Lucky seven for St Nicholas’ Church from Smith’s Caspian UV fan convectors!

As part of its long awaited refurbishment, seven of Smith’s Caspian UV fan convectors have transformed the heating system of St Nicholas’ Church in Blundellsands, Merseyside.

The contractor, Colin Wakefield from Wakefield and Wilson, selected Smith’s Caspians because a modern, flexible heating solution was needed to suit the requirements of the church. He specified four units for the large hall, two for the small hall and one to be installed in the reception area. The new heating system enabled each room to be heated separately. The temperature of each Caspian can be adjusted to suit the varying heat output requirements so that during the colder months, the temperature can be increased on each unit to ensure that the whole space is heated effectively. This provides the church with a much more efficient and cost-effective solution.

The church was founded on 25 September 1874 and is part of the Diocese of Liverpool. It plays host to a wide range of services for people of all ages, so ensuring that the building is warm and comfortable when in use is very important. As well as the main church building, there are two halls and a council chamber which are also hired out for clubs and events. The original heating system consisted of one boiler, which meant that in order for one room to be heated, the rest of the building had to be heated too. The temperature of the rooms could not be individually controlled, so it worked under a ‘one temperature fits all’ basis and this is a problem that regularly occurs in commercial buildings.

Colin Wakefield said: “Having worked with Smith’s previously, I knew that the Caspian UV fan convectors would be the perfect solution for this church. The Caspians’ heat outputs, efficiency and low noise make them the ideal product for a church environment.”

Unlike a conventional panel radiator, the fan convector provides more even temperature spread and much faster warmth. The small fan means that the heat produced is distributed using forced, rather than natural, convection and consequently this makes it far more responsive to thermostatic controls. Smith’s Caspian range provides the perfect solution for commercial buildings. As with all Smith’s products, the Caspians come with a free five-year warranty for parts and labour.

For more information about the Smith's Caspian UV, please visit our website: http://smithsep.co.uk/products/commercial-uv-ff-ext/

Dobre Dan! #MINIBbySmith’s!

MINIB by Smith’s is now clearly signposted on our website http://smithsep.co.uk/products/minib-convectors/. We’ve been making in-roads in this sector for the past three months, and seeing invitations flying in for Smith’s to supply all kinds of commercial projects, from community buildings to stately homes, with trench heating.

The relationship with MINIB came about because Smith’s was looking for new ways to grow our business, seeking like-minded partners who share our values of high quality and excellent service. Czech market-leaders MINIB were already a known presence in the UK market and we approached them, visiting their factory in Prague, in the summer of 2016. It became clear, very quickly, that we were quite similar and our ambitions for growth resonated with them profoundly.

Part of my remit is to grow the Smith’s portfolio and extend the reach of the Smith’s brand. There will be occasions when this means we break from tradition and bring in products under the Smith’s brand but sourced elsewhere. With MINIB, their heritage, reputation and brand gave us a clear vision to position MINIB heating products as MINIB by combining our brand names to reach a new audience, while providing reassurance to our existing customers.

We’re thrilled at the reception the MINIB by Smith’s commercial offering has received. Our regional sales team, strengthened by some new faces seasoned in the contractor specifier market, is meeting an interested audience who are pleased to see a new competent offering available. Of particular interest to a small sector of our customer base are the decorative natural convectors MINIB by Smith’s is offering to UK customers. These convectors can be wrapped with any image, logo, photograph or scene that the client chooses and provides an exciting and aesthetic addition to any commercial heating project. We’ve seen them in-situ in high profile business offices in Prague, high on the wall, branded with company logos and providing heating for the reception area. This is an element of our commercial offering that is sparking interest and the whole-building heating solution we now offer, comprising fan convectors, trench heating and bespoke products wherever and whenever the project requires, is attracting a customer base we haven’t previously encountered.

There is a huge amount going on and it’s exhilarating to see how far we’ve come already. Next month we will be at ISH to meet with some of our European partners. Our sales team is charged with the MINIB by Smith’s offering and the Caspian commercial fan convector range; our technical team is working apace to develop new accessories, controls and bespoke fan convectors to meet the challenges the construction industry faces every day when it comes to designing heating. We are punching above our weight and the #MINIBbySmith’s is a great stepping stone to encourage our customers, new and old, to #ThinkSmiths!

New Year, #ThinkSmiths

By Gary Haynes, Smith's MD

With New Year celebrations mostly forgotten, like most heating companies, here at Smith’s, we’re looking at the different opportunities for 2017 and planning accordingly. The sales team is expanding and the breadth of our product offering is developing at such a pace that our five-day product training week only managed to cover four new heating products; with more to come.

When I joined Smith’s in May 2016, I spent lots of time understanding the different types of heating solution Smith’s currently provided, and what our customers thought of us. One thing was abundantly clear: where we’re known, people think we’re fantastic. Our product quality is superb, and certainly raises a few eyebrows when it comes to our commercial Caspian range. We offer warranties that few can beat. Our delivery times are market-leading and the fact that we can deliver next day or within five working days on most of our range really does put us head and shoulders above the competition. Our attitude and customer service is refreshing, with our people genuinely going above and beyond the expected to make sure that our consultants, specifier contractors, installers and merchant customers get exactly and precisely what they need and in good time.

The challenge for me is to bring all of that to the people who really need to hear this: to demonstrate that we can deliver whole-heating solutions for new build or refurb projects, and develop a world-class set of fan convector and allied products that are flexible and robust enough to make us first choice for those we work with, and beyond. It means we’re living in exciting times as we push to develop and build even better-performing products and partner with other like-minded manufactures who share our values and aspire to the same innovative approach to heating projects as we do.

Take for example our recent partnership with MINIB. This business, started in the Czech Republic in 1999, is now internationally renowned for its trench heating and decorative convector heaters. Our partnership will enable us to make further inroads into the commercial sector and open other doors along the way. We just can’t rest on our laurels of being in this market for 25 years plus or of being part of a global family, The Swan Group; we have to continually innovate, continually move forward and make sure we’re bringing the right kind of heating products to market – and other associated products – to give our customers precisely what they want, adding value, being cost-effective, and above all making them think Smith’s.

Christ The Servant, Liverpool Had Warm Welcome From Smith’s Caspians

Smith’s Environmental Products has provided six Caspian Universals (UV), four 120s and two 90s, all fitted with EC motors for Christ the Servant Church of England, in the heart of Digmoor, Skelmersdale. The contractor was Colin Wakefield of Wakefield & Wilson, Garston, Liverpool, who had already installed Smith’s fan convectors in a previous church. The church’s existing heating dated from 1972. The maintenance programme had lapsed and the heating was both noisy and ineffective for the congregation. From a cold start, the church is now warm within 40 minutes and clergy, wardens and congregation are extremely pleased with the almost silent Smith’s Caspian Universals, which plumb into all types of wet central heating system. The contractor has also installed Caspians in a further three churches in the North-West.

Learn more about Smith's Caspian Universals on our website: http://smithsep.co.uk/products/commercial-uv-ff-ext/

Creating Space And Money With A Smith's Space Saver

Smith’s Environmental Products has a great solution for kitchens with limited wall space, the Space Saver. Fitting neatly into the plinth of a kitchen unit, Space Saver eliminates the need for conventional radiators.

This neat appliance has great benefits for retailers:

• Aiding design conundrums and offering greater design freedom by creating increased wall space for cupboards, appliances and worktops in kitchens and utility rooms
• The opportunity to generate further income from increased furniture/appliance sales Greater customer satisfaction from resulting designs

A highly efficient fan convector*, Smith’s Space Saver is available in hot water, electric and dual fuel versions in a range of outputs suitable for kitchens up to 63m3. In addition, a boost setting makes the appliance very controllable, offering the opportunity for a rapid heat injection to warm a room quickly.

Minimalist design and seven grille colour options, including chrome and brushed steel, mean that Space Savers are discreet and can be co-ordinated with appliances or furniture.

Space Saver is offered with a 5 year guarantee for everyone’s peace of mind.

*Independent tests by BSRIA (Building Services Research and Information Association) show that fan convectors are at least 24% more energy efficient than a panel radiator in heating up a room.

Learn more about Smith's Space Saver Plinth Heaters on our website: http://smithsep.co.uk/products/space-saver-plinth-heater/

The Best Partner For A Heat Pump

Smith’s Environmental Products is calling for specifiers and installers to pair heat pumps with its high-quality fan convectors to achieve the most effective and efficient heating solution for domestic and commercial heat pump customers.

Fan convectors are designed to work well on low temperature heating systems. As an example, a SAP* calculation using the combination of air source heat pump and fan convector in a new build property should show around a 12% reduction in running costs.

Offering an easy-to-fit, compact and cost-effective alternative to radiators or underfloor heating on both ground and upper floors, Smith’s fan convectors use forced air convection to ensure that rooms heat up more quickly than with heat emitters reliant on natural convection. This also delivers a more even heat spread to the area.

British-made, Smith’s fan convectors are connected to a wet central heating system in the same way as radiators, yet operate with just 5% of the water content of a radiator leading to much faster response times.

The extensive Smith’s range includes models suitable for homes, offices, schools, libraries, hospitals, churches and many other buildings. Recessed, floor, wall and ceiling mounted options offer flexible siting opportunities, and each unit comes with a five-year guarantee.

*Source – Standard Assessment Procedure calculation.

To learn more about Smith's fan convectors, please visit our website: http://smithsep.co.uk/

The Hydroflame From Smith's Still Makes The Grade

The Hydroflame® from Smith’s Environmental Products is the answer to landlords and procurement managers seeking to provide attractive and practical heating within a social housing context. Designed to look like and replace a gas fire, the Hydroflame® provides reassurance for landlords who would otherwise shy away from the ongoing maintenance liabilities of a gas fire. It eliminates the risk from Carbon Monoxide (CO), reduces installation time and costs and uses simple fan convector technology to connect to the existing central heating system without the need for a flue.

Smith’s Sales and Marketing Director, Jim Bennett, comments, "We continue to shout the benefits of the Hydroflame® with our public sector clients. It’s pre-wired and simple to install and because it connects to the central heating system, it does not require its own independent gas supply. It can be used in any type of property and no minimum room size applies. The Hydroflame® can be installed anywhere, does not require a specific CO detector as no CO is produced, and it is cost-effective both in terms of initial outlay and also annual maintenance."

From a technical perspective, the Hydroflame® works by drawing in cool air and the heat is produced from the water within the central heating system itself. This means there are no flue gases produced and so no flue is required. It also means that the fan convector doesn’t require any special ventilation and can operate as part of the ‘whole house’ central heating or to provide an extra boost of heat on cold days. It also functions as a single heat source when the entire central heating doesn’t need to be switched on.

Operationally, to use the Hydroflame® couldn’t be easier. Possessing easy action rocker switches which are clearly labelled, they are simple to use by all tenants, including the elderly or disabled. Equally useful is that although the Hydroflame® still looks like any other focal point fire, with a cosy flame-effect glow, it has no live flames or hot coals. As a low surface temperature heat emitter, this can prove advantageous in homes with young children or older people and consequently should be considered in other domestic settings, such as care homes and nurseries.

Learn more about Smith's Hydroflame on our website: http://smithsep.co.uk/products/hydroflame-fire/