Worcester Bosch Boilers welcomes the watering down of the European Commission forthcoming EuP Directive which is designed to force heating manufacturers to produce more energy efficient products.

The EuP Directive is set to go live at the end of 2011 and Worcester Bosch Boilers is just one of the many UK manufacturers who were worried that it would be based on unrealistic standards.

But following lobbying from the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), the body which represents the UK’s heating industry, and OFTEC, the Commission has taken a step back from the brink.

One of the biggest bones of contention involved the current SEDBUK banding scheme which is used in the UK. This grades boilers in terms of their energy efficiency levels and condensing technology has allowed UK manufacturers to claim that most of their units are rated A, if not B. The band A means that a boiler is over 90% efficient, with many achieving efficiencies of 96% and even 106%.

When the EuP Directive was first put forward in draft form some years ago, the condensing boilers were to be graded B which shocked the UK heating industry. Not only did it suggest that the boilers were somehow less efficient than they should be, but that it would cause a great deal of consumer confusion. Boilers which had been graded in the A band for many years, would suddenly become B band. The idea was that this would be a common standard across the whole of Europe.

Following an intense period of lobbying and negotiations, it now appears that the band A will remain as is, but two new bands will be introduced for more efficient technologies (including renewable technologies). Thus, band A+ and A++ will be introduced.

Another issue which became contentious was the Directive’s planned requirement for each boiler to be manufactured and then delivered with all the ancillary controls systems. This would include room thermostats, time-clocks and many fixtures, and fittings. Again, the UK argued that this plan would be impractical, given the vast number of different properties in which boilers are installed. One box of fittings would not work.

Again, it appears that this ambition has been dropped. Another concession is over the initial plan that oil fired boilers should not exceed 35 milligrams per kWh of NOx emissions. This now appears to have been scaled up to an allowable 120 milligrams per kWh for oil fired boilers and 35 milligrams per kWh for gas fired boilers.

The Director of Marketing and Technical Support at Worcester, Bosch Group, Martyn Bridges, said:
“I am pleased to say that there has been a realisation within the Commission that initial drafts of EUP Directive were not workable, particularly for the UK heating industry. The requirement for controls to be dispatched with the boiler was impractical due to wide variations in the size of houses and the ability of different individuals to use and programme more complex control devices. In addition, the NOx emissions requirements would probably have been practically impossible to meet.

“We now have a much more practical set of proposals which can be implemented within the UK market, but still set a demanding target for UK heating manufacturers.”

The EuP Directive will go before the Regulatory Committee by mid 2011 and likely to become law in the autumn.

Worcester Bosch Boilers is one of many manufacturers who will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief that the Directive has, in their eyes, become more workable.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Worcester Bosch will be one manufacturer likely to benefit from a scrappage scheme being introduced in Scotland.

The English scrappage scheme proved a boon for companies like Worcester Bosch and other manufacturers were sad to see it go.

This scheme in Scotland is being introduced by the Scottish Government and is directed at private landlords only with low efficient units that could do with new boilers. So, to qualify for the cash-back £400 voucher scheme, a private landlord must replace a band G oil fired, gas fired, or LPG boilers with a high efficiency model.

Running the scheme is Home Energy Scotland. This will process the applications and act as approver of the cash back claims.

Worcester Bosch are keen advocates of the scheme and stress that for a private landlord to qualify, the boiler must be working and must be at least G rated on the SEDBUK scheme. Such a unit is likely to be only between 50% and 60% efficient, so compared with a high efficiency at plus 90%, the difference is marked.

Those who think they qualify for the scheme, or have doubts that they have a unit which can is eligible for the £400 cash back, should use the telephone number 0131 555 8659 to contact the Energy Saving Trust Services Delivery Team.

Once a person knows that their boiler is eligible for the scheme, they then should follow the set process. Firstly, they need to obtain a quote for their boiler replacement. Then they apply for the voucher by going online, or calling 0800 512 012. Within 12 weeks of requesting the voucher, arrange for installation to take place. The work for the heating unit and installation should be then paid, effectively upfront. Once this has all taken place, the person then simply returns to the Energy Savings Trust the invoice for the unit and installation work, together with the completed voucher.

It is hoped, by Worcester Bosch, other manufacturers and the Scottish Government, that this new scheme will incentivize many private landlords to replace their old units with the latest high efficiency models.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

The Worcester Bosch boiler manufacturer has added to its website a new section called ‘Quick Gas Boiler Help.’

Designed to help boiler users during the cold winter months, the new section to the Worcester Bosch boiler’s website is there to offer friendly and easily accessible advice at all times. As the team at Worcester point out, a boiler’s lights might start flashing, but it could be something quite innocent – a simple command – or it could mean it needs servicing by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

But the Worcester team make the valid point that more often than not, it’s a simple process to put right, but users have to have the confidence to put it right. And that’s where the handy online reference comes in. It provides quick hints and answers, plus lists of frequently asked questions, that should help most users of Worcester boilers with their initial queries and dilemmas.

Users of the website first select their model of Worcester Bosch boiler from a drop-down menu and can then click on the icon ‘find tips’ for all kinds of valuable advice. The list of frequently asked questions handles a number of recurring topics, including the meaning of certain codes, the implications of a blue flashing light and how to re-pressurise a system. The section also includes a number of helpful videos and advice as to whether a call to a Worcester representative might be beneficial.

Worcester make the point that the advice section only offers an initial level of advice and does not replace professional advice, or using a heating engineer when appropriate.

The new section of the Worcester website comes at the same time that the Company has launched a campaign to find some of their oldest models still in existence. They particularly want to track down working examples of a: Heatslave Senior 6; Heatslave 2+; Firefly Oil Fired boiler; and, a Highflow 3.5. These are between 20 and 40 years old and are needed for an extensive collection already housed in the Worcester boiler museum. This unique collection gives visitors an insight into years of products, company literature, press cuttings and photography.

The hunt for the old boilers also commemorates two coming milestones in the history of the company. Next year it will be the 125th birthday of Bosch and a year later in 2012, Worcester will be celebrating 50 years of existence.

The Worcester Bosch boiler team are targeting installers who they think might know of customers who have the units mentioned above. And in return for being offered such a boiler, they are willing to donate £400 – matching the boiler scrappage scheme grant – to help towards a new boiler.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Business Directory – B2B Index – Online business to business directory

A one-off Worcester Greenstar boiler has been created to support Breast Awareness Month.

Manufacturers Worcester-Bosch have produced the Worcester Greenstar – a SEDBUK A rated high efficiency condensing boiler – in magenta pink. The company hopes that it will prove popular with bidders on eBay where it is being auctioned with proceeds going to Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign. The two charities will share the proceeds from the bidding 50/50.

The lucky winner will not only get a free boiler, but also get it installed for free, making the winning package worth well over £1,500. There is no reserve price in the auction, so Worcester hopes the bidding will be strong.

The company point out that a Worcester Greenstar boiler is over 90% efficient and that the winning bidder for the unit will not only help fund vital breast cancer research, but will also use an appliance which will help the environment.

The company said:
“Breast Cancer is something close to so many people’s hearts at Worcester and this auction continues Worcester’s support for such charities, with Cancer Research as their chosen charity for the year.”

Worcester also pointed out that there are many boilers still in use today that are maybe around 15 years old and although working fine, they are likely to be less than 70% efficient, which simply means that some thirty pence in the pound is being wasted in its operation.

Consumer brand manager at Worcester, Sue Pennington, said:
“We are delighted to be able to support two such worthwhile causes and came up with the idea of creating a unique boiler. This really is an exclusive auction and, although we would normally only recommend that customers go through qualified installers, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity of getting involved in the fundraising for these worthy causes.

“The magenta pink boiler will certainly stand out in someone’s kitchen as well helping save lives, energy and money in long run. We hope people will get bidding and raise as much as possible.”

All those feeling in the pink should have a go.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Worcester-Bosch have picked up a top award for its commitment to installer support.

Installers are the gas engineers at the sharp end who on a daily basis are fitting new boilers into homes and businesses throughout the country. And Worcester Combi boilers have received a gong for offering what is said to be an “…unrivalled service to installers and customers alike…”.

Worcester on a daily basis handles over 2,000 telephone enquiries using a team of 37 advisors. It claims to have the best technical support department with the longest opening hours and can also handle enquires sent in via the post, emails, or fax.

Worcester Combi boilers were given their award at a gala ceremony hosted by the comedian Barry Cryer OBE.

Taking the gong on behalf of Worcester was Colin Simpson, Technical Support Manager, who received the proffered award from event sponsors OFTEC.

Mr Simpson said:
“We’re delighted to receive this award. One of our priorities is the support we can offer our network of installers and this award is the latest testament to that.

“We are passionate about quality and reliability and our department is extremely well equipped with a state-of-the-art telephone system, which complements our team of exceptionally skilful technical support advisors.

“We work to exceptionally high standards throughout each year and are always looking to ensure that the best possible foundations are in place to support installers.”

Worcester Combi boilers claim that their support team is one of the most highly trained in the industry. The company’s support team undergo a thorough training programme which includes practical installation, safety rules and legislation, commissioning of equipment, servicing live boilers, solar systems and heat pumps.

The Company say that with over 2,000 calls a day, they have to ensure that the support team can answer almost any enquirer quickly and efficiently, helping installers get on with their job.

Guest Article by Neil Camp