September 2005
IPHE Centenary Conference and Exhibition 2006
“Technical – Environment – Essential”
The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering will be holding its Centenary Year Conference and Exhibition at The Palace Hotel, Torquay, Devon on 1st – 4th June 2006. It is hoped to attract up to 500 delegates and partners from the UK and abroad.
The format of the Conference has been changed to accommodate a sizeable exhibition on Thursday and Friday, along with eight workshops covering various subjects such as: Waste Heat Recovery; Drainage & Environmental Issues; Underfloor Heating Technology and Wireless Controls Technology.
Technical presentations will take place on Saturday 3rd June and will be delivered by a line-up of key industry speakers including Dr Jamie Bartram of the World Health Organisation.
Kevin Wellman, IPHE Operations Director said: “We have had an amazing response already with nearly half the rooms in the hotel reserved by keen delegates. Besides arranging a terrific technical programme, we have made sure that partners and children will be fully occupied with social events. We are also staging the largest ever plumbing & heating exhibition to be held in the south-west of England. International visitors will be able to take advantage of the pre-conference/post-conference trips available.”
If you would like a booking form for the Centenary Conference and Exhibition, or would like to find out more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Conference Organiser Michelle Gough on 01268 412167 or email michelle.gough@virgin.net.
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SEPTEMBER 2005
Open House at WPG Conference
The Institute’s Women in Plumbing Group (WPG) will be holding its Annual One-day Conference on 2nd November at the Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, London SE1 8UJ. The theme will be “Education & Training – facing the challenge”.
Speakers for the event include Claire Curtis-Thomas MP (Chartered Engineer), Caroline Slocock (Equal Opportunities Commission), Janet Shelley (Women Builders), Jenni Wood (Plumbing Lecturer) Charlotte Thomson (Plumber) and Sue Leong (Trainee Plumber). Ursula Russell MBE ( Coventry and Warwickshire Learning and Skills Council) will chair the conference.
Last year’s delegates were very enthusiastic about the interactive morning session, run by Plumb Center – the Group’s principal sponsor. So, this year Plumb Center has agreed to provide an additional session after lunch.
This will be the third WPG Conference since the Group started in 2002 and it is expected that over 100 delegates will attend. Janice Grande, WPG coordinator said: “We are very keen to have a good mix of men and women attending the conference from all areas of the plumbing & heating industry.”
If you would like more information on the WPG Conference or a booking form for this free event, please email Janice at GrandeCopy@aol.com or ring 01708 702827.
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SEPTEMBER 2005
At what cost?
The recent Which? Survey has highlighted variations in the hourly rate of plumbers. Many consumers would like to see a national fixed rate, but this is impossible because charges will depend on the job and the area that the plumber is working in. For instance, in a city parking is a major problem with red line restrictions and very expensive meters. In London there is the added expense of the Congestion Charge. The cost of living also varies in different parts of the country. Very rarely are plumbing jobs ever the same.
But what other charges do professional plumbers & heating engineers factor into their fee? There are many overheads to take into consideration such as vans, insurances, fuel, clothing, tools and equipment (equipment alone can cost thousands of pounds). But one of the most costly items is training.
Plumbers who work on gas have to be CORGI registered. This entails a course followed by a stringent assessment. Again, this can cost thousands of pounds when taking into account the lost earnings involved. Then there are the various courses needed to comply with Building and Water Regulations.
As in most trades, there will be the ‘cowboy’ element who do not undertake training and overcharge customers. Indeed, in plumbing, anyone in the UK can use the title ‘plumber’ and undertake plumbing work for gain without restriction. But as the professional body to the plumbing and heating industry, the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) encourages all members to take part in Professional Development.
Kevin Wellman, Operations Director for the IPHE had the following to say: “Membership of IPHE is voluntary and our members show their commitment to protecting the public by abiding by a Code of Professional Standards and agree to keep up to date with training. This can be costly, but we see it as a necessity to maintaining standards.”
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SEPTEMBER 2005
Which plumber?
The Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (IPHE), the professional body for the plumbing and heating industry, was not surprised by the vast range of hourly rates charged by plumbers in the UK, quoted in the Which? report, as the cost of living does vary throughout the country.
Professional plumbers and heating engineers do have a lot of overheads such as vans, insurances, fuel, tools and equipment, clothing, training, CORGI fees etc, which are factored into their costings. Also, plumbers and heating engineers working in a city area will face very high parking fees and possibly the congestion charge if they work in London.
Unfortunately, there are ‘cowboy’ plumbers who overcharge and do not do a good job, so consumers should take care when choosing a plumber.
The IPHE would like to give the following advice to consumers looking for a plumbing and heating engineer:
- As stated in the report, hourly rates for plumbers vary considerably. The best guide to pricing is by getting at least three quotes for the whole job in writing. If all quotes are in a similar range, then that is probably the right price for the job.
- Do check to see if there is any call out charge.
- Check that prices include VAT. Be very wary if the plumber offers to do the job without VAT – there will be no record of the job in case it goes wrong.
- If the job includes gas, make sure the plumber is CORGI registered – ask to see his card.
- In an emergency there isn’t time to get quotes, so it is best to either contact someone who has been recommended to you or contact the IPHE or a trade association such as APHC or SNIPEF.
The Institute has a register of competent and professional plumbers who have to abide by a Code of Professional Standards. In an emergency consumers can visit the website www.iphe.org.uk and find a plumber in their area. Alternately, the IPHE has corporate adverts in Yellow Pages and Thomson Directories. To check whether a plumber is an IPHE member, telephone 01708 472791 – Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
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SEPTEMBER 2005