News 29
Comparative heating costs for an average three-bedroom home
With oil prices dipping to a low of 52.5p per litre this summer, independent figures show how the price of oil has become more competitive over the last four years. According to the Sutherland tables, the price gap between oil and mains gas has narrowed from 48% in the first quarter of 2008 to 37% in 2012.
Harlequin’s easy to use technology
Dave Shaw of South Coast Solar
Dave Shaw, of South Coast Solar, won first prize in the Greenstar oil-fired boiler installation category at the 12th annual Environment 2020 Awards, hosted by Worcester, Bosch Group.
Featured in the very first issue of Oil Installer, Dave Ewins of Davanna Heating has been embracing oil and renewable energy technologies for five years. He recently appeared in Renewable Energy Installer to discuss a ground source heat pump installation, and says his business has benefited from a multi-technology approach.
Animation demonstrates benefits of renewable technology
Mitsubishi Electric has installed an 8.5kW Ecodan air source heat pump (ASHP) into a virtual three-storey Victorian terrace house to demonstrate how renewable technology can benefit the nation’s older properties.
The Aztec system boiler available in outputs from 6kW to 12 kW
Trianco has launched a new breed of super compact Aztec system boilers. The Aztec system is a clever yet simple to install unit that offers the end user a clean and easy fit. Designed as an all in one unit, Aztec system contains all the major components, normally installed in addition to a standard electric wet system boiler. The range features adjustable controls, a smart digital programmer and built-in pressure and flow temperature gauge. The pump, expansion vessel and automatic air vent are discreetly housed behind a clean white vitreous enamel casing.
Meeting the requirements – FuelStop’s TFV
Capillary fire valves are a legal requirement for fuel burners. “When it comes to fire safety, there’s no compromise,” says Bob Blincowe of FuelStop.
Anglo Nordic products – solving problems caused by FAME
With the introduction of up to 7% FAME in normal fuel, Anglo Nordic has seen an increase in sales of water finding paste, tank water absorbers, filters and fuel conditioners. As FAME fuels are hygroscopic, they act as detergents – cleaning the walls of the storage tank, allowing dirt and sludge to be sucked into the pipework and causing appliances to fail. Microbes can also flourish, adding to the sludge and causing poor performance.
New specifications from Carbery
Carbery has announced new product specifications across its range of single skin and bunded heating oil tanks. All tanks are now available with a choice of added-value Tankpacks. Carbery’s Pat Daly says: “The introduction of new specifications makes a great range of tanks even better and is the result of an intensive market research initiative amongst installers and oil equipment resellers, across Great Britain and Ireland.”
The SCT-1 safety control tester adopted by leading boiler manufacturers
Keprotec has developed the SCT-1 – Safety Control Tester – capable of testing all fire valves currently on the UK market. The tester has also been adopted by leading boiler manufacturers for testing boiler stats and duo stats, found on hot water cylinders.
A new training centre in north Staffordshire – recently opened by Boilerserve – now offers all OFTEC assessment and training. “With over 40 years experience in the domestic, commercial and industrial heating sector, we’re able to offer additional training in commercial heating, burners and controls,” says Ron Flint of Boilerserve.
Installers based in Northern England, seeking training on Grant products, no longer need to travel to Devizes, Wiltshire, for dedicated courses. Grant’s official training partner – GTEC Training, located in Hawes, North Yorkshire – has recently opened a new residential renewable technology training centre, where practical and theory courses, including Logic Certification, MCS Made Easy, and OFTEC training and assessment are run. From the new centre, Grant will also offer its new G-One installation courses on Grant Aerona air source heat pumps, Vortex oil-fired boilers, and Spira wood pellet (biomass) boilers. See pages xx and xx.
Answering questions on bio-liquids, renewables integration and OFTEC’s new consultancy service were technical officer, Paul Hennon and Malcolm Farrow
The OFTEC pavilion at Ecobuild in March provided an ideal opportunity to showcase latest developments in bio-liquids and hybrid oil/renewable heating systems.
Barry Brynildsen on the Firebird stand at Ecobuild
“However good your products are, it’s not the only consideration in the installer’s choice of his preferred boiler brand,” says Firebird’s national sales manager, Barry Brynildsen.
1960s Firefly manual was recovered
Worcester, Bosch Group recently opened a museum at the company’s Warndon, Worcester headquarters. The museum guides visitors through five decades of products, photography and literature, and features a number of products dating back through previous decades.