News

Friday, April 4, 2008

The Tragedy of the Rhianna Hardie Scalding Fatality
It was not the failure of the immersion heater thermostat that led to the tragic death of this young child.

The facts clearly demonstrate that it was the incorrectly installed cold water storage cistern which was not supported over its full diameter that led to the tank splitting and boiling water cascading through the ceiling of baby Rhianna's bedroom.

Whilst the failure of the thermostat contributed to this sad accident, members of the public have become confused about the true causes of this accident and the earlier one in 2002.

The Plumbing and Heating Industry Alliance and the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering remain very concerned that through the public use of unqualified plumbing and heating engineers there are many more incorrectly installed cold water storage tanks which remain unchecked as householders are being advised to only check their immersion thermostats.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering as the standard setting and professional body for the industry, have provided advice to the government and immediately informed their members of this problem.

The public need to be sure that the people they use to check their systems are professionally qualified and competent.

Posted by Chris Sneath   [Link]

Friday, March 7, 2008

Training schools robbing students
Training schools which offer qualifications and then fail to deliver are costing students thousands of pounds, says the Plumbing and Heating Industry Alliance (PHIA). The Alliance, which represents some 20-trade bodies with over 30,000 members in the UK, is campaigning to put an end to what it calls ‘rogue trainers’. PHIA chairman, Chris Sneath says, "There’s a crazy situation where anyone can set themselves up as a training school and claim to teach someone to be a qualified plumber in as little as four weeks. Needless to say, these get rich quick merchants charge a fortune - I’ve heard of as much as £5000 - but the would-be plumbers parting with their money end up with virtually nothing, certainly not the means to start a legitimate career in our industry. It’s nothing short of daylight robbery." [more]

Posted by Chris Sneath   [Link]

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