Thomas Crapper Day - 27 January

Thomas Crapper was born in Yorkshire in 1836, into a family of modest means. At 14 years of age he was apprenticed to a Master Plumber in Chelsea, London. After serving his apprenticeship and then working as a journeyman, he set up in his own right in 1861 as a plumber in Robert Street, Chelsea.

Five years later he moved to larger premises, Marlboro' Works, in nearby Marlborough Road. He quickly gained a singular reputation for quality and service; the company expanded and by 1907 had established a flagship on the King's Road opposite Royal Avenue.

It is popularly thought that Mr. Crapper invented the W.C., and that the vulgar word for faeces is a derivative of his name, but neither belief is true. However, etymologists attest that the Amercian word, "crapper", meaning the W.C. is directly from his name. He relentlessly promoted sanitary fittings to a somewhat dirty and sceptical world and championed the 'water-waste-preventing cistern syphon' in particular. Indeed, he invented the bathroom showroom and displayed his wares in large plate glass windows at the Marlboro' Works. This caused quite a stir and it is said that ladies observing the china bowls in the windows became faint at this shocking sight!

Mr. Crapper's inventiveness was well known; he registered a number of patents, one of which was the 'Disconnecting Trap' which became an essential underground drains fitting. This alone was a great leap forward in the campaign against disease. Amongst others was one for a spring-loaded loo seat which, as the encumbent arose, leapt up pulling rods which automatically flushed the cistern! This was rather less successful. Over time, the rubber buffers on the underside of the seat began to perish, and became sticky. This caused the seat to remain down, attached to the loo pan for a few seconds as the user got to his feet. Seconds later the seat, under stress from the powerful springs, would free itself and sweep violently upwards - striking the unfortunate Victorian on the bare bottom! The device became popularly known as the 'Bottom Slapper', consequently was not a commercial triumph.

By the 1880's, Crapper & Co.'s reputation was such that they were invited to supply the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) at Sandringham. Subsequently, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey all benefited from Crapper goods and services. Today, the Crapper manhole covers in the Abbey are popular for brass rubbings! Crapper & Co. remained by Royal Appointment to Edward when he became king and was also warranted by George V, as Prince of Wales and once again as king.

Thomas Crapper died in 1910 and was buried near the grave of the cricketer, W.G. Grace, in Elmers End Cemetery. The company continued under the guidance of his old partner Robert M. Wharam, his son Robert G. Wharam and Mr. Crapper's nephew George Crapper. However by the late 1950s, after the demise of the original partners, it was evident to Robert G. Wharam that with no Crappers or Wharams left to run the business, the sale of the company was becoming inevitable. In addition, perhaps people cared little for quality and tradition during that period. In 1963 came the end of an era; Thomas Crapper & Co. became the property of a rival, Messrs. John Bolding & Sons, Ltd..

Subsequently this distinguished firm endured fallow years - BUT SURVIVED - and is now an independent company once again. Having held four royal warrants and having existed through five reigns over 148 years, Thomas Crapper & Co. is once again manufacturing the finest bathroom fittings.

The Clean Games

We’ve just passed the ‘200 hundred days to go’ point and no doubt we will be hearing much more about the Olympics and Paralympics as we move into 2012. It’s a good news story and that can’t be bad. Several members of the BMA have benefited from the massive building programme that has accompanied the Games. All bathroom products have been represented in the build and our members have been busy delivering fittings not only to the major sites in London but also to venues elsewhere in the country.

The major disappointment, though, is that we are not allowed to shout about it!

We are restricted from singing the praises of those suppliers. Bathroom manufacturers who have pushed their respective boats out to make the Olympics a successful event are restricted from making any decent PR out of their efforts. They are regarded simply as suppliers to the Games and they can only make the simplest of factual statements saying what they did.

Even more restraining is that all those fabulous, innovative and water efficient bathroom products cannot be branded. So the familiar and sometimes historic logos seen in public washrooms have had to be taken off, cleaned up and swept away. No supplier has been allowed to brand its products.

The Games rules state “any materials being supplied for Games venues which will be visible to the public during the Games must be supplied clean of any branding.”

As I said this has been a major disappointment for us.  We should be extolling the virtues of our manufacturers not hiding them behind waste pipes!

So its going to be a ‘clean’ games in more ways than one - at least as far as quality bathrooms are concerned.

What makes Yvonne Orgill really mad?

“There is absolutely no excuse” exclaims Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association.  “The recent death of a two year old girl by scalding was both tragic and unnecessary. It really makes me mad to see that such terrible accidents can still occur. Today’s modern bathroom, with its technologically advanced fittings, is safer now than it has ever been.”

The death of the Midlands toddler shows all too clearly how uncontrolled hot water can be fatal. In the past five years over 50 people have died in the UK through scalding.  Over 800 more have been seriously injured and scarred for life. The law has gone some way in addressing the problem and the publishing of Building Regulations Approved Document G in 2010 stipulates the control of hot water to baths by using  thermostatic Mixing valves (TMVs) in bath installations in new dwellings.

“Plumbers have their part to play in reducing casualties. They can help to inform and educate their customers by recommending the installation of a TMV as a simple and inexpensive safety device,” comments Orgill. “And if plumbers, themselves, need more information about these fittings it is readily available at the Bathroom Academy.”  The on line Academy underwent a massive upgrade in 2011 and its series of Industry Guides were completely revised. One of the guides deals specifically with Thermostatic
Mixing Valves and can be downloaded in PDF format, for free, from http://www.bathroom-academy.co.uk/pdf/tmv.pdf

“We have the products and the technology,” says Orgill, “now we have the task of educating and informing the public of the dangers of uncontrolled hot water.”

BMA raises £2000 for WaterAid

The kbb Events WaterAid Campaign received a record contribution, after £2,000 was raised during the BMA's Annual Bathroom Conference, which took place in November 2011.

"Never let it be said that the BMA does not rise to a challenge!” noted the association’s Chief Executive Yvonne Orgill as she presented the cheque to kbb Brand Director Andrew Vaughan. “I am extremely proud of the support we received from our members and the hard work the BMA staff did during the Conference in support of the kbb Event's campaign."

The campaign started with a Charity Golf Tournament organised by the BMA, EKB Business magazine, and kbb News that attracted 26 players prepared to brave the elements and take on the championship-standard golf course at Heythrop Park on the eve of Conference. The tournament was followed by a networking dinner and prize giving that featured a charity raffle and auction, in addition to the presentation of the golf trophies, hosted by the Association's Guest of Honour Clive Tyldesley - ITV's leading sports commentator.

"Only one word can sum up the BMA's contribution to our WaterAid campaign," added Andrew Vaughan, "and that word is: FANTASTIC!” “All the thanks go to the BMA and its extremely generous sponsors and supporters. 884 million people in the world do not having access to safe water, so as a result of the BMA’s contribution, we are well on our way to making a huge difference in transforming the lives of those in the poorest communities.”

A week of progress

Quite a week!  We have been representing the Bathroom Industry at meetings with DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to talk about a variety of issues in particular the Water Label and the Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme.  Then on Tuesday we were at the KBB National Training Group – looking at ways of raising the profile of available training in the sector.  Great meeting - lots of progress and ideas. On Wednesday our CEO was with the NHIC (National Home Improvemnnt Council) exploring new, innovative ways of addressing the skills shortage and taking training into the 21^st Century with E-Learning. Then Thursday was desk work before Friday at KIWA (the Quality Services organisation)  again talking about The Water Label and how we can improve our systems.  Lots achieved!

Response to "Water For Life" white paper

Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive at the BMA, responds to HM Government Water for Life White Paper 

The government has made it clear in its White Paper that the bathroom industry must now take immediate steps to help educate consumers and explain the necessity in choosing the most water efficient bathroom fittings.

On behalf of its members, the BMA is committed to delivering impartial advice and delivering change as the government advocates in the paper. The BMA has taken water efficiency seriously since 2006 when the Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS) was introduced, leading the charge to help consumers make an informed decision when selecting products for their bathroom.

The BMA is working with Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to encourage developers and facilities managers to embed water efficiency into new and refurbished buildings, as well as with DIY retailers and facilities managers to increase the sale of water efficient products.

There is tremendous opportunity to help change and alter consumer behaviour little by little. It will take concerted effort, so the industry must unite behind a clear and single message whether you are a manufacturer, merchant, retailer, installer or designer. 

However, the government has also made it clear that they are not afraid to regulate and introduce a mandatory scheme should industry fail to act decisively. This is in nobody’s interest and will be costly and cumbersome.

We must take immediate steps to avoid this and convince government everyone within the industry is serious about water efficiency. If your products are not WEPLS listed, now is the time to get them accredited. If you have products on the scheme, then now is the time to actively promote them.

The government says it wishes to create a water sector in which innovation can flourish. Today we must rally as an industry and help to deliver exactly this.

For more information about the BMA and WEPLS, visit www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk. For the full White Paper, visit http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm82/8230/8230.pdf.

Activities this week

Lots of goings-on at the BMA and this week is no different.  On Monday our CEO will be in Hull representing the BMA members during a discussion on the proposed European labelling scheme. On Tuesday she will be discussing plans for the 2012 Conference - themes and possible speakers are being thought about already. ON Thursday our Technical Director will have a varied agenda  representing the industry during discussions on ecodesign, water labelling and shower heads. Back to the office on Friday when we will be meeting EQ who will be visiting us to see how the Water Label can have a greater presence in the market place.  Interesting week.