Electrical Contracting News (ECN) September 2016 | Page 45
WIRING ACCESSORIES
SPECIAL FEATURE
Some smart installations will require the expertise of heating engineers and other tradesmen.
zones. evohome works really well in large
buildings with low occupancy, and we
are installing them in manor houses, ski
chalets and community centres.’
Andy Breeze, Breeze
Electrical – Forest of Dean
Smart heating controls continue to evolve
and dominate the heating market.
thermostats; leading into today’s growing
market for smart controls.
‘As the controls have developed, so
has the ease of use for both electricians
and homeowners. The large touch
screens and Apps have made the user
interface so much more user friendly.
Installers and electricians used to hate
setting up a central heating programmer,
but now you can do it intuitively with no
instruction manual.
‘Manufacturers are usually always on
hand to provide help and support with
their products through training and their
networks. The support I receive from the
Honeywell Installer Network is great –
anything I need I get help with. I can even
talk direct to the teams that design the
products like the evohome. Because of
this I’m actually part of the panel of testers
for products while they are in development
and they take on board my feedback.
‘Recently I have started carrying out
large complex evohome zoning installs,
containing 40 plus radiators which means
multiple touch screen controls and
‘I have been in the industry a long time,
and I have noticed a real shift in the
market place, especially over the past
couple of years, which has led to me
partnering up with more and more local
plumbers on heating jobs that need
extensive wiring work.
‘Because of this, I realised it was
important to upskill as a business, and
recently invested some time to undergo
the Honeywell central heating training
course so that we can understand the
basic heating installations and really be an
asset to our plumbing partners.
‘I am only just starting to dip my toe in
the water when it comes to smart controls,
the consumer demand is rapidly increasing
and the potential to get more work in this
area is really appealing.
‘As I am a member of the Honeywell
Installer Network, I receive e-shots about
training courses, and I wanted to learn
more about smart controls considering
my customers are asking about these
products. The best training programme
was the online connected course which
offers a full learning hive on all things
connected, from installations to product
knowledge. I am now enrolled and will be
starting my online training this month which
is really exciting as this is a totally new
market to get involved in and has so much
potential for us and also our partners.’
Time to invest
It’s always good to have industry contacts,
but now is the time to build a network of
partnerships. Some smart installations will
require the expertise of heating engineers
and other tradesmen. Thinking ahead
now is also a great way to understand
the routes to upskilling and the benefits
of becoming trained in other trade skills,
especially if more and more of the jobs on
your books involve smart controls.
Given the direction of the market, it is
now vital that electricians invest time in
learning about these new systems and
market themselves and their business as
being a specialist in smart technology.
In some cases this can lead to upskilling
within the business, hiring a qualified
heating engineer or collaborating with
another business to get the job done.
Upskilling is key to giving customers
the best products and devices for their
homes and maximising business potential
as a result. Signing up for manufacturer
training (whether online or face-to-face),
and joining manufacturer programmes
and schemes such as the Honeywell
Installer Network are instrumental in
moving with the times and developing as
an electrician.
There is a connected thermostat to
suit every application and budget.
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