Andrew Miele, Senior Application Engineer for offsite solutions at Baxi, looks at how different areas of the new-build and refurb housing sector can best collaborate to deliver efficient, comfortable and quality homes.
Building in efficiency
The construction sector in the UK is growing. According to the Glenigan Construction forecast, after a 3% increase in the value of underlying (under £100 million) project starts last year, the industry is expected to see rises of 7% this year and a further 6% in 2026.1
Alongside a healthy project pipeline, and ambitious targets on housebuilding, there is also a focus across the residential construction sector on delivering more energy-efficient and sustainable homes. A significant part of switching to more renewable energy is electrification, incorporating solutions like heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage systems.
Both large refurbishment projects and new builds can offer sizeable opportunities for construction companies to introduce efficient electrical heating systems such as heat pumps, as well as other electrical efficiency-driving measures. A new build is the perfect starting point to consider every aspect of the house, including fabric and ventilation as well as the heating system, all focused on reducing energy wastage. Refurbishments open the possibilities of a range of upgrades to building fabric using heat pumps, underfloor heating and smart controls.
However, despite a trajectory of growth in both new-build and refurb areas, the housebuilding sector is not immune to the challenges facing the wider construction industry. In turn, this will mean finding new ways of making project delivery more efficient.
Collaborating with manufacturers
When it comes to heating, skills shortages have been identified in a recent Baxi installer survey as challenging to the widespread integration of new technologies like heat pumps. This can pose a risk to projects being delivered on time and within budget. As a result, construction companies of all sizes should work jointly with manufacturers to support them and their appointed contractors with getting it right first time.
Manufacturers such as Baxi act as a strategic partner, providing design, training and assisted commissioning, in addition to aftersales support for homeowners to ensure the technology has been installed correctly and can be operated as efficiently as possible. This will prove especially important as homeowner familiarity with heat pump technology continues to grow.
Housebuilders who partner with Baxi gain access to training centres located across the UK as well as product training courses and specialist training courses. Baxi’s new Solutions Academy, for example, has been designed to support more professionals in developing the necessary skills and qualifications to help bridge the industry skills gap. In this regard, training programmes heat pump installer course also ensure heating contractors and installers have the required skills to install energy-efficient systems in any project.
Industry Partnerships
To overcome the skills challenge posed to the industry, many construction companies and housebuilders are exploring modern methods of construction (MMC). These include the use of offsite fabrication, for instance, in which elements of the home including heating systems, utility cupboards or even entire bathrooms are built in a factory and transported to site to be fitted within a home.
This method offers many key benefits, explaining its rise in popularity. Included in this are the significant time savings, a reduction in the number of trades required onsite (simplifying planning logistics and reducing onsite hot works), reduced waste and greater quality assurance. Put simply, it ensures that the solution looks, feels and performs as intended.
To support the growing demand for offsite prefabricated heating and hot water solutions, Baxi’s specialist prefabrication division, Baxi Packaged Solutions, offers a variety of options for both residential and commercial projects. A notable example in the housebuilding industry is the ongoing collaboration with the ground-breaking digital platform WholeHouse®.
WholeHouse® supports SME and regional housebuilders by providing access to standardised designs and offsite fabricated solutions, with Baxi supporting with prefabricated understairs heating and hot water solutions. Providing housebuilders and developers with fully compliant, offsite fabricated units centred around either an air source heat pump or gas or electric boiler will make for a faster, easier, more efficient installation process which fits perfectly with the ethos of this industry-first portal. The Baxi range includes six designs for the understairs unit but over a billion configurations, allowing users to choose the most suitable option for their house size and design.
For smaller construction companies building new homes, the WholeHouse® platform helps streamline the challenging process by providing a suite of tools that enable efficient and high-quality homebuilding. This standardised model is particularly beneficial for housebuilders who may not have dedicated teams for tasks such as design, specification, and compliance with the latest building regulations. Additionally, WholeHouse® supports the adoption of new technologies, such as renewable energy systems and low-carbon solutions, making it easier to integrate these innovations without the need for extensive expertise or time-consuming adjustments.
MMC and partnerships such as WholeHouse® will be ever-important assets in overcoming skills and sustainability challenges. Collaboration between the entire supply chain will also be central to success, making strategic partnerships with manufacturers a practical approach to delivering effective low-carbon heating and hot water solutions for new homes.
For further information on Baxi product training courses go to: Product Training Courses | Baxi Boilers, Heat Pumps, Cylinders.
If you’d like to know more about Baxi specialist training courses use: Specialist Training Courses | Baxi Boilers, Heat Pumps, Cylinders.
