Connections - Summer 2010

THE NICEIC MAGAZINE FOR APPROVED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS & DOMESTIC INSTALLERS S

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NICEIC catalogue offers contractors special deals

SP EC IAL

£5.00

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Summer 2010 | Issue 174

Are you ready to go green?

Focus on construction Scottish regulations New paternity laws

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COVER ILLUSTRATION: IAN WHADCOCK

Contents Summer 2010 | Issue 174

Regulars View from the top Riches from renewables News New catalogue packed with special deals

Features

18

SECTOR FOCUS: 20 SITES FOR SORE EYES In the construction sector, contractors have felt the downturn keenly, but now the worst may be over

4

6

NG Bailey registers for microgeneration

7

First Peugeot customer gets motoring

9

NICEIC Direct offers football history prize

11

TechTalks tackle hot topics around the UK

13

COVER STORIES: 22 EFFICIENCY DRIVE Demand for energy-efficient installations presents opportunities GREEN PIECE 26 Contractors need to ensure they can exploit the growing renewables market 26

Product news 15 Seaward’s in-service tester Advice 17 Duncan Snook looks at the implications of the right to extra paternity leave 30 Opinion 18 Use of substandard cables can have dire consequences, warns Michael Simms

20

BEHIND THE SCENES 30 Choosing a cablemanagement system involves striking a balance NORTH OF THE BORDER 34 Important changes are looming for contractors in Scotland CONTRACTOR PROFILE: 38 W Churches & Son

Standards 40 Hylton Reid explains petrol filling station precautions

Technical Star-delta starting:

46

Ask the experts 43 We provide answers to some of the NICEIC technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions

Snags and solutions:

50

Thermosetting cables:

53

Fire alarm sound levels:

56

Armoured cables:

58

Fire risk assessment:

61

Current Affairs 66 Dead mice and live microbes www.niceic.com

38

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 3

VIEW FROM THE TOP EMMA MCCARTHY

Redactive Publishing Ltd, 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP

EDITORIAL General 020 7880 6200 | Fax 020 7324 2791 E-mail editor@niceicconnections.com

Riches from renewables The electrical contracting industry is reaching a crossroads, where one road leads to opportunity and wealth while the other leads to stasis.

Energy use in the home looks set to be revolutionised in the coming decade, as the threat of compulsory power cuts becomes a distinct possibility. As the government guides the consumer into smart meters, feed-in tariffs and renewables to address some of the energy crunch, we face the vital question of which trade will be there to benefit from the ‘If the electrical mass of installation work that contracting will be necessary. industry does not Our industry needs to be at grab hold of this the forefront of this energy opportunity, then revolution. This issue of another trade will’ Connections addresses some of the issues I have brushed on above. The installation of renewables technologies is a growth area, and NICEIC’s microgeneration certification scheme and renewables training are crucial steps in preparing for the future.

Installers must be able to understand and communicate the benefits of renewables technology to homeowners. If the electrical contracting industry does not grab hold of this opportunity, then another trade will do so – and the ramifications of that on earning potential would be dramatic.

So I hope this issue of Connections highlights some of the opportunities available to registered contractors. I believe the electrical contracting industry is the best placed to take full advantage of these new technologies, and to lead the way across the construction industry.

Emma McCarthy Chief operating officer NICEIC Group

Editor Nick Martindale Technical editor Mike Clark Sub editors Gareth Mytton Clare Cronin Art director Mark Parry Art editor Adrian Taylor Picture researcher Akin Falope Head of business development Aaron Nicholls

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Sales manager Jim Folley Sales executive Darren Hale Display 020 7882 6206 | Fax 020 7880 7553 E-mail enquiries@niceicconnections.com

PRODUCTION 020 7880 6239 Production manager Jane Easterman Senior production executive Kat Anastasiou General: 020 7880 6239 Fax: 020 7880 7691 E-mail kat.anastasiou@redactive.co.uk

REDACTIVE PUBLISHING LTD Managing director Brian Grant Chairman Lord Evans of Watford

CONTRIBUTIONS Connections welcomes ideas for contributions.

Please email nick.martindale@niceicconnections.com

© Redactive Publishing Ltd 2010.

by Redactive Publishing Ltd, 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP. Registered No. 122038. 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 St Ives (Peterborough) 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.

NICEIC ENQUIRIES Head of communications Richard Pagett 01582 539 020 richard.pagett@ascertiva.com Subscriptions 0870 013 0382 Technical helpline 0870 013 0391 Customer services 0870 013 0382 Sales 0870 013 0458 Training 0870 013 0389

4 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

www.niceic.com

Run Ru nss on Wi W nd ndow ow ws 7 V st Vi sta a an and d XP

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INTELLIGENCE WITHIN

For morre info ormatiion visit: www.pirfo orm.co.u uk

PIRform Lite Available now

£75.00

NEWS

Catalogue packed with special deals NICEIC Direct has launched its new catalogue, giving contractors more than 120 pages of special offers and exclusive deals across multiple products.

The A5 catalogue features a comprehensive range of testing equipment from the industry’s leading manufacturers, helping contractors select the right tool for the job.

It also provides information on more than 30 electrical and gas training courses and is broken down into colourcoded sections for ease of use.

One highlight of the spring catalogue is the Peugeot discount vehicle-leasing scheme, which is exclusive to NICEIC contractors. The scheme features competitive rates that up until now have been unavailable to contractors on an individual basis.

“The catalogue is a must for registered contractors who want a handy guide to all the products, courses and equipment that NICEIC Direct provides,” said Alan Wells, head of electrotechnical at NICEIC. All products are available to NICEICregistered contractors at special

> Ki Kirsty t Y Young with ith hS Steve t D Daws

Surrey firm is named as best local business

rates enabling significant discounted rates, cost-savings on vital equipment. Nonregistered contractors can buy from NICEIC Direct, but do not benefit from the same great deals.

To get your copy of the catalogue call 0843 290 3400 or visit www.niceic.com.

> The new 120page catalogue is packed with offers and deals

Scottish firm hires female apprentice Fife-based RB Grant Electrical Contractors has hired its first female apprentice after she completed a successful period of work experience.

Gail Glancy, 16, (pictured below with company owner Ronnie Grant) started her apprenticeship in June, beginning the process of fulfilling her childhood dream.

“My grandfather was an electrician – I watched him fiddling around with things when I was younger and it seemed really interesting,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be an electrician and I’m looking forward to going on to get my qualification.”

Grant said that Gail would be treated no differently from other apprentices. “There was no consideration as to whether she was a girl or a boy – she was just good,” he said.

“But I thought it would be good for us, because apart from one girl in the office we don’t employ any women and we have around 50 employees. It might be good to have a girl who can help people who live on their own.”

The new recruit has been welcomed by both staff and clients, he added, and has become something of a talking point.

Gail will now spend two years alternating between work and college in five-week blocks, and in her third year will attend college for a single week.

In the previous issue of Connections, NICEIC chief operating officer Emma McCarthy called for electrical companies to make more effort to recruit women.

6 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

Surrey contractor SMD Electrical Services has been named local business of the year by Which?

The NICEIC-registered company, run by Steve Daws and based in West Byfleet, took the accolade after initially being voted the top local business in the south-east.

In the final, it saw off competition from other regional winners including plumbers, butchers and damp-proofers.

Members of the public voted between October 2009 and March 2010 for the local firm that would go the extra mile for their customers.

“I can’t believe I’ve won this award – it’s absolutely fantastic,” said Daws.

“I always aim to do the best for my customers and, after so much work, it’s brilliant to receive this recognition from such a reputable organisation.”

Daws set up the business in 2005 and provides all types of electrical installation work, maintenance, inspection and testing.

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: “SMD Electrical Services is an outstanding local business, and owner Steve Daws comes highly recommended for his thoroughness and trustworthiness, and his warm and friendly service.

“He is always willing to go the extra mile, and has made such an impression on some Which? members that they’ve left multiple recommendations for him.”

Daws was given his award by Crimewatch presenter Kirsty Young at a ceremony at the British Museum in London in May.

www.niceic.com

The energy and environment team at NG Bailey has successfully registered on NICEIC’s microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) for installers.

The MCS is a product and installer certification-based scheme which covers the various microgeneration technologies and aims to help build up a UK microgeneration market by improving public perceptions of these technologies.

“We are thrilled to welcome a company of the size and stature of NG Bailey on to our MCS installer scheme,” said Emma McCarthy, chief operating officer of NICEIC. “We have already identified other services and products we can provide for the company, and look forward to developing our relationship.”

NICEIC has been quick to recognise the potential of the MCS and has seen rising demand to gain registration on its scheme. The microgeneration sector is set to grow further with the announcement of renewable installation funding, including the feed-in tariffs which came into effect in April 2010.

NG Bailey is recognised in the

NEWS PHOTOLIBRARY

NG Bailey registers for microgeneration

www.niceic.com

Business as usual Ascertiva Group is the new name for NICEIC Group, the parent company of NICEIC. The NICEIC brand itself is not affected by the change and contractors will not have to change company livery, letterheads or certificates.

“We have changed our name so that we can communicate effectively and conduct business at a group level, without compromising our key brands,” said Emma McCarthy, chief operating officer, Ascertiva Group. “For our NICEIC and NQA customers, it is very much business as usual.”

The new brand name comprises the three main elements of the company: assessment, certification and verification.

Cancellation warning > Microgeneration is set to expand industry as a leader in the field of innovation and environmental responsibility and is a founding member of the UK Green Building Council.

One of the UK’s largest building services, mechanical, electrical, ICT and maintenance companies, it employs 3,300 people and has an annual turnover of around £600 million.

Earlier this year, the company received a coveted British Council of Offices Award for Innovation 2009.

See our features on renewable energy on page 26 and energy efficiency on page 22.

Train to gain from solar PV NICEIC has announced details of the solar photovoltaic (PV) course it has developed to support its microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) for installers.

The course will provide electrical contractors with knowledge and skills about the emerging technology, which could create substantial new business for installers.

It will cover most small-scale systems being installed in the UK and provide an overview of their design, installation, commission and service.

Solar PV cells produce electricity directly from sunlight and provide an opportunity to drive the uptake of renewable and low-carbon energy.

Solar PV forms a key technology set within the MCS, which offers government grants for the installation of microgeneration-based products and systems.

The introduction of feed-in tariffs (FITs) – the government-backed

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS

Contractors who are asked to undertake work within seven days of having a quotation accepted by a customer should ensure they receive written acknowledgement of this request, and that the customer agrees to reasonable payment for work carried out during this period should they exercise their right to cancel.

Under the Cancellation of Contracts regulations, which came into force in October 2008, customers have the right to cancel contracts with traders within a period of seven days.

There have been cases of non-payment where traders have not secured written confirmation of a request for work to commence within that period and customers have changed their minds.

Your chance to find fame NICEIC is looking for electrical contractors to sing appear in its latest advertising campaign, which will feature in national newspapers The Times and The Telegraph.

Anyone interested in helping to promote NICEIC should email Julie.blake@ niceic.com or contact the marketing team on 0870 013 0382.

Readers are also reminded they can receive news and offers from NICEIC by signing up to the e-newsletter at www.niceic.com.

> Solar PV offers opportunities

NICEIC pledges consumer code measure to increase the uptake of microgeneration and help deliver the UK’s 2020 renewable energy targets – means demand in this area from homeowners is likely to leap.

FITs provide those generating renewable energy with 20-year – or 25-year for solar PV – guaranteed per unit support payments (p/kWh).

“The course provides a way to maximise the revenue-generating opportunities that microgeneration offers,” said Wayne Terry, NICEIC’s head of energy and environment.

NICEIC is to devise and publish a consumer code to explain to customers what they can expect to receive when employing a registered contractor.

The code will outline the excellent service for which NICEIC-registered contractors are known, and the benefits of which customers tend not to be so aware, such as an insurancebacked warranty, legal compliance and complaints resolution.

NICEIC is forming a panel of interested parties from across the UK to support and guide the project, which will be chaired by Paul Everall, chief executive of LABC.

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 7

Water, damp, dust and condensation today are no longer a problem Magic Box is suitable for any kind of installation, even underground or directly submerged! It has no shelf life, is mechanically robust, non-toxic, suitable for installation even in the most extreme conditions, re-enterable and in accordance with all international approvals.

Characteristics

• • • • • • •

Re-enterable even after long working periods Able to absorb external shocks without cracking Good for high depth installations Self extinguishing and fire retardant Suitable for vertical installations & filling No shelf life Non-toxic and safe

Magic Box Kit IP68 With the Magic Box, Raytech enlarges its range of low voltage accessories also suitable for submerged used. They consist of a robust, highly flame retardant box, sealed with a gel with high dielectric and sealing characteristics. Suitable for installation underground or submerged, or directly exposed to weather.

Magic Box Kits contain: • 1 x box complete with cover • 3 x cable glands • 1 x series of closing caps • Quantity of insulating material for complete filling

Product Code

Max. outer cable diameter (mm)

Internal dimensions (mm)

No. and type of cable glands

22 22 20 20 26 26 26

Diam 65 x h 35 Diam 80 x h 40 100 x 100 x h 50 120 x 80 x h 50 150 x 110 x h 70 190 x 140 x h 70 240 x 190 x h 90

3x PG16 3x PG16 3x M25x1.5 3x M25x1.5 3x M25x1.5 3x M25x1.5 3x M25x1.5

Magic Box 65 Magic Box 80 Magic Box 100 Magic Box 120 Magic Box 150 Magic Box 190 Magic Box 240

Magic Box Industrial Package Magic Box Industrial Packages contain: • 10 Litres of gel – enough insulating material for complete filling of all the boxes • Between 3 and 100 boxes depending on the product ordered • Cable glands and a series of closing caps

Call: 0845 437 4451 or visit: www.ghlucas.com PO Box 754, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 5DX Fax: 0845 437 4452 Email sales@ghlucas.co.uk

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS

> Moynihan receives his keys

Danny gets motoring in first Peugeot deal Danny Moynihan (pictured, centre), a Domestic Installer from Coventry, has become the first contractor to take advantage of the NICEIC’s exclusive tie-up with Peugeot.

Moynihan took ownership of his new van in April and was presented with the keys by Emma McCarthy (left), chief operating officer of Ascertiva Group, and Con McLaughlin (right), general manager of Peugeot Contract Hire, at NICEIC’s headquarters in Dunstable.

“I do about 10,000 business miles a year,” said Moynihan. “Without a reliable vehicle, I’d have no business. It means everything to me. I need confidence in a van to get me to jobs on time, in comfort and safely.

“A new van will create a more professional image,” he added. “The van reflects on the quality of the contractor

and the standard of my work. When I pull on to a client’s driveway I want to create a good impression from the start.”

NICEIC contractors can lease a wide range of cars and vans from Peugeot Contract Hire at reduced rates. Vehicles are available on either a contract hire or a finance lease basis.

Mike Pearce, commercial manager at NICEIC, said: “The launch of this scheme is the culmination of a lot of hard work in putting the programme together with our partners at Peugeot.

“It’s all been worthwhile to see the smile on Danny’s face. I’m confident that he’ll be the first of hundreds of satisfied NICEIC customers.”

For more information on the scheme, visit your local Peugeot dealer and ask about the NICEIC vehicle leasing programme.

Sofware update verifies certificate NICEIC has released a verification update for its groundbreaking certification software following feedback from both customers and its own engineers.

The new update, which was developed with Clik Software, will check certificates for any errors and boxes left blank and highlight any values which may be incorrect, while still allowing users to continue and print if required.

Electricians will also be able to create their own verification rules in addition to those built into the package.

“From within your certificate in NICEIC certification software, you click the ‘verify’ button,” said Mike Pearce, commercial manager, NICEIC.

www.niceic.com

“NICEIC certification software then whizzes through and checks your certificate, creating a report that lists any rules which may have been broken. Each rule can then be double-clicked and will take you to the source of the error.”

NICEIC’s certification software was developed two years ago and allows registered contractors to complete certificates on a computer, which can then be printed on to plain paper and sent to clients.

Anyone already using the software should download the new update now by clicking on “Help” and “Check for updates”.

For more information on the software package, call Clik on 0117 902 2012.

Safety boost for young sparks Five hundred young electricians attending the Sparks Expo event in April received bumper gift bags from the Electrical Safety Council, including a lockout kit worth £30.

“Fatal accidents have occurred when electricians have failed to isolate the supply before working on an electrical installation,” said Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC.

Last Essential Guide CD The Electrical Safety Council has announced that the Autumn/Winter 2010 CD of its Essential Guide to the Wiring Regulations (formerly known as the Technical Manual), which is due to be distributed towards the end of this year, will be the final issue of the CD. NICEIC Domestic Installers and Approved Contractors will continue to have full access rights to the Essential Guide online, free of charge at www.niceic.com.

The guide is also available to non-NICEICregistered contractors and others by subscription at www.eschub.org.uk.

Essential Guide: offline version?

Further to the announcement in issue 16 (Spring 2010) of its Switched On magazine, the ESC would still like to hear from potential users of the Essential Guide to the Wiring Regulations who would be interested in subscribing to an enhanced version of the guide that could also be used on laptops or netbooks when internet access is not available.

As of the end of April, only 50 or so users or potential users had registered interest in the offline version through the information hub at www.eschub.org.uk. With such a relatively low level of interest, it is unlikely to be economically viable.

The opportunity to register your interest in an offline version will remain open until the end of August, at which time a decision will be taken on whether or not to proceed.

Trade-only Electricfix counters Electricfix has opened 80 trade-only counters, to enable customers to pick up kit without having to wait for next-day delivery.

The counters will be located next to Screwfix branches and will be open only to specialist trades. They will be open six days a week.

JTL makes apprentice pledge Training provider JTL has pledged £1 million to support employers taking on electrotechnical advanced apprentices in England this year.

The business will offer employer grants of £1,000 for the first 1,000 apprentices aged between 16 and 18 hired.

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 9

Best in the business

Keep your test equipment in better shape with NICEIC! “Since moving to NICEIC’s calibration and repair service I’ve never had to give the condition of my test equipment a thought.

Easy to book, their service is great value for money and keeps all my kit in ‘perfect working order’ - as they say!”

Manir Hussain Streetly Electrical Services Ltd

Exclusive Calibration and Repair Service You’ll do better with Certific8, NICEIC’s Calibration and Repair Partner – they’re the best in the business!

Calibration as easy as 1-2-3! s 'UARANTEED DAY 3ERVICE s 'UARANTEED !CCURACY s 5+!3 !CCREDITED #ALIBRATION 3ERVICE !VAILABLE s 4EMPERATURE #ONTROLLED ,ABS s /N SITE #ALIBRATION FOR ,ARGE /RDERS

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UKAS Accreditation and ISO Registration relates to Acute Sales Limited - Certific8 is a Trading name of Acute Sales Limited

NICEIC Direct offers football history prize NICEIC is giving contractors the chance to win a football shirt signed by nine members of the victorious 1966 World Cup team.

As part of a summer festival of football, contractors who make any purchases through NICIEC Direct during June and July will be given a scratchcard.

The card offers contractors the chance to win a football or a discount off future purchases. All used cards – whether from winners or losers – can be sent back to NICEIC for entry into the prize draw.

“We wanted to provide NICEIC contractors, who buy through NICEIC Direct, with a bit of fun to mark the start of the world’s greatest football tournament,” said Mark Smith, marketing manager at NICEIC. “We hope it will put a smile on their faces.”

Contractors from other parts of the UK can win other football-related memorabilia, including signed photos of Scotland’s Archie Gemmill, Northern Ireland’s David Healy and the

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS

Pocket Guide tackles joists Inside this issue of Connections you will find Pocket Guide 20 – Holes and notches in joists.

A printable version of each pocket guide is available on the NICEIC website. Additional printed copies can be obtained by phoning 0870 013 0382 or emailing customerservice@niceic.com.

Electrium recalls MCBs

> The summer football scratchcard Welsh legend John Charles.

“The prizes for each of the four home nations are unique,” added Smith.

The draw will be made at the end of July and the winner will be formally presented with their football memorabilia by an NICEIC representative and featured in the next issue of Connections.

NICEIC Direct was launched in the spring and features more than 560 products, ranging from certificates and books to test equipment and software.

The new site has proved to be so popular with contractors that a third of all purchases are now made through www. niceicdirect.com or by calling 0843 290 3410.

Electrium is recalling a small number of miniature circuit-breakers (MCBs) and offering a free retrofit of replacement parts in any customer premises.

The recall applies to MCBs sold under the brand names Wylex, Crabtree and Volex. The devices are not performing to the required standards and can lead to a potential risk of burning. The affected MCBs were supplied from April 2009 to February 2010.

For a full list of products affected and details on how to return products, visit www.mcbexchange.co.uk/electrium or call 0844 556 4787.

BASEC withdraws cable licence The British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) has suspended the certification licence of Atlas Kablo on the grounds of a “serious decline in quality across its range of products”.

The cable concerned has excessive conductor resistance due to insufficient copper and any contractor who thinks they may have installed such products should perform the necessary electrical installation verification tests with a view to possible replacement.

For a full list of cables affected, visit www.atlaskablo.com.

See our Opinion piece on page 18.

NICEIC is constantly working to raise public awareness of the need to use registered electricians N NICEIC and a to promote its Domestic Installers and Approved Contractors. Recent campaigns include: NS PROMOTIO Sarah Beeny Sa Ho House Rescue, Chan Channel 4 Appeara Appearance by NICEIC engineer on three episodes Spring 2010 Cowboy Builders, Channel 5 Providing technical input and promoting the use of NICEIC contractors to viewers 2010 Google Paid-for advertising to increase position of NICEIC contractors on Google searches Ongoing

www.niceic.com

Homebase Stores Promoting NICEIC contractors in the kitchen and bathroom departments of more than 300 stores. Homebase serves more than 60 million customers a year 2010 Yellow Pages Promoting NICEIC contactors in the electrical section to more than 10 million households 2010 Cricket sponsorship Sponsorship of one-day internationals between England and South Africa on Sky Sports December 2009

Rugby sponsorship Pitch-level sponsorship at three international Scottish rugby matches shown on BBC1 November 2009

Rogue electrician radio campaign 11 radio stations reaching 2.2 million listeners June 2009

Luton Town FC shirt and shorts sponsorship More than 45 matches Online match coverage ITV coverage of FA Cup games 2009-2010

‘Don’t take the P’ campaign Nationwide radio campaign featuring TV celebrity Linda Barker More than 4.9 million listeners on 18 radio stations www.donttakethep.co.uk July 2009

Thomson Local Dedicated sponsorship of electrical section to more than 22 million households 2009-2010

www.findanelectrician.info Dedicated website to promote NICEIC electricians to consumers On-going

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 11

PopPack

New

Years to evolve, seconds to install Imagine being able to install a fluorescent batten in seconds and then add 3 hour emergency capability and/or motion and daylight sensing, also in seconds.

At Thorn, pioneers of the original economical and efficient pack type fluorescent fitting, we not only imagined it, we designed it and are now manufacturing a range of new PopPacks at our award winning factory, near Durham.

4 key benefits FixExpress UÊÊÊRadical two stage fixing method (patent applied for).

You can now install 9 new fittings in the same time it used to take to do 4.

UÊÊÊ ÌiÀ> ÞÊwÝiÃÊ ÊÃiV `à ConnectExpress UÊ >ÌÊë iÊ« >ÌiÊv ÀÊi>ÃÞÊ access to electrical connections UÊ > i Ê ÊÀi>ÀÊ vÊë iÊÊ plate conceals wiring

SafeExpress UÊÊÊ* Õ}Ê> `Ê« >ÞÊ ÊÊ emergency module.

UÊÊÊ" iÊà âiÊwÌÃÊ> Ê `i à SaveExpress UÊÊ* Õ}Ê> `Ê« >ÞÊ Ì É daylight sensor module UÊ } ÊÃ>Û }ÃÊ« Ìi Ì > Plus, T5 and T8 lamp options > `Ê>Êxx7Ê/ ÊÛ>À > ÌÊÌ >ÌÊ packs extra lighting into a smaller light engine.

See for yourself…

View our installation video: www.thornlighting.com/PopPack

TechTalks tackle hot topics around the UK NICEIC has announced new dates for its TechTalks, with venues throughout the UK for the remainder of this year.

The events will focus on hot topics in the electrical industry including microgeneration, new approaches to PIRs, technologies for smart homes and buildings, and updates on amendments to BS 7671.

The TechTalks will also cover issues specific to the local region and contractors can attend a Q&A session where they can put technical questions to NICEIC’s experts.

TechTalks will be held at the following locations: • Newmarket racecourse, 28 September • Norwich, Odeon cinema, 29 September • Reading, Madejski Stadium, 5 October • Southampton, City Cruise Terminal, 6 October • Leeds, Headingly Stadium, 20 October • Cornwall, Eden project, 27 October

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS

www.niceic.com

NICEIC has announced a series of awards to recognise staff who have given outstanding service. “The Extras” are open to anyone you have come into contact with, including those on the Technical Helpline, NICEIC Direct, an area engineer or applications admin staff.

Nominations can be made by emailing extra@ niceic.com. Those nominating every month between July and October will be entered into a raffle to win champagne and other NICEIC goodies.

Installers left in the cold The government has closed the grant system to encourage consumers and businesses to invest in renewable heat technologies.

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme was expected to run until April 2011.

Existing applications will not be affected but the closure will affect contractors hoping to win business installing renewable heat sources such as air- and ground-source heat pumps.

> A chance to consult the experts • Aberystwyth, Penrhos golf course, 9 November • Swansea, Liberty Stadium, 10 November • Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium, 11 November Further events are planned for 2011 in Coventry, Nottingham, Worcester, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast, Newcastle, Carlisle, Glasgow and Dundee.

Tickets for events retail at £20. To reserve your place email techtalk@ niceic.com or call 0843 290 3453.

NICEIC supports uphill challenge NICEIC is sponsoring a group of women from Bedfordshire who were set to take part in the Three Peaks challenge as Connections was going to print.

The team, which includes NICEIC marketing executive Clare-Louise Quilty (pictured, second from left), will climb the three highest mountains in the UK in less than 24 hours. NICEIC will cover transport costs for the group, which is raising funds for Keech Hospice Care in Bedfordshire.

Contractors in Scotland gain logo boost > Scott Wigmore (second from left)

Wigmore wins Sparks UK title for apprentices A trainee electrician from Bridgwater in Somerset won the title of Sparks UK apprentice electrician of the year in a gruelling two-day challenge at the Sparks Expo in April.

Scott Wigmore, who is employed by NICEIC-registered PRP Electrical and attends Bridgwater College, saw off five other regional winners at the event at Newbury racecourse, where NICEIC’s senior marketing and events engineer Tony Cable was one of the judges.

Working in individual bays, the apprentices had to install plastic conduit for a range of sockets and light switches which led to fuse spurs.

Wigmore won £1,000 worth of Electricfix vouchers, a trophy, a certificate of achievement and a bottle of Champagne, while all finalists took away electrical tools worth £80, a fourpiece drill set and workwear trousers.

ESC promotes RCDs in the home The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) – NICEIC’s parent charity – has launched a campaign to encourage people to fit RCDs in their home.

The Plug Into Safety campaign will urge people to perform simple electrical checks, consider an upgrade to a modern fusebox with built-in RCDs and contact a registered electrician with any concerns. A campaign toolkit for distribution to electricians, giving the details they need to pass on to consumers, will be available from mid-July.

2010 EVENTS CALENDAR

The Scottish government has awarded the right to carry a special government logo to all certifiers of construction under the Building Standards legislation.

The news will be welcomed by contractors based in Scotland who are registered with NICEIC under the certification of construction (electrical installations to BS 7671) scheme.

“The granting of this permission allows approved bodies and certifiers an opportunity to differentiate their businesses,” said Alan Wells, head of electrotechnical at NICEIC. “The introduction of the approved certifier registration mark reinforces the Scottish ministers’ intent to raise building standards throughout Scotland.”

NICEIC will be providing access to the guidelines for logo use, as well as its application, via the dedicated members’ logo section on the Scottish Building Services Certification website at www.sbsc.uk.net.

See our special feature on Scotland on page 34.

Who has gone the extra mile?

September 7-10 InstallerLive Ricoh Arena, Coventry www.installerlive.com 22-23 London HEVAR The Royal Horticultural Halls, Victoria, London www.hevar.co.uk 24-25 NICEIC Golf

Classic Final Archerfield Links, Scotland www.niceic-golf.com 28 NICEIC TechTalk Newmarket Racecourse techtalk@niceic.com 29 NICEIC TechTalk Odeon Cinema, Norwich techtalk@niceic.com

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 13

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PRODUCT NEWS

In-service testing kit Seaward has released the new handheld PrimeTest 250, which it says is the first electrical tester in its class to offer all of the tests required for compliance with the IEE code of practice for the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment.

The new model also features an RCD trip time test, a threephase leakage test and a 250V DC insulation test suitable for use with sensitive electrical appliances and surge-protected leads. There is also a special accessory to allow the RCD test function to operate without tripping any RCDs in the mains supply.

Earth continuity and leakage on three-phase equipment is tested with an in-line adaptor, making it suitable for use on industrial plants

Skeleton devices

and equipment used in factories, workshops, schools and colleges. www.seaward.co.uk

Fluorescent revolution Thorn has unveiled another version of its PopPack light fitting, which it claims will change the way contractors view fluorescent lighting.

The device offers quick and easy installation and both presence and

daylight detection. Instead of the usual way of fitting a batten – holding it with one hand and trying to fasten it with the other – fitting the PopPack involves fixing two mounting studs to the ceiling and pushing the spine into place with twist-to-lock ratchets that slide on to the studs.

A rear channel allows contractors to route cable to the mains entry point, while the flat spine allows more finger access for electrical connection.

Thorn claims contractors can install nine new fittings in the time it used to take to fit four. www.thornlighting.com

Below: Eaton’s Memera consumer unit with energy monitoring

Wago launches all-round package Wago has introduced its new round Winsta RD connector, designed specifically for routing through round installation conduits and cable ducts. The connector is 17.5mm in diameter and is available in either three or four-pole models with 1.5mm2 or 2.5 mm2 connections.

The lead is designed to pass easily through wall-embedded conduits, making it suitable for use in pre-fabricated buildings or cavity installations. Depending on the attached conductor cross-section, the rated current capacity is 16A or 20A, and technical data comes moulded on all components. www.wago.ltd.uk

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MK Electric has developed the Sentry range of skeleton units, which are designed to fit into utility-style cupboards.

The spine backplate assemblies fit in Mantel or Clifton-type enclosures, which may also contain the meter.

They are often found in social housing, where space is at a premium.

The range includes extra features designed to ensure easy installation, including an easily removable DIN rail.

The neutral bar configuration and floating busbar system can be cut according to the number of devices fitted, so units can host a combination of protected and unprotected circuits.

The units come in two types.

The K6000s includes a 100A switch disconnect disconnector and accepts 12 onemodule devices, while the K60 K6001s is a splitload un unit including a 100A switch disco disconnector and 63 63A 30mA RCD. w www.mkelectric. c co.uk

E Energysaving units Contractors with customers who want to keep a close eye on their energy bills may be interested in new additions to Eaton’s range of consumer units.

The units, which are part of Eaton’s Memera family, come with a pre-installed “efergy” wireless energy monitoring system transmitter.

The sensor transmits data to a remote LCD display that shows energy use and costs in real time, and can also store historical data for up to 24 months.

The energy-monitoring units are available in main switch isolatorcontrolled and dual RCCB versions.

The products are designed to appeal to homeowners and local councils that are striving to meet CO2 emission targets. www.eaton.com/uk

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 15

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DUNCAN SNOOK ADVICE

Baby blues Electrical contractors need to be aware of the right for all fathers to take up to 26 weeks’ additional paternity leave, warns Duncan Snook

T

he Additional Paternity Leave (APL) regulations came into effect in April 2010 and provide fathers, partners of mothers with new babies and those adopting with the right to take additional paternity leave far beyond their current entitlement.

The term “fathers” is used in this article for simplicity.

While the right relates only to parents of children whose expected week of birth or matching for adoption is on or after 3 April 2011, employers should be preparing now and ensuring they understand their responsibilities under the new set-up.

ILLUSTRATION: CAMERON LAW

Rights of fathers Under the new regulations, fathers are entitled to take from two to 26 weeks’ additional paternity leave before the child’s first birthday if they are married to, or the partner of, the mother. It may be taken only in weekly blocks, and only once. So fathers have a single chance, and must decide how much they wish to take.

Fathers will be entitled to APL if the mother has returned to work and has some paid maternity leave entitlement remaining. APL cannot be taken until the child is 20 weeks old, or the adopted child has been placed for 20 weeks. The father must have been continuously employed by the same employer for 26 weeks, ending with the expected week of birth, and have remained continuously employed from then until the start of his APL. APL will be paid where taken during the mother’s 39-week maternity pay period and at the same rate as statutory maternity pay (currently £124.88 a week).

The limit on how much APL will be paid will depend on what proportion of the mother’s maternity pay period remains, but this is not automatic.

Importantly, the new right applies to all employees, irrespective of the size of the organisation in which they work. Employers cannot refuse requests if the employee is entitled to request leave.

The process Fathers must give no less than eight weeks’ notice of intention to take APL, confirming the intended dates, the expected week of birth and the actual date of

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birth. In addition, the father must provide a declaration confirming that the purpose of his APL is to care for his child and that, besides the mother, he has the main responsibility for the child’s care.

The father must also provide a “mother’s declaration” completed by her, confirming when she is returning from maternity leave and that he has the status asserted in his employee declaration.

Employers are able to request a copy of the birth or adoption certificate and contact details for the

‘The new right applies to all employees, irrespective of the size of the organisation in which they work’ mother’s employer, to verify that the information provided is correct.

Review procedures Employers should review their policies and procedures to ensure that they are updated well in advance of April 2011, as employees who are scheduled to become fathers after this date are likely to ask about their entitlement to APL before then.

Employers who recognise trade unions, or who have employee representative bodies, should also allow sufficient time for consultation.

Carefully tailored policies can eliminate many areas of concern. For example, employers can build in that the mother’s employer details must always be provided, and that as a matter of standard practice they will write to verify information.

This is a significant new right for employees, and the impact it will have on businesses will depend on take-up by new fathers.

Duncan Snook is a solicitor at Davies Arnold Cooper

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 17

OPINION MICHAEL SIMMS

Take no chances

O

If you have an opinion about an issue concerning the electrical industry, let us know. Email editor@ niceic connections .com

,

ften it is not until cables are installed and tested that a problem is discovered and by then it can be too late to avoid the enormous cost of rectifying the situation. This was the recurring concern raised by contractors following an Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) presentation earlier this year.

To help safeguard against the risk of installing substandard cable, contractors should ensure that the cable supplied by the distributor is the correctly specified one and check the markings on the cable sheath, not just the packaging.

When assessing cable markings, look for a recognisable or known manufacturer’s identification.

If there is a problem, this will help in tracing the cable back through the supply chain. Without a manufacturer’s stamp it is almost impossible to trace the cable, so never accept cable without markings.

You should also insist on an independent thirdparty approved cable with either an HAR, BASEC or LPCB mark, and specify on your order the British Standard number to which the cable should be made.

If you install unsafe cable, not only do you risk

IN FOCUS

costs that could put you out of business but you will have also contravened health and safety regulations, which may void your insurance. You could also face serious criminal allegations and even a custodial sentence. In any investigated incident, details of the cable found to be unsafe or non-approved will also be passed to the police, Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Executive.

Keep records of all purchases, including reel ends with batch markings on, receipts from distributors and sales records on your computer. If you are unsure about the cable and have any scrap lengths, these can be sent to the ACI for checking and testing.

Since the launch of the ACI in March, we have located several suspect products, including faulty armoured cables, house wiring, artic grade flex and fire-performance cables. We intend to name and shame any contractors, wholesalers, distributors or installers who use dangerous, non-approved cables.

Michael Simms is president of the British Cables Association

Chris Jamieson

How did you come to work for yourself?

I worked in IT for 20 years but wanted to have more control over my own destiny.

I had started as a technician engineer working on telephone exchanges, and saw the electrical industry as a place with a demand for qualified electricians but a shrinking workforce.

I finished my training in June last year and spent a couple of months working for a contractor. At the same time I’d set up my own company.

What is the main focus for the business?

My focus is the domestic marketplace. I’m based in Wokingham in Berkshire, which is good because there are big houses around here.

How have you found running your own business?

Interesting, challenging, frustrating and enjoyable.

You have to do everything from marketing, technology and finance and no two days are the same. It’s a different quality of life.

18 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

What are your plans?

I want to grow the business and take someone on board, but it’s quite a commitment.

Within five years I’d like to have a full-time employee and more vans. Prior to that I need to diversify a bit more.

Domestic is good, but you see the business only one or two weeks in advance.

What’s the hardest bit of running your own business?

Working out where to spend to get the best return. I could spend a fortune on

marketing and get no return.

What will you do over the summer?

I’m hoping to be able to stand up on a surfboard by the end of the holidays. I’ve tried it in the past and failed miserably.

Chris Jamieson owns CPJ Electrics in Wokingham. If you are a small business or sole trader and would like to feature in In Focus, email editor@ niceicconnections.com

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ILLUSTRATION: CAMERON LAW

Contractors have no excuse for using substandard cables and the consequences for them can be devastating, says Michael Simms

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SECTOR FOCUS

construction

Sites for sore eyes Contractors working in the construction sector have felt the downturn more keenly than most. Yet while conditions remain tough, there are signs the worst may be over

By Adrian Holliday

ew sectors have been worse affected by the global economic recession than construction and, while a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition might be good for progressive consensus politics, the savage public spending cuts announced by the new government will do little to install a sense of optimism among electrical contractors who rely on the industry for their own livelihood.

As work dried up for the building trade – with the housing sector being worst affected – construction firms had no choice but to pass on the pain to their electrical counterparts. Those who have found work in the sector have been forced to reduce rates, often to a point where they are hardly making any profit.

A steady recovery remains some distance off. But recoveries rarely gather pace smoothly. Most people’s experience of the long, tough journey back to security involves a lot of client pitching and paperwork, followed by occasional wins together with a fair bit of jolting and running about.

That’s certainly the experience of Derek Turner at contractor Benville & Marsh, based in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Benville is a diverse business, carrying out jobs from facilities management to local authority schools. But even local authorities aren’t spending as they were, and this situation is only likely to get worse. “Although turnover has decreased, we have held on to

F

20 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

‘Construction is an industry where you have to be careful. Jobs can be quite risky for low returns’ profitability,” says Turner. “We’ve cut back on casual staff. Construction is an industry, though, where you have to be careful. Jobs can be risky for low returns.

But we haven’t been burned yet.”

Turner has even turned down work in the past 12 months when he thought there was too much credit risk attached.

Large contracts have mostly dried up, he says, and the company now takes on work it would not have undertaken three years ago. “Everyone is chasing smaller projects for less money and it works its way down, with the larger companies competing for jobs they wouldn’t normally be going for,” he says.

One casualty of the recession has been apprenticeships; Benville isn’t investing in any for the moment.

Turning point Yet there are companies that are visibly recovering. In May, building materials heavyweight Wolseley said it was on course to make more than £374 million in profits. “Demand across the markets in which we operate remains mixed, although most markets continue to stabilise,” said chief executive

Ian Meakins. Earlier that month, the construction purchasing managers’ index, in which any jump above 50 indicates expansion, leapt from 53.1 to 58.2 points. This was the second consecutive month of growth, and suggests the sector may finally be on the mend. But it’s still early days.

Tim Beardsmore, managing director of Gloucester-based electrical testing services company Epsilon, which has a £12 million turnover and employs more than 250 staff, says the business is surviving the recession reasonably well by combing its client list and seeing how they can improve value. “It’s about offering support that’s impossible to fully impart in a brochure,” he says. “It’s really listening to the clients’ needs and understanding their environment.”

One issue, though, is a lack of understanding among clients about the current legislation on testing, he says.

“We might carry out installation testing at a client’s property and provide a report, which would tell the client what issues they need to deal with,” he says.

“But it’s not a ‘pass’ certificate. Remedial work is likely to be required, which clients

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GETTY IMAGES

on the bid you’ve submitted.”

On the other side of London is Chiswick-based Adrem Contracts. Some time ago, this operator decided to aim for the high-end of the housing market, with clients such as Savills on its books.

Senior electrician Richard Nath says Adrem has survived the recession by moving to the maintenance and landlord side rather than focusing on newbuild or major fit-out work. “It’s also because many people are not moving,” he says.

“We have noticed a resurgence in renting,” he adds. “The positive side for us is that landlords are having to upgrade more. A lot of landlords are picky; it can be a choosey market.”

Adrem has a total of 20 engineers across the company, with a core six-strong electrical specialist team.

Typically a rewire job is worth around £3,000-£3,500, with around two to three jobs a week. A complete overhaul of a high-end two- to three-bedroom flat can be worth up to £160,000. But even in affluent West London, these jobs have yet to really power back.

Rising supplier prices may not anticipate. If the legislation was clearer, then companies could budget more effectively. They would know the total costs, and if they were doing too much or too little.”

Intense competition South-east London-based Metropolitan Electrical Services is a good example of a company experiencing a marked upswing. Mind you, it’s eye-wateringly well placed – based in the Greenwich Centre Business Park, a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf – and close to the blue-chip financial service companies that throng this part of the city.

Commercial manager Melvin Lambert says a relationship with Barclays that goes back 20 years has helped this 75-employee company through the recession. “We’ve also developed relationships with other financial services companies in Canary Wharf, plus we take on schools and fit-out work,” he says.

But there’s still a lot of competition.

Recently, Metropolitan priced a job for EDF Energy to help lay underground cables in Deptford. “That sort of job can be worth up to £800,000,” says Lambert.

www.niceic.com

> Richard Nath from Adrem

“But the competition at that level is intense, and four to six main contracts might go out to another four to six subcontractors. We could be in competition with up to 16 other companies.”

Increasingly, Lambert is finding that potential clients are asking him to take on jobs that require more work than is initially evident. “Some companies are putting more design responsibility on contractors,” he says. “You’ve really got to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s.”

He’s also concerned that there’s increased pressure on contractors to deliver more quickly from a tender stage so a client can make a decision.

Sometimes that’s simply sneaky price testing. “It doesn’t help,” says Lambert.

“But you can usually tell whether they’re using you or wanting to push forward

Hull-based Martin Dixon employs more than 50 staff and has a turnover of £3 million. Although much of the northeast has endured a sharp downturn, particularly in construction, director Donna Dixon says the business has pulled through by spreading itself about, even including modular-build projects.

The company has, however, noticed a constant pressure from suppliers for price rises, due to increasing raw material costs. “Suppliers are constantly sending us out price notifications,” she says. “Some of the prices for metals, such as copper used for wiring, have gone up by almost 20 per cent. That means we’re working on quite a bit less profit than we were.”

Martin Dixon also has a fleet of 32 vans to keep on the road, which have been affected by rising fuel prices and ongoing maintenance costs. That means it’s had to freeze salaries. “Normally we use JIB [Joint Industry Board] rates as a guideline, and we used to pay slightly above that,” she says. “This is the first year we’ve had to freeze wages.” > Adrian Holliday is a freelance business journalist

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 21

FEATURE

energy efficiency

he need to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint has led to a range of initiatives designed to encourage greater adoption of energy-efficient technologies within homes and offices. For electrical contractors, this trend presents an excellent opportunity to diversify, learn new skills and develop additional revenue streams.

Lighting alone accounts for 15 per cent of the total electricity consumption in non-domestic buildings. NICEIC Approved Contractor Robert Forsdike recently helped Ipswich Building Society achieve a 50 per cent reduction in the amount of energy consumed by the lighting at its head office.

The work involved the installation of Cooper Lighting’s Intellect Digital Combiform Plus semi-recessed luminaires. The new lights provide occupancy-detection and daylight-monitoring facilities, and can be linked together in programmable zones to suit the needs of staff working in the building.

Brian Bennett of Robert Forsdike thinks this type of installation will become a bigger part of the company’s activities. “Knowledge about energy efficiency and the products that facilitate it is essential for any modern electrical contracting business,” he says. “We believe that as clients become more aware of this subject, our ability to provide the necessary solutions will give us a significant advantage over our competitors.”

But it’s not just in the working environment where such controls can be effective. They can also be used within dwellings to create a “whole house” approach to energy reduction.

“Controls enable people to make behavioural changes to further reduce their energy use,” says Howard Porter, BEAMA’s chief operating officer. This adoption of controls could result in additional work for contractors further down the line.

John Forsyth, general manager of lighting control manufacturer Ex-Or, believes making lighting control compulsory is the only way to achieve immediate and significant cuts in energy consumption.

“A minimum of 30 per cent of the energy consumption accounted

T

for by lighting in industrial and commercial buildings could be saved using existing control technology that automatically turns off the lights when space is unoccupied,” he says. “Automatic lighting control using proven technology has an immediate effect on CO2 emission reduction.”

Legislation to manage the use of this technology could achieve savings of £1.5 billion, and generate cuts in CO2 emissions equivalent to 1.8 per cent of the UK’s contribution to the 20 per cent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 that has been pledged by the European Union.

Blowing hot and cold Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is another area into which electrical contractors can move fairly seamlessly.

The air-conditioning system used in a building can amount to a third of its annual electricity cost. Older, oversized or poorly maintained air-conditioning systems may be using more energy and costing more to operate than necessary. Opportunities exist for contractors who can go in and advise on potential savings, as well as installing new, more effective equipment.

Likewise, some areas of buildings are heated when unoccupied and waste energy that could be saved by the installation of presence detectors and intelligent heating controls. The use of these products means that buildings are not reliant on individuals turning heating and air-conditioning systems on and off, and ensures that energy is used only when necessary.

Investing in new energy-saving equipment is a big decision for most businesses, but tax relief may be available in the form of Enhanced Capital Allowances.

Renewable technologies Solar photovoltaic (PV), which uses cells to produce electricity directly from sunlight, is driving the uptake of renewable and low-carbon energy. It is likely only to continue to do so following the introduction of feed-in tariffs (FITs) in April, which replaced

ILLUSTRATION: IAN WHADCOCK

Efficiency drive Financial incentives and new laws mean the demand for energy-efficient installations is only going to increase, providing plenty of opportunities for contractors

By Rob Shepherd

22 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

www.niceic.com

‘Knowledge about energy efficiency and the products that facilitate it is essential for any modern electrical contracting business’ government grants for solar PV installations under the lowcarbon buildings programme.

People who install electricity-generating technologies can now benefit from a guaranteed, tax-free payment linked to the rate of inflation for the next 25 years, with further rewards for those who actually generate excess electricity. As well as lower energy bills, householders could receive a 7-10 per cent return on investment every year, although installations on newbuild houses will receive a slightly lower rate.

Likewise, ground-source heat pumps are a low-impact, highreturn form of energy generation. Pipes buried underground extract heat, which can then be used to heat water for radiators, under-floor heating systems and washing. A ground-source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe. Heat from the ground is absorbed into this fluid, and is pumped through an exchanger in the heat pump.

Development in this area may be hampered though, at least temporarily, by the decision of the new government to withdraw the grants for all remaining technologies – including groundand air-source heat pumps – under the low-carbon buildings programme. Customers will have to wait a full 10 months before they can benefit from other forms of FITs under the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

NICEIC has been at the forefront of environmental technologies training, and offers a range of courses

www.niceic.com

to help contractors develop their knowledge in this area. It has also now approved accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to register businesses undertaking environmental technologies installation work in dwellings in the UK, in the areas of solar-thermal hot water, heat pumps, solar PV, micro and small wind turbines and biomass boilers.

Manufacturers are also doing their bit by developing more efficient and cost-effective technologies, thereby making this a realistic market for even the smallest electrical business.

Government incentives Existing and forthcoming legislation has been designed to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses, and promote low-carbon energy production.

April saw the launch of a scheme for large businesses to improve their use of energy. The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) aims to help change behaviour and make organisations more energy-efficient. By 2020 the scheme is expected to have

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 23

FEATURE

energy efficiency

‘A minimum of 30 per cent of the energy consumption accounted for by lighting in industrial and commercial buildings could be saved using existing control technology’ delivered emissions savings of at least 4.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

In the Queen’s Speech in May, the new coalition government announced its proposed Energy Bill to put in place a framework to deliver secure, low-carbon energy. This includes the implementation of a “green deal” to deliver energy efficiency to homes and businesses, with the creation of a green investment bank to loan householders the money required to invest in carbon-reducing measures, including renewable technologies.

The loan scheme is good news not just for homeowners.

Electrical contractors who become skilled in the specification and installation of products in the scheme will increasingly be in demand from homeowners who wish to use technology such as ground-source heat pumps, solar PV and solar-thermal hot water, and will often require advice on such installations beforehand.

It is clear that a much tougher line will be taken to encourage homeowners and businesses to cut their energy use. The current raft of legislation signifies that the government is taking its carbonreduction responsibilities seriously and, unless there is a decrease in the levels of CO2 being produced, more regulation will follow.

With manufacturers developing energy-saving products at an increasing rate, now is the time for forward-thinking contractors to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to maximise the business opportunities in energy saving technology. > Rob Shepherd is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical industry and former editor of Electrical Contracting News

> FACTS OF THE MATTER THE CASE FOR GOING GREEN 1.The average householder could save around two tonnes of CO2 a year by making their home more energy-efficient; 2.Lighting an office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1,000 cups of tea; 3.A photocopier left on overnight uses enough energy to produce over 1,500 copies; 4.Leaving a PC monitor on all night wastes enough energy to microwave six dinners; 5.Switching off non-essential equipment in an office overnight saves enough energy to run a small car for 100 miles; 6.The UK has one per cent of the world’s population yet produces 2.3 per cent of the C02; 7.If every home in the UK replaced a 100W light bulb with a 20W low-energy bulb, the total amount of energy saved would be the same as that produced by the Sizewell B power station; 8.In most homes, lighting accounts for 10-15 per cent of the electricity bill; 9.UK households spend £1.2 billion-worth of electricity every year on lighting; 10.Electricity consumption by domestic lights and appliances has almost doubled since 1970.

Sources: 1-5 The Carbon Trust; 6 Friends of the Earth; 7 Defra; 8-10 The Energy Saving Trust

> See our renewable energy feature on page 28

> CASE STUDY:

HOW GREEN THINKING IS PAYING OFF FOR ONE CONTRACTOR

Wesley Services, an NICEIC Approved Contractor based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has made energy efficiency a core part of its business.

“We realised that very few clients understood the potential returns of using energy-efficient technology, nor did they realise the scope and extent of what was possible,” says chairman Eric Thickett. “We also realised that while manufacturers had developed products, there were no resellers focused on green propositions.”

Thickett says focusing on energy efficiency is already bringing additional revenue into the business.

“It is often the ‘turning off’ issue that is most lucrative and easy to fix,” he says.

“We install technology to do the job, and this includes the use of lighting controls, IT equipment and deskspace chargers.”

Customers are saving money too, he says, citing a manufacturing client that spends more than £1 million a year on electricity. “Our process has identified many areas of cost saving from PCs to lighting, manufacturing plant and heating, ventilation and air conditioning,” he says. “We are part of the way through reducing spend by 30 per cent.”

24 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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FEATURE

renewables

Green piece The introduction of feed-in tariffs earlier this year will further boost an already growing renewables market. Electrical contractors need to ensure they can take advantage

By Phil Thane he popular press tends to highlight disagreement among scientists about the precise effect of CO2 in the atmosphere. But analysis of Arctic ice shows that CO2 levels have risen by 36 per cent since 1832, and that the average global temperature has risen by 0.75°C in the past 100 years.

It may be coincidental, but most scientists agree that it isn’t.

So politicians in the developed world are under huge pressure to cut CO2 emissions and are using tax breaks, loans and feedin tariffs to encourage domestic and industrial users alike to use less fossil fuels and more energy from renewable sources.

That means work for the companies designing and building the equipment, but also for installers.

ILLUSTRATION: IAN WHADCOCK

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Solar thermal hot water systems have been common around the Mediterranean for many years, and are becoming increasingly common in the UK. Even in winter they can generate useful amounts of heat, and can be combined with conventional domestic hot-water systems to reduce fuel consumption. NICEIC provides solar-thermal hot-water training for experienced heating and plumbing engineers.

Heat pumps are at the heart of a range of related systems, but are not in themselves renewable. A heat pump uses compression/expansion of a gas to transfer heat from one place to another. A fridge uses a heat pump, as does an airconditioning system to remove heat from a building. Many domestic air-conditioning systems are reversible, meaning they can be used to extract heat from the atmosphere and bring it into the building. This is the basis of air source heat pump central heating systems.

Ground source heat pump systems, meanwhile, use a network of pipes embedded in the ground outside the building as the source of heat. Soil temperature a couple of metres down is remarkably constant at around 7°C, which is plenty for a heat pump. If that seems unlikely, check out your fridge; the inside is around 5°C but the heat exchanger on the back is hot with the energy extracted from inside.

Heat pumps are actually a means of using low-level heat created by solar radiation, which is considered a renewable energy source. NICEIC provides a heat pump course for experienced plumbing and heating engineers, and also offers a course in underfloor heating, which is often used in conjunction with ground source heat pumps.

26 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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Geothermal systems are sometimes confused with ground source heat pumps, but in fact they are a means to use heat stored in the earth’s core. In places such as Iceland, where hot springs are common, geothermal has been used effectively for many years. Modern drilling techniques derived from the oil and gas industry are now making the technique feasible in places where the hot rocks are much deeper. But it is expensive to undertake industrial-scale projects, and results are limited.

Biomass is the catch-all name for anything that grows which can be used as fuel. In the UK that’s mostly wood, although it can also include agricultural waste. For electrical contractors the interest lies mainly in using biomass boilers for central heating systems. Most of these burn wood pellets because they “flow” easily and are amenable to automatic control systems. NICEIC is undergoing UKAS accreditation to carry out installer certification for biomass systems.

The lure of microgeneration All of the above are used to create heat, but there is another category of renewable energy that is set to become more important in the coming years: microgeneration.

Small-scale electrical generation isn’t new, but it has become much more sophisticated recently. Early adopters tended to be eco-enthusiasts with DIY low-voltage systems backed up by banks of truck batteries. But now there is a great range of products compatible with the AC mains supply. Photovoltaic (PV) systems and wind turbines are the most common, but some lucky landowners with suitable streams can fit micro-hydro generators, often on the sites of former water mills.

To be really useful, a microgeneration system has to integrate seamlessly with a building’s electrical system so that in-house power replaces or supplements the grid supply, reducing demand and – at times when local production exceeds demand – capable

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‘Solar thermal hot water systems have been common around the Mediterranean for many years and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK’ of feeding current into the grid. Customers benefit three-fold: from 20-year – or 25-year for solar PV – guaranteed per-unit support payments (p/kWh) for electricity generation, known as feed-in tariffs (FITs); additional payments for every excess unit fed back into the grid; and further savings on energy bills, as every kWh they produce is one less to buy.

The FITs became available to UK households in April, even though energy suppliers are not entirely ready. The government is insisting that all households be fitted with smart meters by 2020, and suppliers are already beginning trials. To benefit from FITs the installation must be carried out by a company or individual certified under the microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) (see box).

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 27

FEATURE

renewables

‘More than a quarter of our power could come from photovoltaic systems by 2050, most of them installed on buildings – that’s a lot of work for certified contractors’ Kelly Brown, a spokesperson for Npower, says the system it is trialling can measure import (power the customer buys in from the supplier), export (excess power generated by the customer which is sold back to the supplier via the national grid), generation (amount generated by the customer’s microgeneration equipment) and consumption (amount customer has used in the home, made up of import and generation less export). Until such meters become common, a simpler meter measuring the amount generated is fitted when the microgeneration equipment is installed. The supplier will then read that meter and calculate the amount due under FIT.

> PV TIPS NICEIC MICROGENERATION CERTIFICATION SCHEME In response to this new market, NICEIC recently announced the launch of a solar photovoltaic (PV) course that it has developed to support its microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) for installers. The course provides electrical contractors with valuable knowledge and skills about this important energy-generating technology.

The course covers the majority of small-scale systems now being installed in the UK and provides an overview of the design, installation, commission and service of solar PV systems.

In addition to PV, NICEIC’s wind-turbine MCS scheme is undergoing accreditation by UKAS and it expects to offer wind-turbine MCS registration in the near future, supported as usual by appropriate training.

Wayne Terry, NICEIC’s head of energy and environment, says the MCS training and certification for installers will put the benefits of microgeneration firmly within the grasp of all contractors.

Prices are broadly comparable to any of NICEIC’s other registration schemes, he says. Not only that, but as a provider of such a wide range of certification, NICEIC can often combine annual visits to check more than one type of installation, thereby reducing the fee still further.

There are other certification bodies out there, but Terry says that many of these offer only registration. While this may suit some larger contractors with their own in-house training department, the majority would rather send their staff to a well respected industry training specialist. He adds that NICEIC has been offering training and certification across a wide range of skills for many years.

The future is green In 2008 an EU Commission working document on renewable energy concluded that “well adapted feed-in tariff regimes are generally the most efficient and effective support schemes for promoting renewable electricity”. Most other EU countries are well ahead of the UK in implementing FIT schemes.

Even more recently, in April this year, a report from the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) predicted that by 2050 the EU could be totally dependent on renewable energy.

‘Soil temperature a couple of metres down is remarkably constant at around 7°C, which is plenty for a heat pump’ 28 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

EREC estimates that more than a quarter of our electricity will by then come from PV systems, and that most of those will be installed on buildings, so there will be a lot of work for MCScertified installers.

MCS registration requires more than just technical expertise in installing the equipment. Installers need to be able to advise the customer on the right sort of system for their situation. PV, for example, is generally fitted to a pitched roof, and is ideally facing south. A few degrees either way isn’t critical, but a house with a north-south ridge is not the preferred option. Mechanical loading is important, too. Most PV systems are mounted on an existing roof, so it is crucial to assess the ability of the structure to withstand the load generated on a PV array by wind and snow.

Similarly, wind turbines are designed to catch the wind, so screwing one to the gable end of an old house without a proper assessment of the state of the wall is asking for severe structural damage. > Phil Thane is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical and technology industries

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FEATURE

cable management

Behind the scenes Cable-management systems play a vital support role in installations but contractors need to strike a balance between the needs of the job and customers’ budgets

By Steve Rogerson ll installations need cables. That’s obvious. What is not so clear is how those cables should be managed. There is a wide variety of cable-management systems on the market, from simple conduit to cable ladders, and within each category the materials from which the products can be made range from stainless steel to plastic.

Any electrical contractor faced with this range has to balance cost against suitability for the installation. Contractors are always under pressure to keep the price down, but they also know that the cheapest is not always the best for a particular job.

Take conduit, for example. For many years the plastic conduit that has been popular on the Continent has struggled to make an impact against metal in the UK market. But that has started to change as more people realise that plastic is good enough, and in some cases better – and cheaper – than metal.

“In the UK, metal has been considered stronger, offering better protection. We have had a stronger-is-best attitude and stuck with metal,” says John McGee, product manager at Hellermann Tyton. “But plastic has gradually started to come into its own.”

Plastic scores over metal in several cases, such as when flexibility is required. If the installation requires movement then metal can be too rigid – for cables providing a robot arm in a factory, for example. On the other hand, metal is more crushresistant, making it suitable for factory environments.

But industrial settings can involve chemicals and moisture, both of which can affect metal conduit. “Plastic has a better resistance in certain cases,” says McGee. “It is not affected by moisture and can be less than half the price.” It is also lighter, making it easier to install, and often is more suitable for recycling.

Where the strength of metal is needed along with moisture and corrosion resistance, the answer is some form of plastic coating over the metal. But even then it can be difficult to obtain a watertight seal. There are also applications where cleanliness is vital, such as in hospitals and where food is being prepared. Here the cleaning routines can be too aggressive for plastic and so stainless steel has to be used.

Fire regulations are also

A

30 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

important. Polypropylene, for example, has little flame resistance but nylon-66 is flame-retardant and has a good strength-toweight ratio. On the flip side, it is a lot dearer than polypropylene, although not as expensive as metal. The same is true for metal coatings. A PVC coating gives off nasty fumes when it burns, whereas a polyolefin coating is flame-resistant with low smoke and toxicity.

“Polyolefin is popular in the rail industry for underground tunnels where there is a requirement for high fire protection,” says McGee.

Ladders, baskets and brackets At the other end of the scale from conduit are the bulky cable ladders made from galvanised or stainless steel for holding large power cables. Demand is growing for these as projects that were put on hold during the financial crisis now get the green light. However, for several applications cable baskets – basically wire mesh cable trays – can be used instead, and the trend is to switch from one to the other.

“The ladder looks, and is, stronger,” says Tim Brown, national sales manager at Cablofil. “For some cases you need that strength, but you have to look at the weight of the cable.

A basket is 50 per cent lighter than a cable tray and 20 per cent stronger; it is 50 to 60 per cent lighter than a ladder and can perform equally well.”

He adds that a basket is 30 per cent

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quicker to install than a tray and twice as fast as a ladder. But, he says, there are situations where the volume and weight of the cables mean that a ladder has to be used.

“There has been a quick growth over the last few years for the basket market over conventional cable trays,” says Lee Jones, marketing engineer at Schneider Electric. “These have become the preferred choice for contractors because they are easier and faster to install, and cheaper.”

Another advantage is that there are no special bends and junctions, so contractors can do all the work on site without having to plan in advance. “This gives them a great deal of flexibility,” says Jones. “Contractors are under pressure to make their jobs quicker, and anything that helps is a big bonus.”

Cable trays can again be either galvanised or stainless steel, with the second option being more expensive but lasting longer.

However, there is a move towards making thicker galvanised steel trays that, while still not lasting as long as stainless, are good enough, and cheaper, for some applications.

“We do a thicker version that will last twice as long,” says Nigel Leaver, lead marketing manager at Legrand. “This is an intermediate solution rather than having to go for stainless steel.”

PVC and glass-reinforced polymer (GRP) trays are suitable for some applications. These are lighter than steel, and in the case of GRP can be as strong.

“Both PVC and GRP are corrosionfree, whereas steel is not,” adds Jones. “They can be used in salty atmospheres and are cheaper than steel.” > Cable baskets from Schneider

‘A basket is 50 per cent lighter than a cable tray and 20 per cent stronger; it is 50 to 60 per cent lighter than a ladder and can perform equally well’ www.niceic.com

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 31

FEATURE

cable management

‘A contractor can install simple multi-compartment trunking more economically than a busbar system’ Cablofil’s Brown believes many contractors are wasting money by putting in too many brackets for cable trays. Traditionally, the brackets are 1.2m apart, which was appropriate when the trays were around 2.4m long. These days though, most trays are 3m long, which means the brackets need only be 1.5m apart.

“Bizarrely, a lot of contractors are still fixing brackets at 1.2m,” he says. “If you move to 1.5m, you can save a lot of brackets over a kilometre run.”

Trunking systems Because trays and ladders are not enclosed, they are suitable for use only with doubleinsulated cable. For single-insulated cables, enclosed trunking is needed because of the extra protection it provides. As with conduit, metal has been the most common material. Plastic trunking systems have made some inroads, although still not to any major degree.

“There are plastic versions available,” says Leaver, “but metal is by far the most common in the UK.” He adds that many jobs now require customised trunking rather than off-the-shelf products.

“We are doing a lot of business on the London Underground and infrastructure projects where they want specially designed products,” he says. “For example, the lids have to be attached so they don’t fall off and hurt people, and you can’t use plastic in these applications because of the fire problem.”

For commercial installations, floor trunking is popular, either flush floor, underfloor or cavity floor. The big change here is that the trunking sizes are growing as there is more demand for data cables as well as power, and some of these – notably fibre optic cables – need better protection. Particular care has to be taken with the bend radius; the corners cannot be too sharp or the performance of the cable will be damaged.

“You have to be careful here when you squeeze lots of cables in, because as you go round bends the ones on the inside may be too tight,” says Leaver. “It is not a simple ‘yes or no’ as to whether a piece of trunking is suitable for this type of cable; it depends on how many cables you are putting into it.”

This type of trunking also needs to be multi-compartment to separate the power and data cables, thereby putting even more pressure on space. “The change to multi-compartment is because higher levels of data cabling are wanted,” says Mark Allen, global product manager for MK Electric. “The trunking capacity needs to increase, the diameter is increasing and there

32 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

> Top: Floor trunking for commercial installations from MK Electric Bottom left: Busbar trunking from Eaton; right: a cable ladder

is greater demand on the bends.”

One way to achieve these higher levels is to increase capacity in existing trunking by designing the dividers inside the trunking so the cable cuts the corners, in a similar fashion to the way a racing car driver would navigate a twisting circuit, adds Allen. “This way you can create bigger bend radii in the same-sized trunking,” he says. “Inserts can govern the angle of the cable coming into the bend.”

Busbar pros and cons An alternative to trunking and other cable-management products is a busbar system. This increases flexibility, as tap-offs can be done from almost any point without putting in junction boxes. Using this type of system also makes it easier to change a layout later on.

Busbar systems are usually suitable for high-power industrial use, but their flexibility also makes them a good choice for lighting installations. “If you have an office or warehouse, you can take a cable to each fitting throughout the length,” says Steve Witham, Eaton’s product manager for busbar trunking systems. “There are plug-in points all along the length, so it’s easy to move things.”

But Allen says MK Electric is seeing a decline in busbar trunking.

“A contractor can install simple multi-compartment trunking more economically than they can a busbar system,” he says. “It is in a gentle and long-term decline.”

Witham acknowledges that there is a price difference, but believes the benefits could outweigh that. “The initial outlay is more expensive,” he says. “But the advantage of speed of installation and flexibility for change make it cheaper.”

A key requirement for most jobs is to think about the cable installation before it starts, but many contractors follow their normal patterns and do such jobs as they fall.

According to Brown at Cablofil, the mindset of contractors needs to change, as by looking at the alternatives they could save money in materials and labour. “This is a major part in any project, but it is not given enough time in the planning,” he says.

“If they want to be competitive they need to consider all the alternatives or they can fall behind in the tendering process.” > Steve Rogerson is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical industry

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REGIONAL FOCUS

SCOTLAND

North of the border Contractors working in domestic premises in Scotland must abide by different regulations from those in England and need to prepare for important changes coming into force in October

By Eddie Arrowsmith

ICEIC’s presence in Scotland continues to grow. A total of five engineers now carry out more than 1,200 assessments annually on the mainland and islands.

As well as myself, our “Celtic team” comprises area engineers Eddie Thomson, Joe Callachan, Yvonne Warner, Wallace Bennett and Bill Kinnear. All assessments are carried out under UKAS EN 45011 accreditation.

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Landlords’ guide to electrical safety in Scotland NICEIC made a significant contribution to this new guide, which is published by the Electrical Safety Council. The guide had a special Parliamentary launch in May, and it is hoped that the guide will prove invaluable to landlords in Scotland.

Building (Scotland) Regulations NICEIC continues to be a scheme provider for the Scottish Building Standards Division certifier of construction scheme for electrical installation work. This scheme supports work which requires a building warrant.

Other schemes are now in place: certifier of construction for plumbing and drainage operated by SNIPEF; certifier of design for civil structural works operated by civil structural engineers; and energy conservation operated by BRE/RIAS. A building warrant is required for almost all building works and conversions where the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 apply. This will also include the electrical, and perhaps fire alarm and emergency lighting, content of the works.

Although it is not a mandatory requirement, an NICEIC Approved Contractor who registers with the certifier of construction scheme will enable the warrant and completion paperwork to be finalised more efficiently.

Registration with the certifier of construction scheme carries benefits for a property owner, too. Regulation 5

34 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

of the Building (fees) Scotland Regulations 2004 allows a discount on a building warrant fee ranging from 1 per cent to a maximum of 60 per cent for combined discounts on other design and construction schemes.

To help promote those registered with the scheme, and to reinforce the benefits of certification, the Scottish government has introduced the “approved certifier” registration mark. This logo is available as a free download to NICEIC registrants on the NICEIC section of www.sbsc.uk.net.

The certifier of construction scheme is based on the principle that suitably qualified, experienced and competent tradesmen and women accept responsibility and ensure that work complies with the Building Regulations without the need for scrutiny of designs, or inspection by verifiers (Building Standards officers).

In the case of the NICEIC certifier of construction scheme, this applies to electrical installation work to domestic and non-domestic technical standard 4.5; fire alarm installations to domestic and non-domestic technical standards 2.11; and emergency lighting installations to domestic and nondomestic technical standard 2.10.

Certification can be undertaken only by an approved certifier of construction who is registered with a certification scheme provider, and is required only when a building warrant is needed for the work.

The relevant electrical certification to BS 7671 must be issued by the contractor for any electrical work carried out, irrespective of whether the work requires a building warrant or not. This is also true for fire alarm installations to BS 5839 and emergency lighting to BS 5266.

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requirements of the Building (Scotland) Regulations. NICEIC runs the one-day course throughout Scotland, and can now offer a half-day update course for those who have already completed the one-day course in the past three years. An online course is also being developed, so that training can be carried out at a time and a place to suit the contractor.

An online certification register, which can be viewed on the Scottish Government Building Standards website at tiny.cc/ocf16, contains the only definitive list of professionals who can certify work in Scotland. The register is updated weekly, and certifiers should be aware that failure to update their Building Regulations qualification results in automatic removal from the register.

DREAMSTIME

Registering electrical work A benefit of registering with the NICEIC certifier of construction scheme is that, on completion of electrical work for which a building warrant was obtained, a certificate of construction and checklist can be downloaded from the Scottish Building Services Certification (SBSC) website at www.sbsc.uk.net.

The certificate of construction can then be issued to the property owner, along with the relevant electrical certification. The documentation’s authenticity is ensured by the purchase of a unique serial number, also available from the SBSC website.

Building (Scotland) Regulations update

‘NICEIC continues to be a scheme provider for the Scottish Building Standards Division certifier of construction scheme for electrical installation work’ Certifier of construction requirements One of the requirements for becoming a certifier of construction is the successful completion of a one-day course on the Building (Scotland) Regulations. This course is delivered by Scotland-based area engineers who focus on the practical issues that certifiers of construction need to understand.

The scheme rules require a certifier of construction to update his or her qualification and be assessed for competence every three years. It is financially beneficial for NICEIC qualified supervisors to register as certifiers of construction, as they are assessed for competence annually, so no further site assessment is required.

All NICEIC Approved Contractors working in Scotland are encouraged to make themselves fully conversant with the

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Important changes to the Building (Scotland) Regulations come into force from 1 October, alongside the 2010 editions of the domestic and non-domestic technical handbooks.

Updated domestic guidance is given below:

Domestic technical standard 2.11 This has been rewritten to bring it into line with BS 5839, part 6, 2004. The choice of fire detector is important to reduce the risk of false alarms. The grade of the system required for sheltered housing is grade C and linked to a central monitoring system while normal dwellings should be grade D, which means all detectors are mains-operated, interlinked and with battery backup.

This generally means that all new dwellings should comprise the following: • Principle habitable room (lounge): Should contain at least one optical smoke alarm, with no point in the room being more than 7.5m away from a smoke alarm. A heat detector or multi-sensor alarm may be used if there is a significant risk of false alarm; • Circulation spaces (hall, stairs and landing): Should contain at least one optical smoke alarm positioned no more than 7m from the door to a kitchen or living room and 3m from every bedroom door. In circulation spaces more than 7.5m long, no point within the circulation space should be more than 7.5m from the nearest smoke alarm; • Kitchen: At least one heat alarm, with no point in the room more than 5.3m from a heat detector; • Wiring: The wiring can be from an independent circuit, or a regularly used lighting circuit.

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 35

REGIONAL FOCUS

SCOTLAND

Domestic technical standard 4.13 This is a new standard for the basic security of dwellings.

It is concerned with the physical security of doors and windows, but does refer to technical standard 4.1 lighting of common entrances and access control (4.6). Further guidance, including the use of security systems, can be found at www.securebydesign.com.

Section 5: Noise This has been rewritten and now covers all dwellings and residential buildings.

Domestic technical standard 5.1.7 Building service installations serving common areas in domestic buildings have the potential to cause noise nuisance. These include common plant such as lifts, airconditioning units and ventilation systems. Care is therefore required when positioning carbon-reducing equipment and their controls.

Design guides covering low-carbon equipment, such as air source heat pumps, contain advice on sound reduction measures and are available at www.scotland.gov.uk.

The new standard 5.2 covers sound and insulation performance of internal walls and floors. These new and more onerous requirements will have an impact on the performance and current-carrying capacity of cables routed within the internal fabric of the building. Approved Contractors should therefore read this standard in association with regulation 523.7 of BS 7671.

> GOING GREEN NICEIC’S MICROCERTIFICATION SCHEME NICEIC has obtained UKAS accreditation and been approved to register installers in the following areas: • Solar thermal hot water • Heat pumps • Solar photovoltaic • Micro and small wind turbines • Biomass In Scotland only products from a list of approved technologies are eligible for funding, and these must be installed by an accredited company from the list of approved installers. If a contractor intends to carry out work that involves a grant to cover the cost of the system, they must ensure they are an accredited installer.

NICEIC is working to enable Approved Contractors diversifying into this area of work to apply for accreditation on the microcertification scheme. For further information, email mcs@niceic.com.

Information for installers advising customers regarding a grant is available from www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

• Micro combined heat and power efficiency; • Controls for wet-space heating and hot-water controls Additional guidance in Low carbon equipment and building regulations: A guide to safe and sustainable installation can be downloaded from the Scottish government website at www. scotland.gov.uk.

‘All NICEIC Approved Contractors working in Scotland are encouraged to make themselves fully conversant with the requirements of the Building (Scotland) Regulations’

Technical standard 6.5.1 This now requires 75 per cent of the fixed light fittings and lamps installed within a dwelling to be low-energy, with a luminous efficacy of 45 lumens per circuit watt.

Guidance is available from The Energy Saving Trust’s Low energy domestic lighting (GIL20) and Energy efficient lighting: guidance for installers and specifiers (CE61).

Domestic section 6: Energy

Technical standard 6.5.2

This section incorporates a large number of changes which relate to the intended delivery of a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from buildings from the 2007 level.

This now requires lamps to be rated at not more than 100W, and to have automatic control or an efficacy of 45 lumens per circuit watt with photocell control.

Technical standard 6.2

Technical standard 6.6

This requires improved levels of thermal insulation, which will inevitably require additional planning as to the routing of cables. Careful selection and routing of cables and currentcarrying capacity will have to be considered with respect to regulation 523.7 of BS 7671.

This now requires additional controls in ventilation and cooling systems within dwellings.

Non-domestic technical standards

Technical standard 6.3.4 to 6.3.9

Important changes to the non-domestic technical standards will be reported in Connections in the near future, but the changes can be found at www.scotland.gov,uk.

Provides functional guidance on the following: • Heat pump requirements; • Solar water heating efficiency;

> Eddie Arrowsmith is senior regional engineer at NICEIC Electrotechnical

36 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE

W Churches & Son

The test of time Winchester-based W Churches & Son has been working in historic houses for over 100 years but is now embracing the 21st century

By Nick Martindale

hen the 20th century was still in its infancy a young plumber by the name of Walter Churches started his own business in Winchester, servicing some of the large houses in the area. The year was 1903, and two years later he moved from being a sole trader to becoming a registered company.

More than 100 years on, W Churches & Son is still thriving, although much of it would be unrecognisable to Walter. The company moved into the electrical market in the 1950s, around the time he sold up, and now offers a range of services from initial design and build to regular maintenance, across mechanical, electrical, heating, plumbing, air-conditioning and sustainable energy solutions.

“Churches maintains houses from small domestic premises right up to stately homes,” says Ian Paxton, operations director, who joined the business in 2002 as finance manager and bought out one of the two directors to become co-owner in 2007.

“We do commercial work from small industrial units right up to big factories such as Draper Tools. We also do a lot of work for the public sector: we work for the NHS, the Prison Service, Network Rail and three local authorities.”

Throughout the past century, however, the company’s bedrock has been large houses and stately homes. Clients here include St Edward’s School in Sherfield English, housed in Melchet Court, and Winchester College, as well as local National Trust properties and celebrity houses. “One of our specialities is dealing with listed properties and the legislation behind that,” says Ian. “You can’t just go in there and start drilling holes.”

“We have to be ‘stealth engineers’,” adds Lance Hele, the firm’s qualifying supervisor, who has been with the business since 1991. “They want the work done but they don’t want to see the engineer. We’re pretty sensitive to that; we don’t go in when we’re not wanted and when we do go in we do the work and make sure it looks like we’ve never been there.”

Other recent projects have presented different obstacles.

Churches, which turned over more than £6 million in the last last fiscal year and expects to do similarly this one, recently undertook the servicing and maintenance of all 10 of the direct-fired warm-air heaters onboard HMS Belfast, moored on the Thames in London. During the period of work, the engineers slept in the ship’s old cabins.

Another notable job arose after a local school had a fire in

W

38 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

> Ian and Rodney with a modern van and a vehicle built in 1952

> Left, the seawater project at the National Oceanographic Centre, and, right, HMS Belfast

the switchroom, which forced it to close when children were taking exams. “We went in there and got it back up and running with temporary generators within 12 hours,” says Ian.

Renewing the business As with every company in the electrical sector, Churches has been affected by the slowdown in the economy. Some clients have chosen to mothball sites until the worst is over, with the air-conditioning sector being particularly badly hit. “I think we are now about to hit the worst bit,” says Ian. “Since the general election, things have got worse.”

Churches has responded to the slowdown not only by concentrating more on the higher-end domestic market but also by focusing on renewables – a decision Ian took around the end of 2008. “We needed to be looking at something else,” he says. “At the time government grants were there and, with all the carbon certification schemes coming in, clients knew they should act on it.

“Two years ago renewables would have accounted for about £50,000 worth of turnover but last year they probably accounted for around £600,000 – that just goes to show how quickly this is growing,” he adds. However, he expects that the recent abolition of grants for renewable heating technologies

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‘Renewables is going to be the big area for us.

It might account for as much as 50 per cent of the business’

is going to be the big area for us over the next five years,” says Ian. “It might account for as much as 50 per cent of the business.”

Southern comfort

will result in several projects being shelved.

The company’s main focus in the renewables area to date has been the domestic side. But it has also been involved in commercial applications, such as a project to install a sea-water cooling programme at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

“They’re taking sea water out of the Solent, putting it through a heat exchanger and getting free coolant,” says Ian. “During the winter they discovered there were no chillers working, and all the coolant for that building was being generated by the sea.”

The emphasis on renewables was a major factor in the decision to open a second office, in Westbury, Wiltshire. “This

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The new office means the company, which has been NICEICregistered since 1979, can now cover a geographic region ranging from Sussex to Exeter and stretching as far north as the M4 corridor.

Ian’s plan is to one day provide a service across the whole of the south coast. “I’d like in another two or three years to have another office in Kent and eventually one on the Cornwall/Devon border, so we can provide a service equivalent to a multinational,” he says. “A problem for a company of our size, where we’re not a man out of a van but we’re not a multinational, is that we don’t fit into either camp. So we have to expand.”

The hardest part of that could be finding suitably qualified and experienced electricians, says Ian. Ever since the days of Walter Churches the business, which now employs a total of 66 people including 46 in operational roles, has grown much of its talent through apprenticeships, although in the current climate the numbers involved have fallen from four a year to just one.

“If you’re used to working on building sites, you can’t just walk into a stately home and start knocking it about,” he says.

“There’s a real problem with the calibre of candidates, and good engineers are being retained by companies.”

Despite the fact that his business partner Rodney Rich, who joined the company as a 16-year-old apprentice 52 years ago, is now in his late 60s, Ian says there are no plans at present to change the ownership structure.

The company held a big party for clients, current and former staff to celebrate its centenary five years ago and Ian hopes its ambitious plans for the future will set it up for its second century in business.

“Churches has weathered many storms,” he says. “By sticking to our core principles of quality workmanship, absolute reliability and value for money, we will be in good shape to service customers for the next 105 years.” > If you would like your company to be considered for a profile in Connections, please email editor@niceicconnections.com

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 39

UPDATE

HAZARDOUS AREAS

There are instances when contractors may need to work on filling stations without having to achieve full hazardous areas approval

By Hylton Reid here are many occasions when an electrical contractor may need to work at a filling station site on electrical installations that are not in the hazardous areas around the dispensers and tanker offloading points.

The purpose of this guidance is to clarify the areas in which the contractor may safely work without having to achieve the full recognition of approval for filling station work as part of their enrolment with the NICEIC. Although approval with the NICEIC hazardous area scheme is not necessary for the non-hazardous parts of a filling station site, there are certain things of which the contractor needs to be aware before they undertake such work.

For example, if the contractor does not know the extent of the hazardous areas around vent pipes, how can they be confident that they are working outside them?

The contractor must have a current copy of the guide for Design, construction, modification, maintenance and

T

> BRIEFING

PHOTOLIBRARY

Working on filling stations decommissioning of filling stations, as published jointly by the IP and the APEA. This has always had a blue cover to it and is often referred to as the “blue book”. The book is currently in its second edition but is being addressed for changes as the third edition.

The list below is not exhaustive but examples of considerations for the contractor could include: • circuits that enter or pass above or below the hazardous area; • vapour paths through underground ducts; • permissible means of earthing allowed on the site; • restrictions on lamp types and lamp maintenance in the canopy; • LPG gas installations in ventilated ducts; • the impact of periodic testing on the circuits in the hazardous areas.

Where a TN-C-S system is in use, the contractor needs to be aware of the necessity to test for “diverted neutral” currents. There is a maximum permissible value for this, and the contractor must know methods to be employed where the value exceeds this maximum.

If any of these points raises questions about your competence to work in hazardous areas, please contact the NICEIC or email the senior engineer for hazardous areas at hylton.reid@niceic.com. > Hylton Reid is senior engineer, hazardous areas, at NICEIC

OBTAINING APPROVAL TO WORK IN HAZARDOUS AREAS

How much does it cost and how long will it take? This is a question we are often asked when contractors are seeking to have their enrolment extended to cover work in hazardous areas.

The answer, based on the recent experience of MacDonald Humfrey Automation, is as follows: In May 2009, the company submitted its application to join the hazardous areas scheme and have its normal enrolment extended to cover explosive gases and vapours, intrinsically safe systems and combustible dusts. It sent in the application forms, together with the fee of £290 plus VAT. The pre-assessment meeting, which was conducted within a couple of weeks and at the company’s convenience, went well. With the contractor seeming to have all the necessary requirements in place, the date and duration for the site assessment was agreed at the preassessment visit, sufficiently advanced so as to give the business time to organise access permission to the sites selected.

The site assessment did not identify any departures from the requirements, so the assessment report was returned for review with the recommendation for MacDonald Humfrey Automation to be accepted. The review panel agreed with this decision, and the company was granted the approvals for which it had applied.

The total time from receipt of application to acceptance was less than six weeks, with a cost of £580 plus VAT. This demonstrates that a well-prepared and professional enterprise can achieve registration in a relatively short time and at a competitive cost.

We are pleased to offer our congratulations to MacDonald Humfrey Automation for achieving approval for hazardous area working.

40 Summer 20 2010 0N NICEIC C CC Connections i

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ASK THE EXPERTS

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

Q

A

I want to make an addition to an existing installation that is protected by a voltageoperated earth-leakage circuit-breaker (VOELCB).

Can I use this device to provide fault protection to the addition?

No. An addition or alteration to an existing installation must be carried out to meet the current requirements of BS 7671. VOELCBs have not been recognized by the IEE Wiring Regulations as devices for fault protection since January 1985. Consequently, they have never been recognized for that purpose by BS 7671 (which was first issued in 1992).

Just as for a new installation, fault protection for an addition or alteration to an existing installation must be by means of either an overcurrent protective device or an RCD (Regulations 411.4.4 (TN system) and 411.5.2 (TT system) refer).

Where the addition or alteration forms part of a TT system, Regulation 411.5.2 indicates that an RCD is preferred. This is usually necessary in any case because the earth fault loop impedance (Zs) in a TT system is too high to allow an overcurrent protective device to be used for fault protection.

Q

A

I’m repositioning a ceilingmounted switch in a location containing a bath or shower.

Do I have to provide additional protection by an RCD?

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Yes. Repositioning an accessory constitutes an alteration to the installation. The work must therefore be carried out to meet the current requirements of BS 7671.

As the switch is in a location containing a bath or shower, the circuit connected to the switch must be provided with additional protection by RCD having the characteristics specified in Regulation 415.1.1 (IΔn not exceeding 30 mA, and operating time not exceeding 40 ms at 5 IΔn), as required by Regulation 701.411.3.3.

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 43

Q

A

Q

A

Q

A

Q

A

If I was only doing a like-forlike replacement of the existing switch in the previous question, without repositioning it, would I still have to provide additional protection by an RCD?

I’m carrying out an installation in a transportable cabin intended to be moved from place to place only infrequently, and which is supplied by an armoured cable. Does the installation fall within the scope of Section 717, Mobile or transportable units, of BS 7671?

I’m carrying out a periodic inspection on a single-phase installation and have found that a three-phase distribution board has been modified for singlephase use. Is this acceptable?

When compiling the schedule of test results for new installation work or for a Periodic Inspection Report, can I simply tick the appropriate box in either the R1 + R2 column or the R2 column (as applicable) to denote that the test has been carried out, or must I record the appropriate measured value?

No. Simply replacing an accessory like-for-like is a maintenance activity, not installation work.

There is therefore no requirement to bring the circuit up to current requirements of BS 7671 by providing it with additional protection by an RCD.

No. Section 717 applies only to transportable units intended to be moved from place to place relatively frequently and which therefore need to be supplied through flexible cables.

However, the installation must still be carried out to comply with the general requirements of BS 7671, given in Parts 1 to 6.

.

The modification may have placed the distribution board outside the scope of the British Standard to which it was manufactured. However, this is not necessarily a problem.

Regulation 511.2 recognises the principle of electrical equipment being used outside the scope of its British Standard or Harmonized Standard. Where this is to be done, the regulation requires the designer or specifier of the installation to confirm that the equipment provides the same degree of safety as that afforded by compliance with BS 7671.

You will therefore need to establish whether the modified distribution board provides this degree of safety, to help you decide whether or not it is in satisfactory condition for continued service.

This may require you to access manufacturer’s data and/or the appropriate British Standard to check, for example, the type of connections and size of links and/or conductors used for the modification and whether appropriate warning notices have been posted.

You will also need to check whether a sufficient number of outgoing neutral and earth terminals is provided in the distribution board for the number of single-phase final circuits supplied. If any neutral or earth terminal is used to connect the conductors of more than one final circuit, you should pay particular attention to checking whether the connections to the terminal meet the requirements of: • Section 526 of BS 7671, regarding durable electrical continuity and adequate mechanical strength, and • Regulation 514.1.2, regarding identification for inspection, testing, repair or alteration of the installation (i.e. that the conductors are marked to correspond with the circuit to which they belong).

.

Whichever of the two usual methods of testing circuit protective conductor continuity has been used – the R1 + R2 method or the R2 (wander lead) method – a measured value in ohms will have been obtained for each test.

The measured value, rather than a tick, should be recorded in the appropriate box of the R1 + R2 column or the R2 column (as applicable) of the schedule of test results.

Fuller information on carrying out Periodic Inspection and Testing is given in the NICEIC books Inspection Testing and Certification and Domestic Period Inspection Testing and Reporting.

44 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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Sizing the cables for a motor with star-delta starting 46-48 snags and solutions: a practical guide to everyday electrical problems 50-51 Incorrect use of thermosetting insulated cables at 90 ºC current ratings 53-54 Fire alarm system sound pressure levels in dwellings 56 Termination of armoured cables – ensuring earth continuity 58-59 Fire risk assessment for domestic premises 61-63

TECHNICAL

Inside

Sizing the cables for a motor with star-delta starting With the aid of a worked example, this article looks at the main considerations involved in sizing the cables of a circuit supplying an a.c. induction motor where star-delta starting is used.

W

ith star-delta starting, the current taken from the supply during motor starting is reduced to about a third of the normal direct-online starting current of typically five to eight times full load current; that is, to typically 1.67 to 2.67 times full load current.

A six-terminal three-phase motor is used, with each end of each of the three stator windings being brought out to its own motor terminal and cabled back to the star-delta starter.

To start the motor, the starter first connects the motor windings in the star configuration, as shown in Fig 1. This applies a voltage equal to the supply line-to-line voltage (VL) divided by √3 across each motor winding; that is, 230 V in the case of a 400 V three-phase supply.

After a period of time sufficient

to allow the motor to accelerate to approaching normal running speed, the starter changes the winding connection to the delta configuration, as shown in Fig 2. This applies the full line-to-line voltage (VL) across each motor winding.

Sizing the cables for normal load and overload Normal load It should be appreciated that when the motor windings are connected in delta (for normal running), the current in each of the six conductors on the load side of the starter is equal to 58 % (that is 1/√3 times) of the current in the conductors on the supply side of the starter, not 50 %.

Overload protection

When sizing the circuit cables from considerations of normal load and

Fig 1 –Simple star-delta starter connecting the motor windings in star L3 L2 L1

Overloads

Star Configuration

U1

Main contactor (MC)

Delta Contactor (DC)

Star Contactor (SC)

W2

U2 V2

W1

W1 V1 U1

46 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

V1

W2

M 3

V2 U2

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overload, it is necessary, amongst other things, to identify the device that will be used to protect these cables against overload current.

For motors rated in excess of 0.37 kW, BS 7671 generally requires that the starter incorporates a device to protect the motor against overload current (Regulation 552.1.2 refers). This overload protective device may be used to protect the circuit cables, provided: (i) the installation is not in a location presenting an abnormal fire risk or risk of explosion or where special requirements or recommendations apply, and (ii) the part of the circuit between the distribution board and the starter has no branch circuit or outlet for the connection of current-using equipment and fulfils one of the following conditions: - it is protected against fault current in accordance with the requirements of Section 434 of BS 7671 (see the worked example below), or - its length does not exceed 3 m, it is installed in such a manner as to reduce the risk of fault to a minimum and it is installed in such a manner as to reduce to a minimum the risk of fire or danger to persons.

(Regulation 433.2.2 refers.)

There are two possible electrical locations for the overload protective device in the starter: namely, in the main supply line, as shown in

Fig 3 – Individual star delta starter fed from a distribution board Distribution board

FCPD - fault current protective device

FCPD

L1 L2 L3

3 core cable

Main contactor (MC)

Delta Contactor (DC)

Overloads

3 core cable

3 core cable W1 V1 U1

L3 L2 L1

Delta Configuration

Overloads

V2

V1

W1 Delta Contactor (DC)

W1 V1 U1

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W2

M 3

V2 U2

W2

M 3

Figures 1 and 2, or in the conductors leading to motor terminals U1, V1, W1, or U2, V2, W2, as shown in Fig 3.

When considering the current setting (In) of the device from the point of view of overload protection of the circuit conductors, it is often simplest to think of this in terms of a percentage of the motor full load current. This avoids confusion due to the current on the load side of the starter being 58 % of that on the supply side when the motor windings are connected in delta

Fig 2 – Simple star-delta starter connecting the motor windings in delta

Main contactor (MC)

Star Contactor (SC)

Star Contactor (SC)

U2

W 2 U1

V2 U2

(for normal operation).

The six conductors on the load side of the starter effectively form parts of two separate three-phase circuits. The conductors may be run either as two three-core cables (one for each circuit), as shown in Fig 3, or as single-core cables in conduit or trunking.

Either way, if the two circuits are grouped together, the appropriate grouping factors given in Appendix 4 of BS 7671 must be used when sizing the conductors. It should also be noted that, unlike most circuits that may be grouped together, the two three-phase circuits are liable to simultaneous overload because they both supply the same machine.

Therefore, it is not permitted to apply the equations 3 and 4 of Appendix 4 of BS 7671, relating to circuits not liable to simultaneous overload.

Worked example

In this worked example, the cables of an induction motor circuit with star-delta starting are sized from considerations of normal load and overload and from considerations of fault current.

Voltage drop is not considered in the example. However, it should be appreciated that, depending on the

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 47

TECHNICAL

load current and the length of run, the requirement to limit the voltage drop in the circuit conductors may necessitate larger cable sizes than required from considerations of normal load, overload and fault current.

Problem

A three-phase induction motor has an output power of 18.5 kW, and a full load current of 36 A. Determine the minimum conductor crosssectional area (csa) for the circuit cables on the supply side and load side of the starter, assuming the following information: • The cables on both the supply side and the load side of the starter are single-core 70 °C thermoplastic (general purpose pvc) insulated cables having copper conductors in conduit (Reference method B). The six cables on the load side of the starter are all grouped together.

Other than this, the cables of the motor circuit are not grouped with other circuits. The ambient temperature is not expected to exceed 30 °C. • The overload protective device in the motor starter may be used to provide overload current protection to the circuit cables. The setting of the device in the starter is 100 % of the motor full load current.

• The protective device in the distribution board is a 50 A Type D circuit-breaker to BS EN 60898, as recommended by the circuitbreaker manufacturer. The value of the let-through energy (I2t) quoted by the manufacturer for the device is 190 000 A2s.

Solution For the cables on the supply side of the starter:

The design current (Ib) for the part of the circuit on the supply side of the starter is the full load current of the machine, which is 36 A, as stated in the problem.

For overload protection of the cables, the setting of the overload protective device in the starter is taken to be 36 A (that is, 100 % of the motor full load current, which is 36 A on the supply side of the starter). Thus the minimum current-

48 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

carrying capacity required for the cables is 36 A. From Table 4D1A column 5 of BS 7671 Appendix 4, it can be seen that the smallest suitable cable size is 6 mm2. This has a tabulated current-carrying capacity of 36 A, which is also the effective currentcarrying capacity in this case, as there are no rating factors to be applied for ambient temperature, grouping or thermal insulation.

It is necessary to use the adiabatic equation of Regulation 434.5.2 (k2S2 > I2t) to check that the 6 mm2 csa of the circuit conductors is sufficient for them to be protected against fault current. This is because the 50 A Type D circuit-breaker does not afford overload protection to the conductors (because its rated current of 50 A exceeds the cable rating of 36 A), which means that it cannot be assumed that the requirements of the Regulations for fault current protection of the conductors are satisfied, as indicated in Regulation 435.1.

To use the adiabatic equation, we need to know the let-through energy (I2t) of the circuit-breaker. As given in the problem, this is assumed to be 190 000 A2s. Therefore, to satisfy the adiabatic equation, the value of k2S2 for the 6 mm2 cables must be greater than 190 000 A2s.

From Table 43.1 of BS 7671 Appendix 4, the value of k for 70 ºC thermoplastic insulated cables with copper conductors of not more than 300 mm2 is 115. Therefore, k2S2 for the cables is 1152 x 62 = 476 100 A2s. As this exceeds the let-through energy of 190 000 A2s of the circuit-breaker, the adiabatic equation is satisfied and the 6 mm2 csa of the conductors is sufficient for them to be protected against fault current.

A cable size of 6 mm2 is therefore suitable between the distribution board and the starter, from considerations of normal load, overload and fault current, in the case of this worked example.

For the cables between the starter and the motor:

The design current (Ib) for the part of the circuit on the load side of the starter is equal to 58 % (or 1/√3)

times that in the part of the circuit on the supply side. 58 % of 36 A = 20.9 A. For overload protection of the cables, the setting of the overload protective device in the starter is taken to be 21 A (that is, nominally 100 % of the motor full load current, which is 20.9 A on the load side of the starter). Thus the minimum current-carrying capacity required for the cables is 21 A. From Table 4C1 of BS 7671 the grouping factor (Cg) for two circuits is 0.8. Thus, the minimum tabulated current-carrying capacity (It) required for the circuit conductors is: A From Table 4D1A column 5 of BS 7671, 4 mm2 has a tabulated current-carrying capacity of 28 A. The effective current-carrying capacity is therefore 0.8 x 28, which is 22.4 A. In this case the current-carrying capacity of the conductors is again less than the rated current of the Type D circuit-breaker in the distribution board (which is 50 A).

The adiabatic equation of Regulation 434.5.2 (k2S2 > I2t) will therefore need to be used to check that the 4 mm2 csa of the conductors is sufficient for them to be protected against fault current.

To use the adiabatic equation, we need to know the let-through energy (I2t) of the circuit-breaker. As given in the problem, this is assumed to be 190 000 A2s. Therefore, to satisfy the adiabatic equation, the value of k2S2 for the 4 mm2 cables must be greater than 190 000 A2s.

From Table 43.1 of BS 7671, the value of k for 70 °C thermoplastic insulated cables with copper conductors of not more than 300 mm2 is 115. Therefore k2S2 for the cables is 1152 x 42 = 211 600 A2s. As this exceeds the let-through energy of 190 000 A2s of the circuit-breaker, the adiabatic equation is satisfied and the csa of the conductors is sufficient for them to be protected against fault current.

A cable size of 4 mm2 is therefore suitable between the starter and the motor, from considerations of normal load, overload and fault current, in the case of this worked example.

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TECHNICAL

snags and solutions

A practical guide to everyday electrical problems ‘Snags & Solutions’, NICEIC’s problem solving book, is now available in three parts, which cover many commonly-encountered electrical installation problems. All parts take account of the requirements of BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations), where appropriate.

Part 1 addresses 53 problems relating to earthing and bonding, Part 2 covers 55 problems relating to wiring systems, and Part 3 covers 52 problems relating to inspection and testing.

Each book is available from NICEIC Direct at £15.

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 3 relating to assessing existing main protective conductors.

50 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

Assessing existing main protective bonding conductors Main bonding conductors in older installations may be found to have a crosssectional area (csa) less than that required by BS 7671.

Snag 14 Difficulty arises in assessing the suitability of a main bonding conductor where its csa is less than required

by BS 7671. Where PME conditions apply, main bonding conductors having too small a csa could result in the maximum permitted temperature of the conductor to be exceeded, due to diverted neutral currents that can flow continuously or for long periods from the installation concerned and/or from other installations.

Solution Main bonding conductors have been required since 1966 in installations where protection against electric shock is provided

by Automatic Disconnection of Supply (ADS), as is usually the case.

The csa of such conductors should be not less than the applicable value given in Regulation 544.1.1.

In an existing installation where the main protective bonding conductors have a csa less than that required by BS 7671, the inspector may, having carefully considered all the circumstances conclude that the departure from the requirements of BS 7671 does not pose a serious risk to the users of the installation. For an installation served by a PME supply, careful scrutiny is required of existing main bonding conductors having a csa less than required by Table 54.8 of BS 7671, to look for

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Fig1 - Diverted neutral currents flowing from underground pipework and tanks

Origin Line conductor current FAULT

Source Portion of neutral current flowing through the PEN conductor

Load LOAD Exposedconductive-part

Link Earthing conductor Diverted neutral current from other installation

Circuit protective conductor Main earthing terminal Main protective bonding conductor Portion of diverted or circulating network current

Earth

Extraneous-conductive-part such as underground pipework or tank

Diverted neutral currents flowing through the general mass of Earth signs of thermal damage due to diverted neutral currents.

Where an undersized main bonding conductor is identified, the departure from the requirements of BS 7671 must be recorded on a Periodic Inspection Report and an appropriate recommendation code stated, as follows.

• For a main bonding conductor having a csa less than 6 mm2, or where there are signs of thermal damage, a Recommendation Code 2 should generally be recorded.

• For an undersized main protective bonding conductor having a csa of at least 6 mm2 and where there no signs of thermal damage, a Recommendation Code 4 should generally be recorded.

Regulation 544.1.1 (part of) Except where PME conditions apply, a main protective bonding

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conductor shall have a crosssectional area not less than half the cross-sectional area required for the earthing conductor of the installation and not less than 6 mm2. The cross-sectional area need not exceed 25 mm2 if the bonding conductor is of copper or a cross-sectional area affording

equivalent conductance in other metals.

Except for highway power supplies and street furniture, where PME conditions apply the protective bonding conductor shall be selected in accordance with the neutral conductor of the supply and Table 54.8.

TABLE 54.8: Minimum cross-sectional area of the main bonding conductor in relation to the neutral of the supply Minimum copper equivalent* Copper equivalent cross-sectional cross-sectional area of the main area of the supply neutral protective bonding conductor conductor 35 mm2 or less 10 mm2 2 2 16 mm2 over 35 mm up to 50 mm 2 2 over 50 mm up to 95 mm 25 mm2 2 2 over 95 mm up to 150 mm 35 mm2 2 over 150 mm 50 mm2 Note: Local distributor’s network conditions may require a larger conductor. * The minimum copper equivalent cross-sectional area is given by a copper bonding conductor or the tabulated cross-sectional area or a bonding conductor of another metal affording equivalent conductance.

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 51

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NICEIC Area Engineers continue to come across cases of thermosetting insulated cables being used on the basis of their full 90 °C current ratings in circumstances where this is not appropriate.

C

ables having thermosetting insulation, such as cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), are capable of being operated with a maximum conductor temperature of 90 °C in normal service. This gives them a higher current-carrying capacity than 70 °C thermoplastic (PVC) insulated cables of similar construction and the same conductor size.

However, conductors intended to operate at a temperature exceeding 70 °C in normal service must not be connected to switchgear, protective devices, accessories or other types of equipment unless the equipment manufacturer has confirmed that the equipment is suitable for such conditions (Regulation 512.1.2 of BS 7671 refers). Where, as is often the case, the equipment is not suitable for these conditions, the current-carrying capacity of the conductors should be based on that given in the relevant table in Appendix 4 of BS 7671 for 70 °C thermoplastic insulated cables of similar construction.

Also, where non-sheathed or sheathed cables having different maximum operating temperatures (such as 90 °C thermosetting insulated cables and 70 °C thermoplastic insulated cables) are grouped together, the currentcarrying capacity of all the cables in the group must be based on

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the lowest maximum operating temperature of any cable in the group (Regulation 523.5 refers).

Table 1 of this article gives assistance in finding the appropriate table of current-carrying capacity in Appendix 4 of BS 7671 where it is necessary to use a thermosetting insulated cable so that its conductor operating temperature will not exceed 70 °C in normal service. The table covers cables with copper conductors only.

Worked example Problem A single-phase radial circuit of two-core non-armoured, sheathed thermosetting insulated cables to BS 7211, installed clipped direct, is required to carry a current of 30 A continuously or for long periods.

(1) Find the minimum required conductor size required if the conductors are to operate at a temperature not exceeding 70 °C, based on the following assumptions.

• The circuit length is such that voltage drop need not be considered • The circuit is not grouped with any other loaded conductors (grouping rating factor, Cg = 1) • The ambient temperature will not exceed 30 °C (ambient temperature rating factor, Ca = 1)

Solution

(1) To carry a current of 30 A continuously or for long periods, the circuit cable must have a current-carrying capacity of not less than 30 A. As indicated in the third paragraph of clause 5 of BS 7671 Appendix 4, the currentcarrying capacity (Iz) of a cable is given by the formula:

Therefore, the minimum acceptable tabulated currentcarrying capacity (It) is given by: So that,

= 30 A From Table 1 of this article, tabulated current-carrying capacities for multicore nonarmoured cables to BS 7211 operated at a conductor temperature of 70 °C are given in Table 4D2A of BS 7671 Appendix 4.

From column 6 of Table 4D2A, the smallest size of two-core cable giving a tabulated currentcarrying capacity (It) of not less than 30 A when clipped direct is 4 mm2 (tabulated current-carrying capacity 36 A).

The minimum required conductor size such that the conductor operating temperature will not exceed 70 °C is therefore 4 mm2.

(Answer) (2) As shown in column 1 of Table 1 of this article, tabulated current-carrying capacities for multicore non-armoured cables to BS 7211 where the conductor temperature is not to exceed 90 °C are given in Table 4E2A of BS 7671 Appendix 4.

From column 6 of Table

>

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 53

TECHNICAL

Incorrect use of thermosetting insulated cables at 90 °C current ratings

• The conductors are not installed in thermal insulation (thermal insulation rating factor, Ci = 1) (2) Also, based on the same assumptions as in (1) above, find the minimum required conductor size if the conductors are permitted to operate at a temperature of up to 90 °C.

TECHNICAL

Table 1 – List of current-carrying capacity tables in BS 7671 Appendix 4 for operation of thermosetting insulated cables at a conductor temperature not exceeding 70 °C BS number 90 °C currentDescription Current-carrying carrying capacity capacity table table for conductor (for reference only) temperature not exceeding 70 °C 1 2 3 4 Single-core non-armoured for voltages not exceeding BS 7211 450/750 V, for power, lighting and internal wiring, having 4E1A 4D1A low emission of smoke and corrosive gases.

BS 7889 Single-core non-armoured for a voltage of 600/1000 V. BS 7211 Multicore non-armoured for voltages not exceeding 4E2A 450/750 V, for power, lighting and internal wiring, having 4D2A low emission of smoke and corrosive gases.

BS 5467 Single-core armoured (non-magnetic armour) for voltages of 600/1000 V. BS 6724 Single-core armoured (non-magnetic armour) for voltages of 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive 4E3A 4D3A gases.

BS 7846 Single-core armoured (non-magnetic armour) fire-resistant for voltages of 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases.

BS 5467 Multcore armoured for a voltage of 600/1000 V.

BS 6724 4E4A BS 7846

BS 7919

Multcore armoured for a voltage of 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases.

4D4A

Multcore armoured fire-resistant cables for a voltage of 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases.

4F2A

Flexible cables with sheath (non-armoured).

4F1A*

* 60 °C conductor temperature.

4E2A, the smallest size of twocore cable giving a tabulated current-carrying capacity of not less than 30 A when clipped direct is 2.5 mm2 (tabulated currentcarrying capacity 33 A).

The minimum required conductor size such that the conductor operating temperature will not exceed 90 °C is therefore 2.5 mm2. (Answer)

which is 36 A for answer (1) above and 33 A for answer (2).

If the protective device is a semi-enclosed fuse to BS 3036,

then, in order to protect the cable against overload current, its rated current (In) must not exceed 0.725 times the actual current carrying capacity of the cable, as required by Regulation 433.1.3.

INFORMATION Website Top Tip

Important To protect the cable against overload current, the requirements of Regulation 433.1.1 must be complied with. For example, if the circuit protective device is a circuit-breaker or fuse of a type listed in Regulation 433.1.2, its rated current or setting (In) must not exceed the actual currentcarrying capacity of the cable, given by the formula

54 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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TECHNICAL

Fire alarm system sound pressure levels in dwellings NICEIC is often asked what sound pressure levels are recommended by British Standards to be provided by the sounders of a fire alarm system in a dwelling, and how it can be checked that these levels have been provided.

S

ound pressure level is a measure of the pressure disturbance in the air caused by a source of sound. It is what our ears hear and what a sound level meter measures. The sound pressure level from fire alarm sounders is indicated in A-weighted decibels (dB(A)). Sound pressure levels vary substantially with distance from the source, and also diminish as a result of intervening obstacles and barriers, air absorption, wind and other factors.

Sound pressure level should not be confused with sound power level.

A sound power level is a measure of the acoustical energy emitted by a fire alarm sounder. It is indicated in decibels (dB) and is an absolute value, not affected by the environment.

Fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings should be selected and installed in accordance with BS 5839-6: 2004.

Table 1 of this article summarises the recommendations of BS 5839-6: 2004 for the sound

pressure levels to be provided by a Category LD fire detection and alarm system (a fire detection and alarm system intended for the protection of life).

Verification of sound pressure levels Sound pressure levels may be measured using a sound level meter complying with BS EN 61672 – Specification for sound level meters Class 2, with a slow response and ‘A’ weighting.

However, measurement is generally not necessary in order to verify compliance with the recommendation for 85 dB(A) at an open bedroom door, referred to in Table 1, if a smoke alarm complying with BS EN 14604: 2005 (which supersedes BS 5446-1) is located within 3 m outside the doorway.

The reason is that clause 5.17.3 of BS EN 14604: 2005 requires smoke alarms to that standard to provide a sound pressure level of 85 dB(A) at 3 m under specified conditions.

For the same reason, measurement is not usually necessary in order to verify compliance with a recommendation for 75 dB(A) the bedhead in an HMO, referred to in Table 1.

Table 1 – Recommended sound pressure levels for a Category LD fire alarm system Location Sound pressure levels.

Clause in BS 58396: 2004

At the open bedroom door where there are no fire alarm sounders or smoke alarms in the bedroom.

At least 85 dB(A), irrespective of where the fire is detected in the dwelling.

13.2e 13.2f

Note: A higher sound pressure level may be necessary if occupants are hard of hearing or if the bedroom door reduces the sound by significantly more than 20 dB.

(in HMOs of limited size having a straightforward means of escape

At the bedhead in some or all of the bedrooms in a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The need for 75 dB(A) might be justified due to ambient noise levels or other factors. The need should be checked by a risk analysis.

13.2f

Note: Experience has shown that to achieve 75 dB(A) at the bedhead in any bedroom, a fire alarm sounder or smoke alarm (or heat alarm) will need to be installed in the bedroom.

Where it is necessary to provide a warning in all areas of the dwelling, other than at the bedroom door or bedhead (which are both covered above).

A high enough sound pressure level for the occupants to hear 13.2g in most foreseeable circumstances, such as someone sleeping in an armchair in a living room. However, in the vicinity of a telephone, the sound level should not be too loud, so that it might interfere with an emergency call being made to summon the fire and rescue service.

General notes to Table 1.

1. The frequency produced by the sounders of any smoke alarms and heat alarms should not exceed 3 500 Hz. The frequency(ies) produced by any other fire alarm sounders should be in the range of 500 Hz to 1 000 Hz. (Clause 13.3(a) of BS 5839-6: 2004 refers).

2. The fire alarm warning should be clearly distinguishable from the sound produced by any other alarm system in the dwelling (such as an intruder alarm system). All fire alarm sounders in a dwelling should produce a similar alarm signal. However, any smoke or heat alarms installed in the same dwelling as a Grade A, B or C system (to form a mixed system) need not produce the same alarm signal as the sounders in the Grade A, B or C system. (Clause 13.2(b) of BS 5839-6: 2004 refers) 3. For fire warning systems intended for deaf and hard of hearing people, Clause 14 of BS 5839-6: 2004 gives guidance and recommendations for additional provisions, such as visual alarms and vibrating pads.

56 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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TECHNICAL

Termination of armoured cables – ensuring earth continuity An important consideration when using armoured cable is the method used to provide reliable earth continuity and adequate earth fault current withstand capacity where the cable is terminated.

T

he armouring must of course be terminated into a suitable gland appropriate to the size of cable, meeting the requirements of BS 6121 or other applicable British or Harmonized Standard and having an appropriate degree of protection (IP rating). Care should be taken to ensure that all the wires or strips of the armouring are properly clamped by the gland and that the gland nut and locknuts are fully tightened.

The use of a gland earth tag washer (‘banjo’) together with brass bolt, nuts, washers and copper protective conductor is generally necessary irrespective of whether the enclosure is non-metallic or metallic.

Proprietary alternatives to an earth tag washer, such as components with an earthing terminal for use with cable glands, are not covered in this article.

However, they may be used as the means of connecting to the copper protective conductor, provided the electrical installation designer is satisfied that the degree of safety required by BS 7671 (particularly in Section 526, Continuity of electrical connections), in the case of the particular application.

Sizing the copper protective conductor The csa of the copper protective

58 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

conductor connecting the earth tag washer to the earthing terminal of an enclosure has to be selected in accordance with Table 54.7 in Regulation 543.1.4 of BS 7671 or calculated using the adiabatic equation given in Regulation 543.1.3.

Cable armouring is sometimes used as a main protective bonding conductor (as well as being used

as a circuit protective conductor).

Where this is the case, the csa of a copper protective conductor must also meet the requirements of Regulation Group 544.1 for a main protective bonding conductor.

Termination of the armoured cable at a non-metallic enclosure Where the armoured cable terminates at a non-metallic enclosure, an earth tag washer is usually essential if a connection is required to the armouring, such as where the protective conductor is to continue through the enclosure.

The earth tag washer should be clamped between two locknuts, as shown in Fig 1, to avoid the risk of the degradation of the continuity of the connection by creepage of the non-metallic material.

Termination of the armoured cable at a metallic enclosure Many metallic enclosures and items of switchgear have a powder, epoxy resin or cathodic coating to improve their appearance. Generally such coatings are non-conducting.

Where a metallic enclosure or frame of low voltage switchgear or controlgear is used as a protective

Fig1 - Termination at a non-metallic enclosure

Note: Only the incoming armoured cable termination is shown. The outgoing cable, if armoured, would be terminated as for the incomer

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conductor, Regulation 543.2.4 requires that: (i) its electrical continuity is assured either by construction or by suitable connection, and (ii) the csa of the enclosure or frame is not less than that required by Regulation 543.1.3 (adiabatic equation) or Regulation 543.1.4 (selection in accordance with Table 54.7), or verified by test in accordance with BS EN 60439-1: Requirements for type-tested and partially type-tested assemblies.

Where doubt exists that the enclosure meets requirements (i) and (ii), an earth tag washer and copper protective conductor arrangement should be provided as shown in Fig 1. However, the additional gland locknut shown in Fig 1 is not essential, and the earth tag washer may be fitted directly in contact with the metallic surface of the enclosure, either on the inside or outside. If the earth tag washer is fitted to the outside, the brass bolt connected to the earth tag washer is passed through the wall of the enclosure, via a suitably drilled hole, and connected to the copper protective conductor on the inside using a lug, washer and nut.

Even where the enclosure meets requirements (i) and (ii), an earth tag washer and copper protective conductor arrangement should still usually be provided. The only exception is where there is no doubt that the metal-to-metal interface between the cable gland and the enclosure provides an effective, reliable and permanent lowresistance joint (Regulation 526.1), such as where: (a) the gland is screwed into a threaded entry of a Class I enclosure, or (b) the gland enters a non-threaded hole in the enclosure that is accurately cut to match the size of the gland, so as to provide adequate circumferential contact, and any non-conductive coating on the enclosure is removed at the interface between the gland and the enclosure to provide a low resistance and electrically reliable joint capable of sustaining earth fault current.

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Meet the helpline If you have ever telephoned our technical helpline you may wonder who the voices are on the other end of the line.

Well, meet the technical helpline team: all industry professionals with vast experience in the electrical industry and some interests outside of the day job too!

Darren Staniforth, NICEIC operations engineer Industry experience: Electrician, QS and contracts manager, head of Bedford College, currently a City & Guilds examiner Interests: Manager of semi-professional football team, UEFA ‘B’ coach

Justin Maltby-Smith, NICEIC operations engineer Industry experience: Ran his own electrical company, lecturer, consultant/project manager Interests: Kung-Fu and kickboxing, black-belt instructor

Alan Turvey, NICEIC operations engineer Industry experience: Electrician, carrying out industrial, commercial, quarry and domestic installations, lecturer and deputy head of construction with further education college Interests: Walking, bonsai cultivation and restoration of classic bicycles Stuart McHugh, senior technical helpline engineer Industry experience: More than 41 years in the electrical industry, including a six-year apprenticeship, industrial commercial domestic and street-lighting work Interests: Vintage aircraft, motoring (owns an MGBGT sports car) Clinton Thompson, NICEIC operations engineer Industrial experience: Electrician (domestic and industrial), electrical engineer (food industry, highvolume production and heavy press industry), college tutor, training centre tutor Interests: Classic cars and bikes (owns a Royal Enfield Bullet). Music, plays guitar in a small group Derek Cooney, NICEIC Operations Engineer Industry experience: Time served electrician, commercial and industrial background and college lecturer Interests: Sports and cinema

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 59

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Bette Book r Early !

The article on pages 58 and 59 of issue 171 of Connections (Autumn 2009) outlined the requirements of legislation and related guidance for fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings. In this article, we look at fire risk assessment. This is a particular aspect of fire detection and alarm system design that was mentioned in the above article, and which maximises the cost-benefit of the system.

C

lause 4.2 of BS 5839-6: 2004, Code of practice for the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings, recommends that: Final design of a fire detection and fire alarm system for any particular dwelling should, where reasonably practicable, be based on a form of fire risk assessment, particularly if it is proposed to deviate from the guidance given in Clause 9 [regarding the choice of system] or if there are risk factors additional to those encountered in typical examples of the dwelling types defined in Clause 9.

In many situations, a fire risk assessment is not practicable, as the occupant characteristics and other relevant factors are not known to the fire alarm system designer or specifier. This is often the situation, for example, for a new dwelling at the stage when approval of the fire alarm system design is granted under building regulations. In such cases, Clause 4.2 of BS 5839-6: 2004 recommends that the design

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should follow the recommendations given in Clause 9, which include (amongst other things) recommended minimum Grades and Categories of fire detection and fire alarm system for typical dwellings.

This article relates to where a fire risk assessment is appropriate, because the occupant characteristics and other relevant factors are known or can be anticipated. The article looks at the factors generally relevant in carrying the assessment, which are identified in informative Annex A of BS 5839-6: 2004.

Examples of situations where a fire risk assessment may be appropriate include: • some Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) • dwellings for mentally disordered persons • dwellings for elderly persons In all cases, account should be taken of the detailed recommendations of BS 5839-6 and, where applicable, the requirements of building regulations (see the article on pages 58 and 59 of issue 171 of Connections, mentioned above).

Consideration of detection and warning objectives The following factors should be considered when assessing the risk from fire to which occupants of a dwelling are exposed.

• The presence of smoke in escape routes has the greatest impact on the safe escape of persons from a dwelling. People, in general, show a marked reluctance to enter smoke even when they are familiar with their surroundings. It is therefore essential to detect any fire that starts in a circulation area or any smoke that spreads into the circulation area, as early as possible.

>

NICEIC Connections Summer 2010 61

TECHNICAL

Fire risk assessment for domestic premises

General approach When carrying out a fire risk assessment it is important that each room within the dwelling is considered separately. Fire statistics, such as those published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (which can be downloaded free at www.communities.gov.uk/fire/ researchandstatistics/ firestatistics) provide data on a room by room basis.

For example, Table 2.2 of the DCLG statistics for 2007 shows that, of the 43,351 accidental fires in dwellings in the United Kingdom (which resulted in 267 deaths): • 27,240 fires started in a kitchen (resulting in 53 deaths) • 4,242 fires started in a bedroom or bedsitting room (resulting in 71 deaths) • 4,131 started in a living room, dining room or lounge (resulting in 114 deaths).

Although most of these fires started in kitchens, it can be seen from the above figures that the highest number of the deaths occurred as a result of fires in living rooms, dining rooms or lounges, followed by fires in bedrooms or bedsitting rooms. There may be a number of reasons for this and, as pointed out later in this article, account therefore needs to be taken of both statistical data and of occupant characteristics, such as lifestyle factors relevant to the probability of injury or death from fire.

ALAMY

TECHNICAL • Over half of the fire-related fatalities in dwellings occur in the room in which the fire starts. A fire detector situated outside the closed door of a room in which a fire has started is unlikely to operate before a fatality has occurred in the room.

• Considering the 2007 statistics, which indicate that approximately 43 % of all fatal fires originated in living rooms or dining rooms and approximately 27 % started in bedrooms or bedsitting rooms, it would seem appropriate to install smoke detectors within living rooms and the like, followed by the bedrooms. However, the designer may decide to reverse these priorities where, for example, it has been determined that occupants smoke in bed.

• Occupants of dwellings are at increased risk of death or injury when they are asleep. It is therefore essential that fire detection and fire alarm systems are capable of operating correctly when occupants are asleep and that the systems are capable of arousing occupants from a normal sleep – that is, sleep unaffected by alcohol or drugs. Research has shown that people in surroundings with which they are familiar can be woken from sleep by a relatively low sound level, but higher sound levels are required to wake children, and people who are in unfamiliar surroundings

62 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

Consideration of occupant characteristics The fire alarm and detection system designer should determine the characteristics of occupants as far as reasonably practicable.

Elderly people and the very young are at a significantly greater risk from fire than other age groups.

Dwellings where the principal occupant is elderly, or where there are a number of elderly occupants or young children, should be protected to an appropriately high level.

Socially deprived occupants on a low income are at a higher risk of death or serious injury from fire than those of a higher socioeconomic group. Properties located in council estates, lone parent households, households having financial instability, and properties in inner cities or where high physical disorder exists have a greater likelihood of domestic fire. For those most at risk, replacing the batteries in smoke alarms may, of necessity, be a low priority, and a more reliable power supply for the fire detection and fire alarm system is essential.

The risk of death in an HMO is generally higher than that of a single-family dwelling. Particular increase in risk occurs in houses converted to bedsits and to elderly people in sheltered housing.

Furthermore, the risk is greater in HMOs where the property exceeds two storeys in height.

People having impaired mobility

require more time to escape. Any system design should reflect this by ensuring an earlier warning of fire. This may necessitate the installation of additional detectors, in other rooms of the dwelling.

Consideration of lifestyle factors There have been significant changes in the lifestyles of people within the United Kingdom. Particular risk factors include the following.

• An increased use of candles.

Government statistics show that in 2007 over 1313 fires were caused by candles, leading to 14 deaths1.

Where there is a likely use of candles, additional detectors may be required.

• Incapacity due to alcohol consumption or drug use. Such incapacity leads to increased time before occupants are awakened by a fire alarm and, once they are awake, to impaired decisionmaking, confusion, disorientation and reduced motor function.

Alcohol consumption is also an added factor in the ignition of a fire (chip pan fire or smoker’s cigarette). Where alcohol use is significant, additional fire detectors may be necessary, including heat detectors in kitchens.

• Increased use of medical equipment in the home. Occupants may have access to oxygen, which can be piped in to various places or produced by in house equipment.

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Furthermore, medical beds are not subject to the same restrictions in bedding flammability as normal bedding. Such additional risks may require additional detectors to be installed.

a single-family dwelling. Where a likelihood of arson attacks is identified, the fire detection system should include detectors to provide early warning of a fire that starts near any entrance door.

Consideration of ignition sources In 2007, 55 % of fires in dwellings in the United Kingdom involved cooking appliances. These led to 36 deaths with over half of all non-fatal injuries2. In existing single-family dwellings, it may not be necessary to install a detector in the kitchen for the protection of life provided a smoke detector is sited in an adjacent circulating area. However, the designer may decide that, for the additional cost, it would be appropriate to install either a heat detector or a heat alarm.

Electrical wiring and appliances caused approximately 19 % of fires in 2007, and nearly 12 % of fire related deaths3. The use of electric blankets by high risk groups, such as the elderly, increases the justification for providing smoke detectors in bedrooms.

Smokers’ materials, including cigarette lighters and matches caused 7 % of all fires in 2007.

These led to more than 38 % of deaths3. Where occupants smoke there is an increased risk of death or injury caused by bedding or furniture catching light. In such cases the designer would be justified in specifying detectors in additional rooms, including bedrooms.

Space heating appliances caused 20 deaths in 20073. Fires caused by these appliances are often caused by combustible materials being stored in close proximity. Where portable heaters or solid-fuel fires are used during the night, there is some justification for the designer installing smoke detectors in the relevant rooms, particularly where these are bedrooms.

Arson has been a growing problem for many years. Such malicious ignition may be caused, for example, by the pushing of burning materials through a letter box, and is more likely to occur in an HMO than

Additional considerations Generally, fire detection and fire alarm systems are installed to protect persons. However, there may be instances where it is also desirable to protect property. This may be the case, for example, for a stately home. Where property is to be protected, the fire detection and fire alarm system needs to be able to detect fire automatically and summon the fire and rescue service at an early stage to ensure that the damage caused by a fire is minimised.

Where the attendance time of the fire and rescue service is not sufficiently short, or where insufficient water is available for the fire-fighting, the provision of additional fire protection measures should be considered, such as a water sprinkler system.

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Conclusion Where reasonably practicable the designer of a fire detection and fire alarm system for a dwelling should not rely solely on guidance provided by an approved document or similar, and a fire risk assessment should be undertaken prior to work starting.

The list below summarises many of the factors that should be considered by the designer.

• The functions of rooms (kitchen, bedroom, lounge …) – in relation to fire statistics • Escape routes – the need for early detection of smoke • Presence of smokers – increases the risk of fire • Elderly and the very young people – at increased risk from fire • Presence of people with impaired mobility – increased time needed to escape • Lone parent households – increased risk of fire • High physical disorder – increased risk of fire • Inner city properties – increased risk of fire

• Use of candles – increased risk of fire • Alcohol or drugs incapacity – increased time to awaken due to fire alarm, confusion when awakened, alcohol consumption is added factor in ignition of a fire • Presence of a medical bed, oxygen or other medical gases – additional detectors may be needed • Portable heaters or solid-fuel fires used during the night – need for smoke detectors in relevant rooms • Likelihood of arson – increased risk of fire • HMO of more than two storeys – increased risk of fire • Desire to protect the property (as well as life) – such as may be the case for a listed building 1

Table 2.1 Fire Statistics United Kingdom, 2007, produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

2 Tables 3 and 11 Fire Statistics United Kingdom, 2007 3 Table 2.1 Fire Statistics United Kingdom, 2007

INFORMATION Need to know more on the 17th?

NICEIC has devised a 17th Edition Toolkit containing all a contractor needs to be ready for the new Wiring Regulations.

The Toolkit contains a copy of the new IEE 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671:2008), a simplified, accessible and practical guide to the regulations, a DVD explaining all the changes to the 17th Edition and, as an added bonus, a voucher booklet containing money-off vouchers and competition prize draws. For more details call 0870 013 0458.

Contacting NICEIC To make sure you get the right department and the quickest response times, make a note of these useful numbers: Technical Helpline: 0870 013 0391 Customer Services: 0870 013 0382 Sales: 0870 013 0458 Training: 0870 013 0389

NICEIC N Connections i Summer 20 2010 0 63

PRODUCT FOCUS

Marshall-Tufflex

Lewden

Speed and flexibility are the primary reasons that Looks Construction selected MarshallTufflex’s MT32 high-speed underfloor prefabricated wiring system for the fast-track fit-out of units at Highbury Studios. This project is part of the regeneration of Islington that included the Emirates Stadium and conversion of Highbury Stadium, the previous home to Arsenal FC, into the residential development now called Highbury Square.

01424 856600 www.mt32.co.uk

The Cee Range of low-voltage plugs, from Lewden Electrical Industries and its Italian partners Palazzoli, offers electrical installers a robust, high quality product that is also extremely good value for money. Designed to help the installer make a quick connection, the straight protected nickel-plated, rounded pin plugs have a non-slip grip and cable entry with screw-type gland.

0208 539 0237 www.lewden.com www.palazzoli.com

EES Data

Fluke

EES Data produces a full suite of Contract Management software.

All are Windows 7 Touch Screen-enabled and built on a number of core modules: full professional contract estimating, small works costing and billing, supplier and quotation request, purchase ordering, job cost financial monitoring, application for payment and stock control.

01924 200103 www.ees-data.co.uk

Fluke, the global leader in handheld electronic test and measurement equipment, has announced availability of its new 124-page full-colour 2010/2011 Test Tools Catalogue. The catalogue includes: an introductory section covering all new tools; classified sections on all its handheld test tools; moneysaving Combo Kits, and much more.

Visit the website to request or download the catalogue.

0207 942 0700 www.fluke.co.uk/newcatalog

Steljes

Seaward

Specialist technology distributors Steljes has launched Mainline, a practical and attractive new way to access flexible mains power in offices, schools, hospitals, industrial facilities and the home.

Mainline is a power track that allows a user to instantly add, reposition or remove power sockets anywhere along its length.

By providing truly flexible access to mains electricity wherever it is used, Mainline overcomes the restrictions imposed on room layout by fixed power outlets.

0845 075 8758 www.mainlinepower.co.uk

The latest addition to Seaward’s range of portable appliance testers incorporates a unique range of electrical safety tests to ensure that all workplace electrical equipment does not pose a danger to users.

The new handheld PrimeTest 250 is the first electrical tester in its class to provide all the electrical tests required for compliance with the IEE Code of Practice for the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

0191 586 3511 www.seaward.co.uk

Thorn

Polypipe Ventilation

Thorn’s all-new PopPack, the 16th generation of the world’s best-selling light fitting, is poised to change the way that contractors see fluorescent lighting. Suddenly, instead of the standard batten fitting that has been unchanged for decades, there is a luminaire with a quicker installation sequence, easier electrical connection, rapid authentic emergency conversion and straightforward presence and daylight detection.

020 8732 9800 www.thornlighting.co.uk

Polypipe Ventilation has lauched a complete integrated ventilation system, its Energy Saving Trust Best Practice-compliant and SAP Q-rated Mechanical Extract Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) range. The HR01 range enables Polypipe to provide customers with a complete sustainable ventilation package to meet the most demanding of energy efficiency targets.

08443 715523 www.polypipe.com/ventilation

64 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

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SOUTHWEST NEWS SERVICE

current affairs T This quarter’s round-up of strange goings-on and shoddy installations starts (top right) with the scene at an industrial unit w where the customer had complained of a bad smell from a distribution board, and proceeds clockwise to: heating damage at an industrial site caused by poor terminations; and a fire alarm installation with substandard trunking, s. incorrect panel location and defective terminations.

This is followed by unsafe joints under loft insulation; a consumer unit with no RCD or busbar and all five circuits with a total of 106A linked with 2.5mm cable; and the attempt by a DIY enthusiast e to install wall lights, who used one socket to cobble t d b everything together under a loose board in the bottom off a wardrobe.

Thanks for the photographs to: Phil Blair of Advanced Electrical Installations in Leicester, Wayne Bennett of R D Wild in Stoke-on-Trent, Colin Tokley of C P Tokley (Electrical) in Colchester, Chris Smith of Electrical Contractor in Leicester, Chris Dobson of Local Electrical in Hemsworth and Geoff Pratt from G A Pratt & Son in Nuneaton.

HT UG

MERA

… CA

CA ON

J i ’ shocking Junior’s h ki waste of money

A borough council has attracted a wave of negative publicity after it tried to liven up a town centre by spending £25,000 on a shop display showing a junior electrician’s kit with a child holding two live wires attached to a plug.

Don’t forget to send The Current Affairs any controversial pictures that have made shop front you smile in the line of work was designed and let us know of any to brighten hidden talents or charity up Bedford initiatives. Email editor@ town centre niceicconnections.com and includes Pedal power other bizarre An NICEIC Domestic Installer from West Yorkshire is about to embark on a solo bicycle ride creations such as a from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a bid to raise more K9 bioconverter, which turns than £3,000 for two charities. human waste into dog food.

Colin Dobson, who owns Local Electrical in Hemsworth, The display originally will set off on his epic journey across B roads and back lanes opened in February but was in July. He hopes to cover 100 miles every day for 10 days, covered up after a week raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association following a complaint. and the National Autistic Society.

The council, under new “My mother-in-law died from motor neurone disease, and Liberal Democrat mayor Dave it’s a really nasty terminal illness, and my best friend’s children suffer from autism,” Colin said.

Hodgson, will reopen it to “When you see it so close up, it matters even more to you.” gauge shoppers’ reactions.

He has been cycling around 300 miles a week in the gym and on roads as he prepares for the challenge, in between running his own business. “I’ve got four lads who work for me and they’ve “Shopping malls have taken a lot of work off me,” he said. always incorporated features Colin is no stranger to such charity rides. Last year, he raised £3,000 by cycling the length of to make them more attractive the Leeds-Liverpool canal in 22 hours – a record time – and next year he plans to cycle from and although this display is Yorkshire to Africa. not conventional, it fits this To find out more or to sponsor Colin, visit www.colindobsononline.com. brief,” he said.

Germ warfare We’re all guilty of eating lunch on the go but it seems that, far from increasing our efficiency, this could actually be making us ill.

A survey by handcare company Carex revealed that two-thirds of people fail to wash their hands before eating lunch, causing instances of vomiting and

66 Summer 2010 NICEIC Connections

diarrhoea. The problem is made worse in warm weather when the risk of salmonella and food poisoning increases.

It’s not only people on site who have to worry. Four in 10 people regularly eat at their desk but only 7 per cent clean up after them, leaving desks their a hotbed of bacteria.

“A chicken sandwich could contain tens of thousands of

harmful bacteria if left out on a desk,” said Vikki Brunning, a brand manager at Carex.

“These days everyone is so busy that a quick bite while we work is the most any of us have time for.”

So if you’re about to tuck into a sandwich while reading Connections, you might want to wash your hands and give the desk a quick wipe first.

www.niceic.com

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