Tackling renewables, training and ongoing maintenance

One of the current key challenges in the housing sector is how to tackle the move from traditional fossil fuel sources to new, renewable and low carbon solutions for heating residential homes. Panasonic’s UK and Ireland Head of Marketing, Richard Bishop, focuses on the importance of live demonstrations and regular training for installing and maintenance, to keep ahead of the game when it comes to sustainable technology.

With the demand for renewable technologies set to rise, it is crucial that there is an understanding at all levels of available renewable and smart technologies and their strengths and weaknesses. This is also true when it comes to installation and servicing, as these systems will need annual maintenance checks and companies will need to know how to install and service correctly to maximise their own business potential as well as ensuring that their customers benefit from maximum energy efficiencies. Fortunately, we are seeing an increase in many housing providers, consultants, distributors and installers who recognise the importance of such proficiencies and are taking advantage of appropriate training from manufacturers.

Most housing associations, housing developers and installers have found that attending centres equipped with fully functioning examples of the latest renewable heating technologies (such as air source heat pumps) can significantly improve skills, awareness and competence. Furthermore, signing up for courses that use real-life renewable products seems to strike an even greater chord with attendees.

Panasonic has invested in a fully equipped showcase and training facilities across the UK including their new HQ in Welwyn Garden City and at some distributor sites. The team also have mobile units to highlight their products further that have been travelling around the UK to further offer awareness and training to housing providers and installers within college and university campuses.

Training for remote access for maintenance and monitoring purposes
As a manufacturer whose ethos is about sustainability and the environment and invests heavily in R&D, Panasonic offers training to installers and housing providers regarding the use of IoT to help the longevity of its products, systems, and maintenance of its products.

Users of Panasonic air source heat pumps can control their heating system through an interface that replicates the intuitive services they use on the web or in apps on their smartphones. Smart controllers enable users to manage and monitor their heating, cooling and hot water with an easy-to-use interface that can be accessed via any web-enabled device, including Android and iOS applications and Internet browsers.

Housing providers can easily adjust the temperature and monitor units in several properties and view the current room temperature and energy performance in each of their properties. This enables users to eliminate unnecessary heating when a property that is unoccupied and therefore reduce energy consumption. Additionally, it is possible to change the hot water temperature supplied by their system from their remote device.

Remote access enables installers to offer ongoing maintenance contracts to housing providers from a remote location. Maintenance teams can be engaged in predictive fine-tuning which keeps the heating and hot water system operating at its optimum level for longer. This minimises the likelihood of a system break-down by anticipating maintenance and means a longer lifespan for the system. Installers can respond more quickly to faults and issues, keeping the end-user completely satisfied with their heating systems.

The increased accessibility of systems can help property energy managers reduce their costs and energy consumption by monitoring the operation for each unit on one device, the overall energy efficiency, indicating maintenance issues and exposing developing faults before they become an issue.

Systems can now remotely monitor the suction and discharge pressure of a unit to help reduce system downtime, thus ensuring that they have a heating and hot water system that suits their needs.

Panasonic has found that installers who have successfully completed training courses primed with live demonstration models and the most up to date information are more confident when fitting and specifying the product for the end-user, as well as being fully aware when called upon for routine inspections of the units, particularly with the time saved via the ability for remote access using smart controls and connectivity.  

It is clear to see that the effect is a continuous and positive one for all. Training and displaying the products in this way has proven to be extremely beneficial to housing providers, architects, consultants, installers and distributors alike and is central for organisational development and success.

Traditionally, training courses have focused on improving the skill of the installer and have overlooked how to provide benefits to the end-user or housing provider too. Those based primarily within the classroom run the risk of neglecting the real-world skills required to deliver a successful installation as well as demonstrating the benefits an end user will receive.

As a major manufacturer in both heating and cooling solutions, Panasonic recognises the need for constant training and up-skilling of Design Engineers, Contracts Managers, Installation and Commissioning Engineers as well as the Sales and Support teams within the distribution network. To provide as much support as possible, Panasonic has developed an integrated approach to training, encompassing the traditional hands-on, face-to-face training sessions at a fully equipped training room, as well as an online offering that encompasses a host of digital tools.   This programme of online training, guidance and tools is designed to provide all industry partners with support and the knowledge to properly specify, install and commission Panasonic heating and cooling systems successfully.

The free Panasonic online resource for registered installers and consultants – Panasonic Pro Club offers the very latest product information, tools, guidance and support documents in addition to the latest promotions available.

The tools aim to help with design, commissioning, installation, energy efficiency and maintenance. For example, software that includes commissioning tools, heat loss calculator, noise calculator, hydraulic scheme generator, error code service manuals in addition to an A2W energy label generator. Furthermore, the system can generate CAD, Excel and PDFs to export, plus much more.

To encourage more training across the industry, Panasonic has also developed several CIBSE-accredited CPD training courses and online tools to provide further support and guidance. Furthermore, Panasonic offer an enhanced and longer warranty for installers to offer their customers if they have received the appropriate training.

The online training tools available on the site offer a sophisticated system whereby consultants and engineers can progress through CPDs and various training modules – but at a time, pace and place that is convenient to them. After all, if you are connected, the internet is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of bank holidays etc.

For more information on Panasonic and any of their heating and cooling products, please email uk-aircon@eu.panasonic.com.

To find out more about Panasonic’s renewables range, please visit the website