The Master Electrician Autumn 2013 by Master Electricians Australia

Registered by Australia Post Publications No. PP424022/2346

inside Central Park Precinct Industry ExposĂŠ The Business of Running a Business THE INTERVIEW: Danny Kennedy

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AUTUMN 13

themaster

table of contents Average Net Distribution 30,116 CAB Audited as of September 2012

alternative energies 04 launch of new membership category 06 industry exposé

the buzz

energy spotlight

central park precinct

benefit spotlight

news from the distributors

regulator wrap up

letter of the law

the interview

gadget guide

techno biz

technical talk

the business of running a business

workplace relations

all about ME

test drive

events calendar

shocking photograph

the last word

read the magazine online here General Enquiries Master Electricians Australia PO Box 2438, Fortitude Valley BC Queensland 4006 PHONE 1300 889 198 FAX 1800 622 914 EMAIL magazine@masterelectricians.com.au WEB www.masterelectricians.com.au

Editorial Contacts & Contributors EDITOR Malcolm Richards ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kirsty Bond ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Janelle MacDonald PHONE 07 3252 4860 EMAIL magazine@masterelectricians.com.au DESIGN AND PRINT POMO 07 3844 3873

04 Welcome to the AUTUMN edition of The Master Electrician.

This issue is dedicated

44 Follow us @MasterElectrics on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/ masterelectricians

www.masterelectricians.com.au or call 1300 889 198 The Master Electrician is printed on environmentally responsible paper sourced from FSC® certified forestry plantations. The paper is made with Elemental Chlorine Free pulps (ECF). Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are offered solely in pursuance of the objects of the Electrical Contractors Association and Master Electricians Australia to provide an informative service to contractors in the electrical industry on legal, commercial and other issues and problems related to the industry. The Electrical Contractors Association and Master Electricians Australia are not aware that any person intends to act or rely upon such statements and opinions contained in this publication or the manner in which it might be possible to do so. The Electrical Contractors Association and Master Electricians Australia issues no invitation to any member or other persons to act or rely upon such statements or opinions or any of them and it accepts no responsibility for any of them. It intends by this provision to exclude, to the extent permitted by law, all liability for any such statements and opinions. The Master Electrician Magazine can be viewed online at www.masterelectricians.com.au

to the business of running a business. Managing an electrical business can sometimes feel like a ball and chain tied to your ankle. Turn to page 42 to uncover the growing trend of small companies seeking help from business mentors.

In February, MEA teamed up with Regulatory authorities to travel the country providing in-depth presentations on the changes to the wiring rules to over 600 members, business partners and staff. Turn to page 46 for a summary of the amendments and if you haven’t already, remember to purchase your copy of the latest Wiring Rules. Turn to page 34 for a fascinating interview with Danny Kennedy, President of Sungevity and a keynote speaker at this year’s Electrical Industry Conference in Las Vegas. Don’t forget to register at www.masterelectricians. com.au/Conference to join us this September. Until next time.

Kirsty Bond Associate Editor

The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

feature

Alternative Energies Graphic: WSP Group

Over the past decade, Australia’s interest in and production of alternative energies has progressed in leaps and bounds. Stephanie Lim explores alternative energy advancements of today with the country’s leading experts. Illustration of the tri-generation plant supplying thermal and electrical energy to Central Park Precinct.

The popularity of renewable energy has

grown substantially over the past decade, with advancements in alternative energy technologies continuing to improve at a steady pace. While the price of most of these technologies continues to decline largely as a consequence of excess capacity and close competition from China, this has made alternative energy more viable domestically to the benefit of Australian home owners.

Chief executive of Ensight Energy Solutions and Chairman of the Energy Management Institute Rod Welford says despite the number of alternative energy options available today, wind power appears to be the most dominant and cost effective way of providing bulk power supplies into the grid. “Despite this, renewable energy technology tends to be most effective when they are utilised as close to energy demand as possible,” Mr Welford says. “Which means the most appropriate form of alternative energy for domestic use is in fact to install PV solar panels on houses. Combined with energy efficient technologies this is probably the most cost effective form of alternative energy.” Mr Welford says latest figures revealed last month by Clean Energy Regulator show a giant increase in the use of solar PV within www.masterelectricians.com.au

a short span of five years. “It has been recently announced that there are now more than one million homes in Australia with solar PV installed on their roofs,” he says. “More than two million Australians are getting cheaper power bills and halving their electricity bills every year due to a switch to solar energy.” Mr Welford explains these figures clearly show that the Australian public has begun to understand the value of renewable energy – and not just with their wallets! “The Australian community has grown more engaged and knowledgeable toward the subject of solar as a source of renewable energy,” he says. “Over the years there have been subsidies from the Government for these solar installations, but the ever increasing price of electricity is the driving force behind an investment into solar for a lot of Australian home owners.” As solar energy quickly becomes a staple in Australian homes, this has led to the need for better battery storage options for solar energy to provide an independent source of power and to hold all energy produced by renewable systems. Australian provider of energy efficient solutions Propa utilises the Australian-

made Selectronic SP-Pro solar systems. Propa director Ben Haffenden says it is a lesser known fact that a solar system is unable to operate in a blackout, however the Selectronic SP-Pro works during blackouts as users can select what power is used, and when. “People are often unaware of this so the device is very understated,” Mr Haffenden says. “The Selectronic SP-Pro does not directly have solar panels connected to it so it can be installed in any house whether it has solar or not, to provide backup power and blackout protection. It will also start and control a generator. “When there is a solar power system on site the SP-Pro will allow it to run regardless of whether the grid is available, and it will store energy in batteries or sell excess energy to the grid depending on the situation. “With homes having their own complete power system it reduces the peak load on the grid by removing customers from the network and ultimately from the peak times. Usually the low price or cost of utilising solar is the best incentive to encourage people to do so and we are seeing that come into the utility or retail sector with ‘time-of-use tariffs’ or ‘cost reflective tariffs’.”

The cost of installing solar panel systems has halved in price nearly twice over the past decade. Today, a complete gridconnected solar panel system without batteries costs approximately $2 per watt when installed, compared with 10 years ago when the cost was $10 per watt. Mr Haffenden warns that certain solar companies have advertised deals on television for far below the current price. “Consumers need to be cautious of deals that sound too good to be true. Solar panels are meant to last at least 25 years, but there are many panels which have gone up in price and come back down in the space of a year or two due to poor quality,” he says. A complete energy system, including the solar panels and batteries, can be installed for the price $4-$5 per watt – which is double the price of systems today but well inside the realm of cost-effectiveness. These ‘hybrid systems’ integrate all energy sources and use the most appropriate source at the time. Mr Haffenden explains many homeowners still have the perception that solar batteries are expensive and unable to run many appliances. “This is not true. A 4kW solar array (20kWh per day) with a 5kW inverter (expandable by 50 per cent and can contain 6kW worth of solar panels) with 5kWh of battery storage costs approximately $15,000 and would suit an average home,” he says. “It would use a tiny bit of power from the grid in the middle of the night. The solar power system itself would have been a bargain just a year or so ago. But the price of silicon and panel production has flattened. There are no more price-drops happening and manufacturers are in consolidation, which is an obvious sign that the market has stabilised. “This means that prices are not going to go down by more than what people are currently spending on power in the meantime.” This year, Propa will make available a new peak demand management system that will correct the power factor and allow for time shifting of solar, while making it 20 per cent more efficient than any other system currently on the market. Mr Haffenden says the peak demand

management system will utilise a completely new architecture and is intended for larger solar panel systems, making solar viable where it previously was not.

well as cheaper.

“The Selectronic systems are not quite so scalable but are very similar in many ways,” he says.

Making a single system to do all of this is inherently more efficient and does not currently exist.

“Commercial properties currently pay very little for power and also dislike long-term investments. The lower the price or value of the generated power, the slower the return from the solar power investment and system will be.

“There are a few systems that claim to but none of them are over 80 per cent efficient which leaves a lot of room for improvement,” Mr Haffenden explains.

“Over the years there have been subsidies from the Government for these solar installations, but the ever increasing price of electricity is the driving force behind an investment into solar for a lot of Australian home owners.” “The new peak demand system looks to address existing problems such as performance and reliability of a solar system, as without sustainable performance we simply can’t harvest enough power from the roof space. Without longevity it is a pointless investment, and commercial investments are also larger so they have a greater buffer of caution when getting them over the line.” There are currently few batteries in many commercial buildings as peak demand equates to a high discharge for conventional battery and storage technologies, which makes a management system expensive and physically large. Mr Haffenden says with Lithium now on the scene this is a much more viable option. “Lithium can handle fast discharging as it is more efficient when looking at power being put in and taken back out. “The other factor is optimisation. Conventional systems often have solar panels in sets so when a panel slows down, so does the set. This reduces output and overtime. By making the panels independent of each other, overall output is increased yet so is the cost. The challenge we face is harvesting more energy yet making it available when it is needed, as

“This would make solar more commercially viable due to an ability to address all parts of the bill.”

“People have never had this sort of control with power and they are not yet aware of what is possible. It is similar to when Henry Ford asked his potential customers what they wanted out of a car, to which they responded, ‘faster horses’!” Mr Haffenden says up to about 40 per cent of the power that comes from a solar power system can be consumed directly during the day at home when it is generated, so 60 per cent of the daily energy needs to be sourced at a time when the solar resource is not directly available. “My rule of thumb when it comes to purchasing a solar power system is to only buy a solar power system that addresses 40 per cent of your bill and not feed very much or any power into the grid, and pay for the rest at night,” he advises. “If you still get blackouts, your power bill will rise. The alternative is to move towards complete independence – store excess power produced daily for later night use, cutting blackouts and power costs, while still having the grid as a backup source instead of a generator.” Ensight Energy Solutions and the Energy Management Institute’s Mr Welford says the real challenge in moving forward with solar energy is how the Government will handle the interaction of distributed solar energy and the operation of electricity grids. “We will need to look at how the continuing growth of solar will be encouraged, at the same time ensuring the benefits of solar installations are maximised by greater improvements in energy efficiency. “Master Electricians Australia’s energy auditing training is something that has the potential to make cost effective contributions to the solar world,” he said. The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

feature

Launch of new nationwide membership category As MEA turns five, contractors nationwide now have the opportunity to be part of something big.

Master is a word often associated with quality or someone being at the top of their game. While we here at Master Electricians Australia (MEA) believe a ‘master’ earns this title by demonstrating great skill, proficiency or workmanship, it is the consistency in the quality and delivery that keeps a Master Electrician at the top of their game. And it turns out we are not alone. When CEO Malcolm Richards appeared before a group of journalists in Brisbane to introduce the national accreditation program for Master Electricians in August 2008, he could not have anticipated just how successful the program would be, or how much recognition the ‘Master Electricians’ brand would gain over the next five years. In 2008, MEA had identified a need amongst consumers for the security that comes with higher levels of service, safety and quality assurance and the Accredited Master Electricians program was developed in order to meet this need. Drawing upon our origins and the traditions we share with the ECA, one of the longeststanding industry associations of its kind, MEA has established itself as a national leader by being forward-thinking and an entrepreneurial accreditation brand. Over the past few months, MEA has undertaken an extensive strategic development exercise. We are excited to now be able to share the results with you. After five years as a national accreditation scheme, we have listened to your feedback www.masterelectricians.com.au

and learned. Many contractors have told us that whilst they aspire to become accredited and appreciate the value of the ‘Master Electricians’ brand as a mark of excellence, communicating trust, security and reliability, they are keen to be involved with the organisation but would like to take the accreditation journey one step at a time, with the assistance and support of MEA.

Over the past few months, MEA has undertaken an extensive strategic development exercise. We are excited to now be able to share the results with you. So what has changed? As a response to this feedback, we have developed a new membership category that will give more contractors nationwide the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and active industry association. Becoming a ‘Master Electricians Member’ will mean the highly recognised Master Electricians brand will be accessible for contractors to use on their company’s marketing material, vehicles and work shirts. Across Australia, we are continually building and increasing recognition of the Master Electricians brand. However, this does not mean we have lowered the bar for the accreditation program. We have taken on board feedback from our existing Accredited Master Electricians and are

working on raising the bar in order to take the accreditation program to the next level. Under the new accreditation program, a contractor will work towards being certified to Australian Standards in three categories - Safety, Quality and Energy Efficiency. Each certification will give the contractor an extra mark of professionalism in the eyes of the general public and once the contractor has attained all three, they will become an Accredited Master Electrician. Upon reaching accreditation, businesses will be regularly audited to ensure that work is meeting the strict program standards. Accreditation may not be easy to earn or keep, but that is what makes the Accredited Master Electrician status so prestigious. While a qualification can make an electrician, our accreditation is only achieved by the best electrical contractors across the country. The accreditation standards are above established industry standards and mark businesses as the leaders in their industry nationally. We will be adding further value to the Master Electricians Accreditation program in a number of ways. Importantly, Accredited Master Electricians will be able to have a say on the direction and representation of Master Electricians Association Limited. Through MEA’s marketing efforts, consumers will be encouraged to look for the Accredited Master Electricians logo when sourcing a contractor. In addition, a number of new corporate discounts and benefits including business mentoring are being developed

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for Steel Sheds, Work Sheds, Boat Sheds, Garages..... FITS VIRTUALLY ALL 64mm TOP HAT PURLINS which will reward contractors for their efforts in achieving their Accredited Master Electrician status. Contractors who are not quite ready to join the accredited program, but wish to give their business access to the highly regarded suite of membership benefits, will now be able to become a member of Master Electricians Australia. Importantly, becoming a Master Electricians Member will provide access to a support network if they choose to work towards gaining Accredited Master Electrician status. Members will be able to build a relationship with the organisation over a number of years and gain assistance in helping attain business goals. Master Electricians key membership benefits • Hotline for advice on technical and safety issues • Hotline for workplace relations issues • Regular updates on the latest industry news • Government and industry representation • Access to education and training resources

New logos A new ‘Master Electricians Member’ logo has been developed for the new membership category and boasts a fresh design that exudes quality and strength. The new gold ‘Accredited Master Electrician’ logo is stronger, easily recognisable and can be displayed exclusively by those at the pinnacle of the electrical contracting industry. The logo incorporates three ticks, representing the hallmarks of the Accredited Master Electrician status: safety, quality and energy efficiency. All existing Accredited Master Electricians will gain exclusive access to the gold logo. We will continue to lead our industry and connect our Master Electricians to professional opportunity and success locally, regionally and nationally. You will begin to see a change in the way we do things. You will notice new marketing material, corporate stationery, uniforms, vehicle signage and reference material over the coming months. Think of MEA as an extension of your own business, offering a one-stop-shop of personalised support.

• Discounts from our corporate partners

To access the highest standard of member services offered in the industry, join MEA today. Turn to page 19 for our membership launch special offers.

• Complimentary copies of MEA publications.

Visit www.masterelectricians.com.au/join or contact 1300 889 198.

• Access to our members-only website • Use of the Master Electricians Member logo

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Autumn 2013

feature

Industry exposé In three years’ time, the Australian electrical industry will experience a skills shortage. Yet why are we still turning workers from our shores, and have we got the apprenticeship process right? Stephanie Lim investigates. General Secretary of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) Eamon Devoy says a skills shortage could be avoided if it were easier for available overseas workers to enter and work in Australia. He says the major downturn in the Irish economy and significant effects it has had on the construction industry have led to thousands of Irish electricians being declared redundant. “According to a recent census there are 25,755 electricians in Ireland, of which 14,606 are currently employed,” Mr Devoy says. “This has resulted in many electricians seeking to emigrate to Australia and Canada for work. To ensure a smooth transition for Irish electricians to work in Australia, the TEEU along with the ETU Australia, have undertaken significant mapping exercises to establish what skill gaps, if any, exist. “The result of this process has been clear. On the Irish Framework of Qualifications an Irish electrician is placed on the framework at level six with some level seven outcomes, whereas the Australian electrician is placed on the framework at level five. The difference, if any, between an Irish electrician and an Australian electrician is negligible. “Yet an Irish electrician would still be required to undergo an additional practical skills assessment - Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) - in order to gain access to either permanent migration or for licensing purposes to work in Australia. “Many electricians have travelled to Australia unaware of the complexity of the licensing requirements. Those who have achieved a provisional license have been told by some electrical contractors that to attain the full rate of pay they must possess a Grade A License.”

Low apprenticeship completion rates, a shortage of sparkies, difficult visa protocols and high drop-out rates. Cause for concern? Migration issues The federal government has recently announced an overhaul of the 457 visa scheme for temporary overseas workers, hoping the tightened regulations would ensure local workers get a fair go and only genuine skills shortages are addressed. But this has now added onto already stringent protocol where overseas electricians are finding it difficult to enter Australia for work. Combined with the current increasing drop-out rates of electrical apprentices, this situation has led to the beginning of a drastic skills shortage within the electrical industry where there will be a distinct lack of electricians in three years’ time. www.masterelectricians.com.au

Mr Devoy says numerous migration agents have turned relocation to Australia into an amazing labyrinth of complexity. He says migration to Australia is portrayed as a virtual impossibility without parting with thousands of dollars to unscrupulous individuals who promise a lot and deliver very little that could not have been achieved on their own. “A typical example is to tell individuals they will be provided with a permanent residential address to travel on a 12-month working holiday visa and that they will be met ‘on the other side’ and it will get sorted,” Mr Devoy explains. “There are currently a vast range of visas available for different categories of workers, from different countries of origin, temporary and permanent employment and for temporary and permanent migration. No information is provided by the Australian Embassy in Ireland on visa applications and this is feeding the Sharks who are exploiting the vulnerable workers in this situation.

“Relocation is a stressful enough situation without the added worry. There are significant financial expenses to consider, as well as the emotional strain of relocating to the other side of the world.” The difficulties overseas electricians face in entering Australia for work have deterred most from trying, further contributing to a looming skills shortage within the industry. There is already evidence of a slowdown in overseas electricians entering Australia for work as the established processes are cumbersome and expensive.

“According to a recent census there are 25,755 electricians in Ireland, of which 14,606 are currently employed.”

Mr Devoy says there is a world of difference when comparing Australia’s migration process with Canada’s. “Like Australia the economy in Canada is resource driven. Many big sites are Drive In Drive Out or Fly In Fly Out but, the system in Canada is far less complex,” he explains. “Licences are granted on the tick box form filling exercise. Employers come to Ireland and recruit on the spot and will pay relocation expenses for the workers involved. If Australian employers wish to compete with other nations for Irish Electricians then they need to recognise that many of the unnecessary barriers, for competent electricians, need to be dismantled.

completion rate of over 50 per cent. Australia may need to explore different apprenticeship processes to prevent a drastic skills shortage in the near future, and it could be beneficial to take a leaf out of Ireland’s book. The electrical apprenticeship curriculum in Ireland is designed with input from employers and appropriate Trade Unions. Apprentices must be taken on by an employer to commence their apprenticeship and they are paid a percentage of the craft rate in employment: 1st Year 30 per cent, 2nd Year 45 per cent, 3rd Year 65 per cent, and 4th Year 80 per cent. Because of the permanent nature of the apprenticeship contract, the completion rates are extremely high when compared with other career options. One apprenticeship program that seems to be doing it right is conducted by Australian electricity network supplier Ausgrid, whose highly successful program has enjoyed a 99 per cent completion rate for apprentices. Executive Manager for Learning and Development Tom Emeleus says 96 per cent of Ausgrid’s apprentices continue to take up a full time trade role with the company. “Electrical trades are nationally recognised, so once finished, these workers will be set with a career for life wherever they chose to go.” Mr Emeleus attributes Ausgrid’s apprenticeship program success to having implemented a different apprenticeship process to the standard Australian system. Like most apprenticeships, Ausgrid’s apprenticeship program spans four years.

“For example, the Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) specified Gap Training programs could be delivered to electricians offshore before they arrive in Australia and this would simplify part of the process.”

He says Ausgrid is a registered training organisation, so they are able to employ and train apprentices in both theory and practical skills, where normally the theory aspect of an apprenticeship would be conducted by TAFE.

In order for Australia to address skills shortages within the electrical industry, steps need to be taken quickly to ensure that overseas electrical contractors and employers understand what a provisional licence actually means for migrating electricians.

“Our apprentices are taught a wide range of specialised skills from experienced industry tradespeople,” Mr Emeleus says.

With fewer overseas workers contributing to the industry, Australia will have to step up in training local workers to fill local jobs to prevent a fast-approaching skills shortage within the industry. Declining Apprenticeships Despite the urgent need for trained local workers, electrical apprenticeship completion rates are steadily in decline, with dropout rates at an all-time high. In December 2011, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research projected a completion rate of 46 per cent for electrotechnology and telecommunications trades workers. Whilst this is higher than other trade areas, it is still a non-

“From the start our apprentices are learning the specialist electrical skills required for the Electricity Supply Industry. During their careers they will form part of our frontline emergency response team, serving the community in storms and natural disasters alongside more experienced team members.” With a skills shortage on the horizon, and no foreign workers to fill jobs, Australia may need to step up in maximising training and development to produce higher success rates for apprentices and to ensure continued success within the electrical industry. Next issue we will explore the perspectives of other industry stakeholders. The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

the buzz ELECTRICAL Equipment Safety System Launched Designed to improve household electrical equipment safety in Australia, Electrical Equipment Safety System has now been launched in Queensland and will be launched in all other states and territories (except NSW) by September 2013. The system changes the regulatory requirements for businesses that import, manufacture or sell ‘in-scope’ electrical equipment

The Analogue to Digital TV switchover

(generally low voltage equipment rated 50 Vac to 1000 Vac and designed or marketed for household or personal use). For importers and manufacturers, this means that in-scope electrical equipment currently sold in Queensland must be aligned to a registered responsible supplier, who must ensure their products are electrically safe and meet prescribed standards. For retailers and wholesalers, it will be an offence to sell in-scope electrical equipment that is not linked to a registered responsible supplier.

In order to be ready to help their customers, contractors can attain their Certificate III in Telecommunications Digital Reception Technology, which will prepare them for the metropolitan digital installation roll out. The Digital Reception Technology course is recommended for those who have substantial vocational experience, with or without a formal qualification. The program is designed to provide the necessary skills to install digital TV reception equipment for homes and businesses. Participants will also learn fault finding skills on a range of digital reception equipment for subscription TV and free-to-air TV reception. Retail Advisor scheme Retailers also have the opportunity to benefit from the switchover by partnering with the Australian Government to help consumers get ready for the digital switchover.

The electrical industry is in a prime position to benefit as the process of switching over to digital television from analogue signals has begun across Australia. The switchover to digital-only TV has already been completed in all regional centres and will be rolled out region-by-region, including capital cities, between now and the end of the year, making this the perfect time for electricians to gain a qualification to be able to tap into this market. The switchover taskforce is working closely with the broadcasting industry and the retail and housing sector, as well as a number of other stakeholders to ensure Australians experience a smooth transition to digital TV and are able to enjoy the associated benefits. For most people, the switch from analogue to digital-only TV will be relatively straightforward. However, the Australian Government has also introduced a number of schemes to help prepare people for digital TV. How electrical contractors can get involved The Government public awareness campaign is aimed at driving customers to their electrical contractor as a point of contact and assistance. www.masterelectricians.com.au

Staff from participating retail stores will complete an online Government assessment to become approved Digital Advisors. Digital Advisors will wear a badge displaying the Government’s ‘Get Ready for Digital TV’ logo and will be able to inform consumers about what the Government labels mean, the full range of options to get digital ready, the digital switchover itself, and where to find more information. Retailers can also use the ‘Get Ready for Digital TV’ logo in participating stores and in product advertisements for the participating store. The scheme is not available to retailers operating door-to-door or other roaming type businesses. Digital Switchover Labelling Scheme As part of the quality assurance scheme, three labels have been developed which can be applied to TVs, set top boxes and digital TV recorders. The labels are: • Digital TV Ready High Definition (HD) • Digital TV Ready Standard Definition (SD) • Digital TV Ready Capable Only with a Set Top Box. Suppliers have been invited to partner with the Australian Government to place these labels on their products. More information on becoming a licensed supplier is available on the Government website. Digital TV Antenna Systems Handbooks The Digital TV Antenna Systems Handbook will assist developers, owners, managers, and tenants of buildings with shared antenna

systems prepare for digital TV switchover. The handbook was developed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) in cooperation with the Digital Switchover Taskforce and TVassociated industries. It is important to recognise this is a guide only and many commercial buildings require a full and complete assessment and a complete list of requirements from the owner/developer so that a formal technical solution can be provided.

Find out more about the digital switchover and the range of programs available by visiting www.digitalready.gov.au Thanks to a new partnership with Matchmaster Communications and a generous government subsidy, SkillsConnect now offer training in Certificate III in Telecommunications Digital Reception Technology at a reduced price. For more information visit www.masterelectricians.com.au

The Digital TV Antenna Systems for Homes Handbook provides guidance on the conversion of free-to-air analogue TV systems in single dwellings, so they can receive free-to-air digital TV transmissions. Single dwellings include houses and other properties with stand alone antenna systems.

Remaining Timetable for 2013 Metro

Brisbane

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Noosa and Gympie

28 May 2013

Metro

Melbourne

31 December 2013

Metro

Sydney

Sydney and Gosford

31 December 2013

Remote Regional and Remote Western Australia

Kalgoorlie, Broome and Bunbury

25 June 2013

Remote Darwin

Darwin and surrounding areas

30 July 2013

Remote Remote Central & Eastern Australia

Alice Springs, Mt Isa, Smoky Bay and Lord Howe Island

10 December 2013

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The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

the buzz

New online aptitude test to help energy industry employers Energy industry employers throughout Australia will now be better able to recruit suitable candidates through a new Energy Skills Aptitude Test recently launched by industry skills body Energy Skills Queensland (ESQ). The Energy Skills Test is an online aptitude assessment tool that can test a candidate’s suitability for a trade career in the energy industry, including the electrical, gas and telecommunications sectors. The test aims to assist in reducing the number of non-completion rates. “Around one in three electrical apprentices fail to become tradespersons and this high non-completion rate is costing employers thousands in recruitment expenses and poor productivity,” ESQ Workforce Development Consultant Jody McAully said. Industry research has found that 81 per cent of electrical and energy companies surveyed do not use aptitude testing when taking on apprentices, while energy companies who use aptitude testing for recruitment and selection have achieved much higher completion rates. The Energy Skills Test indicates a candidate’s potential for the electrical and energy trades by assessing them on the three areas of numerical and mechanical reasoning and safety awareness. These assessments streamline the recruitment process and are easily managed through an online platform accessible at any time. Employers can log in to access reports of potential candidates on numerical and mechanical reasoning, and situational safety awareness, as well as group reports to benchmark candidates. The test also allows for job seekers to assess their own compatibility to the energy industry before applying for an apprenticeship or placement program. The test is nationally relevant and costs $55 (including GST) per candidate. For more information visit www.energyskillsqld.com.au or phone (07) 3721 8800. www.masterelectricians.com.au

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feature energy spotlight

Tindo Solar In today’s increasingly competitive world of solar production, one Australian manufacturer is flying the flag amidst European and Chinese goliaths, and coming out on top.

As Australia’s only solar designer and manufacturer, Tindo Solar has flourished in a competitive solar world, continuing to succeed since the Tindo Solar facility began operations in December 2011. The Mawson Lakes plant was officially opened by Prime Minister Julia Gillard late last year, currently with the ability to meet 15 to 20 per cent of Australia’s solar panel needs and creating muchneeded employment opportunities for the country. Tindo Solar People and Business Manager Richard Inwood says the Australian public remains confused as to which solar manufacturers to trust, and Tindo Solar’s unique business model aims to restore consumers’ faith into going solar. “Tindo is different in the sense that we design, engineer, manufacture, sell, and install solar panels all direct from the factory,” he says. “We are the only manufacturers of solar PV in Australia – and to my knowledge, the only manufacturers in the world – to do this. The main benefit to consumers is that they are able to receive quality product without the middle man margin, which makes our prices either equal to or lower than some imported products. “Our business model also creates much-needed new employment opportunities locally.” Tindo Solar produces 1,000 panels per month, but has the capacity to produce 300,000 panels a year at full capacity. It also plans to expand its workforce to up to 100 workers within three years www.masterelectricians.com.au

and sell its panels through a mix of start-up solar businesses and existing solar companies. Pegged by the Prime Minister as helping boost Australia toward “a high-skilled, high-wage, high-innovation economy”, Tindo Solar is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the local and national solar world. Despite this, Mr Inwood says it can be difficult to compete amongst Chinese and European solar giants, and highlights concerns over the recent widespread ‘dumping’ of Chinese panels at below-cost prices. He says Chinese manufacturers are struggling because their manufacturing growth has been based on subsidies by the Chinese and other local Governments over the last three years, and not on consumer demand. “This means that their factories are ever producing irrespective of demand, and a surplus occurred several years ago,” Mr Inwood says. “This resulted in a price reduction of 30 to 40 per cent over the last two years, to the point where they are now producing and delivering at under the cost of manufacturing. “Clearly this is not a sustainable business model especially now that the Chinese Government has said they would not be inclined to put any further funding into supporting their solar manufacturers.”

One third of Chinese solar panel manufacturers shut their doors in the last year alone, with one of the largest Chinese manufacturers, Suntech, going into receivership. Mr Inwood says over the last three years the financial viability of Chinese based manufacturers has become problematic and concerns over the quality of their products have arisen.

“Tindo is different in the sense that we design, engineer, manufacture, sell, and install solar panels all direct from the factory...” He says there is clear evidence of material substitution in Chinese solar products, and there is every reason to suspect poor quality processes as these businesses attempt to cut costs. Mr Inwood says German solar manufacturers are equally financially stretched, with manufacturer Q-cells having gone into receivership last year and Bosch scheduled to close down in February of next year. He says this situation presents complications for Tindo Solar as an Australian solar manufacturer, as well as Australian consumers. “Our real fear is that at some point damage to infrastructure or life will occur as a result of poor workmanship and materials being embedded in imported solar products,” he says.

Mr Inwood says in Australia, solar panel manufacturers need to provide evidence of certification from a testing laboratory to be on the CEC Accredited List.

“We also know that a solar module costs around 80 cents per watt to manufacture, yet we are seeing solar modules offered in Australia at prices as low as 45 cents per watt. This is clearly ‘dumped’ product from China, which is illegal.

“For certification of a module to occur, there is a rigorous testing procedure that takes a number of months and considerable cost,” he explains.

“We are seeing more and more local retailers exiting the industry and expect this to become more predominant throughout the rest of this year and the next. This is mainly a result of ‘dumped’ product from China, which makes it difficult for a reseller to apply to their margin as consumers are disinclined to pay this.”

“A module is submitted to the Certification authority detailing all the components that were used to make the module. Once certified, you can then apply to be put on the Australian Clean Energy Council list. If any component in the module is changed, it will need to be re-certified.

Mr Inwood says despite Chinese manufacturers claiming they are not ‘dumping’, the simple fact of the matter is a module maker should not be losing money if they are not selling their product at below cost price.

“Once a module is certified, alternative cheaper components can be used in the module. Anecdotally, this is a common occurrence. A module maker will purchase the cheapest material it can source and put that into their modules without going through the recertification process.

“Clients or consumers may ask, ‘what do I care? I am getting a product below cost price, and in a free economy that is a rarity and opportunities like this should be snapped up’,” he says.

“It is common for a manufacturer to substitute a product within a module from what was originally certified to lower the cost of production.

“But they should take care. First of all, in the quest to compete and cut costs, quality will be compromised. Cheaper components will be used, breakage rates will increase not via more efficient processes, but by less quality control.

“From a consumer’s point of view there is no way of verifying that the module they are purchasing contains the materials that were used to obtain certification.”

“There is also a question of the safety of these products on Australian roofs. “Ultimately the Chinese employ a business model that cannot survive over time. The company itself may survive, but there will be plenty that will not and any warranty a consumer may hold will die with them.” But how do manufacturers such as the Chinese get away with utilising compromised materials and providing low quality PV to Australian market and homes?

Mr Inwood warns that consumers need to be extra careful not to purchase cheap solar panels as taking risks with sub-standard and poorly-made panels is always dangerous. “A poorly made panel is effectively a piece of very dangerous electrical equipment,” he says. “Solar panels produce between 400 to 600 V DC which is lethal. The vast majority of Tindo Solar’s product is manufactured as an AC module which only has 30 V DC on the roof – and this system can safely be fought in the event of a fire as it is low voltage so water may be poured on it.” The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

feature

Central Park Precinct A giant, airborne Meccano set is being built above Sydney’s busy Broadway as key stages of the $2 billion Central Park construction are underway. Kirsty Bond takes an insiders look into the electrical installation work and new technologies going into this mixed-use development.

Designed by award-winning Parisian architect Jean Nouvel, the 5.8-hectare residential, office and retail project is striving to be Sydney’s most sustainable urban community. Each building within Central Park will achieve a minimum five star Green rating (from the Green Building Council of Australia) to meet the demands of energy efficient living in a CBD. With over 1,000 workers currently on site daily, along with the highly-anticipated completion of the West Tower of One Central Park, there is an air of excitement at Central Park. In February, joint venture developers Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia completed the most complex part of the construction process in building Australia’s first heliostat. A cantilever extending 42 metres from the façade of the One Central Park residential tower will support the massive heliostat used to reflect sunlight in a fixed direction. The frame carrying 320 large movable mirrored panels will redirect sunlight during the day through a Perspex ceiling into the commercial atrium, thus reducing the reliance on electrical lighting and reducing energy use. Tim Carr, Arup Lighting Designer for the Heliostat explains that the sophisticated light reflecting feature will be Australia’s first heliostat to be incorporated into the architectural design of a high-rise residential tower. “These mirrored panels each have nine RGB LED lamps set into them, which are fully programmable to deliver artwork representing local Sydney icons from sunset to 11pm each day. Even when fully lit, energy use will be nominal at just 3kW,” Mr Carr said.

One Central Park viewed from Chippendale Green

www.masterelectricians.com.au

With a green façade of vertical gardens, backlit at night with 5 watt warm white LEDs, by French artist Patrick Blanc plus the heliostat, the tower of One Central Park will have a distinct ‘green’ identity. Coupled

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PHOTOGRAPHY: WSP GROUP

The first part of the tri-generation plant - a 1.1MW gas engine being delivered to the basement plant room

with the appeal of living in a sustainable urban village, it is not surprising that 85 per cent of the apartments in One Central Park have already sold.

gas emissions savings over the life of the precinct plant. On an annual basis, this equates to 2,500 cars being taken off the road.

Arup’s Senior Electrical Engineer, Jacky Chan, said each apartment has been designed with energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure in mind.

Rob Beck, Associate Director from WSP Group explains that by centralising the plant, it is possible to take all of the chillers out of the buildings.

“From a smart type meter with visual display that measures energy and water use, to a master lighting ‘off’ switch at main door entry and timer on the bathroom exhaust fan, the apartments will incorporate the latest technologies from HPM Legrand and Schneider Electric, to ensure they meet the five star Green rating target.

“We are going from 31 chillers down to seven more efficient chillers. This saves a lot of plant capital and space, as well as reducing the precincts overall electrical energy consumption through peak demand reduction.

“Another key feature will be the use of a trigeneration electrical plant which, amongst other advantages, provides low carbon heating and chilled water to each of the towers,” Mr Chan said. Construction of Australia’s largest centralised precinct thermal and trigeneration plant is now underway. The 22MWth central thermal plant, with an initial 2.2MWe tri-generation system, uses natural gas engines to produce thermal and electrical energy, which will in turn provide electricity, space heating, domestic hot water and comfort cooling to the 14 buildings across the precinct. When complete, this method will deliver 136,000 tonnes of CO2-eq greenhouse www.masterelectricians.com.au

“The precinct has also been provided with a central recycled water treatment plant that captures and treats rainwater and blackwater from each of the buildings to meet 100 per cent of the non-potable water demands of the precinct. This includes landscape irrigation, toilet flushing, and even laundry facilities. This is also being used by the precinct plant cooling towers,” Mr Beck said. Stage one of the precinct plant (including the 2.2MWe tri-generation system) is currently under construction, with a second stage set to increase the tri-generation system output to 6MWe. This will support electricity supply to buildings on site and electricity export to buildings off-site. Mr Beck said WSP Group is excited to be involved in such a unique project.

The heliostat frame weighing 110 tonnes being lifted into place

“WSP have had the opportunity to be involved with the Central Park precinct from its conception, and working with a client such as Frasers has enabled WSP initiatives to be incorporated to a level that can only be dreamed of with other projects. We believe that this project will be a gamechanger for Sydney,” Mr Beck said. The Central Park precinct will be developed in stages and is expected to be completed in 2019. One Central Park will complete in stages from May 2013 and the Central retail centre will open in Spring 2013.

World’s largest capacity tower crane used to lift heliostat Nicknamed ‘Tinkerbell’, the Favelle FAVCO M2480D crane is the largest capacity heavy lift tower crane in the world. In a change from its normal environment on large-scale mining or civil engineering projects, this was the first time the crane had been commissioned in a CBD environment for a residential or commercial build. Its main task was to lift the 110-tonne heliostat reflector framework – about the weight of 55 cars – in one single lift, some 100 metres from ground level to position at level 29 off the façade of the One Central Park East tower.

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The case has also heard from a number of other employers including the Australian Industry Group, Housing Industry Association, Australian Business Lawyers, Master Builders, Motor Traders, and Master Plumbers combined with submissions from various state Chambers of Commerce associated with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The case has heard witness evidence from all parties and is proceeding towards final submissions. The hearing is taking place in Sydney over eight scheduled days throughout April and May.

Master Electricians – Get your voice heard at the top table MEA has been very active in the recent Modern Award Apprentice hearings, representing Master Electricians and the industry as a whole.

Master Electricians Australia’s (MEA) Jason O’Dwyer is currently representing the interests of the vast majority of Master Electricians members in the Fair Work Commission as hearings continue on applications by the Unions to vary terms relating to apprentices in the modern Electronic, Electrical and Communications Contracting Award 2010.

months of termination of the apprentice, beyond the requirements of the Fair Work Act. Lastly, the application seeks to further increase the cost of apprentices travelling to attend college and reimbursement for all fees and textbooks.

In addition, the Unions’ application seeks to include adult apprentice rates as a permanent, national feature of the award rather than their current limited application in Queensland. Additional award obligations with respect to training and supervision of apprentices are being sought, despite these being contained in training contracts and vocational training legislation.

MEA is challenging the Unions’ application in the Fair Work Commission on the basis that the wage increases are being sought without proper consideration to the work-value output of an apprentice at each year. In relation to travel, recent court decisions have confirmed that training is not ‘work’ for the purposes of travel provisions contained in most awards and agreements. The Union claim is also wanting to duplicate the current state based Training regulation within the Fair Work Act and as such MEA sees this as a needless duplication of resources and an ability for parties to simply jurisdiction ‘hop’ as a matter of convenience depending on the parties own agenda.

The application also seeks to impose notice requirements on employers seeking to cancel or suspend training contracts, including conditions to recognise prior service if re-engagement occurs within six

MEA has responded that the vast majority of employers who engage apprentices are small businesses and that an increase to apprentice wages would impact those employers who can least afford it.

The Unions are seeking to increase the wage rates payable to apprentices from 40 per cent of the tradesperson rate to 60 per cent for the first year of their apprenticeship; with similar increases in subsequent years.

www.masterelectricians.com.au

The evidence that has been led by MEA and other employers demonstrates that such a significant increase to the costs for businesses who engage apprentices is likely to have long term negative impacts on young workers, the engagement of apprentices and the industry more broadly. MEA also strongly argues that a one size fits all approach does not address the history and uniqueness of industries, particularly the licensed trades of electrical and plumbing. In a recent development the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA) application to reduce junior wages from 21 years old to 20 years old has been assigned to the same Fair Work Commission full bench of Justice Boulton, Senior Deputy President Harrison and Commissioner Roe. The SDA application and supporting submissions argue that the age of majority is 18 years old. If successful, this will set a major precedent that at the age of 18, adult rates should take effect. This may have serious consequences for youth employment opportunities and a flow-on effect in relation to rates of pay for apprentices, and to a lesser extent, trainees. It is envisaged that the SDA application may have significant impact on the current apprenticeship case. Therefore MEA will be monitoring both the proceedings and these developments closely and seeking leave to intervene on behalf of members as required. Contact us today to find out more about how to become a Master Electricians Member and have your voice heard at the top table. Visit www.masterelectricians.com.au or contact 1300 889 198.

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news from the distributors Simon Emms, ElectraNet Acting Executive Manager Network Services, suggested that residents learn about what is involved in replacing a transmission line and share their thoughts on factors that may influence route selection. ‘ElectraNet is committed to early engagement with the community to gather feedback to select the best route for the replacement line,’ Mr Emms said. After almost 50 years in service, the Eyre Peninsula’s existing 132,000 V transmission line is near capacity and approaching the end of its operational life. The feedback gathered from the community will be taken into consideration when route options are being evaluated. While it is not anticipated that the construction of the new transmission line and decommissioning of the old one will be taking place immediately, ElectraNet needs to start looking into possible routes for the new line, so technical design can be undertaken as soon as the need arises. “The potential increase in electricity demand on the Eyre Peninsula is well beyond the capacity limits of the existing transmission infrastructure. ElectraNet needs to meet these increased transmission requirements as load dictates, to ensure the ongoing reliable supply of electricity and meet the requirements of the South Australian Electricity Transmission Code (ETC),” Mr Emms said.

ElectraNet

Eyre Peninsula transmission line

Over the recent months, ElectraNet has provided detailed briefings to owners of properties on the Eyre Peninsula with existing transmission easements, to understand their preferences and opportunities and constraints around replacing the line along a similar path. Other Eyre Peninsula residents who may be interested in the project are now strongly encouraged to attend the community drop-in days and share their thoughts.

ElectraNet, South Australia’s high-voltage electricity transmission network service provider, has sought feedback earlier this year from the Eyre Peninsula community to assist with the identification of the best route for a replacement electricity transmission line on the Eyre Peninsula. A series of community drop-in days were held at three different locations across the Lower Eyre Peninsula, where the line will pass, and residents were invited to attend any of the sessions at a location and time that best suited them.

Social considerations and community feedback are an important part of the decision making process, together with a range of factors including technical suitability, environmental issues and achieving the lowest long-run cost for the South Australian community.

Powercor

The Gisborne area previously received its power from the Woodend Zone Substation and required high voltage feeder powerlines to cross over some of the roughest terrain in Australia – the Macedon Ranges.

New Gisborne Zone substation opens

VIC

Opened by the Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, the Hon. Michael O’Brien in February, Powercor’s new $13.7 million Gisborne Zone substation is a key electricity distribution hub in a growing Victorian region. Using the latest in electrical engineering technology and built for a competitive cost, the substation enhances Powercor’s ability to supply electricity to the southern Macedon Ranges area. More than 7,200 customers in Gisborne, New Gisborne, Macedon, Mount Macedon, and Riddles Creek will receive a new, more reliable power supply. www.masterelectricians.com.au

For more information or to register for project updates, visit electranet.com.au, call toll-free on 1800 890 376 or email community.liaison@electranet.com.au

The Substation ensures the growing communities around the Gisborne area are supplied with a safe and reliable power supply. It also caters for the area’s expected demand growth for electricity in the future. The new Substation will also benefit areas served by the nearby Woodend Zone Substation as it will free up additional capacity in the regions in and around Woodend and Kyneton. More information can be found at www.powercor.com.au

Energex

QLD

Metering requirements for large customers – Part 2 Arranging supply to new commercial or industrial premises has proven complicated with the number of prerequisites through retail contracts, meter providers and commissioning supply arrangements. Energex’s current processes were established to meet a number of national and state rules and legislation. Energex is in the process of reviewing these to better meet the needs of developers and contractors engaged in the construction of new commercial or industrial premises. The ’Large Customer Connection’ process was the first stage of this work, addressing new connections for sites greater than one megawatt demand or equally significant energy consumption.

The work is now turning to medium-sized new connections, including small shopping areas and light industrial sites.

involves a commercial metering provider installing communications-capable demand metering at the site.

Currently, all sites likely to consume over 200 Amperes per phase are considered ‘Large Market’ customers. This comes from the National Electricity Market and corresponding state legislation which defines customers who consume more than 100 Megawatt-hours of energy per annum as ‘Large’. Crossing this threshold introduces a number of different requirements when arranging the initial connection.

Energex cannot process the Electrical Work Request for a new connection greater than 200A / phase without these arrangements being first in place.

Firstly, the Queensland Electricity Tariff Gazette no longer covers large customers, meaning traditional tariffs do not apply. To get connected, the contractor or developer must contact an electricity retailer and arrange an electricity supply agreement for the purchase of energy.

Energex is working with key stakeholders, including retailers, to see what can be done to streamline the process for the short-term connection of larger sites. Until then, arranging a retail agreement and meter provider remains necessary for all new connections greater than 200 A / phase.

Secondly, metering for large customers is contestable. The provision of the metering is arranged through the retailer, and

It is recognised that this process is not ideal in some circumstances, especially when commissioning supply is required for only a short period of time, or the premises is to be leased or on-sold after construction.

For more information, visit www.energex.com.au

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Autumn 2013

Western Power

Western Power’s Personal Protective Clothing requirements

Wester Power has advised that its Personal Protective Clothing (PPC) requirements, as set out in the Work Practice Manual Section 3.1, are mandatory for the Network Total Workforce (NTW), inclusive of Electrical contractors involved in the Service Apparatus Connection Scheme (SACS) and Contractor Connect Schemes. These PPC requirements have formally been introduced as of 1 January 2013. Compliance to the PPC requirements is to be achieved by 30 June 2013. As of 1 July 2013 Western Power will be conducting field assessments against the requirements of work practice 3.1. Identified non-compliance with the PPC requirements could result in individuals or crews being requested to leave the work site and if requiring work being suspended until compliance issues are resolved. As an electrical contractor working on or near the Western Power network, you are responsible for wearing the correct level of PPC for the task you are undertaking. You are urged to make this a top priority to eliminate any potential risks to yourselves and others. For full details of the PPC requirements please refer to the Work Practice Manual, which is available on the Western Power website at www.westernpower.com.au

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ESSENTIAL ENERGY

Workplace safety a must for new employees

NSW

As Essential Energy’s latest intake of apprentices settles into their new roles, employers across the State are being urged to keep new employees safe by making them aware of potential electrical hazards on the job. Essential Energy’s Group Manager Public Safety and Environmental Compliance, David Harris, said one of the first safety lessons taught to new electrical industry apprentices was the importance of a thorough work site assessment. “Employers have a responsibility to keep new employees, particularly young workers or apprentices, safe in the workplace,” Mr Harris said. “The top priority for employers should be ensuring all new employees complete a proper site induction before starting on the job.” Mr Harris said a site induction should equip new employees with the skills and tools to identify safety risks in the workplace, and educate them about what to do in the event of a safety incident and where to go to seek first-aid assistance if required.

Erecting scaffolding and operating machinery near overhead powerlines can also be a dangerous combination with Essential Energy urging all employees to maintain the minimum clearances as specified in the WorkCover Code of Practice for Work Near Overhead Powerlines.

“Not all electrical hazards are obvious – they could be located underground,” Mr Harris said.

“Essential Energy recommends using a dedicated spotter on the ground to watch all work in the vicinity of powerlines and help ensure workers stay safe and aware of their surroundings,” Mr Harris said.

“Electrical equipment such as streetlights, ground substations and traffic lights could be an indication that there are underground powerlines nearby.”

In the event of an incident involving contact with overhead powerlines or electrical infrastructure, contact Essential Energy on 13 20 80 immediately.

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The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

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regulator wrap up the latest state news from regulators

in Australia and administers the Recognised Prior Learning scheme for migrants seeking to have their overseas trade qualifications and experience recognised. Mr Buhagiar conducted sham assessments for migrants and subsequently issued fraudulent NSW TAFE, VETASSESS and Vocational Training Tribunal certificates for a fee. Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said it was a significant win for Fair Trading investigators who were first alerted to the fraudulent activity after detecting anomalies in the trade qualification documents submitted by one applicant in December 2011. “The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Department of Education and Communities were notified, with the ICAC returning the matter to Fair Trading for further investigation,” Mr Stowe said.

Fair Trading

NSW Prison sentence for qualifications forger

A year-long investigation by NSW Fair Trading into forged trade qualification certificates has resulted in a prison sentence for a 41 year-old Sydney man. Mark Anthony Buhagiar was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with a nonparole period of 13 and a half months in Sutherland Local Court in March, after pleading guilty to eight charges of using a false document to obtain financial advantage. The charges related to forged trade qualification certificates in the electrical, refrigeration and air conditioning categories, uncovered by Fair Trading investigators during Operation Ruse. The investigators determined that in 2011, Mr Buhagiar posed as a qualified assessor from VETASSESS, an accredited Registered Training Organisation that covers more than 160 trade qualifications www.masterelectricians.com.au

“By diligent and thorough investigation, Fair Trading’s Home Building Service investigators not only managed to identify further licence applications that had been submitted using fraudulent trade certificates, but also managed to track the documents back to the original source. As a result not a single licence was granted to any of the 22 applicants using the fraudulent documents.” Mr Buhagiar was previously known to Fair Trading, having been fined $6,000 in 2001 for conducting unlicensed building and specialist work, demanding excessive deposits and failing to take out compulsory home warranty insurance at properties in Werrington and Kogarah Bay. In 2009 he was fined a further $18,500 for similar home building breaches in Birchgrove, Jilliby, Wamberal, and Glenwood. He was also fined an additional $2,000 under the Crimes Act 1900 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond after being convicted of supplying false or misleading information on a NSW contractor’s licence application form. For more information, go to www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Office of the Technical Regulator

Revised PV array Standard Compliance in South Australia with the revised standard AS/NZS 5033:2012 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays came into effect on 16 January 2013 in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012. It is important that electrical contractors and workers within the solar industry are aware of the new requirements and have a copy of the standard, as there have been substantial changes made throughout the document. There are various organisations that can provide additional solar training in accordance with the new standard. The OTR can also deliver presentations to electrical contracting firms in relation to solar compliance/technical requirements and assist employees with any relevant queries they have. If you would like to take advantage of these presentations, please call 08 8226 5518. For more information about these revisions, visit the Office of the Technical Regulator website at www.sa.gov.au/otr

EnergySafety

WA Electrician prosecuted for failing to connect the earthing system correctly at his own property

An electrician recently pleaded guilty to carrying out unsafe and substandard electrical installation work at his own property. The electrician’s employer (an electrical contractor) had submitted a Notice of Completion to the network operator (Western Power) for the electrical work carried out by the electrician. On receipt of a Notice of Completion, an electrical inspector carried out an

inspection of the property and discovered that the earthing system in the shed was not connected to the installation’s earthing system. At the time of the inspection, the electricity supply to the shed was connected, which rendered the electrical installation unsafe and dangerous. The checks and tests carried out by the electrician, who was also the nominee for the electrical contractor, were inadequate. The electrician pleaded guilty to the unsafe and substandard work and the magistrate issued a penalty of $2,000 with court costs. The electrical contractor was also charged and pleaded guilty to submitting the ‘Notice’ for the defective and incomplete electrical work and was issued a penalty of $2,000 with court costs. For more information, visit www. energysafety.wa.gov.au

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The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

regulator wrap up

Energy Safe Victoria

VIC

Regulatory Impact Statement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; proposed Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2013 The primary objective of the proposed Regulations is to make provision for the preparation of bushfire mitigation plans by specified operators and major electricity companies and for the inspection of overhead electric lines and supply networks. The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) assesses the proposed Regulations as well as identified alternatives on the basis of ability to reduce bushfire risks, substantive compliance costs and administrative burdens. The RIS concludes that the proposed Regulations are preferred to the alternatives and will deliver the greatest net benefits over the life of the proposed Regulations. Bushfire Risk Mitigation Review Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is conducting a comprehensive review of the legislation governing the mitigation of bushfire risks arising from electricity assets. The intention is to identify changes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of regulatory controls on these risks. ESV has now released two consultation papers canvassing stakeholder and community views: the White Paper and the Discussion Paper. For more information, visit www.esv.vic.gov.au www.masterelectricians.com.au

Electrical Safety Office

Installers of photovoltaic installations

QLD

The Electrical Safety Office has been made aware of a number of instances in Queensland where direct current (DC) isolators have failed due to poor circuit connections, or where isolators that have shown signs of being affected from the intrusion of moisture or have had signs of water damage present. Contributing factors When terminating electrical conductors into isolators and circuit breakers, it is paramount that connections are secure under the terminal clamp especially where DC is involved as shoddy practices can result in unsafe solar PV systems. Action required In accordance with the PV Standard AS/NZS 5033, all equipment exposed to the outdoor environment must be at least IP (International Protection) 54 compliant in accordance with AS 60529, and be UV resistant. Higher IP ratings should be considered for tropical regions. Junction boxes and combiner boxes adjacent to the PV array and located in areas that may be affected by water jets associated with cleaning must be a minimum of IP 55 compliant. Any enclosure IP rating shall suit the environmental conditions and apply to the relevant mounting position. Unless otherwise stated

by the manufacturer, the IP rating should be assumed to apply to a vertical mounting orientation. Any flaps on enclosures required to achieve the IP rating should latch automatically when released from the fully open position. The practice of drilling holes in IP rated equipment is not acceptable. Electrical contractors have an obligation to ensure all installations are electrically safe, including ensuring connections are not loose and verification that wiring systems are protected from external influences. Electrical contractors must: • Install only DC isolators rated for the voltage and/or current output of the system • Ensure the required documentation as outlined in the PV standard is provided to the PV system owner • Ensure the way electrical equipment or installation is installed is electrically safe. It is important to follow the correct installation processes recommended by each equipment manufacturer. Further information Further information is available from www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au or by calling the Electrical Safety Infoline on 1300 650 662.

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The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

letter of the law

Are you a contractor with an unsatisfied judgement debt? Judgment debt: The amount of money to be paid to the winning party under a court order.

The law on how an unpaid judgment affects your building licence varies from state to state. It is clear that Queensland has the most stringent licensing requirements in relation to complying with Judgments. It is a financial requirement that a Queensland Building Services Authority licensed contractor must not have an unsatisfied judgment debt. A judgment debt is considered unsatisfied if it has not been paid in full within 28 days after the judgment is entered or by a longer period if allowed by the Court. The judgment debt must be in relation to a building contract or for goods or services supplied for building work. An adjudicator’s decision made under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (QLD) (“BCIPA”) and Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) decisions can be converted to a judgment debt if the adjudication certificate or QCAT Order is filed in Court. Under the Queensland Building Services Authority Act 1999 (QLD), those who hold a QBSA contractor’s licence must comply with the financial requirements policy. Failure to comply with the financial requirements is a breach of a condition of holding a QBSA licence and therefore puts your licence at risk of being suspended or cancelled. This would obviously have disastrous consequences on your business. The QBSA can allocate ten demerit points to the licence which are publicly recorded online to serve as a warning to suppliers, subcontractors and consumers that the licensee has failed to pay a judgment debt. The QBSA can also fine a licensee for failing to notify the QBSA of the existence of an unsatisfied judgment debt. www.masterelectricians.com.au

The only other state with a specific requirement in relation to paying a Judgment is New South Wales. In NSW the Director-General of the Department must be satisfied the applicant has satisfied any Judgments that may be owing, before issuing a contractor licence. In Western Australia an applicant must be able to show that they have the capacity to meet their debts as and when they fall due. Presumably evidence of an unpaid Judgment debt would suggest that an applicant cannot comply with this provision. In the Northern Territory and South Australia there is a general requirement that in order to be registered as a contractor, a person must be ‘fit and proper’. Therefore there would no doubt be an argument that a person who consistently does not pay their Judgment debts is not a ‘fit and proper’ person. In Victoria the requirement is that a person must be of good character. Once again a person can hardly be regarded as of good character if they don’t consistently pay their debts. Whilst Queensland clearly has the toughest rules in the country relating to the payment of debts by contractors, it would appear that in all the other states and territories, except perhaps the Australian Capital Territory, a consistent failure to pay debts if proved to the licensing authority could imperil your licence. If you are served with legal proceedings or demands for payment, it is recommended you obtain urgent legal advice to avoid having a Judgment entered against you in the first place. If however it is too late and you become aware of a Judgment against you, seek immediate legal advice on how you can avoid your licence being suspended or cancelled. This article was contributed by McKays Solicitors. For further information please contact Michael Cope, Special Counsel on (07) 3223 5939 or email mcope@mckayslaw.com

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the interview

Danny Kennedy From Australia to the White House. President of Sungevity and alternative energies advocate Danny Kennedy tells us all about meeting the most powerful man in the world.

As a staunch advocate of alternative energies, you’ve campaigned to have solar panels installed on some high profile buildings – the White House no less! Indeed, but it’s not done yet! The President and his government officials have all said they want to have PV installed on the roof of the White House but somehow they have not managed it. After the President agreed to put solar on the White House his people didn’t seem too keen to get the installation going. So we kept pushing them with a petition campaign and other pressure tactics organised by global grassroots movement 350.org and Sungevity, until the US Department of Energy’s Secretary Chu caved and said they would have solar panels put up on the First Family’s home. They put out a request for proposals for the job in 2010 and we worked with contractors to make sure a good bid was put in, but unfortunately the contracts have all expired and the job never got done. That’s a real shame! But I hear you’ve recruited first dog Bo Obama to aid in your campaign? Yes, first dog Bo has already got solar panels up on his dog house. When the President was re-elected we released a video, with the help of Bo and some of his friends, to encourage the President to install solar panels on the Big House in his second term. We’re really hoping this will happen and will definitely keep encouraging him. You can watch the video titled ‘Bo Obama’s Inauguration Party’ on YouTube. I’m sure our readers are dying to know – did you get a chance to meet President Obama? Yes I did indeed, and it was fun! I met the President at a Rose Garden reception on Earth Day 2009 featuring a number of cleantech entrepreneurs and environmentalists and some nice drinks, of course. I met the big man there with a colleague from the Solar Energy Industry Association, and when I spoke to him about installing solar panels on the White House and he actually replied, “Yes, let’s do that.” I was struck dumb! Solar sure does take you places. How did get your start in the industry? Well, I’ve been working on atmospheric issues like ozone depletion and climate change since the 1980s, but mostly on the side of civil society as a policy wonk and advocate. I decided the time had come for me personally when I saw there would be a rapid shift to solar as the dominant electricity source. So I moved from talking about the clean energy industry to helping build it with my partners at Sungevity. It’s very much about having the same purpose but utilising a different vehicle to get there, that I like a lot. You’ve spent time working in Australia, and now in California. Tell us a little about your transition between the countries and how you came to make the move to California. I’ve lived and worked in both countries and enjoy them both

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greatly. There are two main reasons I’ve ended up in the States. Firstly, because my wife is American; and secondly, the kind of innovative company we wanted to build – using software and financial engineering to spread low cost solar solutions – we figured was better to pioneer here in the US of A. It sounds like a cliché but there is a good attitude towards entrepreneurs and more risk capital. Also, when we started Sungevity there was a rebate program called the California Solar Initiative, which is all but gone now but helped us a lot. What are the key differences, you’ve found, between the solar market in America and here in Australia? Australia is actually more mature in the sense that there is greater penetration of the residential market, and therefore more mainstream acceptance of solar as an option for normal people. We spend a lot more time trying to convince American homeowners that this stuff works and will save them money. Another difference is that in Australia, 95 per cent or more of the market is residential, whereas in the USA a lot of industrial and commercial scale solar has been installed. I would say the big difference – which we’ve been a part of – is the use of project finance to pay for systems installed on peoples’ homes. Seventy per cent of all systems sold in California, which is equivalent to over a gigawatt of rooftop now, are leased or sold under a power purchase agreement, whereas Australian systems tend to still be sold for cash. This customer finance solution opens the market to a whole new demographic and democratises solar. I think Australia is a lot easier a place to work – here in America there is much more bureaucracy and paperwork even though the standards are not that different.

“Forget about base load and peak power; think flexible and inflexible supply. We will all become producers and consumers to some degree just as we have with media through Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and blogs.” What can the two countries learn from each other in terms of renewable energy and solar? I think the USA has a lot to learn from Oz and other countries about streamlining processes for permitting and inspection because it costs us, and therefore our customers a lot, and it delays the spread of solar. I think workers in Australia who have just done a lot of installation jobs (given the density of solar uptake) probably have some great things to teach American contractors in terms of efficient installation. That said, I think the Australian market could learn from business model innovation and things like the solar lease, which is why we think we can really differentiate in the Australian market. Our ‘focus on the customer’ may sound kind of American but I think it is an important part of the business as solar becomes a service more than the sale of a piece of hardware. We see this as a long-term customer relationship.

And do you currently have any plans to return home to Australia? I still call Australia home and have recently set up Sungevity Australia. It’s certainly a good excuse to keep visiting! Next year we’re going to have a family holiday in the Kimberley, which I cannot wait for. Speaking of Sungevity, what are some of your job roles as president and founder of the company? I deal with a lot of the policy issues governing our market, which means working with bureaucrats and politicians, a lot like my past life! I also work on strategic relationships with partners ranging from suppliers to marketing partners, like the Sierra Club here in the USA; and I’m responsible for our international strategy, which includes selling solar in Australia and in northern Europe. We have some exciting expansion plans that we are working on for 2014. Watch this space! What other future plans has Sungevity got up its sleeve? Well, we’ll have more markets in more countries in the years to come. We also want to improve the customers’ experience of being part of our Sunshine Network by making it fun, giving them monitoring tools and bundling other offers – like home automation or EV charging – into their service contract with us. We will become a household name, as we build the world’s most energised network of people who power their lives with sunshine. You’ll be a keynote speaker at the MEA Las Vegas conference later this year. What are some topics you will be speaking on at the conference? The speed with which the world is going to move from a ‘central station’ model of electricity generation and distribution built around a series of steam-boiling machines, to a more web-like grid with many small generating resources – especially solar panels – combined with storage and other solutions to create a kind of energy internet. Forget about base load and peak power; think flexible and inflexible supply. We will all become producers and consumers to some degree just as we have with media through Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and blogs. This is happening to the electricity sector in Germany and Japan and will be coming down under, so we may as well get ready for it. I am going to talk about the need for more solar entrepreneurs – a kind of activist-inclined business person who I call a Solarrikin in my book Rooftop Revolution – because we’re now the gatekeeping factor on massive solar adoption. What is your number one piece of advice for Master Electricians and aspiring sparkies out there? Be open-minded about doing electricity differently in the future. Different business and revenue models might apply. The use of more software to ensure we have the information layer needed to run a more complex, but ultimately more stable, just-in-time electricity supply is going to be key. Ride it. Re-wiring Australia and the world is actually the biggest economic opportunity of our time. Electricians can be the entrepreneurs to make this necessary and inevitable change happen. The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

gadget guide

RC Drinks Cooler Fancy a beer? Here’s an ingenious batteryoperated ice bucket/esky that is capable of moving up to 12 bottles of beer, or any other beverage of choice, to your codrinkers so you no longer need to fetch another cold one yourself! The RC Drinks Cooler features four sure-grip wheels exclusively intended to speed up the delivery of cold lager. Now you can put your feet up as you transport its contents to your fellow boozers by means of a bottle top motivated handheld transmitter. RRP $129.95 Visit www.gadgetking.com.au for more information.

Brady BMP51 Label Maker with screen The new Brady BMP 51 offers wireless connectivity options for designing and printing labels using Android smart phones and tablets on the go. ®

The BMP51 Label Maker features a large backlit display screen, easy-to-use labeldesign applications, a QWERTY keyboard and connectivity options for wireless printing, as well as material recognition and automatic label formatting to eliminate the need to calibrate the printer at start up. Other time-saving features include automatic font-sizing, high speed print and USB PC connectivity for advanced label design with Brady’s LabelMark™ Software. RRP $925 Visit www.bradyid.com.au for more information.

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Pico Sensor Created predominantly for in-luminaire operation, the PICO sensor from iAutomation is ideal for situations where size matters. Utilising passive infrared technology eliminates any interference to devices in the immediate vicinity that may be caused by other technologies in other sensors on the market. Manually setting and climbing precarious ladders is a thing of the past with use of the BEG sensor remote control, allowing the occupant to conveniently fine tune the area. For toilets, wet areas, offices, meeting rooms, and general areas where architectural vision and visual discretion might be required, the PICO sensor by iAutomation is an ideal choice. RRP $205.90 Visit www.iautomation.com.au for more information.

techno biz

HD Electrics stray voltage detector

CalcWiz Lite App– AS3008 calculations

The Stray Voltage Detector, model LV-5, is used to detect stray voltage as low as five volts which may be present on any electrically conductive surface such as street light poles, guide wires, meter cans, manhole covers and many other metallic surfaces in and around electrical utilities.

You can now calculate cable current ratings, voltage drop plus more in seconds on your iPhone, iPad and Android device with the CalcWiz free ‘Lite’ app. This version covers the most common twin TPS cables as used in domestic situations.

This newer model has a bigger, more robust grip, a brighter LED indication that improves daylight visibility and a tester built into the holster to quickly test the detector on a known voltage source before and after use. Visit www.hylec.com.au for more information.

The CalcWiz app calculates the maximum current according to the size and installation condition with voltage drop, for quick and easy verification of cable sizes required when you are on the job. The app is a quick and accurate way of calculating maximum current and voltage drop, depending on installation conditions as specified in AS3008. Visit www.calcwiz.com.au/calcwiz_mobile for more information.

Transfast Socket Modern power cables are highly regulated and standardised, and no matter what brand they are very similar. This has allowed Transco to engineer a near-instant, quality connection. Through its design of the removable grooved wedge-shaped cam and the sharks fin spaced copper blades, Transco has developed the next evolution in electrical connections. For the first time, the Transfast patented cable connection system takes away the need to cut, strip or screw when making an electrical connection. Instead, the user will get a perfect seven strand connection and a 45kg (plus) breaking strain connection every time. Visit www.transco.net.au for more information.

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Call EMONA on tel: 1 800 632 953, email: testinst@emona.com.au or www.instaltest.com.au The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

technical talk

Avoiding fire and electric shock when installing light fittings and heating appliances Heat Risks Electricians have long been aware of the fire hazards associated with dichroic lights in ceilings. Despite this, the fire issues involved with other light types and associated equipment, such as low voltage lighting transformers, are not always considered. With the increased use of insulation in ceiling spaces, we have experienced a large number of fire incidents across Australia where light fittings or associated equipment have been identified as the initiating source. It is not just in roof spaces that it is important to be mindful of potential fire hazards. Fire facts While the potential for arcing faults to start a fire and the need to mitigate this risk in areas such as switchboard enclosures has long been known, we are not always acutely aware of the temperatures generated from light fittings in the absence of ventilation. Did you know that downlights can heat up to more than 240 degrees Celsius? We are all aware of the potential heat in a spotlight, but have we thought about the affect this heat could have on adjacent combustible materials? If there is insufficient ventilation or clearance from combustible material, there is a real potential for fire. Another area it is important to be aware of is the risks associated with heating appliances, such as wall ovens. www.masterelectricians.com.au

AS/NZS:3000 Response to this issue In response to this issue of heating risks, a number of amendments have already been included in Section 4 of AS/NZS 3000. The technical committee EL-001, responsible for the preparation of The Wiring Rules, considered the dangers as evidenced by deaths during the Home Insulation Program and subsequent fires in ceilings spaces created by insulation being installed incorrectly. The committee was also aware of the need for appropriately tested and certified equipment to be correctly installed, and to take responsibility of warning others of the risks associated with insulation in ceiling spaces. What the Standard says Clause 4.5.2.1 outlines requirements to address the risk of fire associated with luminaires. The clause requires that luminaires: • Shall be suitable for the highest temperature generated by external influences • Installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, taking into account the highest rating of lamp to be used. Clause 4.5.2.2 covers the installation of lamps near flammable materials, requiring that they be suitably shielded by a shade, reflector, guard, or enclosure to prevent contact with the material and guard against the heat generated on the illuminated

area. A table is provided for instances where there is an absence of information provided with products. Clause 4.5.2.3.1 provides that recessed luminaires and their auxiliary equipment shall be installed in a manner that prevents excess temperature rise of the luminaire and auxiliary equipment and the risk of fire from ignition of combustible materials. Solution options are as follows: • Luminaires designed and certified suitable for operation in contact with combustible materials, or in contact with or enclosed/covered by thermal insulation material • Protection by a barrier tested and classified in compliance with AS/ NZS 5110 suitable for the installation conditions • Installation with separation from thermal insulating materials, combustible building elements and loose combustible materials in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications with a clearance not less than that specified by the manufacturer or, in the absence of any advice, the default clearances specified in Figure 4.7. Clause 4.5.2.3.2 provides that a warning sign be installed in accessible spaces containing recessed luminaires to warn against covering the luminaires. Clause 4.5.2.3.3 provides further requirements for installation covering the dissipation of heat generated from lamps

in recessed downlights. There is again a focus on compliance with manufacturer’s instructions, provision of suitable barriers and, unless specified otherwise, ensuring thermal insulation is not installed above the luminaire. Under (e), the use of lighting hoods manufactured to AS/NZS 5110 may void the lamp and/or the fitting warranty due to the increased build up of heat. Check manufacturer’s specifications for the lamp and fittings ability to perform in this situation as the hood could have a detrimental effect on lamp life and contribute to fitting malfunction through insufficient heat dissipation. Why bother with the manufacturer’s instructions? We all have the tendency to not bother reading the manufacturer’s instructions. How many of us have tried to put flat pack furniture together or a new garden shed up without first reading the instructions, only to find we have missed a vital aspect resulting in rework? In the electrical trade there is more at stake.

Work Health and Safety and Electrical Safety legislation focus strongly on the concept of compliance with manufacturer’s instructions and use of equipment as stipulated by the manufacturer. AS/ NZS 3000 cl 1.7.1 (c) clearly stipulates this requirement. You will have also identified the focus AS/NZS 3000 has adopted in Section 4 in relation to installation of luminaires and lamps as per manufacturer’s requirements. Think about how you would be able to respond to an investigation into an electrical fire where the investigator identified that the manufacturer had stipulated an installation requirement that you had not complied with. Manufacturers are very much aware of product liability issues and include requirements to address a wide range of potential risks. For this reason it is vital that these instructions are checked and followed. Question your supplier if instructions are not provided. Be wary of installing equipment where instructions are not

available. Sticking to reputable suppliers is the best option, however if there is no alternative it would be wise to document the steps you have taken to obtain instructions, any advice obtained and from whom, and other information justifying your installation decisions. These could be the use of the default criteria for downlights from Section 4 above. Alternatives Alternative lighting sources that don’t generate heat are worth thinking about. Examples are Light Emitting Diode (LED) or fluorescent lamps. However, you need to confirm installation meets the requirements in AS/NZS 3000 Clauses under 4.5 and that the lamp performance meets customer expectations. You also still need to consider installation requirements for auxiliary equipment such as transformers. Cable installation in roof spaces AS/NZS 3000 has extensive requirements to address potential mechanical damage to cables. While the Standard does not

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Autumn 2013

technical talk require conductive parts adjacent to sheathed cables to be earthed, it is important that mechanical damage risks are addressed. Clause 3.9.3.3 requires that cables installed in accessible ceiling spaces exceeding 0.6m high are classed as likely to be disturbed and supported at suitable intervals to prevent the undue sagging of cables. Clause 3.9.4.1 provides that where cables may reasonably be expected to be subject to mechanical damage shall be adequately protected against mechanical damage. Also be aware of the possible de-rating of TPS cables in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Table 27(1) in AS/NZS 3008 should be referred to as high summer ceiling temperatures can result in a 20-30 per cent reduction of current capacity.

> > > >

Installation check list • Read and follow manufacturer’s instructions • In the absence of manufacturer’s instructions for downlights, follow the defaults in AS/ NZS 3000 and document steps taken to obtain manufacturer’s instructions • Understand and follow the requirements in Section 4 of AS/NZS 3000 • Confirm connections to light fittings, transformers and other equipment are tight (perform tug test after installation to ensure the conductor is captured within the connector) • Confirm that a non-combustible, mechanical guard or barrier is installed to prevent insulation or other combustible material covering or close to the fitting or use downlight guards that meet Australian Standard AS 3999 or barrier complying with AS/NZS 5110 • On completion of work, inspect downlights, transformers and other equipment to confirm they are clear of insulation or other combustible material • Ensure cables are installed and terminated in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 requirements, particularly in terms of guarding against mechanical damage, fixing and contact with live parts. • Confirm there is no packing or combustible material left inside the oven or on hotplates • Consider the potential for recommending alternatives to customers, e.g. replacing halogen or incandescent fittings with fluorescent globes or LED fittings that produce less heat • Make sure all your workers are aware of and are following the above requirements.

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feature business

The business of running a business Rebecca Belsham sat down with a couple of Australian business advisors to uncover what’s really behind the growing trend of small companies seeking help from business mentors. are often the one working the most hours and earning the least amount of money in your company. “No matter what your business size, if your goal is to increase profitability, boost your business’s size and make it all possible without you having to get on the tools, then a business coach is the way to go,” he said. Miles Primrose, who has more than twenty years’ experience in launching new businesses, growing existing businesses and successfully turning around struggling trade companies, stresses the key ingredient is being as good at business as you are at your trade. “If you focus too much on the technical side of things you could end up losing team members from a lack of direction, losing jobs from poor quoting or even worse, winning work that runs at a loss but you think you are making money from. “If you’re too tied to the tools and have no time to get back behind the desk and develop a clear business vision then you’re most likely setting yourself up to fail,” Mr Primrose said. Accredited Master Electrician and owner of Hit The Switch Steven Puyol says he watched a number of his tradie mates run themselves, and their businesses, into the ground so he knew he had to do something differently. “I had been running my own business for about two years, I was recently married and had my first child on the way, when I made the decision to not only ensure I was financially sound but that my business wasn’t a major cause of stress.”

Most electrical business owners start their own company

because they love getting their hands dirty in their work, but when it comes to running a successful trade business you need more than just a van full of tools. Not only do you have to focus on the technical labour of your jobs but you also have to juggle the entire ‘behind the scenes’ business administration, marketing and financial needs that come with growing a company. A recent MarketData report estimated there are more than 3,000 life and business coaches in Australia in what is part of a $2.4 billion worldwide industry which is growing at 18 per cent per year. Business Growth expert Tony Gattari says a growing number of business owners are placing enormous value on the work-life balance, driving the demand for expertise from business mentors. “Many small business owners are being struck by the humble realisation that their business is a reflection of their abilities as a business owner,” Mr Gattari says. “A business owner is often just a glorified job title as in reality you

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“I contacted a business mentor and now, 12 months later they have kept their promise to support me, push me and turn my business around,” Mr Puyol said. A business coach can help guide companies through setting a clear path for the future; structure, people, processes and systems; build a financial business blueprint; discover how to generate the right leads at the right margin; mastering sales and leadership; mentoring, support and direction. Tony Gattari has turned the franchise Laser Electrical into an award winning business and assisted numerous Australian branches in quadrupling their output and employee numbers. “Laser Electrical is a great example of the benefits a business advisor can provide as they have cracked the code and developed the entrepreneur mindset rather than just seeing themselves as business owners,” he said. “As the owner grows, the business grows and now the Laser Electrical owners focus only on tasks associated with actually running the business while their employees do all the operational jobs.”

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Mr Gattari says it’s not knowledge but rather the accountability a business coach provides which is the key to driving business success.

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“Everyone knows what to do, they just don’t actually get up and go and do it,” Mr Gattari says. “If knowledge was the key to wealth then every professor in the word would be filthy rich but in reality it’s the execution of that knowledge which makes a business boom. “You don’t want a nice businesses mentor, you need someone who will kick you up the backside, hold you accountable and who is known for getting big results,” he said.

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3. B e clear on your business vision. If you do not know where you are going how can you expect your team to? 4. D esign a business that is not reliant on you. If your business is totally reliant on you, you have what is called Key Person Risk. This is dangerous! 5. D efine what structure you need to support your business and its growth 6. Y ou need a plan for the following areas: A) Sales and marketing B) Operations C) Financials 7. R ecruit an amazing team and pay them well – you get what you pay for 8. K now when to say no to things and people

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The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

workplace relations

Updates for subcontractor arrangements and changes to the paid parental leave legislation. Dad and Partner Pay In June 2012, legislation passed through federal Parliament amending the Paid Parental Leave legislation to allow fathers and other eligible parents to receive two weeks government-funded parental leave from 1 January 2013. Dad and Partner Pay at a glance This benefit gives fathers and other eligible parents financial support to take time off work to support new mothers in their caring role, and help them recover from the birth. It also helps fathers to establish a bond with their new child. The payment is available to eligible working fathers and partners (including adopting parents and parents in same-sex couples) who will be caring for a child (whether this be primary care or joint care) born or adopted after 1 January 2013. Eligible working fathers and partners will be able to receive two weeks Dad and Partner Pay at the rate of the National Minimum Wage (currently $606.40 per week before tax), the same weekly rate as ‘Parental Leave Pay’.

• Have an individual adjusted taxable income of $150,000 or less in the financial year prior to the date of birth or adoption or the date of their claim, whichever is earlier. Dad and Partner Pay is available to fathers and partners who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of whether the mother has been in paid work or at home prior to the birth or adoption. A father can be eligible for Dad and Partner Pay even if a mother is not receiving Parental Leave Pay. When can the leave be taken? Whilst it is expected that most parents will choose to take leave closer to the birth date, the payment can in fact be taken any time within 12 months of the birth or adoption of the child. Dad and Partner Pay will be paid once for each birth or adoption event, including in the case of a multiple birth. The payment must be taken in one instalment. An eligible father or partner could still receive unused Parental Leave Pay from the birth mother or their partner in addition to their Dad and partner Pay but cannot take them at the same time. Claiming Dad and Partner Pay

Eligibility The residency requirements, income test and work test for Dad and Partner Pay will be consistent with the current Paid Parental Leave Scheme.

A claim for Dad and Partner Pay can be lodged with the Family Assistance Office up to three months before the birth or adoption of a child. Claimants must provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate their eligibility, including work history, if required.

The benefit is available to full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal, contract and self-employed workers who are eligible.

Claimants will need to nominate their start date for Dad and Partner Pay. The earliest day Dad and Partner Pay can be paid is the date of birth of the child or the date of placement of an adopted child.

To be eligible for Dad and Partner Pay, a person needs to: • Be an Australian resident • Be providing care for a child born or adopted on or after 1 January 2013 (Plus the person must) meet the Paid Parental Leave work test. A person will meet the work test if they: • Have worked continuously for at least 10 out of the 13 months prior to the start date of their Dad and Partner Pay, and • Worked for at least 330 hours in that 10 month period (an average of just over one day a week) with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days www.masterelectricians.com.au

The role of employers The Dad and Partner Pay is a government funded scheme. The Australian Government is providing $188.5 million over five years to extend the Paid Parental Leave scheme to include Dad and Partner Pay. Employers will generally not be required to make Dad and Partner Pay payments to their employees. Eligible fathers will more often than not receive Dad and Partner Pay from the Family Assistance Office. However, employers may choose to play a role in providing Dad and Partner Pay to their employees. For instance, employers may

provide Dad and Partner Pay to long-term employees who will be receiving at least eight weeks of Parental Leave Pay immediately before or after their Dad and Partner Pay. Dad and Partner Pay will not: • Attract additional workers compensation premium liabilities • Result in the accrual of additional leave entitlements. Interaction with existing leave entitlements Dad and Partner Pay provides a pay entitlement but not a leave entitlement. This means that the employee will need to take unpaid leave at the time of receiving the payment. As is the case with organising for an employee to take leave, the employee will need to discuss and agree on leave arrangements with the employer before taking the leave. Dad and Partner Pay is available in addition to any employerfunded paid leave but cannot be taken at the same time the employee is taking paid leave. This will encourage fathers to take more time off to care for their child. Importance for Employers Employers need to be aware that since 1 January 2013 their employees may be eligible for two weeks of Dad and Partner Pay. If an employee is eligible for this payment, the employer and employee will need to discuss and agree on the time of taking unpaid leave so that the employee can apply for the payment through the Family Assistance Office.

• He provided his own tools, equipment and transport • He submitted invoices for payment • The ‘subcontractor’ decided when and if he would work • The ‘subcontractor’ assumed responsibility for the quality of his workmanship and bore financial responsibility for the panels and fixings in his possession. It was also the case that the ‘subcontractor’ was: • Required to wear the business’s uniform • Apart from two short periods and a period of absence due to a shoulder injury, worked solely for the business • The applicant was not allowed to advertise his services as an installer to customers • Other works were prohibited unless the work was of a type not done by the business • He was not able to transfer or assign the work to another person or company. In considering the matter the Commission pointed out in no uncertain terms that the nature of subcontracting relationships are determined by considering the written terms that they operate under and the actual work practices adopted by the parties. The Commission found: • The subcontractor was operating solely for the benefit of the engaging business, not his own

Are your subcontracting arrangements putting your business at risk?

• He presented as an employee of the business

A recent decision by the Fair Work Commission highlights the importance of understanding what constitutes genuine subcontracting arrangements compared with an employment relationship.

• Labour, technical and training support provided by the respondent integrated the work of the applicant into the respondent’s business.

Between February 2011 and April 2012 a ‘subcontractor’ installed solar panels for a business in accordance with a ‘subcontracting agreement’. The engagement was subsequently terminated and the ‘subcontractor’ made an unfair dismissal claim to the Fair Work Commission. The business was of the view that there should be no such unfair dismissal case to answer because there was no employment therefore they objected to the claim. The Commissioner heard from both parties regarding the arrangement of work. The business relied on the written ‘subcontracting agreement’ which operated in accordance with the following: • The ‘subcontractor’ was not supervised in his work • He had discretion as to how the job was undertaken, subject to compliance with regulatory requirements and standards • The ‘subcontractor’ could employ labour to assist with the installation work

• He could only undertake installation work utilising the products supplied by the business and undertook work as scheduled by the business

While the Commission did agree that many of the factors, including the written agreement, would tend to point toward a person engaged as a subcontractor, they did not overcome the overriding characteristics of the relationship. The applicant was providing his ‘subcontracting’ services solely for the benefit of the respondent’s business rather than his own. As such, the Commission determined the ‘subcontractor’ was in fact an employee of the business. The matter will now proceed to further hearing to determine whether there was a valid reason for dismissal and if so, was it harsh, unreasonable or unjust. Additional costs for the defence of this claim will now be taken into consideration with regard to employment entitlements, such as unpaid leave and superannuation for the period of employment. This serves as an important reminder to businesses to ensure subcontractor arrangements are more than just a label and they reflect genuine independent subcontracting. Master Electricians Australia will keep members updated on subcontractor arrangements and any further changes to the paid parental leave legislation. The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

all about ME MEA presents changes to the Wiring Rules at Roadshows across the country A significant change has been made to clauses relating to Residual Current Devices (RCD) under Clause 2.6.2.2 which identifies the use of the different types of RCDs. For alterations, additions and repairs, the clause now reads ‘Where ALL of the circuit protection on a switchboard is replaced, additional protection by RCDs as required by Clause 2.6 shall be provided, for the final sub circuits supplied from that switchboard. Socket outlets that are added to an existing circuit shall be protected by an RCD. Exceptions are allowed as follows; where an outlet is replaced, extensions to existing non-protected lighting circuits, where socket outlets are added under exemptions of Clause 2.6.3.1 and 2.6.3.2.’ Andrew Bailey from MEA, explains changes to the Wiring Rules to the staff of Schindler Lifts.

During February and March,

Master Electricians Australia’s (MEA) Andrew Bailey and Regulatory authorities travelled the country providing in-depth and entertaining presentations to over 600 members, business partners and staff on understanding the changes to the wiring rules with the recent release of the standard AS/NZS3000:2007 Amendment 2. The Regulators spoke on the obligations to comply with the wiring rules and identified other switchboard related issues that regularly occur, and representatives from the Lawrence & Hanson Group presented on safety related products. These sessions provided contractors and workers with the opportunity to speak candidly with industry experts regarding the topics being presented. The standard, AS/NZS3000:2007 is essential for electricians as it sets out requirements for the design, construction and verification of electrical installations, including the selection and installation of electrical equipment forming part of such installations. The release of Amendment 2 to the wiring rules (A2) on 14 December 2012 by SAI Global was a direct result of recent influences on the electrical industry, namely the Home Insulation Program (HIP) and the www.masterelectricians.com.au

uptake of grid connected solar photovoltaic systems (Solar PV). The following is a summary of the Amendment 2, including important improvements such as a re-write on down lights and new clauses on gas appliances and air-conditioning systems. Each State Regulator has issued direction in relation to implementation arrangements for this Amendment. There are numerous changes which have not been listed below because they refer to clerical and printing mistakes, or standards that have been upgraded or been replaced. Changes are identified in the book by an ‘A2’ in the left hand column of each page. Section 1 New definitions have been added such as: • The meaning of an ‘appliance’ • The meaning of ‘shall’ is mandatory • The meaning of ‘should’ is recommended. Section 2 Many parts of this section have been amended to provide clarification on application with Solar PV systems such as the addition of cross referenced standards including AS/NZS 5033 and AS/NZS4777.

All equipment installed on a switchboard shall be legibly and indelibly marked ‘in the English language.’ Section 3 As highlighted in the Selection of Equipment 1.7.2, it is clarified that specific colours (green, green/yellow and yellow) are not to be used as live conductors. Attention is drawn to notes with respect to switchboard wiring and European cable colours not being in the same enclosure with AS/NZS cable types. See clause 3.8.1 and Table 3.4 for direction. Section 4 This section contains the most significant changes in A2, including protection of socket outlets, recessed luminaires, gas appliances, and air conditioning systems. Clause 4.5.2 Lamps & Luminaires is one of the major amendments in this release. Whilst not in A2, attention is drawn to clause 4.5.2.1 to ensure this equipment is not installed where it could cause undue temperature rise, ignition or deterioration of materials, on which they are mounted or that they illuminate. In A2, utilising the manufacturer’s information for the installation of lamps near flammable materials is highlighted. Clause 4.5.2.2 also provides default clearances in absence of manufacturer’s data. As a result of the HIP, there is insulation present in ceiling spaces in many

installations. The primary focus of this standard is electrical safety and the protection of people, therefore action must be taken to ensure its integrity and the onus is placed upon electrical workers. Clause 4.5.2.3 refers to recessed luminaires (not specifically down lights) and provides two specific conditions that shall be prevented; excessive temperature rise of equipment and risk of fire from combustible materials. There is a requirement for a warning sign to be placed inside an accessible roof space where recessed luminaires are installed. Clause 4.7 clarifies the description of ‘open cooking surfaces incorporating electric heating’. Note that the word ‘elements’ has been removed from the description. Induction cook-tops are covered by this clause for the means of isolation which shall be a single pole switch, appropriately marked and mounted near the appliance in a visible and accessible location. If the open cook-top is a combined gas/electric cooking appliance, the switch shall be double pole. Further to gas appliances, a new clause, 4.18 has been introduced to provide direction on the means of isolation. Additional clauses relate to clearance distances around gas bottles containing gas heavier than air. Clause 4.19 addresses another risk to workers, if work is undertaken on air conditioning systems and heat pumps that incorporate a compressor. Concerns were raised over the isolation of indoor units when outdoor units are switched off. To

reduce the risk of further incidents involving the isolation of indoor units when outdoor units are switched off, the amendment requires that the indoor socket outlet to which the indoor unit is connected, is controlled for the purposes of isolation by the external switch on the outdoor compressor unit. This ensures that both devices are off. However, TEST BEFORE YOU TOUCH! Please check with your local authority as this clause may cause some difficulty in some new or partially completed installations. Section 5 Clause 5.6.2.6 addresses concerns that were raised over the earth bonding of pools and spas, particularly during construction and associated with older pools and equipment. The clause identifies various aspects of the installation requirements as follows: • Any exposed conductive part including water filtration or circulation equipment • Any exposed conductive part of electrical equipment not separated by double insulation and that are in contact with the pool water, including water in the circulation or filtering system

Section 8 Testing and verification - ensure 3-phase equipment is operating in a predictable manner, i.e. is consistent throughout the installation. Appendices The appendix provides additional information that is either ‘Normative’, meaning you shall comply, or ‘Informative’, where recommendations are suggested. The changes include the listing of all new cross-referenced standards, recognition of the importance of RCD protection and fault loop impedance, maximum demand calculations including the current rating for 2x36W fluros (0.42A). Voltage Surge Protection has been revised to align with manufacturer’s recommendations and in the absence of these, information drawn from IEC standards and documents. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) raised by electricians that have an impact across all aspects of the industry have been answered by the committee EL-001 and further information can be found online at www.wiringrules.standards.org. au

• Tie wires provides adequate bonding for reinforcing.

To purchase a discounted copy of the Wiring Rules Amendment 2 or for an in-depth breakdown or free technical assistance, Master Electricians can go to the members-only website or call the Technical Hotline on 1300 889 198.

Clause 5.6.2.6.4 requires a connection point for the bonding to conductive parts located in an accessible position.

Non-members can obtain a copy at full price from SAI Global at www.saiglobal.com

• Bonding shall be extended to all metallic items within arm’s reach • Reinforcing material to be bonded

2013 Readership Survey Results Thanks to everyone who completed the 2013 Readership survey Congratulations to Jonathan Davies from KL Electrics who is the lucky winner of registration to the Electrical Industry Conference in Las Vegas. The results from the survey will be used to improve the publication to ensure we continue to deliver a cutting edge magazine. Feedback for the magazine can be sent to magazine@masterelectricians.com.au at any time.

The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

all about ME

MEA attends inquest into the Home Insulation Program deaths

to prevent further injuries and fatalities. On 1 November 2009, the Federal Government announced that the insulation rebate was to be withdrawn for foil products held in place with staples or other metal fasteners. Mr Barnes was tragically electrocuted just eight days later on 18 November 2009, and Mr Sweeney was electrocuted three months later on 4 February 2010. At the recent inquest, Mr Richards provided an insight into issues that were raised at the time and how the electrocutions which occurred while the workers were installing foil insulation under the HIP could have been avoided. He spoke about the known dangers associated with the HIP and the role that safety switches could have played in preventing the deaths.

An inquest has heard the Federal Government was warned by MEA within a week of the first insulation-related death that there would be more fatalities if the Home Insulation Program (HIP) was not amended. On 14 March 2013, MEA CEO Malcolm Richards spoke at the inquest into the electrocution of Matthew James Fuller aged 25, Rueben Barnes aged 16, and Mitchell Sweeney aged 22. MEA has always pushed for greater awareness and regulatory action surrounding electrical safety, to ensure our members can operate in a safe environment. When the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Home Package was introduced in 2009, MEA immediately expressed concerns about the inherent dangers associated with the two types of insulation covered under the HIP rebate scheme, namely, metal-based and woollen insulation. The incorrect installation of either of these products can lead to serious damage to lives and property. From as early as May 2009, MEA began warning the government about the safety risks that were likely to accompany the surge in demand for roof insulation after the announcement of the government rebate. In the months leading up to Mr Fuller being electrocuted on 14 October 2009, MEA received an increasing number of complaints from members who were www.masterelectricians.com.au

arriving to undertake work at houses that had recently had foil insulation installed and found the roof to be live. At the inquest Mr Richards spoke of how after hearing feedback from members, he wrote to Peter Garrett requesting an urgent meeting. “Mr Fuller’s death, more than five months after the risks of the program were highlighted to government, is a tragic example of what can happen when the dangers of electrical work are not taken seriously enough,” Mr Richards said.

“I remember saying if you don’t remove the rebate from foil-based products, there will be more deaths in this program,” On 20 October 2009, Mr Richards met with the Minister responsible for the program, Mr Peter Garrett, one on one to discuss concerns raised about the program including the poor training standards and use of metal based insulation. “I remember saying if you don’t remove the rebate from foil-based products, there will be more deaths in this program,” Mr Richards told Brisbane Coroners Court. At a subsequent meeting on 27 October 2009, Minister Garrett met with MEA and representatives from the insulation industry to seek advice on changes to the program

When the rebate program was introduced, MEA were particularly concerned about the large number of new installers it attracted who, while registered with the government scheme, were not trained or experienced in dealing with the electrical safety issues associated with laying insulation, such as pre-existing faults in wiring in the roof space and faulty installation of insulation foil, which is a conductor of electricity. Representing its members and the electrical industry as a whole, MEA called on government to introduce improved training standards as a priority for installers to ensure they were competent in the correct installation techniques when working around electrical cables, and the appropriate procedure for undertaking an electrical risk assessment. The inquest was adjourned until 7 May 2013. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of these young men serve as a tragic reminder that there is no excuse for complacency regarding electrical related injuries and fatalities. The failed program demonstrates the need for absolute vigilance where electrical work is concerned. In the recent submission to the coronial inquest, MEA made several recommendations including the need for urgent reforms to safety switch laws throughout Australia to put an end to the needless deaths and injuries that could have been prevented by a safety switch. MEA is committed to advocating for the interests of our members and will continue to dedicate ourselves to striving to create a safer work environment for the electrical industry.

DELIVERING ‘ABOVE & BEYOND’ FOR OUR MEMBERS. It’s just how we’re wired.

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test drive

Nissan Navara ST-X 550 Test driver and now proud owner Stephen King reviews one of the best selling dual cab utes on the market.

Nissan boast that the

Navara ST-X 550 is Australia’s ’Most Powerful Tradie’, delivering a massive 170kW of power and 550Nm of torque. Now if you’re anything like me, that doesn’t mean a whole lot. However, what I can tell you is that this thing goes! The Navara has established itself amongst the top selling vehicles in its class for a long time now and there are plenty of reasons why. From an impressive list of features to a range of 11 different models there is a price point that will suit all tastes. But enough of the pitch. On the outside the vehicle has side running rails, a soft tonneau cover and a very handy

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sprayed liner. Jumping in is as it should be - everything at my finger tips. It has a very simple to use cruise control, audio system and Bluetooth connection – all with access on the steering wheel. While I’m sure that it is not that different from most on the market, the Bluetooth connection is excellent. It was easy to set up and connected to my mobile as soon as I started the vehicle. I was even able to program my wife’s mobile to the system for those times when she thinks she owns the car as well. I won’t kid you, it’s a ute (dual cab) so when nothing is in the back it can feel very light back there. They say it has three tonne towing power and it

handled superbly when I had a tonne of rocks in the back. There was no difference in take off at all, but it just loved having some junk in the trunk. For this reason, it is perfect as a tradies vehicle with all the tools and gear in the back. I have to be honest here, when I collected the rocks I had to go down some pretty windy and bumpy dirt roads. Compared to other dual cabs I have tested, the Navara fared the bumps very well. I did take a detour and engaged the four wheel drive for a bit of a burn in the bush. Like most modern four wheel drives, a simple click of the dial and we were off. As a novice four wheel driver the Nissan handled easily. I traversed a couple

of creeks, a couple of dodgy looking hills and then downhill following a series of ruts. No issues here at all except for the big grin on my face. So if you’re looking for a work truck that won’t look out of place in the bush or going to the movies, try the Navara. It ticks all the boxes. In fact I loved it so much that I bought it. The only extra I added was to upgrade the standard tyres to some great Maxxis dual purpose tyres. Nissan were happy to help and only charged me the difference. So now I have the ultimate allround vehicle, which is great news but also means my wife now has me test driving tents, so camping here we come. But that’s another story.

Navara ST-X 550 Specs • Impressive towing capacity – Handles a heavy load with ease. • 60/40 split-fold, flip-up rear seats, for a comfortable and spacious ride. • Reliable 4x4 – 7 Speed Auto Transmission • Front, Side, and certain airbags, providing unprecedented safety • Showcase • Powerful 4x4 3.0L Turbo Diesel • Satellite navigation (Ti Grade) • Reverse camera and Predictive Path Technology (Ti Grade) • Leather seats • Bluetooth hands free system Full specs are available on the Nissan Australia website Nissan.com.au/navara Priced from $39,888 plus accessories.

EW N

New golf enclosures VS and VF series

Bringing simplicity to the contractor and award winning elegance to installations, our Golf range of enclosures are evolving even further. We have combined our Lite and Pro series into one single range for ease of selection and added full length busbar for each DIN row, providing improved productivity and safer installations. The new series Golf is in a class of its own. For more information regarding the new golf, please call 1300 850 253.

Discover how the new golf can make your job easier at designedbyyou.org/au

The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

events calendar

MAY

JUNE

23 – 24 May 2013 Solar 2013 Conference and Expo Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, VIC www.solarexhibition.com.au

18 – 20 June 2013 Queensland Safety Show Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre www.qldsafetyshow.com.au

24 May – 10 June 2013 Vivid Sydney 2013 Sydney, NSW www.vividsydney.com

27 June 2013 L&H Trader’s 500 Adelaide Showground, Adelaide SA www.traders500.com.au

JULY

27 – 30 May 2013 Wind Farms 2013 Bayview Eden, Melbourne VIC www.windfarmdesign.com.au

24 – 26 July 2013 Clean Energy Week 2013 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD www.cleanenergyweek.com.au

30 May 2013 L&H Trader’s 500 Sydney Showground, Sydney NSW www.traders500.com.au

25 July 2013 L&H Trader’s 500 Claremont Showground, Perth WA www.traders500.com.au

IMPORTANT DATES THIS QUARTER 10 June 2013 Queen’s Birthday (All states except WA) 10 – 16 June 2013 International Men’s Health Week www.menshealthweek.org.au 23 – 26 September 2013 Electrical Industry Conference Las Vegas www.masterelectricians.com.au/ Conference

PT-7600 Professional Labelling Machine Ideal for Electricians & Tradespeople

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shocking photograph

LIKE TO WIN $50? Send us your favourite picture (in high resolution of at least 1MB please) and if we publish it, we’ll send you $50!

Melbourne Mishap After purchasing an existing home in north Melbourne, a customer (pregnant at the time) noticed a light not working. After turning the light switch off, she then attempted to remove the light globe, approximately two metres above floor level, so she used a small step ladder. As she touched the lamp fitting, she received an electric shock. The electrician who came to investigate found the hard actives were directly connected to the earth terminal on the fitting as an option to join them in. Judging by the age of the house and the style of fitting, it was probably energised for the last 40 years or so! Thanks to Tony from Tecon Group P/L in Springvale in VIC, $50 is on its way. Send your entries to magazine@masterelectricians.com.au for your chance to win.

New Master Electricians membership now available! Membership starts from just $800

* Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.masterelectricians.com.au for details. Master Electricians Association Limited – ACN 163 222 642

Electrical Contractors Association – ABN 40 669 256 171

Join now at www.masterelectricians.com.au/join The Master Electrician

Autumn 2013

the last word

Meeting the changing needs of our industry As you’ll have seen earlier in this magazine, Master Electricians has launched a new category of membership which will give more contractors nationwide the chance to be part of a dynamic and active industry association. We’ve done this because of your feedback. Many contractors have told us that they wanted to be part of the Master Electricians story, but were overawed by the prospect of having to meet the very high accreditation standards from the outset. We’ve listened and we’re working to make it easier for people to get that highly recognised Master Electricians logo on their cars and work shirts. That doesn’t mean we’ve lowered the bar for accreditation. What it means is that, across Australia, you’ll be able to become a member of Master Electricians, which will give you access to our highly regarded suite of membership benefits. These include technical support on the phone, HR and employment advice, and regular updates on the latest industry news and regulatory changes. Importantly, it will also give you access to our support networks if you choose to work towards gaining Accredited Master

Electrician status. You’ll be able to build a relationship with us over a few years, and we’ll be able to help you get to where you’re going. There’ll be three accreditation categories - Safety, Quality and Energy Efficiency. Each one will give you an extra mark of professionalism in the eyes of the buying public. We’ll use our own advertising and marketing efforts to encourage consumers to look for the Master Electricians Logo. And we’ll also be rolling out some new corporate benefits that we believe will provide a direct financial reward for your effort to achieve that accreditation. I am confident in saying that after five years as a national accreditation scheme, we’ve listened and learned and we’re now implementing the changes you’ve asked for. So now the ball is very much in your court. The opportunity now exists for all contractors to access the highest standard of member services offered to our industry. You can’t be an expert on all aspects of running a business – contract law, industrial law, tax arrangements and staying abreast of electrical regulations. You need to make sure you have a partner who can help you do those things.

More than that, you need someone to help you improve your business – to develop safety systems and quality systems, to expand your product offerings and to deliver cutting-edge training to your staff. Many contractors tell us they often consider joining the industry association, but just never get around to it. Now is the time to get that support for your business. Master Electricians Australia is starting on an exciting new journey from this month. I invite you to come along with us.

MALCOLM RICHARDS CEO

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EME

RGEN C MAD Y LIGHTI NG E EA SY EASY T O USE EASY T O CHOO SE

TS UC " OD NT PR CLIE ST UR BE E D YO S H T AN TIP G N G SIN OU VE OO IT Y SE CTIN TS E P C "CH SU TO SEL ODU TO E TH FOR PR R U YO

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IMPROVING THE WORKPLACE.

AGAIN.

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