SPRING 2018
State of the nation How the Scottish construction sector is faring, and what this means for electrical contractors
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INSIDE
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WELCOME/ MEET THE TEAM 4 With spring on the way, it may be time to think about freshening up for the future and revisiting business plans
NEWS 5 Growing electrical awareness in building standards, an uptick in NICEIC registrations, and a new range of training opportunities
CONTRACTOR PROFILE 6 A shift in strategy to installing
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EV charging infrastructure is paying off for family firm Boyd Brothers of Livingston, which is now branching out south of the border
SCOTTISH CONSTRUCTION 8 The construction sector’s contribution to the continued success of the Scottish economy is vital, but retentions, a looming skills shortage and Brexit could threaten its pre-eminence
PV FIRES 10 PV systems have a great safety
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track record, but there remains a need to educate installers and system owners over potential risks
C ON T A C T S / C O NNE C T IO NS
Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London E1 8BL EDITORIAL General 020 7880 6200 Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk Editor Nick Martindale Technical editor Timothy Benstead Sub editor James Hundleby Senior designer Craig Bowyer Designer Adrian Taylor Picture researcher Akin Falope Publishing and business development director Aaron Nicholls ADVERTISING/MARKETING Senior sales executive Thomas Ainsworth Display/classified 020 7324 2726 Email thomas.ainsworth @redactive.co.uk
PRODUCTION General production enquiries 020 7880 6209 Production director Jane Easterman Senior 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
© Redactive Publishing Ltd 2018 Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London E1 8BL. 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 Gemini Print Southern Ltd
ISSN 2042-5732
WWW.NICEIC.COM 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)
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TE I CAL E MC MHN A C LANC Y
Welcome to the latest edition of our Connections magazine, specifically for NICEIC registered contractors in Scotland
A
fter the snowiest February and March that we have had for a long time, I know many of us will be looking forward to spring, and the hope that it will bring sunshine and some warmth. It may also be a time for many of us to have a bit of a spring-clean and some fresh thinking on what the future may hold for you and your business. Our Connections magazine hopes to provide an insightful look at the world that surrounds you and your work. Our aim is to provide you with open-minded, well-researched and relevant stories that are hopefully of interest to you and will trigger conversations with others. This edition features a report into the current state of the construction sector in Scotland, which has been thriving thanks to investment in
Emma Clancy is chief executive officer, Certsure
new homes, schools and commercial premises. However, uncertainty over Brexit and its possible implications still hover like a wintry cloud, while non-payment and skills shortages also remain a concern. We also have an interview with NICEIC registered Boyd Brothers, which is now in the steady hands of the third generation of family owners. It has been a steady rise for the family business that has installed around 85 per cent of all EV charging points around Scotland. Quite a feat. Also included is a report from Colin Sinclair, principal consultant at BRE Scotland, about the potential fire risks involved with installing solar PV systems, something that all electrical contractors should find of interest. I hope you enjoy this edition of Connections.
‘Our aim is to provide you with open-minded, well-researched and relevant stories that are hopefully of interest to you and will trigger conversations with others’
N I C E I C I N S C O T L AND / ME E T T H E T E AM STUART THOMPSON, SCOTTISH SALES MANAGER Stuart is an experienced commercial manager with previous experience of national account management, project management and marketing. Based in Scotland, he is responsible for NICEIC Scotland membership, and works with a wide network of members, key customers, stakeholders, business partners and specifiers.
YVONNE WARNER, AREA ENGINEER Yvonne is an experienced electrician and has worked in all aspects of the electrical industry, from domestic to commercial and industrial. In addition to her role as an electrical inspector, she assesses hazardous areas as well as MCS solar and wind.
PHILIP MARTIN, AREA ENGINEER Philip is an electrical technician with more than 30 years’ experience in all areas of the electrical engineering and petrochemical industry. Previously a senior qualified supervisor with British Gas, he helped establish its current quality auditing regime, which identifies training needs for all electrical operatives.
EDDIE ARROWSMITH, REGIONAL ENGINEERING MANAGER Eddie is NICEIC’s regional engineering manager, based in Aberdeen. He served his electrical apprenticeship with British Rail and specialised in DC systems, high-voltage AC systems and DC machines. He went on to work for consulting engineers’ practices for 18 years, and was senior electrical engineer with WS Atkins.
JOE GALLAGHER, AREA ENGINEER Joe is a multi-disciplined engineer with more than 30 years’ industry experience, from small domestic to large-scale industrial projects. He is the MCS, CPS and Green Deal inspector for NICEIC, having previously worked as an assessor, centre manager and external verifier.
EDDIE THOMSON, AREA ENGINEER Eddie has been an area engineer with NICEIC since 2001. After serving an apprenticeship with British Rail, he worked with several companies, carrying out electrical, lighting design and project management. He also spent some time in charge of a large maintenance and works depot.
LOUISE FRAME, AREA ENGINEER Louise covers the North Glasgow and Lanarkshire regions. She started her career with an electrical apprenticeship when she was 16. Since then, she has worked in homes, schools, offices and factories, theatres, sports stadia and museums. She became a QS and was in an electrical management role before joining NICEIC.
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SCOTTISH UPDATE
INCREASED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
NICEIC feeds appetite for electrical awareness NICEIC has just completed its latest in a series of talks to Local Authority Building Standards (LABSS) officers and surveyors on various aspects of electrical awareness. This was the third year NICEIC has carried out this training in conjunction with SELECT. This year’s programme of eight events across Scotland delivered information on BS 5839 -1 Fire Regulations and the upcoming proposed changes to BS 7671 via the 18th edition later this year. Alan Wells, NICEIC technical standards director, and Stuart Thompson, NICEIC Scotland manager, delivered technical and interactive Q&A sessions to over 160 LABSS staff. The talks were designed to raise standards and awareness of new developments in safety and building standards.
Thompson said: “Appetite for these events continues to grow year on year, showing the increasing interest and desire to learn more about electrical safety and the importance of using a registered electrician. This year we managed to include the Scottish islands by using the latest AV technology.” He added: “It is important that we work closely with LABSS staff who are responsible for carrying out all building verification duties; a large part of which is made of assessing and checking electrical work and the associated certification, where a building warrant is required. “By working together, we can ensure staff are aware of what they should be looking out for, and that the appropriate procedures and standards are upheld consistently across the nation.”
More contractors turn to NICEIC to build business More electricians in Scotland are turning to NICEIC to help build their business. More than 1,000 contractors are now registered with NICEIC in Scotland – a 30 per cent increase in the last three years. In addition to this, the number of visitors to our roadshow events continues to grow year on year, highlighting the increasing awareness
of the NICEIC brand in Scotland. Stuart Thompson, area manager for Scotland, said: “We have worked hard at raising the profile of NICEIC in Scotland, and it would seem more contractors than ever are now turning to NICEIC to grow their business. “We have had to expand our team of area engineers, who have done a fantastic job in getting out there to meet new customers.”
Contractors can now access more NICEIC training courses in Scotland than ever before. We have partnered with more colleges and training providers to ensure we deliver a wider range of courses specific to contractors’ needs. These include new courses on electric vehicle (EV) charging and a range of courses relating to fire alarm design, installation and maintenance. NICEIC is now also able to run courses from City Building in Glasgow and University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness College. For more information about dates and times for courses, visit www.niceicscotland.com/training
HITTING THE ROAD Our technical team will once again be visiting Scotland for a series of dates in August. The half-day roadshow seminars have proved popular with electrical contractors keen to find out more about the industry or how NICEIC can help boost their business. The seminars will be open to all electricians, not just NICEIC registrants. The roadshows take place on: 20 August: Glasgow, Hampden Park Stadium 21 August: Inverness, Drummosie Hotel 22 August: Aberdeen, Aberdeen Football Club 23 August: Edinburgh International Climbing Arena 24 August: Dumfries, Cairndale Hotel Come along to meet the team at a venue near you. For more information and to book your place, go to www.niceicscotland.com
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CONTRACTOR PROFILE
A brave move to switch the focus of the business has paid off for Livingston-based, third-generation firm Boyd Brothers
CHANGING TACK U ntil a few years ago, Boyd Brothers was a fairly typical electrical contracting business, notable mainly for the manner in which it had passed through the generations. Started in 1967 by John Boyd – a former mining electrician – as a general contracting firm, the business moved on to his sons Ian and Robert (Robert unfortunately passed away a few years ago) and is still very much a family-run business today. “It’s just been a general progression over the years; the business is now in its 51st year and we’re now run by the third generation,” says Ian. “They handle all of the day-to-day business now, and Lorraine [his wife] and I try and do as little as possible,” he jokes. In 2013, however, the business took the brave step of moving away from its breadand-butter of working for main contractors. “We were experiencing horrendous problems with payments, so we decided to withdraw our services from all main contracts and the construction industry in general,” explains Ian. “We probably had around 20 staff at that point and a few of them were sizeable contracts but, like many subcontractors, we experienced payment problems and that’s why we came out. We had to restructure ourselves at that point.” The firm still operates as a traditional electrical contracting firm, but now only takes on work direct for blue-chip end-clients, including various housing associations. It was obvious, however, that the business needed to find another area on which to focus its attention. Initially it targeted the renewable
sector, with some success, focusing on wind turbine and solar panel installations, until changes to the feed-in-tariff hit the solar sector. ELECTRIC VISION But the real niche the business discovered was in installing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which now accounts for around 70 per cent of its work. “Back then it was very much in its infancy, and we would do maybe a job a month initially,” says John. “The first contract we did was for Caledonian MacBrayne, installing the first rapid-chargers at their ferry terminals.” Since then the market has taken off, partly
‘Our infrastructure is still years away from people taking the gamble to go electric’ on the back of government support for EVs as well as the wider move against the use of diesel vehicles. “We have a very wide customer base,” adds John. “In the last couple of years we have done a lot of workplace charging, for companies like Diageo, Scottish Television and, recently, Royal Mail, which were looking to bring EVs into their fleets.” Local authorities are another big sector; Boyd Brothers has installed infrastructure for 30 out of the 32 authorities in Scotland, and estimates it has installed around 85 per cent of the public charging infrastructure in the country. Despite this success, John believes the market
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85%
BOYD BROTHERS HAS INSTALLED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 30 OUT OF THE 32 AUTHORITIES IN SCOTLAND, AND ESTIMATES IT HAS INSTALLED AROUND 85 PER CENT OF THE PUBLIC CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COUNTRY
Left to right: Stuart, John, Ian, Lorraine and Stephen Boyd of Boyd Brothers
THE BUSINESS CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 45 OPERATIVES, WITH A FURTHER 10 OFFICEBASED STAFF
‘I’m immensely proud of everything, and so would my father and brother be’
Boyd Brothers HQ in Livingston
is still at an early stage. “Our infrastructure is still years away from people taking the gamble to go electric because they know there’s a safety net of having a charging point nearby, so we still have a lot of work to do,” he says. “Any place where people go are potential customers, so business parks, leisure centres, cinemas and shopping centres.” The firm has just finished a job at the Livingston Designer Outlet shopping centre, he adds. Increasingly, the company’s reputation and client demands are taking the business out of its traditional Scottish base; to the extent that it is currently in the process of opening a second office in Hemel Hempstead. Stephen says: “I think we picked the right place at the right time to be Scottish, but our customers are pulling us south.” NEW GROUND The EV work is also pulling the business into related areas, including developing its own civil division to cover the groundwork involved with installing the charging infrastructure.
It’s also setting up a utilities division, which it hopes will be fully operational by the end of the year. This would allow it to become an independent connection provider, able to carry out its own connections to the national grid network as well as the design and installation of substations. The plan is to take on work traditionally handled by distribution network operators, on both charging points and wind turbine projects. Another growth area is charging hubs, effectively car parks where vehicles can recharge. Solar panels mounted on canopies over parking bays provide supplementary electricity, which is stored in energy storage units and then distributed through the charge points. The firm has already worked on a number of projects and is currently well underway with Dundee City Council’s Go Ultra Low city scheme. Today, the company’s activities are mainly overseen by John, Stephen and Stuart, with John handling operations, Stephen the commercial side and Stuart about to take on the role of EV surveying manager. All three are qualified electricians, having joined the business straight from school, and took on more responsibility in 2011 when Ian had a spell off work through ill-health. “When I came back, the management structure was in place, and I didn’t do anything to stop that,” says Ian. “I’m quite happy with it.”
Company Boyd Brothers Established 1967 Major projects Livingston Designer Outlet, Royal Mail, Scottish public charging infrastructure
30 out of 32
The business currently employs 45 operatives, with a further 10 office-based staff, and is currently seeking to take on project managers, electricians and experienced ground workers as it looks to expand the business across the UK. In the not-too-distant future, Ian and Lorraine are hoping to exit the business altogether, with the next generation taking over the full running of the business. “It’s the boys who will be taking on the mantle from there on in,” says Ian. “I don’t know what their intentions are but we need to keep growing with the market; it’s all been organic growth up to now and I’d like that to continue. But I’m immensely proud of everything, as would my father and brother be.” John, meanwhile, is also hoping the business continues the steady growth it has seen since the shift in strategy. “We’re viewed as one of the leading contractors in this industry, so we want to continue leading the way in building that infrastructure,” he says. “It’s still very much in its infancy and hopefully as the industry grows we will grow with it.”
The number of local authorities in Scotland with which Boyd Brothers has worked
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C ON ST RU C T I O N T R E N DS
Investment in houses, schools and commercial premises has seen the construction sector thrive in Scotland. But concerns over skills, wages and late payment remain BY ROB SHEPHERD
T
he construction industry makes a sizeable financial contribution to Scotland’s gross domestic product, generating around £21.4 billion a year, according to figures from the Scottish government. It employs more than 170,000 people, and in the quarter to August 2017 the value of underlying project starts in Scotland grew by 29 per cent – the biggest rise in any part of the UK. In 2007, the Scottish government set out an ambitious target of building 35,000 new homes every year, with a commitment to building 50,000 affordable homes by 2021. In 2017 it announced plans to further increase its investment in housing by nearly £140 million. Newbuild activity is on the rise, and 19,598 new homes were started across all sectors in the year ending June 2017, an increase of 13 per cent or 2,188 homes on the previous year. Affordable
State of the nation
housing supply is increasing, with more than 70,000 affordable homes delivered in Scotland since 2007 – a total of 48,813 homes for social rent, including 8,819 council homes. COMMERCIAL GAIN Scotland accounts for just over 7 per cent of the value of commercial property in the UK, according to Scottish Property Federation figures. Glasgow is seeing significant demand for high-quality premises, while supply in Edinburgh is at its lowest level since 2010. This is pushing rents up, and businesses are often unable to expand or move as a result. Industrial premises represent 22 per cent of the total stock of commercial property in Scotland, and its industrial property market is attracting increasing investor and developer interest, as the current supply is insufficient for a market of this size. However, with inflation outrunning monthly wage increases, a lack of disposable income for a significant percentage of the population continues to have a negative effect on retailers. PUBLIC PROPERTY Annual Scottish public sector construction expenditure is around £4 billion, the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group Scotland estimates, and there has been significant activity in the building of new schools, through the government’s £1.8 billion Schools for the Future programme. The government claims the programme, launched in 2009, will see the construction or refurbishment of 116 schools by March 2020, creating an estimated 11,000 construction jobs and 230 apprenticeships. Within the healthcare sector, Frameworks Scotland 2 builds on the success of Frameworks Scotland, which saw 60 NHS facilities with a value of £462 million delivered. This national framework is an agreement with five principal supply chain partners selected via an Official Journal of the European Union tender process for capital investment construction schemes across Scotland up to 2019.
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MONEY MATTERS There is £3 billion worth of retentions outstanding in the UK construction industry at any one time, according to the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group – something that impacts both the private and public sectors. The issue was highlighted when it transpired that thousands of subcontractors are still owed retention payments following the collapse of Carillion in January 2018. The problem goes much wider though; over a three-year period the industry has lost £700 million worth of retention monies because of upstream insolvencies, according to Labour’s front-bench business team. Reform of retentions in construction contracts has been campaigned for over many years and the Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill, introduced as a private members’ bill, had its first reading in the House of Commons on 9 January 2018. If it succeeds, there will be a statutory obligation on any party withholding cash retentions to place them in a retention deposit scheme. EFFICIENCY DRIVE It is estimated by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills that 30 per cent of the construction process is rework, 60 per cent of the labour effort is wasted and 10 per cent of loss is due to squandered materials. The Scottish government has published a Scottish Procurement Policy Note 1/17 on the Implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within Construction Projects, setting out how BIM should be adopted within public sector procurement. Electrical contractors are at the forefront of achieving greater environmental awareness. Those already familiar with renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic and ground source heat pumps are most likely to gain commercial benefit.
£140M: THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN HOUSING ANNOUNCED BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT IN 2017
£4BN: THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL SCOTTISH PUBLIC SECTOR CONSTRUCTION EXPENDITURE
SUPPLY AND DEMAND The Scottish construction industry is facing a skills shortage, as more than 36,000 new workers a year will be needed to cover current demand, according to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). As a result, wages are rising sharply for those with the requisite skills but, combined with an increase in the cost of materials, this is having a negative impact on construction companies. Furthermore, CITB figures suggest 45 per cent of the UK’s 270,653 migrant construction workers are from EU countries, so Brexit could have a significant impact upon available labour and cause greater pressure in terms of skills shortages. The good news is that construction apprenticeship starts are at a record high, with numbers increasing from 19,973 in 2014 to 24,899 in 2016, according to the CITB. In Scotland, numbers are rising too; construction accounted for 25 per cent of starts in the government’s Modern Apprenticeships programme up to the end of the third quarter of 2017.
‘Brexit could have a significant impact upon available labour and cause greater pressure in terms of skills shortages’
Rob Shepherd is a freelance business journalist who specialises in the building services industry
LOOKING FORWARD The financial crisis of 2007-08, the collapse of Carillion, the Scottish independence movement and uncertainty over the final Brexit deal all continue to have an effect. However, with the Scottish government reiterating its commitment to developing the country’s infrastructure, solving the housing crisis and reducing carbon emissions, the construction industry’s role in boosting Scotland’s economy is vital. This is a summary of a white paper produced by NICEIC, looking at business trends in the Scottish construction sector. To access a free copy of the full version, visit www.niceic.com/contractor/ for-contractors/scotland
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X PV X XFXI RE X XSX X RX E S E AR C H
Common causes of PV fires
A recent study by the BRE National Solar Centre highlighted some of the common causes of ďŹ res in PV installations BY COLIN SINCLAIR
IMAGE: ALAMY
T
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he number of photovoltaic (PV) panel installations has risen rapidly in the UK in recent years. PV capacity stands at over 12MW across 939,872 installations. Smallscale installations (0-4 kW) account for over 93 per cent of installations by number, and 20 per cent of total capacity. Despite this growth, PV is still a relatively young technology, and the equipment and installation standards adopted by the industry are still evolving. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently commissioned the BRE National Solar Centre to lead a study on ďŹ res involving solar
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a
PV systems. While there is no reason to believe that the fire risk associated with PV systems is greater than that associated with other electrical equipment, the study, which involved on-site forensic investigations and a review of historical incidents, literature, standards and training, is helping inform the PV industry supply chain, fire and rescue services, technical standards writers and training companies. This article presents key findings from the study’s analysis of 80 fire incidents.
• Loose screw terminals within junction boxes or isolator switches • PV module junction box defect (e.g. poorly soldered joints) • Damage to a component (e.g. broken busbar within a PV module) While resistive heating (alone) is far less likely than arcing to be the only causative mechanism of fire, the breakdown of electronic components such as capacitors or transformers is possible. This is thought to be a likely cause of fires in inverters, although inverters were not a common origin of fires within the study.
b
ISSUES OF CONCERN PV systems are generally very safe; however, when incidents occur they can have far-reaching consequences. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms by which a fire may ignite in a PV system. Electrical arcing is a significant factor; on a typical PV system, an electrical arc is hot enough to melt glass, copper and aluminium, and initiate the combustion of surrounding materials. Sources of heat, such as resistive heating in a corroded connection, could also be an ignition point for a fire, but the temperatures involved tend to be much lower than for an electrical arc-generated fire. Such heating can, however, still be a precursor to establishing an electrical arc. Arcing can occur where conducting parts become physically separated by mechanical movement or misalignment. Certain components, if incorrectly specified, poorly installed or faulty, can give rise to electrical arcs in PV systems. Arcing is not seen as a common hazard in AC electrical systems, partly because standards have evolved to a point where most installations are very safe. PV standards, practices and components are, however, relatively young and are still evolving. For an arc to be self-sustaining, the conditions for starting the arc have to be present continuously. AC arcs therefore tend to selfextinguish as the voltage alternates, passing through 0 volts 100 times per second, whereas the continuous voltage presented by a DC arc tends to support its continuation. Any evidence of arcing should act as an indicator of a problem within the system and should be urgently investigated. The study found that common causes of DC arcing included: • Moisture ingress degrading connections in connectors, junction boxes and switches • Incorrectly crimped connector contacts • The mating of incompatible DC plugs and socket connectors • Plug and socket connectors not being fully engaged
Remains of a DC connector ablated by arcing (a) and, by contrast, a connector with contacts still intact and engaged, merely damaged by the surrounding fire (b). In both cases the insulating body of the connector has burnt off
INCIDENT ANALYSIS The analysis of 80 fire incidents implicated the following PV components: DC isolators ( 26-28 incidents), DC connectors ( 5-12 incidents), inverters ( 6-9 incidents), DC cables ( 1-5 incidents), PV modules ( 2-5 incidents), and DC combiner box ( 1 incident). Approximately 36 per cent of incidents were attributed to poor installation practices, 10 per
‘Arcing can occur where conducting parts become physically separated by mechanical movement or misalignment’ The research on which this article is based was commissioned by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and carried out by the BRE National Solar Centre. Further details are available in the interim published reports available at: bit.ly/BEISfire-solar-panels. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of BEIS
Colin Sinclair is principal consultant at BRE Scotland
939,872
cent were attributed to system design errors and 5 per cent to faulty products. The causes of the remainder were unknown. The study found DC isolators presented the greatest fire risk, with approximately 30 per cent of the incidents being caused by issues with this component. The study also found separate evidence of fires originating within DC isolators with poor contact design (e.g. in components originally being designed for AC operation that have been re-designated as DC-rated by the manufacturer) and with incorrect internal wiring. Incorrectly specified DC isolators were also observed. The assessment and mitigation of potential fire risk is a vital element of PV design, installation and operation and maintenance processes. Ensuring the correct specification of components and applying appropriate installation methods, taking account of the environment in which the components are being installed, is also critical to a safe functioning system. Furthermore, PV is not a ‘fit and forget’ technology, and the study has also highlighted a need to educate installers and system owners on requirements for maintaining the safety of PV systems.
The number of PV installations 11 across the UK S C OT L AND S P RI NMG 2 018
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