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Experience Sentio like Never Before

Building Products Index Ltd controls, Heating Leave a Comment

View the Wavin entry on BPindex

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In line with Wavin’s commitment to innovation and product development, we’re pleased to share a new Sentio app is now available.

Developed in response to valuable feedback from homeowners and installers, this update offers a more intuitive and user-friendly experience while preserving the familiar functionality users rely on every day. Features such as scheduling, holiday mode and indoor climate control remain available, now supported by a refreshed design, clearer navigation, a notification centre, and important security improvements.

Designed around user feedback

At Wavin, we believe the best digital solutions are built together with their users. Over recent months, we have listened carefully to feedback from customers using the Sentio App in their daily lives.

The result is a redesigned user experience with clearer navigation, improved accessibility and a modern look and feel. Whether adjusting comfort settings, checking room conditions, managing schedules or setting vacation mode, users can continue to access the tools they know, now in a more intuitive way.

What’s new?

In addition to important security updates and the familiar functions already available in the Sentio App, the new release includes several user-focused enhancements:

  • Modern and intuitive user interface
  • Improved room and climate insights
  • Easier heating, cooling and ventilation control
  • New climate history graphs and trend visualisation
  • Improved scheduling experience
  • Dedicated notification centre for alerts and maintenance reminders
  • Enhanced accessibility and overall usability

The update is available via the App Store and Google Play now. Discover more about Sentio here.

Rising gas prices put boiler efficiency back in the spotlight

Building Products Index Ltd Limescale Prevention Leave a Comment

View the Cistermiser entry on BPindex

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With gas bills set to rise this autumn, Cistermiser is urging heating and plumbing professionals to make limescale protection part of the conversation with customers as boilers return to regular use.

Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap will increase by 4% from 1 October, taking the annual bill for a typical household paying by Direct Debit for gas and electricity from £1,663 to £1,723. While electricity costs will remain broadly stable following the temporary removal of VAT, gas bills are expected to rise by 8%, largely as a result of higher wholesale prices.

For millions of households, the increase comes just as central heating systems begin doing their heaviest work of the year. Cistermiser says this makes the weeks ahead an important opportunity for installers to help customers ensure their boilers are operating as efficiently as possible , particularly in hard water areas where limescale can build up unseen inside boiler heat exchangers.

Around 60% of the UK lies within a hard water area, and when hard water is heated, calcium and magnesium deposits can form limescale on internal surfaces, including boiler heat exchangers and hot water pipework.

The resulting layer acts as an insulator between the heat exchanger and the water, meaning more energy can be required to achieve the same heat output. British Water figures indicate that 1.6mm of scale within a heating system can result in a 12% loss in heating efficiency.

Richard Braid, Managing Director at Cistermiser, comments: “Customers are understandably going to be thinking about heating costs again as we head into autumn, particularly following the latest increase in gas prices. For installers, that creates an opportunity to look beyond whether a boiler is simply working and consider what can be done to help keep it working efficiently.

“Limescale is easy to overlook because much of the damage happens where the homeowner cannot see it. But in hard water areas, allowing scale to build up on a heat exchanger can make the boiler work harder to deliver the heat the customer is paying for.

“At this time of year, when installers are servicing boilers, replacing heating equipment or preparing customers’ homes for winter, it makes sense to talk about preventative measures too. Protecting the heat exchanger from scale is a relatively straightforward intervention that can help maintain efficiency and potentially extend the working life of the appliance.”

Cistermiser’s Combimate is a polyphosphate scale inhibitor designed to prevent limescale build-up in domestic hot water systems. Fitted to the cold water supply, it uses food-grade Combiphos to prevent scale-forming minerals accumulating on hot surfaces, without removing naturally occurring minerals or altering water hardness.

Requiring no electricity or magnets, Combimate can protect an individual boiler or wider hot water system and, when fitted alongside a new boiler, heat exchanger or thermal store, is backed by Cistermiser’s Lifetime Scale Prevention Guarantee, subject to installation and maintenance requirements.

Richard adds: “Energy prices aren’t something an installer can control, but helping customers get the most from the energy they use is. As the heating season begins, protecting against limescale is one relatively simple step that can make a meaningful difference over the lifetime of a boiler.”

For more information on water-saving solutions and how Cistermiser can help, visit www.cistermiser.co.uk

Briza Net Zero to heat and cool the first delivery of homes at Hampshire’s new sustainable garden village

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Radiators Leave a Comment

View the Jaga entry on BPindex

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Jaga UK’s state-of-the-art Briza Net Zero heat pump radiator has been selected to heat and cool some of the first new homes at Welborne, a new generation sustainable garden village near Fareham, Hampshire.

Designed by Buckland Group, Welborne, one of the largest new community projects in the UK, is under construction and will become a place for 15,000 people to live, work and play, consisting of connected and energy efficient homes integrated with extensive publicly accessible green space. This latest announcement reinforces Welborne’s commitment to embedding sustainable solutions throughout the development.

Jaga’s Briza S Net Zero model was chosen for its slimline, elegant design and exceptional energy performance. The compact yet powerful unit provides efficient heating and cooling via Welborne’s ambient water-source heat network – the largest of its kind in the UK.

Developed by Last Mile Heat in collaboration with Rendesco, the sustainable energy network supplies low-carbon heating, cooling, and hot water, helping to significantly reduce the community’s carbon footprint and deliver long-term energy savings for residents.

At the heart of the network is Portsmouth Water’s underground Hoads Hill Reservoir, which provides water at a stable temperature of approximately 10–12ºC. This water is pumped into each home’s heat pump system, where it is warmed to 45ºC before circulating through Jaga’s Briza Net Zero emitters. During the summer, the same system delivers cooling by channelling cooler water through the Briza Net Zero units, providing an efficient, climate-friendly alternative to air conditioning.

The initial phase of the project will supply heating and cooling to 700 new homes, along with commercial premises and community buildings, gradually expanding to serve all planned 6,000 homes and 15,000 residents. Notably, this sustainable energy network is projected to cut CO₂ emissions by 90% compared to gas boilers, saving over 272,000 tonnes of carbon in the first 25 years of operation and providing residents with ongoing energy savings. Recently, the Green Heat Network Fund awarded £2 million to support the network’s development, further reinforcing its positive impact on the environment and local community.

Phil Mangnall, Managing Director of Jaga UK, commented, “We’re incredibly proud to be part of this forward-thinking development that prioritises sustainability and energy efficiency. Our Briza Net Zero emitters are specifically designed to work seamlessly with renewable energy systems, delivering high heat output at lower flow temperatures. This means less energy is needed to heat the water from the reservoir, creating a highly efficient system. Their slimline, sleek design also complements the timeless architecture of the homes, adding both style and functionality. It’s exciting to see these emitters play a key role in the UK’s largest water-source heating and cooling network.”

In delivering this ambitious project, Jaga UK is collaborating with Welborne’s housebuilder partners, including Thakeham, Pye Homes and CG Fry. These developers are creating sustainable and high-quality homes to meet the needs of future generations. Jaga is also working closely with the developers’ chosen heat pump partners, NIBE and others, to provide a cohesive heating and cooling system for each development.

Welborne Garden Village is an ongoing development, and prospective residents will benefit from new schools, healthcare, sports and leisure facilities, along with a range of retailers, and a science and technology park. Taking a nature-led design approach, more than 50% of Welborne will be accessible green space woven throughout, and the garden village will be biodiversity positive with wildlife and natural habitats restored from previously intensively farmed agricultural land.

Construction on the first phase began in 2024, and Welborne will welcome its first residents early this year.

 

Mendip Stoves Loxton 3 Cooktop: Award-Winning Warmth and Versatility for 2024

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Stoves Leave a Comment

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The Mendip Stoves Loxton 3 Cooktop is a standout in home heating and cooking, winning the prestigious title of Best Stove at the Build It Awards 2024. This compact wood-burning stove combines style, practicality, and innovation, making it an ideal choice for contemporary homes seeking efficiency and versatility.

Designed for modern living, the Loxton 3 Cooktop is perfect for smaller spaces, offering an impressive heat output while maintaining clean-burning performance. Its eco- friendly design meets stringent emission standards, ensuring warmth that is as kind to the environment as it is to your home. The addition of the durable cooktop elevates this stove beyond a traditional heater, allowing you to prepare meals or keep your coffee warm, making it a cosy centrepiece for any kitchen or living area.

Crafted with precision and diligence, the Loxton 3 Cooktop boasts a robust steel body and a large ceramic glass window, giving you a stunning view of the flames. Its advanced airways system keeps the glass clean, enhancing your experience of the fire’s natural glow.

This award-winning stove epitomizes Mendip Stoves’ commitment to quality, combining timeless design with innovative functionality. Whether you are looking for efficient heating or an additional cooking option, the Loxton 3 Cooktop is a perfect choice to enhance your home’s warmth and character. It is no wonder it captured the attention of the Build It Awards judges in 2024!

Guide to the domestic UK Building Regulations and compliance standards for developers and specifiers and what the new UK Labour Government mean for housing and energy?

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Hot Water Cylinders Leave a Comment

View the Kingspan entry on BPindex

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For specifiers and developers, keeping ahead of the latest developments and changes in Building Regulations and compliance standards is good practice that will never get old.

Householders rightly expect that Building Regulations will have been followed in construction of their new home, and that safety and compliance standards have been met. After all, it’s in everyone’s interest that new homes and everything in them and about them – heating, hot water and more – work reliably for years to come.

In this article, Andrew Ogden, Head of Technical Team at Kingspan Cylinders, guides you through the domestic UK Building Regulations and compliance standards that developers and specifiers must follow, focusing on heating and hot water.

Andrew explores:

  • What are the UK Building Regulations in England and the devolved nations?
  • What do the Building Regulations say about heating and hot water?
  • What other regulations and requirements do new build specifiers need to know?
  • What are the compliance standards for new build suppliers?
  • What changes will there be to UK Building Regulations in the future?

Read the full article here.

And if you’re interested in the new UK Government’s outlook on all things housing and energy, check out Andrew’s other article in which he examines the new UK Labour Government’s plans for housing, energy and business and what they could mean for developers, specifiers, local authority and social housing providers.

He gets under the skin of legislative priorities for the coming year and looks further ahead at what’s likely to be in the pipeline for the next five years.

Andrew gets into:

  • Housing, water and energy plans for 2024-25
  • Skills, employment and investment plans for 2024-25
  • Housing and energy priorities for the next five years
  • Employment and business priorities for the next five years

Read Andrew’s feature article here.

Have you found these articles interesting?

Let us know what you think about the new UK Government’s plans and if you agree with Andrew‘s interpretation by completing our short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bpinov24

 

Jaga UK launches super slimline fan convector: Briza Net Zero

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Radiators Leave a Comment

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Jaga has launched a state-of-the-art range of sleek and slimline fan convectors designed to enhance the efficiency and versatility of heat pumps and low-temperature heating systems.

The Briza Net Zero range is ideal for modern buildings where both cooling and heating are essential. When paired with a heat pump, these units offer an energy-efficient and climate-friendly alternative to air conditioning, with both light and deep cooling (non-condensing and condensing) options for year-round comfort in the UK’s variable climate.

Compact and stylish, Briza Net Zero units feature a sleek design that seamlessly integrates into modern interiors. The XS model, at just 85mm deep, is one of the slimmest fan convectors on the market, making it perfect for spaces where size and aesthetics are paramount.

 

Recognising that heat pumps are most efficient at lower system design temperatures; the Briza Net Zero range has been optimised for this purpose. At flow and return temperatures of just 35/30°C (room temp 20°C), the Briza M Net Zero BASE-Line, Jaga’s most powerful model yet, delivers a heat output of up to 2110W and a deep cooling output of up to 2575W at 7/12°C (room temp 27°C). This makes it an ideal choice for maximising system efficiency whilst maintaining indoor comfort.

The range is versatile in both installation and control, with various sizes and colour options, and the flexibility to be wall or ceiling mounted. This adaptability makes it suitable for a wide range of projects.

 

Designed with sustainability in mind, the units feature a built-in EC motor for low energy consumption and an extended service life. The recyclable aluminium and copper heat exchanger, with hydrophilic coating, enhances cooling performance while minimising environmental impact.

Get in touch

To find out more, visit

https://netzero.jaga.com/uk

Return of Albion Instant Win

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Hot Water Cylinders Leave a Comment

View the Kingspan entry on BPindex

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Not a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but now at a plumbing supplier near you!

Starting on the 12th of August, Kingspan is relaunching the hugely popular Instant Win promotion, with a guaranteed prize for every qualifying Albion product you buy. Prizes start from a minimum of £25 up to £500 worth of Amazon.co.uk e-gift vouchers.

This time, the promotion is available on more products than ever before, including Ultrasteel, Ultrasteel+, Ultrasteel IE and Aerocyl cylinders, meaning this year, even more people can win a guaranteed prize.

It’s still super easy to claim; you only have to purchase a qualifying Albion product and scan the unique QR code on the Instant Win card provided with the cylinder to find out how much you’ve won! Then, fill in your details, attach a copy of your proof of purchase* and hit submit, and that’s it. You’re done! Kingspan do the rest and once your claim is verified, your Amazon.co.uk e-gift voucher will be emailed for you to spend on whatever you want.

Please note the T&Cs for the 2024 edition of the promotion. You only have three calendar months from the invoice date to submit your claim, so don’t leave it until the last minute!

Stewart Gibbons, Commercial Director for Kingspan Cylinders, said, “I’m so pleased to bring this promotion back, especially following the withdrawal of the Kingspan Rewards scheme due to technical issues. But we’ve taken what we learned from that experience, and that’s why we’ve gone back to the Instant Win format. Installers just loved it, claiming it’s so quick and simple. Bang! You know what you won in seconds, and within a couple of clicks, the claim is submitted, and Kingspan does all the rest. Good luck!”

*Please note only merchant invoices or cash receipts will be accepted. Order confirmations, delivery notes, shipment notifications, etc. do not qualify as valid proof of purchase. For full T&C’s visit www.winwithkingspan.com/terms-and-conditions

Jaga UK opens new low-carbon showroom and training facility in Herefordshire

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Ventilation Leave a Comment

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Visit the Jaga UK website

Jaga UK, designers and manufacturers of innovative, sustainable heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, has officially opened its new purpose-built low-carbon facility in Ledbury, Herefordshire.

The state-of-the-art facility, named ‘Kriekels House’ after the company’s founding family, was opened on 20 June with a ceremony attended by Jaga employees, customers, suppliers, and industry partners.

A Vision for Net Zero

Jan Kriekels, the CEO and visionary leader of Jaga, emphasised the company’s commitment to accelerating the decarbonisation of buildings. During his address, he highlighted the importance of achieving net-zero emissions and showcased Jaga’s role in this global initiative before cutting the ribbon to officially open the facility.

The opening marks a significant milestone for Jaga as it’s home to the company’s first state-of-the-art UK demo and training facility, where they can showcase the powerful heating and cooling capacity of their products with heat pumps, and visitors can get hands-on experience with low-carbon HVAC technologies.

Features of Kriekels House

In line with the company’s sustainability ethos, Kriekels House was designed with a fabric-first approach to maximise energy-efficiency and minimise carbon emissions. The building features:

  • Offices and warehouse space: Providing a comprehensive operational base to service UK customers.
  • Demo and training facility: The first of its kind in the UK, this space allows visitors to experience Jaga’s heat pump radiators and other low-carbon HVAC technologies in action. It will be available for hands-on training for HVAC professionals and students.
  • Heating and cooling: Provided by high-efficiency, low-temperature heat pump radiators powered by a combination of a 15kW ground source heat pump and four 16kW air source heat pumps.
  • Solar PV: Solar panels covering half the roof space generate over 120,000 kWh annually, supporting the facility’s energy needs and providing electric car charging stations for staff and visitors.
  • Advanced Building Management System: A Qbus system manages HVAC, lighting, and security, ensuring optimal performance and energy efficiency.
  • Fully accessible plant room on display: Visitors can see the full workings of a building serviced by renewable technologies.

A Hub for Learning and Innovation

Phil Mangnall, Managing Director of Jaga UK, expressed excitement about the new facility, saying,

“After 11 months of building, we’re delighted to have moved into and officially opened our new building.

Kriekels House is designed to foster learning and innovation, and embodies our company ethos – centred around sustainability, creativity and social responsibility. Powered by renewable technologies, with open workspaces and dedicated training areas, we are well-equipped to continue delivering exceptional products for our customers and we hope to play a key role in inspiring the next generation of HVAC engineers to help design the net zero buildings of the future.

We’d like to thank everyone who worked on Kriekels House, helping us make our dream sustainable facility a reality. Here’s to an exciting future in our new home.”

ABOUT JAGA UK

Jaga are pioneers in designing innovative, ecologically sustainable heating, cooling and ventilation systems using less energy and fewer raw materials, ensuring a better indoor climate without damaging the outdoor climate.

The opening of Kriekels House emphasises Jaga UK’s dedication to sustainability and innovation, positioning the company at the forefront of the green building revolution.

For more photos from the event, see Jaga UK’s Latest News

Decarbonising Hot Water Generation In Commercial Properties with Adveco Solar Thermal

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Hot water systems Leave a Comment

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Adveco is the hot water specialist for the commercial built environment and a leader in the design and supply of solar thermal applications.

Solar thermal deploys panels with fluid that captures and efficiently transfers solar energy as heat indirectly to the domestic hot water (DHW) system. As a high-temperature renewable source of DHW, Adveco solar thermal lends itself to working in conjunction with not only conventional gas heating but also other renewable technologies including Adveco’s air source heat pumps which can be used to  provide pre-heat to solar thermal. This enables a variety of bespoke, hybrid applications to be considered to meet the varied demands of commercial buildings.

Whether a commercial hot water system uses gas or electricity, it will require a preheat source to reduce carbon emissions.

As a rule of thumb, new builds will invariably default to heat pumps. In contrast, properties with an existing gas connection will see greater advantages from the installation of solar thermal which can be extremely effective in reducing reliance on the gas boiler.

Neither technology currently offers a standalone response for the year-round high temperatures, high volume and peak demands seen in commercial systems. This makes an accurate assessment of the needs and limitations of a building critical for the correct sizing of the solar thermal system.

For Carbon Reduction & Significant savings on Running Costs

A commercial system sized to support an occupancy of 50 will typically require 12-24 panels, whilst smaller systems servicing up to 12 occupants will employ just three to four panels.

Sized and installed correctly, each Adveco solar thermal collector can contribute up to 1400kWh per annum, providing electricity savings of £300 and more importantly reducing emissions of CO² by 322kg.

To ensure system longevity and return on investment fluid within the solar collectors must be correctly managed. If left in the panel it can overheat, stagnate and leave collectors irreparable. Adveco solar thermal systems avoid this by incorporating drainback into all its solar system designs.

A more compact alternative to solar PV for DHW, solar thermal is extremely advantageous where roof space is at a premium due to competition with other heating and ventilation systems on a project. This is especially true of urban projects where solar thermal’s silent operation is also desirable.

Explore Adveco solar thermal application design and system supply

Adveco Solar Collectors

  • Rugged 2.24 m² flat plate collectors
  • Approved by EN12975-2-2006
  • Solar Keymark certified
  • Temperature resistant up to 200°C
  • Installation options: roof build-on, roof build-in, frame construction for flat roof and wall mounting
  • Smaller footprint compared to equivalent solar photovoltaics (PV) for DHW (Three Adveco solar thermal panels at 6.6m² versus typical 4 kW PV system with 16 x panels at 25m²)
  • Simple installation system for multiple panels
  • Complete installation is delivered in a single package including assembly materials
  • No operational noise for zero sound pollution
  • No high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants
  • No specialist registration, such as F-gas, is needed for installation, although installers should be solar trained

Adveco Drainback Systems – For Long-lasting, Low-Maintenance Renewables

  • Highly compact, modern design
  • Prevents stagnation temperatures
  • Automatically drains fluid if power is cut without the need for working components
  • Reduces required pump capacity and energy use of pump station to a minimum
  • Patented drain back system, available as an accessory
  • Low maintenance with long operational lifespan. Fluid refresh is required every eight years at most

Discover more about Adveco Collectors and Drainback solar thermal systems

Visit https://adveco.co/

EFFICIENT LST RADIATORS ENABLING LOW CARBON HEAT

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, Radiators Leave a Comment

View the Jaga entry on BPindex

Find out more about Jaga’s Dynamic Boost Hybrid

View Jaga’s range of Low Surface Temperature Radiators

THE UK’S SAFEST RADIATORS

Jaga's Tempo LST Hybrid Radiator for Heating and CoolingLow Surface Temperature (LST) radiators are relied upon to provide safe, high-efficiency heating in places where safety is paramount. They are the go-to choice for facilities such as hospitals and healthcare settings, care and nursing homes, schools and nurseries, prisons and public buildings to prevent vulnerable people from burns and injuries caused by coming into contact with the radiator.

LST radiators work by convecting heat from the emitter, with a small air gap between the emitter and the surface of the radiator casing to prevent the casing ever getting hotter than 43°C.

They are designed with numerous other safety features such as antibacterial coatings, rounded corners and grilles, chamfered front and side panels, casing locks, anti-ligature grilles, pencil-proof grilles and arthritic TRV adaptors. And leading LST manufacturers, such as Jaga, ensure they are designed to conform to the NHS Estates Health Guidance on surface temperature and casing design.

But how are LST radiators keeping up with the times and the demand for high heat output at low flow temperatures?

FUTURE PROOFING FOR LOW CARBON HEAT

Jaga's Tempo LST Hybrid Radiator - Control Panel in Heating ModeJaga’s newest innovation for LST radiators is a key enabler for low carbon heat.

As a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, ecologically sustainable heating, cooling and ventilation systems, Jaga has been at the forefront of the LST radiator market for many years, supplying hundreds of schools and healthcare facilities across the country with safe, powerful, energy-efficient heating.

Jaga's Dynamic Boost Hybrid technology inside the radiator doubles the heat outputTo meet the rapidly increasing demand for higher heat output at lower flow temperatures, Jaga has recently launched a revolutionary innovation for radiators – Dynamic Boost Hybrid (DBH). DBH is an electric booster set that sits inside the LST radiator. It uses small, quiet thermal activators to increase airflow and boost heat output by two to three times without increasing radiator size. It means there’s no need to install large LST radiators when switching to a heat pump system. In fact, they can be even smaller.

This game-changing innovation makes Jaga LST radiators completely future proof. If a building is still being heated by a gas boiler, standard Jaga LST radiators can be installed now, and when the time comes to switch to a heat pump, DBH can easily be retrofitted, enabling the switch over to an emission-free installation at any time without having to make any changes to the radiators, heat distribution or pipes.

WHAT MAKES A HYBRID RADIATOR?

Not only do Jaga’s LST Hybrid radiators provide powerful heat with low energy consumption, they cool too. DBH can automatically switch between heating and light cooling modes, providing the heating system can supply cooling water.

This method of non-condensing cooling is much more environmentally friendly than air conditioning, using less energy and no F-gas, so it’s a perfect solution for a comfortable indoor climate all year round.

GET IN TOUCH

To find out more about Jaga’s range of safe and efficient LST Hybrid radiators, get in touch with team via their website jaga.co.uk.

ABOUT JAGA UK

Jaga are pioneers in designing innovative, ecologically sustainable heating, cooling and ventilation systems using less energy and fewer raw materials, ensuring a better indoor climate without damaging the outdoor climate.

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