We can also control the fire from a distance

Today we would like to introduce you to David Tröschel, Technical Director. He has been working for us at HAAS + SOHN Rukov since 2014 and before that he worked professionally for many years as a designer and designer in industrial companies. We asked him a few questions:

Where has heating moved over the last 10-15 years? What are the heating trends?

If we are talking about local heating in family houses, flats, or cottages and chalets, heating methods are influenced by three fundamental factors.

The first of these is the pan-European trend of reducing heat loss, firstly in new buildings where it has the support of legislation, as well as in older buildings, that have been hugely insulated in recent years. This fact, of course, has an effect on the dimensioning the heat source’s output, and therefore in regard to the chosen heating method.

The second factor is the development of input energy prices and their availability. Traditionally, firewood is easily available in the Czech Republic, on the other hand, just like elsewhere, people want more comfort. The result can be a heat pump system supplemented by a fireplace or insert as a secondary source.

The costs of acquiring the heating system and the subsidy policy of individual states have a great influence on where the heating will go. For example, highly ecological hot air pellet stoves are commonly subsidised in Austria, but this is not the case in the Czech Republic. On the other hand, two years ago it was possible to buy a subsidised boiler that burns coal! It is clear from this that consumer behaviour differs in both countries.

There is one more fact that may significantly affect the heating field in the future, and that is climate change. During this winter, there was not a single day in our country when the average daily temperature dropped below -5 °C.

How has the complexity of the stove changed? What is the emphasis? How has production technology changed?

If you look at the fireplace stoves that were made fifteen years ago, then look at stoves that are on the market today, you will notice an obvious trend that shifts the product’s function of from heating, to let’s say, an aesthetic function. In short, nowadays customers not only want the stove to heat well, but also look good as an item within the interior of their home. This has a major impact on production technology. Robotic welding is increasingly used, high demands are placed on surface treatment processing, new materials are being sought.

Even in such conservative products as stoves, electronics and IT technology have penetrated. For several years we have been producing fireplace stoves equipped with a control unit that regulates them depending on the stage of the combustion process. We offer fireplace and pellet stoves cooperating with our mobile application.

What are the advantages in terms of operation / heating comfort today?

One of the main arguments against purchasing a stove is the complexity of operation, or reduced comfort while maintaining order and hygiene. Pellet stoves eliminate this shortcoming perfectly. Stoves are dust-free and gas-tight, the large pellet tank ensures operation for several days without the need for addition or other intervention. You simply go from work or to the cottage and open a mobile application along the way, where you can see the current room temperature, set the desired temperature and the stove will automatically ignite and regulate. You come home or to a cottage and you are greeted with a pleasantly heated interior with a blazing fire in a nice stove.

Ecodesign 2022. What exactly is it? Is H + S ready for it?

The European Commission's Ecodesign Directive, valid from January 1st, 2022, defines the technical requirements for a wide range of energy-using appliances, including local solid fuel heaters, which sets minimum seasonal efficiencies and emission limits.  In the Czech Republic, an amendment to the Air Protection Act has been in force since January 1st, 2020, which essentially adopts ecodesign limits for local heaters.

For ourselves, as a producer, this meant ending production with regard to some products that no longer meet the law provisions, and it is no longer possible to market them, although, they can continue to operate. As developing and testing new stoves takes several years, we found it necessary to prepare for this fact well in advance. Customers who have purchased our stove or insert in recent years do not have to worry about their operation being banned. The ban on the operation of older boilers valid after September 2022 does not apply to any of our products, i.e. stoves and inserts with or without an exchanger.

Do we offer / prepare any accompanying services for customers?

Our technical department provides extensive support to both our business partners and our customers. We organise regular product training, where we introduce our dealers and business partners to new products in our range and upcoming projects. Any of our end customers are able to contact us directly for advice or technical assistance. We are currently preparing a new service for designers and architects, who will be able to download a 3D model of our stoves or inserts from our website and use it in their designs.

Thank you for an interview.