20
MAY 2014 PRO INSTALLER
PRO NEWS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
WHEN
SIZE DOES
MATTER
DOUBLE OR TRIPLE?
There was an impressive turnout at Edgetech’s Triple Glazing forum, held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in April.
Clearly, the industry grasps
that TG is coming to the UK
– ready or not – and is keen
to learn more about what is
being flagged up by some
as the next big issue for the
industry here, for which it is
still relatively new ground
and a potential important
sales opportunity.
A strong lineup of speakers
represented glass and PVCu systems companies, fabricators and
installers, hardware, machinery,
construction and software experts,
who between them covered every
aspect of the TG debate - including Steve Scrivens, Guardian
Glass; VEKA’s Mark Barsby; Grant
Stratford from Yale; GGF Chief
Nigel Rees; Chris Ashworth from
Competitive Advantage; Promac’s
Joe Hague, Steve Goble from
Hegla, software specialist Malcolm
Searle; IGU manufacturer Gaby
Mendham of Ecoglass; Emplas’s
Mike Crewdson; Mark Warren of
Lister Trade Frames; Chris Carter,
Everest Home Improvements.
Strangely, there was no reference
- in Chris Carter’s presentation on
sales opportunities - about Everest’s advertising campaign, which
offers a ‘free upgrade’ to TG.
Andy Jones, Edgetech MD
proved an accomplished compere
and as well as the speakers providing a great deal of helpful information both in the open forum
sessions and in the expert arena,
the audience had the opportunity to put forward their views
easily using interactive keypads,
which helped move things along
smoothly.
Some of the percentages in the
polls were unexpected: more than
half (54%) of those present said
they would prefer to stick with
“clever” double glazing rather
than triple. There is concern about
the practicalities involved in manufacturing TG, in glass storage,
transportation and installation –
as well as the need for substantial
investment, not just in equipment but additional workforce
and training. Gaby Mendham’s
presentation – which revealed that
90% more raw material is needed
to produce a TG unit compared
with a DG – drew an interesting
reaction from the audience.
It was also revealed that one of
the selling points about TG - noise
reduction – was unimpressive:
apparently just one decibel better
than with double glazing, and that
can be discounted anyway given
that the human ear can only detect a reduction in sound of three
decibels.
But despite these revelations,
more than three-quarters of the
audience (77%) said they believed
consumer demand for TG would
rise in the next 12 months. And
more than half (53%) said they expected to be offering it as an option within the next 12 months.
‘installers were highly
sceptical about TG,
but there was more
optimism among
larger companies’
Well-known industry figures,
Mark Warren and Mike Crewdson
had earlier conducted their own
survey which revealed that on the
surface at least, installers were
highly sceptical about TG, but
there was more optimism among
larger companies, which is not
really surprising.
So far as the UK is concerned,
they reminded us that it is generally still a temperate zone, apart
from very exposed locations, so
perhaps the need for TG is not,
therefore, so great as the Scandinavian or Canada countries, for
example, which have had TG for
decades.
One aspect the survey stressed
is that the industry needs to be
aware of is its responsibility to
consumers, in providing them with
accurate specifications and not going down the route of “giveaway”
promotions.
The TG debate is now set to continue at The FIT Show at Telford
in June.
Most Hated Motoring Habit in UK
is Use of Hand-Held Mobile
Kwik Fit has revealed that handheld mobile phone use behind the
wheel is the most hated motoring
habit in the country.
It was cited by 47 percent of its survey
respondents. And it seems that older people find it more infuriating than youngsters. As such, 62 percent of those aged
sixty-five plus named it first compared to
only 38 percent of those from 18-24. Us-
ing a hand-held mobile is also illegal and
very dangerous.
The offender can receive a £100 ixed
penalty notice for and three penalty
points on his/her licence which will
increase the cost of motor insurance.
Furthermore, some offenders face a court
where the penalty could rise to one-thousand pounds and a ban.
The implications for professional drivers
– such as those responsible for buses
and heavy goods vehicles – are higher
still. The Kwik Fit survey revealed other
irritations too. Tailgating – that was the
most hated habit of the last survey in
2010 – has slipped to second spot as it
was only named by 42 percent of the
survey respondents. This was followed
by failing to indicate in third position (35
percent), dangerous overtaking in fourth
(30 percent), and middle lane cruisers in
fifth (26 percent).
Kwik Fit Director of Communications,
Roger Griggs, revealed: “These driving
habits aren’t just annoying, they are dangerous and some of them against the law.
You’re four times more likely to have an
accident if you use a mobile while driving
(based on information from the Department for Transport’s THINK! Campaign)
in addition to the frustration it causes
for fellow motorists. Griggs added: “And
with on-the-spot penalties for motorists
who hog the middle lane, tailgate or cut-
up other vehicles being introduced last
year, it highlights just how serious these
anti-social driving behaviours are being
taken.”
Britain’s Top Ten Most
Hated Road Habits
Using a mobile handset to talk/text
Tailgating
Failing to indicate
Dangerous overtaking
Middle lane cruisers
Last minute braking
Undertaking
Hesitant driving
Being slow away from traffic lights
Jumping the lights
47%
42%
35%
30%
26%
23%
19%
12%
12%
10%