ECN April 2019

The world’s first 3-7 pole decorative plug-in ceiling rose A flex

VOLUME 39 NO. 04 • APRIL 2019

SPECIAL FEATURE: FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY

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ELECTRICALCONTRACTINGNEWS.COM

66 COMPETITION Win a GuardCam Deco security system, courtesy of ESP.

SPECIAL FEATURE: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

47

COMPLYING WITH EU ENERGY EFFICIENCY DIRECTIVE FOR SPACE HEATING Prefect Controls is responding to the latest electric heating legislation with a range of new control solutions.

With more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing energy efficient control systems, Prefect is in pole position to ensure customers install logical, costeffective and efficient heating control that is fully compliant with Lot 20 EU legislation.

Lot 20 is EU Ecodesign legislation that applies to electric heating (EU 2015/1188) that came into force in January 2018. All installations have to comply with a minimum efficiency standard of this energy efficiency directive. The focus is on removing poorly controlled heaters and replacing them with controls that feature temperature, timer, presence and open window detection features, amongst others.

Prefect has, for many years, championed the use of clever controls, recognising their ability to reduce energy consumption and therefore carbon emissions, and as a result, the company welcomes any advance in control technology.

FCP – Prefect Controls.indd 1

The important part of this legislation to understand is that heaters fitted with basic controls are no longer permissible – but that doesn’t mean the control unit has to be integrated.

Prefect has two alternatives to a fully integrated controlled panel heater, which more than comply with the directives for functionality of Lot 20. Read more about Ecostat and PrefectIrus inside.

Turn to page 12 for the full story.

28/03/2019 11:27

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19/03/2019 14:31

CONTENTS VOLUME 39 NO. 04 • APRIL 2019

CONTENTS… Regulars 4 Editorial

18 Project Focus

Notes from the road following a busy March.

6 Industry News A new president for the EDA, a u-turn on labelling regulations, a new showroom for Hamilton, and first details of this year’s Powerball fundraiser.

10 Training Workshops to ensure safe PAT testing, new apprenticeship awards, and free NICEIC webinars for contractors.

12 Cover Story Prefect Controls is responding to the latest electric heating legislation with a new range of control solutions.

15 Contract News

CP Electronics has created luxury lighting solutions for Wolves, and has also assisted with new luxury serviced apartments in Manchester.

20 In The Know Jeff Richardson, Aurora’s Director of Trade, focuses on how Enlite’s new LinearPac covers all bases.

46 Key Issue Richard Forrest Smith of ECIC explains how contractors can protect themselves from the cost of legal disputes.

22 Show Preview A full-length EI Live! show preview ahead of this year’s event, which takes place in Farnborough on April 30 – May 1.

28 Company Profile

66 Competition A chance to win a GuardCam Deco security system, courtesy of ESP.

77 Company Showcase

LED lighting for a college sports hall, ventilation for a Welsh retail space, a prestigious warships contract, and more.

Features

Sponsored content from around the sector.

Avande is reaching out to the electrical contracting community to offer its services in these expanding and in-demand sectors.

43 Company Profile Simon Rowley visited Tamlite Lighting in Redditch to find out what the company has to offer.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Fire, Safety & Security

Baldwin of ESP 30 Neil introduces the new Magduo

Murfitt of The FIA 36 David explains why electrical

two-wire fire alarm system.

Gregg of Unitrunk 32 Martin ponders why there aren’t fire testing regulations for cable management within the electrical industry.

Hunt of Van 34 Deborah Vault shares tips on how electrical contractors can best safeguard their tools.

contractors may be interested in becoming fire detection and alarm technicians.

38

A look at Firesafe’s range of 18th Edition compliant zeroburn fire fixings.

Urmet Group has 40 The supplied integrated video entry and lighting control at the Denham Film Studios.

Exterior Lighting

Wholesalers & Distributors

Whether you’re seeking safe David Boultbee of Ultra 57 LEDs 48 lighting or visual appeal, highlights some of

Dawson from Niglon 68 Paul discusses the company’s

The LED Specialist has a solution for every need.

Russ Sharer of Fulham 51 explains why integrating IoT-ready control into smart street lights makes sense.

Colombo of 54 Ricardo Integral LED details how best to utilise LEDs in outdoor environments.

the most common outdoor lighting mistakes and explains how to avoid them.

Details of the new Discus 60 LED floodlight range from Carbon8Lighting.

Luceco has helped to light 63 up a special arena for the horse charity, HEROS.

heritage and explains why it remains committed to the wholesale supply chain.

LED Specialist outlines 71 The the top ten trends within the lighting industry in 2019.

YESSS Electrical has 74 invested in EV charging points and has developed a new showroom.

April 2019 | 3

Contents.indd 3

29/03/2019 10:57

NEXT TIME…

EDITORIAL

HVAC

NOTES FROM THE ROAD

L

ast month, I had the pleasure of attending the annual Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) annual awards dinner up in Mayfair, and the strictly black tie affair certainly proved a night to remember. This year’s glitzy affair brought together over 500 wholesalers and distributors for a night of wining, dining, awards, and – rather unexpectedly – Phil Tufnell. The former cricketer-turned-Question of Sport presenter was on hand to deliver the afterdinner speech, offering insight into his career and injecting his renowned sense of humour along the way. It’s fair to say that a good time was had by all.

It was a newsworthy night for the EDA too, with the organisation announcing details of its new president – full details of which can be found in this month’s news section.

The following week, I made the journey up to Redditch to visit Tamlite Lighting. Its manufacturing site, which is still relatively new in the grand scheme of things, was extremely impressive from top to bottom, and I was treated to a full guided tour across each section of the company’s business. It was particularly interesting to learn about the company’s philosophy as it relates to bespoke products and its

Published monthly by All Things Media Ltd., Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Kent ME5 8UD. Tel: 01634 673163 Fax: 01634 673173

overall customer service ethos, and a full write-up of my visit – which also included an intriguing sit-down chat with the company’s MD, John Allden – can be found on page 43.

Looking ahead, EI Live! is now just weeks away, and with a dedicated focus on products from the world of electrical contracting, the show will undoubtedly be of interest to all ECN readers – so register for your free-of-charge place today. This month’s issue contains a full-length show preview, including details of what this year’s exhibitors will be showcasing, and this sneak peak should whet the appetite for what promises to be an excellent event. EI Live! opens its doors in Farnborough on April 30, and you can register online by visiting eiliveshow.com.

Next month’s issue features in-depth features on HVAC, test and measurement, and tools and workwear, and we already have some interesting features lined up for you. The following month, we have a special supplement on wiring accessories, and we’d love for you to be involved. If you wish to lay claim to editorial and advertising space within this supplement, contact Kelly Byne via kelly@ allthingsmedialtd.com Enjoy the issue, and see you in Farnborough on April 30!

Test & Measurement

Simon Rowley, Editor

Tools & Workwear

May Issue Advertising deadline: April 19 Editorial deadline: April 15

EDITOR: SIMON ROWLEY T: 01634 673163 E: simon@allthingsmedialtd.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR: JORDAN O’BRIEN T: 01634 673163 E: jordan@allthingsmedialtd.com

GROUP ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER: KELLY BYNE T: 01634 673163 E: kelly@allthingsmedialtd.com

BUSINESS SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR: CAROL GYLBY T: 01634 673163 E: carol@allthingsmedialtd.com

STUDIO MANAGER: BEN BRISTOW T: 01634 673163 E: ben@allthingsmedialtd.com

MANAGING DIRECTOR: DAVID KITCHENER T: 01634 673163 E: david@allthingsmedialtd.com

DESIGNER: JON APPLETON T: 01634 673163 E: jon@allthingsmedialtd.com

ACCOUNTS T: 01634 673163 E: susan@allthingsmedialtd.com

The editor and publishers do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors nor do they accept responsibility for any errors in the transmission of the subject matter in this publication.

In all matters the editor’s decision is final. Editorial contributions to ECN are welcomed, and the editor reserves the right to alter or abridge text prior to the publication.

Overseas Subscription Rates: Europe £60.00; Rest of World £70.00 Copyright © 2019, All rights reserved Printed by Pensord, Tram Road, Pontilanfraith, Blackwood, NP12 2YA

Editorial.indd 4

Pending first audit.

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INDUSTRY NEWS HAMILTON OPENS NEW SHOWROOM Hamilton Litestat has opened a new showroom in the City of London.

Located in Cannon Green, just a stone’s throw from Cannon Street Station, the new facility – which also includes meeting room facilities – provides a central location for regional customers wishing to review Hamilton’s latest innovations.

Included within the showroom are demonstration boards for its modular smart lighting control and audio solutions. Customers wishing to learn more then have the option to sign up for a free system training session at Hamilton’s newly-refurbished training facility in Wiltshire. The company has revealed that its smart control training courses have proven particularly popular over the past year, with demand necessitating an increase from one to four sessions a month.

Alongside control system demonstrations, Hamilton will also showcase its decorative wiring accessories, in a range of finishes and functionality options, to illustrate the breadth of its designer product offering that blends form and functionality requirements. Also on display in the new London showroom are samples of tailor-made designs, including multifunctional plates crafted specifically for the hotel sector.

“As Hamilton’s smart controls business continues to grow, it’s a natural progression to make a demo system available in central London, which is a strong business region for us,” says Gavin Williams, Hamilton’s Head of Marketing. “The new facilities in Cannon Green will also give us a new permanent showroom for our other products, and a central location for conducting meetings and networking with our existing and potential customers.”

In other news, and as part of its commitment to educate and promote smart controls and home automation, Hamilton Litestat has become a trade supplier member of CEDIA. As the international trade organisation for home technology, CEDIA’s members are important for Hamilton as it increases brand awareness amongst custom installers and professional electricians.

SCOLMORE BECOMES SFHA COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATE Scolmore Group has been successful in its application to become a commercial associate of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

As a result, Scolmore will benefit from the unique platform that the SFHA provides, to allow associates to network and engage with its members. It will provide opportunities for Scolmore to showcase its products and services and to expand and develop a network of contacts in the housing sector.

“We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to join the SFHA,” said Alex Seath, Specification, Residential and Key Accounts, Scolmore Group (pictured). “We are already working closely with a number of Scottish councils and housing associations, who are embarking on a programme of housing upgrades. We welcome the chance to build relationships with the SFHA’s network of members and to support the valuable work that SFHA does in providing high quality, affordable, safe and accessible homes in local communities.”

Scolmore has been working with a number of councils in Scotland in recent years to provide lighting and electrical accessories solutions for a series of upgrades to social housing properties.

These include properties with Edinburgh Council and properties with Stirling Council.

Stirling Council is also giving consideration to incorporating access control, emergency lighting and CCTV solutions from Scolmore Group Company, ESP. This would bring the added advantages that come from sourcing all products from under one roof.

Scolmore Group, scolmore.com

“We are pleased to welcome Hamilton Litestat on board as a CEDIA member,” commented Matt Nimmons, CEDIA EMEA Managing Director. “We recognise that Hamilton has an outstanding reputation for delivering quality products, so to be able to add the company to our list of trade suppliers is fantastic.”

The company’s solutions and its championing of the sector have been recognised, with Hamilton voted ‘Best Manufacturer 2018’ in the Voltimum Smart Solutions Awards 2018.

Hamilton Litestat, hamilton-litestat.com

A NEW TURNKEY FUNDED SOLUTION FOR EV CHARGING A new collaboration to provide a full turnkey funded solution for electric vehicle (EV) charging across the UK has been announced between Mr. Electric, an electrical franchise brand, and Plug-N-Go, a solution for funded EV Charging Systems.

Together, the two organisations are offering a fully integrated EV charging solution, which is risk and cost free, across public and private Two new EV charging points have accessed sites. It will been installed at Buzzards Valley encompass everything including supplying, installing, maintaining and the management of charge points throughout the contract term.

Authorised Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) installers of EV charging points, Mr. Electric and Plug-N-Go will work with a number of leading EV equipment service providers that Mr. Electric already works with, to install easy-to-use chargers operated on an ‘open charging’ model – enabling people to use them on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Mr. Electric’s network of franchised NICEIC approved electrical experts will carry out the installation and management of the charging points. Plug-N-Go will undertake the maintenance and provide a single contract for all its infrastructure through the contract.

Midlands based Buzzards Valley Vineyard and Bistro, a commercial centre with four different businesses, has installed the two Plug-N-Go fully funded, EV charge points in its car park for customers to use.

Yvonne Viggers, Co-Owner of Buzzards Valley, said, “It made total business and environmental sense for us to provide an EV solution for our customers, particularly when we knew we were eligible for a government grant to pay the cost of the installation. It is a win-win for both us and our customers, as it doesn’t cost either of us a penny. We very much see this as a long-term investment for the growth of our business, and believe that every public car park should offer similar EV facilities - particularly if we are to see mass adoption on our roads in the future.”

GATWICK EXPERIENCE FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS Fourteen engineering students from Northumbria University, Newcastle, have enjoyed a behindthe-scenes visit to Gatwick Airport to learn how Britain’s second largest airport operates.

The students were given a unique opportunity to see how their engineering knowledge and skills will be put into practice in one of largest engineering operations in the world. More than 45 million passengers pass through Gatwick each year, on more than 280,000 flights that carry almost 100,000 metric tonnes of cargo.

On a tour of the airfield and terminal, the students saw demonstrations of equipment including jet bridge controls and aircraft line-ups.

They were driven around the taxiway to visit the new large hangars for super jumbos, and were able to watch the world’s largest airliner, an Airbus A380, take-off from the airside.

They were also given the opportunity to walk over the top of the Pier 6 Connector bridge, which links the North Terminal to a satellite building. At 197m wide, the bridge is wide enough and high enough to allow a Boeing 747 to pass underneath as it taxis around the airport. It is the first bridge of its kind at any UK airport and its scale and construction makes it unique, in engineering terms.

The invitation to visit Gatwick Airport was extended by Stewart Wingate to high performing students on Northumbria’s Mechanical, Civil and Architectural Engineering courses. The students were chosen for the trip based on their exemplary academic performance in the previous academic year.

Northumbria University, northumbria.ac.uk/engineering

Mr. Electric, mr-electric.co.uk Plug-N-Go, plug-n-go.com

6 | April 2019

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INDUSTRY NEWS REVIEW WEBSITE TACKLES BAD PRACTICE

SAFETY EXPERT WELCOMES LABELS U-TURN Electrical safety expert Bureau Veritas has welcomed a U-turn on plans to change the labelling of new electrical installations as part of the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations.

Clause 514.12.1 initially sought to increase the font and size of electrical installation labels from the existing A3 format (as per the 17th Edition), and the change was due to apply to all new electrical installations from January 1, 2019.

However, following widespread industry concern that complying with the new rule would prove unnecessarily costly and disruptive, the British Standards Institute (BSI) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) have now abandoned plans to change the label format.

In a corrigendum (an official notice to highlight and correct errors in the regulations) published last December, the BSI issued a retraction, stating that the labels will remain in their original layout.

Michael Kenyon, Technical Manager at Bureau Veritas, said, “Electrical contractors will be glad to hear that the change in labelling format for electrical installations will not be going ahead after all. As wholesalers currently stock standard size labels, there were widespread industry concerns that complying with the change in format would require a complete redesign – a potentially disruptive and expensive process. Therefore, it’s great news the BSI and IET have listened and decided against a change in labelling.”

A new online review platform has been launched to tradespeople and their customers to tackle the scourge of bad workmanship, late payments and bad debtors that cost the UK billions of pounds every year.

The platform, recommendandshare.com, aims to create an environment of proper transparency, honesty and accountability for businesses and consumers everywhere by focusing on building relationships, rather than just leads. Users create free business or consumer profiles, where they can leave recommendations for either side following their experiences.

Founder of the service, Garry Lewis, is himself a tradesperson with 30 years’ experience in the industry. He was inspired to launch the site after experiences with dishonest people, businesses and banks almost led to disastrous consequences.

He now hopes this open, transparent and not-for-profit approach will show each side that the other’s intentions are genuine and honourable from the outset. The service is not-for-profit and is free to use for businesses and consumers alike.

Bureau Veritas, bureauveritas.co.uk

Recommend & Share, recommendandshare.com

EDA ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT The Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) has announced Chris Gibson, Projects Director at Rexel UK, as its new president – and the 91st in the organisation’s history.

Gibson boasts a 30-year career in wholesaling, and has spent 12 of those years with Rexel UK. Taking over the helm from BEMCO’s Simon Barkes, he will now lead the association for the next two years.

He commented, “It is a true honour to be asked to undertake this role and work with Margaret Fitzsimons and the EDA team, as well as with members and affiliates, to develop the organisation during times of change within the industry impacted by major technological and political developments.

“During this period, the EDA will focus on developing a stronger working relationship with relevant industry bodies to develop a collaborative strategic approach to ensure all opportunities can be maximised. The EDA will support members to ensure that the electrical distributor remains a critical part of the supply chain through an omnichannel approach. We will ensure continued focus is given to the training and development of people at all levels of our industry to deliver the best customer experience through service, product knowledge and technological enhancements.”

The EDA has also welcomed Simon Booth, MD of ETC Electrical Supplies, to its management team. He succeeds Dave Huggin, MD of E.D.S. Electrical, as the IBA buying group’s representative.

EDA, eda.org.uk

POWERBALL REVEALS DETAILS FOR 2019 EVENT The Electrical Industries Trading Company, in support of the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC), has revealed that this year’s powerBall fundraiser will take place on November 8 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. powerBall is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019, and to mark the occasion, will be including a ‘roaring twenties’ theme, harkening back to its beginnings in the 1920s. The event will include its usual mix of dining and entertainment, and tables can be booked today.

Managing Director, Tessa Ogle, explained, “powerBall is one of the most prestigious industry events in the electrical industry, and it brings hundreds of industry professionals together under one roof for the most unforgettable night of the year. This year’s 100th anniversary celebrations are promising to deliver a party that no one will ever forget. We look forward to welcoming everyone for another spectacular night for the party of the century.”

For further information or to book your place, email powerBall@eictradingco.org The Electrical Industries Trading Company, eictradingco.org

MOVERS & SHAKERS…

FULL SYSTEM CERTIFICATION FOR DOMUS Domus Ventilation has been awarded a full suite of quality, environmental, management and health and safety systems certification, courtesy of the British Standards Institute (BSI). The Polypipe Group’s ventilation division, which Domus Ventilation is part of, is the first to achieve this within the domestic ventilation sector.

In order to attain the complete range of certifications, Domus Ventilation undertook a gap analysis of operations and formulated an action plan incorporating regular communication and training with key staff, before applying for an external audit from BSI. The process took six months and led to the establishment of many new documented policies and procedures, along with tools for ongoing improvement.

Stephen Flood, Quality, Safety, Health & Environment Manager, noted, “Being the only organisation within our sector that has an accredited integrated quality, safety and environmental management system is very gratifying. The systems we have in place provide consistency to ensure our customers get the best customer experience. We are very proud of this achievement and all the hard work and dedication of our staff in enabling this step change.”

Domus Ventilation now boasts an ISO 9001:2015 compliant quality management system; ISO 14001:2015 compliant environmental management system; PAS 99:2012 integrated management system; and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 occupational health and safety management system.

Domus Ventilation, domusventilation.co.uk

National Electrotechnical Training (NET) has appointed Bill Lockyer as its new Quality and Verification Manager. Bill will be responsible for verification and standardisation of all NET assessments and will review NET processes, operating procedures and materials to ensure best practice.

At ESP, Ben Shucksmith is the new Area Sales Manager for the South Yorkshire region. He brings more than 12 years’ experience working with Cefco, where he oversaw the selling of a range of product controls through the CEF network.

Adrian Heffernan has been appointed National Accounts Manager for Super Rod and Klein Tools. He brings more than 20 years’ commercial experience to the role, which will focus primarily on building and maintaining relationships with the company’s major electrical wholesaler accounts.

Fire and carbon monoxide alarms specialist, Aico, has promoted two long-standing members of its team to new director positions within the company. James Cavan has been promoted to the role of Sales Director, while Matthew Small is the new Commercial and Financial Director.

J S Wright has appointed Darren Swift as its new Senior Electrical Contracts Engineer. He will manage the electrical element of M&E building projects, as well as solus electrical projects, across the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors.

8 | April 2019

Industry News.indd 8

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04/03/2019 16:35:27

TRAINING HAMILTON NOMINATED FOR TRAINING AWARD

NICEIC TO OFFER FREE WEBINARS FOR CONTRACTORS

Hamilton Litestat has been named as one of just three finalists in the hotly-contested category of Best Training Provider at the 2019 Electrical Wholesaler Awards.

Thanks to its dedication to providing training across the industry, the family-run electrical solutions provider has been shortlisted for the accolade, which will be voted on by the electrical wholesaler community.

“It’s an honour to reach the final three contenders in this competitive category,” said Gavin Williams, Hamilton’s Head of Marketing. “We’ve dedicated significant resources and attention to our training programmes in recent years and they have skyrocketed in popularity, helping to educate and broaden business opportunities. We’re extremely grateful to get this far in the awards, and hope to receive the support of the wholesaler community during the voting process.”

Hamilton has developed specific training programmes to support increased awareness and education in smart controls. This growing area of the industry offers huge potential, and Hamilton has committed to raising awareness and confidence amongst both new and experienced installers

NICEIC and ELECSA are offering registered contractors technical information and business advice via free online webinars.

Named ‘The Wire’, the webinars will be hosted by industry experts for contractors to view at home, in the office, or out on site.

Mark Smith, Marketing Director for NICEIC and ELECSA, said, “Webinars are another tool to provide contractors with advice and information which will ultimately help them to build their businesses. We are always looking at ways to improve the service we deliver to our customers and this is just another innovative way to do that.”

The sessions are free for all NICEIC and ELECSA registrants and will cover a range of different topics with different presenters each month. Viewers will be able to pose questions during the live broadcast or beforehand. Each webinar will also count towards CPD accreditations.

Contractors can register for upcoming webinars by visiting niceic.com/events. The next scheduled event, titled ‘Home technology installer – an introduction to smart homes’, takes place on May 2.

Attendees of Hamilton’s training courses can receive a course completion certificate to confirm that they’ve been trained on the Hamilton system

to increase business, and therefore sales, of these products through the wholesaler network. Hamilton’s training courses haven proven so popular that demand has necessitated an increase from one to four training sessions a

month at its newly refurbished facilities in Mere.

The winner of the award will be announced on May 9.

NICEIC, niceic.com

Hamilton Litestat, hamilton-litestat.com

NEW APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS ANNOUNCED

FREE WORKSHOPS TO ENSURE SAFE PAT TESTING Electrical testing expert, Seaward, has developed a brand new series of workshops, aimed at equipping people with the knowledge they need to carry out effective PAT testing.

Portable appliance tests (PAT) are quick and simple checks performed on electrical appliances. The free workshops are designed to answer common questions about the tests, with a focus on detecting dangerous counterfeit and substandard goods.

Employers are legally required to ensure any electrical equipment they provide to staff is maintained in a safe condition. PAT testing and visual inspections can highlight problems, such as simple wear and tear and counterfeit appliances that don’t meet UK safety standards – but it’s important to know what to look for.

The sessions will also cover key topics such as legislation, test types

and testing laptops, chargers and low voltage equipment. Attendees will get the opportunity to ask their own questions, as well as the chance to win a PrimeTest 100 PAT tester at every workshop.

Richard Slade, UK Field Sales Manager at Seaward, said, “We take our responsibility as an industry educator incredibly seriously, and our free workshops are just one of the ways we can support and inform our customers.

“As well as picking up some important tips about PAT testing, we’re also offering attendees one-to-one technical support and an introduction to the latest equipment – including our popular Apollo+ series.”

Upcoming dates include Birmingham (April 26), Leeds (April 26), Cardiff (May 3), Belfast (May 3), Portsmouth (May 10), Stoke (May 10), Potters Bar (May 17), Loughborough (May 17) and Glasgow (May 24).

The Apprenticeship Management Group has unveiled the categories for its nationwide search for the best apprentices and employers.

The company looks after the apprenticeship training programmes and apprenticeship levy for the Electrical Distributors Association, Builders Merchants Federation, British Coating Federation, FIESTA (Furniture and Interiors, Skills and Training Alliance) and water and other utility companies. It has now launched its own awards initiative to “find the people that make a difference in the work place.”

John Henry, Managing Director, explained, “We look after a number of federations and organisations, but we want to open this competition not just to those; we are looking for the best apprentices out there and we want to recognise their personal achievements and contributions to their employer businesses. An apprenticeship can be a fast track to a career in an array of industries and we have many extremely talented individuals out there. This is our way of acknowledging them.”

The categories are: Apprentice Champion of the Year, Employer of the Year, Advanced Apprentice of the Year, Intermediate Apprentice of the Year and Rising Star of the Year. To enter, and for more information, email info@theapprenticeshipgroup.co.uk.

A shortlist will be announced in May, with the awards taking place in August.

The Apprenticeship Management Group, theapprenticeshipgroup.co.uk

AMG’s John Henry with two of his apprentices

Seaward, seaward.co.uk/patworkshops

10 | April 2019

Training.indd 10

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COVER STORY

PrefectIRUS connects control units throughout a building to a central user interface to manage temperature, humidity, lux level, presence, and more

COMPLIANT, COMFORTABLE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT CONTROL Easier and cheaper installation, greater control and less maintenance – along with demands for cleaner, more efficient energy – mean that electric heating is becoming increasingly popular in student and hotel accommodation. These benefits are multiplied when operated by Prefect Controls.

M Prefect’s ecostat allows users to adjust room temperature between set ranges, and it offers a raft of advantages. Here’s a look at it being used by a student in Pembroke College

aintaining desired levels of comfort in multioccupancy buildings can prove inflexible with traditional ‘set it and forget it’ heating systems, or too complex if a building energy management system is chosen.

Prefect occupies the middle ground; it delivers comfortable user-controlled environments and real energy savings, without being over specified and complicated to operate, or disruptive to install.

The added benefit is that a ‘slave’ panel heater can be fitted in conjunction with either local or central controls because of the ingenious, patented, Prefect EnergyLock – an interlink between the controllers and the panel heater, which comes with each control unit – making all Prefect installations LOT20 compliant. The benefits of using a ‘no controls’ heater over one with integrated controls is that replacement of the heater is considerably cheaper should the unit fail, and from a performance perspective, separate controllers located away from the heater maintain a more accurate temperature level.

A panel heater can be fitted in conjunction with either local or central controls thanks to the Prefect EnergyLock

Local controls

Central control

Prefect ecostat provides maximum and minimum temperature set points, allowing occupants to adjust the temperature in their room between the set range. Plus and minus buttons, and an indicative column of LEDs, make temperature control easy for residents to use.

Behind the thermostat software, the ecostat can be programmed for a limited time run after the temperature is increased, reducing the room temperature slowly over that time. Should the occupant require further heating, another push of the ‘up’ button will restart the sequence.

If the room is vacated while the boost timer is active, a presence detector shortens the time, and thus saves energy. If a room is vacant for a longer period, a second pre-set time-run can be deployed, enabling the room to reset to a low frost protection mode.

It is critical that the balance is maintained between comfort and energy saving. This is achieved by factory presetting agreed set-points into the ecostat.

A coded infrared handset is left on site, giving management the control to alter the set-point in individual rooms.

Ecostat is fitted with window open detection, ensuring that the heater reduces its output by 50% should it be triggered.

Infrared setup, an event timer, absence detection PIR, robust tamper-proof design and manufacture make ecostat the control of choice for cost conscious installations.

PrefectIrus connects control units throughout a building to a central user interface to monitor, measure and manage: temperature, humidity, lux level, presence, db, CO2 levels, leak detection, water heating, and window open detection in individual rooms.

The information fed back to the central control portal is used to provide a heating control strategy and valuable management information about the building and its performance. Data is interpreted, and alerts are sent to raise maintenance issues.

The key to Irus is its simplicity to retrofit. The system uses the building’s existing mains wiring to deliver and transmit data using mains borne signalling or MBS. This tried and tested system of transmission allows the room control to be installed quickly with minimal disruption.

Secondary interface units on each floor capture the information from the room and deliver it to the master interface unit, which is normally situated in the communication room.

At this point, management tools such as the hotel booking systems can be connected and configured to provide the room node with a trigger to boost temperature on guest arrival or lower temperature on departure.

Information to measure, monitor and manage energy is easily viewed on the user-friendly interface through any device connected to the internet.

Prefect Controls, prefectcontrols.com

12 | April 2019

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Creating the ideal climate for student and hotel accommodation Simple to use – Set it and forget it! ecostat makes it easy to control energy consumption and save money.

Greater functionality and flexibility than a thermostat The unique ecostat only warms a room when heat is required.

Local control

12-18 month Return on investment Quick, simple and easy to fit. ecostat starts making savings as soon as it is installed.

While traditional thermostats can be turned to a high setting and then forgotten,

ecostat can not. It is inexpensive and quick to fit, easy to use and will reduce heating bills from the moment it is installed.

There is an

Occupiers are comfortable and energy is

ecostat model to suit your requirements.

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To find out more about Prefect Controls visit

www.Prefectcontrols.com or call 01787 320 604 *Lot 20 is EU Ecodesign legislation that applies to electric heating. EU 2015/1188 came into

force January 2018. All installations must comply with a minimum efficiency standard of the Energy Efficiency Directive. The focus is on removing poorly controlled heaters from the market and replacing them with controls that feature temperature, timer, presence and open window detection features amongst others. **EnergyLock is Prefect’s unique interlink between controller and panel heater meaning the heater can not operate without the controller.

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The Greenbrook LED under cabinet lighting range...

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...offers a wide selection suitable for commercial and domestic applications T 01279 772 772 ECN Undercabinet Ad Feb 19.indd 2 Untitled-7 1

F 01279 422 007 E Sales@greenbrook.co.uk W www.greenbrook.co.uk 18/02/2019 16:33 13:39 26/02/2019

CONTRACT NEWS REGGIANI LIGHTS THE WAY FOR SHOPPERS

Reggiani’s lighting was chosen for the external illumination at The Village, part of the White Rose shopping centre in West Yorkshire

Lighting from Reggiani UK was recently chosen to provide the right effect for the external illumination of The Village, a £13.7 million addition to The White Rose shopping centre in Leeds.

The scheme, incorporating the company’s Envios fittings, has created a lighting solution that is efficient and flexible within a unique and eye-catching criss-cross suspended grid design.

The White Rose is a two-storey retail centre that originally opened in 1997. The new extension includes an 11-screen cinema, a children’s play area, and six new restaurants – all set in a stylish outdoor community space.

The lighting design brief required a robust, highperformance projector lighting scheme that could be supplied in an unusual bespoke colour and be mounted within a single cable catenary system that would be suspended high across the walkway. It was also imperative that the lighting effectively constitutes an uninterrupted continuation of the walkway from the existing retail facility, so as to create a consistent flow and gently lead customers to the new eating and leisure area. The brief also required the lighting to match the original White Rose branding.

Reggiani worked with Stockport-based Studiotech, part of the IBT Group, which was responsible for the design, supply, installation and programming of the new system. By providing Studiotech with its tough (but visually appealing) Envios projector – complete with a very impressive and

reassuring IP rating of 66 – Reggiani was able to help satisfy the design brief exactly. All of the fittings used came with a single LED source, giving a concentrated light output of up to 1661 lumens in the chosen cool white colour temperature

of 4000K. In addition, all the luminaires were supplied in a customised cucumber green outer casing.

Reggiani, regianni.net

TSL GIVES THE BAFTAS THE RED CARPET TREATMENT

NEW VENTILATION FOR WALES’ LARGEST RETAIL SPACE

The BAFTAS welcomed film stars and royalty to London’s Royal Albert Hall in February, as the industry honoured those making waves on the big screen. Meanwhile, the red carpet for the event was flanked by a rigging and lighting solution designed and delivered by TSL Lighting.

TSL’s Neil Harvey worked alongside colleagues to realise the challenging and prestigious project, working to a brief from event designer and producer Lucy Smail, of WD&P. The red-carpet arrival area required the construction of 12 TSL custom-designed truss towers, a 40 metre-long ground support truss structure, and a four leg self-climbing structure.

“Every year, we’re faced with new challenges and this year was no exception,” said Harvey.

“Strong winds and torrential rain were forecast, but we were prepared. Our custom structures are all designed to withstand the weather, and with all jobs of this type we’d prepared a full wind management plan in advance so that our clients, crew, and Westminster Council were all aware of the measures we put in place to keep everyone safe.

We’ve worked on this event for such a long time that we know what to expect – the moving lights and LED fixtures which we use outside the canopy are all fully outdoor rated, so a bit of rain poses no problem.”

Harvey’s lighting rig consisted mainly of ARRI 2kW tungsten compact fresnels, SGM P5s, Aquabeams, Martin Rush Pars and Martin VDO Sceptron 10 battens.

Nuaire has supplied a range of ventilation systems, including air handling units (AHU), heat recovery units and extract fans for use in Wales’ largest retail space, Trago Mills in Merthyr Tydfil.

Trago Mills superstore has over 350 staff members and 215,000m of retail space, with the building stretching half a mile long end-to-end.

Navigating such a large facility can take a few hours, making comfort a key driver in the design of the store.

Peter Powell of McCann & Partners, responsible for the detailed design of the M&E services, advised, “We needed to design a ventilation strategy to provide adequate fresh air for the occupants, along with good levels of heat recovery.”

Nuaire supplied seven bespoke AHUs, which were spread across three buildings. Due to its size, five of these AHUs were used in the main retail area, with thermal wheels quoted. The inclusion of thermal wheels meant the site could benefit from considerable heat recovery levels, whilst also minimising the amount of space the units occupy due to the vertical stacking.

As well as its large retail spaces, the site also contains a number of office areas. Heat recovery units were selected to ensure the same levels of comfort and efficiency as the rest of the store.

Nuaire XBC units were specified and designed to fit into the void spaces above the office areas.

TSL, tsllighting.com

A before and after comparison of the Nescot College sports hall

FITZGERALD BRIGHTENS UP COLLEGE SPORT HALL Fitzgerald Lighting has been involved in the installation of a new LED lighting scheme at the sports hall of Nescot College in Epsom, Surrey.

Get Connected Electrical Contractors, a local contractor, was appointed by Nescot to upgrade the sports hall’s outdated lighting to deliver an improved light quality and reduce its expenditure through lower energy bills and maintenance.

On the recommendation of Surrey-based wholesalers, Spring Electrical, 28 of Fitzgerald Lighting’s 105W Hi Sport LED luminaires were chosen for the project, as they could be easily installed into the pitch of the ceiling without the need for trunking and met the required lux levels for an indoor sports hall.

David Hudson, Director at Get Connected Electrical Contractors, commented, “The new lighting system has great performance and worked with our budget. It has a much-improved light output, has reduced running costs and will reduce future maintenance for our client, which they are very happy about.”

The LED Hi Sport is a purpose-built, durable luminaire designed for indoor sports environments. Manufactured from mild steel and powder coated white, it has a stylish curved body shape which minimises the chance of sports balls and equipment getting trapped. A diffuser shields the LEDs to reduce glare distraction during high performance sports events, and the luminaire also features a wire guard as standard.

Designed for surface or suspension mounting, the Hi Sport luminaire features swivel adjustment and has a shock resistant gear tray. Optional features can be specified including 1–10V dimming, DALI dimming and integral three-hour maintained emergency lighting.

Nuaire, nuaire.co.uk The Trago Mills superstore in Merthyr Tydfil

Fitzgerald Lighting, fitzlight.co.uk

April 2019 | 15

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CONTRACT NEWS LIGHTING WITH THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE IN MIND Zumtobel Lighting, along with the Thorn Lighting brand, have supplied the lighting for Sunderland Hospital’s new Durham Treatment Centre (DTC), a purpose-built facility that has been designed with the patient experience in mind.

Zumtobel and Thorn supplied a huge variety of fittings to illuminate all areas of the 2,500 square metre facility, where thousands of patients across Durham and the surrounding areas will be able to access their specialist care locally at a new state-of-theart diagnostic and treatment centre.

It was important throughout development that the centre would provide purpose-built, high-quality facilities which meet the demands seen in modern healthcare, yet retain the flexibility for future growth.

Thorn’s beta office, an alternative recessed panel that bridges the economic gap between LED technology and conventional light sources, was chosen for treatment and clean utility areas. Its prismatic diffuser is ideal for working areas, as well as circulation areas, and the luminaire adheres to EN12464.

Thorn has provided Omega luminaires for the treatment areas where a surface option was required, also utilising the low-profile surface kit accessory. With its slim 12mm profile, the fitting incorporates a UV-stabilised opal acrylic diffuser to retain its clean look. The IP44 rated Omega provides excellent glare control (UGR<19/22) and is easily retrofitted, whilst maintenance is significantly reduced by the 50,000 hours’ life of the 4000K LED lamps supplied with the fitting.

Zumtobel has made good use of the experience of clean-room designers and combined it with the very latest lighting technology to produce a three-level luminaire concept for clean-rooms. For sustainability, Thorn’s Chalice was selected for the waiting areas, as it can reduce energy usage by up to 60%.

Zumtobel, zumtobel.com, Thorn Lighting, thornlighting.com

VOICE IS CHOICE FOR HIGH SCHOOL

ANPR HELPS TO SECURE AMBULANCE SERVICE’S HQ As part of a new centrally controlled vehicle security system, The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has recently updated the security of its premises at its regional headquarters in Lancashire using Nortech’s stainless steel bollards that house Nedap automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

The NWAS NHS Trust, established in 2006, operates around 1,000 vehicles to provide 1.1 million emergency and nonemergency patient journeys. The trust needed to secure the perimeters of its premises, and thus appointed Expert Security UK, Frank Whittle Partnerships and W. Monks to design and install the new centrally controlled vehicle security system.

Expert Security UK approached Nortech in order to integrate the ANPR into the system, and new automatic barriers were installed to secure the perimeter and prevent unauthorised vehicle access.

Nortech supplied the ANPR camera, which is housed in a robust stainless-steel bollard to protect the camera from any potential vehicle knocks.

As vehicles approach the new barriers, the ANPR reads the number plates and converts each valid number plate into a Wiegand ID string, which it sends to the access control panel in the same way as a standard card reader. The Wiegand number can then be checked centrally for access rights so that vehicle access can be granted or denied accordingly.

Nortech, nortechcontrol.com

WARSHIPS CONTRACT FOR AEI CABLES AEI Cables has been chosen as one of three companies to supply cables for three of Britain’s new Type 26 warships for the Royal Navy.

Working with prime contractor, BAE Systems, AEI Cables will supply cable and wiring for the power, lighting and data communications circuits for the vessels, with 400 kilometres of cable being supplied for the first order.

The new Type 26 warship to be used by the Royal Navy

The Type 26 combat ships will replace the Type 23 frigates as a versatile multi-mission warship designed to support antisubmarine warfare, air defence, humanitarian assistance and general operations anywhere in the world.

Stuart Dover, Commercial Manager for AEI Cables, said, “Supplying cables of this kind for such complex requirements means there can be no compromise in their quality and functionality. We’re proud to be supplying our products to BAE Systems for such an important programme.”

The project specified cables to Defence Standard 02-526 (NES526) and 02-527 (NES527) in various core and screen configurations, as well as cables to Defence Standard 61-12 Part 25 and Part 27; and wires to Defence Standard 61-12 Part 18.

The first installation of the range of naval power, instrumentation, and communications wires and cables is scheduled, with the first warship expected to be in service in the mid-2020s.

A fire safety system upgrade at Harwich and Dovercourt High School, a mixed secondary school and sixth form with academy status serving more than 1,200 students, has seen the implementation of 110 Vimpex fire-cryer voice sounders to help protect students and staff.

This extensive fire safety system upgrade, installed by life safety systems specialist, Anglia Fire Protection, comprises 24 Vimpex wall-mounted fire-cryer and 86 high output midi fire-cryer voice sounders, with custombuilt voice message controllers built to the customer’s specification.

Such a busy, multi-use facility as a senior school demands a bespoke evacuation and warning system solution. Vimpex’s fire-cryer voice sounders can be programmed to produce bespoke messages and tones specifically designed for the educational environment. Vimpex’s fire-cryer is the only voice sounder system available with a range of discreet ceiling-mounted voice sounders through to high output IP66 voice sounders.

The advantage of using multi-message voice sounders in schools is that traditional fire alarms can potentially be confused with everyday messages, such as bells for class changes.

The fire-cryer range offers five models to choose from, and literally millions of message combinations, ensuring that any site requirement can be fulfilled. The units require no special wiring and can be retrofitted to existing installations.

They can also be fully synchronised and have a low current consumption, allowing simple replacement of existing sounders and bells.

Vimpex, vimpex.co.uk

The Harwich and Dovercourt High School in Essex

AEI Cables, aeicables.co.uk

16 | April 2019

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Vimark Curve

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21/03/2019 12:11

PROJECT FOCUS

CREATING LUXURY THROUGH LIGHTING As one of the largest suppliers of lighting controls in the UK, CP Electronics is involved in some of the most prestigious lighting projects in the country. Recently, it has created luxury lighting solutions for both a top-flight football club, and for new luxury serviced apartments in Manchester.

M

any of the world’s leading companies are known for their unique interiors and often, the way in which their buildings are lit can form part of the brand’s identity. Think Apple, and you associate its stores with bright lighting and minimalist décor. On the other hand, clothing company Hollister has previously made national headlines due to its dimly lit shopping environment.

Undeniably though, the atmospheres in both stores have become synonymous with their household names.

To offer luxurious surroundings and furnishings to occupants, customers or guests is an investment many businesses cannot afford to prioritise. However, with a suitable lighting control system, an atmosphere that oozes style and elegance is easier to achieve than you might think.

A change of scenery

Effective lighting control systems can be used to change the mood within a room, and help to create a luxurious ambience

Effective lighting control systems can be used to change the mood within a room, depending on the occasion.

For instance, Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, were recently looking to use a lighting control system to impress guests in the club’s main boardroom. Used for conferences, matchday hospitality and functions such as weddings, the multifunctional room required a variety of different lighting scenes to set the appropriate tone while retaining the room’s lavish character.

Providing this functionality was the Rapid system from CP Electronics. Using a scene plate, this fully addressable system enables Wolves’ team members to operate eight different pre-programmed scenes. Scenes include controlling perimeter lights, through to dimming them to an optimal level for presentations, and even a ‘disco’ lighting

The multifunctional boardroom at Molineux now features a ‘scene plate’ that can offer eight different pre-programmed lighting scenes

setting at a touch of button. Furthermore, the system allows users to set the scene by controlling the lights with a smartphone via the Rapid scene control app.

Leading the way with the electronics and lighting work was Stuart Walters, Managing Director of CKW Contracts.

He comments, “While football is the main revenue generator, we understood that Wolves also do a lot of business through the corporate side. To that end, their main boardroom needed to excite.

Not only does CP Electronics’ Rapid system give the space that ‘wow’ factor, it’s also easy to control for the end users; and with a fully addressable system, it can be easily re-programmed if required.”

Elevating status Similarly, CitySuites in Manchester has recently cemented its place as one of the city’s most desirable places to live and stay.

With the likes of Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, as one of its residents and Michelin Starred chef, Tim Allen, serving up some of the finest cuisine within its walls, it was integral that the building’s lighting matched the status of its clientele.

To help create and control the luxury ambience of CitySuites, CP Electronics supplied its D-Mate room control system to the communal areas of the building, including the reception, gym and pool.

Matthew Liffen, Commercial Manager for the project’s principal building contractor, Ameon, said, “CP Electronics demonstrated an understanding of

the luxury feel we were going for with CitySuites immediately, with the suggestion of their D-Mate system. The scene setting plate in the reception allows reception staff to easily control the lighting and mood, while it was simple to commission, adaptable, and helps CitySuites save energy and cost when areas aren’t in use.

“This is particularly the case with the gym, which has been split into two halves.

If guests aren’t using one half of the gym, then the lights stay off.”

Stylish yet sustainable While most assume that luxury means spending without boundaries, CitySuites is keen to be sustainable while still offering the quality they are striving for.

To that end, corridors that link the building and apartments have all been installed with standalone long-range microwave detectors. These detectors are set to presence detection mode and work via motion sensors. The long-range microwaves pick up movement and switch the lights on when motion is detected and turn the lights off again when there is no movement.

With long corridors, CP Electronics specified microwave detectors that can sense movement up to 25 to 30m away from where the detector is installed. This means, potentially, only one detector is needed per corridor, and capital expenditure on detectors is reduced – while maintenance is also decreased in the long term.

CP Electronics, cpelectronics.co.uk

18 | April 2019

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22/03/2019 27/03/2019 16:34 16:43

IN THE KNOW

SPONSORED BY

SURPASSING THE COMPETITION How do you guarantee a future-proof, cost effective solution for numerous applications without sacrificing on quality or light output? Jeff Richardson, Aurora’s Director of Trade, focuses on how Enlite’s new LinearPac covers all bases.

A

The LinearPac 1500mm 58W IP65 LED

In the Know – Aurora.indd 20

business needs every advantage in today’s competitive climate, and it’s essential that basic day-to-day running costs should be manageable.

One solution to this issue is to invest wisely early on and another is to upgrade to something you know can help decrease overhead costs.

The new IP65 LinearPac LED anticorrosive has been upgraded to a marketleading 120lm/W. This offers a twin fitting light output from a single-body sized luminaire, providing up to 50% energy savings when compared to traditional fluorescents. A highly efficient solution for both interior and exterior applications, it is designed for car parks, service areas, warehouses or retail environments.

With a wide range of wattages, each offering emergency, microwave, and non dimmable versions, there is a high lumen option for every situation.

Durable, long-lasting lighting In harsher environments, which need consistent illumination, it is important you can trust that your fittings won’t fail.

Safety and high lumen output is a priority in warehouses and car parks, and so Enlite’s LinearPac is the clear solution. With its IP65 rating, the anti-corrosive LinearPac can withstand tougher conditions. Not only that, its lifespan is 30,000 hours, so you know that once fitted, it won’t need regular maintenance.

It also has an IK08 impact resistance rating, which means that if there is any contact made, there’s little risk of damage.

The emergency version also gives peace of mind if there’s a temporary power failure, as you can be sure the luminaire will still provide light until power is restored.

LED has quickly begun to replace fluorescent lighting due to the huge difference in power consumption and lumens per watt. In comparison to

Safety and high lumen output is a priority in warehouses and car parks

traditional equivalents, the LinearPac offers significant savings on energy costs.

It is also compatible with the Smart Aurora AOne control system.

Enlite, part of Aurora Lighting Group, enlitelighting.com

28/03/2019 11:32

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27/03/2019 16:46

SHOW PREVIEW

EI LIVE!

EI LIVE! — THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR ECN READERS Taking place at the Farnborough Exhibition Centre from April 30 – May 1, this year’s EI Live! promises to be better than ever – and with a new focus on products from the world of electrical contracting, it’s a ‘must visit’ for all ECN readers too. Here’s a look at what visitors can expect.

22 | April 2019

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EI LIVE!

SHOW PREVIEW

HABITECH AND LEGRAND MyHOME_Up – designed with electrical contractors in mind If you’re tired of first-fixing for both electrical and AV, only for another company to apply the finishing touches and walk away with most of the cash, Legrand has a home automation system that will allow you to complete the job.

Making its EI Live! debut at Habitech’s stand, Legrand’s versatile MyHOME_Up system is installed using standard wiring techniques, without the need for specialist AV programming. It’s inexpensive to deploy, but offers bullet-proof reliability and stateof-the-art control over lighting, heating, distributed audio and door entry from a wide range of décor-matching, in-room keypads and a smartphone app.

Modular, scalable design You can pick the features and functions that suit your client, and add these to your quote, cutting the cost and hassle for your customer by having a single contact for the work while maximising your revenue from the job. Then, when everything is connected, you can configure the system via the MyHOME_Up app on an iPad.

Perfect for the lucrative developer market and built around a modular DIN-mounted hub in a centralised location, the system can extend to one room or scale to control a large residential house, MDU or hotel.

Designing and installing the system doesn’t involve a steep learning curve either. MyHOME_Up connects proprietary control modules using a simple two-core, no topology, free-wired BUS system. It installs on a brutally efficient timescale, without the need for whizz-kid programming smarts – and because it’s modular, you only install the functionality required.

Beautifully bespoke

for every type of wall fitting – including sockets, data ports and standard switches – to offer style continuity throughout the space. Developers will appreciate this easy interplay of functionality and design.

Blessed with its electrical DNA, supported by the vast Legrand ecosystem and ideal for the developer market, MyHOME_Up can help to add lucrative skills and genuine value to your business.

Backed as it is by Legrand, the beauty of MyHOME_Up extends beyond the control interfaces to provide a coordinated look

Stand 48, habitech.co.uk, legrand.co.uk

Legrand’s home automation system, MyHOME_Up, can be installed using standard wiring techniques

HAMILTON LITESTAT Smart lighting control solutions Trusted British manufacturer, Hamilton Litestat, will showcase its smart lighting control and audio technology with a full working demonstration, which also incorporates blind control and wireless switching of outdoor applications.

There will also be a selection of complementary designed control plates and general wiring accessories – for that coordinated look – as well as a sneak peek at what’s to come from the manufacturer in the coming months.

Hamilton’s plug-and-play lighting control and audio solutions fall within the professional ‘easy’ category, due to the fact that they don’t require specialist tools or software and can be seamlessly integrated for a powerful and cost-effective lighting and sound package. Together, they are ideal for straight-forward lighting and audio control requirements that can be activated via pre-programmed plates or the Hamilton app. Additionally, Hamilton’s installer software gives access to additional levels of system functionality for applications where more flexibility is needed.

“EI Live! provides us with the perfect opportunity to speak with professional electricians who are embracing smart controls and seeing the value of these for their business proposition,” said Gavin Williams, Head of Marketing at

“EI Live! provides us with the perfect opportunity to speak with professional electricians who are embracing smart controls.”

Hamilton. “Our plug-and-play smart control systems are proven solutions, and we’ll be demonstrating the capabilities of the products, with our team on hand to discuss how the solutions can be used for projects of varying complexity. The show is a great way to reach professional electricians, as well as experienced custom installers who are now considering Hamilton’s cost-effective solutions for less complex installations.”

Hamilton is a member of CEDIA, the international trade organisation for home technology. As a company, it is committed

to providing quality products, as well as education and training in smart controls, which has generated considerable interest – including the oversubscription of its free training courses. It’s also contributed to Hamilton being named ‘Best Manufacturer 2018’ in the Voltimum Smart Awards at the end of last year.

Alongside its Smart Lighting and Audio solutions, Hamilton will also give EI Live! visitors a first glance at its new range of wireless control products.

Hamilton Litestat’s smart lighting control solutions will be showcased at EI Live!

Stand 56, hamilton-litestat.com

April 2019 | 23

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SHOW PREVIEW

EI LIVE!

ECA Ushering in the smart age As an official event partner, the ECA will be present at the show – and among the highlights will be a presentation to be delivered by Darren Smith (pictured), ECA’s Digital Buildings Solutions Advisor.

Cities in the UK are quickly becoming ‘smart’, and technology is now an integral part of the fabric of society. It is anticipated that globally, by 2100, 80% of people will live in cities.

As progress marches on, more and more data is collected daily from the individuals, devices, buildings and assets which make up our cities. Billions of points of information are being used to better manage the power, transportation, and data networks we use.

Electrotechnical designers, installers and maintenance technicians will be key to what happens next. But what are the components and themes of the new electrotechnical networks that will support society and business in the future?

Darren Smith’s talk will cover the ways manufacturers, software companies and entrepreneurs are developing and delivering new products and services for smart homes, buildings and cities, and the opportunities that electrical professionals must seize today to help ensure they stay relevant to their clients tomorrow.

The talk will be most relevant to electrotechnical engineering and services professionals, in particular those involved in smart home installations and building automation control systems (BACS).

From smart homes…

Electrotechnical professionals are uniquely placed to help homeowners realise the potential of smart technology in the home: fully automated controls for fire and security, energy management, heating, lighting and entertainment and more will soon be essential tools for daily living. The implications of installing and upgrading these – both in new builds and in retrofitted properties – can be an opportunity but also a minefield.

…to smart buildings The UK construction and infrastructure sectors are gradually adopting a digital approach to better design, build, operate, and integrate the built environment.

The change is happening gradually, but the pace is expected to pick up dramatically – the Internet of Things (IoT) will soon fall into critical areas including logistics, manufacturing, digital assets, and field service applications. It is also set to cover the complete supply chain to include the lifecycle of products, and digitalisation of services when the data is harnessed.

Our relationship with the built and urban environment is fundamentally changing, and the electrical industry is crucial in respect to developing an infrastructure which consists of truly smart homes and buildings.

ECA, eca.co.uk

The ECA’s Darren Smith

“Cities in the UK are quickly becoming ‘smart’, and technology is now an integral part of the fabric of society. It is anticipated that globally, by 2100, 80% of people will live in cities.”

Rako’s modular keypads feature a clean and contemporary design

RAKO CONTROLS Hub Building on the feature set of the existing Rako ethernet bridges and cloud gateway, the new Rako Hub moves smart home integration to the next level. The all new design features a number of additional functions and enhancements over the last generation. The elegant desktop design means customers now have the option to have the unit on show, and the included wall mount kit offers a more traditional mounting option within an equipment cupboard.

The new Hub will be available in wired and wireless, feature rich versions.

New modular push button wall plates The new modular wall controller range has a clean, contemporary design. The ground-up redesign enables flexible button configurations (four to 12 buttons), LED illumination and plate finishes. Three button sizes allow for a variety of layouts, from a simple on/off and fade, to a mixture of lighting, curtain/blind and audio selections.

Black and white button finishes will initially be complemented by a range of metal cover plate surrounds from FocusSB’s Morpheus range. The new design will also allow for premium

materials to be used, like quartz and glass. Surrounds can be machined from virtually any solid material, so the options for interior designers to create bespoke wall switches will be almost limitless.

Available in both Rako NFC wireless and wired versions, the new controllers are configured using the now familiar RASOFTpro programming software.

Samples of the modular range will be on display at EI Live!

All metal flush wall plates The new flush metallic range of keypads are a collaboration between Rako and its Indian distributor, Vinshek. Built around an all metal screwless flush facia design, this elegant range offers specifiers and end clients a clean, uncluttered look for their projects. Six configurable metallic buttons offer scene, curtain/blind and audio control options.

System performance updates GoogleHome and Apple HomeKit support have now been added to the Rako cloud gateway, while iOS and Android apps benefit from IPV6 support.

Stand 54, rakocontrols.com

TENWAYS ENGINEERING SERVICES Founded in 2000 as an air conditioning supply and install company, Tenways has since progressed into becoming a proficient company in various fields, involving air conditioning, heat recovery ventilation and controls.

As well as its CoolMasterNet and ThermoPad interfaces and controllers, Tenways will be exhibiting its new CoolPlug and CooLinkHub for integrating split and multi split AC

systems with home automation and smart home devices.

The company will also be previewing its long-awaited Wireless CoolPlug and CooLinkHub, which will be launching later this year.

In an exclusive offer, Tenways will also be offering attendees £100 off their next CoolMasterNet unit.

Stand 63, tenways.co.uk

24 | April 2019

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Power Solutions from SMJ

POS options available For more information call us on 01933 677668 or email sales@smjuk.com

www.smjuk.com

Also available from SMJ Untitled-6 1

27/03/2019 16:46

SHOW PREVIEW

EI LIVE!

LITHE AUDIO AND RETROTOUCH Bathroom version of Wi-Fi speakers UK-based AV brand, Lithe Audio, has added a bathroom version of its Wi-Fi ceiling speakers, providing an all-in-one solution for multi-room music streaming. With the amplifier and Wi-Fi built-in, there’s no need for speaker cables or servers, making the IP44 speakers easy to install.

They are also AirPlay-certified and come with a dedicated app that has Spotify Connect, Deezer, Tidal and vTuner radio already enabled.

The Lithe Audio Wi-Fi ceiling speakers enable streaming from any audio service to a single speaker, a selection of speakers or up to 30 speakers at once, for a full multiroom audio experience. The app saves a user’s settings for individual zones or can deliver an all-zone ‘party’ mode.

All of the speakers, including the new bathroom version, offer a full integrated solution. By simply connecting power from a lighting circuit and then linking

“The switches are Alexa and Google Home enabled, so you can use a simple voice command.”

to a smart device via the app, the music can begin.

Users can easily switch between mono and stereo output and have varying volume levels in each room whilst playing multi-room audio.

Designed by Lithe Audio’s team of specialist home electronic product designers, the frameless speakers are designed to ‘disappear’ into the ceiling, only protruding 3mm. The magnetic grille covers can be removed easily for cleaning or for replacement with a different coloured finish. The grilles can be painted to match the ceiling for a ‘barely there’ look.

Retrotouch switches for easy lighting control Lithe’s sister company – lighting and switches brand Retrotouch – will also have a presence at the show. Highlights will include its new iotty Wi-Fi smart switches and matching wiring accessories.

FS CABLES

KNX UK

FS Cables will have samples of the latest new products from its Tru range of intelligent home automation and building control cables – and the company is welcoming visitors to its stand to experience the quality for themselves.

The company will also have samples on display for lighting control, HDBaseT recommended Cat 5E, Cat 6 and Cat 6A, 7, 7A, speaker cables, fibre, security, alarm, and access control. All of these are CPRcompliant and on the shelf, ready to be installed. FS Cables staff can even talk to you about its impending Cat 8 products.

Do you know which classification to install? Or what documentation you need?

Even if you’re asking, “What is CPR?,” make sure you visit FS Cables’ highly experienced and knowledgeable team who will be on hand to answer all of your CPR questions. The company has over 800 products in stock for next working day delivery, and each are independently tested in the UK for CPR compliance.

Installers of audio equipment may be interested in the 16AWG weatherproof speaker cables. These cables feature a clever water blocking tape which, when in contact with moisture, swells to form a non-toxic jelly. This prevents water from travelling down the cable, making it particularly suitable for outdoor installations, while remaining clean and easy to terminate, compared to jellyfilled cables.

Attendees can discuss how cables can be cut to the length you require to save you money and wastage. With samples available on the stand, visitors will be able to see the quality difference for themselves.

Promoting the KNX standard

Stand 64-65, fscables.com

As detailed in last month’s issue, KNX UK – which was formed by a partnership of UK KNX manufacturers, integrators, wholesalers and training establishments to promote the KNX standard in the UK – will be present at EI Live! to convey the KNX message in full.

One of the show’s highlights will be a presentation by Iain Gordon, the President of KNX UK, who will be heading the speaker line-up in the EI Live! technical theatre.

As the first generation of smart buildings reach an age, Gordon will be talking about what makes a system future-proof.

KNX is an international building control standard that seeks to put the intelligence into intelligent buildings. It enables the integration and programming of a range of products, from numerous manufacturers, using a single software tool. KNX products are all tested for

These clever, attractively-designed switches use built-in Wi-Fi to enable lighting throughout a home or office to be controlled from anywhere in the building – or from anywhere in the world.

The switches integrate seamlessly with any other automated home features, such as automatic garage doors and gates; and they can use geo-location technology to ensure that lights turn on automatically when the owners approach their home.

The switches are Alexa and Google Home enabled, so you can use a simple voice command – such as, “Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights” – for a simple and convenient lighting solution.

Retrotouch Crystal iotty smart switches have Wi-Fi enabled within the switch, using your existing Wi-Fi router, with no need for additional hubs, routers or costs.

Stand 33, litheaudio.com

compliance, ensuring they operate seamlessly together on a single, simple network.

The KNX standard has been adopted by many international manufacturers, who together, provide a vast array of KNXcertified products. Choosing from this pool of interoperable technology, integrators and contractors can build entire control solutions by bringing together a variety of off-the-shelf components which are truly interoperable.

These products have all been thoroughly tested and certified to be KNX compliant and all operate seamlessly together, programmed by the integrator using one common software tool. Because they all ‘speak the same language’, they can operate together across the same network, resulting in much less cabling and higher functionality.

KNX UK, knxuk.org

The Tru range of cables from FS Cables will be on show, and the company will explain how they can save money and wastage

Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre April 30 | May 1, 2019

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

THE PATH TO A SMARTER FUTURE EI Live! 2019 takes place at the Farnborough Exhibition Centre in Hampshire from April 30 to May 1. For more information, and to register your place, visit eiliveshow.com Stand numbers are correct at time of printing.

Visit eiliveshow.com for the most up-to-date information, along with details of the event’s other exhibitors.

Getting there: Parking at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre is free, and we have space for up to 3,500 cars.

For SatNav directions, please use the postcode GU14 6AZ, which will take you to the Queen’s Roundabout. From here, follow signs for event car parking.

26 | April 2019

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KEEP ON TRUNKING WITH THE UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LARGEST CABLE MANAGEMENT DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

With over 10 strategic UK and Ireland locations and a network of wholesalers stretching across the country, Unitrunk is never too far away. Our herd is always out in force, to make sure our customers get what they need when they need it.

Visit unitrunk.co.uk to find your nearest branch.

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7/9/11 12:18:13 19/03/2019 12:17

COMPANY PROFILE

AVANDE

A ‘SMARTER’ APPROACH TO ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING As an expert in the design and delivery of audio visual, automation and intelligent lighting systems, Avande is reaching out to the electrical contracting community to offer its services in these expanding and in-demand sectors.

W

ith many successful projects and partnerships already completed, Avande is looking to expand its support for contractors by offering them access to the skills, information, designs, equipment and a database of contacts across all areas of the smart home sector.

With Avande’s help, contractors can expand their services beyond the offering of wiring, lighting and more basic parts of an electrical install to offer a ‘one call’ solution, delivering intelligent lighting and heating, smart security, networking and a whole range of exciting smart home and audio-visual entertainment experiences.

Avande has the experience of working across many of the most prestigious residential developments in the capital and the South East, including single dwelling projects and multi-dwelling units (MDUs), delivering the very highest quality to the tightest of demands and deadlines.

Connecting the dots “Avande offers all electrical, network, control and smart home services, from the installation to design for the residential sector.”

As well as offering all the expertise contractors need to deliver these types of services, Avande can also help with the ordering process via the Avande Connect section of the company’s website, which provides system building tools for contractors and end users alike. Via the website, contractors or their customers can choose, specify and create a price for a system tailored to their needs in minutes, making the process quick and accurate, and without the need for expensive consultants or designers.

Ashley Said-Kirton, Founder and CEO of Avande, explains, “As developers look for an edge to sell their properties, the smart home – delivering aspects such as intelligent lighting and heating, networking, home automation and entertainment systems – is of increasing interest. Plugging our experience and expertise into your offering can help you win more and larger contracts, increasing the attractiveness and profitability of your business. Training and gaining the skills you need to deliver these services is expensive and time consuming.

With our offering, you already have all the expertise you will ever need to enter the smart home market.”

Said-Kirton continues, “Through the Avande approved partners scheme, we also work in collaboration with our electrical partners, giving them installation work. The Avande Connect store on our website has enabled Avande to have nationwide coverage.

This means our clients/homeowners can select anything from a smart lighting system, to a total rewire and design for a new home or extension to an existing property.

A new opportunity for electrical contractors

Images courtesy of Gerrard Developments

“Avande offers all electrical, network, control and smart home services, from the installation to design for the residential sector, so there is a huge opportunity for the right electrical contractors to not only enhance their offering with access to smart home equipment, but grow their electrical team by partnering with Avande and taking on more business for the install of our projects. Avande becomes your AV department, broadening your offering and enhancing opportunities for new business.”

Working with Avande means that electrical contractors can ensure they don’t lose work to AV installers, as they will have all the resources to deliver everything from the cable pulling, to intelligent lighting, through to audio visual systems, home automation and beyond.

The Avande team stands ready to explain further exactly how we can help contractors enter the smart home market and be successful – just get in contact to find out more by emailing enquiries@ avandeconnect.com.

Avande, avandeconnect.com

28 | April 2019

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w: detaelectrical.co.uk

25/01/2019 11:48

SPECIAL FEATURE

Magduo utilises intelligent two-wire technology, which allows all devices to be wired on the same set of two-core zone cables back to the control panel

A TWO-PRONGED ATTACK ESP’s new Magduo two-wire fire alarm system enables easier, faster installations and the potential for cost savings. Neil Baldwin, Managing Director of ESP, introduces the new range and explains how it fits into the company’s growing fire protection collection.

A

s a renowned supplier of security and fire protection solutions, ESP is committed to developing new and improved products that not only bring the latest technologies to market, but are designed to offer speed, flexibility and cost-efficiency to installers working across a range of projects.

The launch of the Magduo two-wire fire alarm system adds a totally new collection of products to the company’s growing Magfire fire protection range.

Magduo will sit alongside the existing Mag conventional fire alarm products and the Magpro addressable range – fulfilling the increasing demand from customers for this latest technology.

Fire alarm systems are broadly divided into two main groupings – ‘conventional’ fire alarm systems and analogue addressable ‘intelligent’ systems – with each type best suited to different kinds of premises. Conventional (or four-wire) fire alarm systems are used in smaller properties, such as shops and restaurants.

They work by dividing the building into a number of detection zones, with the

detectors and call points within each zone hardwired on dedicated two-core cable to the control panel. There may be multiple detectors on a single zone.

A separate two-core, fire-protected cable for the alarm’s sounders is required, as they are wired on different circuits. If a detector is activated, the control panel identifies the circuit that contains the triggered device, and so indicates the zone from which the fire alarm has originated; but the area then has to be manually searched to pinpoint the individual device.

A look at a fully installed Magduo fire alarm system

receives information and status reports from each device and indicates its exact location if there is a fault, contamination or activation via smoke or heat detection.

Because analogue addressable fire alarm systems offer a greater degree of flexibility, intelligence, speed of identification and the extent of control, they are the preferred option for specifiers and contractors working on bigger and more intricate projects, as they overcome the limitations of conventional fire alarm systems.

Addressable fire alarm systems Addressable or ‘intelligent’ fire alarm systems are designed for large commercial premises and more complex networked systems. They are much more expensive and more complicated than conventional four-wire systems, having increased flexibility, intelligence, speed of identification, and scope of control.

In addressable systems, different types of initiating devices are wired in one or more single loops around the premises, requiring less cabling than conventional systems, with each detector or call point having its own unique address. The fire control panel

30 | April 2019

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28/03/2019 16:29

FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY An example of how the fire alarm wiring could be configured

“Analogue addressable fire alarm systems offer a greater degree of flexibility.”

The benefits of a two-wire system ESP’s Magduo two-wire fire alarm system is aimed at small to medium contractors, offering them a highly flexible and adaptable system that will save them time and money on the installation process.

Two-wire fire alarm systems are based on standard conventional system

SMOKE VENT

technology. Unlike standard conventional four wired systems where the detectors, call points and alarm devices for each zone are wired on separate circuits, Magduo utilises intelligent two-wire technology, which allows all devices to be wired on the same set of two-core zone cables back to the control panel – enabling it to use a single circuit per zone both for detection and to power the sounders. This advanced technology can reduce both installation and material cost.

The system is ‘two-wire’, meaning that all system devices can be installed on the same circuit with the capacity for up to 32 devices per zone. This, however, is dependent on the device loading unit (DLU).

Magduo will support 2-8 zone applications.

In total, ESP’s new range will comprise 25 separate products, including: • 2-zone, 4-zone and 8-zone fire panels (available in a grey or black finish) •R epeater panels – also offered in grey or black (four and eight zone panels are able to support up to eight repeater panels) • FlexiPoint detector – programmable to seven different modes, including smoke and heat detection • Ceiling sounders (available in red or white) • Sounder and strobe low profile • Wall sounder (available in red or white) • Strobe IP55 • Sounder IP55 • Call point

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A key benefit is the alarm confirmation feature, which offers the ability to select a confirmation period for individual detectors and therefore confirm if the smoke/ heat detected is an actual fire – and not a false alarm. Using the built-in alarm confirmation feature, until an alarm has been confirmed within an individual area, only that area is evacuated. At the same time, if an alarm is confirmed in a common area, the device initiates a full alarm evacuating all surrounding areas. This unique conventional panel feature is vital where two-stage alarms are required.

The FlexiPoint detector brings further versatility and convenience to this new range.

As well as offering seven different modes of fire detection, including combined heat and smoke, the FlexiPoint detector is also available with an inbuilt sounder or inbuilt sounder strobe, which will assist with a compact install solution (as the detector and sounder is all-in-one, as opposed to separate units).

Due to the different options, FlexiPoint offers convenience to installers, as they will not be required to carry a complete range of devices.

With its adaptability, speed of installation and cost-effectiveness, Magduo provides an ideal fire alarm solution for a range of small to medium sized projects such as restaurants, retail outlets, schools, offices, apartments and hotels. We are able to provide training on the new system to interested installers.

ESP, espuk.com

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F,S&S – ESP.indd 31

  28/03/2019 11:41

SPECIAL FEATURE

FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY

A BURNING DESIRE FOR SAFETY Martin Gregg, Commercial Manager at Unitrunk, asks why there are no fire testing regulations for cable management within the electrical industry.

W

hile fire safety has always been embedded into the design and construction of buildings through various standards and legislative controls, the events that took place at Grenfell Tower almost two years ago have, quite rightly, become a focus for examining the suitability of certain materials for use in construction or refurbishment projects. There is widespread consensus on the need for positive change.

Some legislative change has already started to happen, with certain types of ‘combustible’ cladding materials now banned on new-build residential buildings taller than 18m high. It’s a start, but even this step towards learning direct lessons from Grenfell has been criticised, because high rise hotel and office buildings are exempt from the ban, and the use of combustible materials for the building envelope of low-rise properties remains a risk to those who live there.

The Hackitt Report highlighted the ambiguity of regulations and guidance, and called for a risk-based approach to specification with transparency of information and an audit trail. The report acknowledges that legislative change will take time, but the question remains, why do we not already have a suitable regulatory framework in place for electrical fire safety? Moreover, with such lack of clarity, where can the industry turn for reassurance that the jobs they are specifying now will be both safe and compliant when any future legislation comes into force?

Ambiguity As many who have worked in the construction or electrical sector overseas will tell you, the UK industry has regulatory requirements that are more robust than most other countries; and our building and fire regulations are seen internationally as very demanding. However, despite the fact that the latest wiring regulations were clearly influenced by the need to respond to fire safety concerns prompted

by Grenfell, there is still nothing within the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations that stipulates fire testing of cable management; the backbone of any commercial electrical installation and the physical barrier between electrical cables and the building fabric.

Despite the Grenfell tragedy prompting a number of legislative changes, there is still nothing that stipulates fire testing of cable management

Unitrunk has invested in independent fire safety testing for its cable tray and cable ladder systems, and this testing is ahead of any industry requirement

Cable management is just one of the many product categories for which there is currently no mandatory fire testing requirement, either within building regulations or wiring regulations.

This leaves those with responsibility for specifying and installing cable management networks with a lack of information regarding which systems offer verified fire safety: the very ‘ambiguity’ criticised in the Hackitt Report.

Despite the fact that the source of the fire at Grenfell Tower has been traced to an electrical fault, it is building envelope materials that have come under scrutiny in the wake of the disaster, rather than materials essential to the installation of building services. While we might speculate that this is due to an assumption that electrical installations carry an inherent level of fire risk – after all, more than half of fires in domestic properties are caused by electricity – this is surely an argument for considering where fire safety in the specification of electrical installation materials can be improved?

A safer future The programme of legislative change following the publication of the Hackitt Report has only just begun, and there are certain to be more changes in mandatory standards and permissible materials still to come. However, there seems to

be scant attention to the fire safety of cable management systems, which is why Unitrunk has invested in independent fire safety testing for both our cable tray and cable ladder systems, ahead of any industry requirement. For us, there may be no regulation on fire resilience, but there is a moral obligation to ensure resilience is built into the design and manufacture of our products and to verify it through independent testing.

Thanks to the testing, we are also now able to offer specifiers, contractors and their clients the peace of mind that comes with knowing that both our UniKlip and standard cable management systems have achieved an E90 rating, which means the cables within the system could power a lamp continuously for at least 90 minutes at a temperature of 10,000°C – a temperature comparable to a building fire. We’re the first cable management system specialist in the UK to pass these tests, and we’re now calling on the rest of the industry to do the same.

In the wake of Grenfell, we have a moral obligation to do everything we can to ensure buildings are safer in the future.

Verifying the fire safety of the materials we use is an integral part of that obligation and, hopefully, it will also become a regulatory requirement one of these days, creating a corresponding commercial imperative to test for fire safety.

Unitrunk, unitrunk.co.uk

32 | April 2019

F,S&S – Unitrunk.indd 32

28/03/2019 11:42

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18255 CP Electronics Installer - ECN Advert.indd 1 Untitled-2 1

19/03/2019 21/03/2019 14:49 12:12

SPECIAL FEATURE

FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY

STORED AND SECURED – TOP TIPS FOR SECURITY With the value of tools left in tradespeople’s vans averaging nearly £3,000, it’s essential to ensure that all electrical equipment left in vehicles is protected. Deborah Hunt, Marketing Manager at Van Vault, shares her top tips for electrical contractors to safeguard their tools.

A

recent report by Van Vault, one of the UK’s premier brands of containers for storing and securing tools in vehicles, has highlighted that 38% of electricians have experienced tool theft. This can have a huge impact on electricians and their business, with a loss of tools resulting in a substantial financial shortfall. It can also cause a large amount of stress for those involved and can leave electricians unable to work.

In fact, recent reports claim that a van is broken into and tools are stolen every 23 minutes in the UK. Due to this concerning statistic, it is vital that tools are well protected. Currently, it is well known that, to avoid thieves, the advice is to reduce opportunity, increase their risk and delay them. By following some key tips and guidance, electrical contractors will likely be in a better position to ensure that they don’t fall victim to tool theft.

1

Ensure your tools are protected at all times

Electrical tools are always susceptible to theft, no matter the location or time of day, especially with thieves becoming increasingly more determined and cunning. More and more thefts are taking place during the day on streets, car parks or on-site. Thieves have become skilled at breaking into vans quickly and efficiently and on average, it now takes just 10 seconds to break into a van.

Many are under the assumption that tool theft is more likely to occur at night-time, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Many electrical contractors have been victim to theft during a hotel stay whilst completing work, as thieves will seek out groups of tradesmen to target.

It is therefore always best practice never to leave a van unlocked or unattended, even if it may seem safe, and to keep tools protected in locked storage within the van.

Secure storage will likely disrupt and cause delay to the thief who has to be fast, to avoid being caught. More often than not, it will deter them from trying to steal from the van.

“Van Vault products are also reinforced with the toughest build ever and include a shielded VaultLock locking system, making them next-toimpossible to prise open.”

2

Use the best quality invehicle secure storage

An effective method for protecting tools is to store them in a secure storage container, such as a Van Vault. It is the only secure storage solution on the market to meet the stringent security requirements of Sold Secure, which is a standard developed by the Master Locksmith Association to test security products for tradesmen, insurance sectors, the police, and the general public.

Van Vault is also certified by Secured

by Design, a police initiative promoting products that help prevent crime.

Ensuring that the storage is of the highest quality and that it meets these strict requirements and credentials will ensure that the tools are well protected.

Van Vault products are also reinforced with the toughest build ever and include a shielded VaultLock locking system, making them next-to-impossible to prise open. This lock is recessed, positioned deep within the body of the box, and shielded by a hardened steel plate, making it difficult to attack.

A lid brace grips the front of the box so that it won’t budge when attacked, while the cross bar reinforcement inside the lid further strengthens one of the key areas of attack. The flush front lid is resistant to jacks and crowbars, and the bolt-on handle simply shears off if attacked.

Reinforced mounting points also allow your Van Vault to be fitted to the vehicle, ensuring even more protection against theft. This is a fairly simple process and can be carried out without professional help, providing the proper instructions are followed.

Van Vault offers a range of eight vehicle storage products, each designed for use in different types of vehicles, as well as a selection of on-site secure storage.

3

Van Vault’s Slider offers a flexible alternative to the traditional box product, and – as well as being secure – adds extra depth to the user’s tool storage setup

Don’t rely on an alarm system

Utilising secure storage means that electrical contractors won’t have to rely solely on a vehicle’s alarm system, which all new vans will be fitted with.

This is particularly important due to the recent rise of cloning key fobs, termed ‘keyless theft’, which has meant that many thieves are able to easily break into a locked van. The whole process can take place in as little as 60 seconds and in complete silence, meaning that if your tools are unprotected, theft becomes extremely easy.

Despite this, alarms can still be used as a basic method of defence if needed. Thieves will be deterred from continuing the theft due to the sound of the alarm, as it will likely draw attention from anyone nearby.

Van Vault, vanvault.co.uk

34 | April 2019

F,S&S – Van Vault.indd 34

28/03/2019 11:42

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28/03/2019 11:21

SPECIAL FEATURE

FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY

FURTHERING SKILLS IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM David Murfitt of The Fire Industry Association (FIA) explains why electrical contractors may be interested in furthering their skills to become fire detection and alarm technicians, and offers guidance on how they can make this transition.

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here have been a lot of qualified electricians who have left the electrical contracting industry to build their careers as fire detection and alarm maintenance technicians. This has been a regular occurrence over the years, and the fire safety industry now employs many people who have chosen to follow the same route out of contracting into specialising in fire detection and alarm system testing and maintenance.

Having spoken with a good number of those individuals, it was very interesting to find out why they had taken this route (more on this below). Electrical contracting tends to be an industry where sub-contracting is common, so many people are selfemployed. While initially this may sound attractive, there are also several pitfalls.

Firstly, you don’t get paid holidays. In addition, you likely won’t get a company vehicle, and there’s no sick pay, paternity or maternity leave either. You also need to keep accounts, so will need an accountant, and furthermore, tax returns have to be submitted annually – so it’s vital to ensure you have the funds each year to pay your tax bill. You will also need to carry liability insurance, and have operating polices such as health and safety etc.

Generally, fire detection and alarm and maintenance technicians are employed directly, which eliminates many of these pitfalls and makes life easier.

However, there are also operational issues. Contracting will put you into building, refurbishment and development sites much of the time, working in amongst other trades and having little or no contact with the customers. Working conditions are sometimes harsh, particularly in the cooler months of the year.

Becoming a fire detection and alarm maintenance technician is a vastly different role, where you will be dealing directly with the client, building relationships and taking responsibility directly for the end result. The conditions under which the maintenance and testing are carried out are generally preferable to working on building, refurbishment and development sites, as you’ll typically be indoors.

Specialising in fire detection and alarm maintenance can be very rewarding and interesting, as you will rarely repeat any day and will be working amongst many client types, at differing locations within many types of businesses and organisations. This gives those who have taken this route a great deal of job satisfaction, as their work varies in many ways and life in general is far easier. The overall earnings are much the same.

How to start working as a fire alarm technician There are lots of routes into the sector, and a lot of it depends on your level of experience. Around 80% of people come into the fire detection and alarm sector having previously worked in an electrical field. Some employers may be willing to take you on without any prior experience of installing or maintaining fire detection and alarm products into a building, although many are more discerning and will require particular training or qualifications.

As you read through job adverts, you might notice that the job poster asks for Fire Industry Association (FIA) training or qualifications. This is fairly common, since the FIA is the largest fire protection trade association in Europe, and the largest provider of training and qualifications for this sector.

There are two ways around this. You can either get the training yourself, or ask your employer to train you. Sometimes, a new employer might be only too willing to put you through a training course, particularly if the rest of their team has completed the same training.

Legislation One thing you should know, is that those that work in fire protection are required, by law, to be ‘competent’, according to the Regulatory Requirements (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It’s an important factor that will shape your career once you decide to make the switch from electrical contractor to fire detection and alarm technician, since a failure to be ‘competent’ could end up with some serious repercussions.

“Becoming a fire detection and alarm maintenance technician is a vastly different role, where you will be dealing directly with the client, building relationships and taking responsibility directly for the end result.”

The trouble is, the law doesn’t define competency – so the industry has come up with its own way of regulating. EN16763, the service standard, sets out the level of education that those working in the maintenance field should have. Quite simply, it points to being educated to the equivalent of Level 3 in the UK, which is roughly the same as A-levels.

However, holding the right Level 3 qualification can make all the difference, as a qualification in an unrelated subject (like music, for example) won’t do the trick. The FIA offers a Level 3 qualification in fire detection and alarm maintenance, as well as designing, installing, and commissioning systems.

Getting qualified The FIA offers a series of qualifications developed by our own nationally regulated awarding organisation for the fire detection and alarm sector, the FIA AO (Fire Industry Association Awarding Organisation).

Our qualifications have been produced in consultation with industry leaders and employers, matching the needs of the industry with what learners really need to understand.

You can gain a qualification in either fire detection and alarm design, install, maintainance, or commissioning through studying four short units in classrooms across the UK. FIA, fia.uk.com

36 | April 2019

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28/03/2019 11:43

Safe Isolation saves lives Stay safe, prove dead and lock off with Martindale VIPDLOK kits

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22/08/2018 14:20:29 18/03/2019 11:59

SPONSORED FEATURE

FIXINGS FOR THE ULTIMATE SAFETY Continuously looking for new products and solutions to provide the fire safety equipment industry, innovation is at the forefront of Firesafe’s business. We’ll take a look at their latest offering, a range of 18th Edition compliant zeroburn fire fixings.

F

ormed in 1994, Firesafe continues to be at the forefront of the UK’s fire safety equipment industry, and has a wealth of experience in providing fire safety solutions. With a highly trained and knowledgeable technical support team, working closely with its nationwide sales team, Firesafe can also offer contractors, installers and specifiers individually-tailored training days.

Firesafe knows that cable management can literally be a matter of life and death in fire conditions, and as a result, it requires an uncompromising approach to installations. The company respects how specifiers need fire-tested solutions, ensuring that cables always maintain their performance and will not drop to create potentially fatal entanglements.

Firesafe also appreciates that installers of surface-mounted cables need reliable fixing-systems that are easy-to-use and versatile, giving assured compliance and peace of mind to all stakeholders.

Offering innovative ranges that uniquely satisfy regulatory and best practice requirements. All products have been designed after extensive research and development, with technical features and installer benefits that deliver outstanding value and quality.

The FSZF50 clip is a flat, flexible and foldable fire-rated fixing

zeroburn fire fixings The aptly named zeroburn fire fixings from Firesafe deliver zero burn fixings that help contractors comply with the fire safe cabling standards outlined in the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations.

Thanks to these fire-tested solutions, cables maintain their performance and won’t drop in event of fire. Reliable, easy-to-use and versatile, these fixings make install easier for the contractor, while giving peace of mind to the business owner.

Included in the zeroburn fire fixings range are: • zeroburn U-clips.

Fully fire tested and certified for two hours at 970°C, these ‘clip and comply’ solutions are thumb friendly, feature easy fold sidetabs, and include a non-corrosive coating.

They are designed for direct to surface, or popular PVC trunkings, and they also include rounded edges for easy handling.

They are supplied in 30mm, 40mm and 50mm options, with the 30mm version coming in a galvanised or red finish.

• zeroburn F-clips. Space efficient and pocket friendly, these uniquely versatile flat clips offer many possibilities.

These too come in 30mm, 40mm and 50mm options, and can provide easy folding to a required shape to suit space and cable volume. The 40mm and 50mm versions are also lockable, and all versions come with three fixing holes.

• zeroburn conduit clip.

This is a unique, single piece fixing that requires only one screw. It boasts a stylish appearance, provides a 3mm stand-off from surface, and has a melting point of less than 1,200°C. It is ideal for 20mm and 25mm conduits (and cables).

• zeroburn spring clip. A fire-tested, sprung-tensioned steel clip, this is ideal for micro trunkings that are 12-20mm wide. It can secure single cables (with an outer diameter of less than 7mm), and the fixing eyelet is ideal for use with zeroburn fire rated screws.

This clip also offers a galvanised finish.

• Direct concrete screw. New to Firesafe’s range, this is designed to work in conjunction with the aforementioned range of fixings. Its advantages include an exceptional pull-out performance, is fire tested with a melting point of up to 1,200°C, and also negates the need for wall plugs. A 4mm pilot hole is required for brick/concrete.

A catalogue featuring Firesafe’s entire product range can be downloaded from the company’s website. For more information, email info@firesafe.co.uk Firesafe, firesafe.co.uk

38 | April 2019

Firesafe Advertorial.indd 38

28/03/2019 11:51

18616-Electrical-Contracting-Nws-Power-159x224.indd 1

07/03/2019 17:08

Surge

Protection With the 18th Edition of the wiring regulations in place, a number of key amendments that affect both electrical designers and installers have taken effect.

Surge Protection is an area covered that has inherited a new set of test standards that installers need to consider during risk assessment. In many cases, surge protection devices may be required for both commercial and residential installations and SPDs used must meet the safety requirements in order to protect against overvoltages.

We offer a range of SPDs as well as 18th Edition compliant boards with surge protection included.

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hagerukTV

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06/03/2019 12:02:52

28/03/2019 11:17

SPECIAL FEATURE

FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY

The Urmet Group has supplied video door entry and lighting solutions for The Denham Film Studios

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION FOR NEW HOMES DEVELOPMENT The Urmet Group has supplied integrated video entry and Yokis lighting control at The Denham Film Studios, a new studio development comprising apartments and townhouses.

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he Urmet Group, established over 80 years ago and the largest manufacturer of door entry systems in Europe, has recently supplied video door entry and lighting solutions for The Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire.

The studios are a ÂŁ120m development by Weston Homes, and the facility consists of 154 apartments and 70 townhouses.

Bordering the Grade II-listed film studio building is Miles House; three new apartment buildings spread over four storeys, providing a total of 105 new homes. For a number of these apartments, specialist contractor Amwell Electrical has designed an integrated solution for Weston Homes, based around the Urmet IPerCom

IP video entry system. This system combines touchscreen control for video entry, concierge call with chat facility and lighting control using the Max Pro seveninch touchscreen.

The remaining apartments have been fitted with video entry devices from the Urmet range, while an Urmet IP cloudbased access control system has been installed site-wide to secure communal entrances. The townhouse plots, which were each named after iconic film directors and stars of the big screen, also feature lighting control via the Urmet Max touchscreen.

The Max Pro touchscreen is powered by Android, using apps to allow integration to other systems, such as lighting, heating, energy display and concierge services, including parcel delivery notification and amenity booking.

Centralised lighting control Urmet Group company, Yokis, manufactures a complete range of digital modules to create simple home automation systems. Within the apartments at The Denham Film Studios, Yokis digital radio micro modules have been installed on every switched lighting circuit. Each radio micro module has a unique address allowing secure wireless connection to each module, creating a radio bus and, cleverly, every radio micro module acts as a repeater to extend the signal.

Amwell Electrical, which is a fully certified Yokis Pro installer, programmed the radio bus using the Yokis professional app on a tablet fitted with a Yokey USB key. This app enables the configuration of each apartment type to be saved and the configuration file can then be used

40 | April 2019

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28/03/2019 11:52

FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY Another function that can be programmed with Yokis is timing, allowing the resident to set a timer from two seconds to four hours. There is also an option for unlimited duration.

One of the many advantages of the Yokis system is that it can be installed as part of a new-build installation without the need for any additional wiring. It also operates as a standalone system from day one, meaning that no internet connection is required, as the radio micro modules connected to the switched lighting circuits and radio bus work independently from any touchscreen control or centralised processor.

The developer, Weston Homes, specified touchscreen control, and the Max Pro touchscreen features Yokis technology inside. A built-in transmitter connects to the Yokis radio bus, enabling control using the embedded app. Control screens are configured using definable icons for switched lighting circuits – e.g. hall, living area, kitchen, etc.

Intelligent lighting controls There are a number of standard presets when using Yokis micro modules in conjunction with retractive switches.

Residents intuitively press once to switch the light on to the previous level used, twice for 100% light, three times for dimming to 50%, and four times for the lowest dimmed level.

Residents simply press and hold the switch to dim up and down through the full range, releasing the switch when the desired level is reached. There is a digital coil protection system in cases where a push-button is pressed for a prolonged length of time. Yokis micro modules are silent in their operation, and a soft ‘start and stop’ function is built in for improved light perception.

“Residents intuitively press once to switch the light on to the previous level used, twice for 100% light, three times for dimming to 50%, and four times for the lowest dimmed level.”

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F,S&S – Urmet.indd 41

A popular feature request is for an ‘all-on, all-off’ function, which can also be configured. Furthermore, the resident’s key fob (the same key fob that allows access to their building) can be programmed to activate a function, such as ‘all-on’ by simply offering the key fob up to the integral key fob reader within the Max Pro touchscreen.

Video entry was not a requirement for the townhouses, yet the Urmet Max touchscreens have a doorbell input and can be linked to the property’s CCTV camera system. An option was also provided to the developer for the use of Yokis micro modules to automate the electric garage doors.

There is a Yokis Home Hub in each property linking with the Yokis YnO app, allowing residents to control their home lighting via their smartphone or tablet by simply downloading the complimentary app. Lights can be switched on and off as well as dimmed through the app, even if the resident is outside their home.

The Yokis lighting solution is also compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This provides residents with the opportunity to use voice control to further simplify and enhance their smart home, using commands such as “Alexa, set the living room lights to 20%”, “Alexa, turn on the kitchen light” or “Alexa, turn off all lights”.

Urmet UK, urmet.co.uk

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to duplicate the programming for each apartment. For example, there can be a certain setting for one-bedroom apartments and another for two-bedroom apartments, thereby simplifying installation.

Yokis products are specifically designed for the professional installer and throughout the development, 1,700 Yokis lighting control micro modules have been installed.

From a design perspective, Yokis micro modules are compatible with any style of retractive switch plate. This feature appealed greatly to the developer, Weston Homes, as it was able to match the light switches to other plates, such as those used for the plug sockets, contributing to the overall finish of the properties.

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ECN_109by326.indd 1 Untitled-2 1

22/03/2019 15:18:18

28/03/2019 11:14

TAMLITE LIGHTING

COMPANY PROFILE

LIGHTING FOR EVERY NEED During site tours, visitors can see for themselves exactly how various lighting options would appear in real-life

For over 50 years, Tamlite Lighting has designed, manufactured and supplied some of the most innovative lighting solutions for a range of sectors. Simon Rowley visited its factory in Redditch to find out more.

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amlite Lighting is one of the UK’s largest, privately-owned lighting manufacturers, and its site in Worcestershire, with its factories and showrooms, is a hub of creativity and innovation.

The tour we embarked on comprises three distinct sides of Tamlite’s business – specifically, the industrial, commercial and emergency and hazardous lighting operations – and I had the chance to see, first-hand, exactly how these sections operate and interact within the overall scheme of the company’s business.

Part 1 – Industrial The tour started at the factory and warehouse used to serve the industrial market, and Stuart Besford, Business Manager at Tamlite – who served as our guide – noted that this market is in fact the greatest user of LED light engines from their own LED SMD facility, Tamtec.

Walking through the immaculately maintained warehouse, which was purpose-built in 2012 and currently contains an impressive £1.7 million worth of stock (at cost), it became evident that there is no ‘one size fits all’ mentality in the company: in fact, the very opposite applies.

Walking us through the site, Besford explained, “Tamlite is not bound by product restrictions, as we can make any size

or shape that is required by the specific project brief; and thus, creativity and innovation is at the heart of the unique products being generated here.”

In addition, the showroom upstairs features a large, glass window accompanied by luxurious, cinema-style seats that enable visitors to sit back and observe the production process in its totality. This, said Besford, is all about transparency. “When we conduct group tours, we can start by showing visitors how our machines work and what they do; but by being so transparent with our working process down on the factory floor, people can see that we’ve nothing to hide,” he explained. “This is the level of professionalism at which we operate at all day long, irrespective of whether or not people are watching.” In turn, this should give visitors every confidence that Tamlite is the ideal partner.

As well as industrial buildings, Besford also supplies solutions for large retail applications. One of the largest projects managed was a contract with Asda Stores UK, with which it secured a £20 million deal back in 2012. The supermarket giant achieved savings for its stores (and paid off the up-front investment costs) in less than 18 months, and subsequent to this success, Tamlite is now revisiting the deal and supplying Asda’s stores with new, next generation LED products.

Besford noted, “We have great expertise and can guide our customers on why

Simon takes notes while being shown around the industrial factory and warehouse by Stuart Besford

certain products should be used in certain conditions. We always think about the end user, rather than just the installer, and are always coming up with new ideas. It’s not always about the unit price – sometimes it’s about the bigger picture, and getting that message across to the end-user.

We specialise in creating solutions for problems, and can go from the design stage to a prototype in just hours.”

The factory itself features an array of sub-assembly production lines – with five production lines in total – along with a quality assurance area that ensures parts of its luminaires are visually inspected right at the very start of the process, rather than once the product has been fully assembled.

April 2019 | 43

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COMPANY PROFILE

TAMLITE LIGHTING

The wellbeing trend

A look at works being carried out in the industrial factory and warehouse – where numerous bespoke solutions are created

Part 2 – Commercial We then moved on to our second stop on the tour, to a commercial showroom housed in a separate building. Now in its third iteration, this room is used to enhance the customer experience and demonstrate many of Tamlite’s commercial products – such as panels and downlights – in an appropriate setting. Furthermore, the various lighting displays around the showroom can also be tailored to specific needs, enabling visitors to see precisely the ways in which the lights can be utilised.

Craig Broe, Business Manager at Tamlite, was our guide for this leg of the tour, and he explained, “The lighting experience is all about tailoring the presentation to the customer, and in this showroom, we can display our solutions for commercial, retail and leisure sectors.

Here, electrical contractors, can see – in real life – exactly what 3,000 Kelvin looks like (for example), and it helps them to visually understand more about the products they’re contemplating. They can see and feel the products for themselves, and can also bring their end-customers here for a viewing too.”

The in-house theatre, which rotates on a 360-degree platform around the showroom and is controlled via a tablet, enables guests to sit back and see its lighting products on the walls and in the ceiling, and the presentation also includes luminaire videos and additional marketing collateral.

One of the most renowned brands within Tamlite’s commercial range is Starlite, which is designed for use at home, and in restaurants, hotels, bars and any other area that’s in need of a special touch.

Part 3 – Emergency The third and final part of the tour was a guide through Tamlite’s EMAX (emergency, extreme and hazardous areas) solutions.

Jason Horton, Business Manager at Tamlite, explained to me, “The backbone of our business is residential/commercial properties, and the goal is to help businesses to continually reduce energy costs while complying with the relevant laws and legislation. There are still lots of fines for hoteliers, landlords and residential care homes for failure to comply with laws in particular emergency standards and best practice, but Tamlite is on hand to help overcome these problems.”

Tamlite has recently introduced an exterior wall light with a dark sky optic – named Taurus – which is designed to deliver one of the best light distributions using the technology available. It can avoid glare, using only one-third of the power, and the dark sky optic can reduce upward light output with less than 2% ULOR.

Exploring the company’s philosophy Following the tour, I had the pleasure of meeting with John Allden, Managing Director of Tamlite, who offered some unique insight into the company’s outlook.

He started by commenting on Tamlite’s 52 years of success, and noted that the company could still do more to fully convey its range of capabilities.

He remarked, “Our unique selling proposition is that we offer a full manufacturing service. From our light engine operation at Tamtec in Telford, we manufacture high-quality surface mount modules, allowing our product design team to produce innovative luminaires, and quickly respond to the constantly evolving lighting industry.

“As they have the best hands-on experience with these types of lighting products, and also ask the best questions, we find that contractors are the best visitors to our site here. As we show people around, we often come up with new ideas and new solutions, which our design team can implement on site.”

I was interested to learn that Tamlite is establishing a number of high-profile contracts with local authorities, university campuses, and health facilities – including an energy reduction programme the company is undertaking for the University of Exeter, which will include wireless control of the entire estate.

Allden continued, “There’s only a handful of other UK lighting companies doing what we’re doing. These types of projects are ground-breaking, and it’s all about staying close to the contractors, producing an original specification and implementing a production team to deal with the larger contractors. It requires more specialist recruitment, as 70% of the decision-making process can be made by the contractor, so it’s essential to involve the right personnel.”

“Tamlite is leading the way on raising the awareness of the role that lighting plays in the relation to wellbeing, and specifically, the detrimental effect that poorly designed lighting can have on an individual’s welfare.”

John Allden, Managing Director of Tamlite

Tamlite is leading the way on raising awareness of the role that lighting plays in relation to wellbeing, and specifically, the detrimental effect that low-quality/ poorly designed lighting can have on an individual’s welfare. Often, a problem within office, education and industrial environments when changing from traditional lighting sources to LED, is pointfor-point replacement, rather than a review of how the lighting can be best applied.

Tamlite believes that its high-quality luminaires and experienced lighting designers can provide the ideal solution, to help business owners or those responsible for maintenance overcome such a negative effect.

“Energy usage is now a given, but the concept of ‘wellbeing’ is less understood,” said Allden. “What’s driven this has been the homogenisation of luminaires, which has actually opened up new entry points.

To this end, our product development teams can build in to lighting solutions a greater degree of control, and thus add even more USPs into our products. This, in turn, helps contractors – who have a job to sell themselves – and in our experience, the most knowledgeable and engaged installers relish the opportunity of doing something new.”

The role of lighting in enhancing wellbeing in the workplace cannot be understated. The circadian rhythm is the natural daily cycle that helps humans wake up in the morning and fall asleep at night.

Naturally, humans are exposed to bluer light in late morning to mid-afternoon, followed by warmer colour temperatures in late afternoon and early evening.

Artificial lighting in workplaces that replicates this can make people feel more in tune with their natural rhythms, enhancing their mental and physical wellbeing, which in turn can boost productivity and focus.

Higher specification luminaires can achieve this through tunable white LED lighting, which Tamlite is able to provide.

Achieving best practice Speaking on the nature of its relationship with customers, and how to convince them to select positive wellbeing lighting solutions, even when current legislations don’t mandate their usage, Allden observed, “Tamlite is very proactive with its customer relationships. There’s legislation, and there’s best practice, and I believe that we do have a moral role to play. I wouldn’t allow our team to offer sub-standard products – we have to give the customer what they want and expect. If we didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. People want tried and tested products, and that’s exactly what we deliver.”

He concluded, “Having been around for 52 years, Tamlite is much bigger than people think we are. We look at the specification market in an entirely different way, and can be relied on time and time again.”

Tamlite will be appearing at the Retail Design Expo in May, the Smart Buildings Show in October and Build 2 Perform in November. These events will all be held at the Olympia exhibition centre in London.

Tamlite Lighting, tamlite.co.uk

44 | April 2019

Company Profile – Tamlite.indd 44

28/03/2019 11:54

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KEY ISSUE

COUNTING THE COST OF LEGAL DISPUTES

The rising cost of legal disputes within the construction industry has reached an alltime high, figures show

Richard Forrest Smith, CEO of ECIC, the specialist insurer for the electrical contracting sector, explains how contractors can protect themselves from the cost of legal disputes.

N

o contractor goes into business or secures a new contract anticipating that they will face the cost and disruption involved in dealing with a legal dispute. However, recent figures from Arcadis suggest that this is a very real risk for firms working in the building services sector. A recent report highlighted the rising cost of legal disputes within the construction industry, which, as of July last year, had reached an all-time high.

Legal disputes are not only a drain on already stretched resources, they can prove to be a significant and sometimes fatal financial strain on contractors already battling with a range of market forces. The real concern is that given the current challenging market conditions and uncertainties created by the current political landscape, the cost of legal disputes may continue to rise. It’s an unstable time for the contracting sector as a whole, which is still reeling from the collapse of Carillion and is facing a skills shortage that looks set to worsen as a consequence of Brexit.

One contributory factor for the rise in the cost of legal disputes may be the rise in workplace fatalities, with a 6.7% increase reported by the Health and Safety Executive 2017/2018. It’s worth noting that contact with electricity or electrical discharge resulted in three fatalities during 2017.

“Early legal advice can often prevent situations or disputes escalating into litigation, saving time and money.”

Aside from the huge emotional impact of serious workplace accidents or fatalities, contractors cannot ignore the potential legal costs they may face.

Cases involving tribunal claims have also risen sharply in the past year; by around 39%, according to the Acas 2017/2018 annual report. This is since the Supreme Court decision to scrap tribunal fees in July 2017. A tribunal is usually the first step in a formal legal dispute, so this rise is perhaps not surprising; but again, tribunals take time and money, meaning that the owner or director of a contracting firm is having to divert their time and energy away from the day-to-day running of their business.

Taking all of these factors into account, it makes sense for electrical contractors to take steps to avoid legal disputes, but also to protect themselves from the cost of a legal dispute should this scenario arise.

This is where legal expenses insurance can prove invaluable. Start by speaking to your broker, as you need a legal expenses insurance product that is designed specifically for your sector. They will be able to advise the best product for the specific risks you face. Legal expenses cover may be available as part of a commercial combined policy.

Ensure the cover applies to trade supply contract disputes, construction contract disputes, trade registration protection and trade operator’s licence disputes, as well as trade and engineers’ regulatory protection. It should also offer protection

for employment disputes, property disputes, criminal defence costs and HMRC and VAT investigations.

In addition to the basic cover, ask about the services you can access to support you through the process of a legal dispute.

Check for access to a legal helpline and dedicated claims line, as when you are dealing with a legal dispute, you need access to the right expertise, fast. Early legal advice can often prevent situations or disputes escalating into litigation, saving time and money.

All of these benefits and features are part and parcel of the ECIC legal expenses insurance, which is now available as a section within the ECIC commercial combined policy. Policyholders also have access to a dedicated claims line, a legal advice line and the Markel Law Hub, which is an online resource of expert legal and business guides, templates and content, provided by Markel Law LLP. This product has been designed to respond to the challenging market conditions faced by electrical contractors today and tomorrow. You don’t need to wait for renewal to get legal expenses insurance cover in place, so if you are considering extending your insurance cover to include legal expenses, it is worth speaking to your broker without delay. It will provide peace of mind should you face litigation in the future, or need to pursue litigation or other forms of dispute resolution.

ECIC, ecic.co.uk

46 | April 2019

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SPECIAL FEATURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING supported by

Exterior LED lighting for all purposes

April 2019 | 47

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SPECIAL FEATURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LED EXTERIOR LIGHTING IN THE SPOTLIGHT Whether you’re looking to illuminate the way home at night, increase safety, or highlight your property’s architecture, The LED Specialist can find the outdoor lighting solution for you.

L

ED lighting provides a brilliant energy saving solution in comparison to conventional halogen lighting, and it will mean less lightbulb changes as the products last, on average, five times longer.

Security lighting

DOMESTIC

With summer around the corner, there’s no better time to think about exterior lighting.

Whether you’re looking at guiding your guests around your property or seeking the right lighting solution to carry your garden party into the late hours as daylight diminishes, there are solutions for all three types of exterior lighting.

• Ambient: General illumination that sets ambiance and overall light level in a space.

• Task: Secondary source that provides enough light for a distinct spot.

• Accent: Decorative lighting that reinforces the overall style.

The first step in creating a lighting plan is to identify the areas of your home and property you want to illuminate. Do a complete walk through at night with a torch to assess the current state of your lighting, what’s missing, and how the light interplays.

As you walk around the property, take note of: existing lighting that you like and works well to keep; fixtures you want to replace for style and/or function; dark spots that compromise safety; and opportunities to highlight key features.

In the evening, lighting becomes your home’s first impression – so it’s important not just for safety,

but style too. Start at your entrances (front door, garage, side doors) and trace the pathway backwards to the driveway or street to determine the lighting needs for easy navigation. Then, advance to where you are going to be using your outdoor spaces and how you want the light to work for you. To make the most of these multipurpose spaces, remember all three types of lighting mentioned above, and pay special attention to task lighting for outdoor cooking, seating spots, and ambient accents for dining.

There are a number of options available when looking for functional exterior lighting:

Wall lights Used to enhance the exterior of your home, as well as light up your garden, wall lights come in a wide range of designs – both traditional and modern to suit your look.

Many are fitted with a passive infrared sensor (PIR), so it’s activated only when motion is detected in a certain range (which can be as wide as eight metres). This ensures it’s used efficiently to help save energy. These lights offer a choice of power supply, so opt for mains, solar or battery power depending on your set-up.

The height and angle at which a light is installed could make a big difference to how well it lights a chosen space

As well as being used for styling and functionality, this can also be a great way to add a burglar deterrent for added security. With many exterior floodlights now complete with a passive infrared sensor (PIR), there is no switching on/ off the outdoor light. The light activates when movement is sensed within a 12m, 180-degree range; ideal for deterring intruders from a large deep garden. This not only saves energy, but ensures that neighbours and wildlife aren’t disturbed by a constant beam of light.

Be a good neighbour and don’t accidentally let your outdoor light trespass on the property next door. When installing up lighting such as spot lights, check that the trajectory is anchored on the intended target and not spilling over.

Post lights Also known as bollards, post lights are great for navigating, and are popularly used to light paths, driveways and house entrances. Because of this, they commonly require mains power and to be fitted into place – although The LED Specialist offers a few solar-powered options, which range from 0.44 to 1.22m in height. Look out for models with matching wall lights to create a coordinated design throughout your garden.

Stake lights Light up your flowerbeds and paths with stake lights. Being solar-powered, these are quickly and easily fitted by simply pushing them into the ground with no wiring needed.

The LED Specialist’s range offers stake lights up to 56cm tall, and they’re available individually or in multipacks.

5% OFF your order with code EXTERIOR5 0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk 48 | April 2019

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EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SPECIAL FEATURE

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL There are a few features and technical specifications to look out for when shopping for exterior lighting.

IP rating

Decking and brick lights Decking and brick lights work nicely with both ground-level and raised decks, offering much-needed guidance when moving up and down the steps of elevated terraces. If considering adding decking to your garden, stock up on decking lights before you begin construction as they need to be fitted into the boards before completion. Brick lights are a simple addition and a superb way to light up a pathway or a parking space adjacent to your house.

Many exterior wall lights are fitted with a passive infrared sensor, such as the Integral LED pictured here

Party and string lighting Similar to Christmas fairy lights, string lighting is ideal for spreading some party spirit. Available as either solar or battery powered, this decorative option comes with white, blue or multi-coloured bulbs and in a range of designs including eye-catching stars. Wrap around fences, parasols, trellis or handrails for lighting fun into the night.

Three brands that have a brilliant portfolio of exterior lights are Integral LED, Philips and Ledvance Osram. These small, stylish and contemporary LED luminaires can light up the exterior of your home, and home-owners can choose from 12 different designs.

An outdoor floodlight with a low lumens output will suffice for patios and driveways, while commercial spaces, like car parks, need highpowered floodlights

Electrical, battery and solar-powered outdoor lights have an IP (Ingress Protection) rating. This refers to how well they’re protected from intrusion of water and dirt.

The first digit of an IP rating refers to intrusion protection – whether you’re protected from its moving parts, as well how protected the equipment is from foreign bodies.

An IP rating of zero offers no special protection; one offers protection from a large part of the body, such as a hand (but no protection from deliberate access); two offers protection against fingers or other objects no greater than 80mm in length and 12mm in diameter; three offers protection from entry by tools, wires etc. with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more; four offers protection against solid bodies larger than 1mm (e.g. small tools); five is protected against dust that may harm equipment; and an IP of six is totally dust-tight.

The second digit of an IP rating refers to protection against moisture, with zero meaning no protection, and the highest IP rating, of eight, offering protection against prolonged effects of immersion under pressure.

So, for example, a light with an IP rating of 68 will be very protected from both intrusion and moisture, and would therefore be ideal for an exterior location near any moisture.

A number replaced by an X indicates that the enclosure is not rated for that specification. Therefore, a light with a rating of X4 hasn’t been rated for intrusion, but offers protection from water spray in any direction.

Floodlighting There is a lot of variety when it comes to choosing the right outdoor floodlight, which can seem a bit daunting. Following these steps should make it easier to find the perfect one for you. Here are some key things to consider…

Location is everything Before you start looking for the right outdoor floodlight, determine where you’re going to install it. Most importantly, what area does the light need to cover?

The height and angle at which the light is installed could make a big difference to how well it lights your chosen space.

0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk

Windows, doors, drainpipes and gutters may all be obstacles to finding the right placement, so it’s important to think about this early. When you have decided on the right spot, try and get an idea of the size of light that will fit in the space. It would be no good buying a high-powered floodlight, only to find that it’s too big to fit in the position you have chosen for it.

How do you want your outdoor floodlight to activate?

As lighting technology progresses, floodlights are becoming more sophisticated in how they are activated.

In addition to the standard on/off switch that you can use to manually activate your light, you can also find floodlights with motion sensors, which will illuminate when someone (or something) passes in range of its sensor.

Alternatively, ‘Dusk till Dawn’ floodlights automatically switch on when the ambient light falls to a certain level, and then switch off again in the morning when the sun comes up.

Get the right brightness Floodlights come in a broad range of brightness outputs, perhaps more so than any other type of light. You can find floodlights that output anything between 700-20,000+ lumens.

Which one you choose primarily depends on how big a space you need to illuminate. An outdoor floodlight with only a relatively low lumens output (700-1500lm) will suffice for patios and driveways, while commercial spaces like car parks and small fields will obviously need high-powered floodlights that output many times that.

Upgrade to LED floodlights Traditionally, most outdoor floodlights have used halogen bulbs, which use 2030% less energy than older incandescent bulbs, but which come nowhere near LED bulbs for their energy-saving potential.

The biggest advantage of LED bulbs, in this case, is their superior lifespan. Whereas a halogen bulb might last around 2,000 hours, LED floodlights can last 30,000 hours or more. In addition to the cost saving that this long lifespan provides, it means that you won’t have to go through the hassle of replacing your floodlight (or its bulb) nearly as often.

LED really is a no brainer.

The LED Specialist, theledspecialist.co.uk

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18/03/2019 12:00

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SPECIAL FEATURE

INTELLIGENT LIGHTING AND A NEW ERA OF CONTROL Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development for Fulham, explains why integrating IoT-ready control into smart street lights makes sense.

T

he Internet of Things (IoT) promises to offer a robust, scalable approach to systems automation, and many commercial buildings are now deploying intelligent lighting control systems using smart LED drivers equipped with Bluetooth mesh capability as a foundation for IoT. Larger corporate campuses and municipalities also are realising the potential of adding similar wireless controls to outdoor areas, using smart street lights to create a wireless digital management infrastructure.

Converting street lights to LED luminaires is a proven money saving strategy. Los Angeles, for example, has retrofitted 114,067 units with LEDs, resulting in the city saving $5.3m (ÂŁ4m) annually in electricity bills. Those same streetlight LED drivers can be equipped with IoT-capable controls to bring more savings and add other types of controls in the process.

Retrofitting outdoor luminaires with control-ready LEDs may seem to be expensive, but adding separate digital controllers later to create the same IoT infrastructure is more expensive. Adding wireless sensors to street lights is relatively easy, but embedding IoT controls in outdoor LED drivers reduces wiring and installation time and costs, and reduces energy use at the same time. Using street lights to create a wireless IoT infrastructure is simple, scalable, and elegant.

5% OFF your order with code EXTERIOR5 0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk April 2019 | 51

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SPECIAL FEATURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Street lights are the perfect skeleton for outdoor IoT Adding digital controllers to street light LED drivers creates the perfect skeleton for an outdoor IoT-capable lighting control system. The LED drivers themselves use microprocessors that can be programmed to adjust brightness, hue, power consumption, and other characteristics, so adding sensors to monitor and manage street lights and other devices isn’t difficult. The real impediment to retrofitting LED drivers into street lights is financial.

Most outdoor lights will last a decade or longer without requiring replacement, so if you wait to replace units as they fail, it could take decades to create a wireless network for streetlight with lighting controls. If you can justify retrofitting multiple street lights by calculating the potential savings in energy costs, you can quickly create a wireless mesh control system using smart LED drivers.

A number of cities and corporate campuses are already retrofitting smart LED drivers into streetlamps to improve public safety as well as for energy use.

Adding IoT access makes it possible to control the street lights themselves, including managing power consumption, illumination, and troubleshooting without a scissor lift. Depending on their placement, sensors placed in street lights and integrated into their wireless control networks can also be used to monitor traffic, assess air quality, and assess noise quality. For security purposes, individual street lights can even be activated automatically, or on-demand for crowd control or to prevent crimes.

0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk

The need for open standards An IoT can only be built if products from multiple vendors can interoperate. So which is the best technology for automating outdoor and building systems? Which is an open standard?

For example, there are a number of lighting control systems that predate the concept of IoT. DALI, the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, is commonly used for lighting controls, especially dimming, but it is not widely compatible with other sensor driven systems. Bluetooth and Bluetooth mesh also are open standards that are being used for wireless lighting controls, but they are not compatible with existing wireless lighting systems standards, such as Zigbee.

If you want to use smart LED drivers to control street lights as well as other systems, such as traffic monitoring, or motion sensors, then you need communications protocols that can go beyond mere lighting controls. Using IoT over an open wireless standard such as SIG qualified Bluetooth mesh is the ideal approach, not only because the devices themselves use open protocols, but you can use secure cloud computing for remote data access and aggregation for analytics.

“Using street lights to create a wireless IoT infrastructure is simple, scalable, and elegant.”

• You can create an integrated, all-in-one control system. Traditionally, control systems have been housed in an expensive black box installed as an add-on. Not only is it more expensive to have additional processors, the extra box itself can be vandalised. Integrating the controls into the LED luminaire driver eliminates the additional hardware. Instead, you have a single device with one processor and one power source that can be bridged to a cloud gateway using wireless connectivity that gives you both remote systems control and the means to upgrade the firmware via the cloud. It’s more efficient and less expensive to have an all-in-one approach. ontrol elements are protected. Embedding •C the controller in the street light LED drivers protects them from weather and vandalism.

• You get greater reliability. The LEDs themselves are extremely reliable, so when you do get a street light failure, the problem is likely to be the driver.

Embedding controls in the LED driver gives you remote diagnostics, making it easier to detect faults before they become failures.

It also identifies the specific configuration of the luminaire and driver, so the repair crew is prepared with the right parts.

• Energy use is much more efficient. LED luminaires are designed to use as little power as possible when in standby mode, which makes them extremely power efficient. In addition, when you activate a smart streetlight, it powers up the wireless control module first, then the LED driver itself, resulting in 40% to 50% power savings over conventional 0-10V dimmer switches.

IoT is going to continue to gain acceptance as a requirement for all device controls, not just lighting. Once you install wireless IoTcapable controllers in smart street lights you have a scalable infrastructure where you can add wireless nodes as needed.

It also gives you a highly reliable, powerefficient lighting system that will yield a return in investment many times over.

Fulham is a manufacturer of innovative and energy-efficient lighting subsystems and components for lighting manufacturers worldwide.

Fulham, fulham.com

Adding digital controllers to street light LED drivers creates the perfect skeleton for an outdoor IoT-capable lighting control system

Four reasons why smart LED drivers are ideal for smart street lights Using smart LED drivers to power smart street lights is the most practical approach to IoT control for a number of reasons.

Here are just four:

Challenge us to provide your exterior lighting solution

52 | April 2019

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28/03/2019 11:22

SPECIAL FEATURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PRECISION LIGHTING UNDER DARK SKIES Ricardo Colombo, Senior Product Manager at Integral LED, explains how best to utilise LEDs in outdoor environments, and introduces the company’s new Precision Pro range.

L

ED lighting has enabled a whole new world of external lighting.

The lower costs of illumination delivered

by LEDs has provided a new opportunity to light buildings, facilities and landscapes after dark.

Whether it is highlighting a heritage hotel within a landscape, competing with other stores in a retail park, or simply making car parks more secure at night, LED technology is providing an affordable answer to rolling back the hours of darkness.

Understandably, this has prompted the need for greater controls on the growing incidence of obtrusive lighting. In response, central government and local authorities have moved to regulate external lighting installations.

UK manufacturer, Integral LED, has developed a new floodlight range that aims to equip specifiers with a light unit designed to satisfy planning requirements. The aim is to provide outdoor floodlights that enable customers to minimise nuisance light through precision luminaires.

The dark side of external lighting Obtrusive lighting is categorised in three ways: sky glow, glare and nuisance.

The ability to focus the beam of light produced by the luminaire is crucial to the management of an external light project that is responsibly designed and complies with local planning requirements.

Sky glow is the orange glow seen in the sky that encircles urban areas and is caused by a scattering of artificial lighting through dust particles and water droplets in the atmosphere. This effect can disturb the local character of an environment and detract from the enjoyment of the outdoors by diminishing the aesthetic beauty of a star-filled sky.

The need for precision luminaires

Glare is caused by excessive brightness when a light source is viewed against a darker background, which can often cause discomfort. This is particularly disabling when it falls within the vision of drivers on highways, and can also be very uncomfortable for pedestrians.

Light nuisance is a wide-ranging category that includes any light that trespasses onto neighbouring properties, or light that may impact negatively on health or cause anxiety for the people affected.

LEDs can be the ideal way of highlighting historic buildings within a landscape. This example shows how Integral LED’s Precision Pro has illuminated a famous castle

Permission needed?

All extensive exterior lighting work for a building should be reviewed by a local planning office. Any project of a size that involves major works would initiate this move. The suitability of a facility illumination like sports fields and car parks should be checked on the basis of scale of potential impact. Of course, listed buildings are required to be assessed on the basis that they must continue to retain their original character subsequent to a lighting installation.

Integral’s new generation of LED floodlights have been designed specifically with targeted outdoor lighting in mind, as the precise targeting of illumination is key to compliant external lighting.

To light responsibly after dark, our customers need the tools with which they can light buildings, sports centres and playing fields accurately. With our new Precision Pro floodlights, installers can control instances of obtrusive light; not only by utilising our luminaires’ targeted light beam, but also with the multiple options of lumens and beam angles we offer across the range.

The Precision Pro comes in a wide range of sizes, featuring two to 16 banks of LEDs, providing lumen output ranging from 13,000lm-153,000lm. Each bank of LEDs is focused with a precision engineered lens that individually targets the beam from each LED. This enables the light to be directed precisely.

The range offers a comprehensive choice of beam angles, with certain models able to project asymmetrical beams to illuminate specific areas of a structure. In this way, certain architectural features can be ‘picked out’. The luminaire range has been recently widened to include models with an RGB colour changing facility.

Integral’s new floodlight is rugged and weatherproof, with an aluminium and polycarbonate body. IP65 and IK10 ratings provide outstanding protection from dust and water, as well as very high impact resistance.

Integral LED, integral-led.com

Integral’s new generation of LED floodlights

5% OFF your order with code EXTERIOR5 0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk 54 | April 2019

Exterior Lighting – Integral.indd 54

28/03/2019 11:59

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22/03/2019 11:34

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SPECIAL FEATURE

OUTDOOR LIGHTING MISTAKES IN THE SPOTLIGHT David Boultbee, Technical Consultant with lighting specialist Ultra LEDs, highlights some of the most common outdoor lighting mistakes and explains how you can take steps and advise your customers to avoid them.

S

pring is on its way and summer is around the corner, which means everyone will soon be spending a lot more time in their gardens, and bars and restaurants will be opening up their outdoor seating areas. As a result, more homeowners and venue managers will be looking to illuminate their outdoor areas so they can make the most of them, even after the sun sets.

There are certain things you need to consider when installing outdoor lighting to ensure everything is done in the safest and most effective way possible. Plus, it’s important that your customers make their decisions very carefully when it comes to choosing fittings and where to put them.

Because a great deal of time and effort needs to go into planning and installing outdoor lighting, mistakes are quite often made. To help you prevent this, I’m going to outline some of the most common types and explain how you can take steps and advise your clients to avoid them.

Focusing on attractive fixtures, rather than considering their effect It’s quite common for homeowners and venue managers to get wrapped up in how a light fixture looks during the day, without really considering what kind of light effect it’s going to have at night. For example, your client might have picked out a pretty fitting from a catalogue, or off a shop shelf, without actually seeing how it operates in the dark.

If you get the sense that this is the case, it’s important that you advise them to test out the light they’ve bought before you install it. Otherwise, you might find that

0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk

With summer approaching, people will be setting up lighting in outdoor areas to enhance the ambience – but improper installations can prove costly

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SPECIAL FEATURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Creating light pollution with too much or improperly placed lighting The aim of illuminating an outdoor space is to provide those who are outside with more visibility, but light pollution caused by too much or improperly placed lighting can actually make it more difficult for people to see what’s going on around them. This means it’s important that you advise your clients when it comes to deciding how many lights they need, where they should go, and what kinds of bulbs they should use. As a general guide, here are the levels of lighting you should be going for: • Path lighting: 100–200 lumens • Step lights: 12–100 lumens • Flood lights: 700–1300 lumens •M otion sensor lighting: 300–700 lumens • Pond or pool lights: 200–400 lumens • Wall lighting: 50–185 lumens • Landscape lighting: 50–300 lumens they’re quite unhappy with the effect once it’s in place.

If your customer is very new to lighting outdoor spaces, it might help to explain what different kinds of lighting effects they can achieve, and which purposes they serve best.

The most popular include: • Uplighting. Perfect for shining up onto the boundaries of a garden or outdoor space so it appears larger than it is.

• Downlighting. Ideal for highlighting certain features, or shining down onto seating areas to provide more light for those eating, drinking, or socialising.

•S hadowing. Lighting the front of a feature like a sculptural plant or ornament. Depending on the height of the light, the shadow can appear larger or smaller, so a dramatic look of your choosing can be created.

• Cross lighting. If there’s a feature you or your client would like to light with a softening effect, positioning one light at either side can achieve this.

• Moonlighting. A light can be mounted above or in a tree, so the foliage breaks up the beams, creating a romantic effect.

• Light washing. Positioning a fitting at the foot of a wall will help to give it a nice wash of light. This will also bounce off the surface and illuminate the space around it.

If your customer seems to have bought the wrong type of light for their desired look, or they ask for your advice on how to light their garden, it’s worth providing them with this information so they can get the results they’re looking for first time.

Not taking all of the necessary safety precautions While dealing with electricity always has its dangers, things can get even more complicated when you take your work outdoors. Also, there are some extra safety precautions you’ll need to take to ensure everything continues to work as it should, and that the power is cut off if anything goes wrong.

Firstly, all outdoor sockets need to be protected with a residual current device (RCD), which will switch off the flow of electricity if a cable is cut. Also, you need to ensure that any cables you use are suitable for outdoor use, so they’re less likely to be damaged by the elements.

It’s vital that any cables that run around an outdoor space are buried at a sufficient depth, so they won’t ever be damaged by garden tools. I would always recommend digging cable trenches that are around two foot deep, as this will allow you to bury any wires without worrying about them making a surprise appearance somewhere down the line.

It’s also worth noting that, if your customer has bought lighting fixtures that aren’t suitable for outdoor use, it is your responsibility to tell them. You also need to make sure any outdoor lights are going to be sufficiently weather resistant, so any light you fit outdoors should have an IP rating of at least four. You shouldn’t just turn a blind eye, set them up, and then leave your clients to deal with the consequences if the products they’ve picked out aren’t suitable. You’re the expert, and you need to advise them as such.

If you and your customer stick to these general guidelines, their outdoor space should be illuminated to just the right level.

Not using LED bulbs “The aim of illuminating an outdoor space is to provide visibility, but light pollution caused by improperly placed lighting can actually make it more difficult to see.”

Halogen bulbs were taken off the market back in September, but there’s a chance you’ll come across homeowners or venue managers who want you to install lights with these kinds of bulbs that they bought a while ago. Despite these no longer being sold, they’re still legal to use, so you don’t have to worry about this aspect; but there are a range of reasons why it makes sense for them to switch straight to LEDs, if possible, and it’s worth advising your customers about this.

Firstly, they use much less energy, making them both eco-friendlier and more cost-effective than their traditional counterparts. They also last much longer.

In fact, they can run continuously for up to ten times longer than halogen bulbs.

So, by recommending them to your customers, you can save them both time and money.

While these outdoor lighting mistakes are quite common, they’re also completely avoidable. By taking my advice on board, you should have no trouble completing your work to a standard that both you and your clients are happy with. Plus, your customers will be very impressed with the level of help you can give them in achieving the look and atmosphere they’re going for.

Ultra LEDs, ultraleds.co.uk

5% OFF your order with code EXTERIOR5 0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk 58 | April 2019

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New Season, New Styles, New Colours

Lantern

Up & Down PIR

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8W and 15W options available

Round

Round PIR

ispotÂŽ SE Bulkheads Lozenge

All styles available in a 304 stainless steel finish

Up & Down

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Adjustable Spot

Outdoor Wall Lights

Visit our website for details on the full range:

www.brackenheath.co.uk

www.brackenheath.co.uk

ECN Apr 19 1- Spring Feature.indd 1 Untitled-1

01582 544 590

sales@brackenheath.co.uk

01582 544 591

12/03/2019 09:20:13 12/03/2019 09:35

SPECIAL FEATURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FLOODLIGHTS FOR ALL The Discus LED floodlight range from Carbon8Lighting offers a unique design, and seeks to offer a combination of performance, quality and flexibility. This article looks at what led to its inception, how it’s evolved, and where it’s currently being utilised.

W

hen LED lighting specialist, Carbon8Lighting, designed its Discus floodlight range back in 2016, the key was to produce a modular product that could be tailored to meet the exact demands of a wide range of lighting projects.

Three years on, and the concept has proved to be a huge success. Today, you can see Discus floodlights being used in a phenomenal array of locations and environments. Different projects have very different primary requirements, and through its unique design, the Discus floodlight covers each and every one of these.

The principal requirements

Discus floodlights have been installed at many ports, including lighting for ship to shore cranes

So what makes the Discus floodlight so popular for so many different applications?

This is best explained by looking at the principal requirements of a floodlight.

The obvious requirement for any light fitting is the light output. This can be determined with three main factors – light quality, light output and light control.

For LED light fittings, the light quality is directly linked to the light emitted from the LED chip. Carbon8 has a long standing

0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk

The final design component to making a great floodlight is lighting control, and this is dealt with using reflectors, refractors and lenses. For the Discus floodlight, Carbon8 elected to go down the lens route, primarily due to the accuracy of the light output and the range of lenses/optics that Carbon8 could offer.

Designed to avoid light pollution

Night races at the Glasgow Tigers Speedway Stadium have been lit up by Discus Floodlights since 2017

relationship with Lumileds, one of the lighting industry’s leading LED chip innovators and manufacturers. The Discus uses a chip that offers excellent light quality, paired with exceptional reliability. During the seven years that the two companies have partnered, Carbon8 has not had a single chip failure.

Light output and performance levels Light output can be looked at in two ways: total output (measured in lumens) and efficacy (measured in lumens per watt, lm/W), the figure given to show how much light is given for the energy consumed.

The total lumen figure is important to know when you have a lighting project where light level targets have to be met.

The Discus floodlight starts at 30W, and there are versions all the way up to a colossal 1200W. Additionally, the fittings are offered with two performance levels – standard Discus, and Discus Plus. The efficacy for these two is 130lm/W and 160lm/W, respectively.

This means that the Discus floodlight is offered with a choice of 20 different light outputs. The benefit of such a comprehensive range is that the exact light fitting can be selected to meet required light levels, and the result of this is minimal energy waste.

Carbon8 currently offers a choice of 12 different lenses, from a narrow 15 degree spot through to a 120 degree broad area flood, as well as a number of asymmetric lenses. The result of having such a choice of lenses is that light can be directed to exactly where it is needed. Not only does this help to save energy, but it also keeps neighbours happy, because they are not on the receiving end of intrusive and wasteful light pollution.

The additional consideration that is also key to most lighting purchases will be the reliability of the product and, associated with this, the warranty offered. With Carbon8’s products, strong performance is matched with reliability, the company states, making the Discus floodlight the choice for projects where the cost implications of a failed fitting are a key consideration. Although failures are rare at Carbon8, it does back up this reliability with a five-year warranty service.

The Discus fitting’s performance comes encased in a rugged, impact resistant, IP65 rated housing, meaning it will put up with the worst that the weather, cricketer or speedway rider can throw at it.

The versatility of the Discus floodlight means that you will see them lighting airports, sea ports, railways, sports grounds, stadiums and much more. Each floodlight installation has its own unique demands and requirements, and the Discus floodlight answers all of these.

Carbon8Lighting, carbon8lighting.co.uk

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LIGHT IT UP A new range of site lighting has been created in partnership with industry professionals, by lighting experts, Luceco.

The comprehensive range of robust, high performing and efficient 110V site lights have been developed based on feedback from those using similar products across a wide range of environments.

Available from April 2019, the range provides a variety of site lighting options. All the lights are certified to a minimum IP rating of IP44, however, the bulk of the fittings are tested to IP65, with the plug being IP44.

For more information on the range, visit www.luceco.com/uk

www.luceco.com

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@lucecoplc

@lucecogroup

18/03/2019 12:13

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SPECIAL FEATURE

RACING HEROES IN THE SPOTLIGHT Luceco, a supplier and manufacturer of high-quality LED lighting products, has recently helped to light up a special arena for the horse charity, HEROS. Included in the project are climate luminaires and external lighting for the perimeter of the arena.

L

ocated at the North Farm Stud in Oxfordshire, the HEROS charity – founded in 2006 – was created with the aim of rehoming ex-racehorses once they have retired, with the intention of giving them an opportunity to enjoy a new life after racing.

Recently, a new facility was added to the complex, which today houses a state-ofthe-art indoor arena and education hub. To ensure that the desired lighting effect was achieved, the charity turned to products from LED lighting specialist, Luceco, for the optimum solution.

The brief The lighting solution was designed and supplied by Ben Dewey, Lighting Division Manager for R and M Electrical Group, while the electrical installation was completed by a retired jockey, Mark Bradburne of Bradburne Electrical.

JETS (Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme) helped Bradburne to retrain as an electrician, and as a result, he now has a successful electrical contracting business. He won over 350 races, including two Cheltenham Festival winners, finishing third in the Grand National on Lord Atterbury, winning the Ascot Chase on Hand Inn Hand and a close run in the Gold Cup on Briery Fox.

“HEROS has successfully rehomed hundreds of exracehorses, offering a new life and helping the racing heroes move on to pastures new.”

For the external lighting around the perimeter of the arena, Luceco’s Fortis Wall Pack solution was implemented

The brief from HEROS was to light the arena to competition standards, using a good quality, cost-effective LED solution.

R and M Electrical took the requirements for this from BS EN 12193:2018 (Light and lighting. Sports lighting), which states that for a Class 1 installation, the average horizontal illumination should be 500 lux, and the uniformity should be 0.7. It was important that the luminaires were installed as high up in the ceiling as possible, to reduce glare for the horses and riders, and R and M achieved this by following the pitch of the roof structure.

Compact LED lighting To aid with the new structure, R and M started by providing Luceco’s popular Ceres lighting solution. A compact LED high bay luminaire, Ceres utilises the latest lens technology, while also offering 60, 90 and 120-degree lens variations. It is available with on/off presence detection options, which is often a requirement in industrial applications. Rated IP65, Ceres provides over 50,000 hours of operational life and a luminaire efficacy up to 130Llm/cW. R and M chose Ceres because it was a product its staff had worked with

IP65 rated climate luminaires were installed in the facility’s external corridors

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Luceco’s Ceres lighting solution was employed in the facility’s indoor arena

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

previously, and thus knew how well it performed. Ceres offers a choice of two different lumen outputs and three different beam angles, which allowed R and M to get the lux levels and uniformity it required. Furthermore, R and M has started to incorporate the Ceres Extra into its recent designs, which has four lumen outputs and three beam angles.

The Ceres Extra is rated to 70,000 hours and delivers over 140Llm/cW, which is perfect when demonstrating cost of ownership to clients.

The Ceres family also includes the Ceres Ultra, which boasts 100,000 hours of working life.

Climate luminaires and external lighting For the facility’s external corridors, IP65 rated climate luminaires were installed. A robust luminaire offering a market-leading efficacy of 140Llm/cW and 50,000 hours operational life, the Climate Extra from Luceco helps to increase performance for improved energy efficiency.

Meanwhile, for the external lighting around the perimeter of the arena, Luceco’s Fortis Wall Pack solution was

0118 950 7125 www.theledspecialist.co.uk

implemented. Fortis offers an energy efficient alternative to HID fittings, with a 45W LED luminaire being the equivalent of a 70W traditional HID fitting, and a high space-to-height ratio providing the ideal retrofit alternative to existing Wall Pack installations.

With a CRI of more than 80, Fortis Wall Pack is ideal for areas with CCTV. Variants include standard output, photocell, and emergency options. Fortis benefits from an ingress protection of IP65, as well as 50,000 hours operational life – a strong contender in the exterior LED luminaire market.

The project as a whole was very successful, and HEROS is very happy with the new arena. It’s a great focal point for all the fantastic work that the charity does in rehoming retired racehorses, and also for the education arm that teaches young people aged 14+ to gain the skills needed to work in the racing industry.

HEROS has successfully rehomed hundreds of ex-racehorses, offering a new life and helping the racing heroes move on to pastures new. LED lighting from Luceco ensures that these amazing racing heroes are very much in the spotlight at North Farm Stud.

Luceco, luceco.com

Challenge us to provide your exterior lighting solution

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LUX

Manufacturer

of the Year 2018

Urban Lighting A high-quality urban lighting design creates a balance between light and darkness. The safety of residents or staff members can be boosted by the right level of outdoor lighting, acting as a companion for those walking through public spaces during the darker hours. Tamlite Lighting designs and manufactures external lighting solutions that make people feel safe, minimising shadowing and dark spots to reduce the prevalence of outdoor crime and accidents.

For more information on our urban lighting solutions Visit tamlite.co.uk/sectors/urban

Over 50 years Lighting for a Living As a UK manufacturer we have one of the widest lighting ranges across:

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sales@tamlite.co.uk

22/03/2019 14:12:17 22/03/2019 15:12

COMPETITION

WIN A GUARDCAM DECO SECURITY SYSTEM Courtesy of

T

user with an option to deliver a two-way audio message or activate the inbuilt alarm warning.

It features an adjustable 16W highintensity LED Security Lamp (3000k colour light and 800 lumen) and you can remotely dim or turn on/off the LED lamp via the app. It will record up to 200, 20-second video sessions onto the supplied 8GB storage, and this is expandable up to 64GB. GuardCam has the option to deliver motion activation notifications via the app whilst recording the activation. The user-friendly app also allows recordings to be accessed.

The integral high-resolution digital camera offers a wide angle camera view and clear image recording in video format.

Night images retain colour and clarity due to the automatic LED light illumination.

GuardCam Deco is available in a silver or black finish, and it features a robust metal housing and is IP55 rated.

For further information, contact ESP on 01527 515150, email info@espuk.com or visit www.espuk.com.

he latest addition to ESP’s range of GuardCam external security floodlight solutions is the GuardCam Deco – a new Wi-Fi version that offers remote monitoring via smartphone or tablet.

GuardCam Deco is a combined Wi-Fi security camera and LED floodlight system, which has been designed with ease of setup as a key feature, including the option for remote monitoring via smartphone or tablet, using ESP’s specially developed GuardCam Deco APP. With a built-in camera that offers full 1080p HD live viewing and recording, the GuardCam Deco is the perfect all-in-one solution for domestic and commercial applications.

On approaching the unit, GuardCam Deco will detect the intruder with proven PIR technology at a distance of up to 10m from the unit. It will floodlight the area, initiate a video recording and provide the

February competition The winner of the £400 Amazon vouchers, courtesy of WLS, is David Burgess from Kent.

Closing date

To be in with a chance of winning a GuardCam Deco smart security floodlight system, courtesy of ESP, simply answer the following questions: 1. What is the storage capacity of the GuardCam Deco? a) 2GB b) 8GB c) 8GB, expandable to 64GB

2. G uardCam will detect an intruder at a distance of up to… a) 5m b) 10m c) 2m

3. W hat resolution does the built-in camera offer? a) 720p b) 1080p c) 480p

All entries must be returned by April 30, 2019. The editor’s decision is final. For the full terms and conditions, please visit electricalcontractingnews.com/ competition-terms.

The name of the winner will be published in the June issue of ECN. *Prize not exchangeable.

To enter, please complete the form below and fax to 01634 673173, or post to: ECN Competition, All Things Media Ltd, Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Kent, ME5 8UD. Alternatively, you can email your answers and contact details to: carol@allthingsmedialtd.com.

The answers to April’s competition are:

Contact Preferences YES, I would like to receive the ECN newsletter YES, I would like to subscribe to ECN magazine

1.............................................................................

YES, I would like to share my data with ESP

Personal Details Name.......................................................................................................................................

Company Name......................................................................................................................

Address...................................................................................................................................

2. . .........................................................................

Signature......................................................................

................................................................................ Postcode.................................................

Tel................................................................ Mobile ................................................................

3. . .........................................................................

Date..............................................................................

E-mail.....................................................................................................................................

To register to receive your copy of ECN each month, visit electricalcontractingnews.com/subscribe Competition.indd 66

28/03/2019 12:04

SPECIAL FEATURE

WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS supported by

THE

FULL HOUSE From white moulded, ultra-slim contemporary designs, to decorative stainless steel faceplates;

800+ products across 9 ranges provides an offering for all budgets and applications.

Connect with us on:

www.niglon.co.uk t 0121 711 1990 | f 0121 711 1344 | sales@niglon.co.uk

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Niglon not only keeps pace with the electrical sector, but anticipates future trends and leads the way in developing market-led products that offer excellent quality, innovation and design

WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

ADDING VALUE THROUGH THE WHOLESALE CHANNEL Paul Dawson from Niglon discusses the company’s heritage and explains why it remains so committed to serving contractors through the wholesale supply chain.

W

hen Niglon was first established more than 50 years ago, noone could have predicted the huge amount of change that the electrical sector would go through over the half a century ahead. Not only has the nature of electrical installations changed, with new technologies and the way we use mobile devices requiring a much more complex electrical infrastructure in homes and workplaces, but the sales and procurement process has changed too.

Throughout that period of enormous change, Niglon has not only kept pace with the electrical sector, but has often anticipated future trends and led the way in

Screwless Decorative

Advanced Decorative

Why the wholesale channel?

developing market-led products that offer excellent quality, innovation and design values, along with accessible pricing. The company now boasts more than 4,000 individual items across six categories. It is also in its third generation of the family-run business – with brothers Oliver and Jake Hinley now actively involved in shaping its future, including investment in new products and operational excellence.

Whatever the future holds for Niglon in terms of product development and continued growth, one thing has remained constant over the past 50 years and that’s the company’s commitment to bringing its products to market through the wholesale channel. It’s a focus that Oliver and Jake plan to continue because of the way in which wholesalers can add value with product selection and order management.

Slimline Decorative

While the wholesale channel was once the only go-to option for a busy electrical contractor, the growth in trade counters, trade-focused retail DIY stores and online purchasing – from both third parties and direct from the manufacturer – means that the choice of electrical products on the market is mirrored by the choice of options for where to buy them.

Many wholesalers have risen to this challenge by ensuring that they add value to the customer relationship by introducing contractors to new products and ranges.

This contractor/wholesaler relationship often has major advantages for the contractor. For example, it may enable them to upsell their customer to a wiring accessories range that looks much more high end, but is available at

Slim Moulded

Square Edge Moulded

TV / Data & Power

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WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS an attractive price point, allowing them enhance the installation for the end user while increasing their own margin.

Similarly, with Niglon’s broad choice of products, wholesalers are often able to open contractors’ eyes to a lower priced alternative that offers similar build quality and design innovation to an expensive, premium product, enabling the contractor to increase their margin without compromising the integrity of the completed installation.

These are amongst the reasons that Niglon’s commitment to the wholesale channel has never wavered, because we believe that selling our products through a dedicated and specialist channel is the right choice for us and for the contractors who install our products. By selling our products through the wholesale channel, we can ensure that compelling USPs are clearly communicated by a professional that understands the choices available from across the whole market. The wholesaler can also provide support to contractors, in both answering the brief and maximising the profit potential of each job by guiding them towards the most appropriate product.

Importantly, because our products are only available through the wholesale channel, contractors can also be confident that their customer will never expect them to price match items available at a discount from a retailer. When an electrical supplier sells through both trade and consumer channels, retailers may choose to slash margins in favour of volume or to create a loss-leading offer. The savvy homeowner that checks if a product is available from a retail seller, and finds it available at a lower price, could use that information to challenge contractor costs or buy their own products, reducing the contractor’s profit potential.

“With Niglon’s broad choice of products, wholesalers are often able to open contractors’ eyes to a lower-priced alternative that offers similar build quality and design innovation to an expensive, premium product.”

Quality, innovation and choice Amongst the most coveted of Niglon’s products are our wiring accessories; a category that has seen huge investment for us over the past couple of years and the launch of hundreds of new products for a wide array of domestic and commercial environments.

Our investment in this area was prompted by a determination to challenge a ‘race to the bottom’ product development culture amongst manufacturers, characterised by lower and lower prices at the cost of quality and innovation.

While there’s always likely to be demand for low end, low cost electrical accessories, at Niglon, we believe that a supplier should be able to offer quality, design innovation, high end aesthetics and excellent levels of safety at a value-led price. We’re a company that has always been based on a one-stop-shop philosophy and a

Data ower

Grid System

Weatherproof

willingness to invest, ensuring we develop a complete range that installers can trust for quality and value.

That philosophy has driven the development of our electrical accessories, which we believe answer all installer requirements – from simple domestic fit out to high end residential, light industrial, commercial and exterior installations.

We have invested in R&D, tooling and manufacturing capabilities, combining the vision of our experienced senior, team with expert consultancy and thorough research and analysis, to develop the diversity of styles and features that the electrical sector needs.

Our analysis of the competitor landscape has been, perhaps, the most telling element of this. It is clear that many of our competitors have followed our lead in offering a one-stop-shop approach. It is also clear that our extensive wiring accessories portfolio has filled a huge gap in the marketplace for design-led, competitively priced electrical accessories.

Many of the larger players in the electrical accessories market are not agile enough to diversify at the pace that Niglon has been able to achieve. Consequently, many of the wiring accessories Niglon has introduced over the past two years have quickly become ‘hero products’ for many wholesalers and distributors because of the unprecedented level of choice and quality they offer at an attractive price point.

Niglon’s most popular ranges Following Niglon’s launch of seven ranges comprising 500+ wiring individual accessory choices back in 2017, it was clear that there was an appetite for high quality, design-led wiring accessories at a mid-range cost and we have responded to the marketplace by extending our portfolio in this area further still.

Amongst those original ‘magnificent’ seven ranges were the Premium Edge range, an ultra-slim 4mm profile with a contemporary aesthetic, with stainless steel fabrication and a choice of brushed or polished chrome finishes. The seven launches also included the Euro Media modular range, which has 40 modules available and allows integration of TV, data and USB charging points, with a cohesive look that can be clipped into unfurnished faceplates, quickly and easily.

The Matrix 20 20AX grid switch range was included in that initial roll out too and offers interchangeable printed switch rocker covers to provide easy on-site configuration, with a range of faceplates for seamless coordination.

All of these ranges have been very successful, which has led to the development of our Premium Edge S and Ultima ranges to offer even more choice for designer looks at accessible prices.

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Premium Edge S range reflects increasing attention to detail in the specification of wiring accessories to complement interiors, with a design that pairs a brushed chrome plate and rockers with grey socket inserts for a high-end, unobtrusive look. The result is a classic range that co-ordinates effortlessly with light fixtures and door handles whilst complementing current trends for grey furniture, paintwork and wall coverings.

Meanwhile, our Ultima range includes more than 100 screwless decorative accessories with stainless steel faceplates, and is available in a brushed or polished chrome effect finish, with black, white or grey insert options to complement interior design choices.

Brochures for these ranges are available from wholesalers.

Ultimately, Niglon believes that the central requirements of quality electrical accessories are aesthetics, design values and build quality and those core principles have been designed into our ranges to offer a huge amount of choice and value exclusively to the electrical trade.

Niglon, niglon.co.uk

Metal Clad

For All Your Wiring Accessory Needs www.niglon.co.uk | 0121 711 1990 | sales@niglon.co.uk

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“NAPIT are a unique certification body in the electrical industry in that they are keen to use their wealth of technical knowledge to help improve standards and safety across the industry. The expertise of the NAPIT team was one of the main reasons c2c signed up as a NAPIT corporate member.”

Paul Meenan, Asset Manager for c2c

“After attending a free 18th Edition seminar ran by NAPIT I decided to look into accreditation. NAPIT are a positive and forward thinking brand leading the industry, these are values we at FCS admire and aspire to.”

John Lorimer, Director, FCS Services Ltd.

“NAPIT understands the individuality of different trades but still provides and requires high standards.”

Chris Crowder, Chillflow Solutions

OfficialNAPIT

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@OfficialNAPIT

9

28/03/2019 11:12

WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Plumen 003 bulb gives a warm ambient glow from the side, and is ideal for reading a book or eating under

TOP 10 TRENDS TO IMPACT THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY The LED Specialist, an independent lighting wholesaler and an approved Philips LED seller, provides an overview of the top ten trends it expects to see within the lighting industry before the year concludes.

1. The supply chain will change

2. Smart lighting will evolve

3. The rise of Bluetooth mesh

The client-specifier-manufacturerwholesaler-contractor supply chain used to be understood by everybody. But with FMs buying from Amazon, and margin-chasing contractors bullying manufacturers for rebates, the supply chain is getting twisted out of shape.

With the emergence of LiFi and smart home automation in 2018, this is going to really generate pace in 2019 as more comes onto the market in a variety of technologies including Bluetooth mesh, Gooee, Zigbee and RF frequency technology. The LED Specialist is expanding its range accordingly.

Bluetooth is the new big beast in the lighting controls world, and its mesh technology brings simple wireless control to large installations. The familiarity of Bluetooth, the marketing muscle behind the brand, and the open protocol nature of the technology, will mean its entry into mainstream lighting is a smooth one.

Advanced Decorative Wiring Accessories Range

• Stainless steel faceplates • Metal to metal rockers • Modular light switches • Discrete moisture gasket

For All Your Wiring Accessory Needs www.niglon.co.uk | 0121 711 1990 | sales@niglon.co.uk

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SPECIAL FEATURE

WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

7. Visual comfort will move up the agenda The right to experience artificial lighting without nasties, such as glare and flicker, has taken a back seat in recent years as we’ve embraced the stunning energy saving possibilities of LEDs. But expect visual comfort to make a comeback, with increasing demand for warm colour temperatures and high CRIs.

8. Self-learning control will arrive Led by the success of Nest’s digital thermostats, which learn about a user’s habits over time and anticipate changes, intuitive control will begin to arrive in the lighting world. Helvar is first out of the blocks with its Active+ system, but a flurry of patent applications in recent months show entrepreneurs are betting it’s the next big thing in lighting.

9. 1970s design will return

4. Smart hubs will be cut out The tangle of twinkling ‘smart hubs’ and ‘intelligent bridges’ you need to get your lamps connected to the internet will become a thing of the past. Led by GE’s release of its C by GE light bulbs and C-Start switches this year, lighting will increasingly connect directly to Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple’s HomeKit and even Siri.

5. Consolidation will accelerate After the companies jumped a few pesky regulatory hurdles, iGuzzini will join the Fagerhult Group as the jewel in the crown of its recent acquisitions. While it’s certainly one of the most eye-catching takeovers in the industry, it won’t be the last. Driven by falling luminaire prices, consolidation will accelerate this year.

We have already seen the emergence of LEDVance from Osram over the last

With the emergence of LiFi and smart home automation last year, smart lighting is set to gather pace in 2019 (and beyond)

couple of years, and it will be launching further step away products later in 2019.

The product portfolio of LEDVance covers traditional lighting, modern LED lamps and standardised over-the-counter (OTC) luminaires, as well as connected and intelligent lighting solutions for smart homes and smart buildings.

Similarly, Philips Lighting is now Signify.

Signify will continue to use the Philips brand for its products under the existing licensing agreement with Royal Philips.

The company expected the name change to be implemented in all of the countries in which it is active by the beginning of 2019.

6. VR will arrive as a design tool 2019 is expected to be the year that virtual reality has a serious impact in lighting design. The big architectural practices are already using the tool to get clients excited and Signify is investing heavily in the technology as a design and marketing tool.

It’s hard to walk past restaurants now without seeing a filament giving its warm glow of light. Many are adopting this technology as it gives a warm ambiance of light and will be switching to LED alternatives as a cost-effective measure.

The feminine palette of chalky pinks, brass and even flamingos is so over, the interior fashionistas tell us. The big trend in interiors is a return to the 1970s, but this time, with better materiality and softer colours.

Expect product designers to blow the dust off Concord and iGuzzini catalogues from the era in the search for inspiration.

Keep an eye out for the Plumen 003, which gives a warm ambient glow from the side but has the genius innovation below where it offers a spot of a brighter, more functional colour temperature; which is perfect for reading a book or eating under.

10. Modular design will spread LED luminaire makers can’t believe their luck. They’ve got away with integral products where extracting a failed driver or light source is harder than getting compensation from Ryanair. But European chiefs are on their tail. Expect eco design legislation to tighten and put pressure on manufacturers to have deconstructable luminaires.

The LED Specialist, theledspecialist.co.uk

Slim Moulded

Wiring Accessories Range

For All Your Wiring Accessory Needs www.niglon.co.uk | 0121 711 1990 | sales@niglon.co.uk

• Anti-Microbial - which inhibits the growth of bacteria • Modular light switches • Contemporary low profile design • Screw covers offer a clean sleek appearance

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TH

6 &7 TH

JUNE

THE UK’S BIGGEST ELECTRICAL EVENT

SAVE £50

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Meet the industry leading brands showcasing the latest technology and innovation

INFORMATIVE TECH SEMINARS

Presented by the NICEIC and a host of industry speakers § 18th Edition § SMART Home technology § EV charging

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

A great day out with hands on demonstrations, fun competitions and free refreshments

FREE TO ATTEND & FREE PARKING

HALL 9 NEC BIRMINGHAM Untitled-3 1

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SPECIAL FEATURE

WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

FUELLING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION YESSS Electrical, one of the electrical industry’s fastest growing wholesalers, has developed a new showroom dedicated to the electric vehicle market.

S

ince opening in 2012, YESSS Electrical has become one of the UK’s fastest growing electrical wholesalers, and the retailer now has over 100 branches across the country. Offering a wide range of products – including cable switches and sockets, heating and ventilation products, and a great deal more – the company also has a strong focus on the electric vehicle (EV) market.

New figures published in February show that the UK EV charging market is experiencing rapid growth, with more than 195,000 electric cars now registered on UK roads. Under the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), businesses can receive grants of up to £6,000 to install EV charging points; while domestic home users can also get funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing EV charge points through the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).

To highlight the company’s commitment and investment in the EV market, YESSS Electrical recently installed an EV and energy showroom at its headquarters in Normanton, West Yorkshire. The showroom boasts a comprehensive range of Rolec’s AC fast and DC UltraFast rapid EV chargers, wall points and street-based pedestals and units with cutting edge features, such as pay-to-charge mobile phone operation.

Furthermore, the majority of YESSS branches around the country already have active EV charging points, meaning that customers can see the benefits of EV charging in action when visiting the wholesaler. These additional charging points – along with the awareness that they will bring – could potentially have a significant impact on the EV market within the UK.

In addition, the wholesaler’s HQ in Normanton has two EV charging points. So, if you already drive a fully electric or hybrid vehicle, then contact YESSS to make an appointment to visit its head office – and you can plug in while you’re viewing the new EV showroom.

Visualite lighting for improved health and well-being

A complete range of EV charging products from Home charge units to commercial solutions

Also featured in the same showroom, illuminating all the charge points and displaying images of in-situ EV scenarios, is the innovative Visualite lighting system.

Visualite links the physical environment to improved health and well-being outcomes by combining an LED edge-lit light source and bespoke imagery using a unique VTEC lens, creating a unique multisensory experience. Visualite interacts with architects, senior healthcare planners, engineering and construction professionals to embed these well-being solutions into many different healthcare environments.

Visualite constantly utilises scientific research to inform its development and successfully achieve improved outcomes in the healthcare sector. Its high specification design concept also complies with strict health and safety and infection control protocols within the healthcare sector. Recognised as a smart investment proving to positively distract patients, it can significantly reduce anxiety levels, improve recovery periods and optimise inpatient throughput. Visualite’s aesthetics also help to boost morale and well-being, creating a far better working environment for staff too.

One of the original pioneers of Visualite was Rotherham NHS Hospital in South Yorkshire, where a ‘way finding’ concept was created by the bespoke Visualite design service. Helen Green, Head of Nursing Operations at the time, advised

that promoting well-being and healing isn’t just about the care and treatment patients receive; it also requires improving the environment in which the care is delivered.

“Visualite made such a positive impact, enhancing and embracing ‘way finding’ for our patients, our relatives and our team”.

Visualite is now being embraced in places where we live, work, learn and play, as research explores the connection between buildings and the health and wellness of its occupants. The list of applications for the technology is endless, and the only limit is your imagination.

To see examples of typical installations, visit your-visualite.co.uk or pop in to a YESSS branch near you.

A look at the new EV and energy showroom at YESSS Electrical’s HQ

To further cement its commitment to the EV market, YESSS is also now offering EV charging OLEV approved installation courses, which offer a City and Guilds qualification. The sessions take place throughout the UK, and further information is available at any of the YESSS branches.

YESSS Electrical, yesss.co.uk

IP66 Weatherproof Wiring Accessories Range

For All Your Wiring Accessory Needs www.niglon.co.uk | 0121 711 1990 | sales@niglon.co.uk

• Independently tested and certified by Intertek • Manufactured in high impact resistant material • Protection against ingress of water and dust

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BUYERS’ GUIDE FIRE, SAFETY AND SECURITY PRODUCTS Fire, safety and security products that help deter false fire alarms, prevent theft and minimise damage to building equipment.

GET NOTICED! Would you like to advertise in our new Buyers’ Guide section and reach 13,000+ readers each and every month?

Please call Kelly on 01634 673163 or email kelly@allthingsmedialtd.com

 www.sti-emea.com  info@sti-emea.com  01527 520 999

Size

Dimensions

6 Months

1/8 page

110 x 61mm

£450

£750

1/4 page vertical

110 x 133mm

£900

£1500

1/4 page horizontal

224 x 61mm

£900

£1500

LIGHTING

12 Months

SOFTWARE

S.E.C. SOLUTIONS LTD Business Software for the Contracting Industry

Simple … Flexible … Professional …

LED lighting solutions from Collingwood Lighting.

Call us on 01604 495151 to find out what we can accomplish together.

A Modular, Scalable and Expandable Software Suite:

• Estimating • Contract Costing • Purchase Orders • Invoicing & Applications • Sub Contract Labour Control • Service Maintenance Control • Mobile Engineer App & Timesheets

www.collingwoodlighting.com

LIGHTING CONTROL

NEW FOR 2019

All of your lighting control solutions under one roof

Our true “Cloud based” Estimating software will be released shortly… …. Why not Register your interest?

From PIR & microwave detectors to full-scale addressable systems, we’ve got everything you need to Market leaders in your lighting and reduce costs. effectively control

Tel: 01905 640064 Email: sales @secsol.co.uk Web: secestimating.com

energy saving controls

www cpelectronics.co.uk I +44 (0)333 900 0671

LIGHTING CONTROL

Visit www.hamilton-litestat.com Tel: +44 (0)1747 860088 INDUSTRY PARTNER

Wiring Accessories • Circuit Protection • Smart Lighting Control & Multi-room Audio

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COMPANY SHOWCASE

BUYERS’ GUIDE WIRING ACCESSORIES

HAMILTON LAUNCHES NEW SURGE PROTECTION DEVICES Hamilton Litestat has expanded its circuit protection range in accordance with the 18th Edition to include two new surge protection devices (SPDs), providing safeguarding against transients that could prove harmful to connected equipment.

Transients originate from lightning or the switching of transformers and motors, and can cause serious injury and potentially loss of life, as well as destroy electronic components or cause premature ageing of equipment. SPDs are therefore recommended to prevent such damage.

A provider of circuit protection products – including its sleek and stylish contour and convex consumer units – Hamilton now offers two versions of its Type 2 SPD: a one-pole device and two-pole device. The solutions fit snugly inside the Hamilton consumer units and are recommended to protect against the spread of overvoltages to vulnerable and expensive equipment, such as laptops, PCs, washing machines, alarms and TVs. Hamilton’s new SPDs are thoroughly tested and compliant to protect life and equipment.

Approved to BS EN 62444 Range from 20S to 32mm Fast Fit No Shroud IP68 Rated Multiple Cable Types Non Corrosive UV Stabilised Zero Halogen

For further information, visit hamilton-litestat.com

HANDHELD INDUSTRIAL ETHERNET NETWORK AND CABLE TESTER

Information & Sales : 01453 844 333 Abbey Mills, Charfield Road, Kingswood, Wotton-Under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8RL

e: sales@swaonline.co.uk

GET NOTICED!

SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

w:www.swaonline.co.uk

Ideal Networks has launched NaviTEK IE, the first purpose built handheld network tester, designed for commissioning, preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of Profinet Industrial Ethernet networks, plus standard Ethernet IP networks.

The new, rugged NaviTEK IE copper and fibre troubleshooter has been developed to simplify the process of testing both cabling and networks in industrial ethernet networks that utilise the Profinet protocol. Previously, a laptop with specialist software would be required to identify and test network nodes and configuration, which could prove cumbersome in these typically ‘desk-free’ environments.

“With its compact, touchscreen design, NaviTEK IE has been designed to be a more convenient and efficient alternative to using a laptop, while catering for the physical differences between industrial ethernet cabling and other networks,” explains Tim Widdershoven, Marketing Director for Ideal Networks. “With just one tester, technicians can troubleshoot at any point in a network and benefit from greater functionality than any other individual tester on the market.”

For further information, visit idealnetworks.net

Would you like to advertise in our new Buyers’ Guide section and reach 13,000+ readers each and every month?

C.K’S SOLUTION FOR THE BEST IN CABLE ROUTING

Please call Kelly on 01634 673163 or email kelly@allthingsmedialtd.com

Size

Dimensions

6 Months

1/8 page

110 x 61mm

£450

12 Months £750

1/4 page vertical

110 x 133mm

£900

£1500

1/4 page horizontal

224 x 61mm

£900

£1500

Working with professional tradesmen helps C.K find solutions to end user needs and enables C.K Tools to develop advanced cable routing products. The C.K MightyRods Pro are designed to combat the issues of painful splintering and snapping, thanks to a SplinterShield coating – Europe’s first splinter-proof material – that protects the rods and allows safe and efficient working conditions.

C.K realised that flexibility is also key to successful cable routing and introduced its Spira-Flex rod, which is perfect for accessing tight corners, bends and other obstacles. The super flexible and immensely tough 4mm Ø SpiraFlex draw tape offers a major improvement on standard nylon and steel draw tapes, which are prone to twisting and kinking.

The latest introduction – the C.K Gloworm cable router – is perfectly designed for running cables around tight corners, through insulation filled walls, underneath flooring and across ceilings. Gloworm’s glow in the dark phosphorescent polymer construction aids routing in low light conditions and easier navigation towards exit points.

For further information, visit ck-tools.com

Jason Price (left) with his new C.K SpiraFlex draw tape with C.K’s Will Sheridan

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SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

NEW CLIMATE CONTROL FLEECES FROM SNICKERS WORKWEAR These new styles from Snickers Workwear deliver ‘AllroundWork’ warmth and cooling comfort.

Not only will you stay warm with these new 37.5 Technology Fleeces, you’ll look and feel cool too. With styles for both professional tradesmen and women, they excel at ventilation and moisture transport to keep you working comfortably wherever you are on site.

The 37.5 Technology fabric in the Fleece is a very quick-drying material that captures and releases moisture vapour – like your sweat – for superior coolness and dry working comfort.

After all, keeping a balanced work temperature is not just about staying cool and in great shape – it’s a matter of your wellbeing and job safety.

So, to make sure you get the right protection, visibility, flexibility, durability and ventilation, check out the new Snickers Workwear 37.5 Technology Fleeces, to fit your workday.

COMPANY SHOWCASE

TWICE AS FAST CHARGING WITH SCOLMORE’S TWIN USB PORT Scolmore has upgraded its 13A two-gang USB socket, which now features two USB charging ports, both capable of delivering 5V 2.1A simultaneously.

This allows for optimum charging of two devices at the same time, without fear of fluctuations in the power supply interfering with the charging process. Unlike some products on the market, the total power available is 4.2A – thus allowing both ports to deliver 2.1A at the same time – so you are guaranteed optimum charge every time, regardless of the devices being charged.

This latest development is part of a redesign of Scolmore’s USB sockets range, which sees the location of the USB ports on the two-gang socket moved from underneath the switch and socket outlets to above each individual socket outlet on the outer edge of the plate. The 13A one-gang socket outlets with 2.1A USB also now feature a new location for the USB port – from underneath the switch on the right, to above the socket outlet on the left.

For further information, visit scolmore.com

For further information, visit snickersworkwear.co.uk

SCREWDRIVER RANGE MAKES TOUGH JOBS EASIER

NEW MERIDIAN OUTDOOR LIGHTING The CED Electrical Group is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting and diverse new range of Meridian outdoor LED light fittings.

To start with, there are six 60W polycarbonate lanterns with IP44 rating plus CE and RoHS approvals. Four wall lanterns comprise black or white options with PIR, black only with a motion sensor, plus an up and down lantern. Completing the range are ceiling and post top lanterns, and all are suitable for use with LED ES cap lamps.

New stainless steel round and square walkover lights are 240V, IP65 rated, in-ground fittings suitable for LED GU10 lamps in white or blue.

Finally, new wirefree solar lights include a 3W IP44 fitting, plus 3W and 4W IP54 rated PIR fittings. Finished in black, these wall lights come with state-of-theart SMD LED chips and provide eco-friendly aesthetic, front of property presence detection.

For further information, visit cedelectrical.co.uk

SAFETY SHOE OFFERS PRECISION AND COMFORT Solid Gear continues to modernise PPE footwear with a safety shoe that looks and feels more like a trainer.

Combining a lightweight athletic look and superb safety features, the new Ocean safety shoe is ideal for workers who are constantly on the move.

The shoe’s midsole is made of a poured PU, rather than a traditional injected PU, to give a more cushioned feel underfoot – while the thick rubber outsole provides a high level of anti-slip protection and durability.

With an eye-catching style, the shoe’s BOA comfort fastening delivers a better overall fit, making it easy to take the shoe on and off.

Added to which, the shoe’s fibreglass toecap and ballistic midsole combine with the other protection features and anti-static properties to deliver S3 protection.

So get to know more about the quality, innovation, and top class safety functionality in every Solid Gear product – your feet will notice the difference.

For further information, visit solidgearfootwear.com

C.K offers a fantastic range of screwdrivers and has developed its most comprehensive range yet.

One of the main product areas available is the C.K dextroVDE screwdrivers, a superb range which successfully combines innovation, quality and excellent value for money, with something to suit everyone’s needs. Specifically designed for electricians, the screwdrivers have ergonomically shaped handles for increased comfort, control and safety.

If it’s innovation you seek, then the dextroVDE Slim Glo screwdriver set (49283PD) is ideal. Designed for electricians working in domestic, commercial and industrial environments, these glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent screwdrivers emit an effective glow in low light conditions, so you need never lose your screwdriver again.

When it comes to genuine quality, the C.K dextroVDE (T49183D) is hard to beat.

These premium quality safety screwdrivers are available as a set of five slotted/PZ and offer great features and benefits.

If value is high on your agenda, then the TritonXLS insulated set (T4729) more than ticks that box.

For further information, visit carlkammerling.com

DOWN TO EARTH SOLUTION FROM UNICRIMP Unicrimp’s latest new product development activity sees the company enter a brand new product category, with the launch of a range of earthing rods and component products.

An effective earthing system is a fundamental requirement of any modern structure or system for both operational and safety reasons. Without such a system, the safety of a structure, the equipment contained within it and its occupants are compromised.

The new Unicrimp earthing product range comprises just 10 individual products, which together form an earthing system. At the heart of the system is the threaded earth rod, made with a low carbon, high tensile steel core and molecular bonded 99.9% pure copper coating for maximum conductivity, strength and durability.

Where required, multiple earth rods can be joined together using threaded couplers, and the threaded driving stud attaches to the top of the earth rod to protect against damage when driving the earth rod into the ground.

A selection of clamps and two inspection pits make up the range.

For further information, visit unicrimp.com

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COMPANY SHOWCASE

SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

EASY ACCESS WITH MIGHTYRODS TOOLBOX SET Following on from the success of its pioneering range of next generation MightyRods Pro cable rods, C.K has launched the new C.K MightyRods PRO Toolbox Set 3.3m (T5419).

A compact handy toolbag size, offering efficient cable installation in confined spaces, the new set also has the added benefit of 100% splinterproof rods, thanks to their unique SplinterShield coating.

Supplied in a storage tube, sized to fit most tool boxes and bags, the set is easily transported and includes 10 x 3cm rods, which, when combined, create a total length of 3.3m – offering a convenient and robust alternative to carrying full length rods.

The 6mm rods feature SplinterShield, a significant advancement in cable rod technology and a European first: the durable, 100% splinterproof coating fully encases the inner fibreglass rod to prevent harmful and painful splintering.

‘Mighty-Fix’ zinc plated steel connectors feature a slimline design and are glued, indented and crimped, making them able to withstand up to 275kg of tensile pull strength.

START-UP SEEKS SUPPORT FOR BS67 SMART CEILING ROSE Ceiling Rose Motion Sensor (CRMS) is seeking funding for a new BS67 smart ceiling rose. All funding raised will go towards tooling, CE testing and manufacturing. Investors will be rewarded with devices from the first manufactured batch.

A BS67 ceiling rose requires the operation of a wall switch to switch lights on or off. The smart ceiling rose switches lights automatically by overriding the wall switch. If used as a replacement ceiling rose in a retrofit, there is no need for rewiring or builders work. The smart ceiling rose reduces utility bills and combats domestic carbon emissions which are currently 26% in the UK. Unused, un-switched lighting in absent rooms is a known contributor.

Future development includes the integration of smoke detection, intruder alarm and Wi-Fi connectivity. For more information, and to be the first to install this device, visit crms.uk.com/ceilingrosemotionsensor.

For further information, visit crms.uk.com

For further information, visit cktools.com

RENLEY REBRANDS AND CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SUCCESS Achieving 50 years of manufacturing excellence is a significant landmark which underpins the strategy of Renley’s corporate rebranding.

The launch of a new website and logo is both an affirmation of the Irish company’s expertise in designing and manufacturing high quality products for electricity distribution networks, but also of its continuing success in meeting the global challenges of this constantly evolving sector.

Renley’s Managing Director, Declan McGrath, states, “Introducing a new logo and website is a key part of Renley’s commitment to the continued improvement of the products and services we offer our customers, wherever they are located. The clarity of the new website helps to convey our strengths of high build quality and flexibility, which are well recognised in the industry. Being able to freshly showcase our products demonstrates that innovation is an integral part of the best in practice engineered design solutions we provide, and is at the heart of everything we do.”

TRIDONIC ADDS NFC INTERFACE TO OUTDOOR DRIVERS Tridonic has announced the launch of its third-generation outdoor drivers from the excite (EXC) and advanced (ADV) ranges, all with NFC (Near Field Communication) interface. The dimmable control gear elements for the luminaire fixture are available in various wattages and, if required, can be supplied with matching LED modules.

NFC technology saves programming time in luminaire production and allows units with up to 20 drivers to be configured in a single work step. In addition, both series are equipped with ready2mains and U6Me2 interfaces, while the EXC3 series also comes with one4all. Changes to the settings can be made even after installation via the NFC interface, ready2mains or DALI2 (EXC3).

The control gear elements for luminaires in protection classes I and II are available in different output powers and cover a wide range of applications with application-oriented operating windows. EXC3 drivers are available with 14, 24, 40, 60, 90, 135 and 200W output power, ADV3 drivers with 14, 24, 40 and 60W output power.

For further information, visit tridonic.com

For further information, visit renley.ie

FLIR LAUNCHES THE T840 THERMAL CAMERA FLIR Systems has launched the FLIR T840, a new thermal camera in the high-performance T-Series family. The high-resolution FLIR T840 offers a brighter display and an integrated viewfinder to help electrical utility, plant managers, and other thermography professionals find and diagnose failing components in any lighting conditions to help avoid costly power outages and plant shutdowns.

Featuring the award-winning design of the FLIR T-series camera platform, the FLIR T840 features an ergonomic body, a vibrant LCD touchscreen, and a viewfinder to make it easy to use in any lighting conditions. The 464 by 348 resolution camera incorporates FLIR advanced vision processing, including patented MSX image enhancement technology, UltraMax, and proprietary adaptive filtering algorithms to provide customers with enhanced measurement accuracy and image clarity, with half the image noise of previous models.

The FLIR T840 also offers an optional six-degree lens that allows professionals to capture accurate temperature measurements on small targets at far distances, such as connectors on overhead distribution lines.

SANGAMO REVEALS NEW BLUETOOTH TIME SWITCHES Leading time switches and heating controls manufacturer, Sangamo, has added new Bluetooth-compatible timers to its DIN Rail Time Switch collection.

Designed to offer convenience and versatility to the user and to broaden the product category reach to a wider potential market, the new range will help manage costs in residential, commercial and industrial applications. It uses Bluetooth technology to programme the timer and is compatible with Android and iOS, in applications including lighting, security, heating, ventilation, irrigation and horticulture. The current Sangamo DIN rail time switches use near field communication (NFC) to programme the timer from an Android device.

As well as Bluetooth communication, the new time switches feature zerocrossing technology, supporting up to 600W LED load. This technology protects the relay contact and extends service life, therefore helping the lighting controls to match the long lifespan of LED lighting systems.

Free to download, the Save’n carry app is available for both iOS and Android.

For further information, visit espuk.com

For further information, visit flir.com/t840

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Introducing MAGDUO Two-Wire Fire Systems, allows Detectors and Sounders on the same circuit email: info@espuk.com

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visit: www.espuk.com

call: 01527 515150

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