Connections - Spring 2017

What will we see in the upcoming 18th edition? // page 21

connections THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC AND ELECSA REGISTERED CONTRACTORS

CASE STUDY P18 How an NICEIC Approved Contractor is helping keep Wembley’s pitch pristine

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£5.00

ELECTRIC HEATING P26 Shake off preconceptions and explore the opportunities that modern methods offer

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SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 201

THERMAL IMAGING P31 A diagnostic technique now within the reach of every contractor

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STOKING THE FIRE Continuity and evolution at Owen Electrical and Security

// page 22

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MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on the road driving conditions. Model shown is new PEUGEOT Expert Panel Van Professional Plus Compact. Data and information correct at time of going to print. ^Standard on Professional and Professional Plus models. *Available as a cost option on certain models. **Calls may be recorded for training purposes. Call charges to this number from landline and mobile network may vary. For information about charges, please contact your network provider.

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Spring 2017 | Issue 201

Contents First phase Working together Formation of new organisations threatens unity already achieved

4

Plugged in

News Countdown to Live South begins

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Certsure again named one of top 100 employers

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Tony Cable makes his final TechTalk appearance

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Third-party sign-off still not on the agenda

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How branded certificates can boost your business

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Product news The latest products on the market

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16

18 22

26

Live wire

Features

Advice 15 Contractors who need employees to drive during their work have legal responsibilities, warns Daniel Hart

Case study 18 Andrew Brister on how Ennis Energy and Electrical is helping Wembley Stadium keep its turf in top condition Insight 21 Alan Wells looks at what significant alterations we can expect in the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations when it is published next year Current affairs You snooze, you win ...

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31

Fully charged Ask the experts 35 Answers to the technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions Technical Single-phase luminaires from three-phase lighting circuits

38

Electrical work notification

41

Live and clicking 26 Electric heating has come a long way since the days of the old storage heaters and now offers opportunities for contractors, finds David Adams Warming up 31 Falling costs make thermal imaging a realistic option for diagnosing problems, reports Rob Shepherd

What will we see in the upcoming 18th edition? // page 21

connections THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC AND ELECSA REGISTERED CONTRACTORS

CASE STUDY P18 How an NICEIC Approved Contractor is helping keep Wembley’s pitch pristine

Apprentice Corner

44

Installations in buildings with thatched roofs part 1

49

Installations in buildings with thatched roofs part 2

54

Variable frequency drives part 4

56

Snags and solutions

60

» Cover photo: Mike Poloway/UNP

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£5.00

ELECTRIC HEATING P26 Shake off preconceptions and explore the opportunities that modern methods offer

/

SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 201

/

THERMAL IMAGING P31 A diagnostic technique now within the reach of every contractor

STOKING THE FIRE Continuity and evolution at Owen Electrical and Security

// page 22

Illustration: Cameron Law

Opinion 16 The quality of MVHR systems for newbuild properties is coming under greater scrutiny, says Paul Rainbird

Contractor profile 22 Stoke-on-Trent firm Owen Electrical and Security is seeing a steady evolution in its business as it approaches its 45th birthday

Connections Spring 2017 3

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Comment EMMA CLANCY

First phase Working together The creation of Certsure is just one example of the electrical industry coming together. New entrants threaten to undermine that, and to question the hard work of registered contractors

B

ack in 2013 when Electrical Safety First and ECA announced they were coming together to form Certsure, it was with the objective of doing something for the good of the industry.

The partnership came out about following comments from government and consumers – and from electricians themselves – who suggested the industry was too fragmented. There was a trend towards increasing competition, and what was needed was some unison.

In the following year we helped set up Registered Competent Person Electrical, which brought together all government-authorised CPS operators to create a single register for all Part P registered firms in England and Wales. We continue to work on matters of common interest, with all scheme providers promoting this site.

These are clear examples of the work we have done to unite the industry and make things simpler for the consumer. And, of course, it is incumbent on us to keep talking and keep improving.

Emma Clancy is chief executive officer, Certsure

The government-authorised scheme operators already work to a framework that delivers safe installation work which is insurance-backed and supported by a complaint resolution process, not to mention assessed and accredited by UKAS. These are the parameters the electrical industry works within and the steps we have taken to bring it together. Consumers need assurance and protection that provides quality of standards, not confusion.

It is, therefore, surprising to see a number of new organisations looking to add confusion. Some are claiming to reform the industry by introducing a licence to practise, others seeking to introduce one mark to rule them all; none are stopping to consider the existing infrastructure or seeking to collaborate.

This all implies that what you do and what we do isn’t enough. I am all for improving things, and am open to dialogue, but I also know that Certsure customers are assessed to high standards and deliver excellent work.

Certsure customers deserve credit for what they do every day, and do not deserve to be told that it’s not good enough.

CONTACTS // CONNECTIONS 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP EDITORIAL General 020 7880 6200 Fax 020 7324 2791 Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk Editor Nick Martindale Technical editor Timothy Benstead Sub editor Clare Cronin Creative director Mark Parry Art editor Adrian Taylor Picture researcher Akin Falope Publishing and business development director Aaron Nicholls ADVERTISING/MARKETING Senior sales executive Darren Hale Display 020 7880 6206 Fax 020 7880 7553 Email darren.hale@redactive.co.uk Sales executive Greg Lee Email greg.lee@redactive.co.uk Classified 0207 880 7633

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PRODUCTION General production enquiries 020 7880 6240 Fax 020 7880 7691 Production manager Jane Easterman Production executive Rachel Young Email rachel.young@redactive.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Should you require your own copy of Connections or multiple copies for your staff, subscriptions are available by calling 020 8950 9117 CONTRIBUTIONS Connections welcomes ideas for contributions.

Please email nick.martindale@ redactive.co.uk ISSN 2042-5732

© Redactive Publishing Ltd 2017 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP. Registered No. 3156216. All rights reserved. This publication (and any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any print or electronic format (including but not limited to any online service, any database or any part of the internet) or in any other format in any media whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Redactive Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.

Printed by Southernprint.

Paper by Denmaur Papers plc.

The paper mill that makes the text paper for this magazine states that it uses at least 80 per cent wood pulp from sustainable sources.

WWW.NICEIC.COM WWW.ELECSA.CO.UK ENQUIRIES Certsure 01582 539000 Communications manager Paul Collins 01582 539148 paul.s.collins@certsure.com NICEIC Direct Paul Elcock 01582 539709 paul.elcock@certsure.com Twitter @officialNICEIC or @officialELECSA Customer services 0333 015 6625 Sales 0333 015 6626 Training 0333 015 6627 Technical helpline 0333 015 6628 Insurance 0333 015 6629 Legal/tax 24-hour helpline 0117 934 2111 (provided by DAS Business Law)

Spring 2017 Connections

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S O U T H 2 0 1 7

18 MAY

Technical Conference and Exhibition on Epsom Downs Racecourse Industry legend Tony Cable’s last ever Live event!

Don’t miss out on attending the multi award-winning NICEIC ELECSA Live! Be a part of big debates, update your knowledge and be inspired by the latest innovations and technology for the electrical industry.

r

eake Keynote sp

E, ea rc e M B S tu a rt P d er en ef d la nd fo rm er E ng r ge na a m 1 2 a nd U

Spe p aker s includ e: Tony and D Cable arren S t a n if or t h

Visit: www.niceic-elecsalive.com

Technical experts on hand to answer your questions

interactive knowledgesharing sessions

A lively trade expo.

Meet more than Demo zone

Networking opportunities with more than

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peers exhibitors

Tickets from £29 (ex vat) Exhibition only and apprentice passes are free of charge!

Partner sponsors:

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News/Product news

Plugged in Need-to-know industry news for electrical installers

Photograph: Rafa Bastos

Get your tickets now for Live South in May Tickets are selling fast for what promises to be one of the biggest events in the electrical calendar, as the countdown to Live South begins.

The award-winning conference and exhibition will return to Epsom Downs Racecourse on Thursday 18 May, featuring star speakers, practical sessions and a chance to meet the industry’s leading suppliers, all in one place.

Former England international footballer and Under-21s manager Stuart Pearce will top the bill, regaling contractors with his tales of life as a sparkie – something he continued for a time even while playing football at a high level.

The event will also be notable for Tony Cable’s final appearance before his well-earned retirement. Alongside Darren Staniforth, he will present a seminar looking at the upcoming 18th edition, and the implications for contractors.

Other sessions include a look at the commercial opportunities in the electrical industry over the next three years by Certsure’s Mark Smith, an examination of the code of practice for LED lighting by Mark Coles of the IET, and a technical debate where contractors can pose questions to representatives from NICEIC, ELECSA and the IET.

> Stuart Pearce: a tale of two careers Mark Smith, director of marketing and communications at Certsure, said: “Live South is a great day out for any contractor looking to find out about the latest goings-on in the electrical industry, and provides a useful insight into how they can help boost their business. We are expecting a large audience to give Tony Cable a great send-off.”

Tickets cost just £29 plus VAT for NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA contractors, and £49 plus VAT for non-registered contractors. Exhibition-only and apprentice passes are free of charge. ● To book your place, visit www.niceic-elecsalive.com

WOMEN DEBATE DIVERSITY IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR More than 30 women from across the building services sector met recently to discuss diversity in the construction industry.

The women in trades event was organised by NICEIC, in conjunction with leading charity Women on the Tools.

Those in attendance included Baroness Sue Garden, a Liberal Democrat life peer in the House of Lords, who leads on further and higher education and skills.

She is working with the Technical and Further Education Bill in the Lords, which sets up the Institute for Apprenticeships and aims to promote skills and apprenticeships, including the all-important construction trades.

During a lively debate, Katherine Newton, operations manager at the John Lewis Group, discussed how the retailer is actively recruiting female trades professionals as a direct response to customer demands.

Others said that more still needs to be done at school level to show young girls that a career in construction is a viable option for girls, and to ensure a career in the trades is not seen as a secondary choice or inferior to other careers.

NICEIC’s Jobs for the Girls campaign was recently shortlisted for an award at the Women in Construction Awards 2017, in relation to its work with The Sheffield College and the charity WEST (Women in Engineering Science and Technology).

For more information, visit www.niceic.com/jobsforthegirls

IET WARNS CONTRACTORS ABOUT BOGUS PUBLICATIONS The IET is warning contractors to be vigilant against counterfeit publications, after discovering a bogus edition of Guidance Note 3 Inspection & Testing in circulation.

The book was purchased from an Amazon Marketplace seller and features a wide range of errors, including font and colour discrepancies and text errors.

The organisation has also been made aware that there might be counterfeit copies of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) in circulation.

Please be aware that you can be held liable for any issues in work arising from adherence to incorrect versions of the IET publications. Certsure strongly recommends that you purchase your books directly from approved sellers.

If you have any information about counterfeits, or any queries about a book you have purchased, contact the IET at books@theiet.org

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DORSET APPRENTICE TAKES NATIONAL TITLE An electrician from an NICEIC-registered firm in Dorset has landed the title of best overall apprentice of the year in JTL’s annual awards.

Robert Best, from Broadstone, is employed by Powerpoint Electrical Contractors in Wimborne, and took the title after impressing judges, fighting off competition from finalists across the UK. Best was presented with his award at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in London’s Savoy Place in March.

TRAINING PROSPECTUS OFFERS WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES The latest training prospectus from NICEIC and ELECSA features the largestever selection of learning opportunities for contractors.

Each course is specifically ttailored to suit tthe needs of iindividuals and businesses across b tthe electrical, gas, renewables, water, re and health and a safety sectors, and sa all courses can now a be booked online.

“Over the past 12 months we have developed ha courses that will open up more doors for contractors across the building services sector,” said Asad Majid, national training manager for NICEIC and ELECSA. “New courses include an extended range of fire alarm and emergency lighting packages and a Level 4 award in design and verification, as well as courses in domestic ventilation and data cabling, which offer up new opportunities for installers.

“Our new online booking platform also makes it easier for attendees to search for available dates and locations online."

To get your copy of the prospectus, either call 0333 015 6627 or email trainingprospectus@certsure.com

Certsure named as top 100 employer for fifth year Certsure, which operates the NICEIC and ELECSA brands, has been named one of the nation’s top 100 companies to work for, for the fifth year running.

Certsure ranked 52nd in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies list – up an impressive 27 places on last year’s position of 79th.

Chief executive officer Emma Clancy said: “To deliver the best service possible to our customers, our teams need to feel empowered, skilled and motivated.

“We have invested in staff training programmes, and created an environment that gives our teams the platform to succeed.

“That is why this award is so important to us. It recognises that we are a people business and allows us to better serve our customers.

“It is good for the industry too,” she added. “This achievement demonstrates that our sector can lead not only in terms of delivering technical excellence but also in terms of management practices. We look forward to seeing more electrical contracting firms on the list next year.”

Certsure employs more than 300 people nationally, including 120 staff at its headquarters in Dunstable.

It also has offices in Mansfield and Chesterfield, and a field team who carry out assessments throughout the UK. Last year, Certsure staff raised more than £15,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support.

The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies list is based on employee feedback across eight factors involved in working life, including leadership, wellbeing, personal growth and a fair deal.

Ventilation course at Harrogate Installers of ventilation equipment can now access NICEIC Certification’s training and assessment course at EnviroVent’s training centre in Harrogate.

The two-day course covers ventilation technologies including central extract and heat recovery, and provides an overview of the techniques used for installation as well as the key terminology and regulations associated with domestic ventilation systems.

At the end of the course, attendees will undergo a theory and practical-based assessment. Installers are assessed

against criteria in accordance with the relevant National Occupational Standards (NOS) and approved by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the building services engineering sector.

Once they have achieved the qualification, installers can apply to the NICEIC competent persons scheme for ventilation to self-certify their work in England and Wales.

For more information, contact EnviroVent on 0345 27 27 807, email enquiries@envirovent.com or visit www.envirovent.com

Connections Spring 2017

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News/Product news

Plugged in ENJOY A DISCOUNT ON SMART TECH LIVE EVENTS NICEIC and ELECSA registrants can benefit from discounted tickets to this year’s Smart Tech Live events.

Smart Tech Live is a one-day seminar hosted by Voltimum and the ECA. It informs electrical contractors about smart home technology that will help give their business a competitive edge in an evolving industry.

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event, there will be two Smart Tech Live events in 2017.

The first will be held in London at the Grand Connaught Rooms on Friday 9 June. The second will be held at the Principal York hotel, in York, on Thursday 15 June.

Tickets to either event normally cost £50, but NICEIC and ELECSA registrants can get a ticket for just £10 by visiting bit.ly/smarttechniceic To find out more about Smart Tech Live, visit www.voltimum.co.uk/smarttech

Industry legend signs off from final TechTalk Tony Cable took part in his last TechTalk event in March, after more than 100 shows.

The veteran has decided to call time on his career after more than 60 years in the electrical industry.

There was a packed audience at Leicester Racecourse to witness his final TechTalk, the series of regional roadshows he has co-presented for the last nine years.

“The TechTalk series is something very close to my heart which I have enjoyed immensely,” he said. “We have done events up and down the UK and I have met thousands of contractors along the way. I enjoy chatting to fellow sparks about the industry, and that is what I will miss most.”

Cable’s career began in 1957 as an apprentice aged just 15. He went straight from the playground to the building site, embarking on a six-year apprenticeship before going on to own his own electrical contracting business.

He joined NICEIC in 1998 and spent seven years on NICEIC’s technical helpline, before joining the marketing team in 2005.

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Since then he has gone on to present a series of award-winning DVDs aimed at electrical students and apprentices.

He also appeared on several television programmes, such as Rogue Traders and Help My House Is Falling Down, as the electrical expert.

In 2009, Cable won the outstanding contribution to electrical excellence from Electrical Times magazine, in recognition of his career achievements.

He added: “I have enjoyed my time in the industry immensely. It has been good to me and allowed me to carry out different roles. Since the day I started, I have been fortunate enough to not have to spend one day out of work.

“There have been many changes along the way, the majority of them for them for the better. It is a much safer place to work now. For anyone considering a career in the trade, I would say: go for it.”

Although now officially retired from his TechTalk duties, Cable will be making one final appearance at Live South in Epsom on May 18. If you would like to see him in action, book your ticket at www.niceic-elecsalive.com

ECA BACKS FINDINGS ON APPRENTICESHIPS A parliamentary committee report on skills, which urges the government to prioritise getting young people to take up apprenticeships in industry sectors with skills shortages such as electrotechnical, has been backed by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA).

According to a recent ECA survey, almost half of electrotechnical businesses (47 per cent) expect to face a skills shortage in 2018. Yet the report comments that “the current balance of [apprenticeship funding] provision is skewed towards sectors with low wage returns and few skills shortages”.

In addition, the report states that “there remains a lack of clarity about long-term funding arrangements for non-apprenticeship levy paying employers”. The ECA has already raised this issue with skills minister Rob Halfon, as it may affect small firms in the sector.

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Photograph: Alamy

Third-party sign-off still not on agenda NICEIC and ELECSA have received several calls recently from customers asking how they can join a third-party certification scheme for domestic electrical work.

The building regulations allow persons who are registered with a third-party certification scheme for electrical installations in dwellings to check domestic electrical work that is undertaken by others, and certify that it is compliant with the building regulations.

NICEIC and ELECSA chose not operate such a scheme back in 2013, amid concerns that it would undermine registered contractors’ work. All electrical installation work is potentially dangerous and should not be attempted by anyone without the appropriate knowledge and skills.

Certsure operates the ELECSA and NICEIC DIS registration schemes as part of its Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) approved competent persons scheme (CPS), for electrical contractors who wish to self-certify their own electrical work as compliant with the building regulations, rather than involving local building control or engaging a third-party inspector.

The scheme does not entitle them to sign off work carried out by another contractor.

Similarly, contractors registered under our AC scheme have been assessed under scheme rules that extend to all electrical installation and reporting work covered by BS 7671, including carrying out periodic inspection and testing.

This scheme allows contractors to issue electrical installation condition reports of installations previously carried out by other contractors, but is not the same as notifying or certifying other installers’ electrical installation work.

Think before you...

U POWER NETWORKS WARNS OF UK RISKS FROM BURIED CABLES R

U Power Networks is calling for extra vigilance UK and awareness regarding the risks associated with an buried or hidden electricity service cables. b The construction industry had 72,702 non-fatal injuries reported in 2015-16, no while 43 workers were fatally injured in w Think the th same period. before you...

To warn people of the risks, the organisation has launched a series of o informative safety leaflets for workers in across the construction trades, a including one specifically relating to in the t steps to that should be taken if underground cables or service cables u are a damaged.

KEEPING ELECTRICITY SAFE You can find out more at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/ internet/en/safety/

DIG UNDERGROUND ukpowernetworks.co.uk

UCT TRUC NSTR ONS CCO SCAFFOLDING ukpowernetworks.co.uk

ON THE SPOT// CLINTON THOMPSON NICEIC and ELECSA employ 80 engineers across the country to assess contractors’ work and provide up-to-date technical advice. Here, we turn the tables and put them in the spotlight » Clinton Thompson Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire When did you first become an area engineer for NICEIC? I joined NICEIC in 2009 originally as a technical helpline engineer. I became an area engineer in 2015.

How has the job changed in that time?

Area engineers have now gone electronic with Inkwrx on iPads.

This is an excellent tool to help us carry out our jobs effectively.

What are some of the biggest changes in the industry that you have come across in that time?

The access to information now is amazing. You are never alone, as you have the power of knowledge in your hand on your phone. Test equipment is now very user-friendly, and electronic certification makes your presentation clear and concise.

What’s the strangest thing you have come across on an assessment?

I recently inspected a house that had a Boeing 747 fuselage built into the house as a cinema room.

What’s the strangest request you have had?

I once had to wear over-slippers in a contractor’s Jaguar, as he didn’t want it to get dirty.

What interesting jobs have your contractors being involved with?

I’ve seen many amazing places in such a short time, including Ozzy Osbourne’s house. I also

inspect aspects of work at EA Games, which produces the Xbox and PS4 games. Its offices have consoles at every desk.

What are your interests outside of work?

Music – I play in two bands and produce electronic dance music.

I’m also into cars and bikes. I am also a volunteer support worker and counsellor for the Royal British Legion.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I think just being me is more than enough.

If you had a day off tomorrow, what would you do?

If the weather was good it would be a day out on the Downs in Dunstable, getting some fresh air and playing with my remotecontrol helicopter.

Favourite book, film and television programme?

I’m reading a good biography about Daniel Craig at the moment. I love old black-andwhite movies, and have all the James Bond films. My TV is stuck on the Discovery Channel and only moves off that for the news.

What advice would you give electrical contractors?

Treat every job as if it were in your own house – carry out the work to the quality you would expect from a tradesperson in your property.

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News/Product news

Plugged in Boost your business with branded certificates Using official forms produced and branded by NICEIC or ELECSA provides a professional finish to any job.

All branded certificates have a unique serial number which is trackable and traceable to prevent any fraudulent report writing.

In addition, many specifiers who insist on using registered contractors will ask that they are provided with an official NICEIC or ELECSA certificate once a job is complete.

NICEIC and ELECSA certificates are produced in-house by a team of technical experts. Each section is designed to meet the requirements of the model forms in BS7671 and contractors’ requirements.

“A report or certificate is a written record of the work carried out and it should be treated with the care that it requires,” says NICEIC’s and ELECSA’s head of Direct Paul Elcock. “Contractors go to a lot of effort to get registered, so using a branded certificate or report at the end of a job makes perfect sense. It helps to join up all the dots and provides that professional finish.”

PREVENT FRAUDULENT REPORT WRITING A unique serial number (including prefix) is printed on the original and duplicate of each NICEIC and ELECSA certificate and report form published for use by registered contractors.

This serial number allows the origin of the certificate or report to be traced

by NICEIC and ELECSA in the event of a query as to its authenticity. For this reason, no organisation other than the registered contractor is authorised to issue that form.

If the serial number has been erased or altered in any way, NICEIC and ELECSA would consider that certificate or report to be invalid.

NICEIC and ELECSA strongly prefer registered contractors to issue forms produced by NICEIC and ELECSA, as this provides a measure of safety assurance and confidence to recipients.

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NICEIC and ELECSA offer a threepronged approach for contractors looking to use branded certificates: • Online certification: an online service with no software costs; • Paper certificates: these can be purchased direct from our online store; • Electronic certificates: Clik, a partnership that allows contractors to use Clik desktop, iOS and Android apps.

NICEIC and ELECSA online is easy to use and exclusive to all registrants. There is no software to download or install. All NICEIC registrants can access the system

for free with their current NICEIC log-in details at www. niceiconline.com.

The system is integrated with building control notification, so it provides a complete solution for a business looking to notify and certify work straight away.

It also allows users to attach images and notes to any certificate or report.

Paper certificates and reports can be bought in bulk, and are still hugely popular with contractors who prefer to handwrite their reports. In fact, 50 per cent of contractors still choose the paper format produced by NICEIC and ELECSA. Clik means certificates and reports can be created on the go. It also offers ELECSA-branded e-certs in its desktop software. The user can add their company logo, use a spellchecker and calculate maximum ZS values.

INDUSTRY // DIARY May 17-18 PHEX London 18 NICEIC ELECSA Live Epsom Downs 24-25 ELEX Harrogate June 8-9 CEF Live

13 NICEIC Scotland Roadshow Inverness 14 NICEIC Scotland Roadshow Aberdeen 15 NICEIC Scotland Roadshow Perth September 21-22 ELEX Coventry

Spring 2017 Connections

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News/Product news

Plugged in HOLE IN ONE < Instinct sockets

CRABTREE ACTS ON INSTINCT Wiring accessories firm Crabtree has launched a range of more than 300 products aimed at commercial installations.

The Instinct range includes sockets, fuse connection units and data outlets, and features full-contact cable clamps designed to improve cable retention and reduce deformation, as well as integrated LED indicators built into the rocker switch, designed to retain plate strength.

Other new features include upward-facing inline terminals and a new connection layout which the company says improves installation times because there is no need to rotate or twist the accessory.

The Instinct socket outlets contain multiple safety shutters which prevent access to the power supply unless using a BS1363 plug top. www.electrium.co.uk

Contractors needing to cut holes in plasterboard, OSB panels, soft wood or plywood may be interested in the new Wolfcraft adjustable hole saw.

The tool is designed to cut holes measuring from 44-130mm, and has three straight-set, toothed blades and a large drill disk to provide protection to the area around the cut.

The product is designed to give contractors a single tool that can be used for all standard radii in drywall installations. www.brianhyde.co.uk

< Wolfcraftadjustable hole saw

ESP EXPANDS DUCERI RANGE Security products firm ESP has introduced further items to its Duceri emergency lighting range.

The additions include 2W LED emergency exit signs, featuring 16 SMD 2835 LEDs, which offer a 60 lumen mains output and a 44 lumen emergency output, with a viewing range of 24m. The double-sided signs are designed to be ceiling-mounted and can be adjusted to meet specific needs.

Other new products include 3W and 5W LED emergency non-maintained corridor lens downlighters. The 3W corridor lens offers a 105-lumen output, while the 5W version provides 214 lumens.

There’s also a 5W LED emergency nonmaintained open lens downlighter, which has a lumen output of 263. www.espuk.com

< ESP Duceri emergency lighting additions

< Cablelay for wire baskets

SOFTLY DOES IT The new Cablelay product from MarshallTufflex is designed to provide an easy solution for those looking to protect data and power cables.

Developed for use in wire baskets, it offers a continuous surface that protects from pressure points, kinking ridges, rough and uneven surfaces, sharp edges and protrusions. It is also designed to absorb moisture to prevent water ingress damaging data cables.

The product is available in two versions: as a 6mm mat that can be rolled out and as a rigid, 3mm LS0H compressed foam sheet.

Both Cablelay Matting and Cablelay Rigid are available in a range of widths (60-600mm) to match the company’s wire basket range. www.marshall-tufflex.com

DECO PLUS WORTH THE WAIT Scolmore has launched a collection of wiring accessories featuring more than 800 products, developed over an 18-month period.

The Deco Plus selection includes a wide range of decorative metal wiring accessories, based on smooth, contemporary curves. The collection includes switches; power socket outlets; fused connection units < Scolmore accessories and control switches; television, telephone and data sockets; and media cabling products.

All products are available in seven distinctive finishes – antique brass, satin brass, polished brass, satin chrome, black nickel, stainless steel and polished chrome – and are available with black or white inserts. www.scolmore.com

NO NEED FOR GROUND DISCONNECTION Fluke has released a stakeless earth ground clamp, designed for hard-to-reach spaces including areas that are fully paved or that do not allow auxiliary test stakes.

The 1630-2 FC clamp means contractors can now measure earth group loop resistance indoors and outdoors using only the dual-clamp jaw, without needing to disconnect the earth ground electrode from the grounding system or find suitable locations for auxiliary test stakes.

Instead, a known voltage is induced by the source in the clamp, and the current is measured by the sensor in the clamp. The tester automatically determines the earth loop resistance for this section of the earthing system. www.fluke.co.uk

< Fluke stakeless earth ground clamp

Connections Spring 2017

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Advice/Opinion/Insight/Case study/Customer care/Training WORK-RELATED DRIVING

Live wire Playing it safe Contractors who need employees to drive as part of their work should be aware they have several legal responsibilities including developing a road safety policy, says Daniel Hart

B

usinesses are under a duty of care for the health and safety of employees and contractors; and also owe a duty of care to others who may be affected by their work activities. This responsibility includes driving in a work-related capacity, where the law requires businesses to assess risks and take reasonably practical precautions.

In summary, this means they need to ensure that vehicles used on company business are fit for purpose and in a safe condition, and ed, insured, fit and competent. that the drivers are properly licensed, iminal prosecution, with Breach of this duty can result in criminal ational damage to substantial fines and serious reputational a business. n company More than 150 vehicles driven on ar there business crash every day. Every year are 14,000 road deaths and seriouss o the injuries involving people at work, so risks are significant. These tips will help y businesses ensure their drivers stay on the right side of the law:

Be clear about what counts as a work journey

Illustration: Cameron Law

The Health and Safety Executive defines a work-related journey as any driving involving a work task that is not simply travelling to and from the employee’s usual place off work. ppliers, This includes visiting clients or suppliers, or working from a different office one day a week. A significant number of staff who wouldn’t ordinarily be considered as driving for work make irregular work-related journeys by car, which is where employers are often caught out.

Create a road safety policy A road safety policy is vital to protect the business and encourage driver safety, even if the company does not own the vehicles used by their business. In the event of an accident, the police will look at what road safety policies are in place and how rigorously they are followed.

Such a policy should cover: • Mobile phone and in-car technology: Firms can be prosecuted for causing or permitting the use of a mobile phone, and if the driver is involved in an accident where an electronic device is a factor. A policy requiring drivers to pull over safe safely or use hands-free technology pro when taking calls can protect against liability • Vehicle condition: En Ensure vehicles are not used for work unless they are se serviced in line with manufacturers’ recommendat recommendations, and, where they are more than three years o old, have a valid MOT certificate li • Driving licence checks: Carry out regular ch online checks via the DVLA to ensure drivers vali licences. Undisclosed convictions have valid and/or disqualifications may void insurance cover, so keep an eye out for these Insur • Insurance cover: Check business use cover is in place, particularly for pri privately owned vehicles. Failure to do so renders the business at risk of pro prosecution for causing or permitting no no-insurance offences

Monitor changes in circumstances Mon As well a as a road safety policy, you should have proce procedures whereby drivers inform their manager(s) of any change in circumstances such as penalty points, changes in insurance or vehicle used, or the use of any prescription medication or changes to health that affect their ability to drive safely.

Include use of own vehicles

Implement a record-keeping system

A common misconception is that there is a distinction between company and employee-owned (or contractor-owned) vehicles.

Employers owe the same duty of care for staff who drive their own vehicles for work (‘grey fleet’) as they do for employees who operate company vehicles. Regardless of vehicle ownership, businesses can be prosecuted if they ‘cause or permit’ offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988, including causing or permitting a person to drive a vehicle in a dangerous condition, without a valid licence, or without ‘business use’ insurance.

Establishing an effective record-keeping system will allow the business to provide driver details when a request is received from the police regarding a suspected road traffic offence. Failure to do so will render the firm liable to prosecution and a substantial fine. Again, simply having a road safety policy is not sufficient. The authorities will want to see companies have up-to-date records and are taking an active role in promoting road safety.

Daniel Hart is a solicitor-advocate at law firm Nockolds

Connections Spring 2017

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Advice/Opinion/Insight/Case study/Customer care/Training MVHR SYSTEMS If you have an opinion about an issue concerning the electrical industry, let us know.

Email nick.martindale@ redactive.co.uk

Live wire

Setting the standard As MVHR systems are being specified in larger volumes for newbuild properties, the quality of the installations is subject to a greater level el of scrutiny, as Paul Rainbird Rainb describes

I

nadequate ventilation in a home can lead d to severe health problems for occupants, while tion can failure to deal with damp and condensation result in mould growth. Fortunately, Part F of the tilation Building Regulations stipulates how ventilation systems are designed and installed, and m prescribes their performance, ensuring minimum indoor air quality standards are maintained and reached. chanical Recently, designers have been specifying mechanical System 4) ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems (System fits under into newbuild houses. These systems offer benefits ndix Q. SAP (the Standard Assessment Procedure) Appendix ms need However, if end-users are to fully benefit, systems to be professionally installed and commissioned to a standard that mirrors the predictions of the SAP model.

For MVHR to perform to its maximum, it needss to be ssible. integrated into a building’s design as early as possible. es on The process of ‘designing in’ to dwellings focuses sers, and areas including ducting design, valves and diffusers, the location of the MVHR unit itself.

R unit is Good ducting design is imperative if the MVHR e Building to operate effectively, as well as comply with the iling or Regulations. For example, the route between ceiling

term wall terminals and the central unit needs to offer the res least resistance to airflow. Poor installation of ducting leads to more pressure on the fans to work harder to m deliver minimum ventilation rates required by Part F, increasi noise levels and reducing efficiency. increasing Noise is also a factor when ducting layouts and velocitie haven’t been properly considered. The velocities resultin noise generation and ‘cross talk’ problems will resulting bec not become apparent until the system is in use.

Com Comprehensive training is also vital for installers. It ens will ensure they understand the requirements in the Building Regulations, while improving their knowledge venti of ventilation systems available. Undertaking training courses such as those accredited by NICEIC, will also courses, e cover essentials such as installation and commissioning, as well as the fundamental working principles of MVHR. Keeping up to date with the latest product and legislat legislative information ensures that MVHR systems contrac contractors can operate economically and efficiently for the long term.

Pau Rainbird is operations manager Paul (ventilation systems) at Titon (ve

IN FOCUS// IAN GARNER RNER

» Ian Garner Ian Garner Electrical Services

How did you start up?

I used to be a jockey. At the age of 24 I had to pack it up because of weight issues so I went to work in the building game and started working with electricians. After four years I decided to go to college and get my qualifications.

What kind of work do you do?

Domestic work mainly. I do alarms and CCTV, and work for estate agents, putting in new boards or rewires, or trying to find out what a problem is.

Mainly I do maintenance

16

now rather than new installations.

Have you ever had anyone working for you?

I didn’t want to be big enough to take anyone else on because I like the personal side of it.

Where are you based?

I’m in Godstone, Surrey, so I cover South London down to Crawley in West Sussex.

It’s quite a big area but I don’t mind driving around.

What’s the hardest part of working for yourself?

Accounting and keeping on top of everything. I go

home and plan the next day, ordering materials and estimating. I average 70 hours a week.

What about the future of the business?

It’s growing but at a rate that I can handle. I started off working for one estate agent and I’m now working for three, within a year.

What about outside work?

I’m still into my horse racing and I recently went to Cheltenham for my 60th birthday. I also go clay pigeon shooting and we’re always going out for long walks or down to the coast.

Illustration: Cameron Law

If you are a small business or sole trader and would like to feature in In Focus, email nick.martindale@ redactive.co.uk

Spring 2017 Connections

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Advice/Opinion/Insight/Case study/Customer care/Training WEMBLEY STADIUM

Live wire

Pitch perfect After years of problems with its playing surface, Wembley Stadium has turned to a new pitch-conditioning system to help keep the turf in tip-top nick, with a little help from London contractor Ennis Energy and Electrical

> Wembley Stadium, clockwise: match day, the high-voltage SubAir panel along with the low-voltage signal panel, contractor Ennis on-site, installing an antenna receiver

By Andrew Brister

M

any readers will have experienced the thrill of the walk down Wembley Way for an important football match, the 134m-high triumphal arch of the national stadium in the distance adding to the anticipation as the countdown to kickoff begins.

Wembley Stadium is home to the England football team and host to both the FA and League Cup finals, while it also hosted the Gold medal matches at the 2012 Olympic Games football tournament and the 2014 Champions League final. It will also be the venue for the semi-finals and final of the Euro 2020 tournament.

It’s not just football fans who get to enjoy the 90,000 capacity venue: the stadium also hosts Rugby League’s Challenge Cup final, the NFL International Series of American football matches and big music concerts. Shows planned for 2017 include Stone Roses, Jeff Lynne’s ELO and Adele.

It’s now 10 years since the new Wembley Stadium replaced its predecessor on the same site. The pitch has regularly drawn criticism over those years, with one of the problems being the wear and tear that events such as concerts have on the hallowed turf.

Wembley Stadium is owned by the governing body of English football, the Football Association (the FA), through its subsidiary Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL), which has taken action to tackle problems with the pitch using a revolutionary high-tech pitchconditioning system from supplier SubAir. NICEIC Approved Contractor Ennis Energy and Electrical has worked alongside SubAir and sports ground specialist Bernhard’s on the project. “Boards are placed on top of the pitch when they host concerts at Wembley,” says James Moore, director of Ennis. “In the past, when they lifted the boards back up, they were finding that the

18

pitch was often bogged down and flooded.”

Wembley had to take up the damaged pitch after concerts and re-lay the turf. This is no easy task as the pitch is actually partly artificial, so WNSL had to replace the turf, sow the artificial part into it, reseed and regrow it. WNSL hopes that such onerous measures will be a thing of the past with the SubAir system.

Grassroots football SubAir is a pitch-conditioning system that maintains optimum conditions for the turf, right down to deep-root level. The benefits have been seen in sport stadiums and golf courses around the world, including the Citi Field Stadium for the New York Mets in the US, the Sports Authority Field (Denver Broncos), Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies), FIFA World Cup stadiums in Brazil and the Augusta golf course. While the technology was used for the Ryder Cup golf tournament at Gleneagles, Wembley is the first sports stadium to opt for the technology in the UK.

‘Wembley can host as many events as it wants and the system will maintain the pitch’s condition as it was on the first day of the season’

Spring 2017 Connections

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If you’ve been involved in an interesting and innovative project, let us know. Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

‘We were down in the interceptor chambers, which are around 3m below ground level, while the pitch sprinkler system was running’ So how does it work? “The SubAir system is essentially a heating and ventilation system for sports fields,” says James. “The system blows hot air up through the soil, up through the grass to aerate the pitch, and in vacuum mode it can also suck up and remove any buildup of moisture through the drainage system.”

SubAir connects to the main drainage network and moves air through it, using perforated holes in its pipe to access the soil profile.

The main drain collector is intercepted by an air line, which connects to the air-water separator to remove any water from the system.

Activating the vacuum mode allows the grounds team to quickly remove standing water, remove non-capillary water from the soil profile, and introduce fresh air into the root zone. The vacuum mode can remove standing water during games or other events and, when used daily, fosters a healthier growing medium for the plant’s roots.

“At Wembley, we’ve used the existing storm drains as the tunnelling system for the SubAir system,” says James. “Two interceptor chambers at pitch side act as the main access point to the drains, where we’ve installed two submersible pumps per chamber.”

Sensory perception Oxygen and moisture sensors are placed below the playing field surface to report real-time data on soil condition to the control system. Automated operation of the SubAir system will activate according to the set soil condition parameters. In a sudden downpour,

16-17: The ideal temperature, in Celsius, at which the pitch is kept

the vacuum systems activate to eliminate excess moisture in the soil.

Successive days of high temperature, that increase soil temperature, will activate aeration to moderate subsoil temperatures.

“We’ve had to dig into the pitch, lay down the sensors and then re-lay that section of the pitch. The sensors detect build-up of moisture, with data sent back to the control system, which activates equipment from the low-voltage (LV) panel installed in the plant room,” says James. “Ideally, we are looking to keep the pitch between 16-17°C and an optimum balance of oxygen and moisture in the root zone, to help with growth and maintenance of the pitch.”

With SubAir’s TurfWatch technology, the grounds team can access field conditions via smartphones, tablets or computers. The technology retains historical data to provide information on the impact of agronomic practices, natural phenomena and weather.

SubAir’s equipment, including LV and high-voltage panels, was flown over from the US and Ennis worked alongside SubAir’s own engineer on the installation. “Co-ordination was important,” says James. “We met on-site before the contract was even awarded, and both parties have been hands-on all the way through the contract.

“We’ve installed a 160kW variable speed drive which supplies the motor for the main blower, along with the signalling for the sensors, water interceptors, motor controls and the building interface – there was a lot of control signalling on the LV side,” he adds. “On the HV side, we’ve got the pumps installed in the interceptor chambers, motor fuses and motor overloads in the HV panel.”

Pump action Installation of the four submersible pumps was a challenge. “We were down in the interceptor chambers, which are around 3m below ground level, while the pitch sprinkler system was running,” says James. “The chambers would get flooded, so we had to get temporary pumps in to drain the chambers to enable us to work in there.”

Despite the tight timeframe, the work was completed to deadline.

“Now there is no need to replace the turf after concerts,” says James.

“Wembley can host as many events as it wants and the system will maintain the pitch’s condition as it was on the first day of the season.”

Ennis, meanwhile, is hoping that further installations will follow, adding to its contracts across a range of clients, including schools, sports grounds and retail outlets in London and the Home Counties.

So next time you walk up Wembley Way, admire the pristine pitch and spare a thought for the contractors that have played such a winning role in the spectacle.

» Andrew Brister is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical industry Connections Spring 2017

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Advice/Opinion/Insight/Case Study/Customer care/Training 18TH EDITION

Live wire Change is in the air The 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations, due to be published in 2018, is likely to include several significant alterations. Alan Wells explores what we can expect from the revised regulations

A

s technology and its uses develop and change, it is necessary to amend existing standards. It is against this background of change that we look forward to the publication of BS 7671: 2018 in July 2018 – co-numbered as the 18th edition of the IET Wiring Regulations – and contemplate what work is being undertaken on the 18th edition by the UK national technical committee responsible for the development and maintenance of BS 7671– JPEL/64.

First, we should consider how BS 7671 is developed for use in the UK, remembering that the wiring regulations are primarily based on an IEC standard and on European CENELEC harmonised documents (HDs).

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publishes the 60364 standard, which is specific to electrical installations of buildings. Following the ratification of the IEC document, the European technical standards body CENELEC, of which the UK is a full member, publishes an equivalent 60364 standard in the form of HDs. The UK National Committee, as a CENELEC member, has to publish the technical intent of a HD and withdraw any conflicting standards. The UK includes the technical intent of the HDs in the form of BS 7671.

Industry representatives, manufacturers and technical experts from JPEL/64 are active in the maintenance teams and thus the development of the content.

Post-Brexit, there will be no change in the UK’s involvement in international standards such as IEC. The UK intends to remain a full member of CEN and CENELEC, enabling UK experts to continue to influence standards used voluntarily across Europe.

As for likely changes in the 18th edition, we can expect some or all of the following, along with other changes to align more fully with recent changes to HD: • Clarity over where relevant utility services entering a building need not be connected to the protective equipotential bonding; • Additional requirements for AC final circuits; • Changes relating to devices for isolation and switching; • Clarity in respect to regulations relating to wiring systems in escape routes; • Potential amendments to the requirements relating to overvoltage and the selection and erection of surge protection devices;

Alan Wells is technical and standards director at Certsure

• Considerations on how an electrical installer can prevent the appearance of a dangerous touch voltage in the event of the loss of the main connection to earth; • Part 6 to take account of the IEC 60364-6:2016 standard; • Potential for section relating to electrical installations in caravan/camping parks and similar locations to align with IEC 60364-708; • Changes imposed by IEC 60364-722 – Supplies for electric vehicles; • A possible section reflecting the requirements of IEC 60364-7-730; • Consideration of how design can affect the efficiency of electrical installations. The thoughts are that the optimum use of electrical energy can be assisted by appropriate design and installation practice, whereby an electrical installation can provide the required levels of safety as well as the lowest levels of electrical consumption; • As in previous BS 7671 editions and amendments, any changes to Appendix 6 model forms of certification will be incorporated to reflect changes within the body of regulations, definitions, and any additional requirements imposed by changes that reflect HD inclusions.

An important stage in the development of any standard is the Draft for Public Comment (DPC) period.

Anyone who has something to contribute to the draft BS 7671 standard should make full use of the period to comment on its provisions. All comments of the public, industry and other related parties are considered by the Technical Committee and, if necessary, further drafting is undertaken.

The DPC for BS 7671: 2018 is expected to be made available by BSI in June and will be available until August. All NICEIC- and ELECSA-registered contractors are encouraged to use that time to access the DPC via https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/ and submit comments where they feel it is necessary. NICEIC and ELECSA technical representatives and engineers will be reviewing and commenting on the standard.

‘Post-Brexit, there will be no change in the UK’s involvement in international standards such as IEC’ Connections Spring 2017

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE //OWEN ELECTRICAL AND SECURITY COMPANY: Owen Electrical and Security BASED: Stoke-on-Trent MAJOR PROJECTS: Land Rover, Moorcroft Pottery, DeeSet Logistics STAFF NUMBERS: 4

Steady evolution Stoke-on-Trent business Owen Electrical and Security is celebrating its 45th birthday this year, with the current managing director carrying on the work his father started

By Nick Martindale

F

or Rob Owen, managing director of Stoke-on-Trent firm Owen Electrical and Security, electrical contracting is in the blood. He recalls, as a child, watching his parents doing the accounts and invoicing for his father’s business after tea and witnessed a very different landscape from the one in which he now operates, having taken over the business around 17 years ago.

“Things were different then,” he says. “People didn’t rush like they do today, there was no red tape, and in those days we’d work on the shake of a hand and nod of a head. There were no contracts.”

The firm was started off by Rob’s father, Bob, who worked as a sole trader from the village of Endon, in 1972. “He would take on jobs in local commercial and industrial businesses and domestic properties, doing rewires and other projects,” says Rob. “There was no one else. I grew up around the family business, and I started working for it when I was 19, in 1991. I went to college first, and then we started to do more commercial and industrial jobs. I didn’t want to be stuck in the domestic industry.”

With Rob onboard, the business started working for bigger clients, including installing and servicing timber machines in local saw-mills, and eventually took on another employee.

Rob eventually became a partner, and Bob retired at the age of 60. “I bought his half of the business, so at 30 years old it was mine and I was running the lot,” says Rob, now 47. “I realised it was all down to me to keep this company going, but I can also recall asking for advice. He may have retired but he had been down this road I was just starting to travel down.”

As the business continued to grow, it was clear it needed its own base, but it moved into its current premises, just six miles 22

‘In those days we’d work on the shake of a hand and nod of a head. There were no contracts’ from Endon, almost by chance. “About 16 years ago a property with warehouses and offices popped up for auction in the local paper, and I thought I’d go along to see what the prices were like,” he says. “About 45 minutes later I owned this building. I sat in the back garden wondering what I had just done, but it was a good move.” The entrance even boasts a range of security cameras and lights to showcase the firm’s offering, he says, as well as a ‘house of horrors’ of damaged fuseboards that have been in fires.

Bumps in the road Over time, the business grew to the point where it employed 10 electricians, taking on large installations all over the Midlands. But it was hit by two factors that caused it to shrink back again.

In 2010, three electricians decided to leave and set themselves up in opposition to the company. “They were friends one day and they weren’t the next,” he says. “But we sat down and made a plan. My wife started doing the accounts and invoicing, the overalls went on, and we worked day and night to get jobs done.

We told the customers exactly what had gone on and they were very loyal. We proved ourselves, and we gave them the results even when the chips were down. But it did teach me not to take my eye off the ball. It made me a stronger person, which was good because the recession was looming.”

Spring 2017 Connections

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£350,000: The company’s current turnover

Bob Owen

Rob Owen

Today, the business consists of Rob, his wife Tania, engineer Andrew Mollart and Rob’s nephew Robert Byrne, who joined the business as an apprentice after leaving school in 2008.

“I split my life between working in the office, meeting customers and quoting for projects. I’m also the qualified supervisor for NICEIC,” says Rob. The business is split roughly 50:50 between the electrical and security markets, in both time and turnover, which is around £350,000 a year, he says. “Most of our work is industrial and commercial, although we also do some inspection and testing on domestic properties. We work for some high street names which have garages and different distribution centres around Stoke-on-Trent, as well as some big names in the pottery industry.”

Clients include the likes of Land Rover, Moorcroft Pottery and DeeSet Logistics, where the company looks after all lighting and fire alarm maintenance requirements. It will take on work anywhere across Staffordshire, says Rob, and it will go further afield for local clients with requirements in other parts of the country.

The recession also hit the business hard. “We had to cut back and save money,” he says. “We also spoke to the people we worked for and gave them extra credit – an extra month here and there – which helped their cash flow and ours, because it kept work coming in. One customer always used to say cash is king, and without that you can’t move forward.”

Connections Spring 2017

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Photography: Mike Poloway/UNP

> Rob has been joined by his nephew Robert Byrne (left) and engineer Andrew Mollart (right)

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE //OWEN ELECTRICAL AND SECURITY

40: The number of years the business has been registered with NICEIC

Shift to security The move into security – focusing on CCTV and fire alarms – was a strategy in response to the downturn, after it became clear that a previous focus on solar panels was not going to work following changes to the market. “On the electrical side people wanted everything for nothing,” he says.

“We decided to diversify and get SSIAB accreditation for intruder alarm systems.

That put us in more of a niche market because insurance companies require accreditation and certification for systems, and we can provide that. There are probably only six other accredited companies in Staffordshire.” The firm is seeking BAFE accreditation through NICEIC, he adds, which will help it to stand out in a similar way on the fire alarm side.

The focus on security means Rob has to be available around the clock. “We have to have someone on call through the night, so I then come to life,” he says. “We have to respond to police response systems within four hours. On a normal seven-day week I will be called out three or four times, and I can go anywhere in Staffordshire, day or night.

For some reason it always seems to be on a Sunday night.”

Much of this work comes from advertising online with Yellow Pages, he says, while the wider security jobs increasingly involve streaming CCTV footage over the internet.

Playing it safe Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the ups and downs of the past few years, Rob is deliberately cautious in his approach. “We don’t take any risks,” he says. “We don’t work for builders and we don’t sub-contract. We cap jobs at £15,000 now. I’d rather do 20 jobs at that level than a few for £100,000 and risk working for companies I don’t know.” Many of the firm’s customers are ones his father started working for years ago.

Training is another strong focus for the business, particularly in health and safety. “We send our lads on regular risk assessment and first aid courses,” says Rob. “Asbestos is a massive issue in our industry, and until I went on that course I didn’t realise how many tradesmen were at risk. There’s asbestos in a lot of commercial and domestic properties. If an engineer drills a few holes, it only needs them to breathe in one or two particles and it can be a game-changer. But we also see people jumping on to scissor lifts and access booms – it’s an accident waiting to happen.

There’s a lot of red tape in this job but you’ve got to be safe.”

Rob hopes to grow turnover to around £500,000 in the years ahead, partly through developing the company’s 24

> Rob hopes that his nephew will eventually carry on the business

‘A property popped up for auction and I thought I’d go along. About 45 minutes later I owned this building’ servicing offering. “There is a lot of work out there for servicing, and a lot of electricians don’t realise that,” he says.

“Engineers don’t keep track of when things are due. We use NICEIC’s Clik Software which tells us when a building is due for a retest or a fire alarm is due for a test. We then write to that customer and get them to book that service in.” He hopes to take on another two engineers over the next 18 months to focus entirely on this, he adds.

Despite having retired many years ago and playing no active role in the business today, his father, Bob, still calls in for a cup of tea and a chat. “We talk about one or two of the customers who are still around,” says Rob. “He sometimes looks at me a bit strangely when I say how we work today, because in his day you’d trust everybody.”

As for his own role, Rob can see himself taking a similar path to his father. “In time, I would like to make Robert a partner or sell him the business, so he can carry it on,” he says. “He’ll never be a millionaire but he will have a good standard of life out of it, and I would probably end up giving him advice, like my father did for me.”

This year, the business celebrates its 45th anniversary, and 40 years with the NICEIC, and Rob is justifiably proud of the company’s history and its current position. “We think we’re one of the oldest electrical companies in Stoke-on-Trent. It’s a big thing for us to be 45 years old and registered with NICEIC for 40 years. That’s a landmark. I’m very proud of what we do – of my family, my parents, my wife and my engineers.” » Nick Martindale is editor of Connections Could your business feature in Connections?

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

•

Spring 2017 Connections

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Electric heating has come a long way since the days of the old storage heaters, and is now a viable option for many homes and businesses. This is creating opportunities for contractors, too

By David Adams

26

Spring 2017 Connections

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ELECTRIC HEATING

Live and clicking

A

s I suspect is the case for many people who grew up in the 1980s, I have an irrational suspicion of electric heating. While my own childhood home, with its gas fire and gas central heating, was cosy, my grandparents’ house was fridge-like, owing to their reliance on seemingly useless storage heaters – metal boxes that were almost always cold to the touch.

Electric heating systems have come a long way since then. Today, they may incorporate high-quality radiators and/ or underfloor heating technologies, and offer sophisticated temperature controls, which may be accessible via a smartphone or tablet app.

The newest systems find favour among domestic and commercial clients, including those who are replacing old storage heaters, and a few owners of premises where gas was used for heating in the past but is no longer a good option, either because of the construction of the house or regulatory stipulations on the location of a gas boiler or flue. Electric heating is also often an attractive option for buildings that are not on the gas grid.

Fans of electric heating argue that these systems will become even more popular over the next few decades as the UK moves away from reliance on fossil fuels, North Sea gas supplies dwindle, and the use of renewables continues to increase.

They may also point to practical advantages that are already evident, including relatively straightforward and inexpensive installation, particularly

of electric radiators; low maintenance costs; and the close control of temperature and efficiency that these systems can offer.

Market edge For contractors, being able to work with these technologies also offers an additional source of revenue.

“Using electric heating systems gives contractors more choice when trying to compete in the market,” says Richard Brown, managing director at electric heating supplier Electrorad.

“There are situations where electric is going to be the preference, or the only available choice. There’s a surprising amount of the UK that is off the gas grid.

Electricity is almost always available.

Unlike with oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), you don’t need to think about delivery or storage of the fuel, and there’s no need for yearly inspections of storage equipment.”

Electrorad’s customers include housing associations, developers, landlords and private homeowners.

Contractors usually take responsibility for specifying and installing the equipment, but Electrorad can offer support and training on request. Brown claims that any qualified electrician should be capable of fitting these systems. “The most complicated part is

‘Unlike with oil and LPG, you don’t need to think about delivery or storage of the fuel, and there’s no need for yearly inspections’

setting up the electronic controls, but we offer training for that,” he says. “We also have online videos that contractors or homeowners can use to help set up the systems.”

But however impressive these systems are, if gas is also available it is likely to remain a cheaper option for heating. However, Calum Black, operations director at the Electric Heat Company (EHC), suggests that installation of an electric heating system may actually prove to be a much easier and cheaper option than installing a gas system, particularly if the new electric radiators are replacing storage heaters.

His company has been selling electric heating systems for more than 15 years.

In addition to electric radiators, its products include electric boilers that can be used to supply hot water, and water-filled radiators or underfloor heating. As these boilers do not require a flue, they can be located in a much wider range of locations within a building than could a gas boiler.

Clients include housing associations or local councils seeking to replace storage heaters, along with care homes, sheltered housing, other flats, schools and commercial properties.

Maintenance costs are also likely to be lower than gas systems, he claims.

“When you factor in lower maintenance costs, the system is very affordable,” he says. “There’s little maintenance needed for these boilers. We’ve got a low return rate in terms of faulty products, and when it does happen it’s usually because they’ve been installed wrongly.

Whole-life costs of an electric boiler may well be cheaper than for gas.”

Glasgow-based contractor William Smith Heating Solutions has installed EHC products for domestic clients across central and southern Scotland, Connections Spring 2017

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ELECTRIC HEATING

Renewables mix In future, we may well see some electrical heating systems integrated with renewables. The great solar photovoltaics boom might feel like it all happened a long time ago, but there is now a significant installed base of renewable technologies, while a growing number of newbuild properties have heating systems based on heat pumps, sometimes heating the water that circulates through wet underfloor heating systems.

EHC is trialling PV-ready radiators, following a request from a local authority that had installed PV panels on social housing. The company is also in discussions with grid operators about creating information networks that would allow direct communications with multiple boilers, in an attempt to reduce demands on the grid at the busiest times.

Ultimately, even with green issues now lower down the political agenda, more energy efficiency initiatives at national and local levels are likely to help drive the uptake of electric heating across the UK. 28

Under the radar As with the rest of the electric heating market, electric underfloor heating has evolved in recent years. It is still fairly unusual in the UK, so offers a bit of a ‘wow’ factor for many consumers. But water-filled underfloor systems remain more widespread than the electric versions, certainly if more than one room is to be heated in this way.

There are basically four types of electric underfloor systems: • loose wire systems, which provide flexibility to spread cable out in awkwardly shaped spaces; • underfloor heating mats where the cable is set into a mat rolled out across the room, although it is usually possible to remove the heating cable from the mat to allow some extra flexibility if necessary; • foil heating mats that can be installed under carpets and vinyl flooring, or in wet areas such as bathrooms, although these tend to be more expensive; and • in-screed systems that might be installed in newbuilds, extensions or conservatories.

‘The hardest thing is getting customers trained to use the electronic controls.

That can take a couple of visits’ “The government has set out a pathway towards lower carbon use, and the two biggest contributors to carbon use are transport and heating,” says Brown at Electrorad. “There’s been a push towards electric cars, and there will be one towards electric heating.”

Dunne from EPH has some sympathy with that view, but says that, for the

time being, this form of heating will remain less important to his business than gas heating. However, he does think that this could change in future.

“I think electric heating is vastly more efficient than many people give it credit for,” he says. “Many people still have the old storage heaters in mind when they think about it.”

Clearly, I’m living proof of that mindset. But, as electric heating products continue to advance and prove themselves in a variety of settings, it seems increasingly likely that those of us who hold such prejudices will forget them eventually. And that’s likely to be good news for contractors. » David Adams is a freelance business journalist

Photograph: Electrorad

often in places off the gas grid. Director Rod McDougall says the products are easy to install, which significantly reduces labour costs for the customer.

“The hardest thing is getting customers trained to use the electronic controls,” he says. “That can take a couple of visits if they’re not sure. We have a simplified set of instructions we can give them.”

But other contractors say that, while they appreciate the virtues of electrical heating, there is not yet strong enough demand for these products for this to become an important part of their business. Liam Dunne, managing director of Norwich-based electrical, plumbing and heating contractor EPH Services, says: “Some people still don’t trust electrical heating, even though it has improved a lot over the years. It can be far more efficient than other systems.”

He says the primary reason some people install electric heating systems is often that they cannot put a gas boiler into a property. The company has installed electric underfloor heating, too, but most often in bathrooms or conservatories, and not yet for a whole building. The preferred option for bigger installations tends to be wet underfloor heating, he adds.

Spring 2017 Connections

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THERMAL IMAGING

Warming up Image: Chauvin Arnoux

After years of high prices, falling costs now mean thermal imaging is a realistic proposition for every electrical contractor, making it easier to diagnose problems and identify hidden threats

By Rob Shepherd

A

lthough extensively used by the military and some emergency services, thermal imaging technology has traditionally been expensive, meaning the full scope of its potential in other sectors hasn’t been realised. That’s all beginning to change, though. Thanks to competitive pricing, many electrical contractors who had not even heard about this technology a few years ago now use thermal imaging cameras in their periodic inspection and troubleshooting activities.

“Previously, one would need to lay out several thousand pounds for a device and probably attend a thermography course,” says Julian Grant, general manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK. “However, they can now be purchased for several hundred pounds, which has put them in the reach of the contractor as a justifiable purchase.”

Fluke’s EMEA thermography services support manager Sat Sandhu says that such technology now gives a clear return on investment. “Thermal imagers pay for themselves easily, as they can detect faults which, left undetected, may lead to catastrophic damage and failures,” he says. “Around 10-20 per cent of all non-residential fires are caused by electrical distribution equipment. For the electrical contractor, the main advantage is finding potential faults quickly and safely, allowing them to be proactively fixed, resulting in reduced downtime and increased customer satisfaction.”

Hunting hotspots Thermal imaging cameras produce live images of the heat emitted from equipment. Everything emits infrared (IR) radiation and the hotter an object is, the more it emits. So, from the electrical contractor’s point of view, the camera can identify potentially faulty or overloaded equipment and circuits. The user simply points the thermal imager at the equipment in question, scans

the immediate area for unexpected hotspots, and then captures an image.

“Heat can be a symptom of a problem such as a loose connection, an overloaded circuit breaker, a corroded connection in a consumer unit, or even a failing transformer,” says Brent La Sala, digital marketing director at Seek Thermal. “With the ability to detect a heat signature, the contractor essentially has an extra set of eyes for diagnosing problems that might otherwise not have been visible. A thermal imaging camera helps a contractor to work safer, faster and smarter.”

A thermal imager interprets IR radiated or reflected heat by assigning a visible graduated colour or grey scale to an image. The colour palette highlights hotspots as white, with diminishing temperatures through red-orangeyellow-green-blue-indigo-violet to black – which is cold.

“Electrical contractors can instantly see the hotspot in the context of the overall system,” says Andy Baker, sales director, northern Europe, at Flir Systems. “This leads to quick diagnosis Connections Spring 2017

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THERMAL IMAGING

and allows any repair to be graded in line with its severity. A camera with an image resolution of 160x120 pixels provides 19,200 temperature readings at once, while one with 464x 348 pixels offers 161,472 measurement points.

More pixels equals greater image clarity and more effective problem diagnosis.”

A thermal imaging camera is also a useful tool for identifying concerns before they become real problems, helping with predictive maintenance. An electrical contractor can take thermal images of key units and compare them with those taken during a previous visit.

Any hotspots that weren’t there last time indicate problems in the making and can be investigated further. The software provided with the imager will help to align the images time after time, allowing consistent comparisons.

They can also add value by identifying other issues that otherwise may not be picked up. “Devices are available with a narrower field of view to get a closer look at objects outdoors or in environments you typically couldn’t physically be next to, such as overhead transformers or utility lines,” says La Sala. “They also allow you to show a customer there is physical evidence to make the repair and, once the work is done, how the problem was solved.”

Energy efficiency boost Another driving factor is the quest for energy efficiency. “A thermal camera is great for surveying locations that may be using energy inefficiently, perhaps because equipment is running hot or where space heating is used but the heat generated is escaping because of poor building insulation,” says Grant.

Products on the market range from lightweight handheld devices that fit easily in a tool belt to fully featured, highdefinition products. Some even employ a technology that integrates IR and visual in full screen or through picturein-picture views. This provides enhanced problem detection and analysis, so the user can quickly pinpoint and identify the exact area of concern. However, anyone looking to invest in a thermal imager needs to do their homework.

“Low-end troubleshooting cameras are great toolbox instruments, ideal for a quick scan for hotspots and for proving the fault has been repaired correctly,” says Baker. “If the camera is required to provide the information necessary for diagnosis of a broad variety of 32

Passing the test When self-employed electrician Gary Fisher was given the opportunity to ‘road test’ a Flir C2 thermal imaging camera, he saw it as a chance to see exactly how much value this device could add to his work.

“There’s no doubt that thermal imaging is coming more into what we do,” he says.

“Even before I tried the camera I knew it would be able to identify heat spots that would show up circuits using a lot more energy than elsewhere in the system.”

The C2 features MSX real-time image-enhancement technology to help identify problem locations more easily. “The opportunity to present the customer with a binder complete with thermal images that record and report findings is a mark of quality, and gives me a competitive edge,” he says.

The safety argument is also compelling, he adds. “One of the principal reasons that consumer units are made from metal is the fires that can occur because of loose connections building up heat points,” he says. “When performing an estimate, I can simply point it at the client’s consumer unit and provide clear proof that there is a possible danger that needs to be addressed.”

electrical faults, contractors should move up the range.

Ultimately, the two key factors to be considered when choosing the best model are clarity of image and operational safety.”

Grant, though, warns against spending too much on features that aren’t required.

“There are many cameras costing many thousands of pounds, but these are likely to be overkill for an electrical contractor’s needs,” he says. “More important is a product that is simple to use, ready to operate straight away to avoid wasting time, and won’t break when you drop it.”

Ease of use Using a thermal imager should not pose any problems for contractors, and most systems can be used straight out of the box. Most entry-level devices come with a user manual and some form of interactive training, and that’s usually all that’s needed to get started.

“Thermal imaging cameras are relatively easy and intuitive to use,”

‘The contractor essentially has an extra set of eyes for diagnosing problems that might otherwise not have been visible’

> Fluke’s TiS20 thermal imager says Sandhu. “While it would be possible to use a thermal imager without training, an understanding of IR technology would make use of the camera more effective, and reduce misinterpretation of the data in the images. There is a large variety of training options available and the number of courses is increasing.”

With insurance companies now offering discounts for organisations that have their electrical wiring checked during a periodic inspection via this method, the pressure from clients for contractors to use thermal imaging is set to grow. For contractors, it represents an excellent way to gain extra business and provide a higher-value offering to customers.

Louth-based NICEIC Approved Contractor Seymour & Castle has offered a thermal imaging surveying service for several years. “Surveys can be combined with standard periodic electrical inspection and testing services or conducted separately,” says company director Rafe Bateson. “Clients are given the flexibility to customise a survey programme to suit the individual requirements of their building or site.

We have found that this type of service is most suitable for clients where added value really is important.” » Rob Shepherd is a freelance business journalist specialising in the building services industry

Spring 2017 Connections

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully Charged From the helpline

We continue with our series of answers to some of the more frequently asked questions put to our Technical Helpline.

QUESTION

ANSWER

I have been asked to install a new consumer unit in an existing installation in a chalet-style house.

The current consumer unit is sited in the kitchen, but the client wants the new consumer unit moved into the roof-space. This roof-space is accessible via a full height door opening onto the upstairs hallway and the space within has floorboards and lighting fitted. Would this proposed location be an acceptable location for a consumer unit?

Yes. The proposed site meets the requirements of Regulation 132.12 for accessibility as it has a full height door, a floor and lighting.

However, wherever a loft-space contains electrical equipment such as a consumer unit or a solar PV inverter, or a gas central heating boiler, and irrespective of the Grade of system, BS 5839-6: 2013 recommends the installation of a smoke detector as part of an LD1 or LD2 fire alarm system (Section 11 of BS 5839-6: 2013 refers).

QUESTION

ANSWER

I am working on an installation forming part of a TT system but can’t find the earth electrode or its connection. I have conducted an Earth fault loop impedance test at the earthing terminal within the consumer unit which gave a reading of 50 Ω. Can I assume, because of this test result that the earthing arrangement for the property is acceptable?

No. Regulation 612.7 of BS 7671 requires the electrode resistance to Earth to be measured. Regulation 543.3.2 requires every joint and connection (other than one made by the methods listed in Regulation 526.3) in a protective conductor to be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance and Regulation 542.4.2 states that means should be provided in an accessible position to disconnect the earthing conductor to facilitate measurement of the resistance of the earthing arrangements.

Whilst the loop impedance value you are obtaining appears adequate for an installation forming part of a TT system, it is necessary to confirm that the resistance reading is that of an intentional – and reliable – connection (via the electrode) and not fortuitous through, say, connection to extraneous-conductive-parts via the protective bonding.

Connections Spring 2017

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12/04/2017 15:13

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged QUESTION

ANSWER

I’ve been asked to replace a consumer unit but because the new consumer unit is physically larger than the original this will mean that a gas pipe will be approximately 70 mm from it. Is it acceptable to locate the metal-cased consumer unit here?

There are no specific minimum clearance distances quoted in BS 7671. However, clause 8.4.2.1 of BS 6891: 2015 Specification for the installation and maintenance of low pressure gas installation pipework of up to 35 mm (R11⁄4) on premises states that: ‘Where installation pipework is not separated from electrical equipment or cables by an insulating enclosure, dividing barrier, trunking or conduit, it shall be spaced … at least 150 mm away from electricity supply equipment, such as metering equipment, main service cut-outs or supplier (main) isolation switches, and distribution boards or consumer units.’

It would be advisable to also apply these measures where electrical equipment is being installed in close proximity to gas pipework.

QUESTION

ANSWER

Is it permissible to convert an existing ‘cooker circuit’ in a domestic kitchen that is no longer used for that purpose to supply a number of 13 A BS 1363 socket-outlets?

Yes. It used to be the norm to provide a dedicated circuit for the supply to an electric cooker. When householders do not have an electric cooker it is quite common to use this ‘cooker circuit’ to supply socket-outlets: this is acceptable subject to all relevant requirements of BS 7671 being met. For a fuller discussion of converting a cooker circuit to supply socket-outlets see Issue 178 (Summer 2011) of Connections.

QUESTION

ANSWER

Is it acceptable to install a socket-outlet Yes. Electrical installations or parts thereof are often placed in close proximity to other or fused connection unit in a cupboard building services including plumbing and central heating. under a sink?

36

QUESTION

ANSWER

Is it a requirement to install isolators above a worktop for home laundry equipment, dishwashers and the like plugged into socket-outlets complying with BS 1363?

No, BS 7671 does not require that an individual means of isolation is provided for each appliance. However, isolators may be provided if requested by the client.

QUESTION

ANSWER

I am changing a consumer unit.

During the work a number of cables were found to be no longer in use.

What should be done with such redundant cables?

There is no specific requirement within BS 7671 to remove redundant or unused conductors or cables. However, where such cables are present in an installation measures must be taken to ensure that their presence does not introduce a danger.

To that end, it is recommended that any unused conductors are: • terminated into a connection block or similar within an enclosure at both ends, and • labelled clearly to indicate that they are not in use.

QUESTION

ANSWER

With reference to the question above, what recommendation code, if any, would be applicable if such unwanted cabling was identified during a periodic inspection?

The presence of unwanted conductors in itself does not warrant a recommendation code.

However, if there were conductors that were loose or not terminated in, say, a consumer unit this might present a possibility of their coming into contact with live parts therein.

As this would be a potentially dangerous condition, this would warrant a code C2.

Similarly, the absence of suitable circuit and/or conductor identification would warrant a code C3 recommendation.

Spring 2017 Connections

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12/04/2017 15:13

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged 38 Single-phase luminaires from three-phase lighting circuits 41 The notification of electrical work in England and Wales 44 Apprentice Corner: multiple choice questions on providing the electrical installation to a new caravan/camping park 49 Electrical installations in buildings with thatched roofs part 1

54 Electrical installations in buildings with thatched roofs part 2 56 Variable frequency drives part 4: the impact upon the electrical installation 60 Snags & Solutions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a practical guide to everyday electrical problems

Single-phase luminaires supplied from threephase lighting circuits Objective The purpose of this article is to provide guidance on existing lighting installations where single-phase luminaires have been supplied from a three-phase circuit. In particular, the requirements of BS 7671 that should be considered, before making an addition or alteration to such a circuit are discussed. This article is not an encouragement to install such designs.

L

ighting in three-phase 400 V installations, such as warehouses, supermarkets, factories, and the like is supplied, typically, from singlephase circuits which are distributed as evenly as possible across the phases.

However, the single-phase luminaires in some premises can sometimes, in accordance with the original design, be supplied by a three-phase

Fig 1 An existing three-phase circuit supplying groups of single-phase luminaires

R

Protective device

Y B

N

38

Lighting loads

circuit, using a common neutral conductor, as shown in Fig 1.

Where an alteration or addition is proposed to the circuit shown in Fig 1 such as, for example, where the existing luminaires are intended to be replaced with energy efficient types and/or a number of luminaires need to be added to the existing circuit, sufficient inspection and testing should be undertaken to verify the safety of the existing circuit before making any additions or alterations. In particular, the integrity of the common neutral conductor should be verified to confirm that the conductors of any other circuit cannot be indirectly energised (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stolenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; neutral) (Regulation 521.8.2 refers).

Circuit disconnection Where luminaires are divided across three phases using a common neutral, Regulation 559.5.5 requires that at least one device is provided so that all the line conductors of the circuit can be disconnected simultaneously. This may be achieved, for example, by the use of a triple-pole interlinked circuit-breaker installed at the distribution/lighting board (Fig 2 refers).

However, in some cases, the existing circuit may be protected by individual fuses within a distribution board that cannot accommodate a linked device. Where this is the case, a triple-pole isolator should be installed either adjacent to the distribution board and, if necessary, adjacent to the luminaires.

Where it is not already present, such a triplepole device should be selected in accordance with Table 53.4 of BS 7671 taking into account the requirements of Regulation Group 537.2.

Division of an installation Where a triple-pole circuit-breaker is used to protect a three-phase lighting circuit, a fault at a particular luminaire will result in the loss of all the luminaires connected to the circuit. Where a number of three-phase circuits have been used to supply the luminaires, the loss of one circuit may not cause any inconvenience. However, where all the luminaires in a particular area are supplied from an individual three-phase lighting

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fundamental line current then the csa of the neutral conductor may need to be increased (Regulation 523.6.3 refers).

Fig 2 Disconnection provided by a linked device

R

Linked protective device

Lighting loads

Installation of conductors Electromagnetic effects from incorrectly installed conductors of alternating current (a.c.) circuits can cause heat to be generated in ferromagnetic enclosures, such as steel conduit, trunking and or equipment housings.

Therefore, Regulation 521.5.1 of BS 7671 requires conductors to be arranged so that the line conductor(s) and the neutral conductor and the appropriate protective conductor of each circuit are contained within the same enclosure.

Where multicore cables are used to supply additional luminaires, the circuit arrangements of Regulation 521.8.1 should also be satisfied.

Y B

N

Identification of circuits and conductors circuit, this may not be the case. For such reasons, all additions should satisfy the requirements of Regulation Group 314.

The protective device(s) and the neutral should be arranged in such a way that the circuit can be easily identified (Regulation 514.8.1 refers), and information on the composition of each circuit should be provided at the distribution board in accordance with Regulation 514.9.1.

All new conductors should be identified according to the harmonised colours listed in Table 51 of BS 7671. Unambiguous identification must be provided at the interface of existing and new wiring colours, and a caution notice, as shown in Fig 3, should be fitted at the distribution board.

Where an additional luminaire(s) is added, the interface will be at the previous luminaire or lighting socket-outlet, so in addition to the distribution board a caution notice should be fitted at the luminaire or lighting socket-outlet (or on the trunking).

Cross-sectional area of the common neutral Before an addition is carried out on the circuit, it should be confirmed that the cross-sectional area of the circuit conductors, line conductors and common neutral, are adequately sized for compliance with Regulation 523.1, including the additional load and any harmonic currents generated.

It should be appreciated that due to the phase relationship, the current in the common neutral may be considerably lower than the current carried by each line conductor. Indeed, in the unlikely event that the line currents were perfectly balanced there would be no current in the neutral conductor. In view of this, where the existing line conductors have sufficient currentcarrying capacity to permit additions to the circuit then as long as the luminaires are equally divided across the phases the increase in neutral current should be negligible. As such, a common neutral conductor having a cross-sectional area (csa) of not less than that of the line conductors should be sufficient (Regulation 524.2.1 refers).

Although typically the installation of new luminaires will reduce the load currents, they may introduce harmonic currents. It should be noted, therefore, that the csa of the existing neutral conductor may not be sufficient if the harmonic current in the neutral is likely to exceed 33 % of the fundamental line current (Regulation 524.2.2 refers). Where it is determined that harmonic currents do exceed 33% of the

Summary

Fig 3 Warning of the presence of mixed wiring colours

As discussed in this article, where an addition or alteration is intended to an existing threephase lighting circuit it must be confirmed that the relevant safety requirements of BS 7671 are satisfied. In particular, those relating to the protection, disconnection and identification of both the existing circuit and the addition or alteration.

Connections Spring 2017

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged The notification of electrical work in England and Wales Objective The aim of this article is to remind contractors that when the range of electrical work requiring notification was reduced by the amendment to Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 (England & Wales) in 2013, the power to make building regulations in Wales was devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government. Therefore, these changes apply only to England1.

F

or the purposes of improving electrical safety in dwellings, Part P of the Building Regulations requires that the relevant Building Control Body is notified when certain ‘notifiable’

Fig 1 Part P applies to electrical safety in dwellings

electrical installation work is undertaken in England or Wales.

All building work is required to comply with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations, but for electrical installations deemed ‘notifiable’ under Part P, including extralow and low voltage installations, appropriate Building Regulations certification must be issued to the owner/occupier of the premises to confirm that the work complies with the relevant parts of the Building Regulations. Until recently, the scope of electrical work requiring such certification was the same irrespective of whether the work was undertaken in England or Wales, but since the amendment to Part P in 2013 this is no longer the case.

Note: Part P does not apply to separately metered electrical installations in business premises in the same building as a dwelling.

As a result of the 2013 amendment, some categories of electrical work for which notification had previously been required, such as those relating to kitchens and special installations, are no longer deemed notifiable in England but remain so in Wales. Therefore, where these differences in notification requirements are not carefully observed it may result in work being notified unnecessarily, or not being notified when it is required. For this reason, where electrical installation work is undertaken in a dwelling (or associated buildings or land) the guidance given in the relevant Approved Document P should be applied as follows: • England – work undertaken in England should be notified according to the 2013 edition of Approved Document P (for use in England1).

• Wales – for work undertaken in Wales, the 2006 edition of Approved Document P (incorporating 2010 amendments) remains applicable and so work in Wales should continue to be notified according to that document.

The Part P Approved Documents (ADs) and ADs covering other parts of the building regulations can be accessed or downloaded from: www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_ documents which provides separate search facilities for England and Wales.

Note: A separate online Building Regulations facility is now available for Wales at the following address: http://gov.wales/topics/planning/ buildingregs/?lang=en Irrespective of whether electrical work is undertaken in England or Wales, the relevant requirements of BS 7671 must be satisfied along with the applicable requirements of other parts of the building regulations, for which purpose the recommendations of other ADs should be applied where relevant.

Connections Spring 2017

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Approved Document P 2013 edition (for use in England1) In accordance with Paragraph 2.5 of the 2013 AD for use in England, where electrical work is carried out in a dwelling or its surroundings, notification must be provided for the following: • installation of a new circuit, • replacing a consumer unit, or • an addition or alteration to an existing circuit in a special location.

Special location For the purposes of the 2013 edition AD, a special location is a room containing a bath or shower, or a room containing a swimming pool or sauna heater. For a room containing a swimming pool or a sauna heater the special location applies to the whole room, whereas in a room containing a bath or shower the special location applies only to the zones as defined in Section 701 of BS 7671 and shown in Fig 2 (Paragraph 2.5 of Approved Document P: 2013 refers).

Notification is not required for an alteration or addition to an existing circuit outside a special location, and the list of special installations that were previously contained in Table 2 of the 2006 AD no longer apply. Therefore, some types of work that previously required notification, such as an addition to an existing circuit within a kitchen, are no longer deemed notifiable.

1 The guidance for compliance with the Building Regulations for building work carried out in England also applies to building work carried out on excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009.

Therefore, any reference to England in this article also includes excepted energy buildings in Wales.

2 A kitchen is defined in the Building Regulations as, ‘a room or part of a room which contains a sink and food preparation facilities’.

Approved Document P 2006 edition (including 2010 amendments) for use in Wales As Wales is not affected by the 2010 amendment Fig 2 The zones as detailed in Section 701 of BS 7671

Zone 1 Zone 2 0.6 m Outside Zone

Aspects common to England and Wales Many aspects concerning the notification of work remain common to both England and Wales, as already noted above. Some other aspects that remain common to both ADs also include: • Repairs and maintenance – notification is not required for work involving the replacement of equipment or accessories such as a, socket-outlet, switch, shower unit or cooker, irrespective of whether carried out in a special location or a kitchen.

• Detached Garage – a detached garage or a shed or conservatory is not a special location, so work within such locations is only notifiable if a new circuit is installed.

• Additions and alterations to existing electrical installations – where an addition or alteration is carried out the new work must satisfy the current requirements of the Building Regulations.

However, there is no obligation to upgrade the existing installation to meet current standards unless the new work adversely affects the safety of the existing installation or cannot be operated safely. Nevertheless, before an addition or alteration is undertaken, compliance with the requirements of Regulation 132.16 of BS 7671 must be confirmed.

Summary

2.25 m

Zone 0

42

to Part P, the types of work requiring notification remains unchanged. Consequently, more categories of electrical work require notification in Wales than in England. All works requiring notification in England also need to be notified when carried out in Wales, but for the reverse scenario this is not the case. In Wales, for example, extensions to circuits in kitchens and those associated with special installations remain notifiable works. For an open plan area the zone of a kitchen2 extends 3 m from the edge of the sink or to a dividing wall where nearer.

It should be noted that while a room containing a bath or shower is defined as a special location in both ADs, the definition for the location is not the same. For work in Wales, the special location is defined by the walls and not by the zones contained in Section 701 of BS 7671.

Building regulations along with other types of regulations, such as BS 7671, are subject to change, so as discussed in this article, contractors need to ensure that they are familiar with the current requirements. In the case of building regulations, should any doubt exist regarding the notification of work, the relevant building authority should be consulted.

Spring 2017 Connections

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Apprentice Corner The focus of Apprentice Corner in this issue of Connections is the Residual Current Device (RCD).

The RCD has become an indispensable protective device, selected to provide fault protection, additional protection and, in certain circumstances, protection against fire. RCDs are widely used and, therefore, it is necessary for electricians to have a sound understanding of this type of protective device.

T

able 1 shows a small sample of where RCDs are used. For a complete listing please refer to Table 3.1 in A Short Guide to RCDs produced by Certsure LLP (Nov 2015).

Operation of an RCD An RCD is defined in Part 2 of BS 7671 as being a mechanical switching device designed to open

1 Pronounced I delta n.

Unlike other overcurrent protective devices which have a set current rating of In, the RCD includes the symbol Δ (IΔn). This means the device will only operate when it detects an imbalance or change in current flow between the line and neutral conductors.

a set of contacts when the residual current (IΔn)1 reaches a given value. With reference to a single-phase RCD, the residual current refers to the difference between the current that is flowing in the line conductor compared to the current flowing in the neutral conductor under fault conditions. Under normal healthy conditions the current in the line conductor is equal to that in the neutral conductor; the main coils are configured in a manner that any magnetic field induced within the line coil is cancelled out by that induced by the neutral coil. No magnetic field is induced and the coil is balanced.

Under conditions where there is a difference in the current flowing in the line and neutral conductors, such as fault to earth conditions, an imbalance is created which causes a magnetic circuit to be set up in the core. This magnetic field is sensed by a search coil causing a current to flow. This current is amplified and fed to a relay which in turn operates the main contacts (Fig 1 refers). It must be understood that the current breaking ability of the main contacts is not related to the residual operating current value.

Table 1 Examples of the situations where BS 7671 requires RCD protection to be provided Application

Requirement

Guidance on the RCD to be used

Regulation No. (BS 7671)

General purpose socket-outlets

Socket-outlets not exceeding 20 A to be RCD protected, unless omission of RCD is permitted

30 mA*

411.3.3

Mobile equipment at not more than 32 A for outdoor use

RCD protection is required

30 mA*

411.3.3

Cables concealed in walls or partitions, less RCD protection is required than 50 mm deep and not mechanically protected or have earthed sheath

30 mA*

522.6.202

Rooms containing a bath or shower

All low voltage circuits serving the location and passing through Zone 1 and/or Zone 2 not serving the location, to have RCD protection

30 mA*

701.411.3.3

Agricultural/Horticultural premises

Socket-outlets not exceeding 32 A Socket-outlets exceeding 32 A

30 mA* 100 mA

705.411.1 705.411.1

Caravan parks

Socket-outlet for pitch

30 mA*, multi-pole device

708.553.1.13

Caravans/motor caravans

Where Automatic Disconnection of Supply (ADS) is used RCD to be employed

30 mA*, interrupting all live conductors

721.411.1

*The RCD should have a rated residual operating current (IΔn) not exceeding 30 mA and an operating time not exceeding 40 ms at a residual operating current of 5 IΔn (Regulation 415.1).

44

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Table 2 Requirements for measuring the operating times of RCDs used for fault protection General purpose RCDs and RCBOs to BS EN 61008 and BS EN 61009 Instrument test setting

Satisfactory Result

50 % of rated residual operating current (IΔn)

The device should not trip

100 % of rated residual operating current (IΔn)

The device should open in a time less than 300 ms

Time delay (type-S) RCDs and RCBOs to BS EN 61008 and BS EN 61009

Testing RCDs Where an RCD is used for fault protection, additional protection or protection against fire, during initial verification and periodic inspection

Instrument test setting

Satisfactory Result

50 % of rated residual operating current (IΔn)

The device should not trip

100 % of rated residual operating current (IΔn)

The device should open in a time between 130 ms and 500 ms

2 The operation of the trip circuit is dependent upon the voltage created in the core set up by the imbalance between line and neutral conductor currents under fault conditions.

and testing, it should be confirmed that the RCD operates satisfactorily (Chapter 61 BS 7671 refers).

For a more detailed explanation on how to perform testing of RCDs, refer to the guide; Inspection, Testing & Certification produced and published by Certsure LLP.

Fig 1 Typical RCD with its internal circuitry Main contacts

Signal processor

Main coils

Magnetic circuit

L

L

80 A 6000

Trip coil

Test push

Supply I∆n 100 mA Un 230V-

Load

R N N

The details on the front show this particular RCD to be a time delayed 100 mA device.

Search coil

E The essential components of a voltage dependent RCD2

Connections Spring 2017

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Scenario (c) Cables installed underground at a depth of at least 1.0 m (d) Cables installed overhead at a height not more than 6 m 4. The pitch socket-outlets must have a current and IP rating of: (a) At least 16 A with a protection rating of at least IP4X (b) At least 10 A with a protection rating of at least IP45 (c) At least 16 A with a protection rating of at least IP54 (d) At least 16 A with a protection rating of at least IP44 5. Except where the caravan park is in an area liable to flooding and/or heavy snowfall, each pitch socket-outlet should be mounted at a height: (a) Between 0.5 m to 1.0 m (b) Between 0.5 m to 1.5 m (c) Greater than 1.5 m (d) In line with the caravan inlet socket 6. The operating time of the RCDs shall be verified using a suitable test instrument.

What tests are to be applied to the 30 mA and 100 mA devices? (a) ½x, 1x and 5x for the 30 mA device; ½x, 1x and 5x for the 100 mA device (b) ½x, 1x and 5x for the 30 mA; operating the test button only for the 100 mA (c) ½x, 1x and 5x for the 30 mA device; ½x and 1x for the 100 mA device (d) None required other than operating the test button for both devices.

Your company has won the contract to provide the electrical installation to a new caravan/camping park having a capacity for 40 pitches, each providing an electric hook-up. The existing supply is 3-phase 400 V and the supply is PME. The supply is fed into a building which is going to be converted to be the main office.

Contractor’s considerations The contractor will need to consider the requirements of Regulation 132.16 and ascertain whether the existing supply has the capacity for the increased loading of 40 hook-ups. Further considerations for the contractor would be: • How the cables to the pitches are to be run; overhead or underground.

• Where the conversion from PME to TT is to take place. This can be at the supply end or the pitch end.

• If series connected RCDs are necessary, how will the discrimination between them be satisfied?

• To determine what type of caravan park it is; such as a holiday park, a touring site or a residential site. This might have an impact on the supply arrangements and the positioning of the caravan pitch socket-outlets. Furthermore, if a site is solely for residential purposes, then it is not covered by section 708.

Multiple-choice questions The answers to the questions below are given in this issue along with some additional explanations where necessary.

1. Where the supply to a caravan park is PME, a TT system of earthing must be provided for the supply to: (a) The office building (b) The pitch socket-outlets (c) The shower room and toilets (d) The underground cables 2. The conversion from PME to TT for the caravan supply is to be made at the supply end.

What RCD, if any, is to be fitted at that location? (a) At least 500 mA incorporating a time delay (b) At least 30 mA general purpose RCD (c) At least 100 mA incorporating a time delay (d) An RCD is not required at this position 3. Which method of distribution to the pitch socket-outlets does BS 7671 state a preference for? (a) Cables installed underground at a depth of at least 0.6 m (b) Cables installed overhead at a height not less than 6 m 46

Answers on page 52

Spring 2017 Connections

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11/04/2017 09:43

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged

Objective The objective of these two articles is to consider what measures are necessary to ensure that cables and other installed equipment do not suffer damage when a roof is being thatched or maintained, and what type of fire detection should be employed in the loft space below a thatched roof.

This is the first of two articles in this edition of Connections, written with the assistance of Charles Chalcraft1, that look at factors that must be taken into consideration to ensure that an electrical installation within the loft space of a building with a thatched roof, or in close proximity to the thatch does not pose a risk of fire.

Considerations when planning an electrical installation When considering what type of wiring system to employ, and what electrical equipment to install in a thatched roof, the designer must ensure that the electrical installation is suitable for the environmental conditions likely to be present in accordance with the requirements of Section 522.

1 Charles Chalcraft, now a thatch consultant, has been a thatcher since 1986. A member of the National Society of Master Thatchers and the Residential Property Surveyors Association, he also carries out surveys of properties, specialising in those with thatched roofs and older buildings.

Fig 1a Ineffective use of plastic mini trunking to provide additional protection of cables. Any wiring system should be properly and fully installed

The electrical installation Although there may be no evidence of the presence or activity of fauna at the time electrical installation work is being carried out, it is always possible that a thatched roof may become a home to rodents at some time during the life of the installation. For this reason, it is recommended that a wiring system is employed that offers some degree of additional protection against gnawing activity beyond the cable’s PVC or low smoke halogen free (LSHF) insulation and sheathing. The following might be appropriate for use for example: • Mineral insulated cable • Steel wire armoured cable • Conductors installed in metallic trunking/conduit.

There is some evidence that the use of high impact PVC trunking or conduit may provide a sufficient degree of protection against damage

Fig 1b PVC served mineral insulated cable installation utilising steel adaptable boxes in a thatched roof space.

Note the signs of rodent damage to the gland shrouds

Connections Spring 2017

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The images in this article are reproduced with the kind permission of Charles Chalcraft

Electrical installations in loft spaces of buildings with thatched roofs 1

Factors that must be considered include: • the likely presence of rodents – mice, rats, dormice or squirrels can damage cables by gnawing (especially in the winter months) • accumulation of flammable dust and particles originating from the thatch falling on top-facing surfaces, particularly where downlights have been installed into ceilings.

Consideration must also be given to the likelihood of mechanical damage from outside the roof during thatching caused by either the fixings used to secure the thatch to the roof frame or access equipment and sharp tools used whilst re-thatching is underway.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 2 Plastic conduit installation fixed inboard of thatch

Fig 3 Examples of likely causes of mechanical damage.

Top, thatching needle; centre, thatching needle protruding through thatch; bottom, thatching spars

by mice and dormice. However, it is unlikely to be sufficient to prevent significant damage by rats or squirrels. Where PVC trunking or conduit is employed, careful consideration should also be given to its location as it will not, of itself, offer sufficient protection of cables from damage by thatching needles and spars (refer Fig 2).

Any wiring system should be suitably sealed to prevent the ingress of solid particles and materials and to prevent small animals from nesting in the equipment. It is particularly important in a thatched roof to ensure that lids are properly secured on all joint and conduit boxes and that, for example, where luminaires are mounted into ceilings these have fully enclosed terminal boxes.

Co-axial television aerial and satellite system cables should also be protected. Wherever possible, such cables should run down end gable walls and not be fed through the fabric of the thatch.

The fixings used when thatching can be anywhere between 150 mm to 450 mm in length – long enough to pass all the way through the thatched roof – and are typically affixed with sufficient force to cause significant damage to any parts of the electrical installation with which they come into contact (refer Fig 3). It is therefore recommended that, wherever possible, protected wiring systems should run along the centre of the loft – where cables will be away from physical damage by the thatcher – and away from rodents, that tend to travel near to the walls.

If there is no alternative, protected cables can be fitted on the inside surface of the purlins but the cable runs should not be fixed to rafters.

Downlighters should not be installed into loft ceilings below a thatched roofspace.

Where existing downlighters are encountered so located, the property owner should be advised that they should be: • replaced by fully enclosed ‘fire-rated’ type downlighters, or • at least covered over by proprietary insulation displacement covers placed between the joists.

In either case this will provide improved protection from dust ingress and mechanical damage for the luminaires.

In the absence of more specific information the minimum distances stated in Regulation 422.3.1 of BS 7671, as appropriate to the rating of the lamp, should be observed between a luminaire and the combustible material - in this case the thatch. There have been cases where the fixings of halogen exterior floodlights have failed allowing the light to turn over and point towards the thatch, setting it alight.

It should be noted that the guidance issued by Connections Spring 2017

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 4 Improvised hoods over downlighters and their control gear. Main body is plastic soil pipe with louvered vent panel resting on top of the pipe directing heat toward the thatch. The use of proprietary hoods or insulation displacement devices is recommended

Dorset Building Control Technical Committee for thatched buildings – ‘The Dorset Model’ – makes the following recommendations with respect to lighting: • lighting should not be installed recessed into ceilings below thatch • any light fittings within the roof space should be of the fully enclosed, bulkhead type • external floodlights should not be located under the eaves of the thatch.

It should also be noted that it is not recommended to install central heating boilers within the loft of a thatched property.

Contractor’s considerations

Apprentice Corner answers

The property was built in the period of the 14th Edition of the IEE Regulations, and adapted for HMO use in the period of 15th Edition of the IEE 1. Correct option is (b) Wiring Regulations The 15th Edition introduced many changes the requirements for earthing The Electricity Supply, Quality andto Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) and bonding additional prohibit the connection of a PMEand supply to any shock metalprotection work in a in the formvehicle of residual current devices (RCDs). With the leisure accommodation (caravan). change of use touse an HMO, such Note. BS 7671 does not preclude the of TN-S aschanges a supplymight to a be seen inthe thecaravan property. caravan. However, where supply is derived from a In England and Wales, circuit PME system, then the caravan supply has to installing be part ofaanew TT system in an HMOto falls within scopeelectrode. of Part P of the having a separate connection Earth via the an earth 2. Correct option is (c) Building Regulations for England and Wales. For Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Regulation 531.2.9 states that where there are two or more verifi RCDscation compliance with the appropriate sections connected in series,of the characteristics of the devices shall be such ofachieved. their own This Building be mA that discrimination is can Regulations be achievedmust by a 100 undertaken.

RCD having a deliberate time-delayed function.

3. Correct option is (a) The proposed installation of a shower circuit into bedsitting room will re-classify the area as a ‘room The note to 708.521.1arefers 4. Correct option is (d) containing a bath or shower’ and the requirements of Section 701 – Locations Regulations 708.553.1.10 and 708.553.1.8 refercontaining a bath or 5. Correct option is (b) a shower will amend some of the installation decisions to be made.

Regulation 708.553.1.9 does permit the mounting height to exceed The contractor will to consider the 1.5 m in special cases where there may beneed severe environmental of Regulation 132.16 and ascertain issues such as risk ofrequirements flooding or heavy snowfall.

6. Correct option is (c) whether it is actually feasible to add a shower circuit The 30 mA device provides both shock protection and additional protection and therefore requires the 5x test. The 100 mA device is providing shock protection only and does not require verification at 5x the rated residual current test.

The NICEIC and ELECSA publishing team Tim Benstead, principal technical author Tim worked in contracting and maintenance prior to spending some 16 years as a lecturer. He began working for the Electrical Safety Council in 2006 as a senior engineer.

Mike Burling, senior engineer A former JIB technician, Mike had his own NICEICregistered electrical contracting business before becoming a college tutor and NVQ assessor. He now works as a senior engineer.

Derek Cooney, technical author Derek is a time-served electrician who spent many years electrical contracting on domestic, commercial and industrial installations before becoming a college lecturer. He joined NICEIC as a technical operations engineer in 2009.

Alex Whitworth, technical illustrator Alex has been a professional designer and illustrator for 15 years, working on projects including fashion advertising, book publishing and even cigar packaging.

Chris Long, technical engineer Chris is a gas professional responsible for providing a technical overview of all gas-related articles and publications. He lives in Hampshire with his family and outside of work is a motorbike nut.

52

Terry Bratley, technical author Terry is a time-served electrician who worked on domestic, commercial and industrial installations.

He then taught BTEC and HNC courses before joining Certsure.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Thatched roofs and fire risk

Electrical installations in loft spaces of buildings with thatched roofs 2 Objective The objective of these two articles is to consider what measures are necessary to ensure that cables and other installed equipment do not suffer damage when a roof is being thatched or maintained and what type of fire detection should be employed in the loft space below a thatched roof.

This article, written with the assistance of Charles Chalcrafti, looks at factors that must be taken into consideration to ensure that an electrical installation within the loft space of a building with a thatched roof, or in close proximity to the thatch does not pose a risk of fire.

This the second of the two articles, and recognises that as fires inside thatched roofs can be problematic for the fire services to deal with, fire protection of the loft space must be discussed.

Fig 1 Smoke detector installed in roof space of a thatched roof.

Cables are protected by steel conduit with the detector so placed to minimise the risk of damage from thatching needles, thatching spars, screw wires and spiked access equipment.

54

Thatched roofs are vulnerable to fire from a range of ignition sources including those emanating from a damaged or inadequate electrical installation. Whilst the materials used to construct a thatched building are flammable, a well laid roof in good condition is not that susceptible to ignition. The severity of a thatch fire is controlled by the availability of oxygen.

When thatch is applied to a roof it is densely packed and well secured to the roof framing.

Just as a tightly rolled newspaper will be more difficult to light than a loose sheet so it is for thatch. In short, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;healthyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thatched roof is likely to smoulder rather than blaze.

Fire detection As mentioned previously in the first article, thatch is designed to throw water off so it can be difficult for fire services to deal with fires within a loft space. This makes early detection of a fire within the loft of a thatched building particularly important.

Within BS 5839-6: 2013,1 indent g) of clause 11.2 recommends that in Category LD12 systems, detectors should be located and sited in circulation areas and heat or smoke detectors (as appropriate) should be sited in all rooms and other areas of the premises, including lofts.

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This is supported by the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dorset Modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which recommends the installation of a domestic mains and battery-powered, interlinked smoke alarm system with one smoke alarm sited in the roof void.

It is important that the fire alarm system is so arranged that the triggering of a detector in the roof space raises the alarm throughout the rest of the premises. One way of achieving this would be to interlink all detectors in the dwelling.

Clause 7.1 of BS 5839-6 recommends that where Grade D, Grade E and Grade F systems3 are employed, if more than one smoke alarm is installed, the smoke alarms normally need to be interlinked and that heat alarms also need to be interlinked to smoke alarms. It is a requirement in Scotland for all smoke and heat alarms in a dwelling to be interconnected (Section 2.11.9 of the Scottish domestic technical handbook refers).

In the case of lofts of thatched roofs, it is further recommended that detectors are mounted to a horizontal batten fixed across the roof below the ridge with the supply cable attached to a vertical timber with the interconnecting wiring run in

1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Part 6: Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises 2 Within BS 5839-6: 2013, a category LD1 system is defined as a system installed throughout the premises, incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all rooms and areas in which fire might start, other than toilets, bathrooms and shower rooms 3 Section 7 of BS 5839-6: 2013 describes grades of system

the centre of the loft. The smoke detectors also need to be accessible so that they can be cleaned regularly. In all cases, the mounting heights recommended by the manufacturer should be taken into consideration.

BS 5839-6 also recommends that in areas likely to have significant quantities of dust (such as loft spaces) an ionization chamber smoke detector should be used in preference to an optical smoke detector (Clause 12.2 g) of that standard refers).

A fire risk assessment for a property with a thatched roof may also specify the installation of chimney heat monitors and automatic fire extinguisher systems. i Charles Chalcraft, now a thatch consultant, has been a thatcher since 1986. A member of the National Society of Master Thatchers and the Residential Property Surveyors Association, he also carries out surveys of properties, specialising in those with thatched roofs and older buildings.

The images in this article are reproduced with the kind permission of Charles Chalcraft.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Variable frequency drives Part 4: The impact variable speed drives have upon the electrical installation Objective The objective of this article is to highlight the potential impact variable speed drives have upon an electrical installation. The particular focus will be on the earthing and bonding requirements, the effects of electromagnetic compatibility with other currentusing equipment, and the necessity for maintaining segregation. The article will also mention the requirements for isolation and switching.

Introduction This article is the final one of four, and describes in general terms how variable frequency drives should be installed. However, when dealing with a particular drive the recommendations in the manufacturers’ instructions should be taken into account.

Previous articles described the advantages of using variable frequency drives (VFDs) including, amongst other things, substantial energy savings, limiting the starting current, giving smooth starting and stopping, and a wide range of non-standard speeds; they can also provide regenerative breaking1. However,

VFDs do have a high initial cost, are a source of harmonic currents, and in some instances need a special type of RCD. Furthermore, because of the increased current flow due to the harmonics, extra care is needed when selecting overcurrent protective devices.

There are three main stages to a VFD installation, as can be seen in Fig 1. This article will consider each stage in turn.

• Supply to the VFD from a distribution board or a motor control centre.

• The installation of the VFD, whether it is free standing or mounted into a cabinet.

• The supply to the motor and any other control cables as required.

Supply to the VFD from a distribution board or a motor control centre Adequate arrangements should be made to provide a means of isolation for the VFD circuit (Regulation 537.2.1.1 refers). There is no particular requirement regarding the position of the isolator; however, where the means of isolation is remote from the equipment, provision shall be made so that the means of isolation can be secured in the off position (Regulation 537.2.1.5 refers).

The cable used to supply the VFD circuit should be adequate for the current rating of the load including any harmonics present (Section 523 refers).

Typically, VFD units require a 3-phase supply cable with a protective earth conductor2, which can be incorporated in the supply cable or run separately. A neutral conductor is not normally necessary and is usually not brought to the VFD unit.

Preferably, the power supply cable should be laid in a metal duct or run on cable ladder and

Fig 1 Block diagram of a motor control system Distribution board/ Motor Control Centre (MCC)

Emergency stop button

External control signals

Variable frequency drive

Motor (3-phase) Local isolator

Motor supply cable

Supply cable to VFD !

!

Isolator

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Fig 2 Four different earthing options at the VFD and motor depending upon the type of cable used Supply

VFD Unit E

VFD Unit

L1 L2 L3 U

V

W

E

Supply

Supply

Supply

VFD Unit

L1 L2 L3 U

V

E

L1 L2 L3

VFD Unit

U

E

V

W

L1 L2 L3 U V

W

W

Separate protective conductor L1 L3 V U E

L1 L3

W

V

L2

U E

E

W

V

M3~ L2

V

U

Separate protective conductor

W

E

Concentric Cu-Shield

M3~

Concentric Al/Cu-shield

shielded in some way to reduce the radiation of electro-magnetic (EM) fields due to the harmonic currents. Steel wire armoured (SWA) cables are particularly suitable for this purpose.

Induced signals (noise) can produce erratic drive behaviour that is very difficult to troubleshoot. To reduce this effect, it is sensible for power cables, both supply and motor feed cables, not to be in close proximity with the control and communications cables. This is especially important where the cables share the same cable management system (Regulation 444.6.1 and the informative annex A444.4 refer).

Installation of the VFD and emergency switching Due to the risk of condensation forming on the electronic printed circuit boards, the VFD unit needs to be installed in a location where it does not suffer from excessive fluctuations in ambient temperature.

Typical industry practice is to use a low level of IP rating, such as IP303, for equipment such as VFDs mounted within another enclosure. This is particularly important when the surrounding environment may be subject to corrosive elements or where there is a likelihood of ingress of dust and water through normal working operations. However, placing VFDs into an enclosure may increase the ambient temperature.

If higher ambient temperatures are expected the manufacturer should be consulted and derating of the VFD may be required as there is a risk of premature failure of the electronic components.

Where a VFD is to be mounted without an enclosure, the environmental conditions need to

1 Regenerative breaking is when the motor goes into reverse mode, causing it to run backwards, thus slowing the driven load. Whilst running backwards, the motor is acting as a generator producing electricity that is then fed back to the supply.

2 There are single-phase arrangements for smaller installations.

3 IP30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Protection from solid objects approximately 2.5 mm in size; however, it also denotes no protection at all against liquids.

4 There are some control circuits that may operate at higher voltages than this, say 115 V.

M3~

L1

L1 L3

L2

W

U E

M3~

L3

L2

Steel wire armouring

Steel wire armouring

be considered so that a VFD having the correct degree of protection is selected.

Control cables Very often, external control signals are used to start/stop and control the speed of a VFD (see Fig 1). It is not unusual to have 24 V control circuit for start commands and a 4-20 mA or 0-5 V d.c. signal for speed control4. It is essential that the cables for these control signals be run independently of each other as well as separate from any power wiring, and comply with the cross-sectional area requirements of Regulation 557.4.1.

Earthing VFDs For safe and dependable operation, all VFD units are required to be properly earthed. This is not only to protect against shock risk in the event of an earth fault, but to provide a low impedance path for the high frequency leakage currents that are induced into the earthing system. Fig 2 shows a number of options available for earthing and bonding depending upon the manufacturer guidance and the type of cable used to supply the motor. Two examples of approved cable types are shown in Fig 3.

In each case the earth terminal in the VFD unit should be connected back to the system earth bar, usually located in the distribution board. This connection should provide a low impedance path back to Earth.

Emergency stop control To remove an unexpected danger, emergency switching is required to be provided where it is necessary to control the supply Connections Spring 2017

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 3 Sample of cables used to supply VFD units.

This cable has 6 conductors in total: 3 phase conductors and 3 individual green/yellow conductors.

The inner screen is made up with an aluminium tape covered in a PET6 foil surrounded by tinned copper braid.

(Regulation 537.4.1.1 refers). With motor circuits, it has to be determined what sort of ‘stop’, if any, is required in an emergency. Interrupting the power supply on large motors that are driving loads having large inertial energy is not going to cause a rapid stop. Note 2 to Regulation 537.4.2.2 suggests that emergency stopping may include the retention of supply for the purpose of bringing a motor to a controlled stop with the aid of electric braking.

Motor supply and local isolation The cabling between the VFD and motor must be selected with care. It requires more design consideration than simply selecting a cable with sufficient current capacity so that the power supply to the motor is able to meet the torque requirements and satisfy the voltage-drop constraints. The reasons for these additional considerations are varied and complex, and outside the scope of this article, but include: • Signal noise from high frequency, • Common mode current (current noise), and • Reflected wave voltage.

The VFD output cable differs from the supply cable in that it carries a switched PWM5 current.

This current is modulated at high frequency and produces harmonic currents in the frequency range of 10 kHz to 30 MHz which is in the radio frequency interference (RFI) spectrum (>100 kHz). Because of the potential for electromagnetic interference, cables providing screening should be selected, or failing that installed inside an earthed metal conduit or trunking. If the high frequency current can leak past the cable screening, interference with nearby electrical equipment may occur.

The motor supply cable needs to be as short as possible and have a low value of impedance.

58

This cable has 4 conductors in total: 3 phase conductors and a green/yellow conductor.

The inner screen is made up with Al/ PET metallised film surrounded by tinned copper braid.

It has a black inner sheath surrounded by steel wire armouring.

5 PWM – Pulse width modulation. This was described in the first article of the series (Issue 198). Adjusting the PWM voltage varies the motor speed.

6 PET – Polyethylene terephthalate; is a thermoplastic polymer having good insulation with high tensile strength. Used with aluminium foil to create a metallised film, this gives excellent magnetic shielding properties.

When the conductor impedances are low, maximum power is transferred from the VFD to the motor to do useful work, with only a small amount of energy radiated out.

A longer cable has the potential to radiate more EMI into the buildings earthing system and, where there is a mismatch between the motor impedance and the cable impedance, an increased risk of generating a reflected wave voltage. This may lead to a standing wave which has the potential of significantly increasing the voltage. Such a situation would lead to an increased probability of either motor or drive failure.

To limit the effects of radiated signals it is essential for the leakage currents to return to the source (VFD) via the shortest route, which is by the cable screen itself. Both the braiding and/or the armouring should be connected to the earthing terminal at the VFD and motor as shown in Fig 2. It would be wise to consult the manufacturer prior to selecting a particular cable type.

Cables with a trefoil configuration, such as those shown in Fig 3, produce a lower radiated EM field than those installed in earthed conduit; for this reason cables in earthed conduit should be avoided if possible for use as a motor feed.

Switching off for mechanical maintenance Regulation 537.3.1.1 requires that a means shall be provided for isolating a supply where mechanical maintenance may involve physical injury.

Typically, this is met by a device being placed close to an item of current using equipment such as a motor.

Summary Installing a variable frequency drive system requires careful planning and design. It is essential that manufacturers’ are consulted prior to the design and installation of such drives, otherwise there is the potential to do harm to the VFD and have levels of unwanted interference in the drive system as to make the VFD inoperable.

Cables feeding the VFD and motor should be properly earthed at each end unless the lengths of runs are excessive. If longer cables are necessary, motor filters may be necessary to reduce the leakage current.

Control cables must be segregated from power cables to prevent unwanted noise being induced.

Devices that permit switching off for mechanical maintenance should be under the control of skilled person as inadvertently opening them when the VFD is in operation can lead to disastrous results and possible damage to the VFD.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Snags & Solutions A practical guide to everyday electrical problems Now updated to Amendment No 3 of BS 7671 ‘Snags & Solutions’, NICEIC’s problem solving books, are now available in five parts, and cover many commonly-encountered electrical installation problems. All parts have been updated, where appropriate, to take account of the requirements of Amendment No 3 to BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which was published on 1st January 2015.

Part 1 of Snags & Solutions addresses 53 problems relating to earthing and bonding. Part 2 covers 55 problems relating to wiring systems. Part 3 covers 52 problems relating to inspection and testing.

Parts 4 and 5, which have recently been introduced, cover 50 problems relating emergency lighting and 48 problems relating to domestic fire detection and alarm systems, respectively.

The books are available from NICEIC Direct.

To give an indication of the value of these books, a snag and solution is being covered in each issue of Connections. This issue addresses a snag from Part 2 – Wiring systems, relating to PVC cables coming in to contact with polystyrene.

snags and solutions

snags and solutions

snags and solutions

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Part 1

earthing and bonding 5th Edition

Amd 3: 2015

Thermoplastic (Pvc) plasticiser Thermoplastic (Pvc) cables should not be allowed to come into contact with polystyrene.

Snag 2 The sheath of a thermoplastic and insulated sheathed cable can become sticky and soft to the touch, and eventually becomes hard and brittle, if installed where it is in contact with expanded polystyrene.

Solution To comply with the requirements of the Regulations, contact between thermoplastic cable sheaths and polystyrene must

snags and solutions A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

snags and solutions A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Part 2

wiring systems

Part 4

3rd Edition

4th Edition

Emergency Lighting

BS 5266-1:

Amd 3: 2015 Amd 3: 2015

Part 5

to BS 5266 series 2nd Edition

Amd 3: 2015

2011

2nd Edition Amd 3: 2015

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be avoided by design, or cable sheaths must be separated from polystyrene by an inert barrier such as non-metallic conduit or trunking.

Thermoplastic (PVC) cables suffer few defects and, provided they are correctly selected and carefully installed, will give reliable service.

Expanded polystyrene is sometimes used to insulate lofts and other parts of buildings, either in sheets or in granular form.

Unmodified pvc is a hard, brittle material and is used, in this form, to fabricate plastic conduit and trunking. However, the pvc compounds used in cables contain a plasticiser, an oily organic liquid, in order to make them flexible.

Unfortunately, the plasticiser can migrate when in contact with expanded polystyrene. This process of migration is accelerated by heat arising from the passage of current down the cable, defects such as overloading or loose connections or high ambient temperatures such as may occur in a loft. As the plasticiser migrates, the sheath of a thermoplasticsheathed cable initially becomes sticky and soft to the touch and,eventually, becomes hard and brittle.

Regulation 522.5.3 Materials liable to cause mutual or individual deterioration or hazardous degradation shall not be placed in contact with each other..

Meet the helpline If you have ever telephoned our technical helpline, you may wonder who the voices are on the other end of the line.

John O’Neill, technical engineering manager Industry experience: Owned and operated a large electrical systems integrator, electrical design consultant and lecturer in electrical engineering. More recently an NICEIC area engineer, supporting contractors through the assessment process.

Sam Donaghy, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: More than 35 years’ experience in the electrical industry, working predominantly in automation and control. Most recently he was a further education college tutor, working with Level 3, HNC and HND apprentices.

Stuart McHugh, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: More than 48 years in the electrical industry, including a six-year apprenticeship, industrial commercial domestic and street-lighting work.

Duncan McFarlane, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Time-served electrician, working on domestic, commercial, industrial and petrochemical installations. Electrical clerk of works, electrical surveyor, lecturer and NVQ assessor.

Norman Bradshaw, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Electrician for 23 years, working as an Approved Contractor, assisting new electricians in gaining Part P registration and working in partnership with local building control departments.

Mark Cooper, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Approved electrician with more than 30 years’ experience, mainly in heavy industrial and commercial installations. Also a qualified NVQ assessor.

Richard Atkins, technical standards engineer Industry experience: More than 46 years’ experience in the electrical industry working in the manufacturing sector.

Area engineer for over 13 years.

Mark Barnes-Rider, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Fourteen years as an Approved Contractor. More recently worked in the social housing sector as an electrical compliance manager.

Call the technical helpline on 0333 015 6628. Got a legal query? Call our legal helpline free on 0117 934 2111

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Product Focus Ellis

Hultafors

Ellis has developed a bespoke solution for Balfour Beatty to safely secure power cables running the length of the New Wear Crossing in Sunderland.

Currently under construction, the new two span cable-stayed bridge features an A-frame pylon rising to 105m (344ft), and will span the River Wear between Castletown on the north bank and Pallion on the south. Designed to support Emtelle ducts, which in turn support the power cables running the length of the bridge, the Ellis solution incorporates 252 specially designed assemblies, each comprising 12 standard 2F+172 clamps and a stainless steel support frame.

The 2017 product and price catalogue has full details of the UK’s most stylish safety shoes, boots and trainers from Hultafors UK’s own SolidGear and ToeGuard brands. With four types of products – Tuff, Athletic, Trekking and Occupational – there’s a product to suit almost every footwear need on site. There’s also loads of other information on all the important product features – comfort and safety, fabrics and linings, BOA system technology, caps and plates, water repellency, oil- and even heat-resistance – to get you working and walking safely, effectively and in comfort wherever you are on site.

www.ellispatents.co.uk 01944 758 395

www.solidgearfootwear.com 01484 854788

Fluke

ESP

Fluke UK is offering two money-saving 1660 Series Multifunction Installation Tester Kits until the end of June. The Fluke 1664FCTPLKIT comprises a 1664 FC multifunction installation tester with free Fluke DMS Data Management Software and a free Fluke T150 2-pole Voltage and Continuity Tester; the Fluke 1663-TPLKIT comprises a 1663 with free Fluke DMS Data Management Software and a free Fluke T130 Voltage and Continuity Tester. The Fluke 1664 helps prevent damage to appliances that may be inadvertently connected to the system under test, and makes it easy to share test results over a smartphone using Fluke Connect.

ESP continues to invest in its Duceri Emergency Lighting brand to offer contractors, installers and wholesalers a range of independently tested products that combine high performance with ease of installation. New 2W LED Emergency Exit Signs (Up, Down, Left and Right) feature 16 SMD 2835 LEDs and offer a 60 lumen mains output and 44 lumen emergency output, with a viewing distance of 24m. New high-power, ceiling-mounted LED down lighters include a 3W and 5W LED Emergency Non-Maintained Corridor Lens Down Lighter as well as a 5W LED Emergency Non-Maintained Open Lens Down Lighter.

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www.espuk.com 01527 515150 info@espuk.com

GreenBrook

Fluke

Electrical safety specialist GreenBrook has developed a range of weatherproof accessories, the PowerBreaker ProteKt range, to provide safety and practicality in both commercial and domestic applications. Easy to install, the range has been designed to offer protection against the ingress of water and solid matter (IP66) to provide safe and efficient electrical connections in the most arduous conditions. The range includes single, twin and PowerBreaker RCD sockets, single and twin switches, timers and fused spurs. The range is available from our nationwide network of PowerBreaker Stockists.

Testing the grounding components of equipment in hard-to-reach spaces can be dangerous and time-consuming. With the new Fluke 1630-2 FC Stakeless Earth Ground Clamp, electricians and maintenance technicians can measure earth ground loop resistances indoors/outdoors for multi-grounded systems using only the heavy-duty, dual-clamp jaw, so measurements can be taken quickly and safely without the need to disconnect then reconnect the earth electrode from the system. It also enables the user to access and share data remotely with a team via the Fluke Connect app.

www.greenbrook.co.uk

www.fluke.co.uk 0207 942 0700 industrial@uk.fluke.nl

Marshall-Tufflex Wire Basket Cablelay from Marshall-Tufflex, for use in the manufacturer’s Fast Coupling Wire Basket, delivers a solution for installers concerned about power and data cable integrity. It provides an easy-to-install, flat, continuous surface that protects from pressure points, kinking ridges, rough and uneven surfaces, sharp edges and protrusions. For installations that are damp or humid, it provides the benefit of absorbing moisture. It is available in two versions: Cablelay Matting and Cablelay Rigid. www.marshall-tufflex.com 01424 856 600

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Ideal

Danlers

Ideal Industries has received a Top Product Award for its In-Sure Lever Wire Connectors. The In-Sure range was launched in 2015 to provide speed and ease of installation. In addition, the connectors can accept fine stranded conductors without having to solder or crimp a ferrule to the end of each wire. Electricians often work on light fittings that require solid and flexible conductors (flex) to be joined. Frequently, traditional connector strips were used, but often the wires work loose, causing arcing and a melted terminal block. The connectors, available in 2, 3 and 5 port models, help overcome this issue.

Danlers now offers a new range of hard-wired Round PIR Occupancy switches in a choice of different switching and switch/dim options.

Product features include: versions for both presence detection and absence detection; can be mounted directly to a ceiling or onto a range of different mounting boxes; adjustable time lag settings; adjustable photocell 30-1000 lux and inactive mode; comes with a snap-fit mounting plate – easy to install; all products are backed with a five-year warranty and are made in the UK.

www.wire-connectors.com www.idealindustries.co.uk

www.danlers.co.uk 01249 443377 sales@danlers.co.uk

Philips

Fluke

The Philips Ledinaire range range offers affordable, reliable and energy-efficient LED lighting. Featuring nine LED luminaire families, it makes the switch to LED a simple one. With a typical lifetime of 30,000 hours, the range consists of three panel, three downlight and three batten designs, all covered by a three-year warranty. The panel provides a comfortable, diffused light, with a 3,200 lumen light output and a colour temperature of 4,000K. Recessed and surface-mounted versions are also available, in two colour temperatures – 3,000K and 4,000K – and in 600 x 600mm and 1,200 x 300mm versions.

Fluke has introduced the Fluke 1732 and 1734 Three-Phase Energy Loggers, intuitive, easyto-use tools with professional-level energy data-gathering capabilities. They enable maintenance professionals to gather energy data, while the accompanying Fluke Energy Analyze software enables users to compare multiple data points to build a picture of energy usage. The Fluke 1734 is a member of the Fluke Connect family, enabling the user to access and share data remotely via the Fluke Connect app. The Fluke 1732 and 1734 negate the need for expensive power quality analysers.

www.lighting.philips.com

www.fluke.co.uk 0207 942 0700 industrial@uk.fluke.nl

Scolmore

Snickers

Scolmore has launched a collection of premium wiring accessories – Deco Plus, comprising more than 800 premium decorative metal products.

The Deco Plus collection includes switches power socket outlets, fused connection units and control switches; television, telephone and data sockets; plus media cabling solutions. The products are available in seven finishes – antique brass, satin brass, polished brass, satin chrome, black nickel, stainless steel and polished chrome – and with black or white inserts. The switch plates are all modular as standard, allowing the creation of virtually any switch plate design required.

Snickers’ Classic Series 3 WorkTrousers, available in DuraTwill, Canvas+ or Rip-Stop fabrics, have a twisted leg design that delivers outstanding working comfort. The Cordura reinforcements on the knees and inside the holster pockets give durability, while the kneepad pockets are designed for the KneeGuard positioning system. With styles for men and women, the trousers also feature holster pockets and easy-to-access leg cargo pockets, with separate mobile phone compartment and four pen/tool compartments.

www.scolmore.com 01827 63454

www.snickersworkwear.co.uk 01484 854788

Fluke Throughout 2107, Fluke is running a series of free, scheduled, CPD-accredited webinars. The first, ‘Detecting electrical energy loss using thermal imaging’, is suitable for electricians, electrical contractors, electrical engineers, plant maintenance facility managers, and energy managers. Other topics covered by the CPD-certified series include power quality and energy saving. For the schedule, and to apply, see www.flukeacademy.shuttlepod.org/UK-Seminars. www.fluke.co.uk 0207 942 0700 industrial@uk.fluke.nl

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Spring 2017 Connections

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Current affairs

Don’t forget to send Current Affairs any pictures that have made you smile and let us know about any hidden talents or charity initiatives.

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Sleeping on the job We’ve all experienced the afternoon slump in productivity, and now it seems there’s a good reason for it – we’re not getting enough shut-eye.

According to research by bed firm Silentnight and the University of Leeds, a quarter of workers get fewer than five hours’ sleep a night.

Psychologist Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, who led the research, believes businesses should let workers take a 20-minute power-nap between 2 and 4pm, to recharge their energy levels.

“Naps have been scientifically proven to boost creativity and problem-solving ability, and can even rebalance the immune system, meaning staff are less likely to take sick days,” she says.

Quite what clients would make of workers catching up on some Zs is another matter, but it sounds like a good idea to us. Now, where’s my duvet?

This issue’s selection of inadequate installations includes: 1 a spot of crossbonding in a kitchen refit; 2 a junction box found in a ceiling at a domestic property; 3 a domestic fluorescent luminaire used as an external light; and 4 a chandelier hanging from a horizontal brass hook screwed into a ceiling. It continues with: 5 an unclipped armoured cable for a car charging point; 6 a hidden and dangerous socket found in a house; 7 a single socket supply for a kitchen extractor fan located above a gas hob; and 8 an innovative use of a flat bar in place of a fuse at agricultural premises.

2

1 3

4

Thanks to: John Williams of JC Electrical in Aberystwyth /// Steve McCready of GR Bradshaw in Neston /// Ralph Kennington of Ralph Kennington Electrical Contractors in Pewsey /// Tim Hodges of Crystal Project Solutions in West Sussex /// Paul Dicker of Paul’s Electrics in Maidenhead /// Spencer Walker from Walker Electrical UK in Nuneaton /// Ian Garner from Ian Garner Electrical Services in Godstone /// Derek Horsburgh from John Rae in Kelso

Keep those shots coming in!

5

7

6

8

An NICEIC contractor from Cardiff had a lucky escape after a favour for a charity shop nearly cost him his set of tools worth £200.

Andrew Bickel had agreed to change a faulty light switch at a reduced rate to help the cat charity out, but was gutted to find a shop worker had sold his entire toolbox for just £1 while he was on the job.

“Inside the toolbox there were professional screwdrivers worth £50-60, my pliers, cutters and testers,” he said.

Fortunately, the story has a happy ending. After a wave of publicity, the mysterious buyer returned the tools to the shop, and they found their way back to Andrew.

We imagine he’s feline much better now, and hope he will paws for thought before leaving his tools unattended in the future.

66

Photograph: Trinity Mirror

Almost a cat-astrophe

Spring 2017 Connections

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12/04/2017 15:37

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Call 01304 502 101 for your free leaflet or visit uk.megger.com Megger Ltd, Archcliffe Road, Dover, CT17 9EN, UK. T. 01304 502 101

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