising efforts. If NetZero targets are to be met 450,000 households will have to make the switch to heat pumps every year by 2030. Heat pumps offer clean energy usage that alleviates the atmosphere from toxic pollutants in a way that gas boilers cannot albeit to be truly effective the UK government must continue the greening of the electricity grid.

Other alternative forms of clean energy that have become attractive to UK customers include solar. UK residential solar installations throughout February 2025 have contributed a large percentage of UK national solar capacity – 58MW and account for 73% of newly placed renewable schemes.

Statistics accumulated and released by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) state that in between January 2024 and January 2025, 2000,010 home solar PV installations were implemented. 2024 saw 2.3GW of solar deployment across the UK, 20% of this is attributed to domestic rooftop solar panels with a further 20% deriving from commercial premises.

A rise in solar purchases can be explained by a drop in average cost to installation in UK household. January 2024 witnessed a domestic mean price of £9,238, whilst in December of the same year the average cost dropped to £7,561. The total average for the year rested at £ 8,198.

Policy is contributing towards the way in which homeowners and businesses select heating and hot water options. The UK alongside Ireland and Portugal were the only three European heat pump markets to expand last year, with sales in France and Germany being significantly reduced due to electrical costs, regulatory and political uncertainty as well as a lack of progress in new construction projects.

Heightened public awareness and acceptance of renewables due to policy amendments is also responsible for a huge increase in solar power distribution. Since 2010 there has been a 18,000% increase in total UK solar capacity. Solar options are popular amongst homeowners with an estimated 1.5 million UK domiciles owning solar panels.

Policy updates and NetZero aims continually produce better market conditions, refinement in technologies and increases in personnel capable of delivering decarbonising product installation. In 2024, 9,062 individuals successfully completed heat pumps training qualification courses, equating to a 15% increase from 2023.

Despite the dominance of gas boilers as heating and hot water provision for domestic and commercial properties alternative clean and renewable energy markets continue to grow and gain traction. Additional legislation like the Future Homes Standard 2025 and more stringent conditions towards EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) will strengthen directives that enforce cleaner energy technologies upon households and commercial dwellings.

Future UK energies aim to be carbon neutral, all current renewable markets are in a healthy position and continue to expand with additional growth expected in the coming years. Work on encouraging lower income households also continues. It is estimated that only 19% of heat pumps are in the poorest third of areas whilst 45% are installed in the richest third of neighbourhoods. Initiatives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are assisting these ambitions.

Domestic and commercial properties are adapting the way in the which the UK seeks out and distributes cleaner energy, meaning that natural gas usage will be at some point be vastly reduced, then eliminated altogether.

 

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Game-Changing Hot Water How Rinnai Transformed Millom RUFC’s Off-Grid System

 

Millom Rugby Union Football Club situated in the scenic Cumbrian countryside, is a multi-use facility that includes rugby pitches and a popular caravan and camping ground. The club required a reliable, energy-efficient hot water solution to replace its traditional stored hot water supply.

The system was required to meet a high and variable demand from matchday players, onsite staff, and campsite visitors who demand comfort and safety. The variable nature of demand created multiple peaks in supply throughout the day.

The site is off-grid and reliant on LPG, and initial plans to connect to mains gas were abandoned due to the prohibitive cost and limitations of the existing infrastructure – therefore Rinnai LPG to BioLPG hot water system were seen as both an economically and ecological route to lower costs and carbon.

After consultation with Rinnai engineering experts the Club installed four N Series 1600 continuous flow water heaters all supplying instant temperature accurate hot water on demand for all players and caravan site visitors.

Originally a stored water system was proposed but Rinnai’s engineering team provided a full CAPEX, OPEX, and lifecycle cost analysis as standard. This demonstrated that an LPG and BIOLPG ready continuous flow system would outperform a traditional stored hot water system in terms of:

  • Energy efficiency
  • Operational cost savings
  • Carbon footprint reduction
  • System longevity and reliability (up to 12 years warranty)

 

All Rinnai appliances are manufactured under strict guidelines of ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management. The commercial continuous flow water heaters are designed to provide almost limitless volumes of cost-effective and temperature controlled hot water.

Each Rinnai N Series gas fired water heaters offer a more compact and enhanced combustion design that allows for convenient installation, superior operational performance, and easy accessibility when servicing is required. All additional components are designed and manufactured by Rinnai ensuring proven quality and reliability.

 

The Rinnai N Series is the first ever continuous flow water heater manufactured with stainless steel heat exchangers to be available in the UK – this provides an extended working life at optimum performance to each of the four models in the range.

 

Features include:
  • Flue up to 48+ metres for concentric for flexible mounting
  • Turbo Fan and longevity
  • Built-in controller as standard on both internal and external models for easy set up
  • Cascade Cable assembly allows up to twenty-four water heaters to be connected and function as one total and complete system. Any number of N-series Rinnai water heaters can be manifolded together enabling the largest capacities on the market.
  • Frost Protection – minus 15°C on the internal versions and minus 20 °C on the external versions for flexible installation
  • Temperature setting up to 85 degrees for legionella protection or high temperature projects
  • Maintenance Monitor for engineers for easy system updates, diagnostics or set up.

 

And one small point for history buffs:- across town is the Millom Rugby LEAGUE Football Club – it is the oldest amateur rugby league club in the world, having been founded in 1873.

Rinnai’s H3 range of products include domestic and commercial heat pumps that offer immediate property decarbonisation. Rinnai is determined to provide UK customers with cost effective low carbon solutions towards domestic and commercial hot water and building heating provision.

RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS & CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS
FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY
www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/about us/H3

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The 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.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

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’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or DME.

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.

 

 

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CLICK HERE For more information on the RINNAI product range

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Helping Scotland towards net zero public buildings standard

 

Fife Council’s new Dunfermline Learning Campus is setting the path for the nation’s Net Zero Public Building Standard, using Passivhaus Classic as a baseline. Gilberts Blackpool has played a pivotal background role in turning the objective into a reality.

 

Core objectives in the building services design has been low carbon consumption, internal comfort and good indoor air quality supplied by mechanical ventilation with heat recovery contributing towards energy consumption of <58kWh/m2/annum.

 

To ensure the correct air quality and levels of air movement- in line with BB101- whilst taking into account idiosyncrasies of the building design, Gilberts’ grilles and diffusers have been used throughout the Campus’ two new schools- Woodmill and St Columba’s.

 

 

Across the learning spaces and breakout zones, Gilberts’ fixed (GD) and adjustable (GSJA) high capacity omni-directional swirl diffusers plus linear bar grilles (LG) maintain the compliant indoor air quality. Their designs mean fresh incoming air is rapidly mixed without excess noise nor draughts and used air extracted in line with each zone’s specific air change and heat loading requirements.

 

The swirls have all been strategically installed into the suspended ceilings of the learning spaces whilst the linear bar grilles are sited in bulkheads to provide air distribution into and out of the space.

 

The gymnasiums are covered by drum louvres. The drum louvres were chosen for their ease of installation into the non-standard ceiling tiles used and their ability to deliver the high capacity and long throw necessary for such large spaces.

 

The Campus has been designed by AHR Architects. Project architect Jamie Gregory observed:
“Following the Scottish Funding Trust’s Energy in Use requirements, the building was designed to a stringent set of criteria to ensure maximum comfort with minimum overall energy consumption. Designing to the Passivhaus standard guaranteed we met the Energy in Use criteria. We were confident that the choice of Gilberts’ air movement units would deliver in terms of achieving and maintaining the indoor comfort levels demanded.”

 

The Dunfermline Learning Campus represents a continuation of Gilberts’ reputation as the leader for air movement, building on a track record that includes Edinburgh’s Learning Estate investment Programme.

 

Founded 60 years ago, and still family-owned, Gilberts is the UK’s leading independent air movement engineer. It offers a comprehensive range of factory- and site-assembled louvres for screening, weather and noise protection: its acoustic louvres are BSRIA (Building Services Research and Information Association) validated.

 

Gilberts is unique in its ability to design, manufacture and test all products- including bespoke fabrications- in-house, to the extent it even designs and manufactures its own tools at its 140,000 sq ft head office and production facility.

CLICK HERE FOR THE GILBERTS WEBSITE

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Clean Energy: Government must implement Grid Reform

 

The energy production, trade, electricity generation and consumption statistics show that primary energy consumption in the UK on a fuel input basis fell by 4.9%, but indigenous energy production rose by 2.2%.

Electricity generation by Major Power Producers was marginally down with gas and renewables up 7.9% and 2.3% respectively, but nuclear was down 14%. Low carbon share of electricity generation by Major Power Producers fell by 1.6%, whilst fossil fuel share increased 1.6% to 30.8%.

Sheena McGuinness, Co-Head of Energy and Natural Resources at RSM UK, said:

“Despite the continued global focus on shifting towards nuclear and renewables, the latest data shows a mixed picture with renewable energy generation up and nuclear on a downward trend, while fossil fuels increased again.

“The transition to nuclear will not happen overnight. We’ve recently seen Sweden’s Vattenfall shortlist Rolls-Royce SMR to supply a series of small modular reactors (SMR), following its selection by Great British Nuclear to build three SMR units in the UK. These projects reflect the UK’s capability to innovate and be a leader in nuclear energy generation, provided the government delivers on its forthcoming Clean Energy Workforce Strategy and builds a skilled workforce to drive expansion across clean energy industries.

“More encouragingly, the uptick in renewable energy generation could be boosted further, amid news last week that a record amount of renewable energy capacity was granted planning permission in Q2 2025. This suggests that the government’s ambition to make Britain a ‘Clean Energy Superpower’ is finally gaining momentum. Energy businesses also continue to push for renewables projects, with the number of planning applications also growing over the same period. As these granted projects come to fruition, it’s key that the government commits to reforming the grid. With further details expected on the Connections Accelerator Service in Q4 2025, this should also help to streamline grid access for major investment projects.”

She added: “Given the complexity and anticipated long-term transition to net zero in the UK, energy businesses will want more certainty on investment and infrastructure in the upcoming Autumn Budget 2025. While capital funding was announced in last year’s Autumn Budget, businesses need more visibility on long-term funding pipelines to plan with confidence. However, with the latest fall in Energy Profit Levy revenues and growing pressure on the public purse, there is concern that fiscal constraints could limit the government’s ability to support clean energy businesses.”

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EJOT’s complete solution maximises EWI system quality and benefits

 

EJOT UK’s product range and 360-degree service is enabling the maximum value and energy saving benefits to be leveraged from external wall insulation (EWI) systems.

Its comprehensive range of insulation anchors, fasteners and post-install mounting elements for installing EWI, also known as ETICS (external thermal insulation composite systems), has recently been extended with the addition of a number of new innovative PVC profiles and beads. These are fundamentally important for built-up EWI systems to deliver on their promise, as any failure in these structural components could mean the built-up layers, including the insulation, are less effective at thermally insulating the building and deteriorate prematurely, resulting in the need for costly remediation.

EJOT’s profiles and beads are designed to optimise the long-term quality and performance of ETICS.

To ensure EJOT UK supports the sector most effectively, it has adopted a three-fold strategy. This is made up of a comprehensive technical development and testing phase to maintain a complete component and profile offering, plus a focus on optimisation of its processes to provide a streamlined and reliable supply chain for products.

The third dimension is providing world-class support to all those in the supply chain so that they have the data, training and knowledge to understand how to correctly integrate the products from design to installation.

EJOT UK calls this a 360-degree service. It starts at the design stage of a system or proposed EWI project when the company works closely with the design team to develop the most effective anchoring approach. This includes conducting pull-out tests on-site and using EJOT’s digital product configurator to arrive at the appropriate product combination, such as the EJOT ejotherm® STR-U 2G anchor complete with a pre-mounted screw.

This is an important area given that the choice of anchor will impact on the system’s thermal performance, the compatibility of insulation types possible and their thicknesses, as well as the overall cost given that advanced designs like EJOT’s may mean fewer anchors are necessary.

In these early stages, EJOT also works with clients on the pre-dimensioning of mounting elements for planned attachments. These are products such as EJOT Iso-Corner and EJOT Power-Bloc, which are designed to be fixed to the building substrate as the EWI system is being installed to accommodate medium to heavy-duty attachments such as balcony railings, brackets for downpipes, wall lights and railings.

By planning their location, a safe, secure attachment can be achieved once the façade is complete which does not create a thermal bridge.

EJOT UK’s 360-degree service benefits all those involved in the EW supply chain, helping to maximise return on investment for property owners and developers.

Working closely with the EWI systems companies and contractors at an early stage also enables the optimum suite of EJOT ETICS profiles and beads to be specified. The choice of these products impacts on installation efficiency and long-term performance of the EWI system, which is why EJOT’s design team in Germany have created products with innovative detailing to make a significant difference to the quality of the rendered finish, particularly at corners and around reveals such as windows and doors.

As part of EJOT UK’s on-site service, it also conducts adhesive tests with the profiles and beads to ensure they are compatible with the system build-up and target performance figures.

Clients are also supported to address unplanned attachments in situations when it is not possible to plan where, for example, a bracket may need to be attached to the façade. Post-install mounting elements, including EJOT Iso-Dart, make such attachments achievable with ease, enabling a secure fix to the substrate to be achieved through insulation at depths of up to 320mm with no thermal bridging effect.

 

Mark Newell, EJOT UK’s ETICS specialist said:

“The quality and performance of any building system will only ever be as good as its component parts. It may seem like an obvious statement, but it is important to highlight this in the context of the numerous other factors that influence specification and procurement decisions, not least budgetary pressures, project start and completion dates, product availability and install-ability.

“However, this is something that is increasingly being recognised in all areas of construction as more stringent standards and minimum performance levels in relation to sustainability, in particular, are encouraging greater scrutiny of systems, even down to the smallest components like the fasteners.

“By offering all three product segments, from an operational perspective we can provide significant benefits to systems providers by streamlining their supply chain, simplifying ordering, cutting the number of vehicle deliveries to sites and reducing stockholding. But the advantages are also felt by property developers and landlords too, given the quality consistency and the guarantee of quality that comes with all the ETICS components which carry the EJOT brand.”

 

CLICK HERE to find out more

 

 

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Apprentices Retrofit 450 Luminaires with TRILUX LiveLink SwarmSens in Heidenheim Car Park

 

A recent project with Stadtwerke Heidenheim AG – Unternehmensgruppe has shown how quick and straightforward it can be to modernise car park lighting using TRILUX LiveLink SwarmSens. In the underground car park beneath the Congress Centrum, outdated 58W fluorescent luminaires were replaced with an energy-efficient LED solution.

TRILUX recommended a 1:1 replacement with Aragon Fit luminaires and LiveLink SwarmSens — and the Stadtwerke team approved the solution. The entire refurbishment was then handed over to apprentice electricians as a real-world learning project, thanks to the ease of installation.

 

Lighting management for all

LiveLink SwarmSens is designed for simple retrofits in car parks and stairwells with up to 4,069 light points. All daylight and presence sensors are built into the luminaires, with configuration via the SwarmSens app. Basic programming can also be done directly on the controller where app access is not ideal.

 

“Thanks to the simple configuration and commissioning, smart lighting can be implemented with minimal effort, even in cost-sensitive projects,” explains Thomas Roberts, Solution Manager Light Management TRILUX.

 

Hands-on learning

As there was no time pressure, apprentices refurbished the 450 luminaires during regular operations. After training at TRILUX HQ in Arnsberg, they were fully equipped for the job.

 

“The installation was relatively simple. After the power supply to the old lights was switched off, we simply removed and dismantled them. We fitted the adapters supplied by TRILUX for the new luminaires without any problems. The wireless connectivity between fittings made a huge difference, and the programming was quick and intuitive,” says Mihály, apprentice electronics technician at Stadtwerke Heidenheim AG – Unternehmensgruppe.

 

An excellent result

Energy consumption has been cut by 85%, and the new Aragon Fit luminaires create a brighter, more welcoming environment. Their translucent diffuser and wide-beam optics produce a soft ceiling glow that reduces the typical “cave effect” found in underground car parks.

 

“The new installation offers a much higher level of brightness. In addition, the partial lighting approach is not only visually appealing, it also avoids unnecessary energy use by preventing the entire space being lit at once,” adds Aaron Czogalla, Team Leader Technical Maintenance Management / General Construction and Refurbishment at Stadtwerke Heidenheim AG – Unternehmensgruppe.

 

From improved lighting quality to hands-on skills development, the project highlights the practical benefits of TRILUX LiveLink SwarmSens and the ease of delivering energy-efficient, modern lighting for car parks.

CLICK. HERE for further information on Aragon Fit

 

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THE RADIATOR COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW SLIMLINE ACCORTO TOWEL RAIL

   

The Radiator Company, a leading manufacturer of designer radiators and towel rails, has welcomed its latest innovation to its ever-evolving collection. The Accorto is a slimline towel rail which combines sleek, minimalist design with impressive performance, making it ideal for modern bathrooms where style and space are equally important.

 

This elegant flat-fronted steel towel rail blends effortlessly with a range of different interior styles due to its clean finish. Comprising a slim, flat vertical panel that radiates heat across the entire surface, the Accorto has the option of one or two integrated horizontal brushed stainless steel towel bars. These can also be colour-matched.

 

A range of customisation options to complement any colour scheme is available, with a choice of over 200 colours. These include 188 RAL colours, plus 31 special finishes and six feature finishes including metallics, light surface textures and elegant matt options. Designers can use the towel rail to create both bold statement pieces and subtle, minimalistic features, depending on the desired aesthetic.

 

Commenting on this latest addition to the range, Richard Lister, National Sales Manager at The Radiator Company, said:

“As well as visual appeal, the towel rail delivers on practical performance, keeping towels neatly hung for a more organised look. Its flat profile ensures towels are warmed evenly, allowing designers to bring the luxury of a five-star hotel into their clients’ bathrooms, transforming spaces into a private sanctuary of style and comfort.”

 

With a versatile range of shapes and sizes, Accorto can be tailored to suit a variety of room dimensions. Four heights are available, from 990mm to 1790mm, with two widths of 286mm and 586mm, as well as a single or double panel option, making the Accorto ideal for both compact and spacious bathrooms. Furthermore, the towel rails can also be paired with suitable accessories, including a mirror bar and towel hook for added functionality.

 

Like all the radiators and towel rails manufactured by The Radiator Company, Accorto is CE/UKCA approved, certified to BS EN442 and benefits from a 10-year guarantee.

 

Part of the IRSAP Group, The Radiator Company offers unique and innovative radiators and heated towel rails in a vast array of finishes, colours, sizes and formats. With thousands of combinations, it offers the largest selection of designer radiators in the UK.

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The perfect fit for tall bathrooms

The perfect fit for tall bathrooms with 2.7m waterproof panels

Multipanel, the UK’s leading brand of waterproof bathroom wall panels, is expanding its range to include a new 2.7m panel height, designed to meet the growing demand for full-height solutions in properties with taller ceilings.

Ideal for older buildings such as Victorian and Edwardian homes, where ceiling heights often exceed modern standards, the new 2.7m panels make it easier to achieve a seamless, grout-free finish from floor to ceiling – without the need for horizontal joins or trims. The added height offers a cleaner aesthetic while saving time on installation and improving waterproofing integrity.

The 2.7m panels are available in both 598mm and 1200mm widths and feature Multipanel’s proprietary Hydrolock® tongue-and-groove system for a flush, discreet join. Fully waterproof and grout-free, the panels are easy to clean and quick to install, making them a practical alternative to traditional tiles.

The new format is available across Multipanel’s core collections, including Tile and Pure, giving retailers and installers even more flexibility when designing or upgrading bathrooms with higher ceilings.

Backed by a 30-year warranty and made in Edinburgh using over 90% UK-sourced materials, Multipanel panels continue to lead the way in bathroom wall innovation – providing a smarter alternative to traditional tiles.

 

 

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AIM RAISED ACCESS FLOOR BARRIER SYSTEM FACILITATES SERVICES

 

Installers are often faced with the challenge of maintaining fire barrier integrity when passing services through raised access floors.  AIM – Acoustic & Insulation Manufacturing’s new technical solution combines its Raised Access Floor Barrier (RAFB) with Rockwool Ablative Batts to provide a tested, cost-effective solution.

RAFBs prevent the passage of flame and smoke through underfloor cavities for at least the period of fire rating specified.  The AIM RAFB is used to subdivide large uninterrupted cavities, maintain partition fire ratings when aligned under a partition, reduce flanking transmission of sound through underfloor voids and create plenum chambers.

However, passing services, including cable trays and pipes, through the RAFB can compromise the barrier’s vital primary function if not completed in line with the manufacturer’s standard tested details.

Now, AIM provides installers, specifiers, fire consultants and RAF system holders with a solution.  When penetration is required to pass services through the AIM RAFB, two Rockwool FirePro® Coated Batts, the same height as the AIM RAFB, are placed on either side of the barrier. The services are passed through both the RAFB and ablative batts with any small gaps around the penetrating component filled with Rockwool FirePro® Acoustic Sealant, pipe sleeves and pipe closers.

The AIM RAFB is tested to BS EN 1366-4 and the principles of TR31 and can provide up to 120 minutes integrity and insulation. The addition of Rockwool Ablative Batts, to allow services to penetrate the barrier, does not denigrate or reduce the overall fire resistance of the AIM RAFB.

Without this assessment, the installer would need to seek approval from a competent person, such as a fire engineer, to run services through the RAFB or, which is most common, they replace the whole barrier with a full run of Ablative Batt, which is an expensive response.

 

“The many services required in modern offices are usually run through raised access floors, so must pass through dedicated fire barriers,” explains Ian Exall, AIM’s commercial director.  “AIM’s improved technical solution for accommodating services combines our RAFB with Rockwool Ablative Batts.  It is tested and cost effective compared with building the whole fire barrier from an Ablative Batt.”

 

An additional advantage of AIM’s new solution is that the services do not need to be installed as the barrier is installed.  The Ablative Batt and services can be installed at a later date providing a retrofit solution.

AIM sells the Rockwool Ablative Batt along with the AIM RAFB, but installers can also source the batt from their usual sources.

AIM’s RAFB also reduces airborne transmission of sound by up to 51dB Rw when tested with an access floor system.  Made from high density Rockwool stone wool slab faced with impervious foil facing on both sides, it is available cut to size or in slabs for cutting on site.

CLICK HERE fo the AIM RAFB datasheet

 

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EUROFORM’S VERSAPANEL® PLAYS ACOUSTICS ROLE AT NEW FILM STUDIOS

Euroform’s Versapanel® cement bonded particle board has played a role in meeting the acoustic performance criteria of the roof system for London’s largest new film and television campus, Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham.

 

Commissioned to provide the roof system covering an area of over 23,000m², roof and façade specialist Kalzip’s objective was to design a project specific acoustic roof construction to achieve a significant sound reduction performance.

 

As part of the tested system, Kalzip specified Versapanel® along with other elements, including rockfibre slab, glass wool insulation, an anti-drumming membrane and green roof, to the more noise exposed areas, including beside a train line, along with Kalzip structural components.

 

Kalzip’s Chris Goldie explains,

“Versapanel® was selected as a component in order to provide significant mass to the construction, contributing to the test criteria being meet.”

 

Euroform supplied 40,000m² of Versapanel®.  The product’s principal attributes are durability and excellent sound attenuation.  Its density increases substantially the mass of systems, providing superior acoustic performance when used in various elements of construction, such as roofs, ceilings and walls.

 

Versapanel® is specified extensively in constructions where acoustic control is important, such as in high-risk noise areas including airports and motorways.  It can also be used in acoustic baffles in theatres, concert halls and recording studios where true sound reverberation is required.

 

The Kalzip roof system was installed at Eastbrook Studios by sub-contractor FK Group.

 

Eastbrook Studios is now open for action.  A technologically advanced, film and television production centre, it offers a variety of purpose-built spaces, with 12 state-of-the-art soundstages ranging from 16,000 to 31,000 sqft, office and support space and 17 workshops, plus a 1.7-acre backlot.  Located at Dagenham, it is on London’s underground network.  Eastbrook Studios is operated by The MBS Group and owned by Hackman Capital Partners.

 

One of the leading suppliers of aluminium building envelopes, Kalzip has been producing roof and façade systems since 1968 and has installed more than 100 million square metres of Kalzip profiled sheets worldwide.

 

Euroform has been developing, fabricating and supplying materials for the construction industry since 1995.  It is part of the Performance Technology Group, a group of companies supporting the construction industry to meet acoustic, fire, thermal and vibration challenges.

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