Plumbing contractors are being warned to take extra care over the installation of push-fit pipes after a spate of high value claims for water damage.  In the past year, ECIC, the specialist insurer for the construction industry, has seen a marked increase in escape of water claims resulting from push-fit pipes that have burst open under pressure causing extensive and expensive property damage.

The value of claims from poorly fitted push-fit pipes can vary dramatically from a few thousand pounds in a domestic property to hundreds of thousands pounds in a commercial environment.  In one case settled by ECIC, the damage caused in a care home by water was so severe it caused £500,000 of damage.

The speed of making a connection with push-fit fittings is perhaps the biggest advantage for plumbers.  In an emergency it is possible to quickly cap or repair a pipe by simply pushing on a push-fit fitting.  In addition, there is no need to solder or use glue to make connections and they are easily removed so they can be repositioned as needed.  However, as with any plumbing equipment, the installation and fitting is key, with only a small amount of error on the part of the plumber potentially leading to thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Ian Hollingworth, Claims Manager for ECIC said, “We have seen an upsurge in escape of water claims in recent years, and the increasing use of push-fit pipes has, without a doubt, contributed to this rise.  Whilst these pipes, when they are installed correctly, are incredibly fast to fit and cost effective, if the job is performed incorrectly, the fitting, as we have seen, will burst causing extensive water damage.  By ensuring that anyone fitting push-fit pipes is trained appropriately, and that care is taken to do the job correctly, plumbing contractors will be able to avoid damage, both to the property in question, but also their reputation and bottom line.”

Ends

 ECIC media contacts

For further information please contact the ECIC Press Office at HSL:  Alison Reeson/Laura Welsh.  0208 977 9132.  ECIC@harrisonsadler.com

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Poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water are the world’s key issues.

The humble toilet can be a stepping stone to a healthier life, greater dignity, freedom, equality between women, men, girls and boys, and a major catalyst to the development of communities and countries.

So what can you do about it? You can play your part and the very least you can do is support World Toilet Day on Monday 19 November – www.worldtoiletday.org

It’s now less than a fortnight away  – the same date every year – World Toilet Day aims to raise awareness of sanitation issues and highlight the plight of those 1-in-3 people – that’s 2.5 billion – who don’t have access to proper sanitation.

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association supports the aims and ideals of World Toilet Day. In its own way the BMA promotes the urgent need for us all – no matter where in live in the world – to use water efficiently, without waste, and as wisely as possible.

We need to ensure that this precious resource is treated with the respect it deserves for the benefit of our future generations.

Can you imagine not having a toilet? Can you imagine not having privacy when you need it most? Can you imagine having no access to clean water?

Probably not! So what can you do about it?

Well, the BMA is the trade association for bathroom manufacturers operating in the UK and is highlighting these important issues. It is the principal ‘Voice of the Bathroom Industry’ and acts as an information highway between industry, government and the consumer on issues that affect the bathroom business.

The BMA represents, through its technical, marketing and management committees, the interests of 55 major bathroom manufacturing groups and service providers with over 80 well-known brands in the market place. The manufacturing base directly employs 10,000+ people across 79 sites around the UK.

More information: info@bathroom-association.org.uk

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He says that over the coming years we may see more of the current predicament. There are going to be  similar extremes of weather as climate changes takes over.

Talking to the All Party Parliamentary Water Group which is monitoring the implications of the Water Act, Lord Smith underlined the ‘precarious state of our water resources’.

He pointed out that in addition to climate change the rapid growth in population was a major contributor to water availability, particularly in water stressed areas. We had to work better to make the best of the difficult circumstances.

Having a ‘national grid’ for water was not a ‘sensible way forward’. It was far better for water companies to work more closely together and shift water between themselves.

He made the point that greater home water metering would raise people’s awareness of the amount of water they were using and current demand of around 160litres per person per day, was not acceptable! There had to be a dramatic change in people’s behaviour in this respect.

He also considered it would be a significant move forward for builders of new homes to automatically install grey water systems as part of their new developments. Possibly the public sector could take the initiative in this important arena.

NB: The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has initiated the important water labeling system which highlights all the products such as taps, showers, baths, basins and so on, which have been specially designed and manufactured to help conserve water. Water conservation is the important subject of the National Home Improvement Council’s Parliamentary Lunch on Monday 25^th June 2012.

More information: andrew@nhic.org.uk

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The solid wall building, originally constructed in 1855, has been transformed into a number of energy efficient terraced housing units that demonstrate the latest processes, materials and technological advances in sustainable refurbishment.

The Minister met with representatives from partners British Gas, Saint Gobain and BASF and heard about the intensive trialling and testing programme being carried out on the homes and the range of sustainable products, materials and systems they incorporate.

The resulting information will be used to help homeowners make informed decisions on improvements to their homes as the Green Deal comes into play.

Photo shows: Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker at BRE’s head office site in Watford visiting the Victorian Terrace project on the Establishment’s Innovation Park.

More information: mckeownl@bre.co.uk

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The project was awarded maximum BREEAM credits in the water, waste, management and ecology categories, and the refurbished building also scored well in the energy, materials and health and wellbeing categories.

Refurbishment followed the ‘fabric first’ approach, whereby the energy demand was reduced by adding more loft and wall insulation, and installing new windows and doors with lower U values.

This approach reduced carbon emissions from 122.77kgCO₂/m²/year to 61.85kgCO₂/m²/year – an improvement of 49%.

Water use has been reduced by installing dual-flush toilets, flow restrictors on taps and showers, as well a bath with low water capacity. This has reduced the water consumption to less than 100 litres per person per day.

In order to reduce the waste produced while the house is inhabited, a 30 litre fixed recycling bin has been provided in the kitchen, and the property is included on the doorstep recycling scheme by the Braintree district council.

More information: www.breeam.org

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Green Cross International is marked World Water Day by calling for intensified action to protect the hundreds of millions of people whose lives and wellbeing are endangered by the global water crisis and related food security challenges, particularly in the face of more frequent and intense drought and flooding.

Marie-Laure Vercambre, Director of Green Cross International’s Water for Life and Peace Programme (seen here on the right); “Much remains to be done. Almost 800 million people still live without access to safe water and three times that number lack sanitation systems.

“Unlike the goal for water, the target to provide more people with basic sanitation will unlikely be met. We know climate change, industrialisation and poor sharing of water are the key drivers of the world water crisis.

“So why are we not doing more to implement the necessary actions to ensure all people have access to water and sanitation, which is a basic human right?”

Green Cross International, the nongovernmental organization founded by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 to address the nexus of environmental degradation, insecurity and poverty, called for nations to support two essential initiatives: implementation of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in their own countries, and ratification of the United Nations Watercourses Convention for sharing cross-border rivers and connected watercourses.


More information: www.gcint.org

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Anne McIntosh MP

The speakers at the All Party Parliamentary Water Group included Anne McIntosh, MP, chairman of the Group, Dr Jean Venables,  chief executive,  Association of Drainage Authorities, Philip Clisham, chief engineer, Mouchel, and Michelle Lewis, head of communications, Yorkshire Water.

Overall it welcomed the ‘Water for life’ aspect and the fact that it looked closely at the value of water management and welcomed the call for ‘catchment management’.

The meeting pointed out that rainwater harvesting was very significant but the White Paper ‘hadn’t got the figures right! The incidence of flooding was very important ingredient and the storing of peak flows.

It was underlined that we ‘need to get the right solutions’ so that there could be a sustainable water sector. The water industry had to be aware of its carbon  footprint and should invest in greater training.

On the whole there really was a lot still to be done and the White Paper was very much needed. There was a ‘myriad’ of small water companies  – too many of them – and each year in the UK there were around 30,000 abstractions! Also, far too many.

The National Home Improvement Council is particularly interested in water matters because it’s careful administration and management is such a vitally important ingredient of all our lives!

Photo: Anne McIntosh MP

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At the moment our heads are just about above the crucial level. But in five years time this could be a different picture. Certainly, in future decades water will be critical for our children if decisive steps are not taken now!

This means that everyone involved (which means all of us) in the consumption of water must use much less!

According to Colin Kelly, director of Gas and Water, Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, the water industry faces ‘a host of seemingly unsustainable demands.” He suggests that innovation has never been more important to help deliver ’the step-changes required to meet future challenges.’

So we wait with bated to see what the Water White Paper has to deliver! The government is said to be ‘on our side’ and waiting with ‘long term investment for the future.’

But maybe water isn’t so high on George Osborne’s agenda?

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