Find out more about Pipelife:
https://skill-builder.uk/pipelife
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Ireland is pushing hard on renewable heating, and it shows. At the Pipe Life Renewables Academy, Mike Geary walks through how heat pumps and underfloor heating are changing the way homes are designed and retrofitted.
With solid government backing, better controls, and proper training for installers, these systems are proving they can deliver comfort, efficiency, and reliability.
The conversation digs into the differences between split and monoblock pumps, why low-temperature design matters, how Pipe Life’s kit is built to last, and what it takes to make rural homes work on an electric grid.
It’s a practical look at the challenges, the fixes, and the growing opportunities in sustainable heating.
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🔑 CORE HEATING TECH
Heat pumps
▶ Split systems (Hitachi partnership)
▶ Monoblock systems (Media partnership)
Underfloor heating systems
▶ Multilayer heating pipes (with EVO oxygen diffusion barriers)
▶ Bespoke underfloor heating design
▶ Floor screeding techniques for efficiency
Radiators
▶ Low-temperature radiators for heat pumps
▶ Retrofitting challenges with older, high-temp radiators
⚙️ SUPPORTING TECH
Pipe Life components & products
▶ Multilayer pipework (50-year guarantee)
▶ Tan-coloured Quex brand pipes (Irish market preference)
▶ Pre-plumbed domestic hot water cylinders
▶ Modular distribution/manifold systems
Controls & monitoring
▶ Weather compensation controls
▶ Smartphone app integration / remote monitoring
Ventilation systems
▶ Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) for airtight homes
Complementary technologies
▶ Solar PV (photovoltaics)
▶ Grid feedback / export systems
Installation & construction methods
▶ Pipe insulation standards
▶ Correct pipe-laying patterns (avoiding air gaps)
▶ Managing expansion in concrete floors
▶ Prefabrication / modular solutions to reduce labour
