The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) is working with water treatment manufacturer Fernox and the operator of the APHC business and legal advice line, Croner, to host six free regional seminars designed to update plumbing and heating engineers on the Each Home Counts Review and provide insight into how businesses can protect themselves from potential boiler warranty claims and employment status claims from contractors.

Fernox will be speaking about how heating engineers can protect themselves from potential future claims should a breakdown occur during the warranty period of a boiler. This is pertinent as extended warranties are linked to terms and conditions such as having an annual service, that appropriate safety checks are implemented and that the installation was done correctly with the correct water treatment levels.

Claire Lopez, Marketing Manager at Fernox, commented: “APHC have informed us that they are aware of instances where boiler manufacturers have taken water samples on callouts for non-system water related issues, so we are going to advise on what heating engineers can do to protect themselves from potential future claims should a breakdown occur during the warranty period of a boiler”.

Croner, which operates APHC’s business and legal advice line which is included as part of membership for APHC members, is going to provide insight into how the abolition of tribunal fees is seeing a 120% increase in employment claims and what plumbing and heating companies can do to protect themselves from employment status claims from contractors, which can be costly and time consuming.

Dan Windsor, Head of Associations from Croner, said: “As an added bonus, attendees will be able to book a free Business Health Check where Croner will review existing policy and procedure documents and provide an overall report on the current health of your business in key areas of health & safety and HR legislation.”

Graeme Dryden, APHC’s Technical Services Manager, will be providing an overview on the Each Home Counts Review which potentially has far reaching ramifications for plumbing and heating engineers, including additional costs, bureaucracy and the requirement to meet another quality mark.

He said: “APHC has voiced concerns over the direction of the proposed Quality Mark in a letter to Claire Perry, Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and we believe a lack of industry consultation could lead to the same mistakes as made with Green Deal and MCS being made again”, said Graeme Dryden.

The seminars will commence at 9:00am and run through to 12:00pm on the following dates and locations:

  • 17 April, Hinckley (Croner, Croner House, Wheatfield Way, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 1YG)
  • 18 April, Leeds (Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa, 1150 Century Way, Thorpe Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 8ZB)
  • 19 April, Llandudno (Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Llandudno Road, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, LL28 4HZ)
  • 24 April, Woking – includes lunch and a tour of the Fernox facility (Fernox Unit 2 Genesis Business Park, Albert Drive, Sheerwater, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5RW)
  • 25 April, Exeter (Exeter Court Hotel, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7UX)
  • 26 April, Swansea (Village Hotel Swansea, Langdon Road, Swansea, SA1 8QY)

Places are limited so APHC is advising to book early, which readers can do by contacting APHC directly on 0121 711 5030 or via email at marketing@aphc.co.uk.