BMA Gives Thumbs-up To Part G
27/09/2010 | Water efficiency and hot water safety are key requirements of the revised Part G of the Building Regulations and the Bathroom Manufacturers Association gives its 'thumbs up' to the new requirements. A new mandatory water efficiency maximum of 125 litres per person per day for new homes is now required, as is a new hot water safety standard requiring new homes to be fitted with a Thermostatic Mixing Valves to prevent scalding accidents. The new regulations herald a step change in water efficiency and bathroom safety "Creating homes which are more water efficient and bathrooms which are safer should be welcomed by us all," commented Yvonne Orgill chief executive of the BMA. "It's taken some time to get these new standards written into the regulations but we can all sleep a little easier now that progress is being made on these critical subjects. Having set the standard for water efficiency and safety in newly built properties our focus of attention must now turn to the existing housing stock." Members of the BMA are industry innovators and are always keen to stay ahead of the curve. They have been busy designing products which meet, and in some cases exceed, the requirements of these new regulations. Housing developers now have a growing range of bathroom products to choose from which will help them build houses which fully conform. In order to assist developers, installers and consumers the BMA is continuing to develop its award-winning Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme at http://www.water-efficiency.org.uk/. Users can search the site for the best performing products to suit their particular needs. They can then use the new online Water Calculator at http://www.thewatercalculator.org.uk/ which contains information on water consumption for hundreds of products, enabling quick and easy specification, without the hassle of gathering data from several product manufacturers. The Water Calculator provides a working example of the calculator used for Part G of the Building Regulations and the Code for Sustainable Homes. Users may then search for stockists of the products. The scheme is recognised by government and industry leaders as the leading source of water efficient product information. In addition, an excellent publication from the BMA provides an in-depth and informative guide to the Thermostatic Mixing Valve. The guide is a valuable resource and goes into great detail about the product; what it is, where it can be used and what are the relevant regulations. The readable text and excellent images bring home the importance of the TMV. The guide, in PDF format, is downloadable from the BMA's Bathroom Academy website at www.bathroom-academy.co.uk/guides2.asp. TRENDS - The bathroom is now the focal point The bathroom has become our home's focal point for really stylish and eco friendly design. Product designers have raised the creative bar to respond to the market's increasing demand for bathroom products which are gorgeous to look at, easy to install, and very water efficient. Curvy organic shaping and bold iconic products are strutting the bathroom catwalk. Interior designers have also responded. They are producing layout and design solutions for householders who have decided not to move until their finances improve. Designers have fulfilled the diverse demands for a look of either bare-boned minimalism or cluttered glamour, romance and opulence. It's a tale of two bathrooms. But there is no doubt that sustainability will stay at the top of bathroom product design trends. It will be the number one priority in the next few years and manufacturers are pushing boundaries in design and technology, taking the market with them. It's an exciting time.