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It's the end of the beginning for UFH
The UK underfloor heating business continues to outperform the market's general growth levels. The UHMA, the industry's leading trade body, has also succeeded in widening its' role. As he takes over the Chair for 2006, Mike Lamb sets out the association's achievements and the future challenges for its' members.This year sees the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Underfloor Heating Manufacturer's Association. Over the last year, membership has increased by over a third, and now virtually every major player in the industry is either a member, or in the process of making an application to join. We've also established working links with industry bodies such as CIBSE, IPHE, IDHE and we are now working with the HVCA on a joint initiative to bring underfloor heating into the Skills Card scheme.If a week is a long time in politics, then a whole decade is like an aeon in the lifetime of a new industry. Huge progress has been made. Underfloor heating is now accepted as part of the main-stream of UK building services and is a standard solution for many other types of project. In the commercial sector, this includes almost any high-ceilinged area, while domestically the major penetration of the self build market is now accompanied by real interest from builders and developers of all types of homes. However, it would be foolish to pretend that all resistance has been swept away, and the UHMA must concentrate on overcoming the last barriers to total acceptance. Strength and weakness can walk hand in hand. Underfloor heating is strong because it becomes an integral part of the building structure. In the past, it has also been considered something of a challenge because it has to interface with a huge range of structural components and materials- in a way that other building services do not.
Well Insulated
Time has also eroded one of the principle cost objections to UFH- the vital in-floor insulation. Building Regulations Part L2 now require substantial levels of insulation in the floor- regardless of the type of heating system! This makes UFH the most cost-effective heating system bar none. So, with structural problems overcome by technology, and cost objections removed by legislation, it's small wonder that sales of UFH are increasing so dramatically. But huge demand brings its' own potential for trouble. Poor products, poor designs and poor installations can be drawn into the vacuum created if there are insufficient reputable companies to supply the market. The UHMA fights poor products by highlighting the reasons for the high standards maintained by our members. We will combat the skills shortage by increased training at all levels and the publication of definitive technical guides to good practice in all aspects of UFH.
It's goodbye from him
Rod Hickmott, UHMA chairman for 2005, hands over the reins to Mike Lamb. " The UHMA has grown significantly, in its' membership and through its' range of skills, and, of course, its' workload", says Hickmott. "It's worth saying that all those on the UHMA committee give their time without pay and my thanks to all those who have put so much in. A big thank-you from me for all those who have worked to open up UFH.
New UHMA Chairman Mike Lamb highlights potential problems with joints
Those historic issues have been resolved well proven techniques now exist for dealing with all types of floor structure. Methods have been established for working with a huge range of floor finishes from limestone slabs, to wood. UHMA is now working with the Carpet Federation to establish test-backed guidelines for use of underlay and carpet combinations with Underfloor Heating
Joint Effort
One issue that needs to be addressed is to end the use of joints in solid floor installations for anything other than repair purposes. Until now the debate has centred on whether suitable joints with proper guarantees exist, but that is not the issue. The problem arises from using joints as a standard method and using them in a big way! I know of projects where more than 40 unrecorded joints have been incorporated below the slab. This contravenes the Water board Guidelines which clearly stipulate that inaccessible joints must not be incorporated into a system. Inaccessible situations must inevitably occur when joints are installed in structural floors such as slabs, post tension floors, pre-cast modules, below reinforcement and any number of other situations. Obviously things sometimes go wrong. Where site damage has occurred, joints can be made as a form of repair, but these must be accurately recorded- each and every one. Members of UHMA install many millions of metres of pipe every year, without joints and without any problems. Our collective concern is that this change to long-established jointing practice will inevitably result in system failures causing harm to the whole industry.
Highest Level
We aim to take our education policy to the highest level. The heating industry faces an energy crisis, driven not so much by shortage of fuel (although that may come soon), but by Government determination to establish a 'low carbon economy'. Underfloor heating makes a perfect partner for all the latest lean, green technology including condensing boilers, solar power, heat pumps and CHP. UHMA is already talking to the Carbon Trust and other key groups including Government departments to make sure that our industry's huge potential for the national good is fully realised. It's going to be an exciting twelve months!
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