TechTalks more popular than ever

Record results for TechTalks

A record number of visitors attended the latest series of NICEIC and ELECSA’s award-winning TechTalk events.

More than 2,100 conscientious contractors poured through the doors of the 11 regional shows, which ran from September 2014 to March 2015 – a massive 41 per cent increase on the previous year’s series.

The number of exhibitors at each event also grew by 30 per cent, making the latest series the most successful yet.

In addition to the TechTalks, the team also put on four additional roadshow events in Scotland this year. More than 300 contractors attended these shows which, like the TechTalks, included updates on Amendment 3, informative seminars and the chance to quiz the team’s technical experts. For dates of upcoming TechTalks, see diary, page 10

TechTalks in numbers: 2,110:

The total number of bookings made in 2014-15

195:

The average number of attendees at each event

4,188:

The amount of miles covered by the team

7,596:

The number of teas/ coff ees served throughout the series

100 per cent:

Exhibitor approval rating

BASEC EXPANDS RANGE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD CABLE TESTING

The British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) has announced it will now provide low and medium-voltage cable testing to all International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) cable standards.

One of the most common IEC cable standards BASEC tests to is IEC 60502, which is cable intended for fixed installation indoors, outdoors, underground or in the presence of water. When a certificate has been issued, a cable manufacturer can list the standards it has been awarded against the cable product it is selling. In this instance, a cable manufacturer may describe its cable product to potential customers together with the equivalent British Standards it has achieved.

“Our message to cable buyers is to always specify a recognised standard and an independently approved cable, and to check the cable markings on delivery and before installation to ensure it meets the criteria for its intended use,” said Dr Jeremy Hodge, chief executive at BASEC. “If suspicious cable is found, contact BASEC or your local regulatory authority for advice.”

ON THE SPOT// IAN GWILLIAM

NICEIC and ELECSA employ 80 engineers across the country to assess contractors’ work and provide up-to-date technical advice. To many contractors, they will be the face of NICEIC and ELECSA. Here, we turn the tables and put them in the spotlight

» Ian Gwilliam East Wales and parts of Herefordshire

How did you become an area engineer?

I have been in the industry since leaving school at 16. I qualified as an electrician at 18 and have worked in many areas of the electrical industry. I moved into education around nine years ago and joined the NICEIC six years ago, becoming an area engineer in 2012.

What does your day consist of?

I’m out of the house at around 7.10am for my morning appointment of 8.30am. Then I have either one or two assessments in the day, dealing with contractors in their homes or off ices. Site visits vary from a general domestic home to the Millennium Stadium.

What are the main issues that contractors might overlook?

Paperwork is a notorious bug-bear for most contractors and having the up-to-date documentation is often missed. Site issues can be diverse but basic labelling is often overlooked.

What interesting jobs have some of your contractors had?

One contractor had to rewire a medieval re-enactment museum, which brought up some challenges with lights made to look like candles and hiding sockets away.

What’s the strangest thing you have come across?

Electrically it might be a pub that had a split supply where the flat above the property was fed directly from the DNO’s pole and did not pass through a meter. They said it had been like that for at least 15 years, so I believe the bill may have been large if they were ever caught.

What are your interests outside of work?

Being a foster carer and spending time with all the diff erent children we look after. Also rugby; working in Wales I get a lot of banter being an England supporter.

If you could have a superpower what would it be?

X-ray vision. I’m sure all my contractors would love me to see every tiny bit of their work.

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

Take a lovely long walk through the countryside around our village, watching out for all the wildlife if the kids can be quiet enough not to scare it away.

Favourite book, film and TV programme?

Favourite book: Room on The Broom (very happy memories of a certain child). Film: All Toy Story films. TV: Sherlock or most crime dramas.

What’s the best bit of advice you have received in your career?

If a job’s worth doing then it’s worth doing right. My first boss used to show me this by tearing up anything I might have done that he didn’t think was good enough. I soon learned to do it right after that.