Heating & Hotwater Industry Council



Who are we?
The Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) is a member organisation committed to supporting and promoting the sustained growth of the UK domestic heating and hot water industry.

Structure
HHIC has a Board and committee structure which encompasses a number of specialist groups covering the various sectors of the industry. These include boilers, fires, combined heat and power, controls, hot water systems, heat emitters, instrumentation, water treatment, low carbon technologies and groups for installers and merchants. We also have two functional groups: the Training Group addresses issues in installer training and the Marketing and Communications Group develops strategies and plans to promote the industry to consumers and to the trade. The range of groups provides a forum for discussion and action to develop and promote the domestic heating and hot water markets in the UK.

Aims and Services
HHIC keeps members informed on all matters relevant to the market. The quality and breadth of information that we provide to a range of audiences is at the heart of our work. Members receive an ongoing information service through e-communications, printed publications, discussion forums, an annual seminar and an annual conference. They also receive market information from our statistics service which monitors sales trends and helps members to anticipate future market developments. We represent members’ views at Government level in order to ensure the interests of the industry are heard.

To promote the market we provide information and advice to consumers and installers via a dedicated website and a helpline.

Our specialist technical team provides in-depth product knowledge, helps to develop
product performance standards, technical information standards, best practice advice, compliance knowledge and actively contributes to training programmes.

Forthcoming Developments
HHIC developed and continues to manage Benchmark, the nationally-recognised scheme for manufacturers and installers, which encourages best practice in the installation, commissioning and servicing of domestic heating and hot water systems.

As part of our commitment to improve installation quality standards, we have undertaken a major review of the Benchmark scheme to update procedures to simplify and enhance the scheme. The scheme also now includes an opportunity for installers to become licensed and display the Benchmark logo. It is planned to introduce solar water heating and heat pumps into the scheme late in 2008.

The HHIC Journal, a quarterly publication targeted at a unique mix of influencers, buyers, specifiers and senior industry figures. HHIC Journal aims to inform, share views and shape opinions and policies which affect the industry.

We aim to enhance our communications and marketing activities over the coming year with greater coverage in external media, exhibiting at major events and redeveloping our existing website so that we provide information tailored to suit our distinct audiences including members, installers and consumers.

We are continuing to develop our statistics service and the introduction of a new database will provide additional reporting and information about market trends.

We also aim to extend the range of products we provide for resale to installers and consumers. These currently include the Heat Loss Calculator, the Domestic Heating Design Guide and the Solar Heating Guide.

 Membership
Membership of HHIC is open to any reputable company with a direct interest in the UK domestic heating and hot water industry. Our current membership includes manufacturers of any products that are part of the domestic heating market, installation businesses, merchants, service providers and utility companies.

To find out how you can benefit from joining HHIC, contact us on 01926 462915 or e-mail info@hhic.org.uk