Industry information
In addition to its role as a trade association, the HVCA has a parallel role as an employers' organisation. This allows it to implant new ideas, developments and concepts relating to people management by:
- championing industry competitiveness and profitability;
- negotiating a number of collective agreements;
- advising members on employment matters; and
- acting as a first reference point on a range of human resources issues.
Equally, there are actions in relation to employment affairs and human resources issues which the Association undertakes in its role as the sector's representative body to Government, the Confederation of British Industry and other key national and international organisations.
Changes to the Building Regulations from April 2006
The changes to the Building Regulations will have a significant impact on building services engineers. The way work is carried out and the notification requirements to Local Authority Building Control bodies can be seen as an administrative threat or conversely a business opportunity.
The main changes are captured in the PowerPoint presentation – do not forget to read the notes pages for an explanation of the key points:
Heating Systems – Energy Efficiency Checklists
The Government is continuing the drive to improve
the energy performance of buildings in the UK.
In addition to HIPs for domestic properties, similar requirements have been
introduced for carrying out energy surveys on commercial buildings and on Air
Conditioning systems.
For the heating systems, UK Government have decided to follow an intensive "advice to consumers and clients" route and will be using media routes to advise domestic and commercial users of the savings that can be made by regular servicing and careful use of heating systems.
This is to be supported by the voluntary completion by contractors and servicers of heating systems of a simple energy efficiency check and advice sheet, carried out by service engineers during routine visits.
The Government have indicated that they would like the HVCA to promote and encourage within its membership to use the checklists.
The longterm aim is to see completion of the checklists form part of custom and practice for heating system visits.
The checklist should be used to record the important features of the heating system and should be left with the heating system user at the end of the visit.
It will suggest ways that the heating system and building can be made more energy efficient, reducing energy and improving the effectiveness of the heat produced.
It will help the user to improve their "carbon footprint" and may generate follow on business for the contractor.
Copies of the domestic gas, oil and non domestic checklists are available here for download, as are weblinks to other Government advice on this subject.
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DCLG–A Guide for Business | 816KB |
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CORGI Gas Boiler Guidance Card | 472KB |
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Commercial Heating Checklist | 40KB |
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Domestic Gas Checklist | 78KB |
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Domestic Oil Checklist | 76KB |
IEE Wiring Regulations (Seventeenth Edition)
In January 2008, the 17th Edition of the Requirements for Electrical Installations, IEE Wiring Regulations were published and will come into effect on 1st July 2008. BS 7671 is the current national standard for most electrical installations undertaken within the UK.
Installation designed before 1st July 2008 may continue to be installed and certified in accordance with the 16th Edition. All new designs commenced after 1st July 2008 will need to be carried out in accordance with the new Standard.
ECA has issued a series of fact sheets - Click here to view the latest information.
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