Building for the future

Rather than being a niche technology that only larger electrical contracting firms need to be concerned about, building information modelling (BIM) is fast becoming a mainstream fixture on all construction projects.

By allowing everyone to understand a project or building through the use of a digital model that gathers information about every component of it in one place, BIM creates more eff icient and integrated ways of working during all stages of the construction lifecycle through the digital representation of physical and functional characteristics.

With a history of unimpressive performance and poor value for the public purse, the UK government has long bemoaned the way in which its construction projects have been delivered. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills’ Construction Industrial Strategy, published in early 2013, suggested that £40 billion of public money is spent on centrally funded public buildings every year and, from this, millions of pounds are lost through poor practices. It also found that 30 per cent of the construction process is rework, 60 per cent of the labour eff ort is wasted and 10 per cent of loss is due to squandered materials.

The UK government has taken the lead in promoting the use of BIM since the publication of its Construction Strategy in May 2011. This report announced its intention to require the use of collaborative BIM by 2016, and since April all centrally procured public sector projects have required the implementation of BIM at Level 2. Meanwhile, October will see each government department’s capability to electronically validate BIM information delivered from the supply chain assessed.

“The UK is now leading the global race towards digitalisation of the construction industry and we will not let it slip,” says the government’s BIM task group chair Mark Bew. “BIM is very much business as usual. Level 2 is driving eff iciency and creating a competitive supply sector with our businesses in demand internationally. BIM will become a required UK standard across the entire built environment.”

Julian Carter, head of commercial services at the South East Centre for the Built Environment (SECBE), believes this top-down approach will make a diff erence. “Without the government’s backing, through the successful delivery of the Construction Strategy,

Building information modelling will play a vital role in how construction projects are designed, built and managed in the future. Rob Shepherd explains why electrical contractors need to get on board now

BIM would not be where it is today,” he says. “Where the government has led, others are following and it has created the investment in BIM knowledge that the industry is now making.’

Broad scope

The positive impact of BIM extends far beyond public sector projects, though, as it demonstrates the geometry of a building’s spatial relationships, geographic information, and material quantities and properties. It also consolidates much of the information contained in specifications and schedules, as well as project management and post-construction facilities management.

All relevant parties are able to access that information for any purpose. For example, exact quantity take-off s mean that materials are not over-ordered, while precise programme scheduling enables just-in-time delivery of resources and equipment. Furthermore, it identifies when automated fabrication of equipment and components can be used, enabling more eff icient materialshandling and waste recovery.

The government predicts BIM will save UK construction and its clients £2 billion a year, and Gary Buckingham, marketing manager of partner business at Schneider Electric, suggests there will also be “cost savings in the facilities management of the building through defined maintenance and repair costs”.

Although there has been significant progress, there is still much work to do to raise awareness and make sure all parties take the leap towards BIM. This was borne out in the recent 2016 NBS National BIM Report, which highlighted that although BIM is happening, only 37 per cent of those surveyed are using BIM from the start of a project to the very end, with just over half (54 per cent) of all respondents saying they are using BIM at all.

Furthermore, research conducted by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) last year found that over half of contractors (54 per cent) with a turnover of less than £1 million were ‘not ready at all’ for BIM, while 30 per cent with earnings between £1 million and £20 million were in the same position. “It is vital that building services firms of all shapes and sizes quickly get up to speed with BIM, as it won’t work properly if the specialist supply chain is not fully ready,” warns Bill Wright, head of energy solutions at the ECA.

Level pegging Working towards BIM:

Level 0: Computer-aided design (CAD), likely 2D, with communications and collaborations via electronic sources and paper in an unmanaged environment. The majority of commercial projects are still at this level

Level 1: CAD, in either 2D or 3D, which is managed and used to give a visual image to a client. It can also check clashes visually, and can be used to reduce waste costs and confl icts

Level 2: Collaboration by all parties of the design team is required. 3D models are used, but this does not necessarily mean working from one model, as members may work from separate models

Level 3: The model itself will be held on a central server where access will be enabled and controlled by the project teams. Level 3 ‘smart’ BIM is signifi cantly easier to achieve if the correct intelligent-building technology has been installed during the construction phase

60 per cent:

The amount of labour in the construction process that is wasted, according to government fi gures

54 per cent:

The number of smaller contractors that admit they are not ready for BIM

Croydon-based King & Moff att is one firm already making good use of it. “BIM is revolutionising the electrical contracting industry; however, it is fair to say there are varying degrees of awareness in the sector,” says Padraic King, the company’s BIM manager. “Our senior management have grasped its importance and we have been involved in a number of projects where BIM has been used. But from attending numerous meetings and conferences, it’s clear to see that not many mechanical and electrical contractors have any knowledge in this area.”

Taking action

For those new to BIM, there will be initial costs incurred to cover new computing equipment, software and processes. In some circumstances, training might be required, but this should be considered in the light of greater eff iciencies further down the line and the introduction of more eff icient working practices.

Simon Brown, senior Cymap application engineer at Cadline, warns that businesses need to take the time to understand how to use BIM eff ectively. “There is no software package out there at the moment that covers all bases in one suite, so it is important that users are trained in the appropriate piece of software, then also trained based on their workflow as to who does what and when in the process,” he says. “It’s important they examine their workflows as an organisation and look at how the software packages interact with each other. Failure to adopt this approach means they have bought suites of software that each user can manipulate but can’t join up the process.”

This tallies with King’s experience, but the benefits have outweighed the costs. “Implementing BIM has required significant investment in hardware in the form of desktop computers that are capable of running the Autodesk’s Revit software, and we have also trained and upskilled our engineers,” he says. “But the costs have not been prohibitive in our case and we choose to view BIM as an opportunity.”

Victoria Harding-Domeney, BIM/ Revit MEP manager at SB Electrical,

Benefit check BIM offers:

• A single, shared multidimensional model, cultivating collaborative working relationships

• Exact quantity ordering, so that materials are not over-ordered. Precise programmescheduling enables just-in-time delivery of materials and equipment, while the use of BIM for automated fabrication of equipment and components enables more effi cient materials handling and waste recovery

• Swift and accurate comparison of diff erent design options, enabling development of more effi cient, cost-eff ective and sustainable solutions, and true whole-life asset management

• The ability for projects to be visualised at an early stage, giving owners and operators a clear idea of design intent and allowing them to modify the design to achieve the outcomes they want

• Product information that assists with commissioning, operation and maintenance activities

• Faster project delivery. This can be achieved by agreeing the design concept early in project development to eliminate stage design changes using standard design elements when practical

• Multidisciplinary design integration using a single model. This allows interface issues to be identifi ed and resolved in advance of construction, eliminating the cost and time impacts of redesign through service clashes

‘It’s vital that building services fi rms get up to speed with BIM, as it won’t work if the specialist supply chain is not ready’

agrees. “There is a spectrum of levels of involvement with BIM, depending what a company wishes to have,” she says. “However, the cost is not prohibitive as long as it is properly thought through. Furthermore, manufacturers are producing BIM products, which can be used by electrical contractors to develop their design in a more eff icient way.”

Standard issue

Standards have been introduced that will assist firms working on BIM-based projects. PAS 1192-2 sets out how to share information and is available to public and private sector clients for use on jobs. In 2014 PAS 1192-3 was published, which extended BIM’s remit into the operational phase of the building lifecycle and defines the handover of the building from construction to operations, as outlined in BS 8536.

These standards mean that contractors are obliged to stay involved beyond the stage of practical completion and assist during initial operation and beyond. More recently, two additional standards have been released – PAS 1192-4 and PAS 1192-5 – addressing the exchange of information and data security respectively.

“Standards play an important role in ensuring the wider adoption of BIM technologies, processes and collaboration by ensuring that the same accurate data can be accessed throughout the supply chain,” says Bew.

By providing intuitive and interactive tools, BIM provides the foundations for achieving streamlined operational eff iciencies. Ultimately, it will need to be used by all parties, irrespective of size, in order for them to evolve within a changing industry. Those ignoring the BIM revolution do so at their peril.

» Rob Shepherd is a freelance business journalist who specialises in the building services industry

WAGO

CONTACT DETAILS

WAGO Limited Triton Park Swift Valley Industrial Estate Rugby CV21 1SG Tel: 01788 568 008 Fax: 01788 568 050

KEY PERSONNEL

Paul Witherington – UK Marketing Manager paul.witherington@wago.com Clive Humphrey – Product Manager - Interconnection clive.humphrey@wago.com Sarah Burrows – Product Manager - Installer Connectors sarah.burrows@wago.com Liam Gillis – Customer Service Manager uksales@wago.com

YEAR ESTABLISHED

1951

NUMBER OF STAFF

6,700

NEW BUSINESS CONTACT

ukmarketing@wago.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter - @wagolimited YouTube – WAGO Limited channel

UPCOMING EVENTS

Professional Electrician Elex Show Ricoh Arena, Coventry – 22-23 September 2016 Sandown Park, Surrey – 3-4 November 2016

Appetite for Engineering 2016 Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire 19 October 2016

Smart Buildings & Controls Show Sandown Park, Surrey 19-20 October 2016

WWEM: Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring 2016 Telford International Centre 2-3 November 2016

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

WAGO is renowned for its electrical interconnection products. As the inventors of screwless connection, the company has spent 60 years pushing the technology forward The company’s installer products including connectors, junction boxes, terminal blocks guarantee reliable, free-from-maintenance connections in an almost limitless number of applications all over the world WAGO’s automation technologies are also helping to improve productivity, eff iciency and safety, with systems such as the WAGO I/O-SYSTEM 750 ensuring eff ective automation of industrial and commercial tasks

Products are extensively tested, typically far beyond rated limits, to ensure that they are of the highest reliability, and exceed applicable standards (eg, ATEX, maintenance-free) WAGO’s new 221 series connector is 40 percent smaller than previous generations, while enabling fast, tool-free connection of all types of wires up to 4 mm2

WHAT DO THE NEXT 40 YEARS HAVE IN STORE FOR THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY?

Having been with WAGO for 25 years, and seen the changes during that time that have led us to where we are now, I’d like to think I’m particularly well positioned to assess what the future might hold for the electrical industry. Screwless technology was not exactly in its infancy 25 years ago, but it was far from widely adopted. Now, having proven itself time and time against older technologies, screwless is becoming the industry standard.

But what challenges face us in the future? It’s the customer who holds the key here; in our industry new technologies develop because there exists a customer demand that older technologies aren’t fulfilling. Whether it’s a demand for improved product features, lower costs, greater ease of use, reduced maintenance requirements, or more streamlined delivery channels between supplier and customer. The market leaders will always be the companies that can respond fastest in eff ectively leveraging these emerging technologies to create useful products, and getting those products to the customer.

At WAGO this means constantly innovating and never standing still, as you never know when the next game-changing technology will come along that might capture customers’ imaginations. Smart controls are starting to creep into homes and businesses through wireless heating and lighting controls, but whilst the technology is there, the smart home as a fully integrated package is still some way off widespread adoption. This is why WAGO is utilising its expertise in the building automation sector to develop connection solutions not just for now, but for years to come.

The complexity of such technology could mean that maintenancefree becomes increasingly important, and we’re already seeing signs of this happening. For property and premises owners, fit and forget is always going to be preferable to having to provide frequent maintenance, but customers have to trust the technology first. However as we’ve seen with screwless connections, once that trust is earned, even revolutionary technologies can very quickly become the norm.

Without a crystal ball it’s diff icult to say exactly where we’ll be in 40 years’ time, but I can observe that 25 years ago our customers’ needs were very diff erent. Innovation is not just about the “eureka” moments, it’s also about the incremental improvements – smaller, safer, cheaper – making sure that we’re providing what the customer needs, when they need it. Clive Humphrey – Product Manager – Interconnection

Schneider Electric Ltd

CONTACT DETAILS

Schneider Electric Ltd UK Head Off ice 2nd Floor 80 Victoria Street London SW1E 5JL Tel: 0870 608 8 608 Fax: 0870 608 6 606 www.schneider-electric.co.uk

KEY PERSONNEL

Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and Chief Executive Off icer Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice President - Buildings & Partner Tanuja Randery, Zone President UK & Ireland

YEAR ESTABLISHED

Beginning in France in 1836 with the Schneider brothers, the Company started with its roots in the iron and steel industry, before progressing to heavy machinery and ship building and finally into electricity and automation management. Now with over 180 years of history and experience, Schneider Electric has transformed itself into the global specialist in energy management today, providing connected technologies and solutions across the world, including a strong presence in the UK with multiple manufacturing sites and off ices across the UK.

NUMBER OF STAFF

160,000 worldwide, with over 4,500 in the UK

ANNUAL TURNOVER

In 2015 - £20.6 Billion worldwide, £688m in the UK

NEW BUSINESS CONTACT

Tel: 0870 6088 608 www.schneider-electric.co.uk

CLIENTS INCLUDE:

Anglian Water Scottish Power BP Shell CBRE Total Electricity North West UK Power Networks Ford Veolia Heathrow Western Power HSBC WSP Mitie Network Rail Northern Powergrid Persimmon Homes Redrow Plc Santander Scottish and Southern Energy – Power Distribution

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Serving customers in over 100 countries and off ering integrated solutions across multiple market segments; with leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation and data centres/networks and leading brands in residential applications. Schneider brands include: Andover Continuum APC Clipsal Drayton GET Invensys Merlin Gerin Mita Pelco Square D TAC Thorsman Telemecanique

SMARTER HOMES, SMARTER BUSINESS THINKING? THE FUTURE IS HERE, NOW…

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) promises a brave new world of connected devices, smart homes, smart cities and ultimately, better living. According to technology research firm Cisco, the number of connected devices is expected to pass 50 billion in the next five years. The ability of devices to connect to each other and feed information back to us should lay the path for a smarter, more holistic way of managing and interacting with our environments, where continual improvements and eff iciencies can be gained.

New IoT technologies are emerging which enable quick and easy personalisation of energy management and home comfort scenarios, either through devices in the home or remotely, via apps on a smart device. This means that switching lights on and off , adjusting room temperatures and security management is no longer restricted to on-site push-buttons, touch panels or preset programmes. Home management systems can act as self-learning tools that note the behaviour of occupants and adjust environments accordingly. Bringing in turn a new level of comfort to living spaces, tailored to our daily routines, whilst reducing energy costs. The market is bringing connectivity to homes and businesses, enabling us to monitor and manage our needs in smart spaces - helping people to achieve a quality of life that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.

The advent of IoT provides rapidly increasing opportunities for electricians to grow their business by moving into areas which may have been perceived as too complicated or unrelated previously. Home comfort with remote access for smart heating control is an available solution today, where an electrician is able to upgrade a residential heating control system and have it operational and connected to the internet within 15 minutes. The growing trend for intuitive home products signifies that the days of time consuming and complicated installations are diminishing. This appetite for connectivity will also bring diff erent prospects for aftercare and maintenance services to meet the future ongoing needs of clients.

It’s an exciting time for electricians as the proliferation of the IoT promises greater innovation. To stay ahead of the competition and to be ready for new business opportunities, electricians will need a good knowledge of the evolving IoT trends, including how big data, security and privacy are transforming the electrical sector.

Simplfying safe isolation

Martindale Electric lead the way in safe isolation, providing simple and reliable solutions to ensure circuits have been de-energised and properly isolated prior to maintenance and modifications of plant and equipment.

Selecting the right tools for the job is critical to implementing an effective procedure to stay safe and avoid potentially fatal accidents and heavy penalties resulting from failure to comply with Electricity at Work Regulations. In the latest 2016 sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences, new fines are structured not just to punish employers whose failure to comply results in serious injury, but also those whose lack of compliance put their employees at risk. Under the new guidelines the level of fines will be higher and custodial sentences more likely.

The changes have helped to focus attention on the need to ensure that proper procedures and equipment are in place when carrying out electrical maintenance and installation work. Although electricians are aware of what should be done, there are still instances every year of serious accidents and fatalities that could have been avoided through using the right test equipment to prove dead and by implementing reliable locking off procedures.

Essential Kit

The essential test tools and equipment needed are a dedicated voltage indicator, a proving unit to verify the voltage indicator, locking off devices with unique keys and a clear method of labelling the hazard. With a wide range of voltage detectors and indicators available, it’s important to understand that some equipment, such as multimeters, should not be used. Martindale voltage indicators are fully compliant with the latest standards and are designed for safety and simplicity, with no ranges, batteries or switches which could lead to false indication.

VIPDLOK150 safe isolation kit for all installation categories

New Developments

There have been many developments which now make it easier to choose the right test equipment and locking off device every time. These include complete kits with matching proving units and voltage indicators, a new generation of high intensity LED test lamps for 360 degree viewing in bright sunlight and a comprehensive range of locking off devices for MCBs and fuse carriers. Combination carry cases for kits ensure that proving devices are always at hand when needed.

MTL10PD Drumond test lamp and matching proving unit LOK6 universal fuse carrier lock off

Martindale safe isolation kits provide the simplest solution for implementing safe isolation practices and include everything needed to prove dead, lock off and stay safe.

Wagobox-Capsule

Versatility & Performance Encapsulated The New Wagobox IP68 Waterproof Enclosure

It’s a hard life being exposed to the British weather. Snow covered winters, wet autumns and hot summers! In outside spaces across the UK electrical enclosures are constantly tested by the elements, it’s no exaggeration to say life outdoors is tough.

For the Wagobox-Capsule to protect your electrical connections year in year out nothing has been left to chance! We provide an enhanced UV resistant polycarbonate body to optimise durability, double ‘o’ ring lid seals for the ultimate in water resistance, and a unique hexagonal design for added strength. So whether you require protection against dust or water the Wagobox-capsule’s ground breaking design will give you superior levels of performance. The Wagobox-Capsule is designed for use with both armoured or non-armoured cables. Optional Steel plates make bonding brass armoured glands a breeze whilst the slide on mounting bracket provides an easy method for mounting onto at surfaces.

As with all our Wagobox enclosures, simplicity is at the heart of the Wagobox-Capsule design. The unique shape of the capsule offers lid or side entry options whilst a range of optional extras ensure it will meet your needs.

For further information call 01353666011 or email: sales@wagobox.com. To purchase, order online at www.wagobox.com or from your local Wagobox wholesaler.

Simpler, Quicker, Safer...

www.connexbox.com