Plumbheat Summer 2017

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Training and Apprenticeships 2017 SNIPEF SkillPlumb apprentice competition Dundee & Angus College, Kingsway Campus was the venue for the 2017 Annual SNIPEF SkillPlumb Plumbing Apprentice Competition. Organised by SNIPEF, the 42nd annual competition took place on 9 & 10 June 2017 (left) Jason Reid Plumb Center Regional Sales Manager for Scotland & Northern Ireland, (2nd left) Jim Mackinnon Senior Plumbing Lecturer at Moray College, (centre) Overall 2017 Competition Winner Russell Scott, (2nd from right) Gordon Matheson SNIPEF Vice President, (far right) Henry McNicol Worcester Bosch Regional Sales Director for Scotland & Northern Ireland AS USUAL, Colleges and training centres across Scotland, which teach the SVQ Level 3 in Domestic Plumbing, entered their best students in this prestigious event. Russell Scott who is employed by Mark Hay Plumbing & Heating Services and who represented Moray College was the overall winner in this tightly contested event. The results of the competition were: Place Name College Employer Prize 1st Overall Russell Scott Moray College Mark Hay Plumbing & Heating (Applying) SNIPEF Shield & £250, Bosch Cordless Drill Kit 2nd Overall Graham Fyfe Dundee & Angus College McGill & Co. Ltd. (Members) £200 & Bosch Cordless Drill Kit 3rd Overall Daniel Trainer West College Scotland Best Copper Russell Scott Moray College Philip Massey Plumbing & heating Services (Non Member) Mark Hay Plumbing & Heating (Applying) £150 & Bosch Mains Drill Kit Yellow Pages Cup & £200 Best Lead Russell Scott Moray College Mark Hay Plumbing & Heating (Applying) Robert Mair Quaich & £200 26 Summer 2017
Competitors were put through their paces with a testing exercise in copper pipe bending, joining and installation. The following day the competition resumed with a lead bossing exercise and a multiple choice question paper on all aspects of plumbing. The competition specification calls for the competitors to produce neat and accurate work to rigorous tolerances, all completed within a tight time schedule. The experienced judging panel comprised Mr Preston Fleming, an employer and SNIPEF Past President, Mr Raymond Leslie, an employer and SNIPEF Past President and Mr Paul Dodds, Technical Expert and Judge at the UK SkillPlumb Heats and the UK National Final and Mr Mally Butters, BPEC Technical Manager. The judging is carried out anonymously and the high standard of work once again made the process very challenging. Funding for the Competition comes from The Plumbing Joint Industry Board (JIB), BPEC (The British Plumbing Employers’ Council) and SNIPEF. The materials and prizes for the competition are kindly supplied by our sponsors, Henry McNicol at Worcester Bosch, Jason Reid at Wolseley PlumbCenter and Gordon Matheson at Calder Lead / First Supplies. We are very grateful to these companies for their continuing support of the competition and to Dundee & Angus College staff, Derek Christie, Andy Curtis, Mike Robertson, Denise Scobie who put in a lot of work both on the day and prior to the competition to ensure it ran smoothly. • Saniflo launches raft of new products, new product catalogue and extended warranty SANIFLO – inventor of the macerator with more than 50 years’ experience and the number one in the UK macerator market – has launched a raft of new products featuring new technological advancements for the domestic and commercial plumbing sectors, a new product catalogue available now and an extended warranty for domestic products. The hassle-free, plug and play range is designed to be the best on the market featuring ease of installation and maintenance with new and improved noise and vibration reduction. The easy to understand range of new Saniflo macerators and pumps is the most comprehensive to date with improved technology and quieter units with easier access than ever before, and as the outlet pipes remain identical, product replacement is swift and straightforward. The new 2017 product catalogue features domestic and commercial products in an easy to navigate format, giving industry professionals all they need to specify the right product for each project, no matter how small and simple or large and complex a project may be. To order your copy of the new Saniflo domestic and commercial product catalogue visit www.saniflo.co.uk • SPONSORED COLUMN BUSINESSES CAPITALISE ON OFTEC REGISTRATION WITH HOME energy efficiency schemes in both Scotland and Northern Ireland recommending, and in some cases mandating, that oil boiler installation work is carried out by an OFTEC registered technician, there are clear business benefits for those who are able to prove competence. All oil heating technicians working on the newly launched Home Energy Scotland Loan scheme must hold OFTEC registration. Similarly, the Warmer Homes Scotland fuel poverty scheme also states that only technicians who have, or are working towards, a PAS 2030 certification as proof of competence can be employed, providing another solid business reason to renew or take out OFTEC registration. The picture is similar in Northern Ireland with the Affordable Warmth grant scheme recommending that oil boiler installation and maintenance work is always carried out by an OFTEC registered technician. It is encouraging to see government recognising the importance of employing a competent professional and with over 70% of oil using homes in Scotland alone falling into EPC rating bands E-G, there should be plenty of work out there for those wishing to capitalise on the opportunity. We have already seen a surge in registration numbers as a result of these schemes and OFTEC’s technician base now By Paul Rose OFTEC CEO stands at almost 9,000 – the highest level since 2013. This is also testament to the expanded range of quality services and benefits provided. But a large proportion of OFTEC technicians are still based in England and Wales where the opportunity to self-certify installation work provides an additional incentive to register. Although this may not be such a pull for technicians in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the need for quality work here is no less important. Unfortunately for heating businesses, price continues to be the driving factor for most homeowners and, in some cases, this comes at the expense of quality and safety. We need to further increase consumer awareness of the importance of employing a qualified technician and to this end, OFTEC has already teamed up with the Consumer Council Northern Ireland to launch a campaign urging consumers to book a professional boiler service. We are also keen to remain open and responsive to the needs of our technicians in Scotland and Northern Ireland and this summer, we are launching a major questionnaire to gather their views on OFTEC’s current services and the support they need going forward. Over the coming months, we will also be looking at further opportunities to facilitate direct dialogue with technicians to ensure our services remain practical, relevant and add value to all. For further information on OFTEC registration call 01473 626298, email registration@oftec.org or visit www.joinoftec.com • www.snipef.org 27
Page 1 and 2: Summer 2017 The Magazine of the Sco
Page 3 and 4: Summer 2017 Contents On the cover:
Page 6: Newsleaks Get ready for Energy Labe
Page 9 and 10: New President and Office Bearers fo
Page 11 and 12: Installer Scotland ST232 - Stuart T
Page 14 and 15: Newsleaks WaterSafe launches ‘Mov
Page 16 and 17: Newsleaks The Scottish Home Improve
Page 18 and 19: Newsleaks Annual Golf match THE ANN
Page 20 and 21: Why material matters when it comes
Page 22 and 23: Newsleaks 20 Summer 2017
Page 24 and 25: Training and Apprenticeships The ap
Page 26 and 27: Training and Apprenticeships Are yo
Page 30 and 31: Payment Rentions RETENTIONS: LET’
Page 32 and 33: Snipef Diary SNIPEF Diary Summer 20
Page 34 and 35: Ground Drainage Testing Testing bel
Page 36 and 37: Contract Working Always carefully r
Page 38 and 39: Newsleaks Makita refines cosmos dia
Page 40: PACK A PUNCH with our QuanTec boile

Plumbheat Summer 2017

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