Connections - Winter 2014/15

Contractors flock to Live North in Liverpool // page 6

connections THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC AND ELECSA REGISTERED CONTRACTORS

ADVICE P17 Reviewing your business strategy for the year ahead

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CASE STUDY P20 Lighting London’s bridges required new skills from Proctors Electrical Services

£5.00

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WINTER 2014-15 | ISSUE 192

TESTING P36

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Testing and measurement kit is evolving to meet changing demands

PEAKS AND TROUGHS How Bill Wright forged a niche in the heart of the UK’s steel city

// page 28

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21/01/2015 10:17

Winter 2014-15 | Issue 192

Contents 4

Plugged in News Liverpool hosts third Live North event

17

6

New Year honour for TrustMark chair

7

Awards success for NICEIC ELECSA Live

8

20

Renewables news More funds available for green improvements

10

Electrical Safety First news YouTube videos put DIY-ers at risk of shock

12

Conference explores consumer behaviour Product news The latest products on the market

13

15

24

28

Features

Live wire Advice The start of a new year is a good time to review your business strategy and identify new areas of growth, says Stephen Archer

17

Opinion 18 Jim Wallace reviews current practice in electrical inspection and testing Case study 20 Surrey firm Proctors Electrical Services is lighting London’s bridges Training 23 Alan Charlton explains how contractors can keep up to date with changes to the IET Wiring Regulations Events A grand day out at Live North

24

Insight 26 Understanding the third amendment Current affairs Sparks fly highest

36

Fully charged Ask the experts 41 Answers to the technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions Technical Steel wire armoured cables

Contractor profile 28 Sheffield based family firm W Wright Electrical has forged a multi-million pound business, finds Nick Martindale Get smart at form filling 33 It makes sense to be as proficient and professional at your paperwork as you are with your practical work Spoilt for choice 36 The variety and quality of test and measurement equipment is on the up, discovers Rob Shepherd

44 Contractors flock to Live North in Liverpool // page 6

connections

The emergency lighting 47 ‘small works’ completion certificate

THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC AND ELECSA REGISTERED CONTRACTORS

ADVICE P17 Reviewing your business strategy for the year ahead

/

CASE STUDY P20 Lighting London’s bridges required new skills from Proctors Electrical Services

£5.00

/

WINTER 2014-15 | ISSUE 192

TESTING P36

/

Testing and measurement kit is evolving to meet changing demands

Certification of fire detection and 50 alarm systems in domestic premises Determining conduit size

53

Using metallic conduit as a circuit protective conductor

57

Snags and solutions

60

66

» Cover photo: Mike Poloway/UNP

PEAKS AND TROUGHS How Bill Wright forged a niche in the heart of the UK’s steel city // page 28

Illustration: Cameron Law

Quality assured NICEIC and ELECSA registration can help you win more work

Connections Winter 2014-15 3

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Comment EMMA CLANCY

First phase Quality assured In an age of changing consumer habits, NICEIC and ELECSA registration can help you win more work by providing customers with the guarantee of a job well done ‘The NICEIC and ELECSA brands have been proven to win businesses more work’

I

would like to wish you all a very happy new year and thank you for your continued support. The end of 2014 saw NICEIC pass the 18,000 mark on its Roll of Approved Contractors for the first time in its 59-year history. This is a significant achievement and testimony to the electrical contractors who see the value that third-party assessment and approval brings to a business.

The NICEIC and ELECSA brands have been proven to win businesses more work, with up to 95 per cent of all Part P work across England and Wales now carried out by a contractor registered with either badge. As our “Power” campaign, launched last year, states, NICEIC and ELECSA contractors carry out more commercial and domestic work than any other scheme operator.

This is an encouraging sign and one we will be working hard to ensure continues in 2015 as we face new and ever-more demanding challenges.

One of these challenges is how we adapt to changing consumer needs. The plethora of “consumer” sites that populate the market now, and claim to provide assurances that every customer needs, are

Emma Clancy is chief executive officer, Certsure

quickly becoming the number-one search tool of customers looking for a local tradesperson.

However, while these sites are popular and serve a certain need, it must be remembered that not everyone listed on these sites has voluntarily agreed to have their business checked and assessed by a third party. Such sites also offer no form of consumer protection, and should a problem arise there is no comeback for the customer or person ordering the work.

Our core message will remain that to ensure a safe job to a high standard, always employ a contractor registered with NICEIC or ELECSA. I know that many of you feel strongly about this subject and I look forward to hearing and sharing your thoughts.

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 Victoria Burgher 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

4

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 2015 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 Polestar (Colchester) Ltd. 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 Technical helpline 0870 013 0391 Customer services 0870 013 0382 Sales 0870 013 0458 Training 0870 013 0389 Legal/tax 24-hour helpline 0845 602 5965

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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S O U T H 2 0 1 5

1 4 M AY

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Construction Marketing Awards ‘Best Use of Events and Live Marketing’

21/01/2015 10:18

News/Renewables news/Electrical Safety First news/Product news

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

Liverpool hosts third Live North event Contractors from all over the north-west headed over to Aintree Racecourse at the end of November for the third Live North event, and the first held in Liverpool.

Those attending heard from a wide range of speakers, including television presenter and architectural designer Charlie Luxton (pictured right), who spoke on the challenges of incorporating and retrofitting electrics and other essentials into sustainable houses.

“The role of electrics in low-energy housing is becoming more demanding and more technical,” he said. “You already have IT, surround sound, lighting rigs and now we have air-tightness with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery.

Electricians need to engage with this; they need to ask design architects what their strategy is for their cables.”

Other notable presentations revolved around the changes outlined in the third amendment to BS 7671, with Mark Coles,

BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS ON APPRENTICESHIPS

technical regulations manager at the IET, outlining the thinking behind the changes, and Certsure’s Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth examining what these mean in practice for contractors.

David Spillett from the Energy Networks Association spoke about the challenges facing the UK’s energy network and how this will affect contractors in the long term, while legal expert Geraldine Fleming discussed the dangers that can arise from not agreeing terms and conditions before work starts.

The next event will be the award-winning Live South (see page 8), held on 14 May at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Tickets cost £29 plus VAT for NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA registered contractors, and £49 plus VAT for non-registered contractors.

For more information and to book your place visit www.niceic-elecsalive.com

Visitors to 19 Newey and Eyre branches in England and Wales will be treated to a sponsored breakfast one day during National Apprenticeship Week, which runs between 9-14 March.

Those taking part will receive information on developments around apprenticeships, as well as helpful advice on further training in the electrical industry.

Each of the events will start early and finish at 11am on a designated day of the week.

The events are being run in association with JTL, whose training officers will be on hand to answer any questions, encouraging contractors to learn more about the benefits of apprenticeships and consider their staffing plans for the year.

“With employers reporting increasing confidence about the future, it is essential that there is better understanding that the apprenticeship route provides enormous benefits for both employers looking to expand their workforce and the young person seeking a rewarding career,” said JTL director of operations Caroline Turner.

As well as the support of an experienced, qualified JTL training officer working with both employer and apprentice, other incentives include a £1,500 government grant to cushion employers’ training costs.

MPS SHOW SUPPORT FOR REGISTERED ELECTRICIANS

> Stephen Williams MP (left) with NAPIT CEO Michael Andrews and Certsure CEO Emma Clancy at the launch in 2014

6

A number of MPs recently attended a Parliamentary drop-in session at Portcullis House to show their support for the government-backed registered competent person electrical (RCPE) register.

The RCPE register (www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk) launched in July last year and lists all Part P registered, competent electricians in England and Wales. It is supported by all full-scope electrical competent person scheme operators.

The Westminster event, held in January 2015, generated cross-party interest and helped boost political awareness of the RCPE register, which aims to improve electrical safety in the home.

All RCPE registered firms have demonstrated their ability to work safely to legally required standards and are regularly assessed. The register is designed to give the general public peace of mind when hiring an electrician. Visit www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/benefits

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DUO PASS ON ADVICE TO BELFAST STUDENTS Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth took time out from their busy schedule recently to pass on their experience to some apprentices just starting out in the industry.

While visiting Northern Ireland for a TechTalk, the duo popped into Belfast Metropolitan College to chat with the students who are all currently undertaking the City & Guilds 2357 level 3 electrotechnical qualification.

The visit was organised by college lecturer Ian Thompson and both Cable and Staniforth (pictured left at Belfast Met) were only too willing to help out. They spoke to the students about their experiences in the industry and passed on invaluable knowledge to the apprentices.

CONTRACTOR ILLUSTRATES HOW GIRLS CAN DO TRADES A new children’s book designed to challenge gender stereotypes in the trades sector features NICEIC registered electrical contractor Mandy Reynolds.

The Sheffield-based contractor has been flying the flag for female electricians in recent years – both as a supporter of NICEIC’s Jobs for the Girls campaign and a contributor to a report about women in the construction industry, edited by the MP Meg Munn.

Now Mandy has been immortalised in print by appearing as a caricature in a new book showing young children that there are all sorts of jobs out there, regardless of gender.

The book – Yes We Can! – was produced

by Sheffield-based charity WEST (Women in Engineering Science and Technology). In addition to Mandy, characters based on real-life h tradeswomen include Kay the plumber and Tracy the bricklayer.

“Sheffield has a proud history of excellent tradeswomen like Mandy and we’re chuffed to be able to celebrate them,” said Liz Kettle from WEST. “Our aim is to inspire a whole new generation with these role models.”

Following a successful launch, in which kids were invited down to meet the characters, the book also appeared in a recent item on the children’s news programme Newsround.

Mandy started her business, Mand Made, in 2008. No stranger to fame, she won the national Which? local business of the year award in 2011 and 2013.

“WEST does excellent work challenging the misconception that women can’t do “men’s work”, so I’m delighted to support this book,” she said.

“It aims to create an acceptance in young children, before they become influenced by stereotypes, that women can do nontraditional work. I am the walking, talking proof that a girl can be an electrician.”

Copies of Yes We Can! and online activities are available at www.westskills. org.uk/yeswecan. The book is free, but donations to WEST are welcome.

New year honour for TrustMark chair Liz Male, chair of TrustMark, the government trades standards body, has been appointed an MBE in the Queen’s New Year 2015 honours list, in recognition of services to construction and consumer protection.

Male has promoted consumer protection issues within the construction industry for more than 20 years. Following a long career in public relations and marketing in property and construction, she set up her own PR agency, Liz Male Consulting, in 2001 and was a consultant to TrustMark when it first launched in 2005.

She was appointed non-executive chair in January 2011. Since then TrustMark

has developed significantly, with new corporate governance, a strong board and improved standards, covering technical competence, good trading practices and customer service, which were launched by the consumer minister Jenny Willott in April 2014.

“It is a huge honour to receive this recognition for services to construction and consumer protection,” said Male.

“Every week I hear inspiring stories of TrustMark-registered firms that have gone out of their way to do great work for customers. They are the people who deserve our greatest respect and praise, and they are the firms I will continue to champion.”

In addition to running her PR business and her non-executive work as TrustMark chair, Liz is an active fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a National Energy Foundation trustee.

NICEIC contractor to the rescue An NICEIC contractor came to the rescue when the BBC called for help to catch out a suspected dodgy trader on its Watchdog programme recently.

The company in question was not registered with any approved body and had received several complaints from customers in the south London area.

Watchdog producers called NICEIC to see if a local registered contractor could help set up a scenario so they could monitor the standard of work being done.

Chris Escrader, who manages Husky Electricians, based in east London, agreed to help and spent two days with the team working on the project.

He let the producers know what they should be looking out for and the correct process that should be followed when changing a consumer unit.

On the show, which aired to more than four million viewers, the company in question took various shortcuts while carrying out work, including working live when installing a new circuit, failing to carry out any checks or tests and, alarmingly, setting up a temporary light direct from the incoming mains.

After filming Chris corrected several of the faults. “I’ve seen a lot of bad work in my career, but this was top of the list, with no regard for the safety of the homeowner,” he said.

Connections Winter 2014-15

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News/Renewables news/Electrical Safety First news/Product news

Plugged in Awards success for NICEIC ELECSA Live NICEIC and ELECSA Live – the technical conference and exhibition for electrical contractors – has won two major awards.

“Live” picked up the prestigious conference of the year award (UK) at the Eventia Awards, before winning another gong at the Construction Marketing Awards in the best use of events and live marketing category.

Now in its fifth year, NICEIC and ELECSA Live has become the leading event in the electrical contracting industry. Last year’s Live South event at Epsom Downs racecourse welcomed 27 per cent more delegates than 2013 and a record number of exhibitors.

The events provide electrical contractors with high-quality, useful content that helps them to develop their businesses and their technical knowledge.

Speakers at the two events in 2014 included George Clarke of Channel 4’s The Restoration Man and Amazing Spaces; sustainable architectural designer Charlie Luxton of Channel 4’s Building the Dream; and NICEIC’s very own Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth.

February 3 TechTalk Doncaster Doncaster Racecourse 11 TechTalk Newmarket Newmarket Racecourse 24 TechTalk Swansea Liberty Stadium March 3-5 Ecobuild London Excel

“It is a great achievement to be recognised by separate, independent panels made up of UK event management and live marketing experts,” said Mark Smith, head of marketing and communications for NICEIC and ELECSA. The events were recognised for the attention to detail of their “customer journey”, in which dozens of “tiny noticeable things” were built into the programmes to stimulate the five senses of exhibitors and delegates.

Live also received commendations for conference of the year and small event of the year at the UK Event Awards.

NICEIC ELECSA Live South 2015 takes place at Epsom Racecourse on 14 May. Book now at www.niceic-elecsalive.com

THIRD AMENDMENT UPDATE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE Contractors looking to get up to speed with the new amendment 3 changes can now access an online course created by NICEIC and ELECSA, in n association with online learning specialist Virtual College.

The interactive tutorial guides contractors through all the relevantt changes and arms them with all the information they need to know in simple, easy-to-follow chapters.

“Online teaching means users can choose to learn at their own pace and do not need to take time off work,” said Alan Charlton, head of training at NICEIC and ELECSA. “Those who sign up for the online course can go back and revisit the material whenever they want.”

The introduction of amendment 3 does not require contractors to o gain any extra qualifications. However, from July 1 this year it will be a requirement that h all ll electrical l i l installations comply with BS 7671: 2008, incorporating the changes.

“We work with organisations across all sectors to create engaging e-learning resources,” said Alistair Gladstone, divisional director at Virtual College.

“More than 1.5 million online learners have undertaken our courses and electrical contractors, in particular, have been quick to recognise the benefits that this form of learning can provide,” he said.

The online course costs £50 and is available now from www.virtual-college.co.uk or 3rdamendment.co.uk or by calling the training team on 0843 290 3398.

• See “Learn all about it” on page 23

8

INDUSTRY // DIARY

5-6 ELEX Harrogate Yorkshire Event Centre 10 Registration Roadshow Glasgow Glynhill Hotel 11 Registration Roadshow Oban Regent Hotel 12 TechTalk Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium 17 Registration Roadshow Inverness New Drumossie Hotel 18 Registration Roadshow Aberdeen Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel 19 TechTalk Sunderland Stadium of Light 25 TechTalk Warwickshire Stoneleigh Park

NICEIC SIGNS UP 18,000th APPROVED CONTRACTOR More than 18,000 firms are now registered as Approved Contractors with NICEIC, with the landmark being passed in December last year.

Certsure, which now operates the NICEIC and ELECSA brands, now maintains a total roll of more than 33,000 registered contractors, including Domestic Installers.

NICEIC has witnessed an increasing number of applications from firms looking for Approved Contractor status in recent months.

“The NICEIC name has been proven to win contractors more work,” said Emma Clancy, Certsure CEO. “It would seem firms more than ever are keen to have the quality of their work assessed and gain NICEIC certification because of the benefits it brings to their business.”

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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Get ahead of

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21/01/2015 10:19

News/Renewables news/Electrical Safety First news/Product news

Plugged in Householders can still apply for extra funding to make energy efficient home improvements through the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF).

Additional money for the scheme was announced during a second wave of funding for the GDHIF back in December.

Although the extra £24 million for solid wall insulation was swallowed up almost immediately, there is still money available for other measures, including: • Up to £1,000 for installing two measures from an approved list; • Up to £100 refunded for a Green Deal assessment if that recommends the measures applied for; • Up to £500 more if applying within 12 months of buying a new home.

Details of further releases of funding will be announced on a quarterly basis, with the next release expected in February 2015. Funding is part of the additional £100 million for household energy efficiency measures announced in October 2014, which is in addition to the £450 million already allocated to household energy efficiency over 2014-17.

“The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has been incredibly popular,” said energy and climate change minister Amber Rudd.

< A domestic biomass boiler

“The fund is helping thousands of people have warmer homes and more control of energy bills. Although the fund for solid wall insulation is fully allocated, there’s still money available for a range of other measures and another release of funding is expected in February.

“More than three-quarters of a million homes have already had energy-saving improvements installed as a result of the Energy Company Obligation and Green Deal.”

ECO toolkit for installers Ofgem has launched a new ECO toolkit, aimed at improving the understanding of installers involved in the delivery of renewable energy-saving measures.

The toolkit comprises a new infographic illustrating the journey of an ECO measure from installation to final approval, as well as updated FAQs and new signposting to a suite of resources and information, including: • The CSCO tool; • The Affordable Warmth Group (AWG) guidance note; • FAQs for installers and other third parties; • Examples of eligible ECO measures; • Supplier contact details; • A list of appropriate guarantees; • Examples of extension receipts and refuse or revoke decision letters; • ECO progress reports.

Ofgem says the toolkit aims to support suppliers and the supply chain by improving the transparency around how an ECO measure is processed. The interactive toolkit is now available on the ECO website and can be found at www.ofgem.gov.uk/ecotoolkit

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The start of 2015 saw a further reduction in the government’s feed-in tariff (FiT) by an average of 0.5p, taking a 4kW or less system down from 14.38p to 13.88p/kWh. But despite the tariff reductions, the number of installations continues to increase. The total number of FiT installations by the end of November 2014 had reached 3,136MW (equating to some 631,356 installations). This represented a 28 per cent increase in total FiT installed capacity and a 26 per cent rise in the number of installations since November 2013.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels were responsible for 99 per cent of the increase in installations and 82 per cent of growth in capacity, with wind contributing 13 per cent to capacity growth. Wind capacity grew by 44 per cent (91MW) since November 2013.

At the end of November 2014, PV installations represented 86 per cent (2,698 MW) of total installed capacity under the FiT scheme, and 99 per cent (623,485) of the total number of installations.

To see the most recent tariff levels visit www.ofgem.gov.uk

HEAT PUMPS LEAD THE WAY Heat pumps continue to be the renewable heat technology of choice for consumers since the domestic renewable heat incentive was introduced in April last year, ahead of biomass boilers and solar thermal.

Figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change revealed there were over 7,000 heat pump applications up to the end of November, resulting in just over 6,000 accreditations, compared with over 4,000 biomass and thermal applications.

The next heat pump training courses will be held in Chesterfield on 16-19 February and 13-16 April. For more information email traininginfo@certsure. com or call 0870 013 0389.

Alamy/Shutterstock

More funds available for green improvements

GROWING DEMAND FOR PV PANELS DESPITE TARIFF CUTS

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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News/Renewables news/Electrical Safety First news/Product news

Plugged in YouTube videos put DIY-ers at risk of shock A campaign by Electrical Safety First has focused on the dangers of DIY home improvements and the need to use a registered electrician.

Research by the charity found that 21 million people would use an online tutorial or ‘How To’ video to carry out home improvement, even if they lack the necessary experience. Currently, there are more than three million YouTube videos featuring home DIY, which people are using rather than seeking professional advice.

Electrical Safety First also discovered that, after following online guidance, around one in 12 had caused significant damage to their property, or had to pay for costly repairs because of botched DIY. Relying on such information can also have other risks – 10 per cent of those surveyed have had an electric shock when undertaking electrical DIY and over a quarter have encountered unhelpful (or even incorrect) instructions online.

“Undoubtedly, there are some DIY jobs

that people can do themselves but electrical work really should be left to the professionals,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First.

“We found that fitting a new bathroom or rewiring a house are among the top five electrical jobs that people would feel able to do when following online advice. Yet these are complicated tasks that by law should be carried out, or checked, by a registered electrician.”

To highlight this issue, the charity has produced mock ‘How To’ videos, accessible at www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/DIY

Fife Council awarded gong for safety project Fife Council took the award for the best electrical safety project, sponsored by Electrical Safety First, at the SELECT Electrotechnical Awards.

Held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the centre of Glasgow, the awards ceremony celebrated the brightest and best of Scottish talent in the electrical sector.

“This is the seventh year we have sponsored the award,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First.

“It gives us the opportunity to highlight and celebrate those companies that are championing electrical safety within their working practice. Awards are all about identifying and highlighting examples of best practice, so that the industry can continue to raise the bar for the benefit of all.”

Fife Council received the award for an innovative collaboration with Perth and

12

Kinross Council to improve their electrical inspection regime – a process Perth and Kinross had previously undertaken in their area.

The partnership promoted knowledge transfer – including electrical safety – and the cost-effectiveness of sharing expertise, in a major maintenance programme for public buildings.

From left to right: Bryn Walker, Electrical Safety First; John Beveridge, Perth & Kinross Council; Andy Graham, Fife Council; and Hamish Millar, Canongate

DINNER DEBATE FOCUSES ON UNSAFE GOODS Almost two-thirds of all domestic fires in Scotland are caused by electricity, with electrical products the prime culprit.

Coupled with Scotland’s problem with fake and substandard goods (since 2010, for example, Glasgow’s enforcement agencies have seized almost 10,000 fake electrical items) product safety has become an increasing concern.

So a recent dinner debate in Perth highlighting the cost of unsafe electrical goods – hosted by Electrical Safety First and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – attracted considerable interest, particularly as consumer protection is a power that may soon devolve to the Scottish Parliament.

“While counterfeit and substandard are not the same thing, it’s no surprise that many fake items are also substandard or faulty,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First. “Given the safety risk of such items and the number of fires caused by electrical products in Scotland, this issue must be addressed.”

The debate was attended by a number of MSPs and relevant organisations, including Trading Standards Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre.

GOVERNMENT PLANS RECALL REVIEW The Consumer Bill of Rights, which is currently making its way through Parliament, has been described as the most radical shake-up of consumer legislation in the past 30 years.

During the Bill’s recent report stage in the House of Lords, Baroness Neville-Rolfe announced that the government planned to review the product recall system.

“We are delighted our work on product recall has been recognised and will be acted on,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First. “Our research has shown that our complex and self-regulated product recall system has left many unsafe products in homes.

“So we wholeheartedly support the government’s review of the system, although we are disappointed that our amendment to the Bill – which aimed to bridge the gap between faults that manufacturers and suppliers of electrical goods know about and those consumers are aware of – has not been included.”

The amendment proposed by Electrical Safety First was designed to increase transparency, by requiring manufacturers, retailers and distributors to provide specific details, such as the number of people affected by a recalled item. It also called for detailed information on recalled items to be displayed, on both the website of the relevant government department and enforcement agencies.

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To view Electrical Safety First’s Switched On magazine, visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

Consumer Voices on Product Recall

CONSUMER APATHY HOLDS BACK PRODUCT RECALLS Consumers underestimating risks posed by recalled products is a significant factor in low recall rates for electrical items – despite four million household appliances being recalled by manufacturers in the past four years – according to Electrical Safety First.

The charity’s major new research report, Consumer Voices on Product Recall, (pictured) was launched at its recent high profile product safety conference.

Since 2011, 288 different electrical products have been recalled, including seven fridges, four washing machines and seven hairdryers. Yet typically only 10-20 per cent of recalled products are returned or repaired.

Electrical Safety First found that recalls were associated with “annoying faults”, rather than safety, with two million adults admitting to ignoring a recall notice.

However, 77 per cent of people would be more likely to respond if they understood the potential dangers.

The research also discovered an issue regarding the type of product recalled, with consumers more likely to act if the recall was of a large item. Yet the electrical appliances most reported as faulty or dangerous are smaller ones, such as chargers and toasters.

A key report finding was consumer concerns regarding the use of personal information. The majority (61 per cent) of those surveyed said they would be more likely to register if they knew their information would not be used for marketing purposes.

Electrical Safety First is working with manufacturers to help them engage the public more effectively in recalls, but it is also calling on consumers to register their products and to opt out of receiving marketing information if this concerns them.

Conference explores consumer behaviour Electrical Safety First’s fourth product safety conference – Time for Change – was held in London in November, chaired by former Working Lunch presenter and leading business journalist, Declan Curry.

This highly successful event brought together a host of distinguished presenters and delegates, from leading manufacturers and retailers to trade bodies, enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations.

Key themes included the changing shape of product safety legislation, recall effectiveness and the issue of behavioural change in consumers. But the highlight of the event was the launch of

Electrical Safety First’s research project on consumer behaviour, and how this impacts on traceability and product recall.

“This was the fourth product safety conference we have run and over this period we have seen increased demand for an event of this nature,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First.

“The conference has become a major forum for ideas and information around product safety as it brings together key stakeholders from across the board, to ensure consumer protection benefits from the industry’s collaborative approach.”

Getting the safety message across It’s been a busy quarter for social media. In October, Electrical Safety First launched its ‘Don’t Die for DIY’ campaign, which promoted the need to use a registered electrician and featured a series of fake YouTube tutorials. These outlined why real experts are needed to deal with electrical issues. The videos have collectively received more than 80,000 YouTube views and the charity has had a great deal of engagement with them through its social media channels.

Electrical Fire Safety Week in November also received a lot of attention on social media, thanks to some images and infographics produced around portable heaters. And over Christmas the charity got into the festive spirit by launching its seasonal safety video, which showed ‘Bad Elf’ taking over Santa’s workshop, with some explosive results. It also hosted a Christmas tree competition where photos tagged #sparklyandsafe could be entered for a chance to win an iPad. There’s still much more to come in 2015 so keep up to date with Electrical Safety First on Twitter (www.twitter. com/ElecSafetyFirst), Facebook (www.facebook.com/ElecSafetyFirst) or by joining our LinkedIn group (search for Electrical Safety First at www.linkedin.com).

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News/Renewables news/Electrical Safety First news/Product news

Plugged in FAST FLUORESCENT

< Ideal’s lockout kit

SAFE SHUT-OUT The contractor PRO lockout kit from Ideal Industries aims to give electricians a safe isolation solution that will work with virtually all fuse and breaker types currently available on the market.

The kit is aimed at contractors working on domestic, commercial and industrial installations and features a full range of MCB lockout devices, including pins-in, pins-out, pins-out wide, tie-bar and various other universal MCB lockout devices.

These kits can make it easier for contractors to prevent unauthorised use of circuits or equipment and help to achieve compliance with The Electricity at Work Regulations and related Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes on safe working practices. They could also help prevent accidents or deaths caused by the unexpected energisation of circuits or machinery. www.idealindustries.co.uk

Fluke’s new 1000FLT tester claims to be able to perform all essential tests to fluorescent lights in just 30 seconds by eliminating trial and error from inspections.

The five-in-one device includes a lamp tester, ballast tester, non-contact voltage detector, pin continuity tester and ballast discriminator.

The tube and ballast can be tested without removal from the fixture while a metal test rod that extends up to 79cm can eliminate the need to climb a ladder for some tests.

The non-contact voltage detector also removes the need to make contact with live circuitry, while the ballast type can be determined by pointing the tester at the glowing lamp. www.fluke.co.uk

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< Martindale’s ET testers

THIRD AMENDMENT TESTERS Martindale Electric has launched its new ET series of multifunctional electrical installation testers, which have been designed to meet the new requirements of BS 7671, following the third amendment to the Wiring Regulations.

The ET4000 and ET4500 testers include the latest third amendment fuse tables and red and green LED indicators for instant pass/ fail confirmation of all the main test functions.

The devices carry out an automatic polarity and wiring check to identify any potentially dangerous wiring faults in advance of any testing, and feature both a high level of input protection and a CAT IV safety rating. www.martindale-electric.co.uk

HITACHI COVERS THE HARD-TO-REACH ANGLE Hitachi Power Tools has developed a new angle drill designed to help contractors having to access hard-to-reach areas.

The DN18DSL/L4 angle drill has a low centre-height of 23mm to help with working in confined spaces and also includes a white LED work light to help users see what they are doing.

The drill features a torque of 12Nm, controlled by a variable speed paddle switch, and weighs just 1.7kg. It also includes a battery life indicator to help users judge when the drill needs charging. < Hitachi’s new www.hitachi-powertools.co.uk angle drill

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Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training BUSINESS STRATEGY

Live wire Action plan The start of a new year is a good time to review both where your business is heading and how to find new sources of growth, says Stephen Archer

W

ith the economy picking up, electrical contractors will be hoping to prosper in the year ahead. Consider the following tips as you plan your strategy for the year:

Question the status quo

Where growth has come from in the past may not be where it comes from in the future. Winning businesses are flexible, lean, energised, fluid and innovative by nature. Growth often requires change, so a successful business tends to be one where all assumptions are challenged.

Business leaders must question themselves, be curious and encourage challenge from colleagues and senior management. Within those challenges lies the secret of future growth and success. Sacred cows cannot be allowed; change is inevitable.

Slim down services Companies need to ruthlessly narrow their offerings and put their sales and marketing efforts behind the services that customers want and which are the most profitable. This focus will ensure that growth and a better reputation will follow, as well as profit.

Keep your competitors close Remember the phrase “be close to your friends but closer to your enemies”. By understanding the competition, companies can see where and how they can take a competitive advantage early. They will also be more aware of their competitors making mistakes – learn from their mistakes and take action not to copy them.

Retain existing customers better Talk to customers – but not about services This may sound counterintuitive, but it works. Successful companies are in regular dialogue with their customers about the challenges they face, which ensures they sell customers value, rather than products and services. This approach helps a company grow and differentiate itself.

Look at lapsed customers and how to recover them. There is always a customer churn rate, but don’t accept that customers cannot be brought back. They can, and the cost to make this happen can be very low. Everyone likes to feel loved; customers too.

Do social media well Boost customer service Companies should mystery-shop themselves to understand how their customers are treated and how that can be improved. Business leaders need to maximise the team’s customer focus, from top to bottom, inside and out. Everyone must be trained in commercial excellence so they maximise the sales/quality/profit delivery. Borrow ideas from other industries – firms need to open their eyes and broaden their horizons.

Social media may seem “so 2010”, but for many companies it’s not co-ordinated and is an ill thought through mess. But get it right and you will gain market presence and reputation, for very little cost.

Encourage innovation Create a culture where employees are encouraged to perform, evolve and innovate. Beware people who are comfortable – they are not trying and not trying is not contributing.

Illustration: Cameron Law

Fire some customers This sounds crazy, but companies need to examine the bottom 20 per cent of their customers and ask what it is costing to serve them. Some customers cost too much to serve because they don’t buy enough; others cost too much because they are unreasonably demanding. If customers don’t offer a real potential to grow beyond today’s revenues, then get rid of them. But do it nicely. Put the prices up and stiffen terms; they may then become profitable.

Empower your team To lead is to empower. Success comes when a team works as a whole.

Organisations only move forward with supportive leadership.

Stephen Archer is director of Spring Partnerships (www.spring-partnerships.com)

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

Email nick.martindale@ redactive.co.uk

Live wire

The test of time A quarter of a century after The Electricity At Work Regulations were implemented in 1989, electrical inspection and testing of appliances is now well established in the workplace, says Jim Wallace

T

he Electricity At Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR), which came into force on 1 April 1990, set out to raise electrical safety standards in all working environments. As such they became the starting point for what is now known as portable appliance testing.

It may come as some surprise that nowhere in the regulations is there a specific stated requirement for the testing of electrical equipment. There is, however, an onus on the dutyholder to ensure that equipment in the workplace is maintained so as to prevent danger, and it is this that has established the implied requirement to perform periodic inspection and testing.

Regular portable appliance inspection and testing is now one of the main ways in which dangerous counterfeit electrical equipment and recalled electrical items are being identified and removed from the workplace.

In addition, when electrical accidents do occur, formal testing records can demonstrate the reasonable and diligent approach towards workplace safety that is increasingly required by the Health and Safety Executive, employers and insurance companies.

Jim Wallace is associate director of the Seaward Group. To download Seaward’s white paper The Preventative Role of Portable Appliance Testing – 25 years of the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989 visit www.seaward.co.uk

In this respect, the EAWR 1989, along with the HSE Memorandum of Guidance and successive IET Codes of Practice, have consistently provided sound advice based on industry experience and the electrical safety needs of the business community.

Most recently, the emphasis on a common sense approach to testing has also been useful in helping to improve understanding. In particular, with the focus on risk assessment, the clarification of the responsibilities of dutyholders and contractors has helped to further strengthen relationships between the two and has encouraged higher levels of professionalism in the appliance testing industry. A code of conduct for those involved in carrying out electrical appliance inspection and testing would surely be the next step in formalising approaches and responsibilities.

Above all, as we move forward, current practice is proving that adequate electrical safety measures can be effectively maintained without the imposition of an overly excessive test regime on the dutyholder. This is good news and can only be for the long-term benefit of all responsible for workplace safety and everyone involved in the PAT sector. Here’s to the next 25 years.

IN FOCUS// ALAN ROBERTS

» Alan Roberts is managing director of C&A Pumps & Engineering Ltd

How did you come to start the business in 2012?

I was a director of a specialist pumps and control equipment company when it closed in 2012. A lot of the clients had nowhere to go and they said they would commit to orders so I decided it was worth starting my own business.

Have you stuck to pumps?

Pumps are our specialist area, particularly underground pumping stations and groundwork.

But we’ve also moved into other work such as lighting installations. I started with

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one employee and we’re now at 12 people.

Where are you based?

We’re in Hartlepool. One of our strongest areas is the north-east, but we travel to Cumbria, the Scottish borders and into Yorkshire.

The hardest thing is controlling the cash flow.

Clients like to hold onto their money and suppliers want to be paid promptly and then you have to pay wages, so that’s been a steep learning curve.

And your own role?

Who is a typical client?

Housebuilders. Most of the new sites haven’t been built on before so they don’t lend themselves to natural gravity for rainwater or sewage, so we install pumping stations.

How have you found running your own firm?

I don’t have the time to be as hands-on as I was in the first year; I really have to focus on working on, rather than in, the business.

What about outside work?

I used to work part-time as a motorcycle instructor but now I try to spend time with my grandchildren.

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

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Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training LONDON’S BRIDGES

Live wire

No bridge too far Surrey firm Proctors Electrical Services has lit many of London’s bridges, carrying out work that is not for the faint-hearted

By Andrew Brister

I

f you want to know about electrical work on London’s bridges, look no further than John Proctor. From Chelsea Bridge in the west of the capital through to the iconic Tower Bridge, Proctors Electrical Services has been responsible for the lighting and electrical installation on many of London’s crossings.

Its route into this slightly unusual sector came when working alongside community services contractor FM Conway on all of Westminster Council’s structures, including fountains, bridges, underpasses and lit statues. The association led to Proctors being invited to tender to work alongside Conway on the contract to relight Chelsea Bridge.

“Back in 2005, this was one of the very early LED lighting installations,” recalls managing director Proctor. “Linear LEDs were used on the outsides of the walkway, but metal halide lamps were still preferred to light the piers. LEDs were still relatively unknown, quite expensive and the outputs weren’t very good.” The festoon lighting on Chelsea Bridge used filament lamps.

A scaffolding system was used underneath the bridge, with the team working on decking to install lighting and busbar trunking. The contract required close co-operation with the scaffolding company to ensure that the team met the client’s tight schedule. “The scaffolding started on one side and went towards the middle of the bridge,” recalls Proctor. “Then the team started taking the scaffolding from the one end and putting it on the other side. It’s quite important to keep to your schedule when putting in heavy cables when the scaffolding is about to disappear from one end.”

Tall order That experience stood Proctors in good stead when working on one of London’s most famous landmarks: Tower Bridge. Again working alongside Conway, the company was commissioned to install a modern LED colour-changing lighting system to Tower Bridge, and the

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prestigious six-month project was completed successfully in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee river pageant.

“Tower Bridge is a Grade I-listed building so you couldn’t just run cables on the surface everywhere,” recalls Proctor. “Also, this was the first time I’d come across DMX signalling for lighting, so I needed to get my head around how that works to understand how it needed to be wired. A common data cable runs to all light fittings and each fitting has a unique register number when you send code down the cable.”

Signalling was not all the firm had to contend with. How do you install lighting on the bridge’s iconic curved iron girders? “Our first plan was to bring giant 30m access machines onto the bridge,” says Proctor. “We did that for about a week before realising that it wasn’t going to work – we kept having to stop when the winds picked up.

So we came up with the idea of abseiling electricians.” Almost all of the external lights and cabling were installed by abseilers, including John’s son James, while Proctors also worked with Avalon Abseiling.

‘Our first plan was to bring giant 30m access machines onto the bridge but that wasn’t going to work.

So we came up with the idea of abseiling electricians’

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If you’ve been involved in an interesting and innovative project let us know.

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

With the bridge closed to enable shifts from midnight to 5am, Proctor remembers finishing at the Tower before heading straight off to work at some of his more conventional projects.

Olympic challenge Given that the work on Tower Bridge had taken six months and Chelsea Bridge three months, how do you manage a further six bridges in just eight weeks? The idea of the Dazzle: Bridge Illumination project was to upgrade another six of London’s crossings in time for 2012’s Olympic spectacle. Tower Bridge would then be joined by the Golden Jubilee, Waterloo, Blackfriars, Millennium, Southwark and London bridges in a dazzling display of colour to celebrate the 50 evenings of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Spectacular light displays ran from 9.30pm until 5am, with a special moment taking place on the hour, every hour.

“Much like at Tower Bridge, we had to change existing luminaires to colour-changing LEDs and provide the DMX signalling,” says Proctor.

“We had to bring in an extra 25 electricians across the sites to make sure we got the work completed on time. Work on Blackfriars and Southwark bridges had to be carried out at night, again using abseilers, with bridge closures and shifts running from midnight through to 6am.”

Abseilers were also used for the high-level fittings on the two Golden Jubilee footbridges either side of Hungerford Bridge.

Exactly what is inside London Bridge and Waterloo Bridge may come as a surprise to Londoners. “London Bridge is hollow, and so is Waterloo Bridge,” explains Proctor. “So the lights that shine up from underneath onto the arches were predominantly installed from cabling within the

> Plug-and-play lighting on the Millennium footbridge (left) and abseiling electricians at work on Tower Bridge (below)

structures, which are accessed via manholes in the pavement on the bridges.” The inside passages are far from roomy, so operatives had to be trained for work in confined spaces and carry breathing apparatus and air monitors. “Provided the air quality is fine, you can stay down for a couple of hours at a time,” he says.

The Millennium footbridge between St Pauls and the Tate Modern on the South Bank was the only bridge to have temporary lighting installed for the celebrations.

“Lights were hired, which were all plug and play,” says Proctor. “All the work was carried out while the bridge was still in use.”

Lasting legacy Elsewhere, the more permanent installations have continued to brighten up the lives of Londoners since the Olympics. While LED white light is the order of the day in normal operation, the colour-changing facilities have been used to raise awareness for vital charity initiatives, such as glowing pink on the Breast Cancer Campaign’s Wear It Pink day.

Since then, Proctors has replaced all the sodium and fluorescent light fittings to white LEDs within the Strand and Piccadilly underpasses and installed colour-changing LEDs on Ruislip Manor Bridge, helping lift turnover to a healthy £500,000 this year.

Proctor employs four full-time electricians and an office manager and business is good. Surely he has time for just one more bridge?

» Andrew Brister is a freelance journalist, specialising in the electrical industry Connections Winter 2014-15

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Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case Study/Customer care/Training THIRD AMENDMENT

Live wire Learn all about it Contractors keen to ensure they are up to date with the changes to the IET Wiring Regulations can do so without taking huge amounts of time out of the office, explains Alan Charlton

A

s I am sure you are all now aware, amendment 3 to the IET Wiring Regulations has been published.

Traditionally when a new book or amendment comes out we get many calls asking for clarification as to what that means regarding

training updates.

The first thing to confirm is that, as this is just an amendment to the 17th edition, no additional formal qualification is required. As such, providing that you already hold an appropriate 17th edition qualification, no extra qualifications are required.

But, of course, to satisfy legislation any operative must be “competent” in the field of work they find themselves in. Now “competent”, and what that actually entails, is often the cause of many an argument within the industry. However, my own personal view is that “competent” refers to an individual who has both the qualification and experience to be able to safely and confidently carry out the work to the appropriate standards. Experience comes with an understanding and development of skills to be able to carry out a particular task.

During my time as an area engineer I assessed many a contractor whose idea of catching up on a new amendment was to have a quick read of any update while peering over a cup of tea in the café or at the wholesaler’s counter.

The trouble with this is obvious, but I have a certain degree of sympathy with individuals who cannot afford the time off work to sit on a course that doesn’t lead to any further qualification.

of their own home, at a time that suits them. This also means that, once bought, an individual can revisit the course as many times as they wish at no additional cost.

Personal choice Both options offer several benefits and it is down to personal choice as to what fits best. Some prefer the option of attending a workshop because it focuses the mind and provides the opportunity to ask questions. Some prefer to work at their own time and pace over a weekend or an evening.

Whichever route you choose you can be sure of obtaining the correct information from the experts rather than from a mate over a cup of tea.

The two routes are just one of the additional benefits available to contractors since NICEIC and ECA joined forces to create Certsure LLP. Since the creation of Certsure common guidance and technical knowledge has been provided to registered contractors and members of NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA. This hopefully is benefiting contractors and individuals who may have previously been confused by seemingly differing messages.

The workshop costs £99 +VAT and the online course costs £50 +VAT. For more information call 0843 290 3398 or visit 3rdamendment.co.uk

Efficient learning Alan Charlton is head of training and consultancy at Certsure. For more information about training courses available email traininginfo@certsure.com

‘During my time as an area engineer I assessed many a contractor whose idea of catching up on a new amendment was to have a quick read of any update while peering over a cup of tea in the café’

Illustration: Cameron Law

So at Certsure we have created two new routes for contractors to stay up to speed without the need to take several days out from their busy schedule.

The first of these is a classroom-based workshop that is delivered in around five hours. This provides an opportunity to go through the amendments individually and relate these to what it means for the person out on the job each day. Importantly, it also gives those who attend plenty of time to discuss any other technical issues that might arise from the workshop with highly trained and skilled engineers.

Second, we have developed an online teaching module that allows an individual to access the course content and understand amendment 3 from the comfort

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Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training LIVE NORTH

Live wire

A grand day out Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse was the setting for the recent Live North event, which saw a record number of contractors looking to find out about new industry developments

By Nick Martindale

T Photography: Rafa Bastos

he third Live North event, held at the end of November, saw a change of venue, with the focus switching to Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse, home of the world famous Grand National.

The event saw a record number of contractors take a day off work to find out more about industry developments – particularly changes to the third amendment – and hear from expert speakers, as well as meeting key suppliers and taking advantage of discounts on leading products and brands.

With the event also slightly later in the year, there was a Christmas theme to the introductory session, with visitors pulling crackers placed under their chairs to see if they were the one lucky winner of free tickets to next year’s Grand National.

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> Charlie Luxton (top right) was joined by Tony Cable (below left), Geraldine Fleming (below right) and Darren Staniforth (far right) Architectural designer Charlie Luxton was the star attraction, and he spoke to contractors at length about the role they can play in helping to ensure buildings are both sustainable and energy efficient, particularly as the government attempts to reduce carbon emissions from housing by 90 per cent by 2050.

“There is a massive challenge coming in housing,” he said.

“We have to change from thinking about a house as a series of unconnected elements and think of it as a whole.”

Contractors will need to be aware of the need for the membrane of new houses to be air-tight and factor this into their own electrical designs. They can help achieve energy savings by promoting and installing mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems. Both these elements will need to be incorporated into tenders, said Luxton. “Electricians need to engage with this,” he said. “They need to ask designers and architects what their strategy is for cables. They need to be part of the solution, not the problem.”

Mark Coles, technical regulations manager at the IET, also drew in the crowds as he provided an overview of the main changes to the third amendment, which came into effect at the start of this year. This included exceptions to the need for RCD protection in non-domestic premises, as well as the need for switchgear assemblies including consumer units to be made of non-combustible material. Other important elements concerned the use of wiring in escape routes and including loft inspections as part of EICRs, where electrical equipment is present.

Third amendment changes were also the theme for a session by NICEIC and ELECSA’s Tony Cable and Darren

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‘Electricians need to ask designers and architects what their strategy is for cables. They need to be part of the solution, not the problem’

‘It was pleasing to see so many contractors wanting to learn about how the third amendment will impact them, as well as how to develop their business in other ways’ Staniforth, who explained in more depth the implications of sections 557, around auxiliary circuits, and 559, on lighting and luminaire installations.

The duo also hosted an interactive technical session at the end of the day, where contractors tested out their technical knowledge using audience voting pads.

Other highlights of the day included Geraldine Fleming from law firm Knowles, who talked about the dangers contractors face from failing to specify terms and conditions ahead of taking on work. David Spillett from the Energy Networks

Association spoke about the UK’s increasing demand for electricity and how this will impact contractors in the longer term. Ivan Gill from WF Senate also presented two sessions, outlining new trends in emergency lighting and fire alarm standards.

In the exhibition hall – as well as enjoying free mince pies – attendees were able to witness a number of demos, including Scolmore’s wireless home automation system, Brother’s compliant labelling tools and NICEIC and ELECSA’s online certification package. A wide range of exhibitors were also on hand to provide contractors with one place to see all the newest equipment, and take advantage of some of the deals on offer.

“This was the first year we’ve held the event in Liverpool and it was a great success,” says Mark Smith, head of marketing and communications at NICEIC and ELECSA. “It was particularly pleasing to see so many contractors wanting to learn about how the third amendment will impact them, as well as how to develop their business in other ways.”

• Live South will be held on 14 May 2015, at Epsom Downs racecourse. For more information or to book your tickets visit www.niceic-elecsalive.com Connections Winter 2014-15

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Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training THIRD AMENDMENT

Live wire

Get up to speed The third amendment to BS 7671: 2008 is now operational and all NICEIC and ELECSA contractors need to understand the changes

T

he third amendment to BS 7671: 2008, The IET Wiring Regulations, came into effect on 1 January 2015.

Electrical contractors now have a six-month transition period to get up to speed with the changes – from 1 July it will be a requirement that all electrical installations designed after 30 June 2015 must comply with BS 7671: 2008, incorporating amendment 3: 2015.

All ELECSA and NICEIC contractors will have to demonstrate a full and comprehensive understanding of amendment 3 at their next assessment visit after 30 June 2015.

The following is a summary of the main changes: New numbering system The third amendment recognises UK-only regulations and these are now identified by a new numbering system. Regulations with a .100 number are CENELEC requirements and those with a .200 number are specific to the UK.

26

‘All ELECSA and NICEIC contractors will be required to demonstrate a full and comprehensive understanding of amendment 3 at their next assessment visit after 30 June 2015’

• Where, other than for an installation in a dwelling, a documented risk assessment determines that the RCD protection is not necessary.

Maximum earth fault loop impedances given in tables 41.2, 41.3, 41.4 and 41.6 have been revised to take account of the Cmin factor. Cmin is the minimum voltage factor to take account of voltage variations depending on a number of considerations.

Chapter 42: protection against thermal effects Due to the number of consumer unit fires reported within domestic premises, Regulation 421.1.201 (UK only) has been added. This requires consumer units and similar switchgear to have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material or to be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.

Note that this new regulation does not come into effect until 1 January 2016, to ensure an adequate supply of suitable cabinets or enclosures is available, but this does not preclude compliance with the regulation prior to that date.

Part 2: definitions Definitions have been expanded and modified, including the introduction of some new symbols. A list of abbreviations has been added. The definition of “competent person” has been replaced with “instructed person (electrically)” and “skilled person (electrically)”.

Chapter 51: common rules Section 551 concerning compliance with standards requires all equipment to be suitable for the nominal voltage, and also requires certain information to be noted on the electrical installation certificate.

Chapter 41: protection against electric shock There is now a requirement for RCD protection for socket-outlets up to 20A for all installations, however exceptions are permitted for: • A specific labelled or otherwise suitably identified socket-outlet provided for connection of a particular item of equipment; or

Chapter 52: selection and erection of wiring systems A new regulation 521.11.201 (UK only) gives requirements for the methods of support of wiring systems in escape routes.

The regulations concerning selection and erection of wiring systems have been re-drafted. Reference to “under the supervision of a skilled or instructed person” has been removed.

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ELECSA and NICEIC certificates

Chapter 55: other equipment A new section, 557 auxiliary circuits, is included. All auxiliary circuits are defined in Part 2.

Section 559: luminaires and lighting installation Requirements for outdoor lighting installations and extra-low-voltage lighting installations have been moved to new sections 714 and 715 respectively.

Part 7: special installations or locations In section 701, locations containing a bath or shower, there is now a requirement for RCD protection to be provided for: • Low-voltage circuits serving the location; • Low-voltage circuits passing through zones 1 and 2 not serving the location.

Appendix 3: time/current characteristics of overcurrent protective devices and RCDs This includes changes in connection with maximum earth fault loop impedance to take account of the Cmin factor given in CLC/TR50480: 2011.

Appendix 6: model forms for certification and reporting The schedule of inspections (for new work only) has been replaced by examples of items requiring inspection during initial verifications (which must be appended to the electrical installation certificate).

A small number of changes to the electrical installation condition report and associated notes have been made, including a requirement to carry out an inspection of electrical equipment in an accessible roof space.

• This summary is not a definitive guide to all the amendment 3

As a result of the changes, ELECSA and NICEIC have had to amend and revise a number of existing certificates and reporting forms. Initial work has been undertaken on the most popular forms used by registered contractors: electrical installation certificates; electricall installation condition reports; and minor electrical installation works certificates.

Other forms of certification will be reviewed and amended, if appropriate, between now and the end of June 2015.

These new reports and certificates can be used with immediate effect for all new installations designed to comply with amendment 3 of BS 7671. Any current reports and certificates that are held by registered contractors are still valid for use on any installations that have been designed to the previous version (amendment two) of BS 7671.

As part of the work to revise the certificates and reports, ELECSA and NICEIC have taken the opportunity to rationalise the way they look.

Previously the design and layout of certificates and reports used by ELECSA and NICEIC registered contractors were quite different. It has been decided to standardise the design templates for all certificates and reports across both NICEIC and ELECSA brands, and differentiate them using the appropriate branding colour schemes.

As a result, the ELECSA (domestic) electrical installation certificate, the ELECSA A (domestic) electrical installation condition report and the ELECSA (domestic) minor electrical installation works forms have now been aligned to provide the same look and feel as NICEIC domestic forms, except of course these will be produced in the familiar brand colours of blue and orange as currently used by ELECSA registered contractors.

Certsure has also decided to change the colour of the certificates used by its NICEIC domestic installers from purple to red. However, the logos used on the NICEIC certificates will still distinguish those issued by Approved Contractors from those issued by Domestic Installers. All amendment 3 certificates are now available on our online certification site.

changes. For more information or to order a copy of the changes call NICEIC on 0843 290 3501 or visit www.niceic.com Connections Winter 2014-15

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // W WRIGHT ELECTRICAL COMPANY: W Wright Electrical BASED: Sheffield FOUNDED: 1978 MAJOR PROJECTS: Robin Hood Airport STAFF NUMBERS: 86 TURNOVER: £6.5 million

Steely determination Forged in the heart of Sheffield’s industrial past, family firm W Wright Electrical has grown to become a multi-million pound business employing 80 people, on the back of both public and private sector work

By Nick Martindale

I

n the heart of Sheffield’s old steel district, to the north of the city, lies W Wright Electrical & Mechanical. Home is a former Firth Brown Steels stable building that housed ponies used to transport steel around the factories.

Managing director Bill Wright bought the building from Sheffield Development Council in 1996.

“We gutted it,” he says. “We had to totally refurbish the building inside and out.”

Like much of the area in which his business is based, Bill himself is steeped in Sheffield’s steelmaking past, having originally trained as an apprentice electrician in the steel works. After completing his apprenticeship he worked in contracting.

“The work was at heavy steelworks, in big projects such as mines and quarries,” he recalls.

That was back in the early 1970s, but already it was a sector in decline, and the turbulent times of that decade meant his career in that area of the industry was shortlived.

“I was made redundant from work in the steel sector and went to work for a business doing maintenance for small engineering companies that didn’t require a permanent electrician,” he says. “I rose to contracts engineer and it was 28

quite a good job, but then a lot of these small engineering firms shut down because of the recession.”

In 1978, Bill took the decision to start up on his own.

“The company was shrinking and it didn’t need a contracts manager,” he says. “If I was going back on the tools I wanted to do it for myself.” Initially this was as a sole trader, supported by his wife Sandra, who today is the company’s finance director.

“About three months in I took on my brother-in-law, John Willmott [now the company’s engineering director], as an apprentice straight from school,” he says. “About two years later I took another one on, and it grew from there.”

Most of the work back then was through builders, taking on grant jobs to upgrade electrics in houses as part of bigger renovation projects, as well as working with some smaller

‘It’s still very competitive. I don’t think margins in this area will get to where they were before the recession for a number of years’

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£6.5m: The company’s turnover for the most recent financial year

> Engineering director John Willmott

engineering firms on the back of his previous contacts. In time, this evolved into schools, hospitals, prisons and factory units, and the operation became a limited company in 1988.

Finding its feet The business continued to develop, to the point where Bill came off the tools in the mid-1990s. By that point it employed around 15 people; today the figure is 86, including 19 office staff. “We’ve probably got 40 electricians, and the rest are plumbers and pipefitters and apprentices,” he says.

Most of its work is in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, but they also venture as far afield as Newcastle and Wolverhampton. Much of it is in the public sector, including schools, town halls, libraries and hospitals. But there’s also a wide range of private sector work, both through main contractors and as a main contractor itself, including fire alarm systems, door-entry systems and emergency lighting.

“We work with some large builders, such as Henry Boot, including a large aircraft maintenance hangar at Robin Hood Airport,” says Bill. “That contract was probably worth £1.5 million, about four years ago. We’ve also done theatres at local hospitals, nursing homes and factory units.”

The business was forced to make redundancies during the downturn, says Bill, although some of those affected

have since returned. But the market in South Yorkshire, in particular, remains tough, with fewer signs of an upturn than in other parts of the country. “It’s still very competitive,” he says. “The margins are very tight and you’ve got to show the customer you can offer the service, as well as a competitive price. I think it will be a number of years before margins in this area get to where they were before the recession.”

Bill remains wary of which jobs the company takes on.

“We’re very selective with the main contractors that we work for – we went through a three-year period where we got hit by a bankruptcy every year,” he says. “You’ve also got to make a profit, or you’re endangering your company, and we have a responsibility to probably 60 families.” But the business’s strong balance sheet – it has grown organically through its own profits rather than borrowing – saw it through the worst of the recession, he says, and meant it could avoid the fate of many of its rivals.

“Some contractors had very little cash to start with, did a lot of negative tendering and as a result are no longer in business,” he says.

If there was a positive to come from the downturn, it was that it enabled the business to further develop the mechanical side. “I had a few plumbers and pipefitters on the books, but it really expanded about four years ago when Connections Winter 2014-15

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Photography: Mike Poloway/UNP

Bill Wright

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // W WRIGHT ELECTRICAL

40: The number of electricians

> Finance director Sandra Wright

W Wright Electrical has on its books quality mechanical engineers became available,” explains Bill.

“That accounts for about a third of the turnover now.”

Turnover has also now returned to pre-downturn levels, hitting £7.5 million in 2013 and £6.5 million in this current year. “We could probably manage £9 million,” says Bill. “We have the resources and the finances for that.” The maximum size of contract the business would take on depends in part on the length of time it will take, he says, but it’s just done a £1.5 million M&E project in 26 weeks.

Industry figure If the name Bill Wright is familiar, it’s probably due to his other roles in the industry, in particular as national president of the Electrical Contractors’ Association in 2005-6 – a post he took after chairing the ECA’s contracts and commercial and legal committee. “Now I sit on the labour relations committee and am joint chairman of the North East and Yorkshire Joint Industry Board (JIB), and I sit on the national board of the JIB,” he says. “It’s all been very positive for us, and it was quite an honour to be asked to be national president of the ECA.” He’s a passionate believer in JIB – all his operatives on both the electrical and mechanical sides of the business are fully employed on JIB terms and conditions, although he’s less happy that this has created an uneven playing field in the current market. “The rates we pay are at the top of the industry,” he says. “But there are firms out there taking on people who are bogus self-employed. It means the market rules; when there’s a shortage of work then people take advantage of the labour, and when there is a shortage of labour the labour will demand high pay, so it’s bust and boom. With the JIB it’s a continuous process.”

This, he says, has affected how the business positions itself; it’s never moved into renewables on the grounds that it wouldn’t be able to compete.

But the business has benefited from a loyal workforce over the years, partly as a result of paying JIB rates. “I’ve got three employees who have got gold watches for 25 years’ service and we have another three who have been working for us for 25 years, but have left once and come back,” he says.

There’s also a strong family element; his son Christopher is a supervisor in the firm, as are two of his nephews.

Apprenticeships are another important part of the business, and the firm takes on some apprentices every year. “The vast majority stay with us at the end of the apprenticeship,” he says. “If we have a lot of large projects we’ll take on more, because for the first 12 months you have to be very careful where you put them.

‘We’re very selective with the main contractors we work for.

We went through a three-year period where we got hit by a bankruptcy every year’ 30

“We also try to mentor the apprentices by putting them with a supervisor or a senior electrician.”

There’s no shortage of people keen to become apprentices in South Yorkshire, unlike in other parts of the country, but he does have concerns over the government’s proposed changes to the funding. “Its determined it’s going to come in, but there will be a massive drop in apprentices as a result,” he says. “The big businesses will take the administration of it in their stride, but the small contractors that employ the vast majority of apprentices will not want that. We’re large enough to carry on, but whether I have a year off taking on apprentices as a protest is another matter.”

Look to the future Having survived a number of recessions – he rates the most recent as the worst – Bill is wary of putting figures on future growth. “If things improve then we will expand with it, but in today’s market you can’t plan too far ahead,” he says.

“You hear firms saying they’re going to increase turnover, but you’ve got to finance that, and if you’re using anybody’s money except your own then you’re paying interest on it.

We’ve always used our own money and we’ve never taken a lot out, and that’s why we’re still here. We had a big enough cushion for bad debts not to have a big effect.”

He’s also adamant that retirement is not on the agenda, but with John some 10 years younger than him there is a natural succession plan in place. His daughter also works in the construction industry as a qualified supervisor, he adds, although not for the business.

Like many from this part of the world, Bill is not one to crow about his own achievements, but he has every reason to be pleased with how things have turned out. “I think we’ve got a very good reputation,” he says, choosing his words carefully.

“There are a lot of companies our size that are no longer here. In some, the founders have retired and handed it over to somebody else and it’s not worked, and some have been bought out and then shut down years later. But we’re still here, even after the recessions we’ve had.” » Nick Martindale is editor of Connections Could your business feature in Connections?

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

•

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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21/01/2015 12:09

EICRS

Get smart at form filling

Paperwork may not be the most exciting part of a contractor’s job, but it is an important skill and could protect you in the event of a dispute

L

ove it or loathe it, certification and reporting is an important part of any electrical contractor’s work. In fact, filling out forms or certificates correctly can actually prove to be just as important as the electrical work itself.

For the conscientious contractor, it can actually improve a business’s profits and enhance a reputation with clients.

Certification provides a statement to the client that the work carried out complies with BS 7671, and is safe to be put into service. It is worth noting that under the heading “provision of information” section 1.2 of the Approved Document P (2013) and clause 1.8 in the 2006 version applicable in Wales, the issuing of appropriate information and certification is a legal requirement for

certain types of electrical installation associated with dwelling houses.

A certificate, inclusive of its statement related to items inspected and tested, is an integral part of your installation work. It is a factual document and, most importantly, a safety certificate.

It may help when contractual matters are being discussed or contested, and could also be very important if a legal defence to the Electricity at Work Regulations is required.

It’s all in the detail How to complete a certificate and what information to include is often down to individual choice.

Two electricians could fill out the same form for the same job but still come back with different reports. This is often down to style and preference for what exact details need to be recorded.

However, as a rule of thumb, NICEIC and ELECSA would always suggest

that the report should be clear and easy to interpret by another skilled person (electrically). So the next time you fill out a report think of what details you would like to find if you were reading someone else’s. Would another electrician easily be able to identify the work you have carried out through your report?

What to look out for Earthing arrangements, verification of main protective bonding conductors and characteristics of the primary supply overcurrent protective device are all issues that prove challenging to obtain within an existing electrical system.

In installations such as hospitals, MOD establishments and airports this is normally impractical. However, a requirement of Regulation 132.16 (BS 7671: Amd 3 2015) is for the above to be established. This can result in Connections Winter 2014-15

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20/01/2015 11:11

EICRS

many hours of investigation and the electrician recording several limitations on their certificate.

One option would be to formulate a standard letter, and obtain the information prior to starting a project on-site. Don’t forget there may well be more than one Ze on a site with a high voltage distribution system and more than one 11kV/400V substation.

Electrical inspection condition reports (EICRs) The purpose of an EICR (also known as periodic inspection and testing of an electrical installation) is to determine, so far as is reasonably practical, whether the installation is in a satisfactory condition for continued service. The report identifies any damage, deterioration, defects and/or conditions that may give rise to danger, along with observations for which improvement is recommended.

It is important to explain and agree the limitations with a client prior to the EICR commencing. If, for example, high bay lighting in a factory cannot be inspected or tested then this should be recorded as a limitation.

If the limitations are not agreed and this section of the report is left blank, then it can be assumed that all the electrical system has been inspected and tested. So just like a design section of an electrical installation certificate, an electrical contractor should not assume responsibility for items they have not carried out.

Minor works certification The minor works certificate is one of the most commonly underused within dwellings. It is sometimes not appreciated that it is quite a versatile certificate that can be used for such work as replacement of accessories and equipment on a like-for-like basis, additional socket-outlets on a single existing radial or ring final circuit, or adding mechanical protection to existing equipment.

Replacement of accessories should be considered as maintenance and it is a requirement that when this type of work is carried out the circuitry is left safe. This will require relevant tests to be carried out, which can include earth fault loop impedance and polarity, and these should be recorded.

Be professional Electrical installers sometimes 34

Are you amply covered?

Unless you have professional indemnity (PI) insurance in place, then the answer is probably no, you are not amply covered.

You will be required to hold public liability (PL) insurance as part of your registration and to cover your legal liability to the general public for third-party injury or damage.

But this won’t cover you if you give an incorrect professional opinion or advice on electrical installations not carried out by you.

PL and PI are two totally different types of insurance, but often get confused by contracting firms, leading to devastating results. What happens if the works you approve result in an electrical fire causing destruction, damage or injury? Have you the right cover in place to fight a legal battle, should you be accused of wrongful advice?

If you are involved in conducting EICRs, then double-check your current insurance policy. Speak to NICEIC/ELECSA Insurance on 0845 601 2376 to receive some impartial advice on public liability or professional indemnity cover and how to extend your current business policy.

> Ensure your paperwork is as professional as your practical work ignore the importance of the look of certificates and reports, presenting certificates to clients that are dog-eared or blotted with coffee stains. Illegible writing should also be avoided since it indicates a less than professional approach.

The first two points can easily be avoided by improved housekeeping; however, the latter point can be resolved by use of an electronic certification system such as NICEIC/ ELECSA online. Electronic report-writing provides a clean and legible look to your certificate and adds to your creditability. It also means forms can easily be emailed or printed off for clients and personal record-keeping.

Use the correct form It might seem obvious, but failing to ensure that you are using the right certificate is not only unprofessional, but can also make you liable.

Some certificates are commonly mis-used, either by accident or intentionally. Either way it is disordered and can lead to legal action if it is deemed you have carried out the form-writing inappropriately. One of the most common mistakes is to use minor work certificates for certificating anything up to multiple alterations to different circuits, new circuits, consumer unit changes and full rewires.

Additionally, using forms relating to electrical installation work that contractors have not been assessed as competent for, such as electrical installations in potentially explosive atmospheres, is not encouraged and could lead to legal action against the contractor.

Part of the job While report writing is not the most exciting part of any job, it is a skill that all electricians need to work at. Good report-writing can not only save time and money later should any dispute arise, it can also be a legal document to rely on should any query or complaint escalate.

A report or certificate is a written record of the work you have carried out and it should be treated with the care and attention that it requires.

NICEIC and ELECSA always suggest that completed certificates are issued to the client as soon as practical following the completion of electrical installation works. The certificate should not be withheld for contractual reasons, especially if the electrical installation is in use, and should never be used as a bargaining tool.

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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21/01/2015 12:11

TESTING

Spoilt for choice The variety and quality of test and measurement equipment is on the up. That should be good news for contractors specialising in this area or looking to increase their offering

By Rob Shepherd

T

he speed, accuracy and reliability of test and measurement equipment is at an all-time high – which is great news for electrical contractors. Manufacturers are consistently developing new devices that can be used for a variety of applications and, whether they are used to test traditional electrical wiring, IT network infrastructures, portable appliances or solar PV, there are more options than ever to consider. Since they form a significant financial investment, it makes sense to investigate what’s on offer in order to make sure that any return on investment is fully maximised.

The feel-good factor has been back in the construction industry for most of 2014. According to the latest 36

Markit/CIPS construction purchasing managers’ index, the figure stands at 61.4 for October. This is well above the 50-mark, which separates expansion from contraction, and suggests the UK construction sector is enjoying its strongest phase since the summer of 2007.

The test equipment sector is beginning to notice the effects of the upturn too, as those contractors who had previously decided to stick with their old test equipment look to upgrade. As such, manufacturers are doing all they can to attract contractors to their brands by offering products that deliver high performance, while being competitive in price.

“The resurgence of the construction industry has had a positive effect, including for those of us involved in the design, manufacture and supply of test equipment,” says Andrew Holland, director of marketing at Martindale

Electric. “However, we are finding that not only do electrical contractors want a high level of technical specification, they also require fast and effective support and service.”

Access new areas One of the most buoyant areas of the sector is portable appliance testing (PAT) – an area many electrical contractors have diversified into in order to create a broader portfolio of services.

Manufacturers have been quick to seize upon this and a range of easy-to-use, low-cost PAT testers has been introduced to meet this demand.

The introduction in November 2012 of the 4th edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment has also had a positive impact. It established the principle that all electrical systems and equipment require precautions to be taken against the risk of death or injury.

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12 months: How frequently most manufacturers advise test equipment is recalibrated

> Martindale’s ET4 tester (far left), Megger’s PAT120 (left) and Ideal’s TightSight (below)

The requirement for a risk assessment has resulted in a preventative maintenance approach, which means that electrical contractors carrying out PAT have had to become more familiar with life safety systems such as fire detection and emergency lighting.

“The ever-present workplace safety considerations and regulations mean that the PAT market has remained strong throughout the past few years, and will continue to do so,” says Jim Wallace, associate director at Seaward.

Another area that some electrical contractors are diversifying into in increasing numbers is IT network

‘The nature of construction and maintenance sites means that equipment is often subjected to tough environments and handling, but it still has to provide accurate readings’

infrastructure installation. Anyone working in this sector will need to purchase and use test equipment, such as qualification testers – which prove that a network works and can be used to locate faults – and certification testers – which exhaustively test network performance.

“The most basic tester is a good quality wiremapper that checks for cabling faults such as split pairs and shorts,” explains Tony Kumeta, EMEA business unit manager, electrical, at Ideal Industries. “To supply any documentation to obtain a cable manufacturer warranty, a LAN cable certifier will also be needed. If cable system warranties are not required, electrical contractors can now provide proof of performance through the use of a transmission tester, which tests a link’s ability to support Gigabit Ethernet and provides documentation to the IEEE 802.3ab standard.”

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Great expectations Electrical contractors are demanding test equipment that is user-friendly, versatile and robust. This has led to smaller and lighter instruments with greater versatility and better displays, as well as intuitive user interfaces.

All-inclusive test kits are also becoming popular and usually comprise, as a minimum, a tester, results-recording software, test leads and accessories.

Good quality software is still crucial, especially when it comes to providing test results, and some manufacturers have built 17th edition certificates into their test equipment so that details can be recorded during the process. Data is automatically entered into the correct certificate fields during the test and can be validated on-site, without the need for repeat visits, saving both time and money.

Just as importantly, test equipment must be able to withstand the day-to-day rigours of life on-site. “We always look for robust and reliable products,” says Mick Geeson, NG Bailey’s safety, health, environment and quality manager. “The nature of construction and maintenance sites means that equipment is often subjected to tough environments and handling, but it still has to provide accurate readings. For this reason, equipment must be checked for ongoing accuracy throughout its lifetime.”

Partly as a result of such high demands, warranties and technical support are now considered key elements of the overall package, says Simon Wood, UK wholesale and distribution sales manager at Megger.

“Test equipment is a significant financial investment for electricians so it is very useful for them to know that if a problem should occur in the warranty period, their investment is protected,” he says.

“Similarly, although most testing is straightforward, all electricians occasionally encounter tricky or unusual situations. Rather than spending a lot of time trying to solve the problem, it’s much more convenient to contact a manufacturer’s technical support team, which will be able to provide sound practical advice on how to address it.”

Staying in shape The calibration of the test and measurement instrumentation is vital in ensuring that manufactured instruments continue to meet their published performance specification.

“Most manufacturers specify regular 38

Case study: Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, Dorset, has more than 2,300 pupils and more than 5,000 appliances and items of electrical equipment in use every day in its various classrooms, IT suites, technology laboratories and administration areas.

The focal point of the school’s PAT policy is a Seaward Apollo 600 tester, which combines electrical testing with safety data collection features, including a digital camera, to help demonstrate compliance with all the latest guidance on inspection and testing programmes.

Formal PAT testing on most equipment is undertaken on a two-year cycle, with those electrical items subject to more demanding and heavier use, such as some science and technology apparatus, tested annually.

“With so much electrical equipment, the ability to carry out inspection and testing in an effective and efficient manner is crucial and can make a huge difference to our workload,” says Kieran Williams, health and safety officer at the Thomas Hardye School.

> A Seaward tester in action at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester

‘The ever-present workplace safety regulations mean that the PAT market has remained strong throughout the past few years’

maintenance and recalibration at least every 12 months,” says Kumeta. “This ensures the accuracy of test equipment and should be part of any contractor’s quality procedure. The process usually involves sending the equipment away to a laboratory and it is highly advisable to make sure this is done, especially when working in applications where the inaccuracy of a non-calibrated piece of test equipment could jeopardise safety.”

Electrical contractors should also self-check their instruments between periods of full calibration, adds Wood.

“The instrument and leads should be inspected frequently for signs of wear and damage,” he adds. “It is also desirable to check between routine calibrations using a dedicated test box, which is designed to confirm the correct functioning of all types of 17th edition test instruments.”

In the face of tougher competition, test equipment manufacturers will continue to differentiate their products and make them more beneficial by introducing more features and benefits.

Electrical contractors are totally reliant on their test instruments and those manufacturers that can offer the reliability, availability, support and service required will be at the top of the shopping list. » Rob Shepherd is a freelance business journalist specialising in building services

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You can prove it Apollo 600. The only PAT tester to provide photographic proof of visual inspection and risk assessment.

PAT tester: Full suite of electrical safety tests Risk assessment: For both electrical and universal risks On-board camera: Visual evidence to tag against records Record any workplace test or inspection: Including PPE, fire safety, access equipment etc.

Apollo 600 is part of the Apollo series.

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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

To protect meter tails against earth faults is it necessary to install an RCD at the origin of an installation connected to a domestic TT earthing system?

Any RCD installed in a consumer unit will not provide protection for the meter tails between the meter and the consumer unit.

For a TT earthing system, the earth fault loop impedance is generally of too high a value to ensure that sufficient current will flow to cause the distributor’s main fuse to operate within an appropriate time. It should be noted, however, that the purpose of the service fuse is to protect the service cables from faults in the installation.

Precautions, therefore, need to be taken to minimise the potential for such faults, such as keeping the meter tails as short as possible and employing cables and consumer units having no exposed-conductive parts, or by using some form of insulated cable grip as the tails enter the consumer unit.

QUESTION QUESTION

ANSWER

Can luminaires, such as fluorescent fittings be fixed to the top and bottom of a typical wall-mounted kitchen unit?

Generally yes. This is because such units are considered to be a rigid fixture and are not normally disturbed in service. However, it should be ensured that all the applicable requirements of BS 7671, including Section 559 (Luminaires and Lighting Installations) are met, and the fittings are attributed the symbol shown, to indicate their suitability for mounting on normally flammable surfaces.

QUESTION

ANSWER

Is there any particular height at which distribution boards/consumer units should be mounted?

BS 7671 does not stipulate any height for such items to be mounted. However, Approved Document P (Electrical safety – Dwellings): 2013 Edition for use in England suggests that for new dwellings only, one way to comply with Part M of the Building Regulations is for the consumer unit to be mounted so that the enclosed switches are between 1350 mm and 1450 mm above floor level.

The rationale for this height in new dwellings is that the switchgear will generally be out of reach of young children yet within reach of other people standing or sitting (paragraph 1.4 refers).

For contractors working in Wales and Scotland the guidance documents for these parts of the United Kingdom, respectively are Approved Document P – Electrical safety – Dwellings (2006 Edition) and Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic – Safety, and these documents give no specific reference to consumer units and their mounting positions.

It is always advisable for contractors to consult the local Building Control Department to ensure consumer unit mounting height complies with the building regulations.

Connections Winter 2014-15

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged QUESTION

ANSWER

Do I have to verify voltage drop when carrying out periodic inspection and testing?

Verification of voltage drop does not normally form part of a periodic inspection and test.

QUESTION

ANSWER

Do I need to verify the adequacy of the cross-sectional area of a metallic conduit system to carry earth fault current, where the conduit does not serve as the circuit protective conductor for the enclosed circuit(s)?

No. Where cable management systems do not serve as the circuit protective conductor there is no requirement to apply Section 543 (Protective conductors) of BS 7671.

However, if the conduit is exposed to touch it will be an exposed-conductive-part and therefore should be connected to the protective earthing system of the installation (Regulation 411.3.1.1 refers). Furthermore, the conduit should still maintain good electrical continuity, with all connections made tight.

QUESTION

ANSWER

I have carried out periodic inspection and testing where I observed, amongst other things, the absence of ‘seals’ to the distributor’s cut-out. What Classification Code should be recorded on an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for this observation?

Observing whether a ‘seal’ is present or absent does not form part of the general inspection checklist of the electrical installation.

The purpose of periodic inspection and the compiling of the subsequent EICR are to report on the condition of an existing installation – however, the Schedule of Inspections which forms part of an EICR does provide a section for observations regarding the distributor’s equipment. The absence of a ‘seal’ on the distributor’s cut-out is not a condition that would give rise to danger, nor is it a departure from BS 7671 and therefore should not be recorded on an EICR. You should, however, notify (preferably in writing) the person ordering the report that the ‘seal’ is missing from the cut-out.

QUESTION

ANSWER

Where a dwelling has more than one consumer unit at the origin, is a ‘main switch’ to achieve simultaneous isolation of all consumer units required at the origin of that installation?

By definition the term consumer unit indicates a unit which contains, amongst other things, a main switch for double-pole isolation. Therefore, provided each consumer unit houses such a main switch a further main switch is not required for simultaneous isolation at the origin.

However, to ensure correct isolation and the subsequent safety to persons, adequate identification and notices will be required to clearly identify the particular parts of the installation controlled by each main switch (Regulations 537.2.2.6, 514.1.1 and 514.11.1 refer). Also, a warning notice (as illustrated) may be required, to avoid confusion.

Warning This installation has more than one main switch. To fully isolate the installation from the supply, the main switches on DB1, DB2, DB3 and DB4 have to be in the OFF position.

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Winter 2014-15 Connections

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged 44 47 50

Steel wire armoured cables – maintaining earth continuity The emergency lighting ‘small works’ completion certificate Certification of fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises

53 57 60

Determining what size conduit to use Using metallic conduit as a circuit protective conductor Snags and solutions: A practical guide to everyday electrical problems, now updated to Amendment No 3 of BS 7671

Steel wire armoured cables – maintaining earth continuity Steel wire armoured (swa) cables often serve as distribution circuits and final circuits in electrical installations. This article will briefly discuss why it is important that the armouring throughout the length of such cables should form part of the protective earthing system for the installation and have a resistance of a sufficiently low value to cause the operation of a protective device, where the protective measure Automatic Disconnection of Supply (ADS) is employed.

T

he armouring and terminations along the cable route should also be capable of withstanding the thermal and mechanical forces which arise from overcurrent at times of an earth fault. Consideration of earth fault current is outside the scope of this article.

Regardless of whether the armouring serves as a protective conductor, or not, the armouring should always be effectively earthed to ensure the requirements of ADS are met. Should the armouring not be effectively earthed and a fault develops due, for example, to mechanical damage of a line conductor incorporated in the cable, the condition may leave the armouring attaining line voltage and pose a danger to persons in the vicinity of the installation or using the installation.

Furthermore, where the armouring is employed as a protective conductor and connects to metallic enclosures, such as items of switchgear and controlgear that also serve as the protective conductor of the circuit concerned, all the requirements of Regulation 543.2.2 (relating to the suitability of a metallic enclosure to provide effective earthing), should be met.

Terminating the armouring Whilst a range of methods are available for terminating swa cable, typically brass glands are generally used to terminate swa cables, to provide a mechanically strong connection for such a robust cable. The glands should meet the requirements of BS 6121 (Mechanical cable glands. Armour glands.

Requirements and test methods) or other applicable British or Harmonized Standards.

Glands are generally supplied as a kit (see Fig 1).

Glands should be selected by consulting the particular manufacturer’s data (to ensure the size of gland corresponds with the size of cable) and fitted by following their instructions (to ensure the termination has adequate mechanically strength and maintains protective earthing).

Following the manufacturer’s data and fitting instructions should mean that the fundamental principles of erecting an electrical installation given in Regulation 134.1.1 of BS 7671 are met. However, it may not ensure that all the requirements for making a connection that Fig 1 Example of a typical cable gland kit for swa cables (the number of components within the kit may vary)

Using the armouring as a protective conductor For the armouring of a swa cable to be employed as a protective conductor the armouring must be of appropriate cross-sectional area to comply with the relevant parts of Chapter 54 (Earthing arrangements and protective conductors) of BS 7671.

Determining the size of the armouring is outside the scope of this article. However, it was discussed in Connections issue 160.

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Fig 2 Examples of maintaining armouring continuity at a metallic enclosure (cpc omitted for clarity) Metallic enclosure coated with epoxy resin

Earthing Nut

Cable lug (bolted to gland earth tag washer)

1 cpc

Equipment earthing terminal

2

Copper protective conductor

3

Gland lock nut Gland earth tag washer Gland lock nut

1. Front facing connection 2. Locking Grubscrew

Cable gland

3. Anti-rotation teeth

Armoured cable

provides electrical continuity and adequate mechanical strength and protection given in Regulation 526.1 are met, as discussed in the following sections.

Terminating the armouring of an swa cable to metallic enclosures Swa cables are often terminated into steel enclosures, such as distribution boards, and the connection at the interface between the steel enclosure and brass gland should provide for a mechanically sound connection and continuity of protective earthing having a low resistance. However, in some circumstances this may not be the case.

Many steel enclosures are provided with finishing products, such as epoxy resin or powder coated paint which may be non-conductive.

Manufacturers of enclosures generally recommend that to avoid detrimental effect to the enclosure, such as rusting, such finishes should not be removed. Thus, the finishing product can act as a barrier between the alloys of steel and brass at the interface connection which may affect continuity of the armouring and/or increase the resistance value beyond that acceptable to meet the requirements of ADS. Maintaining continuity of the armouring and a low resistance connection at the interface may be achieved by including an earth tag washer (‘banjo’ or earthing nut) and an attached adequately sized conductor (to connect to the enclosure), as part of the gland assembly (see Fig 2). Such washers are generally included within gland kits (see Fig 1) and should be fitted, especially where stated within the manufacturer’s information.

Terminating the armouring of an swa cable to non-metallic enclosures Where non-metallic enclosures are employed to terminate swa cables in an installation, continuity of the armouring (where required) may be ensured by the use of earth tag washers and an attached adequately sized conductor (see Fig 3).

It should be noted that non-metallic enclosures may be used for purposes where, by design, continuity of the protective earthing of one particular system is not required, such as where it is desired to arrange a TT earthing system from a TN-C-S supply.

Fig 3 Example of maintaining armouring continuity at a non-metallic enclosure (cpc omitted for clarity)

NICEIC Connections Winter 2014-15

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged The emergency lighting ‘small works’ completion certificate Feedback received from the consistent number of enquiries to the helpline regarding the certification of emergency lighting installations, shows that some installers are unaware that a simplified means of certificating smaller emergency lighting installations has been introduced.

T

o be more specific, The NICEIC Emergency Lighting Completion Certificate for small installations and verification of existing installations, which for the purposes of this article is referred to as the small works certificate, is based on the model certificate introduced into Annex G of the revised British Standard for emergency escape lighting BS 5266-1: 2011. Although primarily

Fig 1 The NICEIC Emergency Lighting Completion Certificate for small installations and verification of existing installations (The small works certificate)

introduced in response to installers’ requests for a simplified means of certificating smaller emergency lighting works, this new completion certificate is designed for dual purposes and may also be used for the verification of an existing emergency lighting installation. However, as this article highlights, use of the certificate in either case is restricted by particular conditions.

The certification of a small new emergency lighting installation The small works certificate may be used for completion of a new emergency lighting installation or new works associated with an alteration or addition to an existing emergency lighting installation, but only where the new installation is the sole responsibility of an individual contractor, or emergency lighting engineer, and the new work consists of no more than 25 emergency lighting luminaires (Annex G of BS 5266-1: 2011 refers).

For larger more complex emergency lighting installations, the particular aspects of the work such as the design, construction and verification are typically undertaken by more than one organisation or contractor; thus requiring the multiple declarations of an NICEIC, four-part form emergency lighting completion certificate (multiple-form completion certificate) available from www.niceicdirect.com.

Whereas, to simplify the certification of smaller emergency lighting installations for compliance with the recommendations of BS 5266-1, the small works certificate combines all the relevant assessment items from the multiple-form completion certificate on to a single checklist.

The completed ‘Compliance checklist’ should be signed by the NICEIC Approved Contractor responsible for issuing the certificate and (as described later in this article) appended to it.

Electrical work associated with an emergency lighting installation must be inspected and tested in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671 (Section 631 of BS 7671 refers). Therefore, where such work is carried out, a separate Electrical Installation Certificate (or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate), as appropriate, should also be completed.

Verification of existing premises Where the documentation for an emergency lighting installation is either invalid or does not exist, the small works certificate may be used by an NICEIC Approved Contractor to evaluate whether the existing emergency lighting installation, irrespective of size, requires Connections Winter 2014-15

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 2 The Compliance checklist

To support the verification of an existing emergency lighting installation, additional guidance on completing the ‘Compliance checklist’ is contained in Annex I of BS 5266-1: 2011.

Issuing the certificate

Fig 3 The Declaration of Conformity

upgrading. Such circumstances can arise as a result of, for example: • the emergency lighting documentation having been lost; • a change of usage or layout. For example, due to the conversion of an office into a restaurant, the existing documentation may no longer be valid; • improvements to safety standards (or technology) that have been, over time, incorporated into the emergency lighting standards – such as, recommendations relating to high risk task areas and specific locations.

Where this is the case, completion of the ‘Compliance checklist’ ensures that any deviations that are present on the existing emergency lighting system are identified (promptly) to the Responsible Person1, together with recommendations on the actions necessary to address them.

The completed certificate and associated documentation (including records of remedial works completed) will then provide a substitute system of documentation that may be used, when necessary, to provide evidence of compliance with current emergency lighting standards.

48

Whether the small works certificate is issued to demonstrate compliance with the recommendations of BS 5266-1 for a small new installation or for the verification of an existing emergency lighting installation, the NICEIC Approved Contractor responsible for the work must sign Section F of the certificate to confirm that all essential reference documents are recorded on the certificate, and current versions of the following essential documents (without which the certificate is invalid) have been supplied with the certificate: • the fully completed and signed ‘Compliance checklist’; • the relevant photometric design data for the installation; and • the emergency lighting test log book.

After being reviewed and signed by a Qualified Supervisor employed by the NICEIC Approved Contractor, the completed certificate should be issued to the person responsible for the safety of the installation.

On receipt of a completed and accurate certificate and all essential documents, ‘The Declaration of Conformity’ must be signed by the Responsible Person (or the person authorised to act on their behalf). By doing so, the Responsible Person is accepting that (based on the declared outcomes of the ‘Compliance checklist’ and the essential documents supplied and related documents recorded) the installation work covered by the certificate has been fully inspected and tested and, apart from any deviations recorded, complies with the relevant requirements of BS 7671 and the relevant requirements and recommendations of the following emergency lighting standards: • BS 5266-1: 2011 Emergency lighting Part 1: Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises, and • BS EN 1838: 2013 Lighting applications Emergency lighting, and • BS EN 50172 (BS 5266-8: 2004) Emergency escape lighting systems.

1 Person responsible for the safety of the premises, in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales), or for Scotland and Northern Ireland – the Employer

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Certification of fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises Fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises should be designed, installed and commissioned in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5839-6, whereas fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises should be designed installed and commissioned in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5839-1.

T

o enable a designer of a fire detection and fire alarm system to specify an appropriate system, BS 5839-6 specifies six possible Grades of system – A to F. It should be noted that a Grade A system is generally designed and installed in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5839-1 except for the five specific exceptions detailed in clause 7.1 of BS 5839-6. Clause 23.2 of BS 5839-6 Table 1 Grades of system Grade of system A

B C

D E

F

50

Grade description Comprises separate fire detectors, fire alarm sounders and control and indicating equipment (CIE). Grade A systems should be designed and installed in accordance with the recommendations of Section 1 to 4 of BS 5839-1.

Comprises separate fire detectors, fire alarm sounders and control and indicating equipment (CIE).

Comprises separate fire detectors and fire alarm sounders (which may be combined in a smoke alarm) connected to a common power supply with central control equipment.

One or more mains-powered smoke alarms (and where necessary heat alarms), each with an integral standby supply.

One or more mains-powered smoke alarms (and where necessary heat alarms with or without standby supply), not having an integral standby supply.

One or more battery-powered smoke alarms (and where necessary battery-powered heat alarms).

recommends that a Grade A system should be tested, commissioned and certified in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5839-1 and, in addition, an Electrical Installation Certificate should be provided.

Grades of system B to F are to be designed and installed in accordance with an appropriate fire risk assessment and the recommendations of BS 5839-6. Table 1 provides a brief résumé of the recommendations associated with each Grade of system.

The recommendations for the certification of Grades of system B to E are detailed in clause 23.3 of BS 5839-6.

Irrespective of the Grade of system, there are general requirements for inspecting and testing the fire detection and fire alarm system and for its certification. It has become apparent that there exists confusion amongst some contractors installing fire detection and fire alarms systems in domestic premises regarding the appropriate certification to be issued.

Requirements of BS 7671 The general requirements of BS 7671 apply to fire detection and fire alarm systems, and this includes the requirements of Part 6 Inspection and Testing.

Whilst the Grade of system will affect the range of tests that apply, with the exception of Grade F systems which only have a battery-powered supply and are not considered to be part of the fixed installation, the requirement to inspect and test remains.

For a Grade A system a separate Electrical Installation Certificate will be required with the associated Schedules of Test Results and Inspection in addition to the specific recommendations of BS 5839-6 detailed in clause 23.2 and in the informative Annex E – Model Certificates for Grade A Systems.

For Grade B to E systems, where the fire detection and fire alarm system is part of an overall electrical installation, the Electrical Installation Certificate issued for the installation as a whole is sufficient.

However, where a Grade B or Grade C system has been installed, the Schedule of Test Results should show that such systems have a separate circuit. Where there is the addition of either a Grade D or E system to an existing installation, it is also permissible to use a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.

In addition to the specific certification requirements of BS 7671, clause 23.3 of BS 5839-6 recommends that a certificate for the design, installation and commissioning of the system is issued based on the Model certificate for Grades

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Fig 1 Certificates for fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1

B, C, D, E and F systems detailed in informative Annex F. Furthermore, compliance with the recommendations of BS 5839 may lead to satisfying the requirements of the relevant building regulations throughout the United Kingdom.

Fig 2 Certificates for fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1

Recommendations of BS 5839-6 The recommendations of BS 5839-6 add to the specific requirements of BS 7671 and the person carrying out the installation, commissioning and verification of the fire detection and fire alarm system should take account of such additional recommendations. Section 23 of BS 5839-6 details recommendations for the work associated with the installation of the fire detection and fire alarm system, its commissioning and certification.

In addition to the tests required by BS 7671, BS 5839-6 recommends that specific tests recommended by the manufacturer are also carried out and that the minimum values of certain tests carried out under the requirements of BS 7671 are amended. For example, for functional reasons, clause 23.2(m) recommends that the minimum insulation resistance value for installed cables should be 2 MΊ when tested at 500 V d.c.

Commissioning tests are also required and involve, amongst other things and in no particular order, tests for sound levels, test button operation, alarm operation and that the means of silencing the system operates correctly.

Certification for Grade A systems For a Grade A system, Annex E of BS 5839-6 details the model certificates of design, installation, commissioning and acceptance.

These certificates comply both with the recommendations of BS 5839-6 and, where relevant, BS 5839-1.

Note 1 of clause 23.2 recognises that whilst a minimum level of information is detailed in Annex E, a certificate may vary in format from that shown in the Annex, and currently for a Grade A system contractors may choose to use those certificates created for fire detection and fire alarm systems designed to BS 5839-1 (refer Fig 1). Such certificates are available from NICEIC at www.niceicdirect.com.

Certification for Grade B, C, D, E and F systems A certificate modelled on that detailed in Annex F of BS 5839-6 is produced by NICEIC for use by contractors (refer Fig 2). Such a certificate should be issued in conjunction with an Electrical Installation Certificate or, where appropriate, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. This certificate is also available from www.niceicdirect.com.

The certificate combines the design, installation and commissioning functions of a fire detection and alarm system.

Connections Winter 2014-15

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Determining what size conduit to use Rather than using one of the accepted methods to determine the diameter of the conduit required for a particular installation, there is a tendency amongst some electrical contractors to select the conduit size based on previous experience. All too often this results in an installation where it is difficult to draw the cables into the conduit which increases the risk of damage to the cables, or wasting time in installing conduit sizes which are excessive.

Example 1 Four 4 mm2 single core PVC cables are to be drawn into the conduit system shown in Fig 1.

Using the unit system method, determine the size of conduit that should be used. Note that a double set can be treated as being equivalent to a single right angle bend.

T

his article is a reminder to contractors of the two generally accepted methods of determining an appropriate conduit size.

Although Regulation 522.8.1 requires that wiring systems shall be selected and erected to avoid damage to the cables and their terminations during installation, use or maintenance, BS 7671 does not provide guidance on the methods that may be used to comply with this regulation. There are, however, two accepted methods for determining the diameter of the conduit to be used. The first method, sometimes referred to as the ‘unit system method’, uses conduit and cable factors from readily available manufacturers’ data, and is generally the preferred method when sizing rigid conduit systems. The second method — the space factor method — is based upon a fixed ratio between the capacity of conduit and cross-sectional area of the cables and tends to be used when sizing flexible conduit.

The two methods can and do give different sizes for a specific example.

using standard tables to obtain conduit factor(s) and cable factor(s) and ensuring that for the conduit installation the sum of the cable factors is not greater than the conduit factor. Such standard tables are available from a variety of sources including manufacturers.

For short, straight runs of conduit the friction between cable and conduit is less than longer runs or for runs containing bends and separate tables are used for conduits arranged in: 1. straight runs not exceeding 3 m in length, or 2. straight runs exceeding 3 m in length, or runs of any length incorporating bends or sets .

In the examples shown, use is made of the data found in the tables listed in typical manufacturers’ data sheets.

Answer 1 From manufacturer’s data: 4 x 4mm2 cables have a combined cable factor of 4 x 43 = 172 For section 1 having a length of 7 m with one bend and one double set (effectively a conduit run having two right angle bends) the smallest conduit with a factor equal to or larger than 172 Example 1 Section 2 - total length of 5 m with three bends.

Section 1 - total length of 7 m with one bend and one double set.

Method 1: The use of conduit and cable factors (unit system method).

This method for sizing conduit is based upon practical tests aimed at ensuring that single-core cables can be pulled into the particular conduit configuration without the use of undue force.

The major advantage of this method is that it takes into account both the distance between drawing-in points and number of bends in the conduit, both of which will impact on the effort required to draw the cables into the conduit.

The unit system method involves the designer

Drawing in point

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged is 25mm (having a conduit factor = 311).

For section 2 (length of 5 m with three bends) the smallest conduit with a factor equal or larger than 172 is 25 mm (having a conduit factor = 260).

Consequently for the proposed system the smallest size conduit that should be used is 25 mm.

It should be noted that the position of the drawing-in points may impact on the size of conduit used. Altering the location of the drawing-in point or adding an extra drawing-in point may provide the designer with the option of reducing the size of conduit used.

Where

n = number of cables in conduit d = diameter of the cables in the conduit (including insulation) 0.35 = conduit space factor

Also, where the conduit contains cables of different sizes, the minimum internal diameter of the conduit is given by:

Example 2 Four 4 mm2 single core PVC cables are to be drawn into a 3 m length of conduit with no bends. Using the unit system method determine the minimum size conduit that should be used.

Where

Answer 2

Example 3

From manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s data: 4 x 4mm2 cables have a combined cable factor of 4 x 58 = 232.

For a straight 3 m length the smallest conduit with a factor equal or larger than 232 is 16 mm which has a conduit factor of 290.

Comparing the answers of examples 1 and 2 illustrates that for a short straight run, due to the friction between conduit and cable being less than that for the longer, more complex shape, a conduit having a smaller diameter may be used.

Any designer should, however, consider any future alterations or expansion requirements and allow for suitable space to be included.

Using a conduit factor of 35 %, determine the minimum size steel conduit that will accommodate four 4.0 mm2 single-core cables with an overall diameter of 4.8 mm. It can be assumed that the conduit used has a nominal wall thickness of 1.6 mm.

Using the formula for the minimum internal diameter of the conduit:

Method 2: The use of a space factor An alternative approach to determining the size of conduit is to use a space factor. The current edition of Guidance Note 1 recommends that the area occupied by the cables should not be more than 35 % of the internal area of the conduit. It should be noted that previous editions recommended a space factor of 45 % but as the application of this figure lead to situations where problems were encountered drawing cables into conduit, the space factor was reduced.

In order to use this method, one needs to have access to the dimensions of cables (overall diameter including insulation) and conduits (internal diameter).

Where a conduit contains cables of the same size, the minimum internal diameter of the conduit is given by:

54

d1 and n1 are the diameter and number of the first set of cables and d2 and n2 are the diameter and number of the second set of cables.

Taking the nominal wall thickness of the conduit as 1.6 mm would give a minimum external diameter of 16.2+3.2 = 19.4 mm, therefore the minimum size conduit that complies with the 35 % space factor is 20 mm.

This method makes no allowance for multiple bends and the difficulty of their installation and, whilst the example shows a smaller conduit than that chosen using the unit system method has been calculated using the space factor method, the designer should take due account of the difficulties associated with the installation of the cables.

Contractors are reminded that choosing an appropriately sized conduit can be determined using either the unit system method which takes account of the length of the conduit and the number of bends, or the space factor method makes a standard allowance of 35 %.

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Compliance with Regulation 543.1

Using metallic conduit as a circuit protective conductor From questions asked of NICEIC and ELECSA, it appears that some electrical contractors are under the impression that it is no longer acceptable to use metallic conduit as a circuit protective conductor (cpc).

T

his is not the case. Regulation 543.2.1 makes it clear that it is permissible to use metal conduit as a protective conductor. However, Regulation 521.6 states that only conduit complying with the appropriate parts of BS EN 61386 may be used; this means that slip conduit and older style conduit relying upon pin grip sockets may not be used as a protective conductor.

Where metal conduit is used as the protective conductor, the conduit forms an integral part of the earth fault loop impedance which must be of a sufficiently low value to meet the required disconnection times. Regulation 543.3.6 requires that every joint in metallic conduit shall be mechanically and electrically continuous — a requirement that is achieved by ensuring that all couplers and bushes are tight. This measure has the effect of minimising the resistance of the metallic conduit.

Regulation 543.1.1 requires that the cross-sectional area of every protective conductor, including steel conduit, shall be either: 1. calculated in accordance with Regulation 543.1.3 or 2. selected in accordance with Regulation 543.1.4 Where steel conduit is used as the protective conductor, rather than calculating the minimum size of protective conductor using the S = √ I2t k formula described in Regulation 543.1.3, it is generally more convenient to verify compliance with Regulation 543.1.1 using the method described in Regulation 543.1.4.

Table 1 shows that by applying the method outlined in Table 54.7 of BS 7671 to various sizes of cables installed in steel conduit the minimum required size of protective conductor is almost always less than the cross sectional area of typical sizes of steel conduit.

Additional requirements Regulation 543.2.7 requires that where metal conduit is used as the circuit protective conductor, as shown by Fig 1, the earthing terminal of each accessory shall be connected by a separate protective conductor to an earthing terminal incorporated in the associated box or enclosure. Without a separate protective conductor, one would be relying upon the screws securing the accessory to the metal back box as a means of connecting the accessory to earth – this is not acceptable.

Trunking

Table 1 Examples of minimum cross-sectional area of steel conduit for typical sizes of line copper conductors having thermoplastic insulation – k1=115; k2=47 Cross sectional area of line conductor (S) mm2

Minimum size protective conductor (k1/k2 x S )

1 1.5 2.5 4 6

2.45 3.68 6.13 9.80 14.7

Data for heavy gauge steel conduit Diameter Cross sectional area 16 64.4 20 82.6 25 105.4 32 137.3

Comparing column 3 with column 4 of Table 1 shows that the steel conduit is sufficient to comply with the requirements of Regulation 543.

The principles considered in this article that apply to steel conduit systems also apply to steel trunking systems.

Steel trunking is permitted to be used as a protective conductor and, when installed, is an exposed-conductive-part which will require ‘earthing’. However, electrical contractors who propose to use steel trunking as a circuit protective conductor should be aware of the limitations that exist. It is recognised that the joints in steel trunking systems are generally less robust than those associated with steel conduit systems where screwed threads ensure a robust electrical and mechanical connection. As such, consideration should be given to including a separate circuit protective conductor for those circuits installed within a combination of steel trunking and steel conduit elements so that continuity is assured.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 1 Using a separate protective conductor to provide a reliable connection to earth

Earthing terminal

Earthing tail

Metallic coupler

Metallic conduit

Fig 2 Metallic conduit used as a circuit protective conductor

steel and the magnitude of the fault current.

The fundamental difficulty in determining the impedance of the conduit under fault conditions is that the impedance of the conduit varies in a non-linear manner with the magnitude of the earth fault current and to reflect the change in impedance with fault current, it is normal practice for manufacturers of conduit to publish separate data for circuits having fault currents less than 100 A and above 100 A. Due to the complex characteristics of the steel conduit, determining an accurate value of earth fault loop impedance by calculation requires access to either Guidance Note 6 published by the IET or the National Annex of 1 PD CLC/ TR 50480: 2011 Determination of cross-sectional area of conductors and selection of protective devices which is a technical report published

by British Standards.

To determine the value of resistance of the line-protective earth loop: Eqn 1 Where: l1 length in m RL resistance per metre of line conductor in mΊ/m Fr factor taking account of the magnetic effects of steel Rdc d.c. resistance of conduit at working temperature To determine the reactance of the line-protective earth loop: Eqn 2 Where: Fx factor taking account of the reactive effects of steel.

To combine the values of resistance and reactance: Eqn 3

58

Detailed approach to sizing conduit as a protective conductor

The total impedance would then be: Eqn 4

When metallic conduit is used as the protective conductor, under earth fault conditions, the electrical characteristics of the conduit is complex with a number of factors impacting upon the electrical characteristics of the conduit.

With a fault current flowing in the conduit the conduit will exhibit both resistance and inductive reactance, which in Fig 2 is represented by R2 and X2 respectively.

The value of X2 depends upon a number of factors including the magnetic properties of the

This method of measuring the impedance of this part of the earth fault loop is rarely necessary.

Conduit, correctly installed, is almost always more than adequate in size to comply with the requirements of BS 7671 for the disconnection of a circuit under earth fault conditions.

1

Section 2.5 of Appendix 4 in BS 7671 (including Amendment 3), makes reference to using the methods included in this document to calculate fault currents and other parameters.

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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THE POWER TO HELP OVER 3,000 CONTRACTORS DEVELOP EVERY YEAR

the power behind your business The right qualifications can make your business more competitive, and we’re giving thousands of contractors an extra edge every year with a wide range of courses. To find out where our training could take you, call 0843 290 3419 or email training@certsure.com

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Snags & Solutions A practical guide to everyday electrical problems ‘Snags & Solutions’, NICEIC’s problem solving book, is now available in five parts, which 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 is published on 1 January 2015 and comes into full effect on 1 July 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 to 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 the procedure to be followed when encountering electrical accessories mounted on wooden blocks.

+

Now updated to Amendment No 3 of BS 7671

Accessories mounted on wooden blocks Older installations may include accessories mounted on wooden blocks.

Snag 30 Older properties often have accessories mounted on wooden blocks. Often, the wooden block forms part of the enclosure for the unsheathed cores and terminations of the cables connecting

snags and solutions

snags and solutions

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Part 2

wiring systems

Part 5

3rd Edition

Domestic fire f detection and fire alarm systems to BS 5839

Amd 1: 2011

Amd 1: 2011

60

Amd 1: 2011

Amd 1: 2011

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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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.

Solution

Paul Collins, technical services manager Industry experience: More than 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the electrical industry, covering gas, heating, plumbing and renewable technologies. Worked with CORGI before joining NICEIC in 2005

The accessories in question must be replaced such that every termination or joint in a live conductor (which includes neutral conductors) is made in a suitable enclosure (Regulation 526.5 refers).

Justin Maltby-Smith, principal engineering manager Industry experience: Chartered electrical engineer, technical director, consultant, project manager, lecturer, NVQ assessor and internal verifier.

Member of the joint IET/BSI technical committee for electrical installations JPEL/64 Panel A

Regulation 526.5 Every termination and joint in a live conductor or a PEN conductor shall be made within one of the following or a combination thereof: (i) A suitable accessory complying with the appropriate product standard (ii) An equipment enclosure complying with the appropriate product standard (iii) An enclosure partially formed or completed with building material which is non-combustible when tested to BS 476-4.

Alan Turvey, standards engineer Industry experience: Electrician, carrying out industrial, commercial, quarry and domestic installations, lecturer and deputy head of construction with further education college Clinton Thompson, standards engineer Industry experience: Electrician (domestic and industrial), electrical engineer (food industry, high-volume production and heavy press industry), college tutor, training centre tutor 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

+

+

to the accessory. In such a case there can be a greater risk of fire in the event of a fault such as a poor connection.

Depending on the characteristics of the particular wood from which the block was made, such an enclosure may not satisfy the current requirements of BS 7671 in respect of ignitability.

Geoff Brittain , technical helpline engineer (team leader) Industry experience: Full apprenticeship and further education. Worked in all aspects of the electrical industry. Became projects manager and subsequently ran his own company. Joined the ECA in 2007 and became team leader in 2010 Mark Cooper, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Approved electrician with over 30 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience, mainly in heavy industrial and commercial installations. Also a qualified NVQ assessor Steve Hoult, technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Experienced in design and installation of systems to 11kV working in the coal-mining industry and then on industrial and construction electrical supply installations

Call the technical helpline on 0870 013 0391. Got a legal query? Call our legal helpline free on 0845 602 5965

Connections Winter 2014-15

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THE POWER TO TEST WITH THE BEST Test equipment from the leading manufacturers now available from the Direct Shop.

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p62_CON.01.15.indd 62

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Product Focus Snickers Workwear Pioneering gloves from Snickers Workwear – optimum grip, maximum power, complete comfort. There’s no doubt that the most important tools that you have on site are your hands! That’s why it’s so important to make sure they are properly looked after during the winter months. Snickers now have a range of workgloves that cope with even the harshest of weather conditions. From tough, hard-wearing Weather Essential gloves to Weather Cut Protection gloves, these top-quality Snickers products will keep your hands properly protected and warm.

Martindale Electric Martindale Electric announces the arrival of two new voltage testers that combine enhanced safety and functionality with ease of use. The new two pole testers auto detect and measure AC/DC voltages from 12V to 690V and include continuity testing with audible and visual indication plus phase rotation measurement capability. Both VT25 and VT28 use LED indicators for voltage steps and have a white light torch function, making it easy to work in low light environments. The VT28 also includes a high contrast LCD display for digital readings.

01484 854788 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk

01923 441717 martindale-electric.co.uk

Seaward

Scolmore

A powerful new mobile app packed with special features helps to convert manual PATs into semi-automatic testers complete with test results recording capabilities. The new PATMobile App from Seaward is specifically designed to extend the performance of the market leading PrimeTest 50 and PrimeTest 100 manual testers by providing easy access to a host of special test data handling options. Available for use on Android and iOS devices, the dedicated app works with the testers to enable the digital input and storage of test records alongside barcode scanning, label printing, photo tagging and other complementary test functions. The lightweight PrimeTest 50 and 100 testers incorporate extended long-life battery power of up to 5,500 tests for the essential electrical safety testing of all electrical appliances.

Scolmore Group’s innovative Inceptor range of integrated LED downlights delivers high-performance, low-energy lighting solutions across a range of applications. Inceptor Micro and Inceptor Max are fire-rated, integrated LED downlights with a high-powered, compact, pre-wired driver and flow connector. The compact size of the driver means they can be fitted into very shallow recess depths – Inceptor Max at 61mm and Inceptor Micro at 50mm – making them some of the most flexible fittings currently available. Scolmore has integrated its popular Flow Connectors, which means they are quick and easy to install, as well as to remove and replace, for the purpose of circuit testing and for retrofits.

0191 586 3511 sales@seaward.co.uk www.seaward.co.uk

01827 63454 www.scolmore.com

Danlers DANLERS has announced the release of its much-awaited ControlZAPP with dimming capability, a ground-breaking link between standalone controls and the sophisticated but expensive, managed systems.

Featuring Bluetooth Smart communication, ControlZAPP can be used to remotely set up, adjust or override settings such as daylight linked dimming (DALI or 1-10V ballasts) occupancy detection, time lags, photocell threshold etc into a pre-determined real time schedule.

ControlZAPP has the flexibility to schedule scenarios and function changes at different times of the day or days of the week – adjusting lux levels, short visit modes and changes to normal working hours etc. This unique combination of a standalone energy saving control plus real time scheduling increases energy saving and improves end user comfort at a low cost. The ControlZAPP APP can be downloaded FREE from the DANLERS website onto a mobile or tablet (Android 4.3 or later), which can then be configured to upload to a ControlZAPP enabled product. ControlZAPP is ideal for warehouses, factories, retail units, offices etc, and is designed to be within the scope of all qualified contractors, large or small for both retrofit and new installations.

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

Connections Winter 2014-15

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For great deals on products and services visit www.niceicdirect.com

Scan QR code with your smart phone to visit our site

Prime Alarms

Urmet

SecuPlace is a wireless alarm system that uses the GPRS network for connection to the internet. This allows access to use a Smartphone App (My ELAS) to control and manage the wireless alarm system. With add-ons such as carbon monoxide, flood and smoke detectors, the SecuPlace is a great burglar alarm system to install. Once training is complete (one day of your time) you can install in half a day or less.

Urmet is pleased to announce the opening of a new showroom display situated at The Building Centre, central London.

This convenient new location is open from Monday to Saturday, all year round, excluding bank holidays. The aim is to enable a wide range of potential users, from architects and developers to security consultants and installers – in fact anyone involved in the door-entry sector – to see Urmet’s market-leading products for themselves. The Building Centre is an ideal location for manufacturers to arrange meetings with new and existing customers to show them their latest products. Urmet has installed a range of fully functioning door entry systems at the showroom.

0844 330 0013 niceic@primealarms.uk www.primealarms.uk 01376 556 010 marketing@urmet.co.uk www.urmet.co.uk

EES Data

ESP

Free to download – Estimating Installation Guidance Times.

The expanding portfolio of fire protection and security products from security solutions provider ESP now incorporates emergency lighting. The Duceri Emergency Lighting range has been independently tested by established photometric data test house, LUX-TSI, and complies with the latest industry standards and regulations. It complements ESP’s existing range of CCTV, access control, external area protection and fire protection solutions, and means that contractors, wholesalers and installers now have access to one of the most comprehensive ranges of fire and security products from under one roof.

Commercial and industrial guidebooks of estimating install times free to download and use.

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64

C+C Marshall

Ellis Patents

Marshall-Tufflex has launched the first domestic voltage optimiser to comply with amended British Standards governing the performance of consumer units and switchgear assemblies. The IET has updated BS 7671: 2008 to provide greater protection from fires started by loose connections within consumer units and switchgear assemblies. New Voltis Home is the first domestic optimiser to comply with the amendment. The slimmed down, lighter metal unit delivers market-leading savings via a 9 per cent fixed voltage reduction. It has an internal 100Amp main switch/isolator meaning no additional installation costs and can be turned through 90° for flexible fixing.

01424 856 655 sales@marshall-tufflex.com www.marshall-tufflex.com

Ellis has demonstrated its ability to go that extra mile for its customers by developing a cable specific cleat in order to seal a major UK Power Networks (UKPN) specification. The world’s leading cable cleat manufacturer was called when it became clear that cable being laid in a vital section of the new London Power Tunnels network couldn’t be satisfactorily restrained using a standard cable cleat. As a result, Ellis developed a new size of cleat, which ensured the cable fell directly in the middle of the cleat’s cable range and so negated any potential problems caused by manufacturing tolerance. www.ellispatents.co.uk 01944 758395

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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THE POWER TO HELP OUR APPROVED CONTRACTORS COMPLETE 1.5M INSTALLATIONS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS

the power behind your business Becoming an Approved Contractor can open all sorts of doors for your business. Upgrading your enrolment is straightforward and quick and the benefits are huge. To find out how far you could go with NICEIC, just call 0843 290 3465 or visit niceic.com

p65_CON.01.15.indd 65

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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

Sparks fly high Electricians have been voted the trustiest tradespeople in the UK, in a poll of 2,000 people by Helly Hansen Workwear.

The survey found that electrical contractors are also seen as having the best manners and being the most punctual and presentable tradespeople.

But it seems electricians could do with lightening up a bit; plumbers were voted the friendliest workers and those most likely to have a joke with customers, with window cleaners also up for a bit of banter.

More than three-quarters of customers surveyed said they feel apprehensive when hiring a tradesperson for the first time, and 30 per cent said they had experienced bad manners or rudeness in the past.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA This issue’s dodgy dossier includes (1-4): a light fitting hidden inside an ornate ceiling rose; a permanent live supply terminated in a metal light fitting; a connector block being used to earth the gas off the existing main equipotential water bond; and a bypassed meter in a rental property. It continues with (5-8): a 12V downlight converted to 230V with a new way of getting around joists; a corroded metal-clad socket that failed an EICR; a mains pressure water joint situated over the main cutout; and the consequences of not using IP65 enclosures underground.

3

4

7

8

The secret life of electricians…

Most electricians, of course, are pretty practical people, so it should come as no surprise that they like to play with technology outside of work too.

A survey by kitchen firm Magnet Trade shed some light on what contractors get up to when they’re away from the tools. It found that 76 per cent were interested in technology, while 68 per cent are keen on cars. More than half (64 per cent) say they like to travel, while 44 per cent have an interest in science.

But it seems contractors have a softer side too: some 60 per cent enjoy sitting in front of the television watching a wildlife documentary. Or maybe that’s just their wild side coming out?

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5

1

2

6

Thanks to: Justin Needham of Farnham-based Circuitas /// David Lavis of PiLON in Ascot /// Lee Ashdown from L.A. Electrical in Herne Bay /// John Kennedy from JK Electrics in Gillingham /// James Brown of Weymouth firm RB Electronics /// Daniel Holland of Ebdon Electrical Contractors /// Spencer Walker of Nuneaton-based Walker Electrical /// and Lawrence Early of Chesterfield firm LCE Electrical Services.

Keep those shots coming in!

Blast from the past Scottish contractor A C Electrics, based in Cleland near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, recently celebrated 40 years as an NICEIC Approved Contractor, and to mark the occasion the company sent in its original enrolment letter from October 1974, along with its initial assessment report.

At the time NICEIC was based in central London and used its full name of the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.

Can you produce an older enrolment letter or assessment report?

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

Winter 2014-15 Connections

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World's First!

The ďŹ rst battery with Wireless Charging.

Simply more.

WORLD'S FIRST! The Bosch Wireless Charging System Changing batteries is now a thing of the past. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because Bosch integrates charging into the working process. Just place the tool onto the charger wherever you are working, and the battery starts charging straight away. www.boschwirelesscharging.co.uk

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