Industry Calls For Zero Tolerance On Kitemark Dodgers
The UK’s radiator industry is making an unified call for zero tolerance on companies which mislead customers on the power of their products.
MARC – The Manufacturers Association of Radiators and Convectors – says radiators are being imported from overseas, claiming output levels in excess of their actual capability.
John Colling, chairman of MARC, said: “Customers, whether they are plumbers, heating engineers or end users, are being conned by such false claims on packaging and it is time that a stop was put to such practices.”
Anybody buying a radiator should look out for the British Standard (BS) EN442 accreditation on packaging or on the product.
Radiators sold in the UK have to conform and have outputs verified to BSEN442 the European standard for radiators. All radiator literature needs to display BSEN442 compliance, which enables specifiers to show compliance with the European construction products directive.
John said: “BSEN442 shows that the stated output levels have been independently verified, but some products are getting into the country without undergoing this process.
“If substandard radiators are installed, customers lose out on warmth and efficiency and end up disappointed, having generally paid over the odds, based upon the stated outputs. That cannot be acceptable in our industry.”
MARC represents more than 90% of the UK radiator market. Its membership includes:
• Rettig Group: Myson, Purmo, Vogel &Noot
• ISG: Stelrad, Henrad
• Quinn: Quinn Radiators, Merriott
• Zehnder Group: Bisque, Zehnder
• Vaillant Group: Heatline
• Kudox
John continued: “Anybody purchasing radiators should immediately reject those which are not BSEN442 verified, not only for their own good and for the benefit of their own customers, but for the industry as a whole to ensure that standards and reputations are maintained. Reporting non-compliant products to local trading standards can also help to put an end to this problem.”
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