The SOLiC 200 from Earthwise Products  automatically provides free hot water from new and existing PV panels, by offering the home’s excess solar energy to the immersion heater circuit instead of allowing it to be exported to the grid. The SOLiC 200 is said to be the most efficient device of its kind on the market as it operates with …

Vufold, the British manufacturing retailer of bifold doors has added matching windows to its Ultra and Supreme ranges of external bi-folding doors.

Nationwide tile retailer Tile Giant has launched a new reward scheme exclusively for trade customers. Tile Giant, which has 110 branches across the UK, is promising discounts of up to 50 per cent on certain products to card holders. Tradespeople who sign up for a free Trade Rewards card will benefit from: • All tiles 15 per cent off • …

Following its introduction of the tough Black Mamba Nitrile Glove into the UK market back in 2012, Fortress Distribution is launching the new Pro Blu heavy duty latex glove. Manufactured from latex and at 14 mils thick it offers users the ability to work in a number of different applications. Some of the key features of the new Pro Blu …

A Bedford based contractor has been fined for failing to comply with a Prohibition Notice, which was served after the contractor was witnessed carrying out roof work in an unsafe manner at Premier Motor Company, Manton Lane, Bedford. Luton Magistrates’ Court heard how tradesman Bernard Buck continued the reroofing work at Premier Motor Company’s Manton Lane site with subcontractors, without …

A new prefabricated outlet has been added to Alumasc Rainwater’s high performance Steel range. The one piece component reduces the risk of leaks due to incorrectly cut materials on-site.

Research by DeWALT  has shown that modern tradesmen and building contractors undertaking repetitive drilling and fastening work, require tools that offer reliable and powerful performance, a compact design, and ease of control. DeWALT has therefore expanded its XR 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless portfolio with the introduction of the DCD791 Drill Driver, DCD796 Hammer Drill Driver and DCF887 Impact Driver. Improved power …

Skill Builder’s Roger Bisby tries out the latest offering from Faulks the Gorilla brooms range. Gorilla tubs, you’ve heard of them I’m sure, well these brushes and brooms come out of the same Faulks stable, except of course, you don’t keep Gorillas in a stable. The approach with the brooms is exactly the same as the tubs, find a problem and …

Toyota has introduced its new Hilux at this year’s Geneva Motor show. Available in Single, Extra and Double Cab body styles, the eighth generation Hilux offers a new and stronger ladder chassis, reinforced deck structure, enhanced 4×4 capabilities and  an improved towing capacity. New 2.4-litre D-4D engine The introduction of a 2.4-litre D-4D Global Diesel (GD) engine featuring Stop/Start combines …

Exeter plumber prosecuted for leaving a customer's gas meter and gas pipe in a dangerous state after he had undertaken unregistered gas work.

Kee Safety, the fall protection equipment expert, has launched the KeeGuard Ladder Kit, a permanently fixed guardrail system that can be used in conjunction with safety ladders and self-closing gates. KeeGuard Ladder Kit has been designed to provide a working at height safety solution that complies with EN 14122-4. This standard recommends that ‘to prevent falling through the access opening …

Marley Plumbing & Drainage has strengthened its commercial soil product offering by expanding its solvent soil range with new 160mm fittings and pipe. This latest offering strengthens Marley’s existing commercial portfolio which includes its kitemarked HDPE (high-density polyethylene system) and dBlue acoustic soil systems, which have been manufactured to withstand the high daily usage commercial properties entail and for easier …

Noisy construction work will not be allowed on the weekend in Kensington and Chelsea after the Council’s Cabinet agreed a new Code of Construction Practice on Thursday 11th February. Residents have long complained about noise from construction work and what they believed to be its unrelenting nature. In response the Council produced a draft Code of Construction Practice which was …

Saint-Gobain Weber‘s fibre-modified floor levelling compound is designed to offer fast and efficient renovation of existing floors, and floating floor construction, in domestic and commercial applications. weber.floor 4310 fibre flow is a pump-applied screed formulated from special cements, aggregates, binders and chemical admixtures that can be applied at depths between 5 – 50mm. It is supplied as a casein-free pre-blended …

Deciding between a green roof and photovoltaics (PV) has been a question faced by many over recent years when designing a flat roof; however these two technologies are no longer mutually exclusive with the introduction of Bauder BioSOLAR, which will be officially launched at this year’s Ecobuild. A biosolar roof is the successful combination of biodiverse and extensive green roofs …

In response to an industry-wide skills shortage, Ecobuild, the UK show dedicated to construction and energy, has launched a partnership with The Job Show, the nationwide recruitment and careers event, to create a construction-focused job show which will run alongside Ecobuild on the last day of the show, 10th March at ExCeL London. The Construction Job Show has been designed …

BSS, the heating and pipeline product distributer, has added a selection of quiet, reliable and robust Salamander pumps to its product range. Whether mains- or gravity-fed, for individual items or for a whole system; the new range provides pumps to boost water pressures for both light commercial and domestic installations. Products on offer include: HomeBoost Mains Water Pump; ESP Super …

A scaffolding company based in Dorset has been fined for safety failings following an incident where an employee fell through a roof light. Weymouth Magistrates’ Court heard how Weller Scaffolding Limited of Dorset had been contracted to erect access scaffold and perimeter handrails around the roof of a small industrial unit at East Road, Bridport. An employee of Weller Scaffolding …

Roger Bisby takes a walk across some Isosonic Dekfloor 30 from Thermal Economics as it is being installed in a refurbishment project. Sound insulation can be a tricky business, things that work well in the laboratory may fair less well on site. There are so many things that can undo all that design work, a nail, a screw or a …

Roger Bisby looks at the benefits of investing in an inflatable wedge which has been designed to make fixing and levelling easier. We have looked at pump up bags fairly recently but these are called Hedgehog Easy Air Wedge from easy innovations and have a subtle difference that you can’t see from looking at them. The secret feature is a …