Modern Building Services

MODERN BUILDING SERVICES APRIL 2021 5 INDUSTRY NEWS Supporting in every capacity with EIC Within the UK, 850,000 people live with dementia and by 2025 it is predicted 1 million people will be living with dementia within the UK alone. The older you are the more likely you are to develop dementia. The risk of developing dementia when over 65 years old is 1 in 14 while over 80 it increases to 1 in 6 people. Christine approached the charity when her mother, aged 83, began to display signs of dementia. Christine had worked for a major wholesaler for over a decade when she was forced to retire early at the age of 62 to care for her mother Marie. Marie’s behaviour had become erratic and her personality was changing day-to-day. She was verbally and physically abusive to Christine and she suffered several falls within their home. Christine contacted the Charity who using their Employee and Family Programme signposted her to local social services for practical support. Social services recommended and facilitated a move into permanent residential care for Marie practical support. The charity can provide support to any former or current employee of the electrical and energy sector using the four branches of the charity Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Utilising the EAP, The Electrical Industries Charity also funded a private consultation with a senior consultant geriatrician. The geriatrician diagnosed Marie with an acute form of fronto-temporal dementia which explained Marie’s change in personality and ever-changing behaviour. The Electrical Industries Charity can help you gain peace of mind in trying times. If you need assistance please contact the Electrical Industries Charity welfare team on 0800 652 1618 or support@electricalcharity. org . You can also help to support the Electrical Industries Charity Employee Assistance Programme by playing powerLottery. Find out more here: www.electricalcharity.org/ lottery Radiators that do not conform to current standards must be stamped out- says leading trade body The Manufacturers Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC), launched a campaign in 2020, to raise consumer awareness of the importance of having quality, radiators that conform to current standards, installed in their home. Today 09/03/2021 they extend their campaign to the industry and call upon the them to help eliminate bogus radiator products from the market. The ‘You are what you Heat’ campaign represents the importance of having quality, *CE/UKCA marked radiators, for heating systems and homes to be fit and healthy, which applies to all products sold into the construction industry, including those purchased online. Isaac Occhipinti, Head of external affairs, MARC said “Our 2020 campaign was well received and we made some real headway in educating them on the reality of having radiators that do not conform to current standards- often with over inflated heat output claims- installed in their homes. “Poor quality radiators simply don’t last long and lead to bigger carbon costs as they need replacing more often. In addition, a radiator that has overstated its heat output will lead to a boiler that can’t condense properly. It will, therefore, burn more fossil fuels and cause higher amounts of carbon to be released into the atmosphere.” “MARC and its members are now calling on the wider industry to help us raise standards and compliance. One guaranteed way that consumers can have product assurance is to look out for MARC membership! All members of MARC must provide proof of product performance (CE/UKCA marking), together with test certificates.” For more information about MARC please visit www.marcuk.com Covid ‘Roadmap’ Pushes CSA Awards Ceremony to November Following the UK Government’s recently announced ‘roadmap’ to the lifting of its COVID-19 restrictions, the CSA have once again been forced to postpone the 2020/21 CSA Awards Ceremony Having already moved the event from its original date in June 2020, it is very much hoped that the proposed timeline mapped out by the Prime Minister, will indeed deliver the eagerly anticipated relaxation of the current rules. However, with caution being the watchword over the coming months, whilst the vaccine roll- out continues apace and public confidence develops, the event has now been rescheduled to the evening of Thursday 11th November 2021. The Guoman Tower Hotel in London will be retained as the venue for this special evening of reward and celebration. www.csa-awards.co.uk UK scientists develop new air filtermaterial to tackle COVID-19 A team of researchers at London South Bank University (LSBU) is entering the second design stage of a unique indoor air filter systemwhich aims to remove COVID-19 from the air, particularly indoor environments. The LSBU research will test the use of sustainable materials, including hydrogen peroxide, to eliminate the virus responsible for COVID-19 and other pathogens from the air. The first stage of the LSBU School of Engineering research, published in Environmental Technology & Innovation journal, found hydrogen peroxide is highly effective when used in porous material systems (which have tiny holes for air to pass through) to counter COVID-19. The indoor spread of the pathogens has been identified by scientists as one of the biggest sources of COVID-19 transmission. A recent government survey found 8%of UK respondents had bought a portable air cleaner, purifier or disinfection device to tackle COVID-19. However, the effectiveness of these commercial air filters is unknown against COVID-19.