The domestic heating chemical water treatment industry has achieved a real boost to its energy-efficiency credentials with the announcement that the Energy Saving Trust will endorse chemical inhibitors from Autumn 2011.

The Energy Saving Trust Recommended Certification Scheme already covers boilers, heating controls and passive flue gas heat recovery, and is an important signpost for consumers and installers to recognise products that contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Announcing the tie-in at the launch of Plumb Center’s new 'Wise Up To Water Treatment' initiative, Kelly Butler – association director for the Domestic Water Treatment Association (DWTA) – said: “Industry clearly understood the benefits of cleaning and treating primary heating systems back when we launched the association in 2004. A new system can be up to 6% less efficient within a matter of weeks if not correctly treated.

“Over the years we have progressively changed our industry outlook; we lobbied to introduce water treatment into Part L of the Building Regulations in 2006 and more recently launched the BuildCert product certification scheme for inhibitors. BuildCert enabled industry to point to an independent certification scheme to back up manufacturer claims for inhibitor performance.

"This latest boost with the Energy Saving Trust is the final piece in the jigsaw for our work with inhibitors. With inhibitor credentials now well and truly established in the supply chain, our association will look at equivalent standards and endorsements for cleaners and filters. We are strong believers in independent certification and raising market standards for product performance, and this will remain our underpinning philosophy as we move into the next phase of our work programme.”