Plumbing new - PTS makes life easier for customers...

PTS has extended its renewable specialist branches as a distribution solution to improve lead times and make life easier for installers sourcing energy efficient products.

Three additional branches are now open in Warrington, Plymouth and Coatsbridge and mark the start of a rolling programme of openings set for 2011.

Supporting the original Aylesford renewable branch, the new branches are unique in being dedicated to stocking and distributing renewable products in convenient regional locations, meaning customers can purchase and have renewable technology delivered in a similar timescale as traditional products.

Kelvin Stevens, managing director for PTS, said: “As customer demand for renewable technology increases, installers will be under pressure to source the right products quickly and effectively. This is where PTS can help. We want to make life as easy as possible for our customers and see no reason why they shouldn’t be able to order their renewables at their local trade counter and receive them via next day delivery with their other conventional purchases.

“By implementing this new logistics solution, customers can rely on PTS to be a one-stop-shop for everything they need, no matter what sort of job they are working on. We are looking forward to opening more regionalised renewable specialist branches as the year progresses.”

PTS is also looking to expand its specialist external sales knowledge of renewables in the coming months, providing customers with additional advice and guidance of these new technologies.

Save money on your boilers through the Energy Smart scheme. Energy Smart provide the most competitive rates on energy efficient boilers. For further information see our website energy-smart.org.uk also like us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Dorian Harvey - South West’s Apprentice Plumber 2011

Dorian Harvey, 20, from Illogan near Redruth was awarded with a Milwaukee Power Tools set worth £350.

“I’m overwhelmed. I was up against some awesome competition, everyone did really well," he said.
"I’m an apprentice in the family firm, Heatwave Heating, and I’m proud to be going home to tell my dad I did it for the company. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over and now I can look forward to the national finals in May.”

It’s the second year a Cornwall College apprentice has won the regional competition. Danny Teare went on to win the national title in 2010.

Organised by HIP UK - the UK’s leading regulatory body for electrical contracting and leading construction industry publisher SNG, the event saw the best young plumbers and electricians from across the South West competing for the coveted title of best in the South West and a place in the national finals.

The finals are set to take place over two days, May 11 and 12, in Swindon where Dorian will be up against the best apprentices in the UK battling it out for the title of UK Apprentice Plumber of the Year 2011 and a prize of trade vouchers to the value of £1,000 for himself and £500 for the College.



Check out our Facebook page and keep up to date. Become a fan http://www.facebook.com/energysmartuk For plumbers save money with Energy Smart. 

Taxman outlining a tax "amnesty" for plumbers, gas fitters....

The main story that is dominating industry chatter this week centres on the taxman offering plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers an opportunity to come clean on their tax affairs, outlining a tax "amnesty" for tradesmen.

Under the Plumbers Tax Safe Plan, traders who have tax to pay, which they have not yet told H M Revenue & Customs; have until May 31 to tell the department of their intention to disclose what they owe. If they make a full disclosure, most will face a low penalty rate of 10%, with a maximum of 20%, rather than up to 100%, and threat of prosecution, which can otherwise apply.

Elsewhere in other news, Sharp is calling on the government to consider its decision to review the Feed-in-Tariff for installations over 50kW; the Construction Products Association has written to the Chancellor in advance of his Budget statement this month, encouraging him to introduce a range of measures that will help deliver the government’s growth strategy and speed up the country’s economic recovery; and the ‘Wolf Commission on Youth Education and Training’ report on apprentices is the “blueprint for the future of Britain,” says Pimlico Plumbers’ boss Charlie Mullins.

Source Plumbzine

For energy efficient boilers save money with Energy Smart view boiler discounts online at www.energy-smart.org.uk

Social landlords must comply with gas regulations to avoid prosecution....

Social landlords must comply with gas regulations to avoid prosecution in case of an explosion, says Matthew Lake

On average there are four gas explosions each year in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive might conclude that those explosions were the result of unavoidable and tragic circumstances.

However, if a death occurs the police might prosecute the landlord of the property - potentially even for suspected corporate manslaughter - if it discovers a breach of gas safety regulations.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require landlords to protect tenants’ safety by ensuring regular inspections of gas appliances are undertaken by suitably qualified persons on the Gas Safety Register.

While a breach of the provisions may not be the cause of the explosion, this will certainly not assist a landlord which becomes the subject of a regulatory investigation following an explosion.

To ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords should undertake regular audits and maintain a register of those they employ to work on gas appliances and flues to ensure they are on the Gas Safe Register (which replaced the Corgi registration scheme from 1 April 2009).

For registered providers of social housing it will often be the case that they have entered into long-term service contracts before the transition from Corgi registration to the Gas Safe Register took place. Installers’ Corgi registration numbers were available to landlords at the point of registration on the Gas Safe Register so an audit should be a fairly straightforward exercise to undertake - but an important one.

Matthew Lake is a solicitor in the property litigation team at Weightmans LLP
matthew.lake@weightmans.com

Plumbing news - Energy efficient boilers and renewable technologies

Hove MP, Mike Weatherley and Brighton Kempton MP, Simon Kirby visited their local PTS trade counters to learn more about a range of technology and to discuss its wider importance to the UK economy with PTS managing director, Kelvin Stevens, and policy manager at the BMF, Brett Amphlett.

"It's encouraging to see newly-elected MPs taking a keen interest in how renewable technologies can improve the UK economy as we believe that more Government support and incentives are needed to really make this sector take off." said Stevens.

"This was a great opportunity for us to express our belief in the importance of taking emitted and embedded carbon out of buildings whilst communicating the concerns felt by the installers we talk to every day.

"As a nation we rate the worst in Europe for wasting energy, but by working with merchants like PTS, the Government can make renewable technologies more enticing for homeowners to adopt, which in turn provides a whole new revenue stream for the UK's plumbing and heating installers."

Mike Weatherley MP said: "We need to explain and persuade our constituents to carry out energy-saving work. With ever-increasing demand for electricity and other forms of energy, efforts on conservation and efficiency to combat fluctuating temperatures - and save money on bills - are incontrovertible".

The day was another in the Builders Merchants Federation's industry and parliament programme. Such visits bring MPs together with the building materials' supply chain to gain insight and understanding of each others' world.

For further information on trade discounts on boilers and energy efficiency contact Energy Smart

Scottish Boiler Scrappage Scheme - £1million in funding

Scottish Boiler Scrappage Scheme

Scotland has one of the most ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets in the world. The installation of an efficient heating system is one effective way of reducing your household energy bills and CO2 emissions. There are currently an estimated 250,000 homes in Scotland that have boilers of the least efficient type (efficiency of less than 70%).

To help address this, the Scottish Government has announced £1million in funding for the boiler scrappage scheme for owner/occupiers in Scotland. Scrappage schemes work by helping to meet the cost of replacing inefficient equipment with new more efficient alternatives.

What are the eligibility criteria?

What are the benefits?

Upgrading your boiler can result in:

•     Lower running costs
•     Reduced CO2 emissions
•     Lower energy bills

For example, this means that by upgrading an existing boiler with a SAP2005 efficiency of less than 70% to an Energy Saving Trust Recommended one, your household heating bill should drop by about a quarter – a saving on average of £190 a year, or £235 for a 3 bed semi-detached house.

•   You must be replacing a working boiler with a SAP2005 efficiency rating of less than 70% as detailed on www.sedbuk.com. If you wish to clarify if a system is eligible, please contact the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012.
•  However, if you are aged over 60 and have a boiler that is not working but has a SAP2005 efficiency rating of less than 70%, you may still apply.
•  You must be installing an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler or a Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited microgeneration technology. (Please note, an A-rated boiler does not automatically qualify as ESTR). You can find a list of ESTR boilers on our website or should you require further assistance please contact the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012.

•   The property where the boiler is to be installed must be a domestic address in Scotland.
•   You must be the owner/occupier of the residential property (in Scotland) in which the new boiler will be installed.
•   You must have received a written/verbal quotation for your boiler replacement before making an application.
•   You must make an application and receive your voucher before having the boiler replaced.
•  Work on the installation must not have commenced before the date on which the rebate voucher is  received.
•  You have not received, nor will you be receiving, an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant or  home loan offer, and/or any CERT funding towards the installation of your new boiler.
•  The installer must be Gas Safe registered (for gas installation) and should be a member of a recognised industry body such as CLE, SNIPEF or OFTEC. Installation of a microgeneration technology must be carried out by a person qualified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

The scheme is now open for applications. see the following link for further information: Energy Saving Trust

Please obtain a written/verbal quotation from your installer before making your application.

For energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart

PTS (Plumbing Trade Supplies) 320 PTS outlets stock 25 most popular spares

PTS continues its mission to make life as easy as possible for busy installers thanks to its ever growing spares service.

Since the launch of its own dedicated delivery service and the opening of the first standalone spares branch in 2008, PTS’ service now features six express delivery vehicles and 140 outlets, making it simple for customers to get the parts they need in the shortest amount of time. In addition to the branches which offer over 10,000 spares lines, all 320 PTS outlets now stock the 25 most popular spares so installers can get everything they need from one quick trip to their local trade counter.

Martyn Farrelly, Operations Director Spares, said: “We have had nothing but positive feedback from installers who now receive spares within hours of ordering, enabling them to honour commitments to their own clients. The express service allows orders to be processed immediately, with parts delivered to site on a daily basis for a unique ‘full time’ service which customers instantly reacted enthusiastically to.

“The whole growth of PTS’ spares offering demonstrates how listening to our customers is a vital part of who we are as a leading merchant whilst ensuring that we remain focused on providing services and product areas that are important to installers.”

For further information call PTS on 01455 551210, visit www.ptsplumbing.co.uk or text PTS or SPARES to 83332 to find your nearest branch.



For energy and cost efficient boiler contact Energy Smart today