2 minute read
Ask the Expert
from ECN July 2020
ASK THE EXPERT: AFDD HYBRID DISTRIBUTION BOARDS
Hager’s newly launched AFDD Hybrid Distribution Boards offer many installation, compliance, and aesthetic benefits for a variety of commercial projects. Mike Lawrence tackles FAQs from contractors.
Mike Lawrence is Commercial Marketing Manager at Hager Why do I need to install AFDD? Arc fault detection devices (AFDD) identify current flow and voltage curves that indicate an arc fault and then automatically disconnect the affected circuit. This significantly reduces the risk of fire due to faulty conductors and connections. The 18th Edition of BS 7671 has recommended the use of AFDD to provide additional fire protection.
What type of project is the Hager AFDD hybrid board suitable for? Any small commercial project such as student accommodation, hotels, and houses in multiple occupations (HMO) are ideally placed. Offering contractors ease of installation, the boards are also available preconfigured as required, prior to arrival on site.
As an example, Hager recently supplied 28 hybrid boards for a student accommodation construction project. They had been pre-assembled by Hager’s Tailored Solutions team, so the on-site contractor team had the straightforward task of simple connection which saved time and storage.
How can the Hager Tailored Solutions team help me? It can be easy to fall into the routine of specifying products based on previous applications, but this might not always be the ideal solution. By getting involved with a project at an earlier stage, Hager’s Tailored Solutions team can work with specifiers and contractors to develop the very best solution for the exact requirements. This collaborative approach ensures a better understanding of the bespoke challenges developers, contractors and specifiers face, and it allows the team to work with them to develop a tailored solution based on performance and need.
The team can work with customers to supply a pre-configured and fully terminated hybrid board to site. Not only does this speed up the installation timescales on commercial projects; it also provides peace of mind that the boards have been fully tested before leaving Hager’s factory and that they meet current British Standards.
What additional benefits come with the AFDD hybrid board? As well as being fitted with AFDD protection, the design of the Hager Hybrid Distribution Board has focused on providing plenty of space and accessibility so contractors can work comfortably and with ease. In addition, the boards are aesthetically attractive, so they can be placed in suitable locations that may be visible without detracting from the surrounding environment.
Hager, hager.com/uk
