ECN January 2021

uickwire

The revolutionary new junction box for lighting www.quickwire.co.uk

VOLUME 41 NO. 01 • JANUARY 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE: EMERGENCY LIGHTING

36

ELECTRICALCONTRACTINGNEWS.COM

24 COMPETITION Win an Eltako Universal Dimmer Actuator with Wireless Pushbutton Switch

SPECIAL FEATURE: ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

44

MODE — THE WIRING ACCESSORIES OF CHOICE FOR CONTRACTORS Scolmore’s Mode range of stylish and flexible wiring accessories remains the company’s best-selling collection and a firm favourite with contractors.

T

here has never been a wider choice of styles and finishes in wiring accessories available, giving end users the opportunity to reflect the latest trends for interior design in the switches and sockets that they choose. One of Scolmore’s most significant new product developments in recent years saw the launch of a range of premium, decorative metal wiring accessories – Deco Plus. However, despite the huge success of Deco Plus, for Scolmore it is the Click Mode range of white wiring accessories that remains the company’s best-selling wiring accessories collection to date.

The Mode range was conceived and developed as a high quality, flexible and modern solution for virtually any domestic wiring requirement. The smooth, contemporary lines of the Mode accessory plate will fit easily into traditional and contemporary designs alike and the modular design allows installers unprecedented flexibility in creating dedicated wiring solutions to deal with specific wiring needs.

When selecting wiring accessories, installers have often had to compromise their schemes as they have been unable to identify a suitably flexible solution to fit their design ideas. Mode accessories provide that flexibility, with a comprehensive selection of products ranging from the humble light switch and socket outlet, through to more specialised products dealing with the very latest developments in phone and satellite products.

For ALL Your Electrical Essentials

www.niglon.co.uk

Turn to page 12 for the full story.

4000+ Stocked Items One Central Distribution Hub 2500+ Electrical Wholesale Outlets Fourth Generation Family Run Business 50+ Years Serving the Electrical Industry

t 0121 711 1990 | e sales@niglon.co.uk

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EDIAN Soft Curved Edge

Wiring Accessories Range

Connect with us on:

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THE MOULD More Choice: More Flexibility

www.niglon.co.uk

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CONTENTS VOLUME 41 NO. 01 • JANUARY 2021

CONTENTS…

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Regulars

Cabling & Cable Management

5 Editorial

writes on end user specification of 20 BASEC approved data cable products

Happy New Year!

6 Interactive Week Introducing ECN Interactive Week

Circuit Protection & Switchgear

8 Industry News Businesses still unclear over the implications of Brexit; 81% of electricians aren’t sure how to use social media effectively; Electricity networks plan to boost EVs for small businesses; and more

to A Type ahead of regulation 26 Switch changes, says Niglon

12 Cover Story

looks at the importance of using the 28 Hager most appropriate solution from the choices

Marie Parry, Group Marketing Director at Scolmore Group looks at what makes simple, white accessories the bread and butter for the electrical contractor

available when it comes to RCD selection

14 Contract News

has delivered medium voltage 31 ABB switchgear and cabinets to a leading UK

Project to promote use of EVs in rural communities; Luceco supplies wireless lighting controls to ‘the birthplace of the NHS’; Office lighting completed for London’s tallest tower; and more

project management and engineering firm time for power distribution networks to 32 It’s make the move towards more sustainable

16 Training

technologies like air insulated switchgear, according to Eaton

AICO partners with SECTT for training; Employers urged to keep skills alive; and Tavcom Training celebrates 25 years

18 Key Issue Bureau Veritas writes on the need for duty holders to revisit electrical compliance and safety as business welcome back customers

19 Project Focus

Emergency Lighting light – helping you do the 36 Recycling right thing

Revolutionising facilities at a Samuel Ward Academy

Anthony Martindale outlines the 38 Eaton’s dangers of emergency lighting compliance

21 Advertisement Feature Prefect Controls takes a look at the confusion regarding the timescale to phase out fossil fuel fired boilers, and the benefits of new technologies and cleaner, greener energy

22 Advertisement Feature

falling between the (accountability) cracks Borough Primary School has significantly 40 West reduced its annual energy consumption following an LED lighting upgrade Collins, Sales Director at OVIA, looks at 42 Mike the self-test area of the emergency lighting

After a challenging year, HellermannTyton wants to change together and find new ways to work smarter

sector and how it can save building owners time and money

24 Competition Eltako is offering three lucky readers the chance to win an Eltako Universal Dimmer Actuator with Wireless Pushbutton Switch

34 Advertisement Feature Tamlite Lighting is calling on commercial building managers to future-proof their lighting systems in response to a major shift towards more flexible working models

35 Advertisement Feature Ledvance launches OSRAM lamps for all occasions

52 Company Showcase Sponsored content from across the sector

4 | January 2021

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Electric Vehicle Charging 44 Tackling the problem of connector compatibility 46 EV charging while you work 48 Paving the way to net zero with EV adoption project brings smart EV charging 50 SmartSTEP to residential urban streets

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18/12/2020 10:04

EDITORIAL

NEXT TIME…

Wiring Accessories

Smart Lighting & Lighting Control

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

H

appy New Year to all of our readers, and welcome to the first issue of 2021! I hope you all had a relaxing festive break.

Now that the first COVID-19 vaccine is being rolled out across the country, it feels like there is real hope for us all to start getting back to some semblance of normal.

The first Pfizer vaccinations are starting to be administered as I write this, and it looks hopeful that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could also gain approval very soon. In addition to this, news from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois is that a bioengineering graduate student has co-developed a rapid, ultrasensitive test using a paper-based electrochemical sensor that can detect the presence of the virus in less than five minutes.

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

The University has said that beyond COVID-19, the research team foresees that this system could be adaptable for the detection of many different diseases, which is great news for the future.

Moving on to this issue, we are pleased to bring you the latest in Circuit Protection & Switchgear, with insight from Niglon, Hager, ABB and Eaton.

In Emergency Lighting, Recolight looks at the importance of lighting recycling, and we bring you a case study from Energys group on its recent LED lighting upgrade for a Kent school.

Finally, in Electric Vehicle Charging we take a look at The Pilot Group’s installation for Pure energy, along with an article from Aptiv on the environmental benefits of electric vehicles.

In this month’s competition you could win one of three fabulous Universal Dimmer Actuators with Wireless Pushbutton Switch, courtesy of Eltako.

I hope you enjoy the issue, and see you next month!

Carly Wills, Editor

EDITOR: CARLY WILLS T: 01634 673163 E: carly@allthingsmedialtd.com

STUDIO: MARK WELLER T: 01634 673163 E: mark@allthingsmedialtd.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: BEATRICE LEE T: 01634 673163 E: bea@allthingsmedialtd.com

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

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

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

UPS & Power Distribution

February Issue Advertising deadline: January 25 Editorial deadline: January 18

ECN charity of choice

The editors 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 © 2020, All rights reserved.

Printed by Micropress, Reydon Business Park Fountain Way, Reydon, Southwold, IP18 6SZ.

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15/12/2020 16:57

INTERACTIVE WEEK

INTRODUCING ECN INTERACTIVE WEEK The first ever ECN Interactive Week – the new online initiative brought to you by Electrical Contracting News – is taking place from 1-5 February 2021.

W

ith learning opportunities and interaction severely disrupted this year, the industry has had to adapt to ensure necessary information and training opportunities do not dry up.

ECN Interactive Week provides a vital opportunity to interact with key suppliers, leading to increased profits.

ECN Interactive Week will provide a platform for companies with downtime to use their hours effectively and experience what the exhibitors have to offer.

Even throughout the pandemic, the electrical industry has continued to innovate and introduce new products, support packages and training schemes.

These initiatives still need an outlet, and this is the reason that ECN Interactive Week has been created.

The initiative will consist of webinar style presentations delivered by ECN Interactive Week exhibitors to live audiences – bringing them fully up to speed on everything the market needs to know in 2021 and beyond.

Exhibitors can promote whatever they choose during their session and will receive a video copy of their presentation to keep and use for their own marketing purposes.

Attendees from the electrical community are able to pick and choose which sessions they want to attend, free of charge. There is no limit to how many sessions they can take part in.

Each participating exhibitor will be given a time slot during the Interactive Week. Time slots are available during the day, in the evenings, or could even stretch to the Saturday if an exhibitor requests it. The time slots will be first come, first served and can be secured by visiting www.electricalcontractingnews. com/interactive-week.

Each slot will be live, with a live audience. The software we are using for this Interactive Week will be the GoToWebinars software platform, which enables exhibitors to seamlessly present their products and services to a live audience.

Benefits The benefits to exhibitors are as follows: • Each exhibitor has a 30-minute slot • Each company can have up to five people on screen during the presentation • Each exhibitor dictates exactly what the content is for their session • All sessions will be totally exhibitor branded • There is no restriction on how many slots each exhibitor can have • The software has the facility to hand out brochures/literature live to all attendees during the session. Attendees will be able to drag and drop exhibitor’s literature onto their own desktop during the presentation • Each exhibitor will receive the full list of attendees registered for their session for follow up marketing • All invites and registration confirmations will be branded to each exhibitor and will be promoted across all ATM print, online and social media • Each exhibitor will receive a video of their presentation for their own marketing initiative • The slide deck for the live presentations can either be prepared by the exhibitor or

by ATM’s studio facility

ECN Interactive Week provides a vital opportunity to interact with key suppliers, leading to increased profits

In the absence of live exhibitions due to the current pandemic, this new initiative offers participating companies the chance to showcase their products and services to a live audience, and is an opportunity not be missed.

Details will be released shortly on how to register to attend.

Exhibitors can promote whatever they choose during their session

ECN Interactive Week, electricalcontractingnews.com/ interactive-week

To book your slot to present your products and services to a live audience, please contact Kelly Byne today at kelly@allthingsmedialtd.com

6 | January 2021

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18/12/2020 11:26

INTERACTIVE WEEK

1ST – 5TH FEBRUARY 2021

ECN Interactive Week, the new online initiative brought to you by Electrical Contracting News.

To book your slot and for any further details please contact: Kelly Byne:

kelly@allthingsmedialtd.com ATM

+44 (0) 1634 673163 / +44 (0) 7738 622481

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INDUSTRY NEWS SELECT OFFERS HELP WITH SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2021 Select has chosen not to increase subscription rates for 2021, in a further move to help members cope with the financial challenges caused by COVID-19.

Subscription rates for the next 12 months will stay the same as 2020 for all Member businesses, and follows the three-month subscription refund issued by Select earlier this year.

John McGhee, Director of Resources and Association Secretary, says: “As a not-for-profit organisation, we are here to put our Members’ needs first, so once again, that’s exactly what we are doing.

“It was decided by Central Board and agreed at the AGM in September that there would be no increases to the subscription rates in 2021, and we are happy to roll this out to help Member firms of all sizes across Scotland.”

ABB ACCELERATES E-MOBILITY INNOVATION Designed to spur further innovations in e-mobility, ABB’s new $10 million, 3,600m2 facility is based on the Delft University of Technology campus, in the Netherlands and will drive the company’s future portfolio development, as well as R&D projects for electric vehicles.

Along with an investment of $30 million into a global Centre of Excellence and production site for EV charging infrastructure, due to open next year in Italy, the facility in Delft underlines ABB’s plans to grow investments in sustaining its technology leadership.

Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s global business for E-mobility Infrastructure Solutions, comments: “Innovation is in our blood – ABB has led the way in EV charging and is proud to have played a key role in driving adoption rates of electric vehicles across the world. That is why we wanted to locate our E-mobility Innovation Lab in Delft, in the heart of the university campus, where we are surrounded by the brightest tech talents and start-ups in The Netherlands.”

The complex will house up to 120 specialists and the E-mobility Innovation Lab has been fitted with the latest technology to ensure that ABB chargers are compatible with all types of vehicle.

Simulators have been built exactly for this purpose, with 95% of all tests to be conducted with a digital copy of vehicles.

ABB, global.abb

The move follows the decision earlier this year to issue a 30% discount on 2020 subscription fees, with a total of £329,405 refunded. Members who had already paid their subscription in full received

the money back, with those paying by direct debit having only seven of the 10 instalments collected.

The new move is among a number of measures that Select has introduced to

help Members through the pandemic, including online training, advice webinars and a dedicated COVID-19 hub.

Select, select.org.uk

BUSINESSES STILL UNCLEAR OVER IMPLICATIONS OF BREXIT A new engineering services sector survey has revealed that just under one in three businesses (30%) have said they are still not clear about the forthcoming business implications of Brexit.

Only a further third (28%) said they are ‘fully clear’ about the implications of the Brexit transition.

Three quarters (75%) of respondents expect the cost of electrical and electronic products to either stay the same or rise after the transition deadline of 31 December 2020.

However, although over 40% of respondents said product availability was a major factor on the horizon, fewer than one in five (17%) said they expected product availability to be negatively impacted. Half (49%) replied that they expect availability to broadly stay the same.

Rob Driscoll, ECA director of legal and business, comments: “It is perhaps no surprise that uncertainty remains a central theme as we inch closer to the Brexit deadline. However, these figures also reveal a degree of confidence in the sector – confidence in the availability of materials, and of skilled and competent individuals, once we are no longer part of the EU.” Two thirds (66%) of businesses did not believe skills would be a significant problem after Brexit, and less than a fifth (18%) said they had adopted methods for dealing with skills issues linked to Brexit transition. This figure doubled for businesses with turnover above £20 million.

ECA, eca.co.uk

81% OF UK ELECTRICIANS AREN’T SURE HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA EFFECTIVELY Social media has transformed businesses in all industries, but despite helping many tradespeople get more work, 85% say they don’t know how to use it effectively.

New research by IronmongeryDirect has explored how trade businesses currently use social media and how many are currently missing out on its benefits.

Almost half (47%) of tradespeople say that having a social media presence helps them get more work, with Facebook being the main platform (22%). This is for several reasons, including the ability to build stronger client relationships (15%), get ahead of competitors (15%) and interact with community groups (22%).

Such is the power of social media, one in six (16%) tradespeople believe it is now just as important, if not more, than traditional word of mouth. Because of this, 45% now actively advertise on at least one social platform and more than one in 10 (12%) use social media as their only form of marketing.

However, despite recognising its importance, the vast majority of tradespeople say they are not using social media effectively. Nearly nine in 10 (85%) don’t know how to get the most out of it, with plumbers the least likely to maximise its potential (90%). Joiners are the most social savvy of all the trades, yet 79% still don’t know how best to use their channels to help their business. Electricians are just behind, at 81%.

IronmongeryDirect, ironmongerydirect.co.uk

8 | January 2021

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15/12/2020 16:58

YESSS EV & Energy Catalogue Edition 1

OUT NOW!

Much more than just an EV Cable!

Power and data connectivity combined in one cable.

Hard wired data connectivity is a superior and secure alternative to using WiFi, resulting in a faster, neater and easier installation process. Available in both PVC Tuff-Sheath and SWA variants.

Electric Vehicle charging points

Gate access (most new video intercom systems use IP equipment, even PoE too), Cat5 version

Caravan sites, for network distribution either for access points or individual plot network

CCTV column wiring

Outbuilding wiring to enable access point and/or IP CCTV inclusion

Solar/battery inverter wiring for export limitation CT

Charging, renewables and emission reduction

For all your EV and energy requirements contact your local YESSS branch We’ve got all the tools for the job

OFFLINE or ONLINE A 24/7 TRADE WEBSITE, the INDUSTRIAL CATALOGUE, the YESSS BOOK and an industry leading CUSTOMER APP

Tel 01924 227941 Email enquiries@yesss.co.uk

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15/12/2020 16:56

INDUSTRY NEWS HALF OF THE UK HAS A SHORTAGE OF MORE THAN 50 ELECTRICIANS Half of the UK has a shortfall of more than 50 electricians, according to new analysis into the shortage of tradespeople in the electrical industry.

The study by electrical wholesaler ERF identified Middlesex as the area of the UK which has the biggest shortage of electricians, followed by Surrey and Hertfordshire.

Having analysed data from a job website for all of the vacancies for electricians, the research found there were 574 job openings in Middlesex. In Surrey there were 566 and in Hertfordshire 555.

In total, 56 out of the 112 areas of the UK listed on the job website had more than 50 vacancies for electricians with 15 places having over 100.

On the other hand, with no job vacancies, the Scottish county of Wigtownshire is the area with the fewest openings for electricians. Caithness in Scotland, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, Moray, Scotland, Selkirkshire, Scotland and Sutherland, Scotland, all had just one job vacancy in their respective areas also.

While the alarming shortage of qualified electricians has been a well-documented problem for a number of years now, with more people than ever considering a career change, the pandemic could provide businesses with the perfect opportunity to address this pressing issue.

The research by ERF aims to encourage companies within the industry to invest in the electricians of tomorrow and to aid those within the trade currently out of work find a job.

ERF, erfelectrical.co.uk

MOVERS & SHAKERS…

ELECTROTECHNICAL CERTIFICATION SCHEME ISSUES REMINDER The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) has issued a reminder that from 1 January 2021 the new requirements for Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) ECS occupations will become compulsory for all new (initial) card applications, meaning that all new applicants will be required to hold a pathway-specific FESS assessment for the ECS occupation being applied for.

The new Occupational Qualification Structure introduced by the FESS industry and leading to Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) Card recognition is aimed at promoting higher standards and skills and advancing the standards of professionalism and competence in the sector.

The new structure has been developed by an industry-wide working group formed by leading trade associations and employer representatives. Uniquely recognising the introduction of the FESS Trailblazer, the new structure sets the standard for new entrants to the market at Level 3 whilst also addressing the need to recognise the training, experience and qualifications of the current workforce.

There are now four sector disciplines recognised by the ECS in the FESS industry, which include Fire; Fire and Emergency Lighting; Security (Including Access Control, Intruder and CCTV systems), and Fire and Security. Each sector recognises three disciplines which include Systems Operative, Systems Technician and Technical Manager. In addition, the occupations of Labourer, Trainee and Apprentice are recognised by ECS. ECS, ecscard.org.uk

ELECTRICITY NETWORKS PLAN TO BOOST EVS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Over two million small businesses from across London, the South East and East of England are being asked to join a landmark project to help enable the UK’s net zero transition.

UK Power Networks has launched its White Van Plan research project. The company is calling for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to voice their future needs for transport so they are not left behind in getting the electric charging infrastructure they need, whether they use vans, trucks, or passenger vehicles for their business.

The power company wants to understand how best to support SMEs that may be looking to invest in their first electric vehicle or switch their commercial fleet to electric. SMEs who would like to get their voice heard and receive tailored support on electric transport can respond to the project’s launch survey.

With 58% of new cars registered to companies, and nearly six million SMEs across the UK, they play a huge part in reaching the government’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. However, unlike some larger firms, SMEs may not have the information, time or resources to make the transition to electric vehicles (EV).

White Van Plan aims to make it as easy as possible for them to convert to EV charging by creating a detailed picture of SMEs’ transport use in the region, giving useful information and tailored support. UK Power Networks will also use the information to investigate new smart charging-based solutions, to free up spare network capacity and save money for customers and SMEs alike.

BG Energy Solutions (BGES) has welcomed three new specialists to its management team. Georgia Butler has joined as Head of Service and will be responsible for improving BGES’ service offering. Butler has extensive experience in the property services and maintenance sector. Rob Ordish joins as Senior Project Manager and will be responsible for leading projects on the BMS installations side of the business. Ordish brings with him over 18 years’ experience in the building controls industry. Melissa Povey joins as Business and Governance Manager and will be working across the business to develop structures and procedures in line with industry standards and accreditations. Povey has extensive quality and compliance experience in the construction industry.

Hanwha Techwin Europe has appointed Jeff (Chae Won) Lee as its new Managing Director. Having worked for the Hanwha Group for over 21 years, most recently as Hanwha Techwin Europe’s Sales Director, and with a Master of Business Administration, he has an exceptional track record of delivering on strategic objectives and a wealth of knowledge and experience of growing businesses.

Schneider Electric has appointed Mark Yeeles as Vice President of Industrial Automation in the UK and Ireland.

Yeeles will take over from Martin Walder, who will move into a new European role, overseeing Industrial Automation Transformation in Europe. Yeeles will play a fundamental role in driving forward Industrial Automation in the region, with a specific focus on increasing the uptake of interoperable automation software.

UK Power Networks, ukpowernetworks.co.uk

10 | January 2021

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COVER STORY

MODE — THE ULTIMATE IN QUALITY, STYLISH AND FLEXIBLE WIRING ACCESSORIES With a myriad of styles and finishes available for wiring accessories, Marie Parry, group marketing director, Scolmore Group, looks at what makes simple, white accessories the bread and butter for the electrical contractor.

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he Mode range was conceived and developed as a high quality, flexible and modern solution for virtually any domestic wiring requirement, and Scolmore has continued to invest in this range since it was originally launched in 2006, with new products, enhanced testing and adherence to the strictest regulations.

Antimicrobial and antiviral credentials

The Mode range was conceived and developed as a high quality, flexible and modern solution for virtually any domestic wiring requirement

12 | January 2021

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With an increasing emphasis on building cleanliness, Scolmore took a further step last year to ensure that the company’s wiring accessory products offer enhanced hygiene properties. The popular Mode, Mode Part M and Polar plates have now been independently tested and have shown to have anti-viral properties against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. After a contact period of four hours, all tested plates were shown to have a 99.9% kill off rate against enveloped viruses and a 92% kill off rate against non-enveloped viruses.

This new anti-viral testing is in addition to the anti-bacterial testing already carried out. Mode, Mode Part M and Polar are all manufactured using Urea Formaldehyde, which has similar inherent properties to antimicrobial additives that inhibit the growth of infectious diseases. When independently tested, all products achieved a 99.99% kill off rate across all four types of the strains of bacteria – MRSA, E-Coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella Pneumonia.

Innovation highlights There have been many new products added to the collection since it was originally launched, including the addition of products in visually contrasting versions to meet with Part M regulations. 2016 saw the launch of the award-winning Mode Locating Plug Socket, which is designed to assist people with impaired vision or poor hand to eye coordination to insert a plug more easily into a socket. The contoured shape of the front plate guides the earth pin into position, and it is this plug guide which gives the product a greater focus on usability and means its use can be extended to situations where a socket isn’t easily accessible.

In 2018 a three-pin safety shutter socket, which exceeds the required safety standards, was launched. It features a safety shutter that cannot be operated using only one terminal – it requires correct insertion of all three pins of a standard UK plug.

Last year Scolmore expanded its USB wiring accessories range to include 13A two-gang socket outlets with integrated Type A and Type C USB charging ports.

This was designed to meet growing demand and developments in the market for charging solutions. Originally available in the popular Click Mode range, these socket outlets are now available in all of the company’s wiring accessories ranges.

By integrating both Type A and Type C on the same socket, the range has broader functionality and offers charging options for the widest possible range of devices that now use different sized ports.

Helping to fight infection Products from the Mode range have been specified and installed across a huge range of applications including hospitals, care homes, schools, hotels, offices, and leisure complexes. In a recent example, the Mode antimicrobial range was chosen to provide the solution for the newly expanded Same Day Emergency Care Unit at Conquest Hospital in St Leonards, which was opened last year.

Responsible for specifying the Mode products for the hospital unit was Mark Sellens, electrical project manager at electrical contracting firm, Booker & Best Ltd. He comments: “The Mode range really was an obvious choice on a number of levels that were important for this particular project. It is a great quality range and represents very good value, which is essential in helping to meet budget commitments, and it comes with a 20-year guarantee which is

pretty unique in the industry. It also scored highly from an infection control point of view, with its antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

Plus, its smooth profile means there is a reduced risk of germs being harboured.”

Scolmore has continued to invest in the Mode range since it was originally launched in 2006

A ‘Grand’ solution A recent edition of Grand Designs featured a special build in rural Suffolk for a young family man, Toby Lee, who was living with a suppressed immune system and prone to infections, following a life-saving bone marrow transplant operation. The house was designed to incorporate features beneficial to Toby’s ongoing wellbeing and health and, with some 370 square metres of accommodation to contend with, a huge quantity of wiring accessories was needed for the electrical installation. After much research, Mode wiring accessories were personally chosen

by Toby specifically for their antimicrobial benefits, and switches and sockets were installed throughout the six-bedroom house.

He says: “As well as meeting those vital health requirements, they are very smooth, stylish looking products that look really good everywhere we had them installed.”

Scolmore, scolmore.com

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The Mode, Mode Part M and Polar plates have been independently tested and have shown to have anti-viral properties against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses

/electricalcontractingnews

15/12/2020 16:59

NEW GREY INSERTS We are now offering Grey Inserts with a selection of our decorative finishes.

In the Deco® Ingot and Deco® Plus product ranges Satin Chrome and Stainless Steel finishes are available with grey inserts.

In the Definity™ Ingot product range finishes available with grey inserts are Stainless Steel and Brushed Stainless.

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15/12/2020 16:49 15/12/2020 10:34:05

CONTRACT NEWS AHU REFURB PROJECT IMPROVES ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY Multi-specialist engineering contractor, ECEX, has completed a major air handling unit (AHU) refurbishment project in the Broadgate Quarter, London.

The company has refurbished two massive AHUs at 9 Appold Street, a unique business development between Liverpool Street station and Broadgate.

Both units – one providing a duty of 21m³/s and the other 16m³/s – are on the 10th floor of the striking building, which offers fully fitted Grade A space providing outstanding office accommodation. The two AHUs provide tempered fresh air to the entire building.

The work done by ECEX operatives included fan upgrade, chilled water-cooling coil replacement, replacing the large fresh air inlet dampers, and installing new ECEX air intake screens. The company also carried out general refurbishment comprising corrosion treatment, cleaning, painting, new latches and seals and new lighting circuits.

James Gafford, contract manager at ECEX, says: “The main logistical challenge in this project was that the installation of these large units was in the top floor of a building accessed by a goods lift that was significantly smaller than the AHUs. This meant that we had to build the coils – which were around 3m wide and 2.5m tall – in kit form in situ because they were too large to fit into the lifts.”

ECEX replaced old, belt-driven centrifugal supply fans with a high-efficiency plug fan array which allowed it to increase the efficiency of the system while also allowing for an element of redundancy in case of future failure.

The works completed by ECEX have effectively extended the working life expectancy of the air handling units and the new high efficiency fans have led to a significant reduction in energy usage which, through planned future BMS

PROJECT TO PROMOTE USE OF EVS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, has attracted funding of £1.5 million to deliver the installation of a network of 24 rapid charging points on the west coast of the Highlands and Islands to break down the main barriers to ownership of electrical vehicles in rural communities.

Units will be installed in Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Argyll and Bute and the Western Isles at locations yet to be confirmed.

HITRANS has tapped into a European collaboration to help deliver the FASTER Project – Facilitating a Sustainable Transition to Electric Vehicles in the Regions. The project will assist with analysis of the planning and procurement requirements needed to kick start a commercial charging service. Ireland and Northern Ireland are included in the project partners.

FASTER aims to ensure that the availability of charging stations is not a major obstacle to EV market penetration, with the proposal to carry out the design and analysis, procurement, installation and operation of 73 rapid chargers (50KW capacity) across the three countries. It will also provide an additional supportive, enabling environment for suppliers and consumers and provide increased confidence and reassurance in regional commitment to the emerging EV market.

Lochaber Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of HITRANS said preliminary work has been conducted on possible locations for the chargers through the HITRANS EV Strategy, and discussions were ongoing to ensure locations were chosen wisely and in line with grid capacity and existing infrastructure.

HITRANS, hitrans.org.uk

integration, can lead to close monitoring and management of energy usage.

ECEX, ecex.co.uk

LUCECO SUPPLIES WIRELESS LIGHTING CONTROLS TO ‘THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE NHS’ Trafford General Hospital in Greater Manchester, managed by the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, is known as ‘The Birthplace of the NHS’. Luceco Wireless Lighting Controls have been specified

by SI Sealy in association with the Estates and Facilities Energy Division of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Luceco Wireless Lighting Controls were seen as a flexible approach to introducing control into buildings that could be tailored to suit individual preferences whilst being remotely monitored.

Luceco Wireless Lighting Controls also gave the energy team a very clear picture of where lighting was being used efficiently by utilising dashboards to scrutinise the graphic information and adjust settings remotely to improve energy efficiency.

As a result of the cost calculations of the lighting refurbishment programme for TGH Ward 15/16 Elderly Care being within the budget constraints, approximately 150 Luceco Wireless Lighting Controlled luminaires were installed including the LuxFrame, Epsilon, LuxPanel, Contour, Platinum and Element downlighters.

Richard Horton, Business Development Manager from Luceco says, “We have been advised when analysed, the reduction in energy consumed from standard fixtures to LED luminaires in TGH Ward 15/16 Elderly Care reduced consumption from 33KW/Hr to 14.85KW/Hr.” This has been further reduced by Luceco Wireless Lighting Controls to operate at 55% of output to 8.2KW, resulting in a huge and very welcome energy saving.

Luceco, luceco.com

14 | January 2021

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15/12/2020 16:59

CONTRACT NEWS OFFICE LIGHTING COMPLETED FOR LONDON’S TALLEST TOWER Future Designs has completed the office lighting for 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest tower in the City of London, standing at 278 metres high.

Future Designs has provided the 130,000m2 development, set to be Europe’s first vertical village, with GLOS, a contemporary and minimalist luminaire that results in a perfectly illuminated environment.

Wellness and its subsequent impact on productivity of workers is a high priority for the design of this office building, and Future Designs’ GLOS fixture was tested and proved to meet the wellness criteria. Luminaires were tested for melanopic lumen values, which is the percentage of the light emitted that is close to daylight in terms of colour temperature. Daylight colour temperatures are beneficial to health and well-being and form part of Wellness certification.

22 Bishopsgate has London’s largest cycle park and a state-of-the-art gym, complete with a climbing window, 125 metres above the ground on level 25, as well as a wellbeing retreat on level 41. It is also the first building in the UK to apply for the Delos WELL Building Standard.

This people-focused building is a complex, 22-sided, faceted glass structure. The design is built and managed to satisfy the changing nature of the City of London in terms of the type, size and priorities of companies based there, including demands for high standards of technology and sustainability. Emphasis has been placed on constructing a building with flexible floorplates, high ceilings and exemplary lighting that compliments the

natural light flow, which is enabled with three metre high, triple glazed windows.

As well as providing a place for 12,000 people to work, creating a diverse business community, 22

Bishopsgate also provides a range of retail, bar and restaurant units.

Future Designs, futuredesigns.co.uk

J S WRIGHT LANDS £20M CONTRACT FOR NINE ELMS PARKSIDE Mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright has secured a £20 million contract to support one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects.

The company, which has offices in Birmingham and London, is to fit out the mechanical services for all 894 apartments in two buildings (Blocks B and D) at Nine Elms Parkside in Battersea on the south side of the River Thames in London.

The build-to-rent development is being built by Telford Homes as main contractor for global rental housing developer Greystar as part of the Nine Elms regeneration project – a new neighbourhood stretching from Battersea to Vauxhall that will eventually contain 20,000 homes as well as cultural, retail and business facilities.

J S Wright will fit out the one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Nine Elms Parkside with underfloor heating

systems, along with fan coil units for comfort cooling. The company will also equip the kitchens and bathrooms with hot and cold-water services, soil and wastewater disposal systems, sanitaryware and mechanical extract ventilation systems, as well as install above ground drainage services and fire sprinklers for both buildings.

J S Wright has just begun work on site with completion due in the third quarter of 2022.

Phil Leech, Managing Director of J S Wright, says: “We are delighted to have been awarded our first contract with Telford Homes to fit out what amounts to the largest number of apartments in our history at one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects.”

J S Wright, jswright.co.uk

HEAT FROM RIVER TYNE USED TO WARM HOMES AND SCHOOLS After a competitive tender process, South Tyneside Council Cabinet has appointed Colloide Engineering Systems the contract to construct the groundbreaking Viking Energy Network at Jarrow. This district heating system is the first of its kind in the country and would work by harnessing low-grade heat from the River Tyne and exporting it to 11 buildings, including high-rise flats, schools and sheltered housing.

The multi-million-pound energy network would slash annual carbon emissions by an estimated 1,035 tonnes and save around half a million pounds a year.

Detailed designs for the system have now been drawn up and a planning application has been submitted.

An energy centre serving the network will be built on an existing council-owned brownfield site at Jarrow Staithes on the south bank of the River Tyne. The system plans to combine a river source heat pump, a combined heat and power (CHP) back-up system, a 1 MW solar farm, and a private wire electrical network with storage battery.

Water source heat pumps work by extracting heat from a body of water, compressing it to increase the temperature and then converting it into useful energy in the form of hot water in a network of insulated pipes connecting buildings. The solar farm would provide much of the electricity to power the heat pump.

CHP – which would be used on occasions when the solar panels hadn’t generated sufficient electricity – is a highly-efficient process that harnesses the heat that is a by-product of the electricity generation process and which would otherwise be wasted.

Colloide, colloide.com

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January 2021 | 15

15/12/2020 17:00

TRAINING AICO PARTNERS WITH SECTT FOR TRAINING Aico has announced its partnership with the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT). This collaboration will see Aico deliver Fire Industry Association accredited CPD training to apprentices throughout Scotland.

After participating in a Aico Expert Installer training session delivered to Motherwell college, SECTT Training and Development Manager, Barrie Mckay, impressed with the content, felt the training would be of great benefit to the first- and second-year electrical apprenticeship students that SECTT manage, Scotland wide.

He comments, “Aico have been fantastic with us and are always keeping us up to date; some of the technology coming through now is ground-breaking and exciting for the future so it’s great that the apprentices will learn all about standards, legislation and all of these new technologies coming through. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the market leader in fire and carbon monoxide protection.”

Aico Regional Specification Manager for Central Scotland, Tony Boyle, says of the collaboration, “I can’t speak highly enough of the work that SECTT do and it’s exciting to

be working in partnership with them. Having been through the SECTT apprenticeship training scheme myself, I know first-hand how important it is that apprentices are working with the right products to do the job properly. I’m also looking forward to delivering the training together with my colleagues in Scotland to over 700 students annually knowing that the apprentices attending are the future of the industry.”

As Aico is an Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) Champion, it will also facilitate mental health awareness sessions for students, delivered by the EIC. This new strategic approach to training will see Aico have invaluable contact with colleges and students that was not possible before.

The partnership will provide firstand second-year electrical apprentices with training on alarm selection, siting, installation, standards and legislation and new technologies. Aico alarms have been distributed to SECTT’s assessment centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen to give practical, hands-on training to students.

AICO, aico.co.uk

EMPLOYERS URGED TO KEEP SKILLS ALIVE

TAVCOM TRAINING CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

JTL is launching a new campaign to urge employers to take advantage of the government grants and take on an apprentice.

Tavcom Training, part of the Linx International Group, is celebrating its 25-year anniversary. Since 1995, the company has trained and certified in excess of 50,000 learners (in over 100 countries), across its extensive portfolio of more than 100 classroom and online courses.

Its new campaign ‘Keep the skills alive and the lights shining’ encourages employers to utilise the cash incentive being offered by the government and take on an apprentice before 31 January 2021. In recognition of the value apprentices can bring to the economy, an incentive payment of £2,000 is being offering to employers who hire an apprentice between the age of 16-24 years old, while £1,500 will be paid when an apprentice aged 25 and over is taken on.

There is no limit on the number of incentive payments that an employer can claim for apprentices eligible to receive funding, providing each apprentice meets the eligibility criteria. The apprentice must be a new employee to the business, have a contract of employment start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021 (inclusive), and must not have been employed by the employer within the six months prior to the contract start date. Plus, this incentive can be used in addition to the existing £1,000 government grant available if you take on an apprentice aged 16-18.

Cathie Foster, Head of Marketing and Communications at JTL, said: “The messaging of our ‘Keep the skills alive and the lights shining’ campaign comes at a crucial time, whereby we want to encourage employers to build a brighter future for their business by taking advantage of this funding. Now is the last opportunity for employers to access the government funding and take on apprentices to further support their individual business, as well as helping the wider COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

“As part of JTL’s support offering and to ensure the pipeline of skilled tradespeople continues, we are on-hand to speak to employers who are keen to invest in the training and development of an apprentice, and to help employers make the most of the government financial assistance available to them.”

JTL, jtltraining.com

With the growth of manufacturers in security technology between the mid to late 90’s, including CCTV, access control, alarms, and IP networking, there was a growing demand for expert vendor agnostic training, regarding the design, installation, management and use of these increasingly complex systems. Tavcom Training was founded by Mike Tennent to meet this need and today, the pace of technical innovation is faster than ever and Mike’s commitment to delivering relevant high-quality training is a large factor in Tavcom’s continued success 25-years on.

A key milestone came in 2001 when Tavcom’s BTEC courses were accredited by the Edexcel Foundation. The commitment to professionalising the industry and improving standards through recognised and accredited training has continued for 25 years.

The company has also taken the lead in other industry-defining initiatives, notably the Certified Technical Security Professional (CTSP) Register. Launched in 2017 and managed by Tavcom, this professional public Register recognises the competency of individuals fulfilling technical roles in the electronic security and fire sectors.

Tavcom continues to make significant long-term investments in its training provision, seeking out world-renowned subject matter experts and trainers, developing new courses in response to the changing requirements of security professionals and the rapidly evolving technology accessible to them. It has also made significant upgrades to its state-of-the-art and future-proofed training centre in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, as well as opening a new facility in Shipley, West Yorkshire, and delivering courses at a purpose-built training centre in Singapore.

Tavcom Training, tavcom.com

16 | January 2021

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15/12/2020 17:00

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IN-STORE | CEF.CO.UK | TRADE CATALOGUE | APP Untitled-2 1

15/12/2020 16:41

KEY ISSUE

ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMES FIRST AS BUSINESSES FIGHT TO STAY OPEN As businesses continue to welcome back customers following forced coronavirus shutdowns, many are juggling a long list of challenges and conflicting priorities. But one focus that can’t be ignored is the need for duty holders to revisit electrical compliance and safety.

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With the majority of sites open again, duty holders should pay particular attention to their compliance

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o help firms in their quest to remain compliant as they fight to stay open, Michael Kenyon, Technical Lead at Bureau Veritas, explores the key obligations for duty holders, from electrical compliance strategies to gap analyses.

It’s been a year like no other for all industries, with forced shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic placing unprecedented pressure on organisations.

Even with the go-ahead to reopen, owners and operators across different sectors are faced with a host of obligations, from social distancing and hygiene, to implementing track and trace systems. All this whilst the threat of re-closures looms in the event of further outbreaks.

There were, of course, many consequences of premises closing during the national lockdown period, including the postponement of statutory compliance inspections where sites were left vacant.

Some duty holders were unable to keep up to date with inspections and testing through the challenging times, but compliance is still statutory – even in a pandemic.

In the case of electrical safety, organisations have a duty of care to ensure that electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition; periodic inspection and testing remains a key part of that, as detailed in the Electricity at Work Regulations Reg 4 (EAWR).

Now, with the majority of sites open again, duty holders should pay particular attention to their compliance. This means working with inspection partners to put together a robust plan to manage risk and return to compliant status as soon as practicably possible.

Owners and operators are faced with a host of obligations, from social distancing to implementing track and trace

The importance of electrical safety

“All businesses have a duty of care to employees to ensure that working environments and equipment are safe.”

All businesses have a duty of care to employees to ensure that working environments and equipment are safe.

Testing of electrical appliances, emergency lighting along escape routes and ongoing management of distribution boards and control panels are just a few of the routine inspection and maintenance requirements in order to be fully compliant with the EAWR and BS7671 (18th Edition wiring regulations).

Of course, different organisations have vastly different requirements. Some have an in-house capability for periodic inspection and testing works and need only an external audit, while other businesses need a fully bespoke electrical management scheme.

However, all duty holders have an obligation to comply with the requirements of the regulations, which apply to all places of work.

Coming out of lockdown It was inevitable as businesses reopened that there would be increased demand for testing and inspection services, and we are seeing the result of this spike now.

In some cases, where skeleton staff remained on site, the Bureau Veritas team was able to complete inspections during closures, which provides a better environment to do full testing with minimum disruption to the business.

Even now, with businesses open again but perhaps not operating to full capacity, it remains an ideal time to discharge your duty of care and ensure the safety of staff, customers and visitors.

Dead testing, for example, is more disruptive as it requires isolating supplies.

However, the good news given the lower occupancy of many buildings, is that this presents the opportunity to do more dead

electricalcontractingnews.com

testing as it is currently a safer and more comprehensive way of testing for many customers. In fact, this means that Bureau Veritas can dead test equipment that it would not otherwise have been able to isolate due to operational demands.

Kenyon’s advice for all duty holders throughout the pandemic has been to continue with inspections and testing as usual wherever possible, because it remains the most effective way to meet your obligations. However, the most important thing is that you must be confident that there is no subsequent risk to employees or customers if you did not have the opportunity to complete inspections by the time of reopening.

Taking steps to maintain compliance Ultimately, electrical compliance – and the strategy behind it – needs to be realistic, reasonable and achievable. It was inevitable that some inspections would be postponed during the unprecedented COVID-19 shutdowns, but if your compliance strategy has been affected, then there needs to be a gap analysis, which is a documented assessment, in order to get back on track.

As part of this, duty holders must identify how they are going to catch up with compliance and if an incident occurs, then you will have to explain this strategy to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). It may be that a new, revised strategy is required.

If some equipment hasn’t been tested within specified periods, then you have to set out in writing how it will be. A good testing and inspection partner will be able to offer impartial advice on how to achieve that.

Bureau Veritas, bureauveritas.co.uk

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15/12/2020 17:01

PROJECT FOCUS

REVOLUTIONISING FACILITIES AT A SAMUEL WARD ACADEMY Working on a brief to deliver a first-class facility for the pupils and teachers, Thorn Lighting has supplied both internal and external illumination for the £10 million education block that has revolutionised facilities at a Samuel Ward Academy in Suffolk.

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providing high standards in terms of natural daylighting, acoustic performance and the internal environment.

Thorn’s Arena LED luminaires illuminate the classrooms throughout the building.

Their excellent light quality and sound absorbing features minimise the sound reverberation in the classrooms. Modern concrete walls, hard flooring and large amounts of glass all reflect (rather than absorb) sound. The echo effect created in this way can make it difficult to hear the teacher speak, causing students to raise the noise level even further by chatting amongst themselves. The Arena LED minimises this.

Arena is a direct/indirect luminaire that gives the Academy a modern visual appearance. The fitting is available with a

he luminaires were chosen to enhance the overall appearance of the state-of-the-art facility and create a flexible and adaptable 21st Century learning environment for pupils, whilst providing a low maintenance, energy efficient solution.

The three-storey building replaced the school’s single-storey blocks A and B, which sat at the front of the building and, in addition to classrooms, the block houses the library, the SEN (special educational needs) resource base, specialist music, art rooms and media suites. Funding for the work came from the Government’s Priority School Build Programme, with the building

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“Thorn’s Arena LED luminaires illuminate the classrooms throughout the building.”

wide range of control options and has been designed for flexibility, offering a choice of infills to adapt the length of the system to match all classroom layouts. Arena is fully compliant with BB93 for optimum classroom performance, utilising high-efficiency LEDs to slash energy consumption.

Thorn’s Piazza robust IP65, wall-mounted luminaires have been used for the illumination of the exterior of the building. Piazza has unique photometrics with three metre forward light throw and 12 metre spacing that also provides a very low upward light throw with less than 2.5% ULOR. Piazza delivers excellent 116lm/W efficiency with simple installation.

Thorn, thornlighting.co.uk

January 2021 | 19

17/12/2020 10:03

SPECIAL FEATURE

CABLING & CABLE MANAGEMENT

END USER SPECIFICATION OF APPROVED DATA CABLE PRODUCTS The use of data cables is expanding across all industries. For this reason, the specifications for each end user may differ, along with the durability in harsh environments and the distance travelled – indicating the considerations that need to be considered during the manufacturing process. This article will discuss the role of the data cable for the end user and thus the specification the cable must accommodate.

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n today’s world, the majority of people will make some form of data transaction in one form or another – e-mail, social media, online banking. Data usage has grown exponentially in recent times and millions of offices worldwide rely on their structured cabling infrastructure to be robust and fit for purpose, not only now, but also in the future. There have been rapid technological advancements over the past 20 years and the inevitable, further future leaps in technology. When designing an office infrastructure, a key consideration should be not only “what are my data requirements now?”, but also, “what might the requirements be in the future”.

System integrity and reliability

Data cables tend to be bundled together, travelling all over large buildings. For this reason, data cables must be safe in the case of a fire

The progression of established standards IEC, ANSI/TIA and EN specify the requirements of structured cabling systems, in respect to the measurement of data integrity and immunity to EMI. Test parameters have become more onerous. The key performance indicators for a data cable are attenuation and crosstalk, therefore in-depth tests have been developed to measure both. These tests determine the interference experienced, which in turn impacts the ability of the cable to transmit data without errors.

Approved cable products are assessed to ensure that they are produced using only high-quality components. During the certification process, cables are measured against various performance parameters, considering the environmental challenges it may encounter during installation and its life span. This gives both the installer and end user piece of mind that the cable being used can accommodate high demands for data, whilst withstanding external influences which would otherwise compromise performance.

20 | January 2021

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The adoption of data cables in almost all industries has meant that transmission testing alone may not indicate the cables’ overall performance. This has resulted in the development of ANSI/TIA standards assessing mechanical, ingress, chemical and electromagnetic (MICE) classification to determine the harshness of the cable’s surroundings.

As well as effective data transmission, it is fundamental for end users to install safe data cables. Currently most cables available in the UK are insulated, bedded or sheathed with materials such as PVC, TPE, Nylon, metal weaving and mercerised cotton, and each reacts differently to fire.

In the event of a fire, PVC produces highly toxic black smoke and acidic gases.

It also acts as a fuel, helping spread flames along a cable, through a building and into its voids. It also prevents the risk of droplets caused by melting.

The smoke and gases given off by burning cables can hinder a building’s occupants from escaping in event of a fire.

It can also inhibit firefighters by blocking their vision and reducing the effectiveness of emergency lighting.

Cost of failure The majority of industries rely heavily on data for streamlining processes and making informed strategic business decisions, such as using software to monitor customer behaviour or implementing new smart technology. Therefore, an outage or machine failure can have a huge impact on the business with loss of time and money.

Backwards compatibility and future proofing Unlike hardware that connects to the IT infrastructure, the cabling itself forms part of the fabric of the building. Given the cost and disruption involved in changing the network infrastructure, a key consideration is ensuring that the infrastructure you install will enable future technological developments in both speed and usage. As the need for more bandwidth increases, the cables that form the backbone of the networks need to be able to keep up the demands of the business for years to come.

Though the transmission equipment such as the network switch governs the speed of the network, the cabling network needs to have the headroom to support

this. So, the evolution of this type of hardware will drive the specification of the cabling required to support it, whether it be gigabit ethernet or 10Gb ethernet, the cable specified needs to accommodate the data requirements of the future.

Any manufacturer going through the approval process is assessed on the basis of many contributing factors, including their quality management systems, down to how they train their teams. In doing so this minimises the risk of product failures throughout every stage of the manufacturing process.

Samples from each cable design are forensically examined to ensure that all relevant specification parameters are satisfied. Cables form the building blocks of any IT infrastructure, therefore high-quality product with proven performance is critical.

Using a certified manufacturer enables you to be sure of product quality. It is critically important to ensure that the structured cabling is tested and verified to meet all of the complex data transmission parameters. In today’s data driven world, any instance of system outages or data corruption can cause businesses a myriad of issues and problems.

Data communication approval ensures a level of quality, in line with the industry standards, can be successfully delivered to your end user. One, which a non-approved cable cannot guarantee. Third party certification offers continuous peace of mind, delivered through a rigorous auditing and product sampling schedule to ensure cables consistently, For more information about the role of data cables for the end user, please user download the BASEC data communication guide.

Data is connecting cities worldwide allowing communication with no geographical barriers

BASEC, basec.org.uk

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17/12/2020 17:05

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

THE BALANCE OF POWER Prefect Controls takes a look at the confusion regarding the timescale to phase out fossil fuel fired boilers, and the benefits of new technologies and cleaner, greener energy.

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here appears to be some confusion as to what the UK Government’s position is on the phasing out of fossil fuel fired boilers. The Clean Growth Strategy launched in 2017 proposed plans to stop the installation of oil or coal heating systems from the mid 2020s where gas isn’t available, and to improve standards on the 1.2 million new boilers installed every year in England.

Philip Hammond, then Chancellor, announced in his spring statement of that year, “We will introduce a Future Homes Standard, mandating the end of fossil-fuel heating systems in all new houses from 2025.” He may have been quoting the Committee for Climate Change which recommended that new homes and commercial premises from 2025 should not be connected to the gas network, and that by 2035 installation of gas boilers be phased out. The committee also recommended that the government concentrates on several other issues including low carbon retrofits, energy networks and green infrastructure.

However, there is no reference to a fossil fuel ban in the Government’s own summary of the spring statement. Instead, there is a commitment to, “future-proofing new-build homes with low carbon heating and world leading levels of energy efficiency”. At the time of writing, mid-December 2020, a further news release announced a ‘mix up’ when 2023 as a pledge to ban gas boilers from new homes from Boris Johnson was withdrawn from the Downing Street website.

The smart use of energy control provides efficiencies that are far beyond simply using less, but by balancing the demand to ensure supply is used effectively

So, since 2012 the timescale quoted has ranged from 2023, through 2035, right up to 2050 when the UK is committed to bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero!

Whatever the timescales, it can be assumed that any such heating policy will also be applied to commercial buildings such as the UK student accommodation estate, which currently comprises over 660,000 rooms.

The largest single source of carbon emissions, responsible for more than one-third of the total, is space heating.

Although student accommodation is only a relatively small number, compared with 29 million homes, owners and providers should begin planning the transformation of their old stock by switching from fossil fuelled boilers towards low carbon heating sources. This will help with decarbonisation and, as importantly, maximise their effective use of energy.

One of the hurdles that such upgrades will face is electricity supply.

Accommodation that was built in the 70s and 80s with a reliance on fossil fuels for heating will have an electricity supply that, at the time, was adequate for powering the lights, kitchen equipment and power sockets. But roll on 30-40 years, and the cost of upgrading the supply to run a fully electrical heating system could prove inhibitive.

The benefits of new technologies and cleaner, greener energy make controllable electric heating systems more attractive than on/off wet systems. But the additional electrical load this will place on supply must be a consideration that is taken seriously before a refit is given the green light.

Estimating the maximum demand for electricity in a building is an important calculation from both an operational and an energy efficiency perspective. This is a particular issue if a building is being re-purposed or major renovations are afoot.

Heat loss calculations will indicate the size of heaters required for each zone, but what if this adds up to a greater draw than the building’s electricity supply can manage?

A second consideration is procurement.

Organisations that are big consumers of electricity will negotiate their tariff directly with their energy provider. Estimating their usage is a balancing act – if they estimate too much they will be paying for unused capacity, too little and they face penalties for going over the agreed limits – in much the same way one predicts annual mileage when negotiating the monthly payments on a new car. Metering will provide the total consumption of power but, it is a blunt instrument when it comes to calculating the ebb and flow of demand.

Prefect Controls has overcome this conundrum with software it has developed and integrated with Irus – its central control heating system designed specifically for student accommodation.

It is unlikely that all electrical equipment, i.e. heaters, cookers, lights etc., will be in use simultaneously. However, Irus steps in if demand rises unusually. Irus is able to use line metering data to calculate the total demand for the site. Nodes connected to each panel heater and water tank communicate with the central control unit. Energy managers access data through the web-based portal and they can adjust parameters accordingly.

This provides complete control over room temperatures and water heating. Irus will automatically lower power input to non-essential heaters, such as those in corridors or stairwells and water tanks – or switch them off completely if the pre-set maximum demand limit is being reached.

This technology means sites that previously were unsuitable for electric heating can now benefit from the efficiencies of appropriately sized panel heaters without the need for huge investment in a power supply upgrade.

Data can be collected and stored within the system, from which reports can be run to provide clear indicators of demand patterns. Procurement teams can use this intelligence to make informed decisions and more accurate projections of real energy use when it comes to negotiating tariffs with energy providers.

Once again, this proves that smart use of energy control provides efficiencies that are far beyond simply using less, but by balancing the demand to ensure supply is used effectively.

Prefect Controls, prefectcontrols.com

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January 2021 | 21

17/12/2020 10:04

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

READY TO SUPPORT YOU 2020 has certainly been a year full of challenges, but with HellermannTyton you can be assured to receive a friendly service and maximum reliability. The company wants things to stay that way and even improve wherever possible, and will do this with high-quality products and, first and foremost, motivated staff. People who listen carefully, get things done and seek to satisfy all needs.

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ellermannTyton’s global brand is trusted by industry professionals around the world. The quality of HellermannTyton products is inspired by your cable management needs. The company is open and ready to support you.

Cable Scout+ is a professional cable puller tool which enables electrical installers to easily route cables, saving time, even with the most challenging electrical installations and hard-to-reach places, for example, spaces between walls, above suspended ceilings and under floorboards.

Cable Scout+ impresses with its new design and improved functionality.

Cable Scout+ is supplied with a range of useful standard accessories and a carry bag. Additional accessories can also be purchased separately, including the brand new Cable Scout Cam. The high-quality, battery-powered Cable Scout Cam is ideally suited for photo and video recordings in the smallest of spaces. It allows you to get a picture of hidden objects at a distance of up to 10m, for example, in empty conduits and above suspended ceilings. The recordings of the inspection camera can be transferred in real time to a smartphone or tablet.

For more information on the Cable Scout Cam or the Cable Scout + Cable Rod sets please scan the QR code or contact HellermannTyton on 0808 164 2204 or by email at: UK-HTDC@HellermannTyton.com.

HellermannTyton is open and ready to support you with your cable management needs. After a challenging year, the company wants to change together and find new inspiring ways to work smarter!

HellermannTyton, hellermanntyton.com

22 | January 2021

Advertorial – HT.indd 22

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17/12/2020 14:20

Everything in view: with the Inspection camera Cable Scout Cam

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15/12/2020 11:31:42 17/12/2020 10:14

COMPETITION

TIME TO CLAIM YOUR SHARE OF THE SMART TECH BOOM courtesy of

Eltako is offering three lucky people the chance to win an Eltako Universal Dimmer Actuator with Wireless Pushbutton Switch!

Y

ou know that 2021 is the year you need to make serious moves into intelligent building control. You want be able to create solutions that aren’t overly complicated, and to make your mark in this lucrative market.

So, shouldn’t you be looking at the EnOcean open standard?

EnOcean-compatible sensors and detectors can harvest energy from touch or movement, so they don’t need hard wiring to communicate wirelessly with actuators

for heating, lighting, intruder alarms, music systems etc. You can build an integrated solution using EnOcean-compatible products, and where better to start your journey than with the trusted global market leader, Eltako?

Eltako has a comprehensive range of over 900 products, available from leading UK wholesalers. These range from multichannel actuators to the Eltako Universal Dimmer Actuator with Wireless Pushbutton Switch, which provides everything you need in one package.

The dimmer actuator and switch package is the ideal introduction to the possibilities of this approach to automation.

The rocker switch controls brightness or recalls pre-set options for light scenes.

Eltako has three of these blister-packed sets to give away.

Whether it’s a single house or a commercial complex, Eltako has the building blocks you need for home or commercial building automation.

a) Commercial premises b) Domestic properties c) Both

2. Eltako is the global market leader in EnOcean compatible devices. How many products does it have in its range?

3. The Eltako universal dimmer and wireless switch blisterpack includes

a) 100+ b) 500+ c) 900+

The winner of the November competition – a £100 Amazon voucher, courtesy of Kohler Uninterruptible Power – was Steve Jones.

Closing date

Eltako, eltako.com

To enter the competition, just answer these three simple questions: 1. Enocean wireless technology is for:

November Competition

a) Actuator only b) Wall panel only c) Everything you need one pack

All entries must be returned by 31 December 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 March 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.

The answers to January’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 Eltakop

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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17/12/2020 10:05

SPECIAL FEATURE

CIRCUIT PROTECTION & SWITCHGEAR supported by

SWITCH OVER...

...TO www.niglon.co.uk

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

electricalcontractingnews.com

CP&S – Niglon.indd 25

@ElecConNews

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Connect with us on:

January 2021 | 25

17/12/2020 09:20

SPECIAL FEATURE

CIRCUIT PROTECTION & SWITCHGEAR

SWITCH TO A TYPE AHEAD OF REGULATION CHANGES A family-run electrical component supplier will be switching its RCD and RCBO offering from the start of 2021.

N

iglon has previously offered both AC and A Type Residual Current Devices, but with changes to industry regulations taking effect soon, the company will be moving all production across to A Type devices.

The Midlands-based firm is family owned and run, originally operating under the name S D Hinley from the 1940s onwards, before changing its name to Niglon in the 1960s. Currently, the business has thousands of lines covering circuit protection, wiring accessories, industrial accessories, and many other must-haves for electrical contractors.

With changes being proposed to the 18th Edition BS7671 regulations, the team has seized the opportunity to review its product offering.

Section 531.3.3 of the original BS7671 2018 regulations suggested that AC Types should be used for general installations, but highlighted a number of other options including A Type RCDs. These devices can detect the risk of electrical shock caused by DC pulsating residual current, and protect against this risk accordingly. But their use has been by no means mandatory, despite the increased residential use of multimedia equipment, lighting controls, induction hobs and electric vehicle charging points.

In fact, the open-ended wording of the regulations has seen many continue to regard AC Types as the standard for installations, with other Types only being considered in certain situations. This is despite many other countries in the world having stopped using AC Type RCDs previously.

But with the regulations due to be updated, and the draft proposals for these changes currently being circulated in the industry, AC Types look set to be side-lined in favour of A Types – and some installers are already making the change.

Circuit Protection

“AC Types look set to be side-lined in favour of A Types – and some installers are already making the change.”

Niglon’s Commercial Director, Paul Dawson, explains: “We have continued to source and supply both AC and A Type RCDs and RCBOs – and we did not see a huge upsurge in demand for A Types at all after the publication of the 18th Edition regulations. We believe this is mainly due to the fact the wording is fairly open-ended, and so AC Types have almost been considered the norm up until now.

“Because there has been no clarity around the definition of a standard installation, AC Types have continued

to be used in large numbers across residential installations.

“However, now the draft proposal for the BS7671 Amendment 2 is being circulated, which states that A Type devices must be used where a circuit may be impacted by a direct residual current. This has seen the demand rise for these types of RCDs, although the regulations have not yet been finalised or come into force. This is why we have taken the decision to move production across to A Type devices from the start of 2021.”

SURGE PROTECTION DEVICES

FUSES

www.niglon.co.uk

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17/12/2020 09:21

CIRCUIT PROTECTION & SWITCHGEAR

More important than ever “We want to ensure our customers’ installations meet the requirements of the new regulation 536.4.202 by protecting both RCDs and switches with a suitable Overcurrent Protective Device.”

Confusion over current regulations There has also been some confusion over regulation 536.4.202 in the 18th Edition, which specifies that the design current should not exceed the rated current of the assembly (consumer unit) taking any diversity and/or loading factors in to account.

For many years, electrical designers have used diversity factors to calculate the correct selection of Residual Current Devices and switches, and in the 18th Edition regulations already in force this is still considered an acceptable practice. However, in the 18th Edition they provided clarification that neither RCDs nor Switch Isolators have the overload protection; therefore, both should now be protected by an Overcurrent Protective Device, selected according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Paul says: “We want to ensure our customers’ installations meet the requirements of regulation 536.4.202 by protecting both RCDs and switches with

DOMESTIC CONSUMER UNITS electricalcontractingnews.com

CP&S – Niglon.indd 27

With more installers likely to be making the switch to A Type RCDs and RCBOs in the coming months, the team at Niglon is reiterating its call for everyone to be cautious when using new products. Paul and his colleagues have been speaking out about the importance of certification recently – including in October’s edition of ECN – after seeing a rise in untested components on the market.

With devastating, and potentially fatal, consequences if an untested product fails, it’s imperative that circuit protection components are independently tested by a reputable third party.

Paul explains: “It’s important that contractors do not assume the onus is on the manufacturer – all of us involved in a component’s sale or installation have a legal duty as well as a moral obligation when it comes to safety. With more A Type RCDs likely to be coming onto the market over the next year, we want installers to be cautious if they are switching from their normal product to a new type.

SPECIAL FEATURE

“As well as championing third-party independent testing as standard for these important devices, we are also calling for total transparency around which products have been thoroughly tested. We would love to see it being standard protocol for proof of certification to be requested every time a new product is sold to a wholesaler or contractor.”

With clear labelling (in brochures and on websites) of products which have been tested to a specific standard, and more open conversations about certification between everyone involved in the industry, the Niglon team believes standards would be higher and reassurance about product safety would be passed right down the supply chain to end users.

“It’s not something which can, or should, be left to chance as there is no way of knowing when or if these products will fail,” Paul adds. “The risk can be eliminated with proper testing, and nobody wants a disaster to happen, so waiting and doing nothing until something goes wrong is simply not an option. Let’s act now before it’s too late.”

Niglon, niglon.co.uk

a suitable Overcurrent Protective Device.

That’s why here at Niglon we are advising our customers to only use RCDs within a consumer unit which have a current value equal to or greater than that of the electrical supply company’s upstream main cut out fuse.

“Over the past few years, there has been a big change in the types of installations which the electrical industry’s contractors are typically undertaking; for example, more and more homeowners are installing both electric vehicle charging points and hot tubs. This is creating an increased power demand on our electrical supply.

“New electricity supply connections to homes are now most commonly 80A or 100A, and many upgrades of older existing 63A supplies are now also taking place. On this basis, the team at Niglon has taken the decision to discontinue our 63A Residual Current Devices within our consumer units, moving the production to only offer 80A and 100A RCD options from the start of 2021.”

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CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES

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EARTHING

January 2021 | 27

17/12/2020 09:21

SPECIAL FEATURE

CIRCUIT PROTECTION & SWITCHGEAR

THE BEST PROTECTION THANKS TO RCD AND AFDD SOLUTIONS RCD selection is an important aspect of any electrical installation, ensuring protection against potentially fatal electric shocks for both installers and subsequent users, while AFDDs add another layer of protection against fire caused by arc faults in AC final circuits. It is important to use the most appropriate solution from the choices available to avoid problems and ensure adequate protection at all times.

P

aul Collins, Technical and Training Manager from Hager, covers what the professional contractor needs to know, including a recommendation that Type A RCD selection is the best answer for the majority of electric circuits.

Residual Current Devices (RCDs) are switches in the consumer unit that trip a circuit under dangerous conditions and instantly disconnect the electricity supply.

They are an essential element when it comes to the protection of people and property and are required to be included to protect a diverse range of equipment including household appliances, lighting controls, IT and multimedia equipment and even the growing presence of charging solutions for electric vehicles.

RCDs have been in existence for a long time and the 18th Edition regulations further clarified their selection and specification to further enhance safety standards and ensure proper protection for all. Electrical contractors need to carefully consider the type of RCD required depending on the type of equipment which may be connected to the installation, as failing to do so could compromise safety and protection levels in the future.

There are four types of RCD, with each reacting differently depending on the presence of DC components or different frequencies. For contractors to specify the correct RCD, it is important they can differentiate between the options before them.

• Type AC RCD can detect and respond to AC sinusoidal residual current only.

• Type A RCD can detect alternating sinusoidal residual current and residual pulsating direct current suddenly applied or smoothly increasing. It is important to remember that Type A RCD is also suitable for Type AC applications. Type A RCDs

are particular suitable for equipment incorporating electric components.

• Type F RCD can detect and respond to high-frequency residual current as well as pulsating DC residual current. Type F RCDs are suitable for equipment utilising frequency controlled speed drives.

• Type B RCD can detect and respond to all types of residual current including smooth DC residual current. Type B RCDs are particularly suitable for use with electric vehicle chargers and PV supplies.

Due to the style of circuits, the nature of loads connected to these circuits and the frequent use of RCDs to protect a group of circuits, Hager believes the majority of electrical circuits in residential and commercial applications require a Type A RCD solution. Not only is this the safest RCD solution, it also provides the widest possible protection across a range of equipment and loads. In particular, this applies to single-phase equipment with electronic components and would typically comprise of many items such as single-phase invertors, IT and multimedia equipment, power supplies for Class II equipment, appliances such as a washing machine that is not frequency controlled, lighting controls such as dimmer switch and home and building electronic systems, induction hobs and electric vehicle charging where any smooth DC fault current is less than 6mA. Safety and protection when dealing with electrical installations has to be the number one priority for contractors and the reassurance that comes with fitting a Type A RCD solution ensures this objective can be achieved on all relevant projects.

Safety and protection when dealing with electrical installations has to be the number one priority for contractors

Hager believes the majority of electrical circuits in residential and commercial applications require a Type A RCD solution

AFDDs for added protection Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) are recommended as a means of providing additional protection against fire caused by arc faults in AC final circuits. It is another level of protection for electrical circuits and further improves the safety standards for homes and commercial electrical installations.

An AFDD offers enhanced protection to complement measures already in place, as they are designed to detect low level hazardous arcing which other devices such as circuit breakers, fuses and RCDs are not able to detect.

If used, the AFDD should be placed at the origin of the circuit to be protected, and some primary examples of where such devices can be used include: • Premises with sleeping accommodation • Locations with a risk of fire due to the nature of processed or stored materials such as wood working shops or stores on combustible materials • Locations with combustible construction materials such as wooden buildings • Fire propagating structures • Locations housing irreplaceable goods.

Hager, hager.com

Surge Protection Devices Circuit Protection www.niglon.co.uk

• Types 1+2+3, 2+3, 2 & 3 • 18th Edition Compliant • Single & Three Phase Available

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17/12/2020 09:22

THE PROFESSIONALS’ CHOICE

Chint Shield a full Electrical Solutions & Components Provider

18th Edition Compliant

Call n Sales o 9333 2 6 7 1 016 today

sales@chint.co.uk technical@chint.co.uk

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17/12/2020 12:24

CIRCUIT

PROTECTION

01563 533 554 sales @cpelectric.co.uk www.cpelectric.co.uk

Untitled-2 1

15/12/2020 16:42

CIRCUIT PROTECTION & SWITCHGEAR

SPECIAL FEATURE

ABB INTRODUCES NEW UNISEC POWER PARTS CONCEPT FOR UK PANEL BUILDERS ABB has delivered medium voltage switchgear and cabinets worth approximately £87k to a leading UK project management and engineering firm under its new UniSec Power Parts initiative.

T

he equipment will be installed at a major commercial building development in Central London, where it will provide power for industrial process equipment used to maintain cool temperatures during and after manufacturing processes.

ABB’s Motor Control Centres (MCCs) are based on UniSec Power Parts medium voltage switchgear with empty cabinets for customised low voltage sub-distribution systems.

ABB started developing the UniSec Power Parts package in 2018 to meet growing demand from panel builders to take a larger role in engineering, manufacture, assembly and customisation – and as a result, reduce costs and lead times.

Traditionally, ABB has supplied fully engineered solutions including medium voltage (MV) switchgear and low voltage (LV) distribution systems. However, with UniSec Power Parts, panel builders now have the option to order MV switchgear with an empty LV compartment. This enables panel builders to be more competitive, adding value by customising the secondary engineering to suit each application much more efficiently. In addition, it provides more control over project execution as they can reduce overall lead times by six to eight weeks.

This was a major selling point for the end customer in London. It selected ABB’s solution to make significant savings and achieve earlier onsite commissioning.

Panel builders now have the option to order MV switchgear with an empty LV compartment.

This enables panel builders to be more competitive

Mohamed Hosny, Product Marketing Manager – Apparatus for ABB’s Distribution Solutions division, says: “Winning the first UniSec Power Parts project was the culmination of two years of collaborative work between our experts in the UK and at our factory in Dalmine, Italy. We supported our customer’s engineering team as they developed their design concept. In addition, we provided several product training sessions, which boosted their confidence in our products and capabilities.

“Transferring more value to panel builders opens up huge potential for them and it also helps ABB by opening up opportunities in new markets and with new customers.”

Depending on their technical capabilities, panel builders could potentially add to their scope under UniSec Power Parts.

This will give them the ability to offer their customers more control and flexibility over the engineering, manufacture and assembly of power distribution panels.

ABB, global.abb

Domestic Consumer Units • Consumer Units with Surge Protection

Circuit Protection

• Guarage Units • Type A RCDs & RCBOs

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17/12/2020 09:24

SPECIAL FEATURE

CIRCUIT PROTECTION & SWITCHGEAR

ENDING THE USE OF SF6 IN POWER GRIDS SF6 gas has been called the power grid’s dirty secret. This potent greenhouse gas is still commonly used in switchgear because it’s such an effective insulator. However, with a global warming potential 23,500 times higher than CO2, SF6 poses a huge challenge for the future. With viable alternatives now available, it’s time for power distribution networks to make the move towards more sustainable technologies like air insulated switchgear, writes Richard Ledgard, General Manager, Systems and Services, Power Distribution Division, EMEA, Eaton.

A

s electrical power distribution systems become more decentralised to integrate skyrocketing renewables, the demand for switchgear, and thus the use of SF6, is expected to rise dramatically. Where we once had a few, centralised fossil fuel facilities, soon we will have many times more renewable solar arrays and wind turbines – each requiring their own set of switchgear. The result is a market forecast to grow over 8% per year until 2022, magnifying the risk of SF6 leaking into the atmosphere.

Embracing SF6 alternatives

As a company committed to solving the world’s toughest power challenges, Eaton has led the way in alternative switchgear technologies for 60 years.

The company recently shipped its one-millionth SF6-free panel.

Eaton has supplied air insulated switchgear to more than 3,000 reference sites in over 60 countries – proving there’s no real barrier to the market moving to SF6-free alternatives today. For instance, the company’s Xiria Ring Main Unit is a completely modern switchgear which is metal-enclosed, uses dielectric smart design, and features vacuum-switching technology instead of SF6.

Driving SF6 emission reduction

Tightening regulation has already banned the use of SF6 in the production of shoes, tennis balls, rubber, and more – but electrical networks have so far been exempt. That’s set to change with the EU’s updated F-gas Regulation in 2021.

In September 2020, the EU Commission published its initial report into the use of SF6, advocating for it to be phased out in new medium voltage switchgear over the next two to five years. The report also recommends differentiating between various applications by voltage and by kV level to help accelerate this process.

Time is of the essence and we shouldn’t wait to act

This is a promising start, but the company believes an even more aggressive timeline is appropriate. Given the amount of banked SF6 in the atmosphere and its global warming potential, time is of the essence and we shouldn’t wait to act.

However, it’s excellent to see the European Commission differentiating between technologies to chart a way forward, as well as highlighting the important role SF6-free switchgear should play in the energy transition.

It’s vital to ensure that all grid operators using EU funding to integrate renewables do not role out polluting SF6 switchgear – undermining the very environmental benefits of the energy transition. Greener solutions bring major advantages for the future electricity system too, such as vacuum breakers being more suitable for electric vehicle (EV) charging.

Eaton also believes that the commission overestimates the price differences involved in this transition. SF6-free switchgear is around 15-20% higher in cost, but this difference will diminish as production volumes increase. Moreover, SF6 switchgear is actually more costly if production, maintenance, and disposal costs are considered. Certain SF6-free technologies also do exist with lower maintenance costs than their SF6 cousins.

The bottom line is that cost-effective, technically feasible, energy-efficient and reliable SF6 alternatives now exist. Eaton has shown that’s the case, and there’s no reason not to eliminate the impact of SF6 on the environment. Amid fast-rising power consumption, any medium voltage distribution system installed today is likely to be in service until the middle of the century, so we need to act urgently. With any luck, the EU commission will agree and set the tone for future policy decisions worldwide in 2021.

Eaton, eaton.com

Commercial Circuit Breakers Circuit Protection www.niglon.co.uk

0121 711 1990 | sales@niglon.co.uk 32 | January 2021

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• 3 Phase TPN Distribution Boards • Miniature MCB’s 10kA • Combined RCD & MCB (RCBO) • 3 Phase TPN Accessories

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17/12/2020 09:25

CONTROL & AUTOMATION

MOTOR CONTROL GEAR Aux Contacts Manual Motor Starters Thermal Overload Relays

Contactor Couplers

Contactors Aux Contacts

Connect with us on: Untitled-1 2

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For all your Electrical Essentials

17/12/2020 10:15

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

SHIFT TO HYBRID WORKING MODELS WILL REQUIRE INVESTMENT IN LIGHTING CONTROLS One of the UK’s leading lighting manufacturers is calling on commercial building managers to future-proof their lighting systems in response to a major shift towards more flexible working models.

T

amlite Lighting says that with a growing number of employees adopting a hybrid working style, office buildings will need to prepare for reduced occupancy levels and changes in density ratios.

This is backed by an independent survey carried out by the British Council for Offices (BCO). It found that Britain is set to move to a ‘mixed’ working style, as time in the office is balanced with time at home.[1] As a result, Tamlite says it is more important than ever for building managers to ensure they have greater control and flexibility of their lighting systems. The key to achieving this will be investment in the integration of the latest lighting control systems.

In addition, these systems can help align building performance with any net-zero ambitions companies may have through reduced energy consumption. This is particularly timely following the publication of guidance from the UK Green Buildings Council (UKGBC) on delivering net zero carbon buildings, with a Government consultation on energy performance

34 | January 2021

Advertorial – Tamlite.indd 34

disclosure for commercial buildings expected soon.

Colin Lawson, Head of Market Intelligence at Tamlite, comments: “The commercial property sector may be undergoing a period of change. However, the death of the office should not be exaggerated. Whilst employees’ working habits are changing, there is still a strong desire to spend time in the office.

“The real-estate sector is faced with a double-pronged challenge. There is now a top-down commitment by many organisations to reduce carbon emissions, plus it is more important than ever to create working environments that are fit for purpose now, and in the future. Lighting has a key role to play in achieving both these ambitions.

“As the need for lighting systems to perform both effectively and cost-effectively has become more acute, so has the demand for solutions that offer a greater degree of control, flexibility and connectivity.

Incorporating controls and sensors in an office environment means the right levels of illumination can easily be provided when and where it’s needed. It also allows building managers to make informed decisions on how the building is being used and make

corresponding amendments to lighting schedules and settings.

“With an ever-growing focus on circular economy, enhanced occupant wellbeing and greater control of energy consumption, the needs of end-users in these key areas can all be achieved simply through the power of simpler, smarter lighting.”

Tamlite Lighitng, tamlite.co.uk [1] http://www.bco.org.uk/News/News46982.aspx

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A growing number of employees are adopting a hybrid working style

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17/12/2020 10:05

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

LEDVANCE LAUNCHES OSRAM LAMPS FOR ALL OCCASIONS LEDVANCE has announced a comprehensive updated range of OSRAM LED lamps that are suitable for many different environments. The range of products offer outstanding energy efficiency, innovative functionalities, attractive designs and long-life LED light quality at its best.

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he range provides a vital combination of high quality and high profitability. The OSRAM LED lamps are suitable for a wide range of applications including industry, offices, retail, facilities management, residential, car parks and outdoor areas.

Highlights from the range include a series of PARATHOM LED lights, which are ideal for decorative purposes and will complement any interior design aesthetic.

OSRAM PARATHOM PAR16 and MR16 LED reflector lamps have an attractive glass design, an ideal alternative to conventional high voltage halogen lamps.

Its excellent quality of light and outstanding colour rendering (Ra: ≥97) are a winning combination. Replacement is fast, easy and safe with no rewiring necessary.

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its exceptionally high luminous intensity whilst concealing a dimmable technology to provide the first of its kind.

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Further products in the range benefit industrial and heavy-duty environments.

The OSRAM SubstiTUBE PRO Ultra Output T8 EM, a high-performance LED tube made of glass, is the ideal solution for particularly demanding lighting tasks. It is shatterproof, low-flicker and can withstand frequent switching. Thanks to its shatter protection, it is suitable for applications in the food industry. The OSRAM SubstiTUBE Connected Advance Ultra Output T8 EM is a smart LED tube that can be wirelessly connected with ZigBee 3.0.

Attractive OSRAM LED glass designs complement any interior

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17/12/2020 10:06

SPECIAL FEATURE

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

RECYCLING LIGHT — HELPING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING With an increased awareness of the need to recycle to protect our environment, many businesses have adopted corporate social responsibility and environmental policies. This means they will want to be confident that their waste is being disposed of correctly. Contractors who can demonstrate that electrical and hazardous waste is being properly recycled can use this to their advantage to win new business.

T

he purpose of the WEEE Regulations is to make sure waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is recycled responsibly, keeping this harmful waste stream from landfill.

The WEEE regulations require producers of new electrical equipment to finance the collection and recycling of waste electricals. That means electrical contractors, wholesalers and business end-users should, in many cases, be able to access a free of charge or reduced price WEEE recycling service.

Waste electricals should be stored in a separate container. Many waste electricals, such as fluorescent tubes, are also classified as hazardous, and it is illegal for a business to send hazardous waste to landfill. Electrical contractors and their customers have a duty of care to make sure their waste is disposed of correctly. This applies to all those who: • Produce or store waste • Collect and transport waste • Receive waste for recycling or disposal

Research has shown that many electrical products sold through online marketplaces are not compliant

The environment agencies have reporting procedures in place to control the storage and movement of WEEE, with which businesses must comply.

There is a duty of care for all businesses to ensure that their waste is handed on to an organisation that is authorised to receive that waste. And if a contractor disposes of that waste in an illegal fashion, both they, and their customer could be subject to enforcement action by the Environment Agency.

36 | January 2021

Emergency Lighting – Recolight.indd 36

Focus on luminaires Non-household luminaires are in the scope of the WEEE regulations. However, some luminaire producers (including some large, well-known international brands) use a legal loophole to pass contractual liability for financing the collection and recycling of waste luminaires to their customers. The producers can then refuse all requests for recycling services – or make significant charges for this. It should be emphasised that producer members of the Recolight scheme do not use this loophole.

If end-users must pay for recycling themselves, they will inevitably look for the lowest cost route. At best, this means putting products into scrap metal containers. This produces bad environmental outcomes because scrap metal is not treated to the same standards as waste electricals. It also means potentially hazardous chemicals present in waste electricals are not properly treated.

Furthermore, there is a material risk that fluorescent tubes will be left inside luminaires disposed of as scrap. That can result in uncontrolled mercury release to the environment when the tube goes through a metal shredder.

The best way to drive the change needed to increase compliant recycling rates is for specifiers to insist, when purchasing new luminaires, that producers always take responsibility for the collection and recycling of the waste luminaires that arise.

It is widely accepted that lighting accounts for around a fifth of electricity consumption

Lighting and sustainability

Non-compliant products Most producers comply with the regulations by joining a WEEE scheme which manages their WEEE collection obligations for them. Research has shown that many electrical products sold through online marketplaces are not compliant.

Although much of the product is available ex-stock for next day delivery, the producer is frequently based in the Far East, and out of reach of UK enforcement. This creates unfair competition for both UK producers and electrical wholesalers.

Research undertaken by Recolight showed that 76% of LED lightbulbs available on one leading online marketplace were non-compliant. That level of non-compliance is so high that it risks undermining the financial viability of the producer funded recycling systems.

The non-compliance may not just be limited to the WEEE Regulations. In 2019, the Lighting Industry Association purchased six lighting products, available for next-day delivery, through the fulfilment service of an online marketplace. They were assessed for electrical safety at its laboratories. The results were of considerable concern: five of the six products purchased had safety critical failures. Clearly there are many well established brands which are fully compliant, that sell through online channels.

Electrical contractors and their customers have a duty of care to make sure their waste is disposed of correctly

electricalcontractingnews.com

There is no doubt that lighting has done a lot to promote sustainability. LED products have much longer lifetimes, far greater system efficacies, are more flexible and controllable, and vitally do not contain mercury.

In time, LED will materially reduce the proportion of energy used for lighting. It is widely accepted that lighting accounts for around a fifth of electricity consumption.

As LED products are more widely adopted, that proportion can be expected to fall significantly. The associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is a vital contribution to tackling the climate crisis.

Lamp recycling rates in the UK have grown faster than any other waste electrical equipment category, from 19% in 2008, to 45% in 2019. The lighting industry is unique in taking such an effective, sector-specific approach to waste and recycling. With electrical contractors, wholesalers and manufacturers (via Recolight) working together the industry can be justifiably proud of its recycling record, and this additional contribution to sustainability.

Recolight, recolight.co.uk

@ElecConNews

/electricalcontractingnews

17/12/2020 10:07

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15/12/2020 15/12/2020 10:36:05 16:43

SPECIAL FEATURE

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

EMERGENCY LIGHTING: EVERYONE’S LIFELINE BUT NO ONE’S PROBLEM? Anthony Martindale, Field Product Manager, Lighting at Eaton, outlines the dangers of emergency lighting compliance falling between the (accountability) cracks.

A

n effective and compliant emergency lighting system acts as a critical lifeline in crisis situations. Yet all too often it falls victim to a potentially deadly combination of a ‘fit and forget’ approach with a ‘not my problem’ mentality. No one wants to take ownership of ongoing compliance checks.

The reality is emergency lighting compliance is not a one-off tick box exercise.

It needs to be an evolving process. Building use and safety risks must be revisited on a regular basis. So, how can electrical contractors, specifiers, consultants and building owners create accountability, ensure ongoing compliance and avoid the growing penalties for falling short of safety standards?

The risks of non-compliance

Emergency lighting in a building can quickly fall out of compliance, due to damage, lack of testing and irregular maintenance

From national fire safety legislation to application and product standards for emergency lighting luminaires, automatic test systems and more, a combination of regulations exist to ensure emergency lighting is fit for purpose and protect building occupants. However, this regulation is only effective at maintaining building safety standards if steps are taken to ensure compliance. Unfortunately, emergency lighting in a building can – and does – quickly fall out of compliance, due to damage, lack of testing and irregular maintenance.

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Emergency Lighting – Eaton.indd 38

When emergency lighting standards are not met, there are severe consequences.

The primary concern is that buildings become unsafe – resulting in loss of life or injury when disaster strikes. According to Home Office statistics, fire and rescue services attended 153,957 fires in England between April 2019 and March 2020.

Sadly, these statistics also include 243 fire-related fatalities in England during this period. Clearly, there is no room for cutting corners when it comes to protecting life and property.

Yet in addition to the human toll, there are also severe financial and reputational consequences. Negative press from an incident linking a brand with non-compliance when it comes to building safety can be huge. Consequences range from damaged brand loyalty amongst customers to a drop in share prices. Additionally, while the use of fire safety equipment can aid in the reduction of insurance premiums, it can also have the opposite impact when done incorrectly. Insurance companies can use non-compliance with fire safety orders as a reason to avoid paying out.

Assess the risks to ensure compliance One key element of the compliance landscape is the EN50172 standard that sets out the requirements for emergency lighting. It highlights that when the supply to all or part of the normal lighting in occupied premises fails, escape lighting is required to indicate escape routes clearly and unambiguously; provide illumination to allow safe movement towards and through provided exits; ensure that fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment can be readily located; and permit operations concerned with safety measures.

This EN50172 standard – which also applies to standby lighting used as emergency escape lighting – recommends that discussions should be held pre-design to establish the areas to be covered, method of operation, testing regime and most suitable system type. These discussions should include the owner or occupier of the premises, plus the system designer, installer, equipment supplier and fire authority.

In fact, every building operator or owner is independently required to conduct their own risk assessment to identify areas for mitigation. These shine a light on specific risks to consider when designing an emergency lighting system, including the building’s scale and

complexity profile, what activities take place inside and the profile of building users. For example, hospital occupants are likely to need extra assistance when exiting the building during an emergency.

Comparatively, the facility manager at a football stadium will have to consider vast numbers of visitors, many of whom may not be familiar with their surroundings.

Lifecycle costs and approach to maintenance and servicing are additional elements to take into account as part of this risk assessment. This step is key to choosing the right emergency lighting system for a specific building and getting on the path to compliance.

While the use of fire safety equipment can aid in the reduction of insurance premiums, it can also have the opposite impact when done incorrectly

Time to take responsibility Sadly, emergency lighting compliance often falls between the accountability cracks.

For instance, building owners and facilities managers often employ third parties to test systems – washing their hands of responsibility for compliance. Yet when disaster strikes and avoidable injuries or fatalities occur, who is really responsible?

Ultimately, the owner or manager of the building has a moral responsibility to ensure a thorough risk assessment is conducted, acted upon and continually updated. In most countries, the obligation to implement such a process is enshrined in law. Every building owner has a role to play to ensure that fire fatality statistics don’t go up on their watch.

Building owners and facilities managers must do their due diligence and ask the right questions to better understand the fundamentals of emergency lighting. To avoid the consequences of non-compliance, clear lines of responsibility and a proactive approach to maintaining an effective and compliant emergency lighting system are vital.

Eaton, eaton.com

electricalcontractingnews.com

@ElecConNews

/electricalcontractingnews

17/12/2020 10:08

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15/12/2020 16:48

SPECIAL FEATURE

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

LED UPGRADE SET TO DELIVER £6.3K SAVINGS FOR KENT PRIMARY SCHOOL West Borough Primary School has significantly reduced its annual energy consumption following an LED lighting upgrade financed by the Salix SEELS Fund for Maintained Schools. The estimated carbon reduction is 17.76 tonnes of CO2/pa, with a lifetime carbon savings 444.01 tonnes (calculated over 20 years).

W

est Borough Primary School has 500 pupils aged between three and 11 years of age and operates from three buildings of different ages on its site in Maidstone, Kent. The main building dates from 1913 and nursery and infant school buildings were added in the early years of this century.

It was the commitment to the welfare of both pupils and staff that drove Headteacher, Mrs Crittenden, and her team to look at alternatives to their existing lighting. Although much of the lighting has been upgraded, this had taken place some years ago and prior to LED being available.

Indeed, there was still some strip lighting in the infant school and corridors were particularly poorly lit. They had also noticed that maintenance costs were creeping up, so momentum was gathering to make the change to LED. In 2018, they began to look at how they might achieve this.

SEELS funding mechanism The SEELS programme is one of a number of Salix Finance programmes that provide government funding to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions within the public sector. The SEELS programme is funded by the Department for Education in

England and provides an interest-free loan to schools and colleges that are funded by a local education authority.

It covers 100 different technologies, including LED lighting, which are focused on energy efficiency upgrades. The two main criteria for the fund are that the loan must be paid back within an eight-year period and the project must not exceed a maximum cost of £222 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved.

SEELS funding can be accessed at any point in the year and the whole process is designed to make it easy for time-poor facility managers to make the business case for investment.

West Borough, with support from Kent Council, sought three quotes from potential LED upgrade providers and selected Energys Group on the basis of its competitive quote. They were also impressed by Energys Group’s commitment to complete the work outside of the school working day.

LED upgrade This solution offered by Energys Group proposed the installation of a standard LED Lighting upgrade across the entire school, including outdoor lights and upgrades to LED of all existing emergency lights and standalone units. The company demonstrated the impact that LED can make by installing it in a couple of classrooms on a trial basis, and this convinced the team at West Borough that this was a step well worth taking.

The list of installed lighting types includes: IP rated LED batten fixtures, LED panels, LED wall lights, LED downlight, outdoor IP65 LED wall light, flood lights and emergency lighting.

Energys Group advised that this work would be undertaken over a two to three week period. To minimise disruption to teaching schedules, the work was undertaken during the 2019 summer holidays and was completed within two weeks.

A year down the line and the school is now seeing the promised energy savings coming through, so all is on track to meet the terms of the SEELS loan.

Raj Gunasekaran, Business Development Manager at Energys Group says; “We know that our LED lighting is transformative; good lighting has a such a positive impact on wellbeing and learning outcomes, it reduces eyestrain and improves alertness.

The energy savings of installing LED lighting are hugely significant too, and will continue to benefit the school for many years beyond the initial payback period.”

The project cost £43K and is estimated to achieve annual savings in the region of £6.3k, with a return on investment of 6.7 years.

The company demonstrated the impact that LED can make by installing it in a couple of classrooms on a trial basis

Energys group, energysgroup.com

Transformational results Energys Group proposed the installation of a standard LED Lighting upgrade across the entire school

40 | January 2021

Emergency Lighting – Energys Group.indd 40

Mrs Crittenden was delighted with the impact of this project. “I couldn’t quite believe the transformation this project made to lighting quality throughout our school. We have the original parquet flooring in the old building and that used to just absorb the light; now it’s bright enough to dance on!”

electricalcontractingnews.com

The project is estimated to achieve annual savings in the region of £6.3k

@ElecConNews

/electricalcontractingnews

17/12/2020 10:08

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11/12/2020 16:18:18 15/12/2020 16:43

SPECIAL FEATURE

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

TESTING TIMES FOR EMERGENCY LIGHTING Mike Collins, Sales Director at OVIA, looks at the self-test area of the emergency lighting sector and how it can save building owners time and money.

E

mergency lighting is a legal requirement in almost every building, with one simple, life-saving task: to provide light if a power outage shuts down a building’s standard operational lighting. It is the responsibility of building owners and responsible persons to prove that the emergency lighting systems they are responsible for are working correctly and are regularly maintained so that they are in full working order.

All emergency lighting installations must have routine tests carried out, in accordance with BS EN50712, with each system luminaire the subject of daily, monthly and annual testing. These tests should all be documented with the results, including maintenance and rectification results, all held on file.

Whilst the testing of emergency lighting does not take much effort and isn’t difficult, manually inspecting every single lighting luminaire for lamp starting, operation and duration performance can be a very labour

All emergency lighting installations must have routine tests carried out

42 | January 2021

Emergency Lighting – Ovia.indd 42

intensive and expensive task. However, with the latest improvements in technology, routine testing can be simple, automatic and therefore much less expensive. It is now possible for building owners to take advantage of emergency lighting equipment that ‘self-tests’ in accordance with the relevant standards.

Installing self-test emergency lighting units can reduce the burden of testing emergency lighting installations as they perform all mandatory testing automatically, removing the need for manual testing to be carried out by the user or building owner. The resulting reduction of labour time leads to inevitable cost savings. Whilst the initial costs for the products may be higher, overall they will provide a very short payback period making them an ideal option that should be given consideration at the beginning of any project.

The benefits of self-test emergency light units include ease of installation, with no need for key switches or data cables, for example. Convenience is also a major plus, with mandatory tests carried out without disruption to the normal use of the building, and any faults identified. The self-test units identify faults in luminaires and any faults are then highlighted to maintenance personnel, saving them the time and effort it would take to search the building in question for faults.

Self-test units use an accurate internal clock programmed to interrupt the permanent mains supply at set intervals, initiating emergency lighting tests. Short duration weekly and monthly tests and annual full duration tests are automatically

electricalcontractingnews.com

activated, with the results shown via an LED indicator on the light. The responsible person only needs to check the indicator and it means that only lights with reported faults will need to be attended to by maintenance personnel.

During initial power up of a self-test unit, an automatic commissioning stage will begin. The internal clock will commence at a random time between 0 and 24 hours – this avoids the luminaires all going into test at the same time. After the initial charge up time (up to 72 hours), the unit will carry out a full duration test. After all initial tests are completed successfully, the inbuilt processor will start the standard programmed test schedule, reporting failing functions via the status LED. In addition, it is also possible to initiate a manual test on self-test emergency lighting fittings for extra peace of mind.

Emergency light test switches offer a simple, retrofit solution to testing existing emergency lighting fittings. They are designed to test batteries, lamps and duration function of emergency lighting luminaires in accordance with current emergency lighting standard BS5266.

These automatic, key-operated emergency lighting test switches are permanently wired to the emergency luminaire supply. The key switch is used to interrupt the supply for a pre-programmed period of time. At the end of that period, the supply to the luminaries is automatically reinstated, so there’s no risk of depleting the batteries in the emergency fitting by leaving them connected for prolonged periods.

OVIA, oviauk.com

@ElecConNews

/electricalcontractingnews

17/12/2020 10:08

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SPECIAL FEATURE

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

TACKLING THE PROBLEM OF CONNECTOR COMPATIBILITY IN EVS There are plenty of downsides when it comes to petrol, but its convenience is undeniable.

It can be pumped into almost any vehicle with no difficulty. This is the opposite of electric vehicle (EV) charging, where every EV might have its own, uniquely designed connector.

Here Dawn Robinson, European Product Manager at cables and connectors specialist PEI-Genesis, unpicks the growing problem of EV connector standardisation and compatibility.

F

or most electrical devices, we don’t have to worry about compatibility, because we use standardised connectors and a nationwide standard mains voltage, which keep everything simple. For EVs, a reliable grid solves the issues with frequency and voltage, but the connector conundrum remains.

Furthermore, the problem is complicated by EV manufacturers taking advantage of several charging options: mode one, for slow charging from typical home outlets; mode two, for faster charging from specially designed home outlets; mode three, for commercial street-side charging points; and mode four, for rapid, direct current charging.

A variety of connectors Currently there are four common EV connectors around: Type 1, Type 2 (including the Tesla supercharger), CHAdeMO and CCS. Type 1 connectors, officially SAE J1772, were among the first to be used on EVs. These five-pin connectors supply single-phase AC power at between three and seven kilowatts (kW) and are mostly found in Asian markets. These have been largely supplanted by Type 2 connectors in the west.

The Type 2 connector, known as SAE J3068 and colloquially as mennekes after the original manufacturer, features an additional two pins and can carry either three-phase AC or high current DC depending on the configuration. In Europe, Tesla uses a modified version of the Type 2 connector that only fits Tesla EVs. CHAdeMO connectors provide purely DC power at high currents and voltages. Designed in 2010 by a Japanese consortium, the CHAdeMO name is derived from the Japanese O cha demo ikaga desuka, translating to, “how about a cup of tea?”, a pun on the short time it takes to charge an EV through this connector.

Finally, CCS, or Combined Charging System connector, is simply a Type 1 or 2 connector with an additional two DC pins that permit rapid DC charging.

The CCS seems have emerged victorious as the de facto standard, because

44 | January 2021

Electric Vehicle Charging – PEI –Genesis.indd 44

it allows for flexible AC charging from home grids or any commercial charging station, excluding Tesla superchargers, but it also provides high current, high voltage DC to EVs with that charging capability.

A perfect plug It’s clear the ideal EV connector must combine several design features. It must be ergonomic and easy to use, it must be space efficient, it must include built-in safety features and, as we’ve seen, it must be able to provide both AC and DC power.

CCS connectors already combine all these design features, so the problem is solved, right? Not quite.

They fulfil the customer requirements of an EV connector, but from an electrical engineering perspective there’s more to be done. For instance, the high voltages and currents present when an EV is charging forms the perfect environment for arcing between the contacts. The pilot signal goes a long way to mitigating this, as any loss of continuity stops the charging immediately, but this doesn’t fully prevent excessive resistive heating or damage to contacts.

Only a second of high voltage arc between contacts would be enough to score and scorch them. This damage further exacerbates the problem, eventually leading to an inevitable and sudden failure of the connector. If this damage occurs on a charging station it would mean replacing the connector, but if the damage occurs onboard the EV it could mean that people are left stranded with a dead car.

A little extra effort in the design of the contacts can pay dividends in mitigating against this. An ideal example is the RADSOK range of connectors from Amphenol, which use specialised hyperbolic geometry to provide robust, high-density mating between contacts. Instead of passively mating, these connectors are designed to push against the respective contact to ensure a complete and reliable connection.

So, while it seems like the EV charging conundrum might have found an answer in the CCS, a little bit more effort and consideration of the subtleties means an ideal, future-proof design could be just around the corner.

PEI-Genesis manufacturing facility

PEI-Genesis, peigenesis.com

electricalcontractingnews.com

@ElecConNews

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17/12/2020 14:21

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SPECIAL FEATURE

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

CHARGE WHILE YOU WORK When Pure energy needed to identify the best UK distributor of EV charging stations to provide for its clients, the company went to The Pilot Group to look at the company’s EV products, observe the technology and how it works, as well as the dashboard provided by The Pilot Group.

P

With electric vehicles now reaching a level of demand where sites are increasingly asking for EV charging solutions, a provider was needed that could adapt to the growing demand

ure energy’s client base primarily consists of work/ office locations, who prioritise convenience and ease of use along with a user-friendly design when seeking EV solutions. For Pure energy, reporting and metrics are an important factor in determining how to best deliver value for its clients. With electric vehicles now reaching a level of demand where sites are increasingly asking for EV charging solutions, a provider was needed that could adapt to the growing demand, whether for one site or multiple.

Having been in discussion with a broad variety of manufacturers and providers of EV charging stations for approximately 18 months, in January 2020, Pure energy came to The Pilot Group and was immediately impressed by the company’s product offering and the helpfulness of the team.

The technology exceeded Pure energy’s expectations. Alan MacLeod, founder of Pure energy liked the convenience of the contactless payment opportunities offered by the Classic and Plus+ charging points, that would allow for many next-generation users of electric cars to easily use their preferred methods of payment.

He comments: “We really liked the technology and […] the point of sale software, this VPOS-type of approach to contactless charging […] reflects the way we live these days.”

The charging speeds offered by The Pilot Group’s products were considered ideal for an office environment, especially as it means that consumers could use the charging points while doing productive work. The Pilot Group’s display and

advertising options, offering both a revenue opportunity and a chance for business customers to view promotional materials, were both considered very useful additions, especially to service office environments.

Having chosen The Pilot Group’s solutions as the optimal product offering, Pure energy proceeded to offer its range of services to a number of clients.

Later in 2020, the opportunity arose to provide the installation of EV charging points at an office building location in Tayside, Scotland. The office building is a hi-tech digital hub, which complemented the ethos of the space, as well as being able to service the needs of a number of users who are owners of electric cars but previously unable to use the charging points while at the office.

Alan comments on the solution of officebased charging, “It’s convenient charging to suit your lifestyle.”

Pure energy and The Pilot Group conducted a series of collaborations together to agree the parameters of the installation. Subsequently, The Pilot Group and its partners ensured that the site was properly fitted, installing the EV charging points as well as taking care of all elements of installation, from car bay marking at the car park facility, to conducting the utility company management process to ensure full access to electricity to prepare the charging points for use. The energy will be supplied by Octopus Energy, a fully renewable supplier of energy, which allows not only for the emissions-reducing electric cars to be charged, but to be charged using less polluting forms of electricity. In the words of Alan, “That’s the beauty of electrifying transport – power is all around us.”

The technology exceeded Pure energy’s expectations

The Pilot Group ensured that the Pure energy team were fully trained on the charging points dashboard, allowing them to provide quality measurements and reporting to their clients.

A survey of the inhabitants of the building has been incredibly positive, with many hoping to use the EV charging points as they return to the office, providing a convenient way to charge their electric cars while remaining productive.

According to Alan, Pure energy “sees a very big market for this, so it’s great for us to have a chance in this first installation to see how things work – and things have worked very well. So we want to build on that going forward, particularly next year.”

The office building where the EV charging points have been installed is owned by a large property developer, who is now in the process of looking at it’s other locations to find more opportunities to do the same.

For Pure energy, this really is the start of an important partnership that will help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles throughout the UK. The Pilot Group, thepilotgroup.co.uk

46 | January 2021

Electric Vehicle Charging – Pilot Group.indd 46

electricalcontractingnews.com

@ElecConNews

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17/12/2020 10:09

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17/12/2020 28/05/2020 10:23 10:48

SPECIAL FEATURE

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

PAVING THE WAY TO NET-ZERO WITH EV ADOPTION The numbers are sobering – in the UK, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from road transport made up around a fifth of the UK’s total GHG emissions in 2017. Transport accounts for 23% of the UK’s CO2 emissions, according to calculations by the Committee on Climate Change. Air pollution is the number one environmental cause of death in the European Union. For a world striving for a greener path to mobility, the stakes have never been higher, writes Jeff Caruso, Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at Aptiv.

F

ortunately, as the UK looks to move towards reaching the net zero target by 2050, emissions from road transport are likely to be significantly impacted.

This, combined with the strategy to meet the 2035 ban on internal combustion engine vehicle sales, will lead to consumers moving towards electric vehicles. But accelerating their adoption still poses a significant challenge. Time is of the essence, and OEMs are looking for automotive partners that can help them address today’s EV manufacturing challenges, fast.

Changing people’s minds about charging While public support for EVs is high – a recent survey from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found that consumers are interested in EV technology – those same consumers cited the top three reasons for not buying one as: higher purchase prices (52%), lack of local charging points (44%) and anxiety about getting out of range (38%).

A larger, more powerful battery might help alleviate those concerns, but that trend poses its own problems. Larger batteries take up more space in an already packed EV architecture. They’re heavier, too, which means they’re more expensive and take more time to charge.

The truth is that range anxiety is more than a battery problem; it’s a whole-car problem, and a whole-car problem requires a whole-car perspective to solve. It’s not always about the larger, more powerful

48 | January 2021

Electric Vehicle Charging – Aptiv.indd 48

batteries, but the innovations and system-level expertise (both inside and outside the battery pack) that are helping OEMs incorporate the next generation of battery packs into their EV designs.

A portfolio with a whole-vehicle perspective Take a closer look at any part of an electric vehicle and you’ll find ample evidence of innovation at work. Inside today’s more substantial and more powerful battery packs you’ll find a number of high voltage busbars. Their flatter construction design and rigidity are conducive to automated snap-in assembly and more accurate placement by robotic arms.

Making batteries more powerful than today’s is not simple. More powerful batteries mean replacing smaller electrical conductors with larger conductors to handle the additional current – and space is tight inside battery packs.

To accomplish either goal, OEMs need to free up enough space both inside and outside of the battery pack to allow for larger batteries – plus other components, technology and hardware. Freeing up space begins with rethinking how OEMs design and utilise every component in their respective architectures, starting with their wiring.

To make today’s EVs greener, safer and more affordable, you need look towards low voltage wiring. Selective Metal Coating (SMC) technology enables the use of connected solutions that ensures vertically integrated cable manufacturing expertise.

SMC paves the way for fully aluminium wiring harnesses that can reduce cabling mass by up to 50% versus copper.

Aptiv’s E-Mobility Portfolio

Additionally, it’s important the vehicle has a wide range of components and certifications that OEMs are looking for so they can manufacture EVs on a global scale. Inlets that cover both passively and actively cooled designs, as well as specs for every region in the world where OEMs are making EVs, is key.

A mission in motion The future is zero carbon emissions by 2050.

To get there, it is integral that the adoption of electrified vehicles is accelerated and there is a conscious effort to minimise those vehicles’ total life-cycle environmental impact.

Everything in the electrification portfolio – from high voltage wiring and electrical centres to high voltage connectors, plug-in chargers and cord sets, to architecture optimisation for mass and weight reduction – is designed to get to that future, one system-level innovation at a time.

Aptiv, aptiv.com

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SPECIAL FEATURE

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

SMARTSTEP PROJECT BRINGS SMART EV CHARGING TO RESIDENTIAL URBAN STREETS Low carbon energy consultancy, Element Energy, is to lead a consortium of energy industry stalwarts to deliver new, on-street electric vehicle charging infrastructure, enabled by smart meters to integrate seamlessly with the existing electricity network.

T

he consortium includes charge point start-up, Trojan Energy, renewable electricity provider, Octopus Energy, and Landis+Gyr, a global provider of integrated energy management solutions.

As part of its Beyond Off Street programme, the UK Government’s Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently awarded £856,000 funding through its Energy Innovation Programme to the Smart Subsurface Technology for Electric Pathways (SmartSTEP) project. SmartSTEP aims to incorporate smart functionality to the innovative on-street charge points being developed by Trojan Energy.

Affordable, accessible and convenient on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging is key for decarbonising transport and meeting the government’s climate commitments. Prospective EV drivers want to know they can charge their car near to where they live, and Trojan’s technology aims to facilitate this for the roughly 30% of households that do not have access to off-street parking.

However, whilst meeting the needs of customers is paramount, effectively integrating EV charging so the grid remains balanced is key to success. Smart charging allows customers to access EV charging when electricity is cheapest by automatically shifting the charging period to overnight, or other times of generally lower electricity demand. This will be crucial to balancing the loads on the local electricity distribution network, especially as more and more intermittent renewable

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electricity generating capacity such as wind and solar is connected.

Whilst smart charging is already in use for home charging and at dedicated public EV charging bays, SmartSTEP will be the first demonstration of smart charging in shared parking spaces on residential streets. This trial will involve charge points slotted into the pavement which will provide access to charging for those that do not have driveways or garages.

The project is split into two Phases: Phase One involves the design, development and testing of the system.

In this phase, already underway, Trojan Energy is working alongside Landis+Gyr and Octopus Energy to develop an effective smart charging system. Using the latest technology pioneered by Landis+Gyr as the major supplier in the national smart meter roll out, the charging system will benefit from the most advanced SMETS2 functionalities.

These smart meters are connected to the national smart metering system that adheres to the highest standard of security, ensuring data privacy for customers, protecting the grid, and supporting seamless switching between energy suppliers. Octopus Energy, the UK’s latest energy technology ‘unicorn’, will be providing access and integration with its first-of-its-kind Agile tariff, which allows lower cost renewable energy prices through incentivising off-peak usage - allowing the project to benefit from low cost green energy when demand on the grid is lower, and renewable energy is more abundant.

Should Phase 1 be successful, in Phase Two the smart charging system will be trialled.

“Affordable, accessible and convenient on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging is key for decarbonising transport and meeting the government’s climate commitments.”

SmartSTEP builds on the STEP project (funded by OLEV) which will see 200 of Trojan’s charge points deployed on streets in the London Boroughs of Brent and Camden from spring 2021 (see ECN October 2020).

SmartSTEP will involve upgrading 100 of these devices with Landis+Gyr’s SMETS2 smart meters. A crucial aspect of the project will be determining the user experience for customers during the trial – an area where Element Energy’s sectoral expertise will provide significant value.

Sarah Clements, Project Manager from Element Energy comments: “Smart charging is a vital enabler of the EV transition, allowing the fine balancing of both customer needs and electricity network constraints. Whilst already available for drivers who charge at home, smart charging has never been tested in an on-street context before. This is essential for ensuring low cost charging is available to all, and we are proud to be managing this industry first project that will help deliver Great Britain’s interconnected electricity and transport system.”

Ian Mackenzie, Managing Director of Trojan Energy says: “As we roll out our charging technology it is important to be at the cutting edge of what technology allows, as this can bring maximum benefits to our customers, energy suppliers and delivers maximum value for the UK. This trial allows us to push our technology further, unlocking new billing options and services for EV chargers throughout Great Britain, advancing our lead further in on-street charging technology, and helping drive adoption of EVs throughout all areas of GB.”

Prospective EV drivers want to know they can charge their car near to where they live

Element Energy, element-energy.co.uk

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COMPANY SHOWCASE

SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

TAKE YOUR VAN SECURITY TO ANOTHER LEVEL New research amongst tradespeople by Direct Line for Business has uncovered some shocking statistics, which revealed that 58% of electricians admitted to having had their valuable tools stolen, with the majority of thefts happening overnight when tools are often kept in vehicles.

This highlights the need for tradespeople to boost their van security. The Kasp Security Van Lock & Hasp (K50073A) provides the best protection against common forms of attack on vans, its shackle-less lock enclosed within the walls of the hasp, offering virtually no points of effective attack.

The padlock features a chrome plated hardened steel body for extra strength and protection from corrosion.

The padlock’s shrouded steel shackle ensures maximum protection against hacksaw and cropping attacks, with a 6-pin cylinder adding an extra defence against picking. The padlock’s corrosion resistant mechanism also offers reliability in potentially harsh environments.

The Hasp features a black powder coated heavy duty steel construction for extra strength and improved weather resistance.

Kasp Security, kaspsecurity.co.uk

MANROSE LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL CHANNELS British ventilation manufacturer, Manrose, has recently launched two new digital channels to make it even easier for customers to access product information they need, while keeping pace with the electrical sector’s trend for increased digitalisation.

The first is Manrose’s new website, www.manrose.co.uk. Long known for its practical, reliable products that it has been manufacturing for over 30 years, the new website brings a fresh, modern look to its brand while offering a site that is easy-to-use and navigate. The second digital channel is its brand new ‘My Manrose’ app which makes it simple for electricians, wholesalers and DIYers to access digital product information straight from their smart devices whether online or offline.

Manrose’s new, simple to access website allows users to find ventilation information quickly and easily. Handy filters allow customers to select exactly the right fan for the application, and they can even select on features such as warranty length and energy use. The My Manrose app is available for download on the website.

Manrose, manrose.co.uk

GUARDCAM DECO SMART SECURITY FLOODLIGHT SYSTEM FROM ESP ESP’s GuardCam Deco is a combined Wi-Fi security camera and LED floodlight system, which has been designed with ease of set up 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 10 metres from the unit. It will floodlight the area, initiate a video recording and provide the user with an option to deliver a two-way audio message or activate the inbuilt alarm warning.

It features an adjustable 16W high-intensity LED Security Lamp 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. ESP, espuk.com

CP ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF CASAMBI WIRELESS DETECTORS CP Electronics is launching a new range of PIR presence detectors that provide a wireless solution for a variety of applications, all utilising Casambi technology. With the launch of these wireless PIR presence detectors, CP Electronics will deliver added value to Casambi wireless mesh systems, as the detectors also incorporate relay and DALI output control, as well as presence and lux sensing.

Casambi provides state-of-the-art wireless technology that enables smartphones, tablets and even smart watches to become lighting controllers. This lighting control technology is integrated into luminaires and control devices to create a highly functional wireless lighting control solution with minimal cost and installation effort. The distributed and symmetric architecture allows any unit to go offline and catch up from others when they return back online. This control solution is powered through the Casambi App on iOS and Android devices, with a simple user interface so that anyone, regardless of technical proficiency, can use it.

CP Electronics, cpelectronics.co.uk

COMPLETE CUSTOMISATION WITH INCEPTOR INTENSE LED STRIPS Ovia’s new Inceptor Intense is a range of 24V LED strips, available in cool white, warm white and RGBW. They come in four pre-cut lengths – 0.5m, 1m, 2m and 5m – and use a plug and play system, making installation quick and easy.

IP20 and IP65 rated, the LED Strips come in the following variants: • 7.2W standard with 60 LEDs per metre in warm white and cool white • 14.4W standard with 120 LEDs per metre in warm white and cool white • 7.2W RGBW with 48 LEDs per metre, offering up to 16 million colour options • 14.4W RGBW with 60 LEDs per metre, offering up to 16 million colour options Set up is easy in four simple steps: • Peel the adhesive back from the chosen LED Strip and place down on a clean and even surface • Utilising the plug and play connections, connect the end of the LED Strip to one of the Driver Leads • Connect the Driver Lead to the chosen LED Driver. Then ensure the LED Driver is connected to the mains • Switch on the power With a variety of strips, connectors, and drivers available in the range, installers have the flexibility for complete customisation, whether working within domestic, retail, or outdoor settings.

NEW MERIDIAN LED BACKLIT PANELS The CED Electrical Group continues to enhance its Meridian Lighting range – this time with New LED Backlit Panels.

This range of 36w, 600 x 600 Panels is available in two colour temperature options – 4000k Cool White and 6500k Daylight. Each of these then comprises further options of a three or five-year guarantee period as well as Emergency versions. Backlit for superior even light distribution, they are built with metal back covers and feature lockable DC connectors, flicker free CE approved drivers and deliver 3200 lumens of output. Accessory kits for either Suspension or Surface mounting complete the range.

Whilst high quality is assured with relevant BS standards met, CE approved, RoHS compliant and Reach registered, this new range is available at highly competitive prices.

CED Electrical Group, cedelectrical.co.uk

OVIA, oviauk.com

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SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

NEW DRAKA CONNECTIVITY RANGE LAUNCHED IN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PACKAGING

COMPANY SHOWCASE

NEW FLEXIWORK NEON JACKETS AND FLEECES

Draka, a brand of Prysmian Group, has launched a new, improved connectivity range of products for use with its copper Draka Universal Cabling System. The new connectivity products are supplied in plastic-free, environmentally friendly packaging.

The new Draka Cat5e and Cat6 unshielded copper connectivity range has been completely revised and updated for increased quality and performance, whilst also maintaining its competitive edge in the market.

Designed with the installer in mind, the connectivity products come with several new features for quick and simple installation. All panels, keystones and modules feature both LSA+ and 110 punch down, whilst Euro and LJ6C modules now come with top and bottom cable fixing points. Vertical and horizontal panels benefit from increased robustness, with the vertical panel now including a metal rear cable management bar. The Euro and LJ6C modules IDC terminal have a coloured T568A/B wire map. Lastly, each connectivity product in the new range comes with all the accessories required to complete its installation.

The new Neon Jackets and Fleeces from Snickers Workwear for the flexible working environment deliver visibly superior comfort and freedom of movement.

While Fabric, Functionality and Fit are hallmarks of Snickers Workwear, it’s the innovation and fabric technology in the design of the new FlexiWork Neon Fleece Hoodie, Jacket and Gilet that really set these new garments apart.

They’re great for working outdoors in the colder months. Delivering superior flexibility and comfort, these lightweight four-way stretch garments come in a body-mapping design and are made from an Elastane/ Polyester fabric with a water-and windrepellent finish for comfort and durability when you need it most.

As well as being street-smart and visibly striking with Neon panels and reflective details for enhanced visibility, they’re designed for the fast-paced professional who’s always on the go and delivering top class work on site.

Snickers Workwear, snickersworkwear.co.uk

Draka, mms.drakauk.com

SCOLMORE INTRODUCES NEW GREY INSERTS

THE SMALL, COMPACT AND POWERFUL CONNECTOR FOR HARSH CONDITIONS Wieland Electric’s RST MINI is a complete installation system that adheres to the trend towards compact designs and comprises of connectors, device connectors, cable assemblies, and distributors. With its small dimensions, this installation connector can be used in extremely confined spaces for quick and safe installation, even under harsh installation conditions.

The RST MINI is perfect for use in a variety of lighting schemes and electrical applications that require a cross-section from 0.25 to 2.5 mm². As the system is universally pluggable it provides a safe solution from the distribution unit to every point of use. The RST MINI series also features the smart TWISTLOCK locking mechanism. In addition to its compact design, it is extremely quick and easy to install, providing a reduction in installation time of up to 70%.

The RST MINI connector is perfect for a wide range of indoor and outdoor installations such as façade lighting, event lighting and ceiling lighting transition between outdoor and indoor applications.

Wieland Electric, wieland.co.uk

Scolmore has expanded three of its popular wiring accessories ranges: Deco, Deco+ and Definity – to add a grey option to the choice of inserts available with certain finishes.

This follows feedback from many contractors and is a growing trend with end users and consumers looking for ways to add stylish finishing touches to their interior décor.

The new grey inserts are now offered in addition to black and white, with Deco and Deco+ products in the Stainless Steel and Satin Chrome finishes and with Definity products in the Brushed Steel and Stainless Steel finishes.

Deco is a range of decorative metal wiring accessories that are high specification, high quality and offer unprecedented value for money.

Deco+ is a comprehensive range of premium decorative wiring accessories that is synonymous with high specification, exceptional quality, and unprecedented value.

The Definity screwless wiring accessories range incorporates screwless, push-fit face plates in six assorted finishes. Each Definity product comprises an insert and a decorative cover plate.

Scolmore, scolmore.com

CONCORD BY SYLVANIA JOINS THE MADE IN BRITAIN COMMUNITY Concord by Sylvania has joined the Made in Britain organisation. The highly respected architectural lighting brand has over 50 years of history and is based in Newhaven, East Sussex. Made in Britain brings together the British manufacturing community, united by the registered collective mark, which has protected status and can only be used by members.

“We are delighted to become members of Made in Britain,” comments David Neale, Marketing Manager at Concord by Sylvania.

“Concord is renowned for its strong design ethos, high technical performance and beautiful aesthetic form, the cornerstones of British manufacturing. Our R&D and production facility in Newhaven has been in operation for many years and we are proud to be based in the South of England.”

Concord focuses on delivering lighting solutions to meet the needs of architects and lighting designers. Its innovative portfolio is one of the most comprehensive on the market, encompassing track and spot, downlights, ambient lighting, recessed and linear solutions for a variety of application segments.

THE SMALLEST IN-LINE JUNCTION BOX ON THE MARKET Hylec-APL has announced the launch of the new Debox SM40, the smallest 4-pole junction box available on the market, specifically designed to fit inside the smaller 40mm ceiling apertures of today’s ranges of ceiling downlights. Measuring only 80mm wide by 35mm deep and 25mm high – 50% smaller than the Debox S by cubic volume – Debox SM40 is the newest addition to Hylec’s very successful Debox family of in-line junction boxes for electrical contractors and electricians.

Debox SM40 saves electrical contractors time during installations, particularly on lighting projects. Despite its small size, the Debox SM40 offers generous cable management space internally and can be wired in seconds. Using Debox SM40 simply requires the installer to insert the cables into the 4-pole terminal block and tighten the terminal screws, lower the tool-less cable clamps and secure the lid with the supplied locking clip. The locking clip can only be opened with a tool, which complies with current regulations, and Debox SM40 is supplied with a spare locking clip.

Hylec-APL, hylec-apl.com

Sylvania, concord-lighting.co.uk

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COMPANY SHOWCASE

BUYERS’ GUIDE

SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

SYLVANIA LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION OF SYLSMART CONNECTED BUILDING

INDOOR & OUTDOOR POWER

Sylvania has launched the latest generation of SylSmart Connected Building – the perfect smart lighting solution for retrofit within indoor commercial applications.

Its simplicity of design, ease of use and clear payback make it the ideal choice for stakeholders including building owners, facilities, and energy managers, as well as installers.

Unlike traditional control systems, SylSmart Connected Building embeds intelligence in each luminaire. This contrasts with most lighting control systems which are based on a centralised system architecture which can result in a single point of failure then affecting the whole system. SylSmart Connected Building has no ‘central’ controller, operating in a decentralised way, avoiding a local problem causes a complete system shutdown.

The new generation of SylSmart Connected Building uses Qualified Bluetooth mesh and smart sensors within Sylvania luminaires. This solution is ideally suited for control, monitoring, and automation systems where tens, hundreds, or thousands of devices need to communicate with one another reliably and securely.

• Extension Leads • USB Charging

Sylvania, sylvania-lighting.com

• WiFi Control

WIELAND’S SAFETY LIGHT CURTAINS PROVIDE ACCESS CONTROL FOR ENHANCED SAFETY

• CT Range Cable Reels • ReelPro Cable Reels • Installation Accessories

SLC Series safety light curtains from Wieland Electric have been designed to protect operators from dangerous areas or as access control against unauthorised trespassing. Featuring slim, rigid housings that enable easy adjustment and stable operation, with integrated double-scan technology that avoids unwanted downtime in even the harshest operating conditions, the robust and reliable SLC Series safety light curtains provides effective and economical optoelectronic protection customisable to nearly any machine application.

When using multiple systems, mutual interference is avoided by using the adjustable range reduction feature, whilst the integrated double scan technology eliminates the risk of unnecessary shutdown even in harsh environments. Planning of safeguards is simplified and there is less type diversity because every SLC from 0m to the maximum range can be utilised.

Setting of parameters is done without PC or DIP switch and is carried out through simple wiring in the control cabinet. The three-zone alignment indicator reduces assembly time and simplifies set up.

Wieland Electric, wieland.co.uk

• TV & USB Accessories

SMJ Indoor & Outdoor Power Accessories

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