Connections - Autumn 2014

Book now for Live North in Liverpool

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connections THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC AND ELECSA REGISTERED CONTRACTORS

SECRET MISSION P20 How Re-Gen UK helped restore Bletchley Park to its former glory

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£5.00

THIRD AMENDMENT P24 What you need to know about the upcoming changes to BS 7671

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AUTUMN 2014 | ISSUE 191

APPRENTICESHIPS P37 Proposed changes to apprenticeship funding are causing concern

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BUZZING AGAIN How the recession helped to refocus Evesham firm Buzz Electrical Ltd

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Rate refers to the Partner Professional HDi 75 at £159 per month and 2008 Active 1.2 VTi 82 Pure Tech 5dr at £158 per month. Car rentals are based on a 36 month contract with 6 rentals in advance followed by 35 monthly rentals at 10,000 miles per annum. Van rentals are based on a 48 month contract with 6 rentals in advance followed by 47 monthly rentals at 10,000 miles per annum. All rentals are subject to VAT. Any excess mileage will be chargeable. Offer subject to availability. Written quotations available from Peugeot Contract Hire, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill RH1 1QA. A guarantee may be required. Business users only. Over 18s only. Offers apply to eligible vehicles supplied and registered from 01 October 2014 until such point they may be withdrawn

by Peugeot Motor Company at any time without notice. For full terms and conditions, please contact the Peugeot Quoteline on 0845 313 3811 (calls may be recorded for training purposes). ^£250 cashback can only be spent on NICEIC and ELECSA web stores. For full terms and conditions, please consult your Peugeot Dealer in the UK. Calls maybe recorded for training purposes.

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Autumn 2014 | Issue 191

Contents 33

First phase Making the case 4 Contractors help to make case against third-party certification scheme

Plugged in Changes to wiring regs Thousands flock to new site

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TechTalk dates announced Daredevil wins #elecfie contest

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Renewables news EST survey reveals renewables demand

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Electrical Safety First news Scotland to adopt mandatory checks

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Private tenants most at risk from faulty electrics Product news The latest products on the market

18

6

13

20

28

Features

15

Third amendment 24 What the BS 7671: 2008 third amendment will mean for contractors

Live wire Advice Mo Ghaus explains what contractors need to know about the updates to the ISO 9001 quality management system

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Opinion Clear labelling of wires, cables and other electrical devices is a crucial part of a contractor’s job, says Mike Kelly

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37

Fully charged Ask the experts 41 Answers to the technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions

Case study 20 The £8 million restoration of Bletchley Park, home of the WW2 code-breakers, has managed to retain an authentic 1940s look and feel, says Andrew Brister Insight 23 Certsure’s Philip Sanders explains the requirements of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 Current affairs Perks of the job

Technical Proximity of wiring systems to other services

Contractor profile 28 Responding to the recession helped Buzz Electrical Ltd to refocus again Lighting 33 Contractors need to be able to advise customers on the benefits of LED Apprentices 37 New funding plans threaten to jeopardise future apprenticeships

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Determination of extraneous-conductive-parts

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Selecting dimming switches

50 Illustration: Cameron Law

News Liverpool gets set to host Live North event

Responsibilities and requirements 55 of inspection, testing and certification What ‘type’ of RCD should I use?

58

Snags and solutions

60

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» Cover photo: Simon Hadley/UNP Connections Autumn 2014

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Comment EMMA CLANCY

First phase Making the case The significant response to the third-party certification survey illustrates the strength of opinion on the matter ‘Just under 80 per cent of you believe the scheme will undermine your work’

F

irst I would like to thank all those who responded to our recent survey regarding the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) third-party certification scheme.

The response was overwhelming.

More than 3,000 of you took time out to complete the survey and give us your viewpoints, illustrating the strength of opinion on the issue.

Just under 80 per cent of you believe the scheme will undermine your work, with 85 per cent also believing it will compromise safety in the home.

Significantly, nearly 80 per cent of you backed NICEIC and ELECSA’s decision to not operate a scheme.

As an organisation owned by a charity and a trade association, Certsure can make such decisions based on contractors’ concerns, rather than on shareholders’ return or profit, unlike other scheme operators that have applied for a licence to run such a scheme.

It remains to be seen what will happen with the third-party certification scheme, but we will be writing to DCLG about our concerns and using the survey

Emma Clancy is chief executive officer, Certsure

responses as a key argument that, in its current guise, the scheme is not favoured by registered contractors.

Elsewhere, we have amendment 3 on the horizon.

Come January, this will be the new national standard for electrical installation work in the UK. In this issue we provide an overview of some of the major changes, along with information on what contractors will need to know to comply with the new regulations.

Finally, I would also like to thank all those who sent in their #elecfies to our recent Twitter campaign. It was great to see all the different jobs carried out by NICEIC and ELECSA contractors – and that you can mix a bit of fun with work now and again! I even had a contractor come up to me at Birmingham train station asking me to be in his #elecfie, which was definitely a first!

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 Classified ads 020 7324 2700 connectionsclassified @redactive.co.uk

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

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

© Redactive Publishing Ltd 2014 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

Autumn 2014 Connections

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BO NO OK W 2014 N O R T H

Technical Conference and Exhibition

Find ou t about B S7671: Amendm ent 3 at Live N orth!

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Exhibition only and apprentice passes are available free of charge!

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Speakers include:

Tony Cable

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David Spillett

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Engineering Policy & Standards Manager, Energy Networks Association

Technical Development Manager NICEIC & ELECSA

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BOOK NOW at www.niceic-elecsalive.com or call 020 7880 7625 29/09/2014 01/10/2014 09:59 10:09

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

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

Liverpool to host Live North event Contractors from north-west England should book their tickets for Live North now to secure a place at what promises to be one of the highlights of the year.

Now in its third year, Live North is being held at a new venue, Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, on 27 November.

Attendees will be able to get up to speed on latest industry developments, including hearing from Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth – as well as the IET’s Mark Coles – about what the third amendment of BS 7671 means for them.

Keynote speaker Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and TV presenter, will be discussing the impact of architectural design developments on the electrical industry. Other speakers include Geraldine Fleming from Knowles, who will advise contractors on how to structure contracts, WF Senate’s Ivan Gill, who will explain the implications of two major changes to fire alarm regulations, and David Spillett, Energy Networks Association engineering policy and standards manager, who will be looking at how the industry will cope with the UK’s increasing demand for power.

There will be a number of hands-on demonstrations and a wide range of exhibitors – including partner sponsors esp, Scolmore and WF Senate.

“It is a new location and venue for Live North and we can’t wait to get going,” said Mark Smith, head of marketing and communications at Certsure. “We’ve had some of our biggest regional event attendances in Liverpool, so it’s great to hold our next conference there.”

Tickets cost £29 plus VAT for ECA, ELECSA and NICEIC registered contractors, or £49 plus VAT for non-registered contractors. Exhibition-only and apprentice tickets are available free of charge.

To book visit www.niceic-elecsalive.com or call 020 7880 7625

ECA WELCOMES APPRENTICESHIPS REPORT The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has welcomed a National Audit Office report on the government’s proposals for apprenticeships.

The report raised a number of questions about the proposals for greater employer investment, and expressed concerns that changes to the funding system could lead to fewer employers taking on apprentices.

“A survey we, the JIB, NET and JTL commissioned back in April showed that 86 per cent of employers in our industry felt that the proposed changes to funding would deter businesses from taking on apprentices,” said Carolyn Mason, head of education and training at the ECA. The ECA is pushing for a sector exemption to minimise the risk to electrical contractors.

“There’s a very real risk that our current approach, which has delivered more than 50,000 level 3 apprenticeships over the last 25 years, could be dismantled and replaced by something far less suitable and efficient,” added Mason.

See our feature on apprentices on page 37

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ECA URGES ACTION OVER LATE PAYMENT The Electrical Contractors’ Association has called on the new construction minister Matthew Hancock MP to make solving the problem of late payment a priority for his new office.

“Slow payment is an abuse of smaller businesses,” said Paul Reeve, director of business services. “We would like the government to send a strong message to buyers. We trust Matthew Hancock will make late payment a priority, and help do away with a bad business practice that has held our sector, and smaller businesses in general, back for far too long.”

NEED TO LOOK AGAIN AT THIRD-PARTY INSPECTIONS NICEIC and ELECSA have called for a rethink of third-party inspection as electrical contractors voice their opposition to the scheme.

A recent survey of NICEIC and ELECSA registered contractors revealed that 78 per cent of respondents believe the scheme will undermine their work. Just over 85 per cent believe it weakens Part P of the building regulations, with 85 per cent also believing it will compromise safety in the home.

Significantly, nearly 80 per cent backed NICEIC and ELECSA’s decision to not operate a scheme.

“The feedback from our contractors is overwhelming. Carrying out electrical installation work is dangerous. It should not be attempted by anyone without the appropriate knowledge and skills,” said Emma Clancy, CEO of Certsure. “In its current guise, the third-party certification scheme will encourage non-qualified people to cut costs by carrying out the work themselves.“

Autumn 2014 Connections

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FANCY WORKING WITH US? NICEIC and ELECSA are looking for a customer relations/technician/engineer to work in its Dunstable head office. The successful applicant will be responsible for building relationships with consumers, contractors and various other professional bodies, with the ability to carry out qualified inspection and assessment services when needed.

Experience and knowledge of BS 7671 is required and knowledge of building regulations, microgeneration standards and other related codes of practice is desirable. The successful candidate will hold industry relevant qualifications and have a high level of technical competence over a wide range of electrical installations. For more information about the role visit www.niceic.com/about-us/careers

Get up to speed on changes to wiring regs

LUTON TOWN SHIRT DEAL Luton Town FC will be hoping to make an extra impression in the football league this year, thanks to sponsorship from NICEIC and ELECSA. Last year’s Conference champions have made a solid start to life in League Two and their new home kit will again be featuring the NICEIC logo on the back – the sixth year in a row the organisation has supported the football club.

In addition, the away kit for the 2014/15 season will feature the ELECSA logo on the back for the first time.

“We are delighted to continue our long association with Luton Town FC,” said Julie Blake, senior marketing manager at Certsure. Dave Hoskins, commercial manager at Luton Town FC, added: “We are delighted to have NICEIC and ELECSA on board.”

HAVE YOU MOVED ONLINE? NICEIC and ELECSA’s online certification service is proving a hit, with more and more contractors registering work online.

More than 2,800 new customers created certificates last month – taking the total amount to well over 10,000.

The online system allows contractors to complete certificates and notify their work online, reducing the need to buy and fill out pads of certificates.

The NICEIC version launched in January and more than half a million jobs have been notified and more than 163,000 certificates completed. The ELECSA version launched in June, with more than 44,000 jobs notified.

Visit niceiconline.com or the secure area of elecsa.co.uk.

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In the run-up to January NICEIC and ELECSA will be holding a series of workshops and seminars to help contractors get up to speed with the latest regulations.

We are also taking pre-orders for the new standard and offering special discounts on selected bundle packages to ensure you have everything you need to know come January.

The third amendment, and its implications, will also be discussed at this year’s TechTalks and Live North events.

Contractors attending either of these will be able to get an early insight into the changes with Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth presenting talks at all NICEIC and ELECSA events.

To find out more see page 24

Thousands flock to new site More than 21,000 people have logged on to www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk, after just two months in operation.

The site, which lists all full scope domestic Part P registered electrical installers in England and Wales, was developed by all Department of Communities and Local Government authorised electrical competent person

> Stephen Williams MP (left) with NAPIT’s Mike Andrews and Emma Clancy of Certsure

scheme operators, in a bid to create a single point of reference for consumers seeking a registered contractor.

It was officially unveiled by the minister for communities and local government Stephen Williams at the Palace of Westminster in July, and has more than 40,000 firms listed on the site.

It is also backed by Electrical Safety First, which has launched a national marketing campaign to highlight the register and raise awareness about the need to use registered contractors.

A short film, featuring a householder left in a spin after calling out a ‘cowboy’ electrician, has had almost 41,000 views on YouTube and reached 87,000 people on Facebook. Further campaigns targeting homeowners and consumers are planned in the coming months.

Contractors wanting to amend information on the site should contact customer services at NICEIC or ELECSA.

Alamy/Rafael Bastos/Superstock

> Certsure’s senior marketing manager Julie Blake with Luton Town marketing manager Dave Hoskins (left) and club manager John Still with the new shirts

The start of 2015 (1 January) will see the introduction of the third amendment to BS 7671: 2008, The IET Wiring Regulations, the new national standard for electrical installation work in the UK. All NICEIC and ELECSA registered contractors will need to be aware of the changes and it is a condition of continuing registration t that they have a copy of the new standard.

Inside this edition of Connections we t take a look at some of the expected changes and what it will mean for c contractors.

Connections Autumn 2014

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

Plugged in New TechTalk dates announced Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth will be hitting the road once more in a new series of NICEIC and ELECSA regional TechTalks.

The duo will be touring the UK helping electrical contractors get to grips with a variety of technical topics, including: BS 7671 amendment 3; emergency lighting regulations; CCTV and door entry systems and electrical certificates.

Attendees will also be able to access special deals, try out some of the latest products and get plenty of technical advice from some of the industry’s biggest names who will be exhibiting at each event.

“The TechTalk format has proved very popular with contractors and we can’t wait to get going again,” said Cable.

“The sessions are ideal for contractors looking to get up to speed with the latest developments in the industry and, in addition to the technical seminars,

attendees can also visit the lively expo and quiz their local NICEIC or ELECSA assessor.”

Leading industry brands Peugeot, EAL, WF Senate and Electrium have all signed up as headline sponsors for this year’s series, which will be visiting new venues such as Allianz Park in London, Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire and Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.

The full line-up of dates and locations are: 14 October, Culloden Estate and Spa, Belfast 21 October, China Fleet Country Club, Cornwall 12 November, Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol 3 February, Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster 11 February, Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket 24 February, Liberty Stadium, Swansea 12 March, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 19 March, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 25 March, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire Tickets cost £25 and are available now from www.niceic.com and www.elecsa.co.uk or by calling 0843 290 3456. Alternatively you can email techtalk@certsure.com

Daredevil sparky wins online #elecfie contest A selfie taken more than 30ft up while dangling from a rope proved the winning shot in a recent online competition by NICEIC and ELECSA. Welsh electrician Gavin Sibley’s unusual picture got the top vote in the #elecfie contest, which ran on the social media site Twitter.

For those not in the know, an #elecfie is the name given to an electrician taking a picture of himself at work.

“We wanted to build on the trend for celebrities using selfies and came up with the name elecfie, initially as a bit of fun to engage with our Twitter followers,” said NICEIC and ELECSA’s communications manager Paul Collins.

“There was a serious side to it too.

We wanted to highlight the range of work NICEIC and ELECSA contractors do, so it was pleasing to see such a wide variety of pictures.”

Contractors from Devon to Dumbarton sent in their pictures, which include electricians working on

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the fit-out of a shop on Oxford Street, installing a new lighting system on a block of flats in Glasgow and one contractor working on a Dr Who tardis converted into a public toilet.

But it was Sibley’s #elecfie, taken while installing digital TV cabling at a rugby club in Wales, that was judged the overall winner, and he won an iPad for his efforts.

“I did it for a bit of a laugh really,” he said. “I am a climbing instructor in my spare time and had to get the harness and ropes out as there was some scaffolding in the way of where I wanted to work. I got my phone out and decided to send in my selfie.”

Keep sending in your pictures, which are now being added to an interactive map at http://certsure.com/tweetmap/ app. Search for #elecfie on twitter or follow @officialniceic or @officialelecsa.

TV SHOW HIGHLIGHTS ELECTRICAL SAFETY NICEIC and ELECSA’s technical development manager Darren Staniforth made a recent appearance on BBC TV’s How Safe is Your House?

The new consumer affairs show investigates household safety and shoddy workmanship.

Staniforth was asked by the producers of the show to provide a professional opinion on the condition of electrics in a family home just outside Hull. He discussed the dangers associated with dodgy electrical work and the importance of ensuring homes are safe by carrying out periodic electrical checks.

He appeared on the show in an ELECSA and NICEIC-branded shirt, providing fantastic brand exposure on primetime TV for both brands.

Autumn 2014 Connections

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

Plugged in EST survey reveals renewables demand

21 TechTalk Cornwall China Fleet Country Club November 6-7 ELEX Sandown Park 12 TechTalk Bristol Ashton Gate Stadium 27 Live North Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool The number of F and G-rated homes in the UK – homes that are extremely energy-inefficient – has fallen from 29 per cent in 1996 to just six per cent in 2012. The average energy performance rating of the UK housing stock has gone from an E in 2001 to a D in 2012.

David Weatherall, energy efficiency expert at the Energy Savings Trust, said: “If households are considering making these improvements then now is the time to take action in preparation for the winter months and colder temperatures.”

REGRET OVER GREEN DEAL FUND CLOSURE NICEIC has expressed its disappointment at the recent closure of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF).

In July, the government announced it was closing the GDHIF after a surge in applications meant the £120 million cashback fund was swallowed up quicker than expected. A reported £70 million went in just two days from just under 10,000 applicants.

“The government made it very clear that the pot available was limited,” said NICEIC’s sector specialist Dani Putney. “But like everyone within the industry we were surprised at how quickly the cashback fund was eaten up.

“It was especially disappointing because there was evidence that the fund had revamped the scheme and the increased advertising was obviously working.”

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has called for further government incentives to encourage people to implement energy efficiency measures.

“This momentum should be built upon by offering cuts in council tax and business rates for properties that have a Green Deal Plan in place,” said Bill Wright, ECA head of energy solutions.

“Offering a cut of £100 a year in council tax on top of what people could save on their energy bills would be an attractive sum for anyone.”

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) launched the GDHIF in June. The scheme offered customers installing energy efficient measures significant savings via cashback vouchers.

“While it is sad to see the scheme close so quickly it does mean that with around £120 million in vouchers in the marketplace there should be plenty of opportunities for Green Deal installers,” said Putney.

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October 14 TechTalk Belfast Culloden Estate and Spa

HOMEOWNERS TAKE UP RHI FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Almost 7,500 homes have applied for payments under the domestic RHI scheme since its launch in April.

The latest figures from the Department of Energy & Climate Change show that initial uptake has been promising, with a fair spread of applications throughout the UK. The most popular applications were for funding to support ground and air source heat pump installations. The majority were also choosing to replace oil-based heating systems as their main source of heating, although a third were moving away from gas.

Domestic RHI gives private householders access to financial assistance if they convert their heating systems to green or more sustainable energy sources. These include air source heat pumps, biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps or solar thermal hot water systems.

Dani Putney, renewables sector specialist at Certsure, said: “It is no surprise that the majority of those choosing to take up RHI are already on oil-based heating sources. The increasing cost of oil makes converting to a renewable heat source a valid option.

“It is also encouraging to see the number of applications steadily increasing each month,” she added. “The RHI launched without much fanfare and we expect the number of applications to rise steadily as more people become aware of the options available to them. It is an exciting time for installers who have MCS accreditation.”

Alamy

Almost half of all UK householders claim to live in cold, damp and draughty homes, according to a new report from the Energy Savings Trust (EST).

More than a quarter are also planning on installing energy-efficient measures in the next year to combat the increasing cold.

In the first of a series of public opinion surveys, researchers also found that 60 per cent of respondents were more likely to buy or rent a property that included microgeneration.

Dani Putney, renewables sector specialist at Certsure, said: “Renewables are increasingly becoming a viable option for householders as they look to improve their home against energy loss.

“The falling costs of installing renewable or microgeneration technology mean more people are now considering it as a way of improving their home and reducing their energy costs.”

INDUSTRY // DIARY

Autumn 2014 Connections

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

Plugged in Conference tackles product safety

SOCIAL MEDIA SPREADS THE SAFETY WORD

Electrical Safety First’s product safety conference will be held on Wednesday 12 November, at Church House, Westminster. The event, entitled Product Safety First – Time for Change, will be chaired by former Working Lunch presenter and business journalist, Declan Curry.

Key themes will include the changing shape of product safety legislation, identifying trends and emerging issues, recall effectiveness and the issue of behavioural change in consumers.

A highlight will be the launch of Electrical Safety First’s research project on consumer behaviour – and how this impacts on traceability and product recall. Previous research shows that consumer indifference and an underestimation of the danger of recalled products make a significant contribution to low recall rates. Nearly

Following the launch of Electrical Safety First’s joint report with Shelter on safety standards in the private rented sector, the charity’s call for mandatory, five-yearly checks on electrics in rented homes received plenty of support from housing organisations and electrical professionals on Twitter. But LinkedIn group members would like to see annual checks, in line with gas safety regulations.

The charity also shared a short video on its Facebook page, a spoof in which a woman hires a child to repair her electrics, to promote the new Registered Competent Person Electrical website.

Since its launch in July, the film has been viewed more than 80,000 times, with nearly 2,000 likes, comments and shares. A lot of the shares have come from electricians who like the charity’s page, helping it to get the message out to a wider audience and potentially reaching more than 840,000 people.

Debate continues around the possible dangers of e-cigarettes. Stories shared on Electrical Safety First’s Facebook page and Twitter have had lots of interest, and it is now doing some research to try to find out what is causing all the accidents that so often appear in the press.

Keep up to date with Electrical Safety First on Twitter (ElecSafetyFirst), Facebook (www. facebook.com/ElecSafetyFirst) or by joining our LinkedIn group (search for Electrical Safety First).

two million adults have knowingly ignored a recall notice, with a further million admitting to currently owning an electrical item that has been recalled.

“This is the fourth conference we have run and it has become a major forum for information on product safety, as it brings together key stakeholders – manufacturers, retailers, consumer safety professionals and government bodies – to ensure consumer protection benefits from the industry’s collaborative approach,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First.

See www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

Scotland to adopt mandatory checks Electrical Safety First’s campaign for improved safety in the private rented sector (PRS) has claimed its first major success, when Scotland’s new Housing Bill included an amendment on electrical safety, tabled

by Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow (pictured).

The amendment now ensures mandatory, five-yearly electrical checks, by a registered electrician, of all PRS homes and any electrical appliance supplied with them.

In 2012, almost two-thirds of PRS homes failed to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and changing demographics have intensified concerns over disrepair and safety in the sector.

Scotland’s PRS – which has doubled over the past decade – now houses well over 300,000 people, including 80,000 families, a quarter of them with children.

This is particularly worrying, since almost 70 per cent of accidental fires in Scotland are caused by electricity.

“Some of the worst instances of landlord neglect relate to poor electrical safety, so I am delighted its importance has been recognised in the Bill,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First.

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ROUNDTABLE DEBATES RECALL NOTICES

“It is only through collaborative working that we have been able to highlight this issue, so I would like to thank all those organisations and individuals who have supported our call for improved safety measures, particularly Bob Doris.”

As part of its campaign, Electrical Safety First led the development of a coalition of organisations lobbying for improvements to the PRS in Scotland.

“I pay credit to Electrical Safety First and the Scottish Association of Landlords, who have been instrumental in gaining the support of the private rented sector,” said Doris. “Including electrical safety checks in this bill will help ensure that people renting privately will get the protection they need.”

Electrical Safety First recently hosted a roundtable on product safety, recalls and traceability, attended by senior representatives from electrical manufacturers and retailers, as well as delegates from government, trade bodies and related organisations.

The discussion centred around recall notices, their design, placement and consumers’ reaction to them, as well as methods for improving traceability.

“Given our campaigning expertise, we are ideally placed to take the lead on this issue, but for improvements to occur we need the support and input of the entire electrical supply chain,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First. “The roundtable event provided the perfect opportunity to do just that.”

The roundtable was sponsored by techUK, which represents the technology industry in the UK, and acted as a prelude to the product safety conference, which will take place on 12 November.

Autumn 2014 Connections

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To find out more about Electrical Safety First, visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk ELECTRICAL SAFETY FIRST PULLS IN THE CROWDS Electrical Safety First was a key exhibitor at the recent Trading Standards Conference, a five-day event held in Harrogate at the end of June.

The charity’s product safety manager, Stephen Curtler, presented a seminar on the importance of compliance and risk assessments, to an audience comprised of representatives from local authorities and industry professionals.

A highlight of his presentation included a revised version of the electrical product safety checklist – a guide sheet to help identify potential safety issues in consumer goods.

The charity’s prototype ‘pin plug gauge’ – a measuring device that helps test the authenticity of three-pin plugs – proved particularly successful with Trading Standards officers.

“After the presentation, we were inundated with people wanting one of the gauges,” said Pat Sheldrake, Electrical Safety First’s stakeholder engagement and events manager. “It’s not often you see people queuing at a conference stand!”

PRODUCT SAFETY MESSAGE HITS EUROPE Martyn Allen, head of the technical division at Electrical Safety First, was one of the key speakers at an international symposium on product safety, held in Belgium in June.

The event was organised jointly by the European Commission and the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organisation.

Part of a panel discussing recall effectiveness in a global market, Allen focused on the key factors that manufacturers, distributors, retailers and regulators often fail to consider when faced with a product recall.

“In today’s global economy which sells to, and sources from, an international market, it is important that we engage with as wide an audience as possible,” he said. “I am delighted that the symposium attracted senior representatives from throughout the electrical product supply chain.”

Earlier this year, Electrical Safety First released a major report – Safer Products, Better Business – which focused on product recall and traceability.

The charity is currently investigating how traceability can be improved, particularly from point-of-sale to the consumer, using techniques such as data capture in-store and online, as well as registration card processes.

Private tenants most at risk from faulty electrics Electrical Safety First and Shelter are calling on the government to change t law after a joint report revealed the that dangerous electrics are putting the lives of England’s nine million private renters at risk.

The report, Home Improvement: Tackling Poor Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector, reveals that homes in the private rented sector a worse than in any other. A third are of properties fail to meet basic standards and a sixth of renters, o 1.2 million adults, have reported or problems with electricity in the last year.

The report highlights how current regulations are not fit for purpose, with no legal requirement for landlords to regularly check the electrical installation – and any electrical appliances they provide – before renting out a property.

This is a particular concern, as there

are a growing number of ‘accidental’ landlords, renting out properties they cannot sell or have inherited, and who may be less likely to consider electrical safety as a priority.

A lack of legislation means an unacceptable number of properties are let out in a potentially deadly state.

Every year, 70 people die from electrical accidents and 350,000 people are seriously injured.

The joint report also highlights the lack of specific legislation to protect tenants who report poor conditions to their landlord, or local authority, from being evicted in retaliation. More than 200,000 renters were evicted or served notice in the last year because they complained about a problem in their home, and one in eight renters had not challenged their landlord because they fear this could happen to them.

Gardeners suffer from poor advice Electrical Safety First is calling on manufacturers of electrically-powered garden equipment, such as lawnmowers and hedge-trimmers, to improve safety advice on packaging and instruction manuals, as research reveals they cause thousands of injuries a year.

“Over a quarter of a million people require hospital treatment each year after an electrical accident in the garden,” said Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First. “That’s a third of all gardeners. The most common cause is cutting through the cable of a lawnmower or hedge-trimmer.”

The charity believes manufacturers have a responsibility to warn gardeners of the risk of using such equipment, yet its recent mystery shopping exercise found that the guidance given is insufficient.

“The safest way to minimise electrical dangers in the garden is by using an RCD, which rapidly disconnects the current if there is a fault, such as cutting through a cable,” added Buckle. “But we found that the information on RCDs in instruction manuals for electrical garden tools was quite difficult to understand and some suggested RCDs are most useful when it’s raining, seemingly playing down the risk during more clement weather.”

Electrical Safety First wants this guidance to be much clearer, particularly since research shows many people – with men the worst offenders – fail to read the safety instructions that come with electrical equipment.

Electrical Safety First believes there are some simple solutions to help reduce electrical accidents in the garden. The charity has suggested making RCDs as standard with hedge-trimmers and lawnmowers, or attaching a warning label to the plug of products.

Connections Autumn 2014

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

Plugged in LASER VISION

POLES APART

The new TLM65 short-distance laser measure from Stanley is designed as an alternative to tape measures to record short distances.

The tool allows measurements of between 0.5m and 20m in a few seconds, with users able to point and click to measure distances or calculate area and volume. It also features a continuous measurement mode, to provide live readings.

The laser measure is designed to help contractors measure up jobs accurately and will be particularly useful for those doing so on their own, who may otherwise struggle to operate a conventional tape measure. www.stanleytools.co.uk

The new TPT320 two-pole tester from Megger is designed to allow contractors a safe way of checking AC and DC voltages from 12V to 690V. The device includes an LED display, which provides an immediate < Two-pole tester indication of voltage and polarity for DC voltages, and an LCD panel, which gives a three-digit voltage readout.

It also includes two red LEDs that illuminate when connected to a voltage high enough to present a danger of electrical shock, and remain operational even without batteries.

The TPT320 can also be used to check continuity with an acoustic sounder, and provide phase rotation indication for three-phase systems without having to cross the test probes. www.uk.megger.com

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PLYING THE TRADE

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Having to cart multiple pairs of pliers around could be a thing of the past, according to Wiha.

The tool manufacturer claims its new VDE bi-cut cutters and stripping pliers can cut through both soft materials and hard surfaces, and feature a button designed to double the power available to help cope with really tough jobs.

The tool has been designed for use with a range of materials, including cables, nails, screws, bolts, wire cables, spring wires and chains.

It also features protective insulation making it safe to work on and around electrical components up to 1,000V AC, as well as induction-hardened cutter blades to reduce wear and tear. www.brianhyde.co.uk

CALL FOR RESTRAINT

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Cable cleat manufacturer Ellis has unveiled a two-in-one cable guide and clamp, designed to cope with the demands of installing and restraining high-voltage cables.

Named after the Greek God, the Triton was initially designed for an offshore project for Siemens and is now being rolled out into a full range for use with larger-diameter cables. The original project required a system that would feed and restrain seven 117mm diameter cables along a specified route in a fabricated structure, including a number of turns.

Triton overcomes this by guiding cables into their final location and using a number of trumpeted entry and exit points. Once the cable is in place, the top half of Triton is removed and a fixing piece installed directly onto the cable, before the top half is reinstated to create an HV cable clamp. www.ellispatents.co.uk

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01/10/2014 10:32

Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Live wire Quality changes The ISO 9001 quality management system has long been recognised as a performance improver. More than 25 years since its first inception, it is set to be updated, as Mo Ghaus explains

I

SO 9001 is used by thousands of small enterprises across the UK and is particularly prevalent in the electrical contracting industry, where clients often insist on this certification for tenders or contracts.

Having last been updated in 2008, the standard is being amended in 2015 to reflect changing demands and tastes. The updated version will integrate with other management systems, provide organisational management, enhance an organisation’s ability to satisfy customers and encourage risk-based thinking.

What do I need to know?

Although ISO 9001: 2015 will be the most significant change to quality management in almost 20 years, there is a three-year transition period for existing clients. But there are some points worth considering now.

If you already have ISO 9001 in place it is worth discussing the upcoming change with your certification body. They will be able to provide advice and guidance on what you need to know. It is also worth opening up communication lines with key stakeholders and senior management.

Start your transition plan now. Take a look at the proposed changes and understand their key concepts. It is well worth reviewing the ISO 31000 and PAS 99 documents.

Risk management and understanding any potential risks to your business will form a large part of the new update. Practise risk analysis and assessment methodologies and conduct situation analysis scenarios that are relevant and with interested parties.

Finally, get hold of the draft update and cross-reference the 2008 version to note the differences yourself.

Just starting out?

For those firms just beginning the process, the changes to ISO 9001 represent a good time to get started.

Companies looking to take on a quality management system (QMS) will be working towards the new standards and so will be in a much better position to analyse and evaluate their business in terms of risk and processes going forward.

The process of gaining quality certification is straightforward and, no matter what size your company, it will be relevant to the work you do.

Certification can be achieved in three simple steps: application, assessment and registration. It is similar to applying for NICEIC and ELECSA registration. Once you have contacted a certification body (such as NQA), you fill out an application form outlining the areas of

your business – type of work, number of employees, management structure and work location – and the certification body will be in touch to arrange an assessment. It will help you through that process.

Benefits of certification A QMS is a positive investment that will save your business money.

While the opportunity to secure larger contracts is perhaps the main reason contractors choose to go through the process, certification also offers many other benefits.

Many of the processes undertaken to gain certification show you exactly where your costs are. It gives you control of your business activities by analysing what you are doing and improving the way that you do it.

Mo Ghaus is head of NQA. For more information about the upcoming changes to ISO 9001 or how NQA has already helped hundreds of electrical contracting firms gain certification visit www.nqa.com

Case study Metropolitan Electrical Services is an electrical contracting firm based in the heart of London’s Docklands, and secured certification to ISO 9001 some 10 years ago.

Since then, the business has grown impressively and, for quality manager Derek Pettitt, working to the standard has become a way of life. “Getting the standard in the first place was a big step for our company – particularly given the size of the organisation at the time – but now I honestly do not know how we would fare without it,” he says.

“Having ISO 9001 is an integral part of many of the tenders that we work on, so we would simply be shut out of a significant percentage of our potential work if we did not have it.

“As the market changes, so does our working practice,” he adds. “We can change our systems to meet different business requirements. Sometimes this has meant that we can cut some processes out and simplify the way we operate – and that is fine as long as we meet the benchmark of ISO 9001.”

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

Email nick.martindale@ redactive.co.uk

Live wire

Clear and present danger Clear labelling of wires, cables and electrical devices is a vital part of a contractor’s job. Being able to do so without incurring unnecessary downtime is essential, says Mike Kelly

W

hen safety and compliance ance tcuts are at risk, taking shortcuts can put people and nger. property in serious danger.

In the electrical trade, oesn’t compliant labelling doesn’t ables. just cover wires and cables.

It’s also important to clearly identify devices such as ngs, RCDs and to create notices relating to voltage warnings, n. non-standard wiring colours and periodic inspection. ey tool The versatility of label printers means they are a key ation for helping electricians to fulfil many of the identification requirements of the wiring regulations. Producing clear, durable labels in a variety of sizes and colours s. means they can be used for a number of applications. asy Models with built-in standard templates make it easy rd to create cable wrap, faceplate and distribution board ge labels. Industry-relevant symbols, such as high-voltage vance warning signs, will also enhance the impact and relevance of the label.

When unexpected or unusual requirements crop up up, producing customised labels on site in any location can also save time and money. Instead of having to leave site

Mike Kelly is head of labelling at Brother UK

b the labels you need from a wholesaler, you can to buy des design and print them out on the spot.

It a far more efficient way of working when It’s you consider the process of sourcing and keeping off-t -the-shelf labels to hand. Particularly for electricians wor working on construction sites, it’s not uncommon for pac packets of pre-printed labels to get lost, damaged or dirt dirty, making them unsuitable for use. So rather than com compromising on the quality of work, you can simply prin print off the labels you need when you need them – and stor store that information in the machine to use again later.

U Undertaking a job professionally from start to finish imp impresses customers and will encourage them to wor work with you again in the future. This means not only com completing work to a high standard and delivering good cus customer service while on site, but also leaving a positive imp impression once the job is complete.

L Leaving customers with an electrical installation that is clea clearly labelled will give them confidence that the work has been completed by professionals in line with wiring reg regulations. Not only will this help the reputation of you and your company, but it will also make things simpler and safer for your customers in the long term.

IN FOCUS// RICHARD MALKIN

» Richard Malkin is director of Malkin Electrical Ltd

How have things progressed since then?

There were about six or seven of us at the peak in 2007, then things declined and now we are three fulltime electricians and one part-time, and a secretary.

What work do you do?

It’s mainly domestic, but with a sizeable chunk of commercial. We do a lot of LED lighting in shops

18

and churches. I do the inspection and testing and the design and quoting, and the others do the bulk of the installation work.

Where do you cover?

Mainly around our home town of Glossop, Derbyshire, but can end up anywhere. Recently we’ve worked in Nottingham, Greater London, Anglesey and Southport.

How are things going now?

Domestic has picked up fantastically. Rewires went virtually to zero in the downturn, but I’ve just had someone come back to me

two years after I quoted to have it done. Commercial is lagging behind a bit, but still picking up.

And your future plans?

We’ll probably expand if the market keeps growing.

I’m 63 so I’ll be slowing down a bit, but I don’t like the idea of retirement.

What about outside work?

I go sub-aqua diving once a year if I can get the time off.

What’s the hardest part of running your own firm?

Fitting everything in and getting everybody where they should be on time.

Illustration: Cameron Law

How did you come to start up the business?

I used to be a science teacher but did my City & Guilds and started up on my own in 1992.

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

Autumn 2014 Connections

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01/10/2014 10:27

Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training RE-GEN UK

Live wire

Secret services Bletchley Park, the Buckinghamshire base of the WW2 code-breakers who hastened the end of the war, has been revitalised by a major £8 million restoration project. Retaining the original 1940s look and feel was a priority for M&E contractor Re-Gen UK > Original fittings have bee in the refurbished block th

By Andrew Brister

O 20

nce Britain’s best-kept secret, today hundreds of thousands of people visit Bletchley Park each year to see where the heroic efforts of the World War Two code-breakers took place.

This summer saw the completion of a long-awaited £8 million first-phase restoration programme, made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

This project has seen the transformation of the formerly derelict wartime code-breaking building, Block C, into a vibrant visitor centre. In addition, the iconic code-breaking Huts 3 and 6 have been sympathetically restored and fitted with light-touch interpretation for visitors to experience how it was to work in wartime Bletchley Park.

Architect Kennedy O’Callaghan was appointed in 2010 as design team leader to define and develop Bletchley Park Trust’s detailed brief and to scope the project, starting with condition surveys and conservation appraisals of the site and buildings.

An important element was to align the conservation with the buildings’ stories so the buildings themselves could be interpreted and treated as museum artefacts. Thorough and painstaking research was undertaken to ensure the most authentic approach, retaining as much of the wartime building fabric as possible, while removing decaying asbestos.

authentic to the original 1940s fittings as possible, while still keeping up to date with modern regulations,” says Tony Pink, M&E director at Re-Gen. “It’s proved quite a task, but has been well worth the effort.”

Block C is where the tour around Bletchley Park begins and ends and is the centrepiece of the project, home to a visitor centre, shop and café. “The lighting design solution in Block C looks very effective,” says Pink. “We had new fittings specially made to look like the old GEC lamps of the period.” These may be heritage in style, but are fully dimmable and use LED or fluorescent lamps, depending on the location. Lightinc supplied the lighting units, with controls from Rako.

“The requirements for lighting levels and controls were different in each area so we’ve split the space into nine spurs,” explains Pink. “From the main panel in the plant room we’ve got separate energy metering for each spur supplying the various sub mains throughout the building. That way, each area, such as the café, can be billed independently.”

It has also provided a single master cut-out switch so that all the loads in the nine different areas can be switched off easily.

Re-Gen took away an existing MEM switchbox and got nine cases prefabricated and made to look the same. “We fitted all the internal switchgear, dimmable controls and internal wireways into these units and, with the lid on, it looks really good,” he says. “I think it’s made the project.”

Old and the new Equal attention has been paid to the M&E works undertaken

by Billericay-based contractor Re-Gen UK. In an ongoing collaboration with main contractor Fairhurst Ward Abbotts (FWA), Re-Gen has to date carried out around £1.2 million of M&E work across Bletchley Park, working to an outline design

by M&E consultant Kingshaw Associates. “The installation is as

‘We had new fittings specially made to look like the old GEC lamps of the period’

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£1.2m:

This is a new section in Connections, exploring some of the more interesting and innovative projects contractors take on. If you have a project you’d like to be considered, email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

The value of the M&E work undertaken at Bletchley Park to date

ve been maintained or replicated ock that houses the visitor centre

Well camouflaged All containment has been powder-coated green to match the original steelwork and make things less conspicuous. And not just any old green. “When we got to site, experts were removing paint from the walls and taking samples to get as close a match to the original colours as possible,” says Pink.

Sockets and data outlets from MK’s Metalclad range have been powder-coated black. “This was quite an onerous part of the contract,” says Pink. “There was a lot of upfront design work and meetings with the architect, with us providing samples to find out what we could and couldn’t do.”

With exhibition areas including wartime “sets” with ghostly projections and explanations of the code-breaking process,

Artelia UK

more than 350 data outlets have been installed throughout Block C. The original concrete floor has been kept, with Re-Gen channelling out runs for socket outlets. “Careful liaison with FWA was a key part of the contract,” says Pink. “They’ve done a great job matching the original concrete when filling in so the installation looks near-enough invisible.”

On the mechanical side, Re-Gen has replaced the original single-pipe hot water space heating system with a two-pipe variation. “We sent off all the original cast radiators to be tested, refurbished, sand-blasted and then powder-coated – there are over 250 radiators throughout the block,” says Pink.

“We’ve made sure you can only see one pipe, so we’ve done a pretty good job of making it look as it would have done in the 1940s.” The existing boilers have been retained for now, although these may be replaced in the next phase of work.

Shacking up The code-breaking Huts 3 and 6 largely followed the same refurbishment formula. “It’s worked really well,” says Pink. “For what are basically wooden shacks, you wouldn’t believe the amount of work that’s gone into them, as it’s all hidden.”

As the budget didn’t extend to a full refurbishment of the heating system in the huts, the radiators have been left in place and painted, but heating is now provided by electric units, painted to make them look less conspicuous and hidden from view as much as possible, behind doors for example.

Re-Gen is also responsible for external lighting around the park. While new posts from Holophane are acceptable in the new car park, other areas of the site have called for greater authenticity. Re-Gen is currently sourcing original concrete lamp posts from salvage yards with a view to repairing them and getting new light fittings fabricated on top.

The end result is immensely atmospheric and authentic.

Thanks to Re-Gen and the rest of the team, the efforts of the code-breakers will no longer be an enigma for the thousands of visitors who will flock here in the future. » Andrew Brister is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical industry

Photography: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com

Cracking codes, and walls Bletchley Park was the home of the Government Code and Cypher School during World War Two, where encrypted messages sent by the navy, army and air forces of Germany and its allies were decrypted, translated and analysed for vital intelligence information.

The most famous of the cypher systems used at Bletchley Park was the Enigma, but there were numerous others, and the efforts of the code-breakers were said to have shortened the war by some two years.

The restoration programme has seen more building work on the site than at any time since 1944, the peak of war. The project is being managed by Artelia UK. “With a finite budget, tight timescales, unusual building stock and numerous stakeholders, Bletchley Park has been a very complex but immensely rewarding project,” says Stephen Prowse, head of project delivery at Artelia UK.

Connections Autumn 2014

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Advice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case Study/Customer care/Training CONSUMER CONTRACTS

Live wire Rules of engagement The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 came into force in June this year. Contractors need to be aware of the changes to avoid any costly legal disputes. Philip Sanders explains

C

lient disputes can be time-consuming and costly for electrical contractors, particularly if there is no contract in place to refer back to. While many contractors might feel writing up a formal contract is burdensome, it will ultimately make it easier should there be any dispute.

The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 came into force in June this year, which brought about major changes in the way home improvement and repair contracts are drawn up. The regulations give greater protection to consumers and it is important that firms are up to speed with the changes to ensure they are compliant with the new law. Failure to comply may result in prosecution or a fine. Depending on the type of breach, the contract with the homeowner may also be invalid.

The regulations cover the many different facets of how contracts are agreed, but some of the key changes that contractors should take note of include: • Consumers must now be given much more information before they sign a contract, about the trader, the goods, the price and any other applicable charges, the terms of the contract, and their cancellation rights, in a clear and comprehensive manner; • Traders will need the active consent of the consumer for all payments. Pre-ticked boxes for additional payments, for instance, will no longer be permitted; • Consumers will not be liable for costs that they have not been told about in advance; • The cooling-off period for goods and services sold by distance or by off-premises selling will be harmonised across the EU to 14 days from the date of delivery of the products, as opposed to the previous seven days from date of contract; • Where a consumer has a right to cancel a contract, the trader is required to provide the customer with a model cancellation form; • The cancellation period is extended to, broadly, 12 months if the trader fails to provide certain pre-contract information. The trader could also be liable to a fine of up to £5,000; • There are some exemptions as regards cancellation rights. One of these is for products “made to the consumer’s specification”; another is for urgent repairs and maintenance when a consumer invites a trader to their home.

Communication and documentation is key in any agreement between contractor and customer. As one top judge commented in a recent dispute: “The moral of the story is to agree first and start work later.”

The introduction of the new regulations is designed to create greater transparency, not just for the consumer, but also the contractor. We would suggest all contractors download a copy of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and make themselves aware of the changes.

» Philip Sanders is customer relations engineer at Certsure For more information about The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 log into the secure areas of elecsa.co.uk and niceic.com

Action points Certsure suggests that considering the following tips and advice at the onset of any contract will ensure contractors enjoy a smooth relationship with customers: • Set out the terms of business straight away at quotation stage. These should include information such as agreed payment terms and costs for any extras, as well as limitation of liability; • Clearly lay out the scope of work to be carried out. This should include details of who is responsible for what, access arrangements, acceptable levels of disruption (eg the power being off), Building Regulation compliance, duration of the project and who is providing the electrical equipment that will be installed. If they supply the equipment, they will have to refer back to the manufacturer; • Nearly every job will have some form of variation from the original plan, such as extra points. Where extras are required, ideally these need to be recorded and agreed before the work is carried out. This will help ensure that when your invoice is submitted there are no surprises for the client; • Any electrical certification needs to be issued at the relevant times and must not be used as leverage to gain payment from the client. This also includes any notification to Building Control if this was included in the scope of works agreed with the client; • Look to resolve any dispute as quickly and amicably as possible. This will help to maintain a good contractual relationship.

Connections Autumn 2014

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THIRD AMENDMENT

Get set for amendment 3 The third amendment to BS 7671: 2008 will be effective from January 2015. Here we take a look at what it will mean for NICEIC and ELECSA contractors

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he third amendment to BS 7671: 2008, The IET Wiring Regulations, will be effective from January 2015 and will become the new national standard for electrical installation work in the UK. Following the January publication, contractors will have a six-month transition period to get up to speed with the changes. It will then be a requirement that all electrical installations designed and periodically inspected after 30 June 2015 will have to comply with the updated regulations.

Here we give you a brief summary of some of the proposed changes and how NICEIC and ELECSA will be helping contractors ensure they have access to all the latest books, training and relevant information.

Why are the regulations being updated?

The electrical industry is constantly evolving. Advancements in technology and methods of installation mean standards are forever changing.

BS 7671 has been amended to take account of the publication of the new or amended CENELEC standards. In January this year the IET announced it was introducing an amendment to the regulations to incorporate some of these changes.

The IET held a public consultation at the start of the year inviting comments from a range of people, bodies, specialists and organisations within the industry. The draft for public comment extended to changes in the standard across 80 pages. This means the IET will be publishing a brand new book with a yellow front cover.

This consultation closed in March and the joint IET and BSI technical committee (JPEL/64 and its four panels) has reviewed the comments with a view to implementing changes to the regulations in the new standard.

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What can we expect this time around?

Although the changes have yet to be finalised, the third amendment is expected to contain a significant number of changes affecting a wide variety of electrical installation work. The following are some of the major changes expected in the design, erection and verification of electrical installations. Please remember that not all of the proposals may be included in the final version of the standard.

History of amendment changes to BS 7671: 2008 • In 2008 the 17 edition, BS 7671: 2008, was published. This consisted of 389 pages and 1,108 regulations • In 2011 the first amendment to BS 7671: 2008 was published.

This consisted of 463 pages and 1,274 regulations • In 2013 a further amendment was made relating to medical locations. As this was just a minor change to one specific area it was published as a corrigendum item to technically align Section 710 of BS 7671: 2008 (2011) with HD 60364-7-710: 2012

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New numbering system The third amendment will recognise UK-only regulations and these will be 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. Part 2 definitions Definitions will be expanded and modified. The definition of competent persons will be removed. It is likely to be replaced with instructed person (electrically) and skilled person (electrically). These changes will be reflected throughout the wiring regulations.

Chapter 41 – Protection against electric shock There will be a requirement for RCD protection for socket outlets up to 20A for all installations, with a specific exception for where a documented risk assessment determines that it’s 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 that naturally occur in a supply.

Chapter 42 – Protection against thermal effects Regulation 421.1.200 (UK only) has been added and requires switchgear assemblies including consumer units installed in domestic premises to have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material or otherwise suitably installed. The implication of this change will be that most consumer units in domestic premises will be metallic.

The implementation of this regulation is expected to be postponed until 1 January 2016 to allow for manufacturers to ensure adequate supply is available.

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 52 – Selection and erection of wiring systems In the light of the very real dangers to firefighters, a new regulation 521.200 (UK only) has been included giving 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.

Chapter 55 – 0ther 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 Section 701 locations containing a bath or shower There is a requirement for all low voltage circuits serving or passing through the location to be RCD protected.

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THIRD AMENDMENT

Appendix 3 time/current characteristics of over current 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 verification (which must be appended to the electrical installation certificate).

It will also make a small number of changes to the EICR (electrical installation condition report) and associated notes, including a requirement to carry out an inspection within an accessible roof space where electrical equipment is present in that roof space.

What does this mean for NICEIC and ELECSA registered contractors?

The new standard will be available from early January and any contractor carrying out design to the new standard will need to have a copy. After 30 June 2015, all NICEIC and ELECSA registered contractors will need to hold a copy of the new standard as a condition of continuing registration.

How will it affect my assessment?

During the transition period from 1 January to 30 June installations can be designed to either standard. All installations designed and periodically inspected after this date (30 June) must comply with the new requirements. If you are providing installations for inspection to the new standard, at your assessment, the qualified supervisor will be expected to demonstrate a good working knowledge of the new standard.

Will I need training or new qualifications?

Formal training and qualifications are not required for the

Bundle bargains NICEIC and ELECSA are offering a number of bundle options for the 17th edition wiring regulations (normally £85), the amendment 3 online course (normally £50) and an amendment 3 one-day workshop (normally £99).

These include: Bundle 1: 17th edition wiring regulations and NICEIC & ELECSA Site Guide, £85 Bundle 2: 17th edition wiring regulations and IET On-site Guide, £95 Bundle 3: 17th edition wiring regulations and one-day training workshop, £150 For more information or to place an order, visit www.3rdamendment.co.uk

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Don’t get caught out Last year the IET warned about the dangers of counterfeit books that were flooding the electrical market. It followed the seizure of more than 800 copies of the IET Wiring Regulations BS 7671: 2008 (2011) by Kent Trading Standards.

Buyers may think they are getting a bargain by purchasing a counterfeit copy of an IET publication, however, in such cases where pages are missing or printed information has been corrupted, it could lead to dangerous practice or incorrect installations.

With a new standard out in January, the IET is warning contractors to be aware and buy from a reputable supplier only, such as NICEIC or ELECSA.

update, but the qualified supervisor will be expected to demonstrate a good working knowledge and practical application of the new standard on site at assessment.

To aid this process NICEIC and ELECSA will be hosting a series of informative workshops outlining some of the key changes within the regulations. These one-day workshops will take place at a range of training centres across the country from 16 October onwards.

The cost is £99 or £150 including a new regs book.

For more information about venues and dates log on to niceicdirect.com.

For those contractors unable to take time off work we will also be offering an online learning session which contractors can access at a time convenient to them.

The online learning portal will be open from February and will cost £50. Please contact training@certsure.com for further information.

What about certificates?

NICEIC and ELECSA are currently working on updating and amending the most regularly used certificates and forms of reporting, with a view to them being available as soon as reasonably practical after the publication of the new standard – both online and in paper format.

Contractors with supplies of current certificates and forms will still be able to use these on installations designed to the previous edition of BS 7671. NICEIC and ELECSA contractors are advised to maintain their stocks of forms accordingly.

Will other publications be updated to include the new standard?

NICEIC and ELECSA will be updating its Site Guide and its Inspection and Testing Certification books to reflect the new standard. These will be available from January 2015.

These books are handy with easy-to-follow guidance featuring relevant information for contractors involved with electrical installation work in dwellings. Using diagrams, they contain some of the most relevant scenarios electricians are likely to come across and are intended as best practice across the industry.

Autumn 2014 Connections

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // BUZZ ELECTRICAL LTD COMPANY: Buzz Electrical Ltd BASED: Evesham, Worcestershire FOUNDED: 1999 MAJOR PROJECTS: Polo Ralph Lauren store, Cotswold Inns & Hotels, Pershore Abbey STAFF NUMBERS: 17 TURNOVER: £1.25 million

Bringing back the buzz After a period of rapid growth, Evesham firm Buzz Electrical Ltd felt the full force of the downturn in the electrical sector.

But now the business is growing again and looking to the future

By Nick Martindale

I

t’s fair to say the past few years have not been dull at Worcestershire business Buzz Electrical Ltd. Following a period of rapid growth after it was set up by Steve Owens in early 1999, the company was hit hard by the economic downturn. Travel costs meant it became uncompetitive in the London market on which it had previously thrived, long-standing clients looking to cut costs found cheaper alternatives and, closer to home, the firm found itself under pressure from the emergence of a stream of one-man firms, who themselves had fallen victim to recession.

“The phone literally stopped ringing overnight,” recalls Steve. “It was like someone turned off the light. A lot of large companies in the area went into liquidation so there were men from all over being made redundant, and they all went self-employed. You’d see a different van every day, and we couldn’t compete with that.” Turnover fell more than 50 per cent, from a pre-recession high of £1.5 million in 2007 to £725,000 in 2011, and headcount went down from 17 directly employed electricians to just nine.

Three years on from the darkest days of the downturn, however, things are once again looking up and growth is back on the agenda. The business turned over £1 million in 2013 and is forecast to hit £1.25 million this year, and it now directly employs 13 people, complemented by a team of regular sub-contractors and four office-based staff. The basis of the

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business has shifted, too, with a far greater emphasis on its local market, operating in a 50-mile radius from its Evesham base and taking in the Cotswolds and the city of Oxford.

Local focus The main focus for Buzz is larger domestic and commercial installations, says Steve, although it occasionally veers into light industrial work. Hotels have become a particular area of expertise on the back of its relationship with Cotswold Inns & Hotels, and the firm has recently undertaken total refurbishments at both The Broadway Hotel in Worcestershire and The Close Hotel at Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

“The hotel group owns seven hotels and several wine bars, and we tend to look after most of that work,” says Steve.

“That also leads on to periodic tests and inspections every five years, as well as any remedial work needed to keep the hotels up to the current regulations.”

Churches are another niche; Buzz has recently worked on a number of buildings including installing high-level lighting at Pershore Abbey, rewiring St Leonard’s Church in Cotheridge and fitting under-pew heating at Birlingham Church. It is currently totally rewiring the head offices of Worcester Diocese, a grade-one listed building.

The company has also won its fair share of work from the public sector, including schools, colleges and leisure centres, as well as The Fire Service College at Moreton-in-Marsh, which is now run by Capita. “We’ve been there for more than

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‘We can take on the whole package.

Often there are now more cables for the control wiring and television than there are actual power cables’

Steve Owens

> Third-year student Helen Morrison (below left) divides her time between onsite duties and office work in the projects and design departments

12 years and we’ve permanently had one or two staff there,” says Steve. “We’re now an approved contractor for Capita, which has renewed the contract with Buzz.”

Large Cotswold houses are another staple. “We’ve got quite a few projects at the moment, with the electrical value ranging from £50,000 to £250,000, which are a mixture of newbuild large country mansion houses and refurbishments,” says Rob Shaughnessy, who joined the business 12 years ago and oversees the larger size projects, in his role as contracts director.

Early years Buzz Electrical was set up in 1999, after Steve had worked for 20 years as a self-employed electrician since completing his apprenticeship. “It got to the stage where I couldn’t cope with the amount of work that was coming my way,” he recalls.

“I employed one person in the early days, and we started off in quite a small office adjoined to my house for six months and then moved to offices in Evesham.” This also marked the point when Steve began to move away from doing the work himself, although he’s still actively involved in personally meeting clients, quoting and running the small-to-mediumsized contracts.

An initial contact with a local bespoke joinery business and a London-based architectural practice meant much of the early work was in London, and it was this that saw the business embark on a period of rapid growth that was only curtailed when the economic downturn struck in 2008.

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Photography: Simon Hadley/UNP

A particular focus here is home automation, including the wiring for intelligent devices such as thermostats and lighting systems, as well as home cinema systems. “We’re becoming known as an electrical company that can do the more specialist type of work,” says Steve. “We can take on the whole package, so we can put in structured cabling and fire alarms, alongside the normal electrical installations.

Often there are now more cables for the control wiring and television than there are actual power cables.”

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30/09/2014 15:07

CONTRACTOR PROFILE // BUZZ ELECTRICAL LTD

£400,000 The electrical value of the company’s biggest contract to date

> Steve Owens (far right) with (from left) Gill Jones (accounts and admin), Helen Morrison and Rob Shaughnessy

“One of our first projects was the Ralph Lauren Kids store in New Bond Street, which was a complete fit out,” recalls Steve. “That was only about 18 months after we started the company. We grew very quickly – probably too quickly for some people – but it worked and we carried on doing many prestigious contracts.” In 2006, it took on what remains its biggest project to date; a £400,000 refurbishment of the three-storey Polo Ralph Lauren home store in Fulham Road, which required a team of 30 electricians to get it completed and open in time for the Christmas opening.

At that point, London probably accounted for 60 per cent of the firm’s business, says Steve, but Buzz was also increasingly targeting its local area, and this picked up pace as the downturn bit hard. Today, this accounts for around 90 per cent of its work, and Steve feels the business has found its niche sitting between the micro-enterprises and the larger operatives. “We’re definitely being looked at as a mid-size contractor that can take on the bigger projects, rather than just one or two-man firms,” he says. “We now have more than 20 electricians out in the field, so we can accommodate most jobs. We have six large refurbishment rewires all running in the next couple of months, and we have the capacity to accommodate that, whereas a one or twoperson firm can only be in one place at a time.”

There are, however, some contracts that are too large; he’d now be reluctant to take on anything beyond £300,000, he says, on account of the pressures on cash flow required on such projects. “The larger jobs aren’t always the best margins and we need to make regular profits to keep it all going,” he says. “We take a very commercial view; we don’t always tender for everything that comes through the door.”

Laying the foundations Buzz is already putting in place plans to prepare for the future. The firm has always taken on apprentices – it has seen nine school leavers go on to become fully qualified electricians since it was set up in 1999 – and has two third-year students about to qualify. One of these is 21-year-old Helen Morrison, who is currently splitting her time between being out on site and working in the office in the projects and design departments.

“In the future we’d like her to be an assistant to Rob and I, compiling CAD drawings and working on the buying-in and contract management,” says Steve. “She’s also started to shadow Rob and me a few times, to quote on jobs and see how we talk to prospective clients, so it will hopefully all progress over the next few years. As the company grows we have to start building for the future, because otherwise we’ll

‘The larger jobs aren’t always the best margins and we need to make a profit to keep it all going. We take a very commercial view’ 30

‘People work with us and stay with us because we’re giving that personal touch. That has kept us going over the past 15 years’ stay as we are.” Another apprentice, Sam Kilmister, joined the firm last September, he adds, and the intention is to gradually expand staff numbers as the business grows.

Other plans are also afoot. The firm is gradually overhauling its fleet of 13 vans, which are starting to show their age and incur unnecessary costs, while it is also about to move premises to a new location in the centre of Evesham.

Buzz also recently set up its own technical division – Buzz Technical – to oversee periodic inspection and testing, as well as the testing and certification of its own electrical work.

“We have two full-time, directly employed test engineers and we want to build on that over the next few years,” says Steve. “People need to do more periodic testing and inspection reports for insurance purposes, so we’re seeing more demand. It’s always been a large part of our business, but we’ve probably increased the focus on this over the past 18 months.” This side of the business will also undertake projects in the home and office lighting, control and automation areas, as well as CCTV installations; another area Steve expects to grow over the coming years.

Having seen just how quickly things can turn around, however, Steve is determined that any growth will be steady and planned for. “I wouldn’t like the business to get too big,” he admits. “I think we could lose what Buzz is all about, being a company that gives a professional efficient service to all sectors. Over the past year we’ve felt more optimistic about the future in our industry. But it’s hard work and it’s still a very competitive market.”

He’s determined, too, that the essence of the business will remain, providing a personal service to local and more distant clients. “The Cotswolds area in particular gives us a lot of work, whether hotels or large houses,” he says. “People work with us and stay with us because we’re giving that personal touch. That has kept us going over the past 15 years, and that’s what I would like to carry on in the future.” » Nick Martindale is editor of Connections

• Could your business feature in Connections?

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

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LIGHTING LED Hut

15 per cent: The amount by which office air-conditioning costs can be reduced through the use of LED

Light relief Higher energy bills and falling upfront costs mean LED is now a viable solution to traditional lighting.

Contractors need to ensure they are in a position to advise clients on how they can benefit

By David Adams

T

he world of lighting technologies is always changing, as designers and engineers develop new ideas to meet client needs. But the big story across the lighting industry recently has undoubtedly been the rise of LED. Technical advances, falling prices and a drive to reduce energy use have together boosted adoption dramatically.

Billy Knight, trade director at supplier LED Hut, says one of his best-selling products is the 600mm x 600mm LED panel, which is used to replace fluorescent tubes, instantly and drastically reducing a significant maintenance overhead. “Contractors we speak to are all keen to push LED,” he reports. “Costs have tumbled to an all-time low – everyone in the industry can make a bit of margin.”

As much as 70 per cent of total commercial electricity costs can be

attributed to lighting. Commercial users are also attracted by the lower heat output that some LED products offer, which can reduce office air-conditioning costs by 15 per cent.

In addition, LED lighting lasts longer than conventional lighting, creates less waste and has more easily recycled components, while the lighting itself is simply better than it used to be. All this still comes at a higher price, but manufacturers argue that the cost savings of LED over a long operational life more than offset the initial outlay.

“The long life and reduced maintenance costs are attractive to everyone, including installers who operate maintenance contracts, as this makes planned service schedules much more reliable and prevents unplanned site visits,” says John Gorse, technical solutions manager at Philips. “Additionally, quality of light, in total output, colour temperature and rendition, has improved so much in the past five years that in many applications there is little or no difference to less efficient alternatives.”

Duncan Guthrie is director at LED design and consultancy company GS Eco Lighting, which offers clients detailed site surveys and cost analysis reports. Office owners, retailers and warehouses are key client groups. He points out another potentially valuable cost saving that contractors helping clients to upgrade to popular LED products such as 600mm x 600mm panels can offer: a reduction in the number of fittings needed – sometimes as much as 20 per cent.

Lights, action BMS Electrical is a 25-year-old family business based in Rolvenden, Kent. It has just over 30 employees and serves a client base – 60 per cent domestic and 40 per cent commercial – across parts of Sussex, Surrey and Essex.

Owner/director Brian Collins says the company has only really made a big shift towards installing a lot of LED products during the past year, fitting devices from Ansell Lighting in locations including offices, shops, warehouses and car parks. But lighting Connections Autumn 2014

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LIGHTING

installation and maintenance probably accounts for about 50 per cent of the company’s business today. He highlights another trend: the growing popularity of Rako lighting controls, which can be operated via handheld or wall-mounted tablet computers.

Edmondsdale Electrical is a small company founded by Gerry Bernstein in 1963. “Lighting has come to account for about 40 per cent of what we do now,” he says. The firm does a lot of work for hospitals and other NHS organisations, often replacing fittings containing four 18W fluorescent tubes with 600mm x 600mm 40W LED panels.

Edmondsdale has completed retrofitting jobs at sites including the Luton and Dunstable Hospital in Bedfordshire, both inside and outside, where replacing old exterior lighting with 30W and 80W floodlight fittings has cut the hospital’s exterior lighting costs in half, says Bernstein. The company still does some non-LED lighting work, but Bernstein estimates that no more than 15 to 20 per cent of the company’s lighting work is non-LED. The company uses a range of fittings from LED manufacturer Aurora, which is putting significant resources into developing ever-more advanced products, working alongside LED chip manufacturers. For example, its m-series lights operate without an external driver or the electrolytic capacitor – the component most likely to fail in an LED downlight.

“It was designed for domestic premises, but the performance is now good enough for corridors, reception areas, toilets or meeting rooms; anywhere you might want a range of lighting options,” says Paul Davidson, Aurora technical and project manager.

Staying up to speed But contractors also need to avoid substandard LED products. “Lighting companies are springing up all over the place because they can import panels from China and sell them online, but you don’t really know what you’re getting,” says Greg Buck, sales manager at manufacturer Ansell Lighting. He has heard of an installer losing £26,000 of lighting when it couldn’t supply the correct certification to the client. “If you buy something, or install something a customer has bought, you’re liable if it isn’t what it should be,” he warns.

Gorse offers tips on how to ensure products are bona fide. “Look for 34

Case study: Ashfield Electrical Services Bristol-based Ashfield Electrical Services is taking on more LED lighting projects than ever, alongside its core focus of building management systems, says owner John White.

It recently installed a > Before > After new lighting system for the 220m-long animal feed stores at Bristol’s Royal Portbury Dock, using Philips LED CoreLine Highbay fittings, working alongside another Bristol firm, Lighting Services.

The building had previously been lit with 100 250W high-pressure sodium high bays, with the complete system taking an electrical load of 27,500W. The replacement system consists of 100 108W LED fittings, reducing the electrical load by 61 per cent, while increasing lighting levels by 20 per cent. The new fittings have a projected lamp life of 50,000 hours, compared to a previous figure of 12,000.

“You can imagine the savings for a facility that runs six days a week,” says White.

“It will be a two-year payback and will then save thousands a year.”

reference to the new IEC standards [IEC 62717 and IEC 62722] and check for details on what guarantees are being offered in terms of lifetime,” he advises.

“But if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.” Luminaires should also be certified to BSEN 60598-1.

There are also some regulatory issues of which contractors need to be aware, says Gorse, citing, for example, the Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) within Part L of the Building Regulations for energy conservation and performance of commercial properties.

LENI is concerned with total occupancy usage of lighting, not just with the basic full load of the fitting or lamp.

“This encourages greater use of controls and switching devices,” he says. “You don’t have to use LENI, but a working knowledge can make

‘Contractors we speak to are all keen to push LED. Everyone in the industry can make a bit of margin’

compliance to Part L much easier – as well as offering solutions that improve contractor profitability.”

It may also be useful for contractors working with LED to have some understanding of both LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – a US certification scheme) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology – the most widely used building sustainability assessment method); and also to monitor the work of Zhaga, which is developing interoperability specifications to help LED technologies built by different manufacturers to work together.

Contractors able to keep abreast of technical and regulatory developments in this fast-moving market will surely benefit in the long run. Guthrie says his one concern when he first started working with LED was whether the market was big enough to sustain his business. Those fears have been allayed.

“It’s an incredibly large market,” he says.

“There are just so many people who could benefit from LED lighting.” » David Adams is a freelance business journalist

Autumn 2014 Connections

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APPRENTICES

Brain drain

25 per cent: The amount by which the number of apprenticeship vacancies in the UK rose in 2013

As the economy picks up, more electrical firms should be looking to take on apprentices.

But concerns over the government’s new funding proposals mean many are being forced to think again

By Rob Shepherd

Despite the long-term benefits, however, there are still not enough apprenticeships on offer to cope with the future needs of the industry.

Advertised apprenticeship vacancies in England rose by almost 25 per cent in 2013, according to the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), but jobseekers continued to outnumber vacancies, with each position attracting an average of 12 applications.

One reason for this could be the uncertainty caused by potential changes to how apprenticeships are set up and funded. In 2012 the government published the Richard Review of Apprentices, by former Dragons’ Den star Doug Richard. This was followed by the launch of the Employer Ownership of Skills project, under which the government tasked eight occupational areas, including electrotechnical, to be the first to undergo changes.

A number of leading organisations have now been appointed as Phase 1 Trailblazers, and will collaborate to design apprenticeships for occupations within the sector. Milton Keynes-based NICEIC Approved Contractor SJD Electrical is one of the selected firms.

‘Most companies that employ apprentices are SMEs and anything that puts a barrier up will stop them’ “We are taking the opportunity to help strengthen the standard and highlight the success of apprenticeships in embedding skills, knowledge and professional behaviour,” says company director Ruth Devine. “Wider recognition of the positive impact and added value that apprenticeships deliver is required, and this needs to filter through to customers and specifiers too.”

Clarkson Evans

W

ith both the wider economy and the construction sector as a whole finally starting to improve, the issue of skills shortages within the electrical contracting sector is once again back on the agenda. When NICEIC teamed up with the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) in 2011 to produce the 2021 Vision: The Future of the Electrical Contracting Industry report, apprenticeships were cited as the best way to encourage high-calibre people to join the industry.

Engineering, IT and facilities business NG Bailey invests more than £3 million a year in apprenticeships and related activities. “It instils a sense of belonging in the business and provides ownership of our core values in a way that other training programmes for young people cannot match,” says Frank Clayton, head of group learning and development.

“Apprentices play an essential role by ensuring we develop the bespoke skills needed to remain competitive.”

Practical problems The proposed new system is causing considerable controversy, however. At Connections Autumn 2014

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APPRENTICES

present the vast majority of government funding for apprenticeships is distributed by the Skills Funding Agency and NAS to colleges and training providers, rather than directly to employers. Moves are afoot to offer employers in England the opportunity to bid for direct access to up to £340 million to design and deliver their own training solutions.

So what’s the problem? As things stand, the employer currently chooses a training provider, but is only directly responsible for employing the apprentice and providing work experience and skills development.

The training provider deals with all the administrative tasks, while delivering the training and assessment.

Under the proposed new system an employer will be required to assess, negotiate and purchase training for their apprentices from registered providers, as well as finding and vetting the apprentices in the first place. The government will part-fund the cost of the training, but the employer will be required to make a financial contribution in one of two ways – by making full payment to the provider and claiming back the government contribution through reduced PAYE contributions, or paying their contribution into a dedicated apprenticeship funding account.

Finding the upfront cash, however, will be hugely problematic, says Diane Johnson, finance director at Eric Johnson of Northwich, chair of the education and training committee at ECA and board member at JTL. “Nothing is set in stone, but the government may be expecting a company to put up as much as £9,000 per employee,” she says.

“You may get that back in three months, but how many SMEs can hand over £9,000 and not know when they’ll get it back? We took five apprentices on last year so that would be £45,000.

There’s no way I would put our company at risk like that; what happens if an apprentice says it’s not what they want to do or they don’t make the grade?”

The legwork involved is also likely to be offputting, says Lindsey Young, HR and training director at Gloucesterbased NICEIC Approved Contractor and training provider Clarkson Evans.

“The current system of colleges being in control isn’t perfect, but it seems to work okay for smaller employers, who are the majority in our sector,” she says.

38

Setting the standard Having set out to pursue a career in banking, Benito Risorto left to help run the family’s building firm and undertook an electrical apprenticeship.

Risorto became JTL’s apprentice of the year 2013 for the East Midlands region. “It was a huge boost to get that level of recognition,” he says. “It’s sometimes hard being an electrician because people can’t always see the work you’ve done, or fully comprehend its complexity. It can get forgotten in a building project, but it’s a vital part of the process.”

His advice to school-leavers thinking of pursuing an electrical apprenticeship is to put in the hard graft. “It’s often the electricians who come to the trade with good grades from school who have the ability to deliver the highest standard of work, because they’ve a proven work ethic and the motivation to achieve,” he says. “It’s definitely not an easy option.”

Burden of proof The industry’s leading trade bodies have also voiced their disapproval and the ECA, the Joint Industry Board (JIB), JTL and National Electrotechnical Training (NET) all recently joined forces to collaborate on research into the plans.

More than 650 small-to-medium sized enterprises were questioned and 94 per cent raised concerns that the reduction in the government’s contribution to apprentice training will cause them to take on fewer apprentices or none at all. Furthermore, 95 per cent felt the proposals would adversely impact cash flow and lead to increased bureaucracy.

“There is a genuine risk that employers will be less willing to engage apprentices through a combination of cost and additional paperwork implications,” warns Richard Allen, marketing manager at JTL. “This would be a tragic outcome at a time of skills shortages and a growing need for more qualified electricians.”

Tim Harlock, managing director of NICEIC Approved Contractor Alpha Electrical Midlands Ltd, is testament to that. “It will be a disincentive for me to appoint any more apprentices, and I will not be able to take any more on if the reforms go through,” he says.

The ECA is urging business owners to go one step further and write to their local MPs, expressing their fears

‘Apprentices play an essential role by ensuring we develop the bespoke skills to remain competitive’

about the impact of proposed changes.

“Hopefully by doing this we can persuade the government to look at an alternative approach or exempt the electrotechnical sector from the new funding proposals,” says Alex Meikle, director of employment and skills.

Quality control While the funding issue plays out, another major problem faced by companies looking for apprentices is getting the right person to fit the role. Darren Staniforth, technical development manager at NICEIC, recently oversaw a research project that revealed that 39 per cent of electrical firms feel the reason some apprentices fail is due to a lack of commitment.

“Some employers simply don’t put enough checks and balances in place to select the most appropriate person, and even those that do can find it difficult to appoint someone with a genuine desire to learn,” says Staniforth. “As a result, a growing number of employers are now looking to take on apprentices who are 18 or older and are more mature.”

The future of the sector relies on employers passing on their skills and knowledge to the next generation, and supportive companies are likely to be rewarded with strong loyalty and a positive work ethic.

Yet anything that threatens to derail the achievements of the past few years must be avoided. “The skills shortage is not on its way; it’s here,” warns Johnson.

“Anything that will put employers off training people is a huge worry. We want the government to consult with us, before they break it.” » Rob Shepherd is a freelance journalist, specialising in the electrical industry

Autumn 2014 Connections

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully Charged From the helpline

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

QUESTION

ANSWER

Does BS 7671 require a device to provide switching off for mechanical maintenance to an extractor fan, to be mounted adjacent to the fan?

No, provided the device is mounted in the location and durably marked so as to be readily identifiable and accessible by the person, and under the control of the person carrying out maintenance (Regulations 537.3.2.4 and 537.3.1.2 refer). Also see question 2.

QUESTION

ANSWER

If due to the particular circumstances the device in the previous question is not mounted in the immediate locality of the fan, are there any additional requirements given in BS 7671?

For a remotely installed device, a risk might exist to persons during maintenance from inadvertent or unintentional ‘switching on’ by another person. Where the installation designer identifies such a risk, the device will require a means of being secured in the ‘off’ position to prevent operation during maintenance (Regulations 537.3.1.2 and 537.3.2.3 refer).

QUESTION

ANSWER

Is it acceptable to use a plug and socket-outlet as a means of switching off for mechanical maintenance?

Yes. Where the plug and socket-outlet current rating does not exceed 16 A then it may be used as a means for switching off for mechanical maintenance (Regulations 537.3.2.6 refers).

QUESTION

ANSWER

How many points should be recorded on an Electrical Installation Certificate if a lighting outlet is controlled by more than one switch?

Regardless of the number of switches used to control an individual lighting outlet the number of points to be recorded is one. Only the outlet (not the switches) is the point in the installation intended for the connection of current-using equipment (see ‘point in wiring’ given in Part 2 (Definitions) of BS 7671).

QUESTION

ANSWER

Can the insulated cores in a multicore sheathed cable be used for purposes other than those indicated by their colours, such as brown – line, blue – neutral and green/yellow – earth?

Yes. An insulated core within a multicore cable is permitted to be over-sleeved with a different coloured sleeve at its terminations where the core is required to serve a purpose other than indicated by its colour (Regulation 514.3.2 refers).

Over-sleeving may be required at the terminals of an item of equipment, for example, a wall-mounted thermostat where the blue insulated core of a multicore cable acts as a switch-line conductor (rather than a neutral conductor). In this situation, the blue insulated core should be over-sleeved with brown coloured sleeving, indicating its use as a line conductor.

Connections Autumn 2014

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged 42 46 50

Proximity of wiring systems to other services Determination of extraneous-conductive-parts When it comes to selecting dimming switches, manufacturers’ guidance is all important

55 58 60

Responsibilities and requirements of inspection, testing and certification What ‘type’ of RCD should I use?

Snags and solutions: A practical guide to everyday electrical problems, now updated to Amendment No 1 of BS 7671

Proximity of wiring systems to other services When choosing an appropriate cable management system for new and existing installations, such as offices and learning establishments, the increasing demands for data and voice systems, in addition to the existing need for adequate power, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and safety services, present the designer of an electrical installation with a variety of challenges. One such challenge is for the appropriate segregation of the cables associated with safety services and the like, and the cables for electrical services generally found in buildings.

T

he segregation methods listed in Regulation 528.1 are required to, for example, minimise mechanical damage and electrical interference.

Regulation 528.1 of BS 7671, prohibits circuits of different nominal voltages (see later) to be contained in the same wiring system unless one (or more) of the six methods listed are adopted.

This article looks at the six methods listed and provides examples of usage.

circuits such as telecommunications, alarm installations, extra-low voltage and voice and data systems.

• Band II contains the voltages for supplies to household and most commercial and industrial installations, such as low voltage circuits for power and lighting.

Systems employing high voltage, defined in BS 7671 as exceeding low voltage are not discussed in this article.

Proximity of wiring systems to electrical services To reduce confusion and, as far as is practicable, to ensure that cables of differing voltage levels do not unduly interfere with one another, it is important that there is clear separation between the two voltage bands. Regulation 528.1 details six methods which are deemed to provide the necessary separation between electrical services.

These methods, labelled Method 1 to Method 6 in this article to align with the indents detailed in the standard, are: Method 1 Every cable or conductor should be insulated for the highest voltage present (see Fig 1).

One example of this requirement might be where flexible cables to BS 6500 supply extra-low voltage control equipment (Band I) and multicore flat sheathed cables (twin and earth) to BS 6004 supply low voltage circuits, such as socket-outlets (Band II) are installed together.

Definition of terms BS 7671 gives the following definitions of nominal voltage (rms value for a.c.) and Band I and Band II circuits: • Extra-low voltage. Not exceeding 50 V a.c. or 120 V ripple-free d.c., whether between conductors or to Earth.

• Low voltage. Exceeding extra-low voltage but not exceeding 1000 V a.c. or 1500 V d.c. between conductors, or 600 V a.c. or 900 V d.c. between conductors and Earth.

• Band I covers installations where protection against electric shock is provided under certain conditions by the value of voltage and installations where the voltage is limited for operational reasons. Typically, Band I covers 42

I

Denotes a core of a band I circuit

II

Denotes a core of a band II circuit

H

Denotes a core of a circuit of nominal voltage in excess of low voltage

Denotes earthed (connected to the main earthing terminal of the installation)

Autumn 2014 Connections

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Fig 1 Insulated for highest voltage present

Every cable is insulated for the highest voltage present (i.e. for the highest circuit voltage in excess of low voltage) Single-core cables

Multi-core cables Cable sheath I

H

I

H H

Insulation of core

H

I

I

H II

II

II II

II

Conductor

II

Fig 2 Insulated for highest voltage present I

Each core insulated for the highest voltage present

H II

II I

H II

II II

Fig 3 Illustration of trunking with separate compartments

I

I

II

II

II

H

H

H

H

H

Cables insulated for their respective system voltage Fig 4 Cables installed on cable tray with physical separation by a partition Cables insulated for their respective system voltage Earthed metallic covering II I

I

II

II

H

Cable tray with partition

H

Method 2 Each conductor of a multicore cable should be insulated for the highest voltage carried by the cable (see Fig 2). One example of this requirement might be where certain cores of a multicore armoured cable to BS 5467 supply SELV equipment, such as a cooling unit having an external condenser requiring a low voltage supply (Band II) and a control circuit (Band I).

Method 3 The cables are insulated for their system voltage and installed in a separate compartment of a cable ducting or cable trunking system (see Fig 3); for example where twisted pair cables (say Category 5 (Cat 5)) supply telecommunications equipment and single insulated cables to BS 6004 supply low voltage circuits, such as socket-outlets.

Method 4 The cables may be installed on a cable tray with physical separation by a partition; for example where cables to BS 7629-1 supply emergency escape lighting equipment and armoured cables to BS 5467 supply low voltage circuits, such as distribution circuits (see Fig 4).

Method 5 A separate conduit, trunking or ducting system; for example where it is desired and/or required for cables supplying computer equipment, fire detection and alarm systems to Grade A and low voltage final circuits, to be segregated from each other in separate enclosures (see Fig 5).

Method 6 Within a multicore cable, the cores of a Band I circuit are separated from the cores of a Band II circuit by an earthed metal screen of equivalent current-carrying capacity to that of the largest core of a Band II circuit (see Fig 6). This might occur where certain cores within a multicore cable supply security systems or telecommunications systems operating at extra-low voltage (Band I) and these cores are separated by an earthed metal screen from certain cores supplying their associated low voltage (Band II) system.

In addition to the requirements detailed above, for SELV and PELV systems the general requirements for these systems given in Regulation 414.4 shall apply.

Two additional notes to Regulation 528.1 recommend that: •For proximity of wiring systems and lightning protection systems, BS EN 62305 (Protection against lightning) should be considered • Requirements for separation and segregation in relation to safety services are given in: • BS 5839-1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises.

• BS 5266-1 Emergency lighting – Part 1: Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 5 Separate conduit, trunking or ducting

II

II

II II I

II

I

Cables insulated for their respective system voltage

Fig 6 Cores of Band I and Band II circuits separated by earthed metallic screen Sheath Earthed metallic screen of current-carrying capacity equivalent to that of the largest conductor within the screen

II II

I

Proximity of communication cables Where cables which are either buried underground or are installed in ducts a minimum clearance of 100 mm shall be maintained between power cables and telecommunications cables.

Where this is not possible, either of the two options detailed in 528.2 should be fulfilled at the relevant point. These options are: • a fire-retardant partition is provided between the cables. This might be, for example, bricks, shaped blocks, protective cable conduit and the like, or • where cables cross, mechanical protection between the cables is provided. This mechanical protection might include conduit, concrete cable protecting caps or shaped blocks.

There are particular problems which are associated with the potential interference (both electromagnetic and electrostatic) between telecommunication cables, cables supplying variable speed drives, and power cables. Where it is necessary to take account of potential interference reference should be made to manufacturer’s data and, where necessary, BS 6701 and BS EN 50174 (Notes 1 and 2 attached to Regulations 528.2 refer). (See note below).

Note: BS EN 50174: A European Standard in three parts to assist those persons designing, specifying, installing and operating information technology cabling.

BS 6701: A British Standard to assist those persons specifying, installing, operating or administrating and maintaining telecommunication equipment and cabling.

44

H

II

H

I

Technical help service grows Did you know that since the merger between NICEIC and ELECSA our technical helpline team has expanded?

By bringing together two great teams, Certsure now has a wider and more experienced team of engineers who provide an invaluable service to electricians all over the UK: • The team annually deals with around 60,000 requests by phone or email, with 95 per cent of calls answered first time • During August the team replied to 236 email enquiries and answered 4,564 technical queries over the phone • On one particular day this year the team answered a record-breaking 352 calls, with 100 per cent of calls to the priority line being answered The technical helpline is a great resource for Certsure customers and an indicator of the benefits the NICEIC/ELECSA merger has brought to registered contractors.

Autumn 2014 Connections

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30/09/2014 15:17

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p45_CON.10.14.indd 5 Connexbox.indd 1

01/10/2014 30/09/2014 11:01 11:20

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Therefore, in order to avoid the unnecessary installation of protective bonding conductors, it is important to establish whether a particular item is indeed an extraneous-conductive-part, particularly as the protective bonding of an item that is not an extraneous-conductive-part might, under fault conditions, introduce a hazard.

Determination of extraneousconductive-parts

Definition of an extraneous-conductive-part

A key component of the protective measure Automatic Disconnection of Supply is that extraneous-conductive-parts should be connected to the Main Earth Terminal (MET) of the particular installation using protective bonding conductors complying with Chapter 54 of BS 7671.

H

owever, as outlined in this article, it should be appreciated that exposed metallic parts not forming part of the electrical installation are not always extraneousconductive-parts as defined in Part 2 of BS 7671.

In accordance with BS 7671, an extraneous-conductive-part is: • conductive • liable to introduce a potential, generally Earth potential • not forming part of the electrical installation Regulation 411.3.1.2 lists items that require protective bonding, but it should be appreciated that this list is neither exhaustive nor can it be assumed that all the items identified will always fall within the definition of an extraneous-conductive-part.

Introducing a potential Although only a conductive part which does not

Fig 1 Main protective bonding of extraneous-conductive-parts Extraneousconductive-part (eg exposed structural metalwork)

An example of the application of the requirements of Regulation 411.3.1.2 to a single building

Metallic installation pipes

Bonding conductor for Extraneous-conductive-parts

Main protective bonding conductors

Water meter

Gas meter

Main Earthing Terminal Earthing conductor

Note: Where an installation serves more than one building the requirement should be applied to each building.

46

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Fig 2 Risk of electric shock

Consumerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Installation Metal case Fuse

Fault

Metal pipe

U0

Touch voltage

Main Earthing Terminal

cpc

General mass of Earth

form part of the electrical installation concerned may be an extraneous-conductive-part, because such an item is conductive does not necessarily mean it is liable to introduce a potential. In order to present a risk of electric shock the item must be at Earth potential (that is, in contact with the general mass of the Earth) and, crucially, it must also be accessible (Fig 2).

A conductive part, such as a metal duct or pipe, that is covered with, or enclosed by, insulating material, or an item that is out of reach (that is, at a distance where simultaneous contact with either exposed-conductive-parts or extraneous-conductive-parts is not possible) will not introduce a potential. This also applies where a high electrical resistance exists between the item and its source of potential (Earth). For example, under normal circumstances, the insulating properties of a plastic pipe will prevent a potential from being introduced by the medium inside the pipe (water, steam, oil etc). Owing to the length of the plastic pipe, the high resistance limits the touch voltage to a safe value and, for this reason, a water installation pipe with more than a metre of plastic pipe on the consumerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side of the main stopcock will not normally be considered to be an extraneous-conductive-part.

Items not considered to be extraneous-conductive-parts Normally metallic items such as suspended ceilings and floors, are insulated from Earth and are therefore deemed to be isolated metalwork and not extraneous-conductive-parts. Similarly, an external component such as a metal staircase may be fixed to the building structure but, owing to the manner of fixing, it may be considered to be isolated metalwork. This also normally applies to internal structures such as filing cabinets, racking systems and metallic tables and work surfaces, such as those found in commercial kitchens, and similar items (Fig 3).

In some situations an item that was isolated from Earth may become an extraneous-conductive-part as a result of being secured to the building structure.

Where the extraneous-conductive-part forms part of another installation, for example, where exposed metalwork such as a cable tray or ladder rack is run outside the installation or between two buildings that have different earthing arrangements, then it is more likely to introduce a potential and should be considered to be an extraneous-conductive-part.

Connections Autumn 2014

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 3 Metallic kitchen furniture

U0 is the nominal voltage to Earth of the installation in volts.

IB is the value of current through the human body (or livestock) which should not be exceeded in amperes.

ZTL is the impedance of the human body (or livestock) in ohms.

It should be noted that allowance should be made, where appropriate, for the measurement not having been carried out under conditions of maximum moisture (worst case scenario).

Example:

Re-emerging pipework Although the main protective bonding connection to any gas, water or other service shall be made as near as practicable to the point of entry of that service into the premises (Regulation 544.1.2 refers), it should be noted that in some installations, such as industrial premises, metallic pipework may go underground after the meter, and re-emerge in another location. In such circumstances, the pipework may (over time) develop a high resistance, say due to corrosion, and therefore should be connected to the MET at the point at which it re-emerges, and at the point of entry into the premises.

Determining an extraneous-conductive-part by measurement To assess whether Earth potential is liable to be introduced by a conductive part that is connected to the general mass of Earth through a resistance, a measurement should be made of the resistance (Rcp) between the conductive part and the main earthing terminal of the installation.

If the resistance Rcp is such that:

the conductive part can be considered not to be liable to introduce Earth potential.

Where: Rcp is the resistance between the conductive part concerned and the main earthing terminal of the installation in ohms.

48

Based on the risk presented by the particular installation conditions, the relevant values of IB and ZTL should be chosen from, DD IEC/TS 60479-1. However, based on the 30 mA (RCD) current value and a resistance of 1000 Ί (based on hand-to-hand contact in dry conditions) for a 230 V (50 Hz) supply, an item having a resistance Rcp would not be considered an extraneous-conductive-part where Rcp exceeded 6.67 kΊ as shown below.

Introducing a hazard In general, main protective bonding helps to ensure that the magnitude of voltages occurring between simultaneously accessible exposed-conductive-parts and extraneousconductive-parts under earth fault conditions is insufficient to cause danger during the time it takes for the relevant protective device to achieve disconnection of the faulty circuit.

However, applying protective bonding to a conductive item which is not an extraneousconductive-part might lead to the risk that under fault conditions these items may become raised to the fault voltage for the time it takes the protective device to disconnect. Consequently, persons may be exposed to a touch voltage that otherwise would not have existed. For example, the protective bonding of an electrically isolated metallic window frame may introduce a risk of exposing a window cleaner to a potential that prior to bonding never existed. Therefore the protective bonding of such items should not be undertaken.

To avoid the unnecessary installation of protective bonding conductors, it is important to establish whether a particular item is indeed an extraneous-conductive-part, particularly as the protective bonding of an item that is not an extraneous-conductive-part might, under fault conditions, introduce a hazard.

Autumn 2014 Connections

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01/10/2014 11:06

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged When it comes to selecting dimming switches, manufacturers’ guidance is all important In response to the rising cost of energy and the requirement to cut CO2 emissions, the lighting industry in recent years has developed new forms of lamps, for example compact fluorescents and, more recently, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Unlike the traditional filament lamp, these new forms of lamp require control gear to be connected between the lamp and the supply.

Unfortunately, one consequence of the introduction of this control gear is to make dimming more complex.

T

here are two primary reasons why clients may wish to invest in a lighting scheme that can be dimmed.

1) When a lamp is dimmed energy costs are reduced; so at times of the day when daylight is available, it can make sound financial sense to dim some or all of the lamps.

2) In both the domestic market and in the entertainment and leisure industries, controlling the level of the lighting can help to change an ambience.

Whilst within commercial and industrial installations the integration of lighting controls Fig 1 A simple triac lamp dimming circuit

Lamp

A.C supply

Variable resistor TRIAC

C DIAC

50

with the building management system has been current for many years, more recently greater means of control (via tablets, phones and the like) have become more available within the domestic sector.

Dimming incandescent lamps The dimming circuit used to control the light output from filament lamps such as GLS (General Service Lamps) or tungsten halogen lamps is fairly straightforward. In lamps employing a filament the light output is dependent upon the temperature of the filament, which can be varied by altering the voltage supplied to the lamp and hence the current through the lamp. Fig 1 shows a simplified circuit diagram that can be used to describe the principle of operation of an a.c. controller used to dim a filament lamp.

The voltage across the lamp is controlled by the triac: an electronic switch that can be turned on at specific points of the a.c. sine wave (Fig 2).

The point where the triac starts to conduct can be varied from a minimum value to full brightness In the simple system shown in Fig 1 the light output is varied by altering the point where the triac starts conducting; this technique is known as leading-edge control.

Although the majority of lighting dimmers use leading-edge control, the disadvantage of this system is that when the triac starts conducting, the lamp filament can be subjected to current inrush, which in certain situations can cause the filament to vibrate, causing a buzzing noise and shortening the life of the filament.

In recent times, dimmer switches employing trailing-edge control have become available.

These vary the voltage applied to the lamp by altering the point where the triac stops conducting. Fig 3 shows the voltage across the lamp when a trailing-edge dimmer is turned off 135°from the start of the waveform. Although trailing-edge dimmers are more expensive than the leading-edge equivalent, there are situations where the lamp manufacturers recommend the use of these types of dimmers.

Although 230 V tungsten halogen lamps can normally be dimmed using a leading-edge dimmer, for extra-low voltage tungsten halogen lighting the situation is more complex. For extra-low voltage tungsten halogen lighting to be dimmed satisfactorily, the dimmer needs to be compatible with the transformer used to produce the extra-low voltage supply. This transformer could be one of two types: • a wire-wound transformer, or • a solid state electronic transformer.

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A.C supply and lamp voltages

Fig 2 A.C. supply and lamp voltages for a leading-edge dimmer when the firing angle is 45°

A.C supply (voltage) Lamp voltage

A.C supply and lamp voltages

Fig 3 A.C. supply and lamp voltages for a trailing-edge dimmer when the turn off angle is 135°

A wire-wound transformer presents the dimmer switch with an inductive load which, when the triac in a leading-edge dimmer is first switched on, the interaction between the magnetic field produced by the current and the inductance of the transformer can result in induced voltages, which may prevent the triac from turning on. To overcome this problem, some manufacturers recommend that where a wire-wound transformer is used, a trailing-edge dimmer should be employed. Alternatively, some manufacturers recommend that a dimmer switch employing a technique known as ‘hard firing’ is used (see note below).

When dimming lights supplied via electronic transformers, more complex solutions are required.

Some electronic transformers cannot be used with a dimmer, some can be used with all dimmers, others require trailing-edge dimmer and some will only work with transistor based dimmers.

It is advisable to check with the manufacturers of the transformer and the dimmer switch that their products are compatible when dimming extra-low voltage lights.

Whatever type of transformer is used, it should be remembered that the transformer introduces losses into the system and this has the effect of reducing the maximum lighting load the dimmer switch can supply.

Dimming of fluorescent lamps

A.C supply (voltage) Lamp voltage

Fig 4 The essential components of a dimming circuit for a fluorescent lamp

Electronic ballast

A.C power Control signal

Filament current

Arc current Lamp voltage

Filament

Flicker free dimming of linear and compact fluorescent lamps can be achieved by using a specially designed electronic ballast that will keep the filaments of the lamp heated by passing a current through them whilst adjusting the voltage across the lamp. The principle of operation for such a circuit can be seen using the diagram shown as Fig 4.

The electronic ballast is supplied by both an a.c. mains supply and a control signal that is used to vary the light output of the lamp. The ballast maintains a constant current through the filaments of the lamp whilst altering the voltage across the lamp in response to a control signal.

For use in luminaires that have more than one lamp, ballasts with multiple outputs are available.

This arrangement (Fig 4) can be made suitable for use for dimming compact fluorescent lamps with detachable control gear.

Note: an inductive load, such as might exist when using wire-wound transformers to supply extra-low voltage tungsten halogen lamps, can cause a dimmer to turn off too early. To eliminate this issue a technique is employed where the gate input is held on (hard fired) until the current is at the desired value.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged When selecting the dimmer switch, it is important that the dimming switch or controller used to dim the lamps is compatible with the electronic ballast. If a digital system is used then frequently the control circuit will require a proprietary cable.

Dimming of LED lighting To produce LED lamps that can be used to replace tungsten halogen and discharge lamps of today, LED lamps consist of a number of individual LEDs connected together to form an array.

In a similar way to a discharge lamp requiring a ballast to control the current through the lamp, an LED requires an electronic circuit, generally referred to as a ‘driver’, to control the current carried by the LED. In a similar way as for a linear fluorescent lamp, the driver can either be separate from the lamp or, as with a compact fluorescent lamp, be integrated into the base of the lamp.

In the same way that the design of the ballast determines whether a fluorescent luminaire is dimmable or not, the design of the driver determines whether an LED is dimmable. Although the majority of LEDs are not suitable for dimming, there are LEDs on the market that are.

Unlike tungsten filament lamps where the thermal inertia of the filament helps to minimise flicker, LEDs react virtually instantaneously to current flow, causing them to have a predisposition to flicker. For the LED to be dimmed smoothly with a minimum of flicker, it is essential that the dimmer used to control the brightness of LEDs is one specifically designed to be used to control dimmable LEDs. Due to the interaction between the dimmer switch and the LED driver, the performance of LED dimming systems can be affected by the characteristics of the particular brand of LED lamp being used.

When selecting the components to form an LED dimming system, it is important to be guided by the literature produced by both the manufacturers of the LEDs and of the dimming equipment being used.

Although dimming of LEDs is complex there are lighting control systems that vary the brightness of LED lighting currently in use.

Due to the variety and complexity of lighting equipment available, when selecting the components for a dimming system to achieve an effective solution at a reasonable cost, electrical contractors are advised that time invested consulting manufacturers’ literature is time well spent.

52

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.

Paul Collins, technical services manager Industry experience: More than 25 years’ experience in the electrical industry, covering gas, heating, plumbing and renewable technologies. Worked with CORGI before joining NICEIC in 2005 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 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 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 years’ 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

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Proof of Performance

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VOICE Support for 1, 2 or 3-pair RJ11/12 telephone cable testing

The new VDV II series are easy to use cable testers that check the integrity of copper cables in voice data and video installations including telephone wiring, data networking and video/security cabling.

DATA Testing of shielded and unshielded Cat 3/5/5e/6/6A/7 LAN cable

• Accurate - Advanced TDR measures cable length and provides distance to fault info

• Fast - Identifies wiring errors instantly and displays the results all on one screen

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media service is running over cables, such as ISDN, PBX and POE

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See how the VDV II can benefit you, please visit www.vdvii.com or call 01925 444446 for your nearest distributor

01/10/2014 11:10

THE HEART

OF IT ALL

The Lighting Management System makes wiring a circuit easy, using a combination of connectors, hubs & management boxes.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Competency

Responsibilities and requirements of inspection, testing and certification The fundamental reason for inspecting and testing newly installed electrical work is to confirm that it is safe to put into service. Ensuring such work is completed in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671 not only requires all those involved in the inspection and testing and certification process to have the relevant competence to perform their respective roles, but as recent prosecutions emphasise, it relies on individuals performing those roles competently.

T

his article reviews some of the key requirements of those carrying out the initial verification of electrical work.

Regulation 16 of The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR) requires persons working on electrical equipment to be competent to prevent danger and injury. This requirement not only applies to the person carrying out the inspection and testing, but also to all those involved in the process of inspection and testing whose actions and decisions might place persons at risk of danger or injury.

As a minimum the inspector should: • be sufficiently trained and experienced to undertake the work, and • have experience of the type of electrical installation to be inspected and tested, and • be conversant with the requirements of BS 7671 for inspection, testing and certification, and • be familiar with the function and construction of the installation to allow them to proceed safely.

Guidance on meeting the requirements of the EWR is contained in The Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Importance of assessing and monitoring competency

Fig 1 Electrical testers

ISO 1000

1000 A

It should be appreciated that persons competent to undertake the initial verification of a domestic installation may not necessarily have the relevant knowledge and experience to perform such work on other types of installations, such as commercial or industrial ones. Furthermore, where employees are required to work across a range of premises they are more likely to encounter installation types, equipment or situations with which they are unfamiliar and this could result in placing them or others at risk of injury or danger.

For such reasons, HSE guidance on meeting the requirements of the EWR, Electricity at work, safe working practices (HSG85), advises employers of the importance of individual competence being assessed and monitored in relation to the specific type of work that is to be undertaken, and providing where necessary the appropriate level of supervision and/or training.

Requirements of ELECSA and NICEIC Registration Schemes

ST TE TON T BU

D AN ER ION TEST AT UL ITY INS TINU N CO

For the purposes of ensuring compliance with the requirements of BS 7671, and the relevant statutory and non-statutory health and safety requirements and codes of practice applicable to the range of work covered, organisations registering with ELECSA and NICEIC are required to appoint a designated Principal Duty Holder and sufficient Connections Autumn 2014

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Qualified Supervisor(s) as determined by the Certification Body with regard to the range, scope and geographic spread of electrical installation work undertaken by the enterprise. Those undertaking such roles must have the knowledge, skills and experience required by the Scheme, and in doing so accept responsibility (as appropriate to the role) for ensuring the safety, technical standard and quality of work carried out.

One aim of the assessment visits carried out by ELECSA or NICEIC is to confirm that organisations have the appropriate systems in place to ensure that work is being undertaken safely, in accordance with BS 7671 and other relevant standards. In particular these visits should confirm that work is being undertaken by competent persons who are adequately and appropriately supervised, and the number of Registered Qualified Supervisors is sufficient for the number of operatives employed and the range, scope and geographical spread of work undertaken.

Completing the inspection and testing Due to the risk of mechanical damage during construction, and because the installed cables may not be accessible for inspection on completion, BS 7671 requires every installation to be inspected and tested both during erection and on completion of the work before being put into service (Regulation 610.1 refers). Indeed it is in consideration of such safety requirements that ELECSA and NICEIC do not support the introduction of any third-party inspection scheme.

For initial verification Chapter 61 of BS 7671 applies, and requires all tests relevant to that particular installation to be undertaken while Regulation 612.1 prescribes the sequence in which those tests should be carried out before the supply is connected. Should any particular test result indicate a failure to comply with the requirements of BS 7671, that test, and any preceding test which may have been affected by the defect, must be repeated once an identified defect has been rectified.

Regulation 14 of EWR (work on or near live conductors) is applicable to electrical testing.

Confirmation of the test results It is not sufficient to merely record the results of inspection and testing on a certificate or a report.

The results must be assessed by the competent person, to determine whether the results are both expected for the particular design and achieve compliance with the requirements of BS 7671 (Regulation 610.5 refers). For example, to confirm that installed circuits will achieve safe disconnection within the times specified by BS 7671 56

the value of earth fault loop impedance recorded on the Schedule of Test Results should be compared against the relevant tables of Chapter 41 of BS 7671 (allowing for conductor temperature correction).

For these reasons, ELESCA and NICEIC require the results of the inspection and testing to be reviewed by a Registered Qualified Supervisor of the organisation, who in signing the certificate is confirming that it has been completed satisfactorily prior to issue.

Certification Following the initial verification required by Chapter 61 of BS 7671, a correctly completed Electrical Installation Certificate with schedules of inspections and test results appended should be provided to the person ordering the work.

This documentation is intended to provide an assurance that the installed work has been inspected and tested, and the results verified, in accordance with BS 7671.

To support the completion of ELECSA and NICEIC certificates detailed notes are contained on the reverse side of the certificate pages, which should be read and referenced as necessary. The contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Principal Duty Holder has the overall responsibility for ensuring that the appropriate certificates are issued for all completed electrical work, which may also require the notification of work for compliance with the relevant Building Regulations, for example, Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales.

It should be noted that an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate is not intended to be issued to confirm the completion of a contract. The certificate is a declaration of electrical safety and should not be withheld for contractual reasons.

Conclusion Irrespective of the skills, knowledge and experience that those involved in the inspection, testing and certification of electrical installation work may have, where they neglect the particular responsibilities of their designated role then they risk exposing persons to unsafe installations.

Further guidance on inspection and testing is available in the NICEIC Inspection, Testing and Certification (including Periodic Reporting) book.

For information on training courses contact our Training Team on 0843 290 3480 or at traininginfo@certsure.com

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Be Free.

BE WIRELESS!

PortHole III is the new in desk, wireless charging module from CMD Ltd - connecting directly to the mains power supply to provide wireless charging in any commercial and public spaces.

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Automatically turns off when charging is complete

Stylish design available in a choice of three colours

What makes PortHole III unique is that CMD have developed a wireless charger that has an integral power supply so there is no requirement for a separate USB device to power the module.

Easy fit system designed to fit any surface installed with an 80mm grommet hole

01709 829511 marketing@cmd-ltd.com www.cmd-ltd.com /cmdltd @cmdltd company/cmd-ltd

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged What ‘type’ of RCD should I use?

Although electrical contractors are familiar with the term ‘type’ when applied to over-current circuit-breakers, it may be a surprise to many to find the term used in BS 7671 to describe RCDs.

T

o understand what is meant by the term ‘type’ when applied to RCDs, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of the current flowing in electrical installations. Although the voltage produced by the electrical supply system is a sinewave, the current taken by the load is not necessarily sinusoidal.

Where the load connected to the supply is resistive, say a heating element (see Fig 1), the current taken from the supply will typically be sinusoidal: the load has little effect on the frequency of the supply.

However, if the load connected to the supply is an electronic device (see Fig 2), then the current is likely to be non-sinusoidal. Where the typical supply current is non-sinusoidal it can be shown that the current waveform can contain: 1. a 50 Hz waveform known as the fundamental frequency; 2. a series of waveforms known as harmonics which are at frequencies that are a multiple of the fundamental; 3. a d.c. component.

These harmonics are a function of the response Fig 1 A resistive load drawing sinusoidal current from the supply

of the connected load to the supply and are superimposed on the supply frequency. The precise makeup of the harmonics and other components that collectively form the current waveform taken from the supply depends upon the characteristics of the electronic circuit being supplied and its loading.

The shape of the current waveform monitored by the RCD affects the performance of the RCD. Where an RCD of a type designed to operate with a sinusoidal current is installed in a circuit that draws a non-sinusoidal current, the RCD may fail to operate as expected or required.

RCD manufacturers responded to this problem by developing a range of RCDs that will operate satisfactorily, that is meet the product standard, when operated with non-sinusoidal currents of various complexities.

To provide designers and installers with guidance as to the ability of an RCD to function satisfactorily when carrying current with specified waveforms, RCD manufacturers have collectively developed a number of standard performance criteria known as ‘type tests’. These performance criteria are used to confirm the performance of the RCD is of a certain ‘type’; the type being indicated by using the classifications AC, A, B or F. For each of the standard RCD types, in addition to providing a description of the current waveforms for which tripping is assured, Table 1 shows the symbols used by manufacturers to provide the user with a visual indication of the particular current waveforms the RCD can function satisfactorily with.

Table 1 Suitability of various types of RCD In the majority of circuits within electrical installations, the amount of non-sinusoidal current taken from the supply is small and as the current

Fig 2 Electronic equipment drawing non-sinusoidal current from the supply

Sinusoidal current

A.C supply

58

RCD

Non-sinusoidal current

Heating element (Restive load)

A.C supply

RCD

Electronic equipment

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TYPE AC A B

F is predominantly sinusoidal and type AC RCDs may be used. However, for the following situations, where electric equipment is being utilised, BS 7671 requires RCDs other than type AC to be used.

• Medical locations Section 710 contains a number of regulations relating to the use of RCDs. For example, Regulation 710.411.3.2.1 requires in Group 1 and Group 2 medical locations that only type A and type B RCDs shall be used.

• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems Where the inverter used in the PV system does not provide at least simple separation between the a.c. and d.c. sides of the device, Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.2 requires that where an RCD is installed to provide fault protection it shall be a type B device, unless due to the nature of its construction, the inverter is not able to feed d.c. current into the electrical installation.

• Electric vehicle charging installations Regulation 722.531.2.101 requires that every electric vehicle charging point be individually protected by an RCD which, in addition to having the characteristics described in Regulation 415.1.1 and disconnecting all live conductors, should either be a type A device complying with BS EN 61008-1 or,

Operation is assured for residual sinusoidal alternating currents, whether suddenly applied or slowly rising. as for type AC and, in addition, residual pulsating direct currents and residual pulsating direct currents superimposed on a smooth direct current of 6 mA. as for type A, and in addition: residual sinusoidal alternating currents up to 1000 Hz, residual alternating currents superimposed on a smooth direct current of 0.4 times the rated residual operating current, residual pulsating direct currents superimposed on a smooth direct current of 0.4 times the rated residual operating current and residual direct currents which may result from rectifying circuits. as for type A, and for residual currents from mixed frequencies up to 1000 Hz if it is known that the residual current contains a d.c. component exceeding 6 mA, a type B device complying with BS EN 62423.

Where electronic equipment that has the potential to draw a significant non-sinusoidal current from the supply, such as inverters for driving induction motors, are being installed, and for either additional or fault protection an RCD is required, then the person responsible for the design of the system is advised to consult the inverter manufacturer to determine the type of RCD that is recommended.

Connections 190 correction It has been brought to our attention by our eagle-eyed readers that in the last issue of Connections (190) there was an error in the article entitled “Converting amperes to kVA” (pages 50-51). In equations 4 and 6 the text should read “nominal line-to-line” and not “nominal line-to-neutral”. We are happy to correct this and apologise for any confusion.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Snags & Solutions A practical guide to everyday electrical problems Now updated to Amendment No 1 of BS 7671 ‘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 1 to BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which was published on 1 July 2011 and came into full effect on 1 January 2012.

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 5 Domestic fire detection and fire alarm systems, relating to the requirement for the provision of a fire alarm system in new or materially altered dwellings.

Fire alarm systems in new or materially altered dwellings BS 5839-6 recommends that for protection of life, new or materially altered single-family dwellings (houses, individual flats, bungalows and maisonettes) are provided with an appropriate provision for early detection and audible warning of fire.

Snag 8 Failure to design and install an appropriate automatic fire detection and fire alarm system in accordance with BS 5839-6 may result in a new or materially altered single-family dwelling not meeting the fire safety requirements of relevant building regulations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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

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Solution Designers of fire alarm systems should, amongst other things, consider the: • fire risks associated with a particular building, for example, floor area, floor layout and number of storeys, • characteristics of the occupants (where known), • potential impact on the occupants should fire occur, and • Table 1 of BS 5839-6, which gives recommendations for minimum Grade and Category of fire alarm system for protection of life in typical dwellings.

In all cases, it should become apparent to the designer that with increasing building dimensions (floor area or height), a higher Grade and/or Category of fire alarm system may be required.

BS 5839-6 recommends, amongst other things, that new or materially altered single-family dwellings of typical construction, three-storey or less with no floor more than 200 m2 in area, or single-storey where the floor area may exceed 200 m2, such as a bungalow, are provided with at least a Grade D, Category LD2 fire house alarm system comprising: • at least one smoke alarm located in every circulation space (hallway, corridor and staircase landings) on each storey, • at least one alarm (heat, smoke or carbon monoxide, as applicable) located in every principal habitable room (the room frequently used for general daytime living), and • at least one heat alarm located in every kitchen.

An example of a Grade D, Category LD2 for a two-storey dwelling with no floor greater than 200 m2

Additional alarms may be necessary for audibility and/or sensing smoke or heat in new or materially altered single-family dwellings for particular circulation spaces, principal habitable rooms or kitchens, such as where these areas have irregular dimensions.

Following the recommendations given in BS 5839-6 for the installation of a Grade D, Category LD2 fire alarm system in new or materially altered single-family dwellings of typical construction will result in meeting the fire safety recommendations for building regulation compliance given in Approved Document B for England and Wales, Technical Handbook (Section 2) for Scotland and Technical Booklet E in Northern Ireland.

For new or materially altered single-family dwellings different in nature to the aforementioned typical construction, such as a four or more storey-house with no floor more than 200 m2 in area or a two or more storey-house with any floors greater than 200 m2 in area, consideration should be given to Table 1 of BS 5839-6 and/or a fire risk assessment carried out and an appropriate Grade and Category of system installed.

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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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Product Focus Snickers Workwear You can count on all year round protection and comfort with Snickers work jackets. They’ll make your working day easier and more comfortable with built-in quality, functionality and high performance features to cope with the very worst that the weather can throw at you.

From the superb XTR products with their Active Protection System and the Goretex 3-layer jackets, to Windstopper, Rip-Stop and Soft Shell jackets, as well as specialist rainwear, winter jackets and hi-vis alternatives, there’s something for everyone in the range.

Danlers DANLERS ‘ControlZAPP’ is the ground-breaking link between a standalone control and the sophisticated, but expensive, managed system.

Featuring Bluetooth smart communication (Android 4.3 or later) ControlZAPP can be simply used to remotely set up, adjust or override settings such as occupancy detection, time lags, daylight response etc, into a pre-determined real-time schedule. Simply download the free ControlZAPP APP from the DANLERS website onto any mobile or tablet with Bluetooth smart capability, then easily adjust or override a ControlZAPP enabled product.

01484 854788 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk

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

Ideal Networks

Scolmore

IDEAL NETWORKS launches its new data cable transmission tester, SignalTEK CT, designed with installers and network owners in mind who need to prove that copper cabling has been installed correctly and is capable of supporting gigabit ethernet applications to the international standard IEEE802.3ab. SignalTEK CT is a new generation of tester that is a cost-effective alternative to LAN cable certification. It carries out two primary tests via its autotest function – a wiremap test and a data transmission test. CT comes in a kit with a display and remote unit, as well as rechargeable batteries, patch cables, power supply, multi-lingual manual and carry case.

Ease of installation, flexibility and reliable quality are three key factors cited by contractors and installers when asked what they want from lighting and wiring accessory products. With the launch of its brand new Lighting Management System, Scolmore Group delivers on these requirements but also brings to the market one of the most cost-efficient lighting control systems currently available. Launched as part of the company’s FLOW range, the Lighting Management System is a comprehensive range of new and existing FLOW products that is designed to help contractors create more complex lighting installations quickly, easily and safely.

01827 63454 www.scolmore.com

01925 444 446 www.signaltekct

Fluke

Rolec

Until 31 December 2014, Fluke (UK) is offering a free current clamp to end users purchasing a multifunction installation tester, plus free data management software with the higher end testers. The Fluke 1650 series of multifunction installation testers are designed for high productivity testing and verification of domestic, commercial and industrial electrical installations. While stocks last, purchasers can also claim a free Fluke LED Puck Alarm Light by registering on the Fluke web site.

Rolec EV manufactures the largest range of electric vehicle charging points in Europe and has, to date, manufactured and supplied over 18,000 units throughout the UK and mainland Europe. From a simple entry level WallPod charging unit for the home, through to the UK’s first and only combined RFID and bank secure card payment system, Rolec EV has a solution for every charging point requirement and location. Rolec EV’s wide selection of charging points and associated equipment are available through all of the UK’s leading electrical wholesalers.

www.fluke.co.uk/promotions 01205 724754 rolec@rolecserv.co.uk www.rolecserv.com

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

Channel Safety Systems Seguro is a range of fire rated LED dimmable downlights; customers can choose from four different versions, either a white or polished chrome bezel in both 3,000K and 4,000K. These compact 10W LED downlights have an outer Ø85mm, cut out of Ø62mm, and as such are ideal replacements for LV downlights. Seguro fittings are IP65 rated, double insulated, and achieve an impressive 700 lm output. All are fitted with quick fit “push-in” terminals and are 30/60/90minutes rated and certified to comply with all relevant Building Regulations.

Scan QR code with your smart phone to visit our site

Hultafors Tools Power and precision are the hallmarks of quality that you’ll find in every Hultafors Tools hammer. In this new generation of tools you’ll find ball hammers, carpenters’ hammers, T-block hammers, electrician’s hammers, dead blow hammers and even copper hammers. They’re tools that can handle the toughest work, delivering the best possible levels of performance and safety, whatever the job in hand. Ergonomically designed for ease of use and with a range of sizes and special grip technology, these hammers are perfectly crafted for you.

With vibration damping features, as well as reduced recoil and an anti-sparking feature in one of the models, you can rest assured that Hultafors Tools hammers will be a perfect addition to your toolbox.

0845 884 7000 www.channelsafety.co.uk 01484 854788 www.hultafors.co.uk

EES Data

ESP

Free to download – Estimating Installation Guidance Times.

Security solutions provider, ESP, is expanding its growing portfolio of fire protection and security products with the introduction of a new range of emergency lighting. Launched under the Duceri brand name, the new collection brings to market a product offer that has been independently tested by established photometric data test house, LUX-TSI, and complies with the latest industry standards and regulations. A total of eight products make up the Duceri collection – including illuminating emergency bulk heads, exit boxes, exit signs and twin spots – available in maintained and non- maintained versions where applicable.

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

View on our website or download in PDF book format.

01924 200103 www.ees-data.co.uk sales@ees-data.co.uk

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

Ideal Industries IDEAL INDUSTRIES has launched a new Contractor PRO Lockout Kit aimed at contractors requiring a comprehensive safe isolation solution to meet an ever increasing number of fuse and breaker types from a number of different manufacturers.

Many accidents and even deaths are caused by the unexpected energisation of circuits, machinery or other electrical equipment.

Implementing appropriate lockout/tagout procedures can prevent these types of accidents occurring. IDEAL’s Lockout/Tagout kits help to achieve compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations.

01925 444 446 www.idealindustries.co.uk

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Channel Safety Systems Pinto is a trio of LED IP20 rated downlights available in 12W, 20W and 30W models and achieving the following outputs: • 12W : 970 lm: 4000K, outer Ø179mm, cut out Ø160mm • 20W : 1600 lm: 4000K, outer Ø231.6mm, cut out Ø210mm • 30W : 2500 lm: 4000K, outer Ø231.6mm, cut out Ø210mm All three versions are finished with a quick-fit clip system and are ideal cost-effective and energy-efficient replacements for traditional compact fluorescent downlights. www.channelsafety.co.uk 0845 884 7000

Autumn 2014 Connections

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Current affairs

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

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

CAUGHT ON CAMERA This issue’s batch of shoddy installations includes (1-3): a consumer unit behind bars; a highly dangerous repair with a metal screw on a distribution board; and dodgy wiring in a kitchen light. It continues with (4-6): the result of a failed cutout; a dubious ring main consumer unit; and an unexpected surprise on a kitchen lighting circuit.

Perks of the job At last, the secrets to keeping staff happy are out. According to a survey of 2,500 workers by coffee firm Nespresso, comfortable office furniture, decent coffee and fresh fruit are valued most.

It seems coffee is especially important: 26 per cent of those surveyed judge the quality of a company by the standard of coffee it provides, and 11 per cent claim they would reject a job offer if they were served lousy coffee at interview.

Other valued perks include free Friday drinks and being allowed to play computer games. Whether these are ever a reality or just on the wishlist is not clear…

1 3 4

2 6

Tardis upgrade When Kevin Jennings got a call to upgrade the electrics in a café toilet, he wasn’t expecting to be working in Doctor Who’s Tardis.

The Tardis toilet belongs to the Warmley Waiting Room café, based on an old railway line in Bristol, and Kevin was asked to install a new consumer unit, hand-dryer and PIR-controlled lighting.

“I enjoy the variety of this trade, but the Tardis was a new one for me,” says Kevin.

Fortunately there were no time lords or daleks to contend with and, unlike in the show, the inside fits comfortably within the dimensions of the police box.

Have you worked anywhere unusual?

Email nick.martindale@redactive.co.uk

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Thanks to our contributors: Mark Bird of MB Electrical in Stamford /// Andrew Jennings of Q Technical Services in Telford /// Dale Reet of Reetec Electrical Services in Sleaford /// Graham Freeman from G Freeman Eng in Stoke-on-Trent /// James Dillon of JRD Electrical in Bristol /// and Adam Wilkins of AGW Electrical Services in Gloucestershire.

Keep those shots coming in!

10 years and counting…

When two employees at Weymouthbased contractor GJ Owens notched up a decade’s service each, company founder Gary Owens realised he needed to mark the occasion, having done the same for two other members of staff previously.

“It’s like when you have children; you have to treat them the same,” he jokes.

Gary says the two in question – Duncan Street and Nick Darley – enjoy the outdoor life, so the company put on a barbeque on the beach for family and friends, and

presented the duo (pictured centre) with a pair of golden pliers.

At least Gary has plenty of time to think about the next do; no one else in the firm is due to hit 10 years’ service for another four years.

Autumn 2014 Connections

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30/09/2014 15:23

Getting high on testing

PAT testing is awkward work at the best of times, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why the new PAT100 series of battery operated PAT testers from Meggger are:

Tough

Q

Small and light

Q

Easy to operate

Q

Test everything from standard kit to IT and surge protected equipment

WWW.MEGGER.COM

Q

There are two levels of testers PAT120 simple PAT tester and PAT150 the full function hand-held tester. Which one would be best for you?

Find out, call 01304 502 101 or email uksales@megger.com for your Pocket guide to PAT testing

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Megger Limited Archcliffe Road Dover CT17 9EN UK T +44 (0) 1304 502 101 F +44 (0) 1304 207 342 E uksales@megger.com www.megger.com

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ENERGY COSTS

The Electrocorder range of electrical data recorders has been designed and manufactured in the UK to help you do your job better. Every model has been expertly calibrated to give the most accurate electrical diagnoses using constant sampling techniques, helping you to carry out comprehensive and reliable energy audits. Plus, with its simple design, free software and simple data transfer via USB to your laptop, the Electrocorder is such a low cost investment that it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fail to amp up your business.

ENERGY AUDITS VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION ACCURATE DATA & LOW INVESTMENT

E : sales@acksen.com W : www.acksen.com T : +44 (0)870 225 1790

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