NEW UHMA CHAIRMAN VOWS TO TACKLE PROBLEMS WITH ENERGY MODELLING SOFTWARE

Ingram takes up UHMA reins as Membership soars

Rex Ingram of Osma ThermoBoard is the new Chairman of the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers’ Association. He is no stranger to the role, having already served two previous terms in the Chair of the Association.

Other appointments for 2007, confirmed at the Association’s 9th Annual General Meeting, included Brent Witherspoon of Chelmer Heating as Vice Chairman (and Chairman elect) and Brian Sensecall as Secretary. Martin Coates of JG Speedfit continues as Treasurer.

Outgoing Chairman Mike Lamb of Warmafloor expressed his delight at the progress made by the Association over the past 12 months and thanked the Committee for its hard work in making this achievement possible.

“This year UHMA has set in motion the UK's first independent training course in underfloor heating design and installation; we have completed an intensive programme of tests on the resistance shown by carpets and underlays and we have launched a campaign to highlight the problems experienced by our Members and their clients with SBEM and iSBEM protocols in relation to L1 and L2 regulations.

All this has been achieved while more than doubling the membership. UHMA Members now number around 40 companies and represent virtually all the major players in the industry.”

Key importance

In his first address as UHMA Chairman Rex Ingram picked on the SBEM campaign as being of key importance.

“Demand for underfloor heating in the UK is at an all time high and still rising.

The recently revised Part L of Building Regulations makes it essential that the

energy consumption and environmental impact of the heating system for any building is considered from the very earliest planning stage. Unfortunately SAP Ratings and SBEM and iSBEM modelling do not always give a fair picture of the undoubted carbon-reducing benefits of underfloor heating. Other programmes such as the long established TAS and IES systems do not seem to suffer from this problem.

In 2007 UHMA will seek to drive this message home at every level from the corridors of Government to the heating industry professional.”

A survey of UHMA Members’ confidence in the future of their industry echoed the new Chairman’s belief in rising demand. Over 90% revealed that current levels of enquiries for both commercial and domestic projects were higher than last year, while optimism for the next 12 month period was rock solid at100%!

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