Articles by Argile

A solar water heater is not sized from the number of occupants: schemes ask for a declared tapping profile among M, L, XL and XXL, defined by Regulation (EU) 814/2013 and tied to a specific reference energy. Here is that table, the 2 m² collector floor, and how to check that the collector and volume pairing holds thermally before you price the job.

5 min read

When a heat pump breaks down mid-project, it's not just a technical hiccup. It's lost time, a worried client, and sometimes a bill that lands on the wrong side of the ledger. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you need to know precisely what's covered, for how long, and what can be refused depending on maintenance, installation, or the parts involved.

5 min read

In renovation, when wastewater drainage can't follow the slope or the discharge point is higher up, you need a reliable solution, not a workaround that comes back to haunt you in after-sales calls. Properly installed, it secures the job, prevents backflow, and saves you precious time on connections. What remains is knowing exactly when it's really needed, and how to size it without overspending.

5 min read

On site, the choice of construction system changes everything. Installation time, load-transfer constraints, routing for services, level of prefabrication — you need a solution that's reliable and easy to explain to the client. Here's a concrete rundown to help you decide fast and lock down your measurements.

5 min read

A hydraulic schematic reads in three layers: the generator, the decoupling device, the secondary circuits. Ten configurations cover most domestic retrofit work, from a direct connection to a multi-fuel setup on a buffer tank. This article gives the selection table, the flow calculation per branch and the hot water temperatures the schematic has to hold.

5 min read

On a room-sealed boiler, two things decide the outcome: the equivalent length of the run, which is calculated before you order, and the position of the terminal, governed by the gas installation rules and the flue-work standard. Everything else that causes lockouts comes from assembly direction and condensate fall.

6 min read

In renovation work, every kilogram counts and every thermal bridge shows up on the bill. Lightweight, insulating masonry blocks help you save installation time, limit rework and keep walls breathable. Well chosen, they also give your clients year-round comfort, summer and winter, without adding weight to the job site.

5 min read

On site, every minute counts. Between fast installation and long-term reliability, pipe-joining systems have evolved a lot, without requiring more tooling or rework. By mastering the right moves and the right checks, you gain speed, cleanliness and reliability, quite simply.

5 min read

On an external wall insulation job, the render is your signature. Machine-sprayed or hand-applied, the right choice affects pace, finish consistency and touch-ups, without tripping you up on the details. If you need to keep to schedule while delivering a clean, durable facade, it's best to set your criteria upfront. Let's walk through the concrete points that make the difference, depending on your team, your substrates and your job-site habits.

4 min read

Monomur carries the load and insulates in one block, but its R-value tops out at 3.81 m²·K/W at 42.5 cm, a wall U-value of 0.25 W/m².K against the 0.18 Approved Document L expects on a new dwelling. What you price on a monomur wall is masonry and junctions, not an insulation performance.

5 min read

An unbalanced manifold means one collector working flat out while another idles, and an installation that will never reach the yield it was sold on. Branch symmetry, balancing with flow meters and hunting down high points are all decided at installation. On the paperwork, the collectors have to carry a Solar Keymark certificate and the installation an MCS certificate, or the funding route closes.

5 min read

In a housing development, heat is often best handled at the scale of the neighbourhood. With a small local network and a properly sized shared boiler room, you can pool production, simplify maintenance, and secure the performance of a project, without complicating life for residents. It's also a lever for making the most of a renewable energy source available on site and making your jobs clearer for the client, from the first plans through to commissioning.

5 min read