After EDF Economy 7 tariff customers were left wondering how they would heat their homes this winter when the supplier almost doubled the price of its nighttime rate, Tamsin Lishman, CEO of UK based Ground Source Heat Pump manufacturer, The Kensa Group, has signalled we need to get serious about the way
Social return on investment project uncovers the value of IoT sensors to social housing tenant’s health and wellbeing. The University of Exeter has partnered with Aico|HomeLINK and housing industry partners, UK Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (HACT) and Coastline Housing, for a first-of-its-kind guide and toolkit to realise the social value of Internet of Things (IoT)
Product Manager for Schlüter®-Systems, Andrew Saxon, offers advice on best practice when planning and installing electric underfloor heating systems. Right back to Roman times, few things in the built environment can have delivered such a sense of comfort – and even luxury – as underfloor heating; yet the technology remains
Commenting on the publication of proposals for a new Future Homes Standard, setting out the carbon and energy efficiency requirements for all new homes from 2025, Tamsin Lishman, CEO of The Kensa Group comments: “The publication of proposals requiring all new homes to be low-cost, low-carbon and energy efficient to
A renewables specialist in Suffolk has transformed the sustainability credentials of a spacious three-bedroom self-build property in Peasenhall by fitting a new air source heat pump with a host of manufacturer-led support along the way. The 2,600 sq ft self-build property, built by owners Jonathan and Emma Hayes, required a
As energy security continues to be a cause for concern for the UK, an industry report has identified the potential role of hot water cylinders in balancing demand on the electrical grid. The report from the Hot Water Association (HWA), entitled Connected Homes, explores the potential for hot water cylinders
Four Evomod 1000kW output boilers from Ideal Heating – Commercial Products have been installed at Beetham Tower in Manchester, which has the distinction of being one of the UK’s tallest buildings outside of London. The 47-storey building, which is home to the Hilton Hotel and private residential apartments, had been
Baxi’s Parent company BDR Thermea Group today announced the appointment of Tjarko Bouman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Bouman will join BDR Thermea Group from 1 February 2024 as successor to Bertrand Schmitt, who is stepping down, as announced earlier this week. Tjarko is currently CEO of NTS Group,
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build
After EDF Economy 7 tariff customers were left wondering how they would heat their homes this winter when the supplier almost doubled the price of its nighttime rate, Tamsin Lishman, CEO of UK based Ground Source Heat Pump manufacturer, The Kensa Group, has signalled we need to get serious about the way homes are heated. Please see below her comments on this, as well as what needs to be done to protect consumers and how a ready to go energy-efficient alternative could provide a solution. As the cold snap bites, it’s time to get serious about how we heat our homes… Tamsin Lishman, CEO of The Kensa Group, said: “I was concerned to read about the changes to EDF’s Economy 7 tariff and the knock-on effect of how many would now struggle to heat their homes. It’s a desperately sad story we’ve heard again and again over the last couple of years. Economy 7 tariff customers, who relied on paying much cheaper nighttime rates to heat their homes, have been hit by the double whammy of the 5% rise to the Ofgem price cup and EDF pushing through a 91% increase in its E7 nighttime rate. “Many of those who’ll be hit by these charges are stuck with in-efficient storage heaters as their main source of warmth, and rarely by choice. Cold homes can cause or worsen many health conditions, and as the current cold period continues people in these properties will face tough decisions about how they use their heating, a choice they shouldn’t have to make. “These factors only accelerate the need to replace inefficient heating in properties like these and give consumers more control over not just when they decide to use their heating, but also how much they pay for it. Improving properties and making them more efficient as part of the Net Zero transition will have long-lasting positive effects on society, including a potential NHS saving of £1.4bn a year. “As the cold snap bites, it’s time to mention networked ground source heat pumps as a solution to our heating needs, especially for complex-to-decarbonise homes such as high-rise social housing blocks or terrace streets. Due to their discreetness, how they work, and the steady ambient temperature of the ground, networked ground source heat pumps provide efficient, cost-effective heating (and cooling) whatever the weather. “We are seeing this transition happen and work in real life. In Thurrock, we recently completed a project for the council where we replaced inefficient, direct electric storage heaters in 273 high-rise flats, connecting them to a ground source heat network and installing a Shoebox ground source heat pump into each flat. This project has taken residents out of fuel poverty, slashed their energy bills by 66%, protected them against future price rise shocks and given every resident more control over how and when they heat their homes. This is one that I, and the entire team at Kensa, are really proud to have been a part of. “We are about to embark upon the biggest transformation in home heating since the conversion to natural gas fifty years ago, and it’s critical the poorest in our society are not left behind. Night storage heaters, and their modern equivalents, are by far the most expensive and least efficient form of heating, condemning millions to fuel poverty in this country. It’s vital that no new homes are fitted with this technology, and it’s a matter of urgency that those already in existing homes are replaced. “The introduction of an effective Future Homes Standard next year, along with a beefed up Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, are needed to pave the way for positive changes to home heating. Public debate on decarbonisation so often centres around the impacts on the poorest in our society, and we can surely all agree that no one should be left paying £2,000 a year to heat a small flat with electric heaters. Removing them and getting behind a proven alternative is surely in everyone’s interests.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Social return on investment project uncovers the value of IoT sensors to social housing tenant’s health and wellbeing. The University of Exeter has partnered with Aico|HomeLINK and housing industry partners, UK Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (HACT) and Coastline Housing, for a first-of-its-kind guide and toolkit to realise the social value of Internet of Things (IoT) connected sensors. In recent years, there has been a marked shift in environmental sensor system adoption to create “smart social homes” among registered social housing providers looking to implement a more proactive strategy to identify housing issues early, rather than wait until regulation forces action. Until now, no project has developed a guide and toolkit to evaluate the societal benefits that stem from homes equipped with sensor systems. Entitled “Sensor systems for healthier social housing – A guide or understanding and evaluating the social value or indoor environment sensor systems”, the guide and toolkit aim to support informed decision-making and include establishing connections between housing and health, understanding societal value from using sensor systems, a social return on investment (SROI) forecast, templates and case studies. The toolkits have been collaboratively developed by Housing Associations with experience of sensor systems. Poplar HARCA is one East London Housing Association that has already recognised the practical benefits of smart connected home IoT sensors. Its use of Aico|HomeLINK sensors provides residents and Poplar HARCA with data that helps them to identify issues in their homes, including damp and mould monitoring, ventilation, fuel poverty and indoor air quality. Designed to gather data on indoor environmental conditions, the IoT smart home connected devices are installed in each resident’s home to measure temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity and other factors, to mitigate issues arising from problems such damp and mould, and poor or insufficient ventilation. Launched in May 2023, during the first five months of this 12-month research project, the University of Exeter developed a working logic model. This was informed by Aico|HomeLINK expertise to map out inputs, such as humidity levels, and HACT’s Social Value Insight tool, specifically designed for social housing, to map out the outcomes, such as reduced condensation. The logic model will identify what changes need to be made early in order to improve an indoor environment, such as opening windows or improving the use of heating to reduce condensation and potential hazards from mould. The team has found that sensor systems are valued by housing associations for being able to pinpoint the specific changes in housing conditions more clearly. One example of sensors in use is identifying and proactively fixing a leak in a tenant’s roof. This could prevent risks associated with damp and mould, such as respiratory illnesses, thanks to earlier resolution. This, in turn, would reduce the unaccounted public health issues and poor conditions that may be associated with social housing conditions, particularly for underprivileged and vulnerable groups. Emma Bland, Associate Professor in Environment, Health and Wellbeing at University of Exeter Medical School, concluded: “This technology has the potential to deliver organisational benefits in social housing. However, there is a lack of understanding about the broader social value gained from such systems, and the best practice for adoption. This project builds on many years of research including the groundbreaking Smartline project which focused on more than 200 social households across six years and will strengthen existing and foster new partnerships between University of Exeter, the social housing sector, and the sensor industry.” Chris Jones, Chief Executive Officer for Aico|HomeLINK, explains: “The quality of housing has a profound and tangible influence on residents’ health and well-being. During winter, cold conditions could result in damp and mould, both of which can have a massive impact, such as triggering allergic reactions, and exacerbating asthma and other respiratory infections. By using smart connected home sensors, social landlords can enhance their delivery of safer, healthier and more sustainable homes. These sensors provide both the residents and landlords with valuable data and customised insights, enabling them both to proactively enhance the health and safety of their living spaces.” To find out more about Aico’s HomeLINK Connected Home Solution, please visit: www.aico.co.uk/homelink Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Product Manager for Schlüter®-Systems, Andrew Saxon, offers advice on best practice when planning and installing electric underfloor heating systems. Right back to Roman times, few things in the built environment can have delivered such a sense of comfort – and even luxury – as underfloor heating; yet the technology remains potentially problematic, with the quality of installation being pivotal to both the performance and the likely overall lifespan of the system. In many properties, the space heating is still primarily delivered via conventional radiators, but in refurbishment as well as new-build situations, electric underfloor heating systems are widely regarded as offering a speedy, economic and convenient solution for upgrading the comfort in bathrooms, particularly in the context of under tile installations. Instead of a cold and unwelcoming surface beneath bare feet, a correctly specified electric system can deliver controllable warmth, not just from below, but also creating a regulated temperature within the room-space itself. The more advanced and adaptable systems can further be incorporated behind tiled walls. Planning the installation is crucial, especially in larger bathrooms or sports changing rooms as even considering modern standards of insulation, the north side is often measurably colder than the south; with zoning being the obvious answer. As with the pipe runs to hydronic systems, the designer and contractor must create separate cable circuits, linking back to individual thermostats. Significantly, the two zones may well be of different sizes, and not necessarily feature the same number of cables. From a purely practical perspective, it is difficult to connect more than two heating cables into each thermostat, which is why Schlüter®-Systems DITRA-HEAT offers specifiers/customers a selection of 17 different cable lengths for the 240 Volt circuits – rising from 4.6 up to 244 linear metres to address areas from 1.1 m2 to 22.7 m2. They will offer an output of 136 W/ m2, with an actual limit on capacity of 3,600 Watts that can run from one thermostat. It is relevant here to highlight an issue common to many electrical underfloor heating systems, where the transition between the hot cable which delivers warmth to the floor build-up, and the cold stretch which connects to the thermostat, rely on a soldered connection. Unfortunately, such connections are inherently brittle and subject to failing; even months or years after the installation is complete. By contrast, the DITRA-HEAT cables, launched nearly a decade ago and enjoying a successful track record amongst both heating engineers and end users, feature a seamless transition between cold and hot legs. The cold leg is 4 metres long and employs a very thin strand wound around it, which reduces the electrical resistance to minimise the heat output generated; and this negates any problems of overheating where the connection is made to the thermostat. Also, while the competition tends to segment their hot cables down into shorter – generally 60cm sections – the DITRA-HEAT version contains multiple very fine, but strong strands which extend along the full length. And as an integrated system solution, DITRA-HEAT’s 4mm diameter cables are laid within a studded, fleece backed membrane, which serves as both an insulating carrier and a decoupling layer to help distribute stresses within the build-up. For floors, the cables are laid within every third row of studs, and every two behind wall tiling. While Schlüter®-Systems is justifiably confident in the design and robustness of its heating cables, the company always recommends that the installer runs two temperature sensors from the chosen position within the floor circuit, back to the wall, as there is always a possibility of one failing during the lifetime of the installation. In such a situation, it is then a simple matter to disconnect the first sensor from the thermostat and wire in the ‘spare’. Finally, Schlüter®-Systems recommends three stages of testing before you tile: as each zone is laid, then during spreading of tile adhesive to guard against damage caused by pushing the cable down with a trowel, and after the tiles are installed. Schlüter®-Systems continues to develop the DITRA-HEAT system, with the latest sophistication being the ability to control the heating output via a home’s Alexa, as well as using the manufacturer’s App, or via conventional controls. For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commenting on the publication of proposals for a new Future Homes Standard, setting out the carbon and energy efficiency requirements for all new homes from 2025, Tamsin Lishman, CEO of The Kensa Group comments: “The publication of proposals requiring all new homes to be low-cost, low-carbon and energy efficient to run is a major step forward for the decarbonisation of homes and heat. This new standard will boost heat pump installations drastically, expanding the market from 50,000 to over 250,000 almost overnight, providing companies like Kensa with the confidence to go ahead and invest heavily in new manufacturing facilities and the continued development of our supply chains. “It is particularly important that these proposals intend to make heat pumps and low-carbon heat networks the default options for heat in new homes, effectively banning new gas grid connections and so-called hydrogen-ready boilers from installation. Allowing these technologies to continue to be installed in new homes would simply have maintained confusion about the future of home heating and short-changed hundreds of thousands of new home buyers who would have inevitably had to replace their fossil fuel heating system in the years to come. “In an extremely busy policy landscape, establishing these standards is the single most important step the government can take to fire up the heat pump market and drive investment in the sector. As a developer of networked heat pumps, a heat pump in each home connected to a shared networked in the street, Kensa is confident the Future Homes Standard will now lead to a major expansion in the deployment of this technology, combining the best of heat networks and individual heat pumps.“ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A renewables specialist in Suffolk has transformed the sustainability credentials of a spacious three-bedroom self-build property in Peasenhall by fitting a new air source heat pump with a host of manufacturer-led support along the way. The 2,600 sq ft self-build property, built by owners Jonathan and Emma Hayes, required a heating system capable of improving energy efficiency while also being suitable for the off-grid application. With curtailing the property’s environmental impact also an important requirement, Jonathan reached out to renewable heat specialist, Renew East who recommended Baxi’s HP40 Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP). Like a third of the properties in Suffolk, the luxury self-build was off the mains gas grid, making it a prime candidate for a renewable heating system. Although an experienced heating engineer, Renew East Director Luke Nicholls Luke Nicholls welcomed the opportunity to benefit from Baxi’s full support services on his first installation of the new product that would maximise energy efficiency and carbon-saving capabilities. After carrying out complete heat loss calculations on the property, Luke recommended the 11kW Baxi HP40 Monobloc heat pump with a 250-litre hot water cylinder. This system feeds the underfloor heating, which will emit 11kw of heat even at temperatures as low as -5°C. The system control panel has a user-friendly interface which aided the commissioning process by allowing Luke and his team to view the performance of the outside unit from within the property. At the same time, the heat pump’s connection to Baxi’s uSense smart room thermostat ensures Jonathan and Emma have complete control over the temperature in their home. The Baxi monobloc design also aided in the smooth installation process as many of the standard components such as the mims controller, circulation pump and expansion vessel are housed in the main outdoor unit. This saves vital space inside the house for the homeowner and makes installation quicker and more straightforward. As part of the company’s support for its heating engineers, Renew East was able to access Baxi’s full heat pump services and expertise both before and during the project in the run-up to its installation. To familiarise themselves with Baxi solutions, the team was encouraged to attend hands-on heat pump training, covering design and application as well as the practical elements of the installation and commissioning of the system. Once the installation was complete, they were also able to benefit from commissioning supervision offered by Baxi’s expert heat pump engineers, who could ensure the solution was able to deliver its intended design performance prior to handover to the homeowners. Luke said: “We really enjoyed working on this installation and it has been very easy compared to most. The Baxi’s Monobloc design is a great option when there is limited space in the home and it was very quickly and easily installed. The intuitive, user-friendly controls also mean the customer has complete control over their new system now the property is handed over. “The top-notch extra support Baxi has given has also helped the project to run like clockwork. Often with other manufacturers there’s no return of an email, but every single one of my questions has been answered within just a few hours. “The training that they provided, even as an experienced air source heat pump engineer, was great and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get into installing the technology. The tutors really knew their stuff so we felt really comfortable with the design solution before the kit even arrived on site. The supervised commissioning support was something I had never experienced before with any other manufacturer, so I didn’t know what to expect, but having the engineer physically with me on site was really helpful. They know the product inside out, so it just made the whole process straightforward. “Overall, working with Baxi has been really easy from start to finish, from the training to the design of the system, to the commissioning. It couldn’t have run much smoother to be honest.” Harriet Evans, Renewables Director at Baxi, said: “Baxi has a wealth of knowledge on heating applications, a full suite of heat pump training courses, a range of product solutions and a nationwide network of commissioning engineers to offer that additional site support when required. We want to get installers comfortable using heat pumps – from initial design and application to installation guidance, commissioning and supervision support – and by being there throughout the journey, we can make sure every system delivers on efficiency and comfort.” “We expect to see a surge in demand for residential installations and engineers who come on the journey with Baxi will be able to fully support the homeowners who are taking up the technology. The time is now for engineers to start getting comfortable with heat pumps.” For more information on Baxi’s suite of ASHP training and to find out more about their ASHP products and services, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As energy security continues to be a cause for concern for the UK, an industry report has identified the potential role of hot water cylinders in balancing demand on the electrical grid. The report from the Hot Water Association (HWA), entitled Connected Homes, explores the potential for hot water cylinders to be used as thermal stores for grid electricity to build resilience in peak periods. If the nine million cylinders in UK homes were connected through smart controls and used as batteries, the National Grid could unlock 23GWh of energy storage – around half the energy used per day in the UK. Due to the introduction of technologies, like heat pumps, which require hot water cylinders, this number could increase by 36%, increasing the energy capacity to 40GWh. To make use of this energy storage potential, cylinders will need smart functionalities introduced either via retrofitting smart controls or brand-new smart cylinders will need to be installed with gas boilers or heat pumps. Heating engineers will be key in the process of making this a reality, as Kevin Lowe, Technical Manager at the HWA, said: “Hot water cylinders’ potential role in the energy mix is substantial and there is work to be done to make the most of this opportunity. Installers across the UK installing and maintaining cylinders in homes can play a crucial part in this, as our report highlights, by making existing and new cylinders connected.” The report from the HWA also highlights the need for policy direction to incentivise the rollout of connected thermal storage in UK homes for homeowners. This is particularly needed to prevent people from changing their hot water system to remove the cylinder completely so the number of cylinders in the UK can increase to build capacity. In addition to incentives to drive more people to install smart cylinders and retrofit controls to existing cylinders, the report lays out next steps for improving uptake. This includes making smart controls and cylinders more beneficial to SAP and EPC ratings in new builds and reducing taxes and levies on off peak electricity to bring more value out of storing energy in a cylinder. Kevin continues: “The key to making this project a reality will be getting homeowners on side, so policy direction must incentivise adopting smart hot water storage. Whether installing a cylinder with a new heat pump installation, or fitting controls to an existing one, homeowners may require financial support to make it worth their while. They will also need to understand the benefits that thermal storage in their home may provide and in turn prevent them removing an existing hot water cylinder. “If we are to get the up to 40GWh of energy storage that our research predicts could be achievable in the UK, industry, Government and installers must work together to help homeowners understand these benefits.” To download the report and find out more about your role in the rollout of thermal storage in the UK, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Four Evomod 1000kW output boilers from Ideal Heating – Commercial Products have been installed at Beetham Tower in Manchester, which has the distinction of being one of the UK’s tallest buildings outside of London. The 47-storey building, which is home to the Hilton Hotel and private residential apartments, had been heated by four gas fired atmospheric steel one piece boilers, with a total heat output of 4800kW, since its inception in 2006. With the boilers coming towards the end of their working lives, and with the building owners looking to improve energy efficiency, the decision was made to replace them rather than attempt ongoing repairs. Manchester based mechanical and electrical contractor Atmostherm, a long standing Ideal Heating – Commercial Products customer, chose Evomod boilers for this site, based on Evomod’s small footprint and modular nature which made locating and installation easier than expected in the small plant room which had restricted access. Available in 250, 500, 750 and 1000kW outputs, the Evomod will achieve an output up to 1MW from a single unit solution together with a minimum footprint that enables the product to be installed where space is limited. Each module provides a maximum of 250kW heat output and will modulate down through a sophisticated control system. At Beetham Tower, four Evomod 1000kW output boilers have been installed by Atmostherm with Plate Heat Exchangers to achieve the appropriate pressure on the output in order to pump the hot water across the entire building. Atmostherm took advantage of Ideal Heating’s free commissioning service on this project, which has been designed to save installers time and money, plus ensures the appliance is correctly commissioned and operating. Ideal Heating is the only manufacturer to offer a free of charge commissioning service and has done since its launch in 2018. The level of service and technical backup supplied by Ideal Heating were important to Atmostherm as Project Director Andy Payne comments: “The service from Ideal Heating has been brilliant from beginning to end. The team were available to come to site for visits when required and the commissioning process went very smoothly. They were also on hand to help us when it came to deciding to use the plate heat exchanger to achieve our desired output.” The newly installed Evomod boilers are now fully operational and are being used to carry out the heating across the entire building, including the residential apartments, and the Hilton Hotel and its health and fitness facilities. Ideal Heating delivers commercial heating solutions that are at the forefront of technology and developed in line with the latest market trends and legislation. For more information visit: https://idealcommercialboilers.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baxi’s Parent company BDR Thermea Group today announced the appointment of Tjarko Bouman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Bouman will join BDR Thermea Group from 1 February 2024 as successor to Bertrand Schmitt, who is stepping down, as announced earlier this week. Tjarko is currently CEO of NTS Group, a global company which develops, produces, assembles and tests complex (opto) mechatronic systems and mechanical modules for high-tech OEMs in semiconductor, analytical and healthcare markets. During his tenure, he has rolled out a refined new global strategy, which resulted in record years for turnover and profitability in 2021 and 2022, and a place in the global top 3 of the semiconductor and analytical market niche in which NTS Group is active. Prior to NTS, Tjarko spent nine years at Vanderlande Industries working as Managing Director responsible for the operating company delivering automated material handling solutions in Europe (excluding DACH) and Asia Pacific to main markets of the food retail, e-commerce, fashion and parcel industries. Before that, he was responsible for global services development at Vanderlande including the spare parts business, global services desk and services expertise centre. Marc de Jong, Chair of the BDR Thermea Supervisory Board, says: “Tjarko brings to his new role as BDR Thermea CEO more than 20 years’ experience in business development, operations and supply chain, both in consulting and management, and a track record of combining innovation and growth with a clear customer focus. Tjarko is skilled in business transformation, as well as having digital skills in developing customer value-propositions.” Tjarko Bouman says: “I’m looking forward to joining BDR Thermea Group, building on Bertrand’s legacy, bringing my own experience and skills to the company, and cooperating with the teams across the globe as BDR Thermea moves forward to further strengthen its position in the energy transition.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part of the Travis Perkins Group, the company has been selling Fujitsu equipment for the last decade. Sales and Business Development Director Andy Cherrill said: “It’s important in a partnership that you are working with a great business, great products and great people. With Fujitsu we are lucky to have all three and those are the reasons we have reached our 10-year milestone with them. I’m looking forward to an exciting future, collaborating together for success.” Ian Carroll, Chief Operating Officer at Fujitsu, said: “Congratulations to Andy and all the team at TF Solutions. This 10-year anniversary is a testament to the strength of our partnership. Their confidence in our products and services has helped us grow as a business. We are honoured to be part of this success story and look forward to building on that in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build 300,000 new homes in England[1], while 90% of student accommodation rooms for the 2023/24 academic year had already been sold by April 2023[2]. With a 17% increase in hotel construction projects also reported over 2024[3], pressure is on the construction sector to build faster as confidence in city centre building continues to rise.[4] REHAU’s new report, Offsite Trends in Building Services explores how modern methods of construction (MMC) can help tackle this issue. Underlining a skills shortage of 937,000 construction industry vacancies by 2032, it looks specifically at how to implement mechanical service installation into offsite projects to make builds easier and faster.[5] Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical, REHAU Building Solutions, said: “Building at pace within tight footprints and using traditional methods is undoubtedly difficult, necessitating new approaches such as MMC. This new report details what is possible and how different offsite methods suit specific projects and help provide simpler, faster and high-quality builds for contractors, all within a factory-controlled environment.” With high-rise construction increasingly necessary in high-density urban areas, REHAU’s guide highlights how the company can help with the challenge of building at height in smaller spaces. At the same time, it uncovers obstacles that contractors, specifiers and developers must overcome when using offsite construction methods to ensure quality work. The guide includes information on key components that can be assembled at the factory and transported and assembled onsite for a high-quality build. This includes modular shafts, pre-wall constructions, bathroom pods and polymer risers, as well as relatively new technologies such as thermally activated building structures (TABS), which can provide both heating and cooling. “There have already been many exciting innovations across the globe to further improve offsite construction methods that we have included within this new guide,” Steve concludes. “Like all fields, MMC is continually developing, and the hope is that through this whitepaper, readers can find out more about these innovative methods and solutions, and best put MMC techniques into practice to meet market demand.” To download REHAU’s report, ‘Offsite Trends for Building Services’, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
