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Competition
WIN A £100 AMAZON VOUCHER
£100
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Kohler Uninterruptible Power is offering one lucky winner the chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher.
The Kohler PowerWAVE MF1500 DPA is a new high-power modular UPS for data centres which offers the best energy efficiency on the market, excellent power conditioning and the highest form of availability.
Its innovative slide-in, cable-free module design allows safe hot swappability without powering down or switching to raw mains. That in turn increases availability and allows a ‘pay-as-you-grow’ approach, should forecast final loads be higher than initial ones.
By using the latest generation of components, advanced software and optimised electrical design, the new MF1500 DPA also brings new levels of energy efficiency to the 1.0-1.5MW class. At 97.4% efficiency, this puts it around 0.5% to 1% ahead of competitors, potentially saving users over £150k in electrical and cooling costs per 1MW of load over a 10-year period.
These advances come whilst retaining our proven and respected Decentralised Parallel Architecture (DPA). This pioneering design approach means every UPS module is practically its own UPS,
To enter the competition, just answer these three simple questions:
1. How much can the Kohler PowerWAVE
MF1500 DPA potentially save users in electrical and cooling costs over a 10-year period? a) £50k b) £100k 2. What is the highest power range of the Kohler PowerWAVE MF1500 DPA?
a) 750kW b) 1MW c) 1.5MW with all the essential functional units needed for independent operation. In turn that dramatically increases system reliability and can improve availability by a factor of 10.
3. What is the efficiency of the Kohler
PowerWAVE MF1500DPA?
a) 95.4% b) 96.4% c) 97.4%
courtesy of
September Competition
The winner of the September competition – a £200 voucher, courtesy of Scolmore – was Philip Hodder.
Closing date c) £150k
All entries must be returned by 30 November 2020. The editor’s decision is final. For the full terms and conditions, visit electricalcontractingnews.com/ competition-terms. The name of the winner will be published in the January 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: carly@allthingsmedialtd.com.
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Hinkley Point C will be the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK in over 20 years
VANTRUNK TO PROVIDE CABLE MANAGEMENT FOR NUCLEAR POWER STATION
Vantrunk has signed a contract to provide cable management solutions to Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station.
Hinkley Point C (HPC), HPC has appointed Vantrunk as the sole on the Somerset supplier of the complete cable containment coast, will be the first package including cable ladder and cable new nuclear power tray. The substantial contract will be station to be built supplied over a three-to-four-year build in the UK in over 20 period and will be managed by the MEH years and will provide Alliance, which consists of Altrad, Balfour enough low carbon Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear and electricity for around six million homes. Doosan Babcock.
HPC, situated adjacent to the existing Vantrunk is the specialist arm of the Hinkley Point A and B stations, will be the Unitrunk Group, a manufacturer and first European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) distributor of innovative cable management built in the UK by EDF. solutions, with over 50 years’ expertise in
“Nuclear is crucial if the UK is to the cable containment industry. achieve net zero. It provides low carbon The company is headquartered in electricity irrespective of the weather Lisburn, Northern Ireland, with a second or time of day and will allow the system manufacturing facility in Warrington, to operate without fossil fuels”, said England, and also comprises a network Humphrey Cadoux Hudson, Managing of eight sales and distribution depots Director, Nuclear Development at EDF. throughout Great Britain and Republic
HPC will mark a significant milestone in of Ireland. the UK’s revitalisation of the nuclear power Alan Campbell, Group Projects industry and the move to reducing carbon Director at Vantrunk, comments: “We are emissions. The electricity generated by its absolutely delighted to have been selected two reactors will offset nine million tonnes as the sole supplier of cable management of carbon dioxide emissions per year over systems at Hinkley Point C. It is a its 60-year lifespan. landmark project and an important step in the UK’s move towards establishing a net zero future.
“As a team we have put a large amount of time and effort into the HPC project over the last number of years and to see it finally come to fruition is hugely rewarding. Securing a contract like this will provide job security to both manufacturing facilities in the coming years, which is a huge bonus in the current climate.
“We appreciate that there were a number of contenders for the substantial cable management contract; however, we believe that our ability as a group to offer an all-encompassing cable management solution saw us emerge as the sole preferred supply partner. When you also factor in our proven track record of major project execution, our highly skilled design team capable of providing innovative and bespoke solutions and our impressive manufacturing and distribution network, we believe we are the perfect partner for such a prestigious project.”
CABLING: PUTTING FIRE SAFETY FIRST
Fire is one of the one of the oldest and biggest threats to daily life, despite constant health and safety improvements across the European Union that have seen the numbers of fire deaths plummet by 65% across Europe over the last 30 years, and by 56% across the UK, writes Chris Smeeton, Director of Argosy.
Fire still kills 4,000 people across Europe every year, puts 70,000 people in hospital linked to fire and smoke injuries, and costs over €126bn a year. Seeing as Europeans spend around 90% of their time living inside buildings, and because fire causes so much financial damage to the economy, alongside tragic and avoidable loss of life, ascertaining the fire safety of products has to be everyone’s number one priority.
It’s not been an easy task however, because although construction materials and buildings have changed dramatically in recent years, many of the regulations that monitor their fire safety have been inefficient. With a view on continuing to improve existing fire safety measures in the area of construction, the Construction Product Regulation (CPR) became mandatory in July 2017 across the EU and the UK for both civil engineering and buildings construction. This regulation applies to any cable product intended for use in permanent infrastructure, now considered a construction material that must be manufactured to the highest of fire safety standards.
In short, the use of low fire hazard cabling can reduce the danger in the event of a fire and the onus is on the manufacturer to give customers details about cabling products, outlining their fire performance according to certain criteria, including flame spread, heat release, smoke production, flaming droplets and acidity of emissions. That is why Argosy has been working with partners Prysmia, Draka and Belden, and with its own internal team, to roll out the higher-rate CPR-grade cabling that meets the recommended European fire protection norms. Different levels of fire performance are required in different contexts, whether a cable is linked to an escape route, a high density area, or a lower density office building.
Argosy has been actively promoting fire safety and cabling in accordance with the CPR for a number of years. Its Image cable range, as well as its DA-110 Digital Audio cable range, are CPR rated and come with DOP (Declaration of Performance) certification.
Last year, the company delivered a range of cables to broadcast engineering and sports stadia facility specialist TTL Video for installation into three football stadia, as part of a major upgrade for clubs promoted to the Premier League. The upgrade included the provision of 30+ kilometres of fire retardant triax cabling, SMPTE hybrid cabling and eight-way COAX cabling from Argosy. The cable profiles were driven by the production requirements of the international broadcasters who cover the matches and by the leading UK outside broadcasting units that are stationed at the stadia on match days.
Depending on the match, there can be up to 15 different broadcasters vying for infrastructure at the same time. Argosy delivered 10km of Draka higher-rate CPR grade HD triaxial video cable, the first triaxial cable on the market to meet the recommended UK fire protection norms. TTL Video was the first company in the UK to use this innovation by Draka.
Argosy also delivered 14km of SMPTE copper and fibre hybrid camera cable, to support HD and 4K signals; 8km of triax copper camera cable (well adapted to protecting broadcast signals in the harshest of environments) and 9km of Belden eight-way star quad digital audio multicore cable. The Belden cable runs in a star formation to reduce the likelihood of noise affecting signals, installed in the gantries and TV studios around the pitch.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that the risks linked to fire are still a very real danger in today’s world, and that it is crucial for all actors in the construction industry to be CPR-compliant when it comes to cabling, and to avoid taking risks by choosing to work with a knowledgeable manufacturer that tailors a choice of fire-safe cabling to each scenario.
BUILDING THE CLOUD
Claranet turned to Connectix when building its third multi-million-pound ‘Building the Cloud’ data centre, built to deliver next generation network and hosting infrastructure services.
The company had engaged with rack and cabling manufacturers to assess the equipment solutions required to support and empower its data centre services but it was clear that the main suppliers offered their products as a one-size-fits-all basis, and that left some major design problems.
Dan Cooper, Head of Data Centres, started discussions with Connectix about the facility environment, footprint and design. It was clear that Claranet would need flexibility in rack design, coupled with a cabling infrastructure with impressive headroom to support the network traffic and bandwidth expectations.
Throughout the project design, Claranet’s data centre management and engineers were able to modify rack designs to produce a ‘ClaranetSpecification’ rack that exactly matched the requirements of the facility and installation. This flexibility provided the right security features, cable management and installation requirements, and environmental performance for airflow and management.
The main cable management requirement was for bespoke rack and cable pathway designs in order to distribute, support and protect the network cabling.
Phase 1 Claranet’s hosting centre for cloud services within Hoddesdon includes state-of-the-art connectivity and storage equipment. This saw the installation of 12 42U 600w x 800d CCS-ClaranetSpec Racks and two CCS-Claranet Spec Patching Frames.
The project consisted of building and placing racks, bay and earth racks and pre-cable all fibre and copper links ready for Claranet IT engineers to install, and commission active switching and routing hardware: • 2368 fibre terminations – duplex LC,
• Storage racks • Patching frames • 1056 LC fibre connections, utilising 96 1U fibre panels (quad LC multimode OM3) • Remote racks interlinking to the patch frames using 24 core links, consolidated to patching frames to save space • 192 copper Cat 6 UTP LSZH Links data centre management team were able cable management and our data centre
(mainly deployed as harnessed switch looms for Cisco 6500 blade servers) • Top of rack cable trough pathway system
Phase 2 Phase 2 incorporated an additional six 42U 600w x 800d per row (12 cabinets). Twenty-four fibre connections and 12 copper links were deployed for additional cabling per cabs, and hosted cloud services were extended.
Phase 3 In Phase 3, further storage racks were added to house a state-of-the-art 3PAR SSD storage platform. Twelve 42U 600w x 1000d Claranet-Spec Racks were also added.
Claranet needed to segregate two networks to ensure dual-path operation and, working with Connectix, the were powder-paint sprayed orange and blue to signify SAN and data networks.
The cable looms were all protected within braided sleeving.
Additional installation in Phase 3 included:
quads at the main ends • 20 x Cat 5e UTP, 42 x Cat 5e Elite HD patch panels • Cable management dump panels 1U and 2U for a neat finish • Fluke DTX-1800 tested and manufacturers 25-year warranty
By partnering with Connectix Cabling Systems for the design and supply of cabling infrastructure solutions, Claranet’s to have a proactive input in the design of racks used within collocation facilities for its impressive set of clients.
Cooper explains, “I have worked closely with Connectix Cabling Systems from the design stage to ensure that racks and cabling infrastructure could be tailored to Claranet’s needs to improve project deployment, equipment rack fibre optic patch panels
environment efficiencies. The data centre rack cable trough system gives us easy access and maximum use of our data centre space, and is quickly supplied and installed, minimising our engineering downtime. Claranet needs forward thinking technology vendors and Connectix and Phoenix Optics provide a great working relationship to meet our IT project strategies”.
GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Carly Wills speaks to Mark Taylor, Managing Director of Shoal Group, about the union of FS Cables and Cablecraft, the company’s aims for the future, and how the business has been affected by COVID-19.
CW: Why was Shoal Group formed?
MT: Shoal Group Limited brings together the management and teams of Cablecraft and FS Cables. This consolidation will result in a strengthened offer that will underpin our future growth whilst providing our customers with access to >28,000 cable management, identification and termination solutions, along with >3,500 flexible and specialist cable offers, all available for immediate dispatch.
CW: What are the aims and aspirations of Shoal Group?
MT: The Group’s combined revenues are ca.£30m and we believe we are stronger as one and will together deliver our customers a more comprehensive offer. We are also targeting ourselves with good quality and sustainable growth, where in the next three-to-five years we take the business through £50m revenues.
We have targeted organic growth initiatives and will also be looking at good strategic quality acquisition additions to the Group. The goal is to expand our business, both in the domestic market and internationally.
CW: What are the core values of Shoal Group?
MT: We have a high-quality team where our people are our most valuable asset and are at the centre of all that we do well. Their development and wellbeing is of paramount importance to us.
We work in a spirit of partnership with both our suppliers and customers. We look at our business from the outside in and are committed to making ourselves easy to do business with and delivering the best possible solution.
We are forward thinking and innovative and will continue to challenge ourselves to embrace new technologies, methodologies and continually improve our offer and services for the benefit of the customer.
We have good market and technical know-how, which means we can better support customers’ specific and sometimes bespoke requests and present back to them the best solution to meet their specific requirements.
We are an inclusive employer that promotes the importance of trust and mutual respect in all that we do – whilst having the passion, agility and drive that is required in any successful business or organisation. CW: What are the company’s policies and views on diversity?
MT: Diversity is obviously a hot topic at the moment, but I feel confident in saying that we are genuinely an inclusive employer – it’s a corner stone of the culture and ethos that runs through from our ultimate parent company (Diploma PLC, FTSE250) down into our business. I am proud to say that we employ people from all ethnic backgrounds and genders across our team and management structure, and everybody in the company gets the same opportunities.
CW: How have you found the COVID-19 trading period?
MT: Like everybody, we saw trade drop quite sharply towards the end of March, and certainly into April and May. However, we have seen a strong recovery from June onwards, which I believe was helped by the fact that we sell into markets (like construction) that typically returned to more normalised working conditions quicker than some other sectors. We have just finished September trading, where we traded above pre-COVID levels, which is very positive. We remain cautious but optimistic for the future.
CW: Have you seen any changes in customer/buyer behaviour in these recent months?
MT: We have a strong web presence – both FS Cables and Cablecraft have websites with e-commerce functionality and we have been gaining significant numbers of new customers on a monthly basis throughout this COVID trading period, which has resulted in a substantial rise in online revenues.
The consolidation of Cablecraft and FS Cables will result in a strengthened offer that will underpin the Group’s future growth
We are seeing more customers spot ordering and buying on a needs only basis, but this is fine by us as we understand our role is to hold the right stock and stock levels to meet our customer’s needs when and where they want it. We have also seen a number of our OEM and larger contractor customers keen to ringfence inventory for themselves, with an upfront order commitment called off as they require it.
CW: What have you learned through this COVID-19 trading period?
MT: It has reaffirmed the importance of maintaining first class customer service levels and ensuring good stock availability.
We also learnt what a fantastic team we have and how resilient and committed they to our company. They demonstrated with their actions and attitude a collective goal of wanting to ensure we continue to have a strong business for the future.
CW: What is the outlook and key aims for your business over the next 12 months?
MT: We are targeting growth in some specific targeted areas including export, e-commerce and new products and services additions – we are typically looking to bring out a new product or service each month.
We are well positioned and have a really good offer to take to our customers, and as Shoal Group, with the team we have in place I believe we have a fantastic future in front of us and this business will go from strength to strength.
shoal-group.com fscables.com cablecraft.co.uk
COLLABORATION DELIVERS UK’S MOST CONNECTED BRIDGE
A partnership between manufacturer, contractor and distributor delivers successful cable management solutions for one of the world’s most advanced bridges.
The landmark Queensferry Crossing Bridge in Scotland is almost certainly one of the most efficient, high performance bridges ever built, incorporating a complex array of utilities and communications equipment.
Constructed alongside the iconic Forth Road Bridge, the Queensferry Crossing replaces that bridge as the main road route north from Edinburgh, carrying the M90 motorway across the Firth of Forth.
Officially opened in September 2017, the Queensferry Crossing took six years to complete and forms the centrepiece of a major upgrade to the cross-Forth transport corridor in the east of Scotland. It represents an investment of more than £1.3bn and is truly world class, setting a number of national and international records, including the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world.
A partnership between cable management specialist, voestalpine Metsec plc, M&E fixings supplier in Scotland, MEF, and lead M&E contractor, SES Engineering Services, has been critical in ensuring the delivery of the systems that support the 2.7km road bridge and assure its safe and efficient running for decades to come.
A major logistical project The bridge deck is constructed from 122 composite steel/concrete sections. 250-tonne steel sections were manufactured in China and shipped to Rosyth docks, where they were then prefabricated to incorporate the services and road surfaces.
The cable management systems supplied by Metsec were prefabricated into 424 modules by SES and then installed into each of the finished 750-tonne road section decks before being delivered to site by barge along the River Forth and craned into position to span between the bridge towers.
All cable management products had to be pre-approved by the bridge authority, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors. With the support of Metsec’s technical team, thermal extension couplers were designed and incorporated into the project’s cable management systems to help compensate for the movement caused by temperature fluctuations, wind and traffic.
A collaborative approach Gordon Cullen, project manager at SES, explains, “Whilst we have a lot of experience in major infrastructure developments, the Queensferry Crossing was a once-in-a-lifetime project that demanded a highly collaborative approach to ensure we could meet and match the exact requirements to deliver all of the component parts of the bridge on time and in budget.
“MEF are part of the SES-approved supply chain and they selected Metsec, not only because they were the best from a commercial and quality point of view, but because they were able to supply the cable management systems we needed in special sizes – vitally important in terms of minimising waste and ensuring ease of fit. Particularly important was their willingness to adapt the units to minimise the number of joints required. Everything was spot-on in terms of enabling the teams to fabricate and install each unit on schedule.”
Metsec supplied hot dip galvanised cable tray and cable ladders cut to special lengths; the trays to 3.5m and the ladders to 6.9m. The finished modules assembled by SES hold a complex array of water management and cabling needs from lighting and power to traffic management systems, security, fire alarms, radio communications, structural health monitoring and building monitoring – all designed to give optimal performance of the bridge. Reliability and quality Alastair Fairweather at MEF adds: “This was a fantastic project to work on and much of our involvement has been down to the support we have had from Metsec. We have worked with them for several years now and we knew that they would be vital to us winning this contract. The sizes needed were not standard, but Metsec’s UK-based manufacturing facilities gave us the option to offer a flexible, high-quality solution to SES that we knew Metsec could deliver on time and in budget. In fact, flexibility was critical, not just in securing the project, but in meeting evolving requirements as the project progressed over the 12 to 18
control over the management and months we were there.
“We put a lot of faith in partnering with Metsec for what was one of the biggest projects we have ever worked on and it has really paid off. The reliability and quality of service from the Metsec team has been as important as the quality of the products they supplied. The 55-micron hot dipped galvanised steel tray and ladder systems used will need to endure exposure to the elements for up to two years before being completely sealed-in under the bridge, and the high quality of the Metsec product will contribute to keeping the whole-life costs of the project down.”
Jon Hillier, Director at Metsec Cable Management, adds, “The Queensferry Crossing project was something we were keen to be involved in from the start. We knew we had the capability to re-programme our mills to allow us to manufacture the specified lengths of ladder and tray in a way that would fit perfectly into the required modules.
“Working with MEF meant that we were also able to offer the just-in-time capabilities needed to support the tight pre-fabrication scheduling for each of the bridge’s deck sections. It is great to see the bridge finished and fully operational, knowing that our products are supporting the complex systems that will assure the functionality of this impressive infrastructure showpiece and help drive transport connectivity in the region for years to come.”
CONTAINMENT SUSPENSION — THE ULTIMATE FLEXIBLE SOLUTION
Wire ropes have, for decades, been used in engineering, mining, the construction of bridges, securing ships at the dock side, lifting and transporting and countless other engineering roles.
A certified pulltesting service ensures substrate fixings are sound Wire rope systems for use in the electrical installation industry can provide a significant benefit in reducing the prime cost of cable management, applying highly flexible, innovative and fully accountable suspension solutions. There are several levels of prime cost saving for cable management installations, of which the use of wire rope in place of threaded rod is one. Knowledge of IEC61537 – Cable Ladder and Tray Standard – and understanding the manufacturer’s performance criteria, along with the use of fast fit nut and bolt-free systems, offers the potential for further savings and it does not stop there. Multi-compartment in place of multiple runs, increasing the spacing between brackets and reducing the material content, for example, all add to the potential for considerable savings.
Queen’s Award Winner, Zip-Clip, has been providing wire rope solutions for over 16 years. In that time the company has worked with major contractors and clients both in the UK and overseas, and has built an enviable reputation for service, quality, accountability and reliability.
The suspension of containment has three aspects which need to be considered:
• The fixing to the substrate • The height at which it is to be suspended • The load to be supported, which includes cable and the containment system
Zip-Clip can provide complete suspension and bracing solutions
Early supplier engagement with the client, specifier and installer allows time for the optimum solution to be considered, evaluated and provided. However, this is often overlooked, as many view this element of a project to be mundane – commodity products supporting commodity products! It is important to take the time to fully discuss and understand the scope of a project, priorities and concerns and, as with any suspension solution, it is essential to understand and appreciate the products to be suspended and to work with designers and manufacturers to ensure the solution ticks all requirement boxes.
As a manufacturer, Zip-Clip is able to provide complete suspension and bracing solutions. The company is also available to offer detailed advice and guidance, ensuring projects are completed using as few components as possible, applying relevant standards, with total accountability, while at the same time delivering prime cost savings. A certified pull-testing service ensures substrate fixings are sound, prior to project completion and sign-off.
Zip-Clip wire rope is a premium product with a tensile strength of 1960N/mm2. It is available in load ranges from 15kg to 500kg and all solutions are designed with a built-in safety factor of at least 3:1. This level of performance and accountability provides the confidence to use wire in place of threaded rod.
“Zip-Clip wire rope suspension really does live up to the claims,” says Wayne Palmer, Mechanical Supervisor, SES Engineering Services. “I think we are now installing containment and radiant panels in half the time it was taking us to install them with 10mm rod.”
With space on site becoming a premium, wire rope offers countless benefits and is today being specified for an ever-increasing range of applications where threaded rods were once the only option. It is possible to carry sufficient wire and clips to site in a rucksack to manufacture 200 one metre suspensions – not something that could be replicated with threaded rod and associated components! A single trapeze bracket manufactured using wire rope uses 50% less components, weighs 50% less and can be installed in a third of the time.
Innovation is the future and Zip-Clip intends to be an integral part of that future. The company is investing heavily in people, R&D, advanced automation and robotics. A number of important new products are in the pipeline – some being released soon, which are geared specifically at electrical containment and designed in consultation with electrical contractors, addressing their specific suspension needs.
“Zip-Clip have always supported Central Electrical Distributors to the hilt,” says Lee Robinson, Director, Central Electrical Distributors. “They are a key partner, offering a top-quality product highly rated by contractors and their all-round service is second to none. They are always ready to help on the phone or with on site visits.”
REDUCING THE INTERACTION OF COVID-19
The current serious global situation, due to the COVID19 pandemic, is significantly affecting the health, social, and political structures of all countries and governments. That is why it is necessary, from a health point of view, to search for solutions to mitigate or reduce the interaction of this virus, or other types of bacteria and microbes, creating safer and more hygienic facilities, infrastructures and spaces.
Cable management systems, among which are the wire mesh trays, joint accessories and support elements, form an important part of the essential infrastructures or facilities in the supply of energy to hospitals, health centres, operating rooms, intensive care units (ICU) and other buildings related to health, including public places such as schools, universities, and offices.
The ceiling location of the cable tray systems in these buildings means the installation is of vital importance to avoid the depositing of dirt and pathogens, as well as to promote the reduction of the spread of viruses and bacteria that can accumulate in these spaces and descend to the rooms of a health centre or spread through ventilation or A/C systems.
Hygienic sanitary solution – SAFECu In order to reduce this interaction, Pemsa has developed a specific SAFECu finish based on copper, which is a powerful antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria. In this way, it reduces the survival of the current SARS-CoV-2 virus and others, as well as pathogenic bacteria, to less than four hours.
Prestigious entities such as the ASM (American Society for Microbiology) or the New England Medicinal Journal of Medicine have published studies analysing the behaviour and survival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on different material surfaces (see below).
Comparative analysis of the survival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on different surfaces:
Up to 4h
Paperboard Stainless steel Plastic Copper is the only metal certified as a bactericidal agent registered by the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) as an antimicrobial agent, highlighting its action against bacteria related to potentially fatal infections, among which are the influenza virus A (H1N1) or the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Copper has a proven bactericidal effect on the following bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli O157: H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Other scientific studies (Kiwa Water Research, 2007) show that, in facilities made with copper as a material, this metal kills all bacteria at a temperature of 25°C, while other surfaces such as PVC-C and PEX need up to 60°C to eradicate the bacteria.
In addition, the scientific literature confirms that copper has an inhibitory effect against fungi, since it deactivates and prevents its growth, as well as against yeast, bacteria and viruses (polyvirus and rotavirus type).
Advantages Pemsa’s SAFECu copper finish presents the following additional advantages.
• Electrolytic copper plating treatment, which allows the adhesion of a uniform layer of copper with its hygienic, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, based on the elimination of these microorganisms when they come into contact with copper for a certain time and contrasted in various scientific investigations with analysis in specialised laboratories. • Total protection throughout the useful life of the product without problems, due to the aging of the copper, taking into account the minimum maintenance defined in these facilities. • This coating is recommended for interiors and environments classified with
Table C.1 of Annex C of ISO 9223. • Another benefit of this finish is that copper improves the electrical continuity of the cable tray system by 50% due to the intrinsic properties of this metal.
The application of the Pemsa SAFECu system as a sanitary hygienic solution is essential for:
• ICU units and operating theatres • Rooms and waiting areas of health centres and hospitals • New hospital projects, including temporary facilities • Residences for the elderly and care centres • Universities, colleges, teaching centres • Office buildings, shopping centres, theatres, sports facilities, etc.
Product features Pemsa applies its SAFECu finish to a complete product range of cable trays, supports and accessories that additionally have the following characteristics:
• Open structure of rejiband and rejitech mesh trays that favours the ventilation and cleaning of the installation in order to maintain its properties. • Two metre length – compact size for confined spaces and facility renovations. corrosivity category C1 and C2, defined in
• Surface shaped with rounded rods, therefore avoiding edges and reducing contact surface. • 50% improved electrical continuity, thanks to the copper plate finish. • Complete product range – wire mesh trays, joints, accessories and supports all with the SAFECu copper finish, guaranteeing the same protection for the entire system. It is important not to mix with other finishes in order to guarantee proper antibacterial and antimicrobial protection. • SAFECu products are supplied in a closed protective packaging, avoiding any possible contamination. • All the experience of rejiband and Pemsa in cable management systems.
PRODUCT INNOVATION HELPS SHAPE UNIVOLT’S BUSINESS
Product innovation sits at the heart of the Univolt business ethos and the firm continues to explore new ways in which to strengthen its growing cable containment range. During the past six months and throughout lockdown, Univolt has launched a number of new key products, as well as a complete new trunking range. Steve Davis, National Business Development Manager at Univolt, describes the firm’s ongoing product development drive.
Understanding the changing needs of our customers and developing new products that satisfy demand has always been important to our business. However, we have undoubtedly stepped up ‘‘ our commitment to introducing new key products onto the market during the past 12 months. “In more recent months, we have seen the launch of our industry leading three compartment dado, SLXL PVC-LSF Steve Davis, (lower smoke) range as well as the new National Business power pole and PVC cable tray, all of Development which have been introduced during or Manager, Univolt post lockdown, in what we recognise as an extremely challenging time for the industry (and society in general). We believed pressing ahead with product development and innovation remained a priority during this time and sent out a clear and bold message to our customers and our industry in terms of commitment to retaining our promise and supplying in line with demand. “I’m pleased to say that the response has been incredibly positive. We are now at a stage where we own a complete product range and one that includes what could arguably be described as the safest PVC trunking range available on the market today. “Whilst a three compartment trunking range is not unique to Univolt – we recognise that there are other competitor products available on the market – it is the specification that is the Univolt is one of only a handful of companies to offer ultimate differentiator which, in our case, includes PVC-LSF, and so this has been a PVC cable tray an incredibly exciting development for Univolt that will naturally set us apart.” Offering a higher ignition point of up to 15% than standard PVC, the halogens contained within the products are released at a slower rate, therefore, smoke release is also reduced by up to 65% in the first four minutes of a fire.
Davis continues: “The SLXL product range has been under development for some time from our headquarters in Austria. Not only does it essentially complete the Univolt range catering for Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, Cat8 and OM3 Fibre Optic cables, but it now offers far reaching safety benefits through its slow burning fire resistant properties. SLXL offers customers something entirely different, combining functionality and aesthetics with safety and durability, as well as delivering a future proof cabling solution.
“We are already seeing Cat8 being installed within data centres, delivering 2000MHz bandwidth, representing three times more than Cat 6A. Whilst we don’t envisage this having any major impact on the commercial market for the next 12 months, this product essentially future proofs any cable containment system.
“Safety has and continues to be the most pressing element when approaching any electrical installation. With relatively little price differentiator between PVC and PVC- LSF, and with very few other manufacturers offering this specification, we see this as an easy choice to make.”
The introduction of SLXL effectively completes the Univolt cable containment range, reinforcing the one-stop-shop ethos with supporting wire basket systems, including quick fit accessories.
Davis adds: “We recognised the need to introduce this latest generation of cable management system in response to the needs of our electrical wholesaler customers. The wholesaler is keen to offer as much choice as possible to today’s installer, whose requirements are based around speed of installation with the latest product features to distribute advanced data cabling through differing environments. We’re proud to have taken this approach a step further.”
The firm is also one of only a handful of companies to offer a PVC cable tray, a move that has taken place only in recent weeks. This product has been developed specifically to meet the needs of aggressive or coastal environments, providing a lasting and durable cable containment solution.
Davis explains: “We have long supplied wire basket, but we are now
The new power pole offering a PVC alternative, where this type of material is better suited to a harsher environment.”
The PVC tray utilises corrosion-free and UV stabilised properties, which provide ultimate protection against coastal and corrosive environments, guaranteeing a long and lasting product life.
Davis adds: “Not only does the tray deliver the perfect properties to meet this type of environment, but it is also lightweight and therefore easy to handle and transport, as well as being simple to cut to length, therefore saving time and cost on installation.”
The company’s latest aluminium white power pole (PP2WT), introduced into the UK market earlier this year, has been designed with an adjustable telescopic arm for ease of installation. The power pole sits at 3.5m and is extendable up to 3.95m, with the option of an extra extension kit (PP2EXT) at 2.5m, offering an overall height of 6m.
With the majaroity of buildings now having to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), Univolt has launched a range of products incorporating a ‘light grey lid’, including the new power pole, three compartment SLXL-LSF and bench trunking, enabling a 30% contrast between a white trunking and white socket, for those with impaired vision.
Davis continues: “For us, creating the ultimate and complete cable containment range remains our driving force. Whilst we continue to introduce products that are also available via other manufacturers, certain products are more bespoke and unique to Univolt.
“Building a range that meets the need of every specifier or contractor, in any project or environment remains our end goal. We are undoubtedly leading the way in safe trunking solutions in terms of fire prevention, and this will continue to set us apart. However, we understand that some customers are keen to continue to focus on the more traditional lines and so we must also offer this in response.
“There are more products under development from our headquarters in Vienna and we look forward to making further announcements this year and into 2021.”
