Yesterday we ventured down to the Renewable Energy Warehouse Ltd in near Edgbaston in Birmingham for a meeting of the CIPHE’s Industrial Associates.
As a resource, we’d really encourage more companies in the built environment to be using this brilliant resource – slap bang in the middle of the country. The centre has been operating in its current location for less than a year but has already gained support from influential names and brands. The building was an old cinema before being converted into the space we saw yesterday. It is now supplied with energy from a Daiken heat pump, set up outside in a space deliberately designed to make sure visitors can see and explore heat pumps in action.
Operating as a training hub for decarbonization and green heating technologies, the team at the Renewable Energy Warehouse has partnered with some of the sector’s leaders including Stelrad, Worcester Bosch, Daiken, Ariston, Mixergy and The Unico System. Products from all these companies are on display throughout the building (see some photos above here), which means visitors can truly see different renewables options up close and personal (there’s room for more too, if you’re interested in showcasing your products).
As it develops it will become a great source of information and support for everyone from homeowners and landlords to architects and installers. Meanwhile it proved a useful meeting space for all the delegates attending the CIPHE quarterly update.
On the meeting agenda…
- Lots of developments on the horizon from the CIPHE – watch this space!
- A quick review of the success of the World Plumbing Conference
- Technical updates – once more, watch this space
- Two roundtables focusing on HVAC and backflow prevention
- A tour of the facilities
We also picked up the latest copy of P&H Engineering magazine which featured our clients on a lot of different pages (well done to the client teams at Refresh!).
We’ve attended several IADG events now, and each has been invaluable in gaining technical updates and a feel for what’s going on in the industry at the moment. It’s a chance for competitors and partners to openly discuss shared successes and shared concerns. Each contributes valuable insight to CIPHE’s planned activity, from training courses and college visits through to what is needed next in terms of legislation.
It was perhaps apt that the Government released its Progress Report for the construction industry for September during the meeting. We saw that the Government will be pull together the industry under single regulator for all the functions relating to the construction industry. Oh and appoint a single Chief Construction Adviser who can provide advice on all matters affecting the construction industry. A big role!
Watch out for changes to Part B – fire safety, and the implementation of the Building Safety Levy, both imminent, plus also the Future Homes and Building Standards coming in March 2027 (Part L and Part F changes.
As of yesterday, the Industrial Associates walked away with a lot to think about and the agenda for the next meeting is already being shaped. If you’re a member and haven’t attended yet, get it on your own agenda for ’27!