Connections Winter 2012/13

Thousands visit Electrical Safety Register // page 6

connections THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC REGISTERED CONTRACTORS £5.00

ADVICE P17 How to prepare your business for sale in an economic downturn

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE P34 Kent firm Ditton Electrical has taken a fresh approach under new ownership

WWW.NICEIC.COM

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TWITTER: @OFFICIALNICEIC WINTER 2012-13 | ISSUE 184

CABLE MANAGEMENT P38 More complex wiring means contractors must be up to speed on cabling solutions

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BETTER TOGETHER What the partnership between the ECA and ESC means for your business // page 28

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Winter 2012-13 | Issue 184

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Contents First phase New year, new vision

4

Plugged in News Electrical Safety Register attracts thousands

18

6

Two sites for NICEIC Live 17,000 Approved Contractors and counting

7

Sector welcomes Part P proposals

8

7

24

Illustration: Cameron Law w

34 Renewables news Bristol firm first to win Green Deal approval

10

ESC news Joint bid to tackle meter concerns 12 Coroner highlights risks of fires at electrical intake points 13 Product news The latest testing products on the market

15

38

Live wire

Features

Advice 17 It can take a long time to sell a business – early preparation can help secure a successful outcome, says Mark Selby Opinion 18 Expanding into installation of underfloor heating will differentiate you from the competition, advises Tony Barry Events 21 The inaugural NICEIC Live North event in Bolton Arena last November was a highlight of the industry calendar Regions Contractors in Wales are using cost control and new business opportunities to battle recession, says Adrian Holliday

24

Training 26 Darren Staniforth explains how to make the most of the emerging market of electric vehicle charging point installation Current affairs 66 An inventive approach to the day job

www.niceic.com

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21

Fully charged Ask the experts 43 Some of the NICEIC technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions answered Technical Selection of RCDs for use with solar PV sytems

Forging ahead together What does the partnership between the ECA and ESC mean for contractors?

28

Contractor profile New owners at Ditton Electrical in Tonbridge, Kent, have given the business a fresh lease of life

34

Flexible solutions 38 Sophisticated wiring and cabling calls for careful planning when installing cable management systems

46 46

Sequence of tests for reporting on the condition of an existing installation

52

Selection of fire alarm warning devices

57

Snags and solutions

62

»Cover illustration: iStock NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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Comment

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EMMA CLANCY

First phase New year, new vision The new partnership between the Electrical Safety Council and the Electrical Contractors’ Association – CertSure – will create a clear, united and focused voice for the industry

H

appy new year to everyone and welcome to the first Connections of 2013. The cover story is all about the recent announcement of the partnership between the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). The resulting joint venture company – CertSure – will operate the NICEIC and ELECSA brands.

The partnership was formally announced in November along with the creation of the Electrical Safety Register, (www.electricalsafetyregister.com), which brings together more than 36,000 contractors from the NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA brands.

The venture is about creating links between two of the industry’s biggest names, both for the good of the sector and the benefit of the contractor and consumer.

Our discussions at governmental level told us the industry was too disjointed. Like any business keen to progress, standing still was not an option. What was needed was a clear voice with a clear focus. The new partnership will allow

‘Like any business keen to progress, standing still was not an option’

Emma Clancy is chief executive officer, NICEIC

us to do this. Joining forces means we can improve the service we offer, create a drive to improve standards and provide solutions to help grow each individual business.

With the details of NICEIC Approved Contractors, ECA members and more than 80 per cent of all Part P registered electricians contained on the Electrical Safety Register, we feel this is a good base to start this process. By joining forces we are a stronger unit to move forward.

The creation of the Electrical Safety Register was just the first of many benefits that registrants can expect. There will be many more, such as free training and access to key events such as NICEIC Live.

I hope you will see that this is a move to bring the industry together. I look forward to working with you all and wish you a prosperous 2013.

CONTACTS // CONNECTIONS Redactive Publishing Ltd, 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP EDITORIAL General 020 7880 6200 Fax 020 7324 2791 Email editor@niceicconnections.com Editor Nick Martindale Technical editor Mike Clark Sub editor Victoria Burgher Art director Mark Parry Art editor Adrian Taylor Picture researcher Akin Falope Publishing and business development director Aaron Nicholls ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Senior sales executive Darren Hale Sales executive Patrick Lynn Display 020 7880 6206 Fax 020 7880 7553 Email advertising@ niceicconnections.com

4

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

Please email nick.martindale@ niceicconnections.com ISSN 2042-5732

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

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© Redactive Publishing Ltd 2013 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP. Registered No. 3156216. All rights reserved. This publication (and any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any print or electronic format (including but not limited to any online service, any database or any part of the internet) or in any other format in any media whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Redactive Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.

Printed by Wyndeham (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.

WWW.NICEIC.COM NICEIC ENQUIRIES General 01582 539000 External affairs director Richard Pagett 01582 539020 richard.pagett@ascertiva.com Communications officer Paul Collins 01582 539148 paul.s.collins@ascertiva.com NICEIC Direct Mike Jackson 01582 539709 mike.jackson@ascertiva.com Twitter @officialNICEIC Technical helpline 0870 013 0391 Customer services 0870 013 0382 Sales 0870 013 0458 Training 0870 013 0389

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:32

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BOOK NOW @ www.niceiclive.com or call us on 020 7324 2771 NIC.01.13.005.indd 1

23/01/2013 08:43

News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

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

New safety register attracts thousands More than 17,000 people have visited the Electrical Safety Register in the first two months since its launch.

The register, which contains the details of more than 36,000 NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA registrants, was set up in the wake of the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) partnership.

It is the first of many benefits that contractors can expect to see as a result of the new venture, which officially launches on 1 April.

“We are delighted to see that so many people have already taken the time to visit the site,” said NICEIC CEO Emma Clancy. “The Electrical Safety Register will be the number-one searchable database for anyone looking for a competent electrician and we look forward to promoting it to specifiers and consumers over the next few years.”

Prior to the launch of the website, more than 60,000 letters were sent out to landlords, local authorities and housing associations informing them of the merger. A full programme of marketing and PR activity is now in place to ensure the Electrical Safety

Register becomes the go-to place for a registered electrician.

All NICEIC and ELECSA registrants will receive free training on renewable technologies to ensure they are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities this sector will present.

“We have ideas and a programme of benefits that we will be drip-feeding to our customers over the coming months and years,” added Clancy.

The partnership between the ECA and ESC will both raise awareness of the need to use registered electricians and represent the interests of the industry to government.

From April, a new company – CertSure – will run both the NICEIC and ELECSA brands, which will be jointly owned and governed by the ECA and ESC. For more information see our cover feature on page 28.

Alamy

FREE TRAINING FOR ESR REGISTRANTS

6

All registrants on the new Electrical Safety Register will be offered free training in renewable technologies, as part of the partnership between the Electrical Contractors’ Association and Electrical Safety Council.

In November last year the two organisations announced they were forming a new venture from April 2013 called CertSure.

“Our customers have always been at the heart of this partnership and when we launched we said there would be benefits for everyone,” said Emma Clancy, CEO of CertSure. “The provision of free training is in line with this commitment and we look forward to rolling out a programme of other benefits over time.”

The training will be web-based and rolled out to all Electrical Safety Register registrants from 1 April, when CertSure is officially launched.

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

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AWARD APPLAUDS QS’S TRAINING AND MENTORING An NICEIC qualifying supervisor has won an illustrious award in recognition of the work he has done bettering himself and others through training and development.

Paul Eagle, building services design manager at Crown House Technologies, was named professional engineer of the year at the SummitSkills Awards for Excellence, winning the Ann Noblett Memorial Scholarship.

He took the award for his work developing in-house training and for mentoring youngsters. “It means the world to me,” he said. “There are a lot of young professionals out there who work hard every day and get no recognition.

I was one of those until recently. I hope more companies put their employees forward as it gives a nice boost when you know your work is being recognised.”

ELECTRIC VEHICLE COURSE FOR NICEIC CONTRACTORS NICEIC has teamed up with electric vehicle charging point organisation Rolec EV to offer specialist training for anyone looking to expand their business.

The one-day course covers a general introduction to the industry, an overview of the type of vehicles that are currently available, an insight into government legislation and incentives, BS 7671 supply, installation and protection requirements, and the IET code of practice.

There will also be a workshop on the full range of Rolec EV’s charging equipment, followed by an exam.

Successful candidates will have a fundamental knowledge of the supply, installation and protection requirements for installing vehicle charging points.

They will also have the opportunity to go on a centralised industry-wide register of qualified contractors.

For more information or to book your place call 0870 013 0389 or contact training@niceic.com

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:50

FREE POCKET GUIDE F In Inside this issue of Connections you will find Pocket P Guide 29 – Classification of residual current c devices (RCDs).

A printable version of each pocket guide is available on the NICEIC website. Additional a copies c can be obtained by contacting the NICEIC N customer service department on 0870 013 0382 or at customerservice@niceic.com

MORE ONLINE TRAINING NICEIC is running more online courses after positive feedback from customers.

The new courses – Level 3 in periodic inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations (EICRs); Level 3 in small-scale PV system installation; and Level 3 in small scale PV system PV maintenance – mean NICEIC now offers up to 11 different online/blended courses.

For more information email courses@ niceic.com or go to www.niceic.com and click on training.

SEEKING ON-SITE WORK EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN As part of its Jobs for the Girls campaign, NICEIC is looking to help women entering the electrical industry gain valuable on-site work experience.

NICEIC wants to hear from contractors who can provide experience to qualified women wanting practical on-site experience. Email paul.s.collins@ascertiva. com if you can help. Vacancies will be advertised on www.jobsforthegirls.com

SCOTLAND’S NUMBER ONE An apprentice employed by an NICEIC Approved Contractor has been named second stage apprentice of the year for Scotland. Alexander Gardiner (pictured), who works for Midlothian business Dalkeith Electrics and attends Stevenson College in Edinburgh, beat off the top candidates from seven colleges in the east of Scotland, before taking the national title ahead of north and west regional winners.

INVOICE SCAM WARNING Trading Standards is warning contractors to check all invoices to ensure they relate to goods or services they have actually received or agreed to receive.

The body is warning that unscrupulous businesses are sending out random invoices in the hope they will be paid, or contracts entered into, without being questioned. Invoice scams have typically related to entries in a business directory.

If suspicious, report details to Trading Standards on 08454 040 506 or at www.citizensadvice.org.uk

www.niceic.com

06_07_news.FINAL.indd 7

Two NICEIC Live sites NICEIC has confirmed that NICEIC Live will again be held over two events, in northern and southern venues.

The first event NICEIC Live South – will take place at Epsom Downs racecourse on 16 May, and will include a keynote speech by former fashion designer and current social housing guru Wayne Hemingway on opportunities for contractors in this area.

As well as a packed seminar programme, including technical sessions from NICEIC’s Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth, attendees will be able to meet a wide range of suppliers, including partner sponsor WF Senate. Additional exhibitors include Megger, Click Scolmore, Brother and Aurora.

“This event has become a permanent fixture in the industry calendar,” said NICEIC’s head of group marketing Mark Smith. “It is a great day out and gives contractors the chance to learn and take information back to their day-to-day role.”

As part of the added benefits offered to contractors from the ESC and ECA

Epsom Downs racecourse partnership, the cost to attend the event has been reduced to £29 for Electrical Safety Register registrants. The rate for non-registrants is £49. Exhibition-only passes will be available free of charge.

The NICEIC Live North show will be held later in the year, with details in the next Connections.

For more information about the events, to purchase conference tickets or register for free exhibition passes please visit www.niceiclive.com or call 020 7324 2771.

17,000 contractors and counting More than 17,000 firms are now registered as Approved Contractors with NICEIC, taking the total roll to more than 26,000 registered contractors (including domestic installers).

Halifax firm A R Morrison Electrical Services was the 17,000th customer registered to Approved Contractor status.

The two-man firm is managed by Anthony Morrison, below right, an electrician with more than 25 years’ experience.

He set up his own business three years ago, originally as a domestic installer before becoming an Approved Contractor.

Anthony said NICEIC was the obvious choice for his business. “I have always found dealing with NICEIC very straightforward and all the firms I have worked for have been NICEIC registered.

The NICEIC name and logo is well respected and all my clients ask for that.”

NICEIC has witnessed an increasing number of applications from firms looking for accreditation in recent months; a real indicator that standards are rising.

“Firms are keen to have the quality of their work assessed and gain NICEIC certification because of the benefits it brings to their business,” said Alan Wells, NICEIC director of certification.

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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22/01/2013 14:50

News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

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Plugged in Sector welcomes Part P proposals

February 13 NICEIC TechTalk* Stadium MK, Milton Keynes 27 NICEIC TechTalk* St James’s Park, Newcastle March 5-7 Ecobuild* ExCel, London 7-8 Elex* Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate 12 NICEIC TechTalk* Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh iStock

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and NICEIC have welcomed government plans to reduce the number of notifiable works, saying it will cut some of the red tape faced by the industry.

As part of its plans to streamline Part P, the government intends to focus notification requirements on higher-risk jobs, such as the installation of new circuits. This reflects the joint recommendations submitted by the ECA and NICEIC in their response to the Building Regulations consultation in 2012.

“While we await full details, we are delighted that the government has listened to industry,” said Steve Bratt, ECA Group CEO. “A tighter focus on notification requirements will maintain safety, while reducing the burden placed on electrical contractors.”

Under the new, revised regulations, electrical work undertaken in kitchens, such as adding a new socket or work outdoors such as installing a new security light, will no longer be covered

by Part P unless a new circuit is required.

The government has also announced plans to bring forward regulations

INDUSTRY // DIARY

Government plans could cut red tape that will allow third parties, other than Building Control, to certify work carried out by DIYers. “This could create a potential new workstream for electricians,” added Bratt.

Both bodies say the Electrical Safety Register fits well with the government’s plans to work with external partners to promote the use of certified electricians.

For a fact sheet about the proposals for Part P log on to www.niceic.com

April 18 Landlords Expo* Exhibition and Conference Centre, Bristol 25-26 Elex* Westpoint Arena, Exeter May 16 NICEIC Live* Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey

* Denotes NICEIC presence

NICEIC // PROMOTIONS NICEIC is constantly working to raise public awareness of the need to use registered electricians and to promote its Domestic Installers and Approved Contractors. Recent campaigns include: WINTER 2012 Electrical Safety Register announcement Mailing sent to more than 10,000 specifiers including 6,000 housing associations, 5,500 architects and 2,000 local authorities /// Radio interviews Tony Cable and director-general of the ESC Phil Buckle hold a radio day promoting the new Electrical Safety Register /// Woman’s Own magazine Tony Cable interviewed on the need to use a registered electrician /// BBC show NICEIC registered contractors feature in new home makeover series for BBC1 AUTUMN 2012 Online consumer and specifier ads Adverts appearing on BuildingTalk.com and Trustmark.org.uk to encourage homeowners and specifiers to always use NICEIC-registered electricians /// New consumer factsheets Leaflets and thank you cards produced for contractors to explain the benefits of using NICEIC-registered electricians to homeowners /// Consumer press articles Tony Cable features in articles for Self-Build, Build It and Homebuilding and Renovating magazines to promote the use of NICEIC-registered electricians /// Electrical Fire Safety Week Supporting the ESC to raise awareness of Electrical Fire Safety Week in September

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Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

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SUMMER 2012 Consumer and specifier ads Advertising campaign promoting NICEIC-registered contractors to more than 15 million specifiers and consumers /// Bank holiday tips Consumer campaign urging householders to think twice about carrying out electrical work around the home over the extra bank holidays this year /// Landlord’s Expo Exhibition attendance to promote the use of NICEIC-registered contractors to landlords and letting agents SPRING 2012 BBC Radio 4 Tony Cable appears as guest on You and Yours programme to offer advice and guidance on electrical safety /// Cowboy Builders Darren Staniforth appears on Channel 5 programme as technical expert on electrics in the home /// Twitter @officialNICEIC Twitter feed exceeds 2,000-follower mark, offering advice and guidance to consumers and electricians /// Consumer advertising campaign National newspaper adverts in seven papers, reaching more than six million people /// Consumer press articles Tony Cable features in articles in Your Home magazine and on MSN.co.uk promoting use of NICEIC-registered electricians

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:33

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News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

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Plugged in Bristol firm first to win Green Deal approval Bristol-based energy efficiency company Darren Evans Assessments has become the first firm to achieve Green Deal advisor certification from NICEIC, after being invited to take part in a programme to test the process and standards used

by Green Deal certification bodies.

The business provides nationwide energy efficiency and sustainability services for architects, developers, housing associations and commercial and domestic landlords. It is now certified to carry out an assessment of domestic properties under the Green Deal initiative.

“We have worked hard to be one of the first organisations providing a Green Deal assessment service,” says Darren Evans, managing director. “Green Deal represents a great way for us to help businesses and homes benefit from available energy efficient and carbon reducing measures, producing warmer and more cost-effective properties.”

Green Deal advisors are responsible for carrying out the initial assessment of a property to identify which measures will be appropriate. Only firms with the

appropriate approval can carry out the assessments. NICEIC can now offer certification to any business wishing to become a Green Deal installer or advisor.

“Green Deal advisors will be at the frontline of this important initiative,” says NICEIC’s Green Deal project manager Nick Wright. “They will have an important role to play going into people’s homes and carrying out the assessments.

“It is vital that all firms carrying out this type of work have the correct and appropriate procedures in place. We are delighted to have worked with Darren Evans Assessments on their route to certification,” he said.

Green Deal officially underway The official launch of the Green Deal programme took place at the end of January, formally kicking off the flagship project the government hopes will help it to achieve its target of halving carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2025.

Although the programme has been active since October last year, no building work was able to start before the official start of the initiative on 28 January.

The Green Deal promises new business opportunities for electrical contractors as advisers or installers, subject to gaining the necessary approval.

Under the scheme, householders will be able to implement a range of energy efficiency measures, such as cavity or solid wall insulation, which will be financed through cuts in energy bills.

Last year NICEIC launched its Your Green Deal Home website to provide more information to contractors and consumers about taking advantage of the initiative.

For more information see www.yourgreendealhome.com

SOCIAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTRACTORS

iStock

An initiative by the Institute of Sustainability and UCL Energy Institute has examined the potential of retrofitting energy efficiency measures into existing social housing builds.

The research looked at eight projects each containing 10 houses, which were selected from the Technology Strategy Board’s Retrofit for the Future programme. This offers up to £150,000 to upgrade properties and monitor performance for two years, with a view to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.

The project aimed to assess how retrofitting measures can impact on carbon emissions and householders, as well as the business potential for tradespeople and small firms.

It concluded that social housing offers a substantial market as a source of new business for small companies, although there were wide discrepancies in the cost of upgrades, depending on the type of property.

Further efficiencies could be gained through the creation of networks of providers, the report said, offering potential for electrical contractors to link up with other suppliers.

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Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

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GOVERNMENT BOOST FOR SOLAR PV INDUSTRY The government has added solar PV to its list of “key technologies” that it hopes will see 15 per cent of the UK’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020.

With the cost of PV installations having halved since 2011, a Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) report ranks the technology alongside bioenergy, wind and marine power.

UK solar PV capacity increased by 466 per cent in the year to July 2012 and DECC predicts that by 2020 it could account for 20GW of electricity a year thanks to lower costs, easy installation and widespread public support.

The government has also pledged to publish a solar PV strategy later in the year aiming to boost industry confidence in the future of the sector after a series of cuts in the feed-in tariff rates.

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:34

MY LIF E D EP EN D S

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23/01/2013 08:49

News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

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Plugged in Joint bid to tackle new meter concerns The ESC has been collaborating with the Association of Meter Operators (AMO) on a range of electrical safety issues relating to the replacement of electricity meters. The body has been pushing for: • The fitting of a label in domestic premises, when appropriate, warning against storing combustible materials close to electrical intake equipment; • Meter installers to visually inspect consumers’ electrical equipment adjacent to the electrical intake equipment and to issue a safety notice to draw the householder’s attention to any defects; • Installers to check the tightness of the connection of the meter tails at the main switch in consumer units after the cables from the meter have been disturbed; • The inclusion of basic electrical safety advice in smart metering information packs; • Installers to check the adequacy of the earthing arrangement before re-energising an installation after replacing a meter.

The AMO’s proposed change concerning the visual inspection of consumers’ equipment adjacent to the meter has been agreed in principle and details are awaited.

Relatively modern meter fitted to potentially dangerous installation The proposed change to the agreement requiring meter installers to undertake an on-site risk assessment as to whether it is necessary to check the tightness of meter tail connections at the consumer unit following meter replacement has been agreed in principle and details are awaited.

The only concern not addressed is the need to check the adequacy of the earthing arrangement before an installation is re-energised after meter replacement.

There has been no movement on this from suppliers or distributors on the grounds that, in general, meter installers are not competent to carry out the test.

ESC LAUNCHES APPLIANCE SAFETY CAMPAIGN The ESC has launched a new appliance safety campaign covering a range of issues from product safety design and user behaviour to improving product recall and traceability processes. The campaign targets a wide audience, from the general public to the entire electrical appliance supply chain.

While the regulations and standards for electrical products in the UK and EU are generally regarded as robust, during the last few years RAPEX – the European Rapid Alert System for notification of dangerous consumer products – has rated electrical products as the third most frequently notified product group.

Furthermore, independent research from Reynolds Porter Chamberlain claims UK recalls relating to electrical consumer products have jumped from 40 in 2010 to 70 in 2011.

The ESC’s initial research has led it to investigate options for capturing product registration information at the point of sale, and how to communicate to the public the importance of providing this.

Another element will relate to “foreseeable misuse” of electrical appliances, where people fail to use a product properly or as the manufacturer intended. The ESC is looking to develop a model for providing user instructions in a more easy-to-follow format and to “design out” foreseeable issues or add safety features where appropriate.

Electrical fire campaign The ESC worked with the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Fire Kills campaign alongside fire and rescue services across England as part of Electrical Fire Safety Week at the end of September.

The charity ran a number of initiatives to help raise the profile of electrical safety

Dave Anderson, MP for Blaydon, has a go on the ESC’s buzzer game in the Metro Centre, Gateshead 12

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

12_13_esc_news.FINAL.indd 12

and, in particular, to increase awareness of the dangers of misusing electrical appliances in the home.

Primary school children were invited to design a poster on electrical safety around the home, with the winning poster to feature on the ESC’s new Switched On Kids electrical home safety checklist.

The ESC also co-hosted awareness events at shopping centres in Brighton and Gateshead with local fire and rescue services.

Several local MPs participated in activities in both areas.

Other campaign activity saw the ESC’s director-general Phil Buckle appear on the ITV breakfast programme Daybreak, and other members of the team, Steve Curtler and Penny Walshe, feature on various radio shows.

NEW BEST PRACTICE GUIDE ON DOMESTIC CONSUMER UNITS The ESC’s Best Practice Guide No 6 Consumer unit replacement in domestic and similar premises has been updated to take into account the first amendment to BS 7671.

The updated guide (Issue 2) can be viewed and downloaded free of charge from the “industry” section of the ESC’s website at www.esc.org.uk/industry

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 09:15

The Electrical Safety Council: raising electrical safety awareness, made possible by funding from NICEIC. To view the ESC’s Switched On magazine, visit www.esc.org.uk

Coroner highlights risks of fire at electrical intake points Electrical fire focus for Scottish fire and rescue The ESC ran a workshop on electrical fire safety for Scottish Fire and Rescue Services (SFRS) in September, hosted and supported by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

The Glasgow-based event was attended by 23 fire safety officers, with representation from all eight of the Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland. This provided the ESC with an opportunity to build on its relationship with SFRS, to increase the shared understanding of electrical fire safety issues and to consider how SFRS can increase electrical safety awareness in its local communities.

One of the workshop sessions looked at the ways a fixed electrical installation or portable electrical appliances may cause fires in homes. It also highlighted the ways these risks may be increased by the behaviour of the occupants. Topics covered included particular areas of risk, such as downlighters, and advice was also provided on what SFRS should look for when carrying out its fire safety check visits.

The second session covered the issue of fires in homes caused by the effects of overloading or faults in electricity cut-out fuses, meters and consumer units, which are often located under the stairs or adjacent to other escape routes.

Many of the services in attendance agreed to review their current guidance for householders with a view to increasing the electrical safety messages, which the ESC hopes will contribute to a reduction in fires caused by electricity.

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The ESC has been concerned by reports of fires in homes originating in electrical intake positions, after an inquest in Hampshire heard how this caused the death of an elderly resident.

The coroner concluded that the most likely cause of the fire in December 2010 was an electrical fault “within the meters and electrical distribution equipment” in a cupboard inside the property.

The coroner’s letter made reference to a report produced by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) following a fatal fire that had occurred within their jurisdiction under similar circumstances in May 2009.

The detailed report, which can be found at www.cfoa.org. uk/download/18650, followed an investigation into the cause of that fatal fire, as well as a number of other ones in domestic and similar properties.

The most likely cause was found to be resistance heating at deteriorating cable terminations and fuse contacts.

This was subsequently supported by a case in the High Court, in which it was accepted by both sides that five fires had all started in or immediately around the distributors’ cut-out assemblies as a result of “resistive heating”. The overheating of consumer units, for example due to loose connections, has

Electrical intake fires are caused by resistive heating at loose or deteriorating connections also been the cause of a significant number of fires.

The Hampshire coroner has since written to a number of organisations requiring them to report what actions they have taken, or are planning to take in the near future, to help prevent further deaths.

It was the ESFRS report that inspired the joint initiative between the ESC and the Chief Fire Officers Association to produce and distribute labels warning householders not to store combustible material near to electrical intake equipment in their homes.

Landlord safety guide T ESC has published an The a abridged version of its Landlords’ G Guide to Electrical Safety and is e encouraging electricians working with landlords and managing agents to direct them to this useful source of information. Its other related landlords’ guides have been withdrawn.

The guide is designed to help landlords meet their obligations in terms of electrical safety and protection of tenants and property.

Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that their rental property, and any electrical equipment provided, is safe before a tenancy begins and throughout its duration.

It is recommended that periodic inspection and testing is carried out at least every five years or at the end of a tenancy, whichever comes first.

The Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety is available in hard copy by emailing leaflets@esc.org.uk or can be downloaded from the ESC website at www.esc.org.uk/landlords

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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23/01/2013 08:51

News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

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Plugged in TESTING, TESTING…

< Spacer pattress

SPACED OUT Hager’s new spacer pattress box has been specifically designed for installations where there is a risk of deliberate or accidental damage to cables.

The design allows a flexible cable to exit flush to the wall rather than through the front face of a fused spur or 20A switch, making it ideal for devices such as electric hand-dryers or night storage heaters in public locations. A cable clamp in the box also exists to ensure security of connection. www.hager.co.uk

Fluke has revealed its new rugged two-pole voltage and continuity testers, which offer a combination of light, sound, vibration and digital display to enable readings under almost any working condition. The T90, T110 (left), T130 and T150 boast thicker wiring with a wear indicator, a heavy-duty moulded case and a durable probe protector.

The new Apollo 600 from Seaward (below) comes with onboard risk assessment tools to help contractors identify potential causes for concern in PAT testing and ensure a proportionate response. The device includes an onboard digital camera and combines electrical testing with safety data collection and handling features, designed to mirror the latest guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.

Meanwhile, Martindale Electric has introduced the new E1622 Milliohm meter (right), which uses a four-wire system to ensure accurate measurement of low < The latest resistance in workshops, testers on test facilities or on-site. the market www.fluke.co.uk www.seaward.co.uk www.martindale-electric.co.uk

OPEN AND SHUT CASE Lighting manufacturer Scolmore has released what it describes as the industry’s “most sophisticated integrated LED downlight to date”, designed to enable installers to fit a high light output product in ceiling voids of as little as 60mm.

The Inceptor features a flexible driver mount that connects the driver to the LED assembly, allowing the product to be mounted in both open and closed configurations.

Using the closed configuration it can be installed in the < The Inceptor standard manner into voids of 90mm or more, but the open option allows it to be used in spaces as shallow as 60mm by lying flat beside the LED. This ensures the driver remains without putting strain on any of the electrical connections, even when positioned remotely. www.scolmore.com

< MCCB panel boards

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WISE UP TO WYLEX Wylex has unveiled new MCCB panel boards and devices, which come in two frame sizes, to accommodate a dedicated range of MCCBs, as well as incoming and outgoing metering.

The new system can mix and configure J and G MCCB formations into bespoke assemblies, meaning contractors can choose the most appropriate solution for any installation while on site.

Installers can add NHJ or NGH extension units incorporating two, four, six or eight extra TP ways for outgoing devices to each NCJ board, giving them the option of mix and matching busbar systems and outgoing devices into customised assemblies. www.electrium.co.uk

< Smart power-saving devices

HOME FROM HOME JSJS Designs has introduced a new range of home automation products that enable homeowners to turn off power or lights using a smart phone or other mobile device.

The LightwaveRF collection includes a range of retrofittable dimmers and lockable sockets, as well as theatre-style mood lighting. The dimmer switches also include a mini-programme function that allows users to preset certain conditions, such as turning off lights when going to bed or scheduling lights to come on and off while on holiday.

The devices are being sold in Electricfix stores across the country. www.jsjsdesigns.com

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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ble i s x Fle t term en le! m pay vailab a

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SELLING A BUSINESS

Live wire Sales drive In today’s climate it takes a long time to sell a business and many owner-managers are underprepared for the process. Early preparation can help to secure a successful outcome, says Mark Selby

I

t is surprising how few business owners think about how to prepare their business for sale. Those that do, tend to ask the question far too late. So what can you do to pave the way for an eventual sale and when should you start thinking about it?

Start early

It is never too early to make a start, but it certainly can be too late. There are a number of actions that you can take to prepare your business for sale. While some are perhaps superficial, others are more deep-rooted and can take years to implement. The sale process itself can often take up to a year or more and if you are then required to remain in the business for a period in order to help hand it over to the buyer, it becomes clear that starting to prepare your business for sale three, four or even five or more years in advance is often advisable.

Take a purchaser’s perspective Imagine yourself to be a potential purchaser of your business. What are the potential risks? Start to address these areas as soon as possible because any potential purchasers will be risk-averse. If you can’t give the purchaser complete peace of mind in relation to any matter they will perceive that to be an area of potential risk. That is likely to affect their view of the value of your business.

Make yourself expendable The single biggest challenge in selling an owner-managed business is the level of dependence of the business on its owners. Can the business operate without you? What happens when you go on holiday? Who manages all of the key customer relationships? It certainly isn’t easy but, as a business owner, you need to ensure that by the time you come to sell your business its key strengths, skills and relationships are well dispersed among your employees and management team.

Illustration: Cameron Law

Good housekeeping Informal arrangements and a lack of documentation are things you may decide to take a view on. However, most prudent purchasers are likely to be very cautious. A good corporate lawyer can help you identify areas of potential risk and assist with getting your house in order well in advance of the sale.

Areas commonly requiring attention include: contracts of employment for all staff; standard terms and conditions of business; lease agreements; licences and consents; validity of historical share transactions and completeness of paperwork; and disputes and litigation.

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Keep things flexible The more flexibility you are able to offer with your business the more helpful this will be in getting a good deal done with a buyer. For example, a potential purchaser of your business would much rather it had a property lease break-clause arising within two years of acquisition than be tied in for a very lengthy period.

Tax planning is critical The difference between getting tax planning right and wrong can be catastrophic, potentially costing an ill-prepared and unsuspecting seller five times more than it otherwise might. Tax planning can be relatively simple and cost very little to put in place compared with the potential savings. It can be worth starting to make arrangements a year or more in advance of any sale, so talk to your adviser or accountant.

Bring in specialist support Corporate finance advisers are experts in the purchase and sale of businesses. They will be able to pre-empt potential pitfalls and assist in generally preparing your business for sale. A good corporate finance adviser is not a business broker, but is someone who can take you through the process from the earliest stages of preparation and planning all the way through to completion of any transaction.

If you have an attractive business to sell then most corporate finance advisers will be prepared to operate under heavily contingent fee arrangements. If they want a large upfront fee, get a second opinion.

• See our contractor profile on page 34 Mark Selby is corporate finance director at Baldwins Accountants

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

Live wire

Hidden opportunity Electrical contractors need to look for new ways to differentiate themselves. Installing electric underfloor heating is one such opportunity, says Tony Barry

I

n a crowded and competitive marketplace electrical contractors need to offer new services that meet the needs of the market, and energy efficiency is one area that will be well received by customers looking to reduce their bills.

Historically, when customers wanted to heat their home or business, radiators were almost automatically chosen. These are now widely accepted as expensive to run and inefficient from an energy perspective. At the same time, electric underfloor heating has emerged as a viable alternative.

For many, the benefits of underfloor heating are associated with the renovation of kitchens and bathrooms, but this is no longer the case. It is the preferred solution of choice for whole-house heating in new and self-build CSH level 4 (and higher) dwellings, and, subject to sufficient insulation, is also the perfect choice for retrofits and renovations.

In terms of lifestyle choice, electric underfloor heating ticks all the boxes: a one-off supply cost with no

Tony Barry is UK sales director at Warmup

maintenance – and the best systems come with a lifetime warranty. Also, since electric systems have a thin wire, they are easy to install, with no need for wet trades because it is installed above the sub-floor. If you have not installed an electric underfloor system before, choose a system that gives you a SafetyNet installation guarantee, which means if you damage the wire during installation it is replaced free of charge.

Heating can be precisely set thanks to advanced controls that allow the user to choose the temperature levels they require and to monitor and control energy usage. Cost savings of 10 per cent are often realised, depending on the energy supplier.

Thanks to government initiatives such as the Green Deal and Warm Front there are now many thousands of consumers with access to funds to improve their homes, and insulation and underfloor heating are likely to be key requirements. The time is ripe for electrical contractors to use this opportunity and expand their business.

IN FOCUS// STEPHEN THORNE

» Stephen Thorne is owner of TelElec (www.telelec.net), based in Sutton

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How did you start the business?

I used to run my own business installing telecoms systems, but we were always being asked to do electrical works so we started branching into electrics and I changed the name to Tel-Elec.

and small commercial work. The audio-visual side is really taking off too; we’ve just finished a big job in King’s Road that incorporates all the audio-visual, CCTV and data cabling. We’ve just achieved Approved Contractor status so we’re looking to do more commercial this year.

Which areas do you cover geographically?

Everywhere within the M25, but most of it is in London, around Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington or Camden.

How many people do you employ?

Four, including myself, and I have a list of sub-contractors.

What works do you undertake?

It’s a mixture of domestic

How have you found the economic climate?

We’ve been very busy,

but I think that’s because we do both the telecoms and electrical side. And we’re very good with the customer care side.

Can you tell us about being named London’s top tradesman by Screwfix?

I mentioned how I do a lot to help the younger guys get experience and we won the regional final. It’s good because it gives customers a reason to trust us.

What about outside work?

I used to play a lot of tennis, but now my five-year-old boy and two-year-old girl take up all my spare time!

Illustration: Cameron Law

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

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 09:18

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23/01/2013 08:51

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NICEIC LIVE

Live wire

Northern lights The first NICEIC Live North, held in November last year, provided contractors with the opportunity to meet leading manufacturers and find out about new business opportunities

A Photography: Carmen Valino

cold and rather damp day in November did not dampen the spirits of the hundreds of contractors and exhibitors who attended the inaugural NICEIC Live North event at Bolton Arena, as the industry gathered for one of the top electrical events of 2012.

Downstairs, a packed exhibition hall featured some of the biggest manufacturers in the industry and the chance to witness regular demonstrations on how to install solar PV panels, as well as allowing delegates to practise a spot of golf and enjoy a complementary ice-cream when it all got too much.

Upstairs saw a full speaker programme, headlined by motoring journalist Quentin Willson, who spoke about the opportunities available to electrical contractors in the emerging electric vehicle charging market (see box, p22).

Elsewhere, contractors were able to find out more information about the Green Deal, courtesy of NICEIC’s Steve Davies. He outlined the various routes through which installers can hope to win work under the initiative, whether

‘Contractors should be telling customers to get into solar PV now to avoid the big electricity bills dropping through their door in less than 10 years’ time’ www.niceic.com

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directly with customers or through teaming up with Green Deal providers.

He also outlined the main technologies this could involve, including light fittings and controls, microgeneration and plumbing and heating controls, and explained the assessment criteria for existing NICEIC contractors also looking to achieve PAS 2030 or microgeneration certification.

NICEIC’s well-known double-act of Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth (left) also picked up the green theme in their talk on solar PV. The pair ran through the cost and savings achieved by one householder who had installed panels before the tariffs were cut and then compared this to the savings that can still be achieved on energy bills at today’s rate. The results made for interesting reading: under the old regime payback could be achieved in 7.6 years, but even under the reduced tariff rate the figure is only one year longer, because of the falling costs of purchasing the panels.

With the government forecasting rises of 33 per cent in domestic energy bills by 2020, the message for installers was clear. “We should be saying something is better than nothing,” said Cable. “Contractors should be telling customers to get into it now to avoid the big electricity bills dropping through their door in less than 10 years’ time.” The fact that PV can also be installed under the Green Deal while still attracting feed-in tariff payments is also a compelling argument to put to householders, he added.

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NICEIC LIVE

Live wire Vehicle charging industry revs up

Alan Blake, chief executive of construction machinery giant JCB, meanwhile, spoke about the current state of the construction industry and how the business had been forced to react to the global economic downturn by cutting costs, focusing on the customer and identifying new markets.

He had a similar message for electrical contractors. “Look at the positives and focus on the future,” he said. “There were 118,000 new housing starts in 2012 and that’s about half of what is needed. The market will come back, but in the meantime you need to seek new opportunities. My advice is to work harder with the customers you already have. Never lose a customer, and target your competitors’ customers.”

Energy efficiency was also a theme for Mike Simpson, technical director at Philips, who spoke about the role lighting – and LEDs in particular – can play in helping meet the government’s target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 on 1990 levels. He pointed out that 70 per cent of the housing stock that will be around in 2050 already exists. “Lighting has just entered its digital revolution,” he said. “By 2040 all our domestic lighting will be LEDs.” Other highlights included the IET’s Mark Coles on amendments to BS 7671 and the Electrical Safety Council’s Tim Benstead on the consequences of ignoring safe isolation procedures, as well as sessions on the latest developments in NICEIC’s certification notification, the MCS installer scheme and EICRs in practice.

The day finished with the top 10 technical questions received on the day by NICEIC’s technical team before Alan Wells, certification director, handed out a number of prizes from sponsors.

“NICEIC Live North proved very successful, with more than 400 visitors,” says Mark Smith, head of group marketing at NICEIC. “Feedback from delegates was very positive, with 97 per cent of attendees rating it as excellent or good and 90 per cent saying they would come again.

“We look forward to welcoming NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA-registered contractors to the next conference. We expect this to be the biggest and best event yet.” » For more information about NICEIC Live at Epsom Downs on 16 May 2013 visit www.niceiclive.com. Tickets cost £29 for anyone listed on the Electrical Safety Register, which includes all NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA registered contractors. The rate for non-registrants is £49.

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Motoring journalist and former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson ensured a lively start to the first NICEIC Live North by outlining the huge potential of the electrical vehicle market.

He predicted the market was now at a turning point, pointing out that the number of electric vehicles on the road had increased from 1,200 to 2,700 in just 18 months, and that the number of charging points had grown from 1,200 to around 3,000 as the price of conventional fuels continues to increase.

“Oil, diesel and petrol will never get any cheaper,” he said.

“Electric vehicles are fun, fast and incredibly frugal.”

At the moment the biggest issues are the price points of the cars themselves and the range these can go on one charge, he said, but added that both these are now being addressed. “New improvements in technology mean cars have a battery range of 300 miles, which is almost the same as petrol or diesel,” he said.

The main potential for electrical contractors will come from installing points in businesses or locations such as hospitals or city centres, said Willson. “You are the people who will have to fit all these points,” he said.

Kieron Alsop, managing director of vehicle charging equipment manufacturer Rolec EV, says the potential for electrical contractors to get involved in this area is huge. “The government had committed to having approximately 25,000 charging points by now in the country,” he says. “So they are now fast-tracking the installation of tens of thousands of publicly accessible that’s not counting charging at home, at charging points – and th offices or in commercial premises.”

Contractors can get involved both with installing the charging points and the electrical infrastructure required around it, he says, and could become regional installers for national contractors. “The big contractors will go after the big clients, but there are thousands of opportunities in places such as hotels, restaurants, guest houses, leisure centres or golf courses,” he says, adding that planning permission for buildings now stipulate that developers must improve provision for electric vehicle charging.

In all, the total demand could be one million charging points in homes, 500,000 in the commercial sector and 500,000 in the public sector, says Alsop. “I can’t think of another industry that has offered so much potential business to the electrical contractor as the vehicle charging industry is about to,” he says.

For more information about the one-day course being held at NICEIC’s training facilities in Chesterfield and Dunstable call 0870 013 0389 or email training@niceic.com See the training column on page 26.

www.niceic.com

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WALES

Live wire

Sleeping

dragon The economic downturn and subsequent public-sector cutbacks have impacted on contractors in Wales. Cost control and new business opportunities are the order of the day

By Adrian Holliday

T

owards the end of last year the UK once again moved out of recession thanks to new, refreshed GDP numbers. The economy is on the mend, claims the government. But it’s likely London and the south-east will bag much of any early growth.

How soon can Welsh contractors – a region that has taken much of the public-sector spending slaughter – expect to see an uptick?

Phil Mumford is owner of Nu-Tech Services based in Mid Glamorgan, South Wales. He readily admits he’s in a privileged position: his business takes a lot of local authority work from Caerphilly County Borough Council where the budget has largely been ring-fenced (there was a 1 per cent cut in 2011-12 but such a measure can be managed). “They’re a quick payer,” says Mumford. “It’s also got one of the largest housing stocks of any council in Wales.”

Nu-Tech is a family-owned business that employs five people. Mumford has seen council work increase steadily since 2006, when he was knocking on doors looking for extra work and struck lucky. At the time the council was relying on a problematic relationship with its in-house direct labour organisation. Decent slices of council work have flowed his way ever since.

A £1,500 investment in a website promoting his business has also helped drive work. Total turnover three years ago was around £70,000, but that has now soared to £170,000.

Profits remain tight, however, although it recently increased

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the hourly rate it charges the council. “We trade on cost and service,” he says. “We operate from home with three vans.

Without that local authority contract we’d be in a rather different position.”

Some local authority work remains ring-fenced until 2014 so Mumford still has a decent amount of breathing space to plan ahead. Around £210 million of other council maintenance work is up for grabs since many Welsh councils turned over their housing stock to local housing associations, but Cardiff and Caerphilly opted out. It’s yet to be seen whether local SMEs or large, non-local players will service this. A “keep it local” campaign, in which Mumford is involved, has kicked into action and he and other campaigners are lobbying the Welsh Assembly to improve their procurement policy.

Tendering red tape Gareth Williams runs Mumbles Electrical based in Swansea, which employs 10 people. Despite the pressure of the

‘The cost of materials can win or lose you a job, so you have to keep control of them, and due to the internet customers are far more aware of the expected material cost’ www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:40

121,000: The number of people > The R.Lyons Electrical and Security Solutions team, based in Llandudno

out of work in Wales, down 14,000 from 2011

Economic outlook Wales Wales has borne much of the brunt of the recent public-sector cuts, which are ongoing and will continue beyond 2015. But there’s also some hope: the most recent unemployment figures stand at 121,000, down 14,000 on the previous year’s.

Substantial investment into industries such as biotech and life sciences continues. But these are not industries where investment is spread around other sectors – the so-called “multiplier” effect. And, although the Welsh Assembly Government has more control over public services, it has little sway with banking and therefore lending, particularly to smaller firms.

Wales is also a big exporter to Ireland (its biggest overseas market after the US) whose economy has struggled massively over the past two years. Swathes of Wales remain strong on manufacturing – Welsh manufacturing output is 23 per cent of GDP, versus 11 per cent in England – but this also leaves it exposed to Euro and European investment wobbles.

recession, business is “ticking over OK”, he says. “We haven’t been flat out but haven’t had any really quiet periods either.”

Williams is also taking a more hardline approach on wholesalers, shopping more carefully to maintain margins and keep tenders competitive. So far there have been few worries with cash flow, but he admits it could be a problem if banks continue their reluctance to lend to smaller firms.

Feeling the pinch Richard Lyons runs R.Lyons Electrical and Security Solutions from the centre of Llandudno, where the fear factor clearly lurks. At one point in 2010 business got so quiet Lyons took to calling his own mobile to check for a signal. He’s down to four technicians from seven and jobs, he says, are increasingly distributed on cost, not service.

“We do a lot of work for charities such as the Red Cross, Mind and Leonard Cheshire,” he says. “Nelsons is a big US health company and has some small factories up here, but we do work right down to caravan parks.”

Lyons reckons turnover is 30 per cent lower than in 2008-09. Although he’s keen on training, he hasn’t felt confident enough to take on an apprentice since 2009. “But we have a non-wage earner, a trainee who comes in one day a week from college, who is getting a good feel for the business, and we may follow on with him.”

The VAT hike had a big impact he says. “You can completely understand a householder who gets a quote for a £1,000 job and then realises they may have to spend another £200 on top in tax,” he says. Like Williams in Swansea, Lyons is www.niceic.com

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increasingly taking greater care with materials costs. “You have to keep control of them,” he says. “The cost of materials can win or lose you a job and due to the internet customers are far more aware of the expected material cost.”

Green shoots Down in Cardiff, things are looking, on the whole, pretty good for Chris Williams of CJS Electrical. His decision to branch into “green” energy in 2008 has helped. While many other contractors were having a tough time from 2009 to 2011, Williams, who controls a team of 14, expanded.

“Our work was greatly enhanced by the Carbon Trust in Wales, which was providing interest-free loans to our clients,” he says. “We would go to a client and offer to do a free lighting survey, be it for warehouse racking aisles or shops.

We’d measure their existing consumption and calculate their carbon consumption and then make them a proposal to offer high-efficiency fluorescent or LED replacements.” One local Vauxhall garage was able to make savings of £5,000 a year by switching to a fluorescent lighting system.

He does see other “green” competitors on his turf, although these tend to be smaller players who can avoid the VAT threshold. The drop in feed-in tariffs affected the solar retail market, he says, but for businesses it still makes a lot of sense. “Especially if you can use that energy generated, rather than sell it back,” says Williams. For his company, at least, renewables really is the future. » Adrian Holliday is a freelance business journalist NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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22/01/2013 14:40

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

N

VEHICLE CHARGING

Live wire Charged up A new partnership between NICEIC and Rolec Services offers contractors training and support in the emerging market of electric vehicle charging point installation, says Darren Staniforth

F

or the past 18 months NICEIC has been discussing the increasing number of electric vehicles in the UK at its TechTalks and Live events. Listening to Quentin Willson’s talk at NICEIC Live North in November, it is clear that central government is under significant pressure to reduce harmful emissions from cars, motorcycles and lorries. He meets regularly with the Ministry of Transport to discuss ways of getting motorists out of their fossil fuel cars and into electric vehicles.

One of the identified barriers stopping people buying an electric vehicle (EV) is the perception that there aren’t enough charging points in the UK to allow motorists to complete their journeys without running out of battery.

There are fewer than 2,000 public charging points in the UK today and heavy investment is needed to take this number to the 500,000 that it is estimated will be required in the future.

NICEIC has teamed up with Rolec Services of Boston, UK, to learn more about connection methods for electric vehicles. Rolec Services is one of the world’s leading specialists in the design, manufacture and installation of both outdoor and indoor electrical connection, hook-up and distribution equipment, and recently moved into the electric vehicle charging industry through its Rolec EV division. Jointly, we hope to produce a training and support network to allow NICEIC contractors to install these charging points confidently and correctly.

Part of this new partnership with Rolec EV involved producing a training course that would allow contractors to learn about the technical requirements of electrical charging points. In late 2012 we delivered a number of pilot courses and are now offering a one-day course covering the technical requirements of BS 7671 and the IET’s code of practice on EV charging points.

Those attending the course will cover a number of topics. We start by understanding the current position in the electric vehicle industry, and where the major manufacturers would like it to be in the future. All the major car manufacturers are planning to have an electric vehicle available in the very near future, if they don’t already. Some believe that 2013-14 will see a large increase in electric scooters and bikes, aimed at the younger commuter or those in busy cities and towns.

The second part of the day looks at the different modes of charging. Currently there are four modes that cover charging from a standard 13Amp BS 1363 socket-outlet up to d.c. charging directly to the batteries.

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‘There are fewer than 2,000 public charging points today and heavy investment is needed to take this to the 500,000 it is estimated will be required’

» Further information on NICEIC’s training courses can be found at www.niceic.com/ training, by emailing traininginfo@niceic.com or calling 0870 013 0389

The joint technical committee JPEL/64, the committee responsible for the content to BS 7671: 2008, is currently meeting to discuss a second amendment to the current version of the wiring regulations. This amendment will include a new section on electric vehicle charging installations. We believe that the four modes of charging may well be reduced to two, with the amalgamation of some of the modes.

We also cover this new amendment in our course and discuss the proposed new section and its proposals, such as how a socket should be installed and connected to an existing electrical supply. Section 722 suggests the earth connection of the charging outlet should not be connected to the origin’s MET if the electrical supply is of a PME type, unless other requirements are taken into account.

The new section also goes on to give requirements on the heights of sockets and the protection required for each socket. Currently it’s being suggested that an installation would need protection from a type B d.c. sensitive RCD if it is understood the electric vehicle could produce six volts or more backfeed into the installation.

It’s believed this might not be the case in the final draft of the new document.

Our course finishes with an overview of inspection and testing in relation to charging points. Due to the requirement not to allow the earth contact of the charging socket to be connected to the MET of a PME system, there is a need to install an earth electrode, so the course focuses on this in some detail. We look at both methods of testing earth electrodes, with the electrical supply connected and without it.

Recent feedback from the course suggests that it is tailored to meet the needs of the electrical contractor and answers the majority of their questions to allow people to start installing electric vehicle charging points correctly.

Darren Staniforth is technical training developer at NICEIC

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:48

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23/01/2013 08:56

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP

Forging ahead together The partnership between the Electrical Contractors’ Association and Electrical Safety Council will see the industry come together for the good of its customers. But what does this mean for electrical contractors?

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www.niceic.com

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his year promises to be a big one for the electrical contracting industry, with the news that the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and Electrical Safety Council (ESC) are forming a partnership.

The groundbreaking merger will see two of the biggest names in the industry come together for the good of their customers and stakeholders.

From 1 April, the new company – CertSure – will run the NICEIC and ELECSA brands. It will be 50/50 owned and governed by the ESC and ECA and will present a powerful voice to government.

“With this partnership the benefits to the consumer and electrician are significant,” says Charles Tanswell, chair of the ESC. “In particular, for the consumer, it means more can be done to raise awareness of the benefits of using registered electricians and we’re delighted this partnership ensures solid industry support for the charity’s work.”

The first of these benefits for NICEIC, ECA and ELECSA customers is the creation of the Electrical Safety Register – the definitive online database for anyone looking for a competent electrical contractor. It will become the number-one name for anyone looking to employ a registered electrician.

Contractor register The Electrical Safety Register contains the details of all NICEIC and ELECSA-registered contractors, as well as ECA members. It will be promoted to hundreds of thousands of specifiers by the trade association and the charity.

With more than 36,000 contractors listed, www.electricalsafetyregister.com makes it easier for homeowners and specifiers to know they are employing a trusted and safe electrician.

All NICEIC customers are able to display the Electrical Safety Register banner. CertSure has committed to providing excellent customer service and actively promoting its contractors in the marketplace.

“The launch of the Electrical Safety Register is a huge step forward in making it easier for homeowners and clients to understand what our brands

www.niceic.com

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What they have to say Steve Bratt, CEO, ECA “These actions show we have listened to government, which wants industry to solve its own issues, we have listened to consumers who want one place to go to find competent electricians, and we have listened to our customers and we are united in their interests.

There is strength in unity and this alliance unites the key electrical industry players – the sector trade association, the electrical consumer charity and the leading certification body – while providing clarity to the consumer and a consolidated voice to government on common issues.”

Emma Clancy, CEO, NICEIC “The customer was at the start of this process and they are at the heart of the partnership we are building. To enjoy the same services tomorrow that they do today, they need do absolutely nothing. In that sense there will be no changes. But it’s also going to be a lot better. We have ideas and a programme of benefits that we will be drip-feeding to our customers over the coming months and years.”

Phil Buckle, director-general, ESC “This partnership is an historic moment for our industry and a key milestone towards supporting the ESC’s consumer safety agenda. For the ESC, the partnership will also mean that, in the medium-term, the charity will have more funding available for our campaigns, which aim to increase the public’s awareness of the dangers of electricity. It also means we will be able to support more vulnerable people through our home improvement grant schemes, and also support our partners – such as Fire and Rescue Services and Trading Standards – in reducing the instances of electrical fires.”

mean and will greatly help them in their search for a certified local contractor,” explains Richard Pagett, CertSure’s external affairs director.

“With 80 per cent of electrical work carried out by electricians who are

‘The Electrical Safety Register contains the details of all NICEIC and ELECSA-registered contractors, as well as ECA members.

It will be promoted to hundreds of thousands of specifiers’

registered with NICEIC or ELECSA, combining them into one central database makes perfect sense.

“By providing specifiers of work with such a great resource we can encourage them to always use a registered electrician. The register will become the definitive and most trusted resource for consumers who are looking to employ a competent electrical contractor, in either a commercial or domestic setting.”

Work is already under way to ensure the register is heavily promoted to homeowners and specifiers with a series of PR campaigns. Tens of thousands of letters have already been sent to local authorities and other key specifiers to highlight the website and why specifying a registered electrician is so important.

The ECA and ESC agreement The partnership between the ECA and ESC is the result of more than two years

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP

of detailed discussions designed to move the industry forward.

Until now, the ESC’s main source of funding has been its trading subsidiary, the Ascertiva Group, which incorporates NICEIC. The new partnership will increase this funding, and so enable the charity to reach more people with campaigns that aim to increase awareness of the dangers of electricity.

It will also allow it to promote its grant schemes that support home improvement projects run by funded partners such as Fire and Rescue Services and Trading Standards.

CertSure will act as the sole registration, certification and assessment body for NICEIC’s current customer base, as well as for those under the ELECSA and ECA brands.

Over time, significant cost and commercial benefits will be available to those electrical contractors registered

Key facts about the Electrical Safety Register • The register contains the details of more than 36,000 NICEIC Approved Contractors, NICEIC Domestic Installers, ECA-registered members and ELECSA registrants across the UK • 80 per cent of all Part P contractors in England and Wales are listed on the register • More than 700 electrical contracting businesses in Scotland and over 350 in Scotland are listed • 92 per cent of notified domestic electrical jobs in the UK will be done

by NICEIC/ELECSA contractors • Nine out of every 10 domestic electrical installations are completed

by Electrical Safety Register registered contractors

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What does it all mean?

Q. What do I do now? Do I need to get in touch with NICEIC? A. No. You don’t have to do anything. Nothing has changed in terms of your enrolment or registration. You are still fully registered with NICEIC and all rules relating to your registration still apply. Your area engineer will not change.

Q. Why has this joint venture taken place?

A. We’ve researched and listened to electricians, government, specifiers and consumers. We’re determined to promote you to as many people as possible, making it easier for people who need an electrician to find you, and we believe the partnership between ECA and ESC will join up the industry as never before, giving the electrical contracting industry a stronger voice to government and major stakeholders.

The Electrical Safety Register website went live on 19 November and from April 2013 NICEIC and ELECSA will be jointly owned by the industry’s trade association, ECA, and the consumer safety charity, the ESC. This means that electrical contractors and those dedicated to standards and safety are truly working together to deliver the very best service to you.

We are committing to: • Promote you to your customers and help build your business; • Provide excellent customer service by listening and being fair; • Help you technically and raise standards across the sector; • Provide simple, cost-effective, high-quality and relevant services.

Q. Will the NICEIC brand still be continuing?

A. Yes, the NICEIC Domestic Installer scheme and Approved Contractor Scheme are unaffected.

NICEIC’s website www.niceic.com remains your first port of call as a registered contractor, whether a Domestic Installer or Approved Contractor. As an extra benefit, NICEIC Approved Contractors and Domestic Installers will also now be listed on the Electrical Safety Register website at www.electricalsafetyregister.com.

Our intention is that the Register will become the definitive resource for anyone looking for an electrician. As such, it will be widely promoted to consumers and specifiers of electrical contracting work.

Q. As a NICEIC customer can I now have an ELECSA sticker on my van?

A. No, as you are registered with NICEIC you should continue to display your NICEIC logo in accordance with the scheme rules. The new Electrical Safety Register logo highlights that NICEIC and ELECSA registrants, as well as ECA members, can be found in one place for ease and convenience. Once you log on to www.electricalsafetyregister.com you will see that it is very clear which scheme you are registered with.

Q. Does this mean I am an ECA member too?

A. You do not automatically become a member of the ECA. However, as part of the benefits of the joint venture, your certificate of assessment with NICEIC or ELECSA is a valid entry qualification. More details on how to join the ECA are available at www.eca.co.uk.

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22/01/2013 14:41

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Q. Will there be any change to my annual assessment?

A. No. Any confirmed dates for annual assessments will go ahead as planned and you will be assessed by a NICEIC assessor against the rules of the NICEIC scheme you are registered with. You will still be assessed under the rules of registration as agreed.

Q. What benefits can I expect to see from this new venture?

A. The first is the creation of the Electrical Safety Register – the definitive searchable database of registered contractors that will be promoted to hundreds of thousands of homeowners and commercial and industrial specifiers. The new venture also commits to promote your business on www.niceic.com and over time give you access to more products and services to help you grow your business. Over the coming months we will tell you about even more benefits for you and your business.

Q. How do the ELECSA and NICEIC schemes compare?

A. The ELECSA scheme is very similar to the NICEIC Domestic Installer scheme. Both are operated to the highest standards and adhere to government guidelines, for the good of the electrical contracting industry.

Q. Can ELECSA members now claim to be NICEIC registered?

A. No, they are still registered with the ELECSA scheme and the rules relating to these continue to apply. NICEIC members cannot claim to be ELECSA-registered and ELECSA customers cannot claim to be NICEIC-registered.

Q. What should I tell my customers?

A. Nothing has changed for your customers. You are still a NICEIC-registered contractor and they can now find you on the Electrical Safety Register website. We will be producing materials for our customers on the Electrical Safety Register explaining what it means.

Q. Do I have to replace the NICEIC stickers on my van with the new sticker?

A. You do not have to do this, but placing the free sticker included with the information materials on your van would be a good way of showing your business is being promoted on the Electrical Safety Register.

Q. Will customers still be able to locate my firm under the “find a contractor” function of the NICEIC website?

A. Yes. This has not changed.

Q. Can I put the Electrical Safety Register logo on my website/letterhead?

A. Yes. Q. Can I get more Electrical Safety Register van stickers?

A. Yes, the logo will be downloadable in the secure area of the NICEIC.com website.

Q. Will any of the telephone numbers or email addresses change?

A. No, these will not change.

Q. Will ELECSA customers be able to use NICEIC-branded certificates?

A. No, but we will be working towards making the certification process easier.

Q. Will I need to change the certificates I use?

A. No. Q. If I want to get further information, who should I contact?

A. All of our contact details are the same: call us on 0870 013 0382, write to us at enquiries@niceic.com or log on to www.niceic.com.

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WIN

A KINDLE FIRE! We want you to start showing off your Electrical Safety Register logos. Send in your photos of the sticker on your van to Paul.S.Collins@ ascertiva.com. The best shot will win a new Kindle Fire!

with ELECSA and NICEIC, thanks to this partnership, and we will be communicating with all our customers about the joint venture.

For the first 18 to 24 months the registration scheme brands will run in parallel and the consolidation promises immediate and future benefits for customers, with the creation of the Electrical Safety Register being the first step.

Other benefits: • Increased government representation as the ESC and the ECA promote the use of NICEIC and ELECSA registrants; • Increased visibility to consumers and clients through the launch of the Electrical Safety Register; • An offer for free training for registered companies in 2013; • Excellent customer service – CertSure will listen and be fair. www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:41

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // DITTON ELECTRICAL COMPANY: Ditton Electrical BASED: Tonbridge, Kent FOUNDED: 1972 MAJOR PROJECTS: Leeds Castle, Canterbury Christchurch University STAFF NUMBERS: 28 TURNOVER: £2.4 million

Changing times Many owner-managed electrical firms struggle to make a successful transition when founders look to retire.

But for Kent-based Ditton Electrical this has given the business a new lease of life

By Nick Martindale

O

ne of the biggest concerns for many small-to-medium-sized electrical organisations that have grown over a number of decades from a one-man band to a flourishing business is just how the founder can exit when there is no next generation coming through.

In a depressed marketplace it can be especially hard to find a buyer willing to take on the business at a sensible price, and even more so one that will develop it while remaining true to its past, rather than seeing it as an easy means of eliminating a local competitor.

A few years ago, Tonbridge-based Ditton Electrical found itself in just that position. The company’s original founders, Alan and Pam Scrivens, were looking to retire, and there was no family involvement to provide a natural successor.

The business was almost sold a couple of times during this period, says Brian Palmer, contracts director, but, for various reasons, these fell through. The eventual solution came from closer to home, in the form of friends of the family who were looking to buy a business. Husband and wife Matt and Charlotte Paterson, aged 27 and 26 respectively, took over the business in November 2011, backed by a family fund that helped secure an exit for the original founders and buy out Brian’s share. A key stipulation of the deal, however, was 34

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that Brian stayed on, providing the electrical and industry knowledge to complement the young couple’s more generic business background.

“My background was in venture capital and finance and Charlotte’s was in asset finance,” explains Matt, whose main remit is now business development, while Charlotte oversees the financial side and Brian the contracts. “We were looking for a family business to invest in and one of the main reasons why we bought Ditton was because the management team headed

by Brian was going to remain. That provided the electrical nous and experience and we could then move the business forward from a financial and business development point of view.”

Growth potential The company’s reputation in the local marketplace and its potential for future growth into new areas, adopting a more dynamic approach towards marketing and advertising, were also influential factors for the new buyers.

With the business traditionally built on public-sector and commercial contracts, the new owners have headed up a push

£2.4 million: Ditton’s annual turnover for 2011-12 www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 09:19

Brian Palmer Matt Paterson

‘Around 10 or 15 years ago our largest job would have been £50,000. Now you could add another zero on to that’ into the domestic market and maintenance sector, backed by a new website, local advertising and the gradual introduction of new vans, designed both to give the business a visible presence in the local area and reduce the running costs of what was an ageing fleet.

“There’s a huge market out there and that was really the thinking behind the rebranding,” says Matt. “With domestic, we see providing the right service and transparent pricing as the key. All our prices are published on our website and we’ve already had very good feedback from customers.

“We don’t want to be the same as every other electrical company,” he adds. “We want to be seen as fast-moving from the domestic point of view, and if our engineers are well uniformed, turn up in a nice van and provide a good service it will set us apart in the long term from the stereotypical guy who turns up half an hour late and who you can never get hold of on the phone.” www.niceic.com

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Other initiatives have helped here, too. The business has recently invested in handheld tablet devices for its domestic electricians, which means they can provide quotes, check stock availability and issue invoices at customer premises, while new payment devices mean they can also accept card payments on site.

The company’s storage areas have also come under scrutiny.

“They were a bit of a dumping ground, but all items are now logged and we have a clear view of what’s leaving the stores and what’s coming back in,” says Charlotte. “That works well for the accounts too; at the end of the year we no longer have to estimate what we have out there – we know exactly what we’ve got.” The business now offers a 24/7 callout service on the domestic side, she adds, and is keen to move into other areas, such as home automation, in the future.

Maintenance was also something the duo identified early on as a potential growth area. “We had someone fully employed doing maintenance and we saw from the outset that we could grow that side of the business,” says Matt. This has already paid off, he adds – the business has won a number of contracts with the local council, including one maintaining streetlighting.

First generation Ditton Electrical was founded in 1972; two years after Alan Scrivens – then based in Ditton – had started working for himself, and Brian, now 59, joined two years later. “There were NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

Photography: Sam Kesteven

Charlotte Paterson

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // DITTON ELECTRICAL

£1.4 million: The amount in Ditton’s order book pipeline so far for 2013

only two self-employed electricians working part-time, and then I came on board,” he recalls. “So I was the first full-time employee for Ditton Electrical. We had small council works and we worked on some large construction sites doing site temporaries as well. I worked on the tools for a couple of years, and then I was a supervisor and was then asked to buy some shares in the company as a director.”

Over time the focus of the business shifted more towards commercial and public-sector projects. “We would do total rewires for Maidstone Borough Council and Tonbridge and Malling Council and we progressed to Kent County Council, including working at Maidstone Police Station, which houses the south-east headquarters,” he says.

“We did a lot of their electrical and data works and from there we progressed to private companies. We did a lot of housing initially and moved from there to hospitals, major academies and schools.” At one point the company employed as many as 40 employees; today the figure is 28, with 20 on the tools.

“We had a major maintenance contract with Maidstone Borough Council and worked for them for 30 years, on all the prestigious municipal buildings, such as the museum and the Archbishop’s Palace,” adds Brian. “Around 10 or 15 years ago our largest job would have been £50,000.

Now you could add another zero on to that.”

Despite the desire to move into new areas, the company’s reputation and client base in the commercial sector was a major selling point for the new owners. “Brian, Pam and Alan had built a very good reputation locally and throughout Kent,” says Matt. “They had good experience of doing high-end commercial works and had worked on very big contracts over the last three or four years. They also had a very good order book, which was high on our list because that gives you a bit of reassurance.”

Much of the company’s work today comes through close relationships with major buildings contractors, including Mansell Construction Services, Canterbury-based Coombs, Jenner Contractors and WW Martin, and the business takes on work throughout London and the south-east.

Major recent projects include jobs for Kent County Council and The Maidstone Hospital NHS Trust, with a combined value of £300,000, a refurbishment of Maiden’s Tower at Leeds Castle worth £144,000 and an upgrade to the exhibition area at Tonbridge Castle, worth £86,000. It has also won a £545,000 project at Folkestone Academy and a £200,000 job at Romney Marsh Academy, and also finished three projects worth around £400,000 at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Schools in particular are something of a speciality. “Despite the economic climate, that doesn’t seem to have dried up,”

says Matt. “A lot of schools are becoming academies and the work we’re doing in Folkestone and Marsh really stands us in good stead. Funding-wise, they are getting a lot more from central and local government.”

Other schools the company has worked for include newbuilds at John Wesley School in Ashford and Sissinghurst School, and it’s just won a contract to start work on a project at Gravesend Grammar School. “Our order book is very good – at the moment we’ve got about £1.4 million in the pipeline so far for 2013,” says Matt.

Old and new So far, the mixture of the old and the new appears to be paying off, although both new owners admit the current economic conditions remain difficult. Turnover increased from £1.85 million in 2010-11 to £2.4 million last year, and any concerns over how long-term clients would react to the sale have proved

‘If our engineers are well uniformed, turn up in a nice van and provide a good service it will set us apart in the long term’

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unfounded. “It’s important that Brian is still here,” admits Matt.

“We kept it low profile initially, although we let all our regulars know, but then we hit with the branding and it’s integrated well.”

The two new owners also have grand plans for the future, including becoming MCS-accredited so they can undertake and certify solar PV and other renewable installations, and even the possibility of opening a retail outlet in an affluent area as a public showcase for such systems, as well as home automation and CCTV packages.

“If I was a customer I’d feel a lot more reassured if there was someone on the high street who I could go back and talk to,” says Matt.

Such visions, however, are for another day. For now, the business – which turned 40 last year and will celebrate with a garden party at the former owners’ home later this year – is focused on continuing to develop its existing operations, including seeking registration around its health and safety processes.

“If we’re turning over £5 million in five years’ time we’ll be very pleased,” says Matt. “We’ve just got to hope the economic climate improves sufficiently to allow us to get to that point.” » Nick Martindale is editor of Connections www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 09:19

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Cablofil

CABLE MANAGEMENT

Flexible solutions

Changing customer needs mean electrical contractors must select the appropriate cable management system when planning installations

By Rob Shepherd

38

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

38_40_cable management.FINAL.indd 38

T

here was a time when all a cable management system had to do was ensure electrical wiring was safely contained.

But as wiring and cabling for multiple services in modern buildings becomes ever more complex, the need for sophisticated cable management systems has been brought into sharp focus.

The current economic climate has also had an impact on the cable management sector. While manufacturers have to account for the increasing costs of production, this has meant higher prices for customers, and introducing any price increase to a cost-conscious market is a challenge.

“This situation has led to the market being more competitive than ever,” says Nigel Leaver, lead marketing manager for Legrand’s cable management division. “There are likely to be further abnormal price rises, which means all key players in the chain have to

pay a great deal more attention to forward-planning than when in a more stable economic climate.”

While some electrical contractors have been tempted to look towards the “budget” end of the market, leading manufacturers have decided to accentuate the additional benefits of their offerings.

“Contractors value technical support, training, troubleshooting and a willingness to provide bespoke solutions,” says Paul-Edouard Courson, managing director of Cablofil. “It may not be the reason why they choose one system over another to begin with, but it can certainly be a factor in ensuring repeat business.”

Being able to recognise the difference between a quality cable management solution and an inferior one is very important, says Emma Segelov, MK Electric’s head of marketing for UK and Ireland. “Studying the quality and robustness of the material and design is paramount, especially in uPVC systems,” she says. “Other factors to consider are the depth of range and the options available, such as flexible

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22/01/2013 09:30

Case study: Leighton Hospital bends, data sweeps, colour options, screening dividers and the range of complementary wiring devices and data modules.”

Changing requirements The need for cable management solutions that can protect data communications cabling has been the catalyst for the development of solutions with greater capacity and flexibility. Steel wire and uPVC are by far the most popular types of cable management for this type of application, and each has its own advantages.

Three-compartment uPVC trunking can accommodate power, data and voice cabling, and it is usual to see two of the three compartments being used for cabling, with the centre compartment providing cable segregation as well as room for easy termination. uPVC can be particularly appropriate in environments such as hospitals. Marshall-Tufflex now uses uPVC compounders throughout the production of its systems, rather than just applying it as a surface coating,

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38_40_cable management.FINAL.indd 39

which it claims can prevent 99 per cent of harmful bacteria growth. But wire tray also continues to gain market share, as it is flexible, quick and easy to install.

High-bandwidth data cables have precise manufacturing tolerances and require specific and careful management. It’s important to get the right combination, warns Steve Davis, business development management at Marco Cable Management. “The type of high-performance structured cabling solution selected will have a tremendous impact on specifying and installing the correct cable management solution,” he says.

A key challenge for cable management solutions is to ensure that they maintain the minimum bend radius through which the data cable needs to travel, says David Williams, category manager for cable management solutions at Schneider Electric. “There is a requirement for larger profiles with the ability to carry high volumes of category 6, 6A and 7 cables,” he says.

The Schneider Electric Ultimate 60 and Ultimate 62 are examples of this, he adds.

Fire is a significant risk factor in any large building, but the layout of a hospital – with large corridors, open-plan wards and operating theatres – makes it especially challenging.

Changes to services usually require the fire-stopping materials to be removed and replaced in order to maintain the required levels of fire protection.

When Leighton Hospital in Crewe looked to upgrade its existing cable management system, it wanted to combine fire-stopping and cable management in one. Cablofil has pioneered this concept with the development of EZ-Path, a self-sealing system made up of square section galvanised steel trunking that is pre-lined with inert fire-stopping materials that expand dramatically in the event of a fire.

“The existing cable management system was nearing full capacity and this will allow additional cables to be added quickly and simply without the need to amend the fire-stopping,” says Paul-Edouard Courson, managing director of Cablofil. “This will reduce the disruption of any future upgrades and remove the need for the fire service to monitor changes to the cabling installation.”

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

39

22/01/2013 09:30

CABLE MANAGEMENT

For some applications only a heavy-duty containment method will suffice and in these situations cable ladder is the obvious choice. “Ladder has a greater load capacity than either steel wire tray or perforated steel tray,” points out Courson. “Any building that involves installation of very heavy cables needs to use cable ladder.”

The structure of the building is another factor that can result in ladder being the only viable option. In warehouses and logistics buildings, for example, where wide open spaces are a key requirement for the occupier’s business, supports are often positioned as far from each other as possible to maximise the available space. If the supports are positioned every three metres, ladder is again really the only option because it is the only steel containment product strong enough to accommodate these conditions.

Route planner Before cable can be contained it has to be routed and the last few years have witnessed some significant developments in tooling that have made contractors’ lives easier.

Super Rod’s cable routing system, Cable Rod, has contributed to massive time savings for contractors; the company claims that in 2009 alone it helped save nine million hours for the electrical industry. “We estimate that more than 70 per cent of UK electricians now use a rod-based system, compared with almost zero in 2000,” says managing director Malcolm Duncan.

Also based on a rod system, the MagnaMole from Talpa Products is a magnetic routing device for threading cables and wires through cavity walls.

After drilling a hole in the wall, the contractor inserts the magnetic rod, screws the appropriate cap to the end of the cable or wire, aligns the magnets and simply pushes the cable through to the other side of the wall.

Horses for courses When it comes to specifying and installing cable management systems there are some significant pitfalls to avoid. “It’s important to remember that cable management systems are often fitted in areas that experience a lot of usage and therefore need to be extremely robust,” advises Williams.

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Case study: FES Electrical Stirling-based FES Electrical is currently working on The Scottish Hydro Arena, Glasgow’s new £120 million state-of-the-art venue.

The 12,000-seat auditorium will be the largest live entertainment centre in Scotland and will play an integral role in the 2014 Commonwealth Games as the home for both gymnastics and the netball finals. The Hydro is then expected to play host to around 140 events each year.

FES is using a range of products supplied by Marco Cable Management, including steel wire cable tray and dado trunking, helped by Marco’s area sales representative Neil Christie. “We’re pleased to see that our products and service match the needs of FES in terms of functionality and aesthetics and we’re delighted to be involved in such a prestigious and important project,” he says.

“Take a public building such as a school or hospital, for example.

Perimeter trunking systems located here can be exposed to a huge volume of human contact, so these systems need to be designed in a way that can handle this type of environment.”

Taking a long-term view towards cable management is vital, adds Davis.

“All too often we see cable management

‘Contractors value technical support, training, troubleshooting and a willingness to provide bespoke solutions’

as an afterthought,” he says. “End-users spend tens of thousands of pounds on the latest structured cabling networks but then use unsuitable or inadequate containment systems. This can increase installation time and costs, and dramatically reduce the network performance and reliability.”

The cable management sector has moved with the times and there are many factors that have to be considered when designing and manufacturing these solutions.

For contractors, taking the time to understand the benefits of the different types of products available will save time and money, and provide a cost-effective system that meets the specific needs of customers. » Rob Shepherd is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical industry

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 09:30

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Ask the experts/Technical

N

Fully Charged From the helpline

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

QUESTION

ANSWER

Where a circuit is provided with additional protection by an RCD (or the RCD characteristic of an RCBO), what is the maximum value of earth fault loop impedance (Zs) permitted

by BS 7671 for the circuit?

Where, by design, fault protection for the circuit is provided by a fuse or circuit-breaker or the overcurrent characteristic of an RCBO, the value of Zs is required to afford compliance with Regulation 411.4.5 (TN system) or 411.5.4 (TT system). If the nominal line voltage to Earth (U0) of the circuit is 230 V, the maximum permitted value of Zs to meet these requirements can usually be found in Table 41.2, 41.3 or 41.4 of BS 7671, as applicable.

Where, by design, fault protection is provided by an RCD (or the RCD characterisitic of an RCBO), the maximum value of Zs is required to afford compliance with Regulation 411.4.5 (TN system) or 411.5.3 (TT system). If the RCD is of the non-delayed type and the nominal line voltage to Earth (U0) is 230 V, the maximum permitted value of Zs to meet these requirements can usually be found in Table 41.5 of BS 7671 (Regulations 411.4.9 and 411.5.3 refer). It should be noted that the circuit must still be provided with protection against both overload current and fault current by an overcurrent protective device, such as a fuse or circuit-breaker (Regulation 411.4.9 refers).

QUESTION

ANSWER

During a periodic inspection, I’ve found a circuit having RCD protection but the design information regarding the fault protection for the circuit is not available. Which value of maximum permitted Zs applies: the value for the overcurrent device (circuit-breaker or fuse) or the value for the RCD (or the RCD characteristic of an RCBO)?

Either value may be used (Regulations 411.4.5 to 411.4.8, 411.4.9, 411.5.3 and 411.5.4, as applicable, refer). However, it is essential to confirm that the measured value of Zs is not indicative of a defect, such as a loose connection or inadequate means of earthing.

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Ask the experts/Technical

N

Fully charged QUESTION

ANSWER

Where a circuit is protected by an RCD or RCBO, what disconnection time should be inserted in the ‘Maximum disconnection time permitted by BS 7671’ column of the schedule of test results in the Electrical Installation Certificate or Electrical Installation Condition Report?

The maximum disconnection time permitted by BS 7671 doesn’t depend on whether or not the circuit has RCD protection. It depends on the circuit’s rated voltage and the purpose for which the circuit is used, and, in most cases, the rated current of the circuit.

The table below summarises the maximum disconnection times for circuits in installations having a nominal a.c. voltage to Earth (U0) of 230 V. Earthing system type

Circuit type Final circuit not exceeding 32 A

TN

Distribution circuit or final circuit exceeding 32 A Final circuit not exceeding 32 A

TT

44

Distribution circuit or final circuit exceeding 32 A

Required disconnection time (s)

Relevant BS 7671 reference

0.4

411.3.2.2; Table 41.1

5

411.3.2.3

0.2

411.3.2.2; Table 41.1

1

411.3.2.4

QUESTION

ANSWER

If an RCD is used to achieve automatic disconnection for a circuit within the maximum time permitted by BS 7671 because the value of Zs in the circuit is too high to allow an overcurrent protective device to be used for this purpose, is the supplementary bonding called for in 411.3.2.6 still required?

No. The use of an RCD of appropriate type and rating is an acceptable means of achieving automatic disconnection within the time required by BS 7671 (Regulations 411.4.4 (TN system) and 411.5.2 (TT system) refer). The supplementary bonding called for in Regulation 411.3.2.6 is required only where automatic disconnection cannot be achieved within this time.

QUESTION

ANSWER

A circuit I’m dealing with has a reduced size circuit protective conductor (not meeting the requirement of Table 54.7 of BS 7671 for sizing by selection). The cpc is also too small when checked using the adiabatic equation (S = √I2t/k), based on the characteristics of the circuit overcurrent protective device, including the use of manufacturers I2t characteristics.

However, as well as being protected by an overcurrent device, the circuit is protected by an RCCB (Residual current operated circuit-breaker without integral overcurrent protection) to BS EN 61008-1.

Would it be valid to check the size of the cpc by using the characteristics of the RCCB in the adiabatic equation?

It depends on the value of prospective earth fault current in the circuit.

An RCCB to BS EN 61008-1 has a relatively low rated residual making and breaking capacity (IΔm). According to BS EN 61008-1: 2004, the minimum value of IΔm is 10 times the rated current of the RCCB or 500 A, whichever is the greater.

Only if the highest prospective earth fault current everywhere in the circuit was not more than IΔm would it be valid to use RCCB characteritics in the adiabatic equation. If that was the case, it would be necessary to determine the highest value of let-through energy (I2t) of the RCCB, taking account of the maximum and minimum values of earth fault current in the circuit and the corresponding trip time of the RCD (taken from Table 3A of Appendix 3 of BS 7671 or from manufacturer’s information). That value of I2t should then be used in the adiabatic equation to check the adequacy of the cpc size.

If the prospective earth fault current anwhere in the circuit was greater than IΔm, it would not be valid to use the RCCB characterisics in the adiabatic equation. If that was the case, the earth fault current must be interrupted by an overcurrent protective device, the characteristics of which must be co-ordinated with those of the RCCB (Regulations 434.5.1 and 536.4 refer). The highest value of let-through energy (I2t) must then be determined from the characteristics of overcurrent device, taking account of maximum and minimum values of earth fault current in the circuit (Regulation 533.3 refers), and this value of I2t should be used in the adiabatic equation.

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22/01/2013 09:21

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Ask the experts/Technical

N

Fully charged 46 52 57 62

Selection of RCDs for use with solar PV systems Sequence of tests for reporting on the condition of an existing installation Selection of fire alarm warning devices Snags and solutions: A practical guide to everyday electrical problems, now updated to Amendment No 1 of BS 7671

Selection of RCDs for use with solar PV systems

Reasons why RCD protection might be required for a PV system The two main reasons why RCD protection might be required for a PV system are fault protection and additional protection. The only other possible (and uncommon) reason is fire protection, such as where called for by Regulation 705.422.7 in agricultural and horticultural premises.

Fault protection by an RCD is required only where the value of earth fault loop impedance (Zs) in a circuit is too high to allow the circuit overcurrent protective device (circuit-breaker or fuse) to be used to provide fault protection. This is virtually always the case in a TT system and rarely in a TN system (TN-S or TN-C-S).

The rated residual operating current (IΔn) of an RCD used for fault protection must be not more than that required by Regulation 411.5.3 for a TT system or Regulation 411.4.5 for a TN system, as applicable. This usually means that IΔn may easily be chosen as high as 100 mA. Additional protection by an RCD could be required where the cable connecting the inverter to the consumer unit or other distribution board is concealed in a wall or partition, unless the cable has an earthed metallic enclosure, earthed metallic covering or protection against mechanical damage, meeting the relevant requirements (Regulations 522.6.101 to 522.6.103 refer). Additional protection by an RCD is also recommended by some inverter manufacturers in their product installation instructions. An RCD used for additional protection must have an IΔn not exceeding 30 mA and an operating time not exceeding 40 ms at a residual current of 5 IΔn (Regulation 415.1.1 refers).

Although BS 7671 does not require RCD protection to be provided for all solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems, there are situations where an RCD is required (see below).

Selecting an RCD for use with a PV system is not a simple task, and the design of the inverter is central in determining the type of RCD required.

Fig 1 Overview of a typical small-scale grid-connected PV system

Isolator

Isolator

PV inverter characteristics relevant to RCD selection

Inverter

Mete

ration Gener mete or Isolat

46

anels

Solar p

r

L OUT

N OUT

Co

nit

er u nsum

t

le t-out e k c o S

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

46_50_technical PV_system_RCD_selection_184.FINAL.indd Sec1:46

A key component in a grid connected PV system is the inverter, as shown in Fig 1. The inverter (or convertor, as BS 7671 calls it) converts the d.c. produced by the solar panels (modules) into a.c., which is then fed into the mains supply and/or the consumer’s installation via the consumer unit or other distribution board.

Two important characteristics of a PV system inverter, as far as the selection of an RCD is concerned, are (a) whether or not the inverter provides at least simple separation, and (b) the speed of operation of the loss of mains protection. Both of these characteristics are discussed below.

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Fig 2 Effect of inverter characteristics on protective conductor currents in a.c. cable

PV array

illustrated in Fig 2. This current also flows in the protective conductor of the distribution circuit supplying the consumer unit and in the earthing conductor of the installation.

PV array

Loss of mains protection

d.c.

d.c.

Inverter providing the equivalent of simple separation

Inverter NOT providing the equivalent of simple separation Possibility of significant protective conductive current

Zero protective conductive current

L

L

OUT

OUT

N

N

OUT

OUT

Consumer unit/ distribution board

Consumer unit/ distribution board

Simple separation At one time, PV system inverters commonly incorporated a double-wound transformer to give at least simple separation (separation equivalent to basic insulation) between the d.c. and a.c. sides of the PV system. In recent years, however, in order to produce inverters that are smaller, lighter and more efficient, transformerless inverters have been developed. Most types of transformerless inverter do not provide at least simple separation between the a.c. and d.c. sides.

Many (if not most) inverters that do not provide at least simple separation can inject d.c. current into the live conductors of the a.c. installation via the a.c. cable connecting the inverter to the consumer unit.

The lack of at least simple separation can also allow a small but significant current to flow in the protective conductor of the a.c. cable connecting the inverter to the consumer unit or other distribution board, as

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46_50_technical PV_system_RCD_selection_184.FINAL.indd Sec1:47

A PV inverter’s loss of mains protection is a protective arrangement that causes the PV power supply system to disconnect from the public mains supply network and/or cease generating in the event of loss of the a.c. mains supply or deviation of the voltage or frequency at the supply terminals from declared values.

For an inverter complying with the requirements of the latest issue of the Energy Networks Association’s Engineering Recommendation G83 (EREC G83/2), the maximum permitted overall operating time of certain forms of loss of mains protection in the event of loss of supply is one second.

However, for an inverter complying with the requirements of an earlier issue of Engineering Recommendation G83, (EREC G83/1 or EREC G83/1-1), the corresponding maximum overall operating time is five seconds.

Implications of injected d.c. current on RCD selection Where a PV power supply system is capable of injecting d.c. current into the a.c. installation (as is usually the case where there is not at least simple separation between the a.c. and d.c. sides), any RCD providing fault protection of the circuit connecting the inverter to the consumer unit or other distribution board is required by BS 7671 to be of type B to IEC 62423 (Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.2 refers). The same applies to any RCD providing fault protection of that consumer unit/distribution board or of the distribution circuit that supplies it (such as may be required in an installation forming part of a TT system).

Also, although not stated in Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.2, an RCD providing additional protection of one of the above parts of the installation would need to be type B where the PV power supply system is capable of injecting d.c. current into the a.c. installation.

Many electricians are not aware that RCDs are classified into various ‘types’, according to their ability to operate correctly where there is a d.c. component in the current in the circuit conductors. The main types of RCD are: • type AC: capable of detecting only sinusoidal alternating residual currents • type A: will detect residual sinusoidal alternating currents and also residual pulsating direct currents and residual pulsating direct currents superimposed on a smooth direct current of 6 mA • type B: will detect residual sinusoidal alternating currents, residual alternating currents superimposed

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

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22/01/2013 09:21

Ask the experts/Technical

N

Fully charged Fig 3 Earth fault on a.c. cable protected by single-pole RCD

Single-pole RCD Supply

Inverter

x Earth fault

on a smooth direct current of 0.4 IΔn, residual pulsating direct currents superimposed on a smooth direct current of 0.4 IΔn, and residual direct currents that can result from rectifying circuits.

The reason for the requirement of Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.2 for an RCD to be of type B is that an RCD of type AC or type A might not operate correctly where the PV power supply system is capable of injecting d.c. current into the a.c. installation.

However, where the PV power supply is not able to feed d.c. currents into the a.c. installation (such as where a transformer is incorporated within the inverter or installed immediately on the a.c. side of it), a type B RCD is not required. Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.2 refers.

Implications of protective conductor current on RCD selection

Current path Source earth

Fig 4 Earth fault on a.c. cable protected by a double-pole RCD

Double-pole RCD Supply

Inverter

x Earth fault

Circuit Source earth

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Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

46_50_technical PV_system_RCD_selection_184.FINAL.indd 48

Where a PV power supply system does not provide at least simple separation between the a.c. and d.c. sides, the current in the protective conductor of the circuit that connects the inverter to the consumer unit or other distribution board (and in the protective conductor of the distribution circuit supplying the consumer unit and in the earthing conductor of the installation) can, for some inverters, be several tens of milliamperes during normal operation.

Where this is the case, the inverter manufacturer’s installation instructions may stipulate that any RCD protecting the above circuit should have a rated residual operating current (IΔn) of not less than a certain value, such as 100 mA or more, in order to avoid unwanted tripping. The same requirement would apply to an RCD protecting the part of the installation between the origin and the consumer unit it (such as may be required in an installation forming part of a TT system).

This would rule out the use of an RCD for additional protection of the above parts of the installation because, as already mentioned, Regulation 415.1.1 of BS 7671 requires that an RCD used for additional protection shall have an IΔn not exceeding 30 mA. Therefore, if, for example, the circuit cable were to be concealed in a wall or partition, the method of installation would need to be such that additional protection by an RCD was not required (such as by using a cable having an earthed metallic enclosure/ covering (see earlier)).

A further implication of protective conductor current is that, if this current is liable to exceed 10 mA in normal service, a high integrity protective connection is required (Regulation 543.7.1.102 refers).

Two examples of a high integrity protective connection are: • a single protective conductor having a cross-sectional area of not less than 10 mm2, and

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23/01/2013 09:03

Ask the experts/Technical

N

Fully charged Fig 5 Flowchart summarising the requirements for RCD selection

START YES

YES

Does the inverter provide simple separation?

NO

NO Is additional protection required?

Use a RCD IΔn ≤ 30 mA Double-pole Type AC or A

YES

YES

NO Is fault protection required?

RCD not required

YES

Is additional NO protection required?

30 mA RCD may not be suitable due to the likelihood of unwanted tripping (Regulation 531.2.4). If so, use cable installation method whereby additional protection is not required.

Types AC or A sufficient Single-pole if inverter is G83/2 compliant.

Double-pole if system is TT and inverter is G83/1 or G83/1-1 compliant (unless LOM operates ≤1 s)

Does the inverter produce significant NO protective conductor current?

YES

YES

NO Is fault protection required?

RCD not required

Type B unless inverter not able to feed d.c. into a.c. installation.

Single-pole inverter is G83/2 compliant.

Double-pole if system is TT and inverter is G83/1 or G83/1-1 compliant (unless LOM operates ≤ 1 s) Care needed in choosing IΔn, to avoid unwanted tripping (Regulation 531.2.4).

Consult inverter manufacturer’s instructions.

NO Is additional protection required?

Use a RCD IΔn ≤ 30 mA Double-pole Type AC or A

YES

NO Is fault protection required?

RCD not required

Type B unless inverter not able to feed d.c. into a.c. installation.

Single-pole inverter is G83/2 compliant.

Double-pole if system is TT and inverter is G83/1 or G83/1-1 compliant (unless LOM operates ≤ 1 s)

Notes.

1 This chart applies to an RCD for protection of (i) the circuit connecting the inverter to the consumer unit/distribution board or (ii) the consumer unit/distribution board itself or the distribution circuit supplying it.

2 The chart is based on single-phase. For a three-phase circuit, references to a double-pole RCD should be read as ‘breaking line and neutral conductors’.

3 An RCD used for both fault protection and additional protection must be selected to meet the requirements for both these functions.

• two individual protective conductors each complying with Section 543.

(Regulation 543.7.1.103 refers).

Implications on RCD selection of speed of operation of the loss of mains protection An RCD protecting the circuit connecting the PV system inverter to the consumer unit or other distribution board should disconnect all live conductors, including the neutral, if the RCD is used for: • additional protection, or • fault protection, if the installation forms part of a TT system and the overall operating time of the PV inverter’s loss of mains protection in the event of loss of supply exceeds one second Note: This may be the case where the inverter complies with EREC G83/1 or EREC G83/1-1, but not with EREC G83/2.

The reason is that, if the RCD does not disconnect the neutral, the effectiveness of the protection no longer depends solely on the operation of the RCD, but also on

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the operation of the loss of mains protection of the inverter. This can be seen from the example in Fig 3, in which there is an earth fault downstream of an RCD with unswitched neutral. The earth fault causes operation of the RCD but the inverter can still supply current through the earth fault via the path shown in the diagram for a period until the loss of mains protection causes the inverter to shut down.

This period of time is likely to be longer than the maximum permitted by Regulation 415.1.1 for additional protection (40 ms at a residual current of 5 IΔn). Also, where the installation forms part of a TT system, if the period of time exceeds 1 s (as may be the case for an inverter compliant with EREC G83/1 or EREC G83/1-1, but not with EREC G83/2), this is longer than permitted by Regulation 411.3.2.4 for fault protection of the above circuit.

However, if the RCD disconnects all live conductors, including the neutral, the path referred to above is broken when the RCD operates, and the inverter then cannot continue to supply current through that path.

This can be seen from the example in Fig 4.

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Fully charged (TN-S or TN-C-S system) or an installation earth electrode (TT system). It is therefore necessary to measure the external earth fault loop impedance (Ze) or the Earth electrode resistance (RA), as appropriate, and check that it is acceptably low. This would also be an appropriate time to measure the prospective short-circuit current and prospective earth fault current and check the polarity, at the origin of the installation.

The earthing conductor should be disconnected from the main earthing terminal before (and while) Ze or RA is being measured. This eliminates any parallel paths existing via bonded pipework or other extraneous-conductive-parts, which could lead to an incorrect (and low) measured value of Ze or RA or mask an ineffective means of earthing.

It is important that the installation is disconnected from the supply whilst this testing is performed as disconnecting the means of earthing would otherwise leave the installation potentially dangerous to users.

The measurement of Ze or RA can be taken at the supply terminals of the switching device used to provide isolation of the installation (which remain live), with a suitable connection to the earthing conductor.

Sequence of tests for reporting on the condition of an existing installation Although BS 7671 specifies the sequence in which tests should be carried out during the initial verification of an installation, no particular sequence of tests is specified for use when reporting on the condition of an existing installation. This article looks at the factors commonly needing to be taken into account when deciding in what sequence tests should be performed for the purpose of condition reporting, and suggests a sequence that might be found suitable for this purpose in the case of many installations where the protective measure of Automatic Disconnection of Supply (ADS) is used.

This report is not valid if the serial number has been defaced or altered

IPN3/

SCHEDULE OF TEST RESULTS FOR THE PRIMARY DISTRIBUTION BOARD TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF THE DISTRIBUTION BOARD IS NOT CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE ORIGIN OF THE INSTALLATION

Original

Test instruments (serial numbers) used:

Characteristics at this distribution board Confirmation of supply polarity ✫ See note below ✫

Ω

Zs

Ipf

✫

kA

Earth fault loop impedance

At I⌬n Operating times of associated RCD (if any) At 5I⌬n (if applicable)

RCD

ms

Insulation resistance

Multi function

ms

Continuity

Other

(To the person ordering the work)

Fig 1 EICR schedule of test results

TEST RESULTS Circuit number and line

R

egulations 612.2 to 612.13 of BS 7671 list a number of tests that should be performed (where relevant) during the initial verification of an installation. Those tests intended to be carried out before the installation is energised – covered in Regulations 612.2 to 612.6 – should be performed in the sequence in which they appear in the Regulations.

Where the installation incorporates an earth electrode, the resistance of the electrode to Earth should also be measured before the installation is energised.

Regulation 612.1 refers.

After the installation is energised, polarity should be reconfirmed, followed by the measurement of earth fault loop impedance, testing of RCDs, measurement of prospective fault current and checking of phase sequence, as appropriate (Regulations 612.2 to 612.12 refer). Any necessary functional checks should then be carried out (Regulation 612.13).

Insulation resistance

Circuit impedances (Ω) Ring final circuits only (measured end to end) r1 (Line)

rn (Neutral)

r2 (cpc)

Polarity

Record lower or lowest value

All circuits

Line/Line

Line/Neutral

Line/Earth Neutral/Earth

(At least one column to be completed)

(R1 + R2)

R2

(MΩ)

(MΩ)

(MΩ)

(MΩ)

(✓)

Maximum measured earth fault loop impedance, Zs✫ (Ω)

RCD Operating times at I⌬n (ms)

Test

at 5I⌬n button (if applicable) operation (ms)

(✓)

Sequence of tests for condition reporting The sequence of tests for initial verification, referred to above, may not be appropriate where testing is being carried out for the purposes of reporting on the condition of an existing installation, as the considerations in the remainder of this article apply. ✫

Note: Where the installation can be supplied by more than one source, such as a primary source (e.g. public supply) and a secondary source (e.g. standby generator), the higher or highest values must be recorded.

TESTED BY

Adequacy of supply and earthing arrangements

Signature:

Position:

Name:

Date of testing:

(CAPITALS)

This report is based on the model forms shown in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (July 2011)

The protective measure of ADS relies on the effectiveness of the earthing arrangement, whether this is an earthing facility provided by the distributor

52

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Page 8 of

See previous page for Schedule of Circuit Details

IPN3/15

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It is recognised that, exceptionally, it will not be possible to disconnect the earthing conductor of an installation because, for operational reasons (say), the installation cannot be disconnected from the supply. Where this is the case, it should be noted as a limitation in the Electrical Installation Condition Report.

Measurement of prospective earth fault current should be carried out with the earthing conductor connected to the main earthing terminal of the installation, as any parallel paths via bonded extraneous-conductive-parts will lead to a higher (and more onerous) test reading.

If, as a result of a Ze or RA measurement, it is determined that the supply or earthing arrangements are not adequate, the person ordering the work should be informed of the situation and advised to take appropriate action such as contact their distributor or take steps to re-establish an effective earth electrode arrangement. Clearly, if the earthing arrangements for the installation are inadequate or the supply polarity is incorrect, this will prevent any testing reliant on the presence of a connection with Earth being carried out until any necessary remedial works are completed.

For example, it would not be possible to proceed with insulation resistance or earth fault loop impedance testing until an effective means of earth for the installation was established.

If the measured value of Ze or RA is satisfactorily low, the installation can then be left de-energised and suitably and securely isolated to facilitate inspection (see Regulation 611.1) and ‘dead’ testing (Regulation 612.1).

Testing to be performed while installation is safely isolated from all sources of supply Having confirmed that the installation is de-energised, the continuity of protective conductors, including main and supplementary equipotential bonding conductors, can be tested. This is likely to be performed using a long ‘wander’ lead rather than by the (R1 +R2) method. Using the ‘wander’ lead method is the only effective way to test a single conductor following a particular route – as is the case for bonding conductors. This method of continuity testing also allows continuity of other protective conductors to be verified with the minimum of disturbance to conductors, their terminations and the enclosures in which they are housed.

Some verification of polarity by continuity methods can also be done at this time.

Once it has been established that there is an effective connection of circuit protective conductors to the means of earthing for the installation, an insulation resistance test can be performed between the live (line and neutral) conductors of circuits and the associated circuit protective conductors, connected to the means of earthing for the installation.

Having protective conductors connected to the means of earthing for the installation during the test has the advantage that the test might then detect

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52_54_technical Condition_report_test_sequence_184_after_SCTM.FINAL.indd Sec1:53

any contact between a live conductor and any unearthed metalwork.

In many cases it may not be possible or wise to perform an insulation resistance test between live conductors because of the presence of equipment that might be damaged by such testing. Whilst it might be possible to temporarily disconnect such items if the extent of test is minimal, in most cases dismantling and disturbance to the installation should be avoided wherever possible to minimise the potential for introducing a fault where one did not exist previously (Regulation 621.2 refers).

Following the completion of the tests mentioned above and of the visual inspection activities, the installation or part thereof under inspection and test can be re-energised to allow live testing of the installation to take place.

Testing to be performed once the supply has been reinstated Live testing is an essential part of establishing whether an installation is in a satisfactory condition for continued service, which is the purpose of a periodic inspection. It will be necessary for the live testing to be completed, and therefore for the supply to be available, before an Electrical Installation Condition Report indicating a satisfactory overall assessment can ultimately be issued.

Once the installation has been re-energised, a check of polarity can be performed at any relevant points within the installation using a suitable 2-pole voltage indicator.

Where satisfactory results have been obtained for the means of earthing and during the continuity testing performed with the installation de-energised, earth fault loop impedance testing can be carried out on circuits. It is important that all protective bonding conductors remain connected when earth fault loop impedance testing is being undertaken, so that measured values reflect those likely to occur when the installation is in use.

The prospective fault current can then be determined for any circuit where necessary or relevant (Regulations 434.1 and 612.11 refer). It would not be necessary to determine prospective fault current for the purposes of checking that overcurrent protective devices have adequate breaking capacity rating where: • final circuits of domestic premises originate from a fuse of rated current (In) 45 A or less, or a circuit-breaker to BS EN 60898 or RCBO to BS EN 61009, within a consumer unit to Part 3 of BS EN 60439: 1991. This arrangement is considered to be adequate up to a prospective fault current of 16 kA, provided the consumer unit is fed from a BS 1361 Type II service fuse rated at 100 A or less and the installation is fed from a single-phase supply (Annex ZA of that standard refers).

• ‘back-up’ protection in accordance with Regulations 536.1 and 536.4 is provided for an overcurrent protective device having a, relatively speaking, low short-circuit capacity by another device such as a high breaking capacity fuse installed upstream, for example at the origin of a

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

53

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N

Fully charged distribution circuit supplying a distribution board having a number of final circuits extending from it.

Where an RCD has been installed to provide fault protection, as will typically be the case in installations forming a part of a TT system, testing should be carried out to verify correct operation during the required time.

In some cases this will require testing to be carried out at a current exceeding the RCD’s rated residual operating current (IΔn).

Where, as has become more prevalent since the introduction of the 17th Edition (BS 7671: 2008), an RCD having an IΔn not exceeding 30 mA has been installed to provide additional protection, disconnection of the device should occur in a time not exceeding 40 ms when a test current of 5 x IΔn is applied.

The test to confirm continued suitability of an RCD to provide additional protection will also confirm the device’s ability to operate correctly under fault conditions.

Following on from the RCD testing, the integral test button of each RCD should be pressed to confirm that the device operates and mechanical parts move freely. Any other functional testing deemed necessary could also be carried out. For example, where relevant, checks could be made to confirm that adjustable protective devices, motor starters and the like have been correctly set up.

The sequence of tests in Table 1 might be found suitable for condition reporting purposes in the case of many existing installations where the protective measure of ADS is used.

Fig 2 RCD test instrument connected at a consumer unit

72 m s P-E P-N

Table 1 Typical schedule of tests for condition reporting

Order

Testing activity

At the origin, with the installation or part thereof under test de-energised.

Testing carried out on supply side of the means of isolation 1

External earth fault loop impedance or Earth electrode resistance (as appropriate)

2

Prospective fault current external to premises

3

Polarity of incoming supply

At circuits, with the installation or part thereof under test de-energised 4

Continuity of protective conductors or continuity of ring final circuit conductors (as appropriate)

5

Polarity by continuity methods

6

Insulation resistance

At circuits, with the supply to the installation or part thereof under test reinstated

54

7

Polarity using a 2-pole voltage indicator

8

Earth loop impedance

9

Prospective fault current of circuits (where necessary)

10

Tests to verify operation of RCD providing fault protection

11

Tests to verify operation of RCD providing additional protection

12

Any functional testing deemed appropriate.

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

52_54_technical Condition_report_test_sequence_184_after_SCTM.FINAL.indd Sec1:54

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Fully charged Selection of fire alarm warning devices

relevant staff aware of the alarm condition, at least at first.

In the case of a Category P system, it might only be necessary to alert staff responsible for initiating appropriate fire-fighting actions.

Raising the alarm

When fire occurs in a building, it is crucial that the alarm is communicated to the relevant persons as soon as possible, so that occupants can be evacuated to a place of safety and the Fire and Rescue Service can be summoned without delay. An important aspect in achieving this is to provide the most appropriate types of fire alarm warning device, taking account of factors such as the type of building, the nature of the activities taking place in it, background noise and any particular needs of the occupants.

Categories of system BS 5839 1:2002 (as amended) – the code of practice for fire alarm systems for buildings except dwellings – recognises three categories of fire detection and alarm system, depending on how the alarm state is initiated and the main purpose of the system: • Category M (manual systems, which incorporate no automatic fire detectors) • Category L (automatic systems intended for the protection of life), and • Category P (automatic systems intended for the protection of property).

Similarly, BS 5839-6: 2004 – the code of practice for fire alarm systems in dwellings – recognises two categories of fire detection and alarm system: • Category LD (systems intended for the protection of life), and • Category PD (systems intended for the protection of property).

It should be noted that a degree of life protection will be offered by a property protection system (Category P or PD) and, conversely, a life protection system (Category L or LD) will in many cases provide a degree of property protection. A fire alarm system can of course be designed from the outset to protect both life and property.

In most cases, in a life protection system, the alarm signal should be such that it will alert all occupants, including those who sleep on the premises (such as in a hotel). In larger, more complex buildings, it may not be necessary to alert all occupants straightaway, such as where there is more than one alarm zone in the premises. In the case of a hospital or similar, for example, it might only be necessary to make the

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A number of means may be employed to raise the alarm when triggered by a manual call point or automatic fire detector, the three most commonly employed means being: • audible devices, such as sounders (bells or electronic audible devices) or public address system-delivering spoken messages; • visual devices, such as flashing beacons; and • tactile devices, such as vibrating pads.

Audible devices are the most commonly employed means of raising an alarm and, in most cases, provided they are suitably chosen and correctly spaced, should be sufficient to alert the occupants of a building.

However, in some cases, an audible alarm signal alone may not be sufficient to alert all occupants and it will be necessary to provide some other form of supplementary alarm signalling, such as a visual or tactile device, as appropriate. It should be noted, however, that an audible alarm signal should be provided in virtually all cases.

Exceptionally, audible warning devices need not be installed where their operation would adversely affect the normal operation of the premises. This might include, for example locations such as television and radio recording studios, theatres and certain areas within hospitals and residential care homes.

Audible alarm devices In general, BS 5839-1 calls for a sound pressure level of 65 dB(A) to be provided by the audible alarm devices of a system. However, that standard recognises that humans can barely determine a pressure level difference of 2 to 3 dB. As a result, except where a higher sound pressure level is needed in order to overcome background noise, the audible warning signal is considered to be acceptable by BS 5839-1 where, in open areas, a sound level of 65 dB(A) is generally achieved and at least 60 dB(A) is achieved throughout the area. A sound pressure level of 60 DB(A) is also acceptable in small enclosed spaces such as stairways.

Where the background noise level in a building or part thereof that is occupied by persons exceeds 60 dB(A), clause 16.2.1 of BS 5839-1: 2002 recommends, amongst other things, that the sound pressure level of the fire alarm signal should be 5 dB above that of the background noise level.

Where an audible fire alarm signal is intended to rouse occupants from sleep, clause 16.2.1 of

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

57

22/01/2013 09:26

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Fully charged BS 5839-1: 2002 indicates that a sound pressure level of 75 dB(A) may be necessary at the bedhead. This can usually only be achieved by mounting a sounder within the bedroom itself (see Fig 1).

Excessive sound pressure levels can cause disorientation or damage to hearing. It is therefore recommended by BS 5839 that many, relatively speaking, quieter sounders are installed throughout a building rather than a few very loud sounders.

Fig 1 Sounder mounted within a bedroom to rouse occupant from sleep

Additional alarm sounding in Bedroom

Visual alarm devices Clause 17.1 of BS 5839-1: 2002 points out that visual alarm warning devices may supplement audible alarm warning devices in situations where the use of audible devices alone might be ineffective.

Visual alarm devices should be provided in a building or part thereof where: • the ambient noise level exceeds 90 dB(A); • hearing protection is likely to be worn during normal use (see Fig 2).

Visual alarm devices might also be provided alongside audible and tactile devices in premises occupied by people having impaired hearing.

Clause 17.2 of BS 5839-1: 2002 specifies that any installed visual alarm devices should be provided in sufficient numbers and be appropriately sited such that they can be seen from all normally accessible locations, throughout the area in which they are provided, under normal ambient lighting level.

Areas having a high ambient noise level and where the use of hearing protection is the norm may well employ visual indicators for reasons other than raising a fire alarm such as, say, in connection with equipment or process control. Where other forms of visual indicator are in use within a protected area, the visual signal for the fire alarm system should be visually distinguishable from those used for other purposes. Typically, the visual signal should be red or white in colour, although another colour can be used where necessary to allow a visual distinction to be made. Consideration should also be given to placing a label with the word ’FIRE’ on the base of any fire alarm visual alarm device. (Clause 17.2 of BS 5839-1: 2002 refers.)

The output of any visual alarm device should: • be mounted at a height of at least 2.1 m above floor level (see Fig 3); • have a flash rate of between 30 to 130 flashes per minute; • be sufficiently bright to attract the attention of occupants, but not so bright as to impair vision through, say, glare.

Installed visual alarm devices should be so arranged that their operation does not cause seizures in persons having photosensitive epilepsy. In so doing, the effect of a person being exposed to flashing from a number of unsynchronised visual warning devices should be taken into account. It should also be borne in mind that

58

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

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Alarm sounding in Hallway

Fig 2 Use of visual fire alarm devices where occupants wear ear protection

FIRE

Ear protection must be worn in this area

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Fully charged the use of red light is more likely to trigger such a seizure than white light.

Fig 3 Visual fire alarms device should be mounted at least 2.1 m above floor level

Tactile alarm devices The hearing of some occupants of a building may be impaired to the extent that they might not be aware of an audible alarm signal. Where other persons, who can alert such occupants to the need for evacuation, might not be present at all times, the use of tactile alarm warning devices should be considered alongside audible and visual alarm devices.

Tactile devices can be fixed, moveable or portable. In any case, the intensity of their output should be sufficient to attract a person’s attention and in the case of portable devices, operation should occur within five seconds of the generation of the alarm signal at the fire detection and alarm control and indicating equipment (clause 18.2.2 of BS 5839-1: 2002 refers).

If the device is also used to provide an indication for purposes other than that of raising the fire alarm, the fire alarm signal should be identifiable from that for another purpose, with the alarm signal having priority.

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Clinton Thompson, NICEIC operations engineer Industry experience: Electrician (domestic and industrial), electrical engineer (food industry, high-volume production and heavy press industry), college tutor, training centre tutor Interests: Classic cars and bikes, music

Norman Bradshaw, NICEIC technical helpline engineer Industry experience: Electrician for 23 years, working as an Approved Contractor, assisting new electricians in gaining Part P registration and working in partnership with local building control departments Interests: Voluntary work, running

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Fully charged Information to be supplied to the person ordering electrical work

Snags & Solutions

A practical guide to everyday electrical problems, now updated to Amendment No 1 of Snag 3 BS 7671

The installation of a new circuit requires an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate to be supplied to the client.

IMN3/

Issued in accordance with British Standard 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations by an Approved Contractor or Conforming Body enrolled with NICEIC, Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5ZX

To be used only for minor electrical work which does not include the provision of a new circuit

PART 1: DETAILS OF THE MINOR WORKS

Original

‘Snags & Solutions’, NICEIC’s problem solving book, is available in three parts, which cover many commonly-encountered electrical installation problems. All parts have now been updated, where appropriate, to take account of the requirements of Amendment No 1 to BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which was published on 1 July and came into full effect on 1 January 2012.

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

The books are available from NICEIC Direct. To give an indication of the value of these books, a snag and solution is being covered in each issue of Connections. This issue addresses a snag from Part 3 – Inspection and testing, relating to information to be supplied to the person ordering electrical work.

(To the person ordering the work)

Many installers issue inappropriate documentation after completing electrical installation work.

Details of departures, if any, from BS 7671 (as amended):

Client:

Date minor works completed:

(To be retained by the contractor)

Contract reference, if any:

Duplicate

Location/address of the minor works:

Description of the minor works:

PART 2: DETAILS OF THE MODIFIED CIRCUIT

System type and earthing arrangements:

TN-S

TN-C-S

TT

TN-C

IT

Protective measure(s) against electric shock:

Overcurrent protective device for the modified circuit:

BS(EN)

Type

Residual current device (if applicable):

BS(EN)

Type

Details of wiring system used to modify the circuit: Type

Reference method

csa of lives

Rating I mm2

A

n

mA

csa of cpc

mm2

Where the measure for protection against electric shock is ADS, insert Maximum Zs permitted by BS 7671 s maximum disconnection time permitted by BS 7671: Comments, if any, on existing installation, including adequacy of earthing and bonding arrangements (see Regulation 134.1.9):

PART 3: INSPECTION AND TESTING OF THE MODIFIED CIRCUIT AND RELATED PARTS ( )

Confirmation that necessary inspections have been undertaken R1 + R2

Circuit resistance:

Insulation resistance:

snags and solutions A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Part 2

wiring systems 3rd Edition

Amd 1: 2011

62

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

62_63_technical snags.FINAL.indd Sec1:62

Amd 1: 2011

Amd 1: 2011

or Line/Line*

R2 M

Essential inspections and tests

Confirmation of the adequacy of earthing

( )

Confirmation of the adequacy of protective bonding

( )

Confirmation of correct polarity

( )

Solution Regulation 610.6 requires that a certificate is prepared on completing an addition or alteration to an electrical installation. The addition of a new circuit, no less than for a complete rewire within an existing electrical installation, will require an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate (DEIC) to be issued.

The EIC or DEIC is incomplete unless it is accompanied by a schedule of test results and a schedule of inspections based on the models given in Appendix 6 of BS 7671. The complete EIC or DEIC should then be issued to the person who ordered the work (Regulation 632.1 refers).

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Client / Address: The installation is:

This certificate is not valid if the serial number has been defaced or altered

Address:

Issued in accordance with British Standard 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations by an Approved Contractor or Conforming Body enrolled with NICEIC, Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5ZX

An DETAILS OF THE CLIENT addition

Extent of the installation covered by this certificate:

Client and address

DCN6/

DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERTIFICATE

This safety certificate is an important and valuable New document which should be retained for future reference

ADDRESS OF THE INSTALLATION Installation address

An alteration

Original

DETAILS OF THE INSTALLATION

(To the person ordering the work)

Issued in accordance with British Standard 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations by an Approved Contractor or Conforming Body enrolled with NICEIC, Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5ZX

DETAILS OF THE CLIENT

(To the person ordering the work)

ICN3/

Original

This certificate is not valid if the serial number has been defaced or altered

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERTIFICATE

DESIGN I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the design of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signature(s) below), particulars of which are described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the design, hereby CERTIFY that the design work for which I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671 amended to (date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

Postcode

Postcode

Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5): DETAILS OF THE INSTALLATION the The extent of liability of the signatory/signatories is limited to the work described above as the subject ofExtent thisofcertificate. installation responsibility for the design ) For the DESIGN of the installation: **( Where there is divided work covered Name by this Designer 1 Signature .................................................... Date ( CAPITALS) certificate Name Signature .................................................... Date ** Designer 2 ( CAPITALS) DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION AND TESTING

The installation is New An addition An alteration

I/we, being the person(s) responsible for the design, construction, inspection and testing of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signature adjacent), particulars of which are described above, having exercised reasonable

CONSTRUCTION

I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the construction of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signature below), of design, whichconstruction, inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY that the said work skill and care whenparticulars carrying out the are described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the construction, hereby CERTIFY that the construction work for which for which I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671, amended to (date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows: I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671 amended to (date) except for the the departures, if any, detailed as follows: Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5) Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5):

The extent of liability of the signatory is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.

For the DESIGN, the CONSTRUCTION and the INSPECTION AND TESTING of the installation Name

Signature

Name

Signature

The extent of liability of the signatory is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.

For the CONSTRUCTION of the installation: Name Signature .................................................... Date ( CAPITALS)

Trading title

INSPECTION AND TESTING

Date

(CAPITALS)

NEXT INSPECTION

PARTICULARS OF THE APPROVED CONTRACTOR

Date

(CAPITALS)

The results of the inspection and testing reviewed by the Qualified Supervisor

§ Enter interval in terms of years, months or weeks, as appropriate

I RECOMMEND that this installation is further inspected and tested after an interval of not more than

Constructor

Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5):

Telephone No

In the case of an alteration or additions see Section 633 of BS 7671

Please see the ‘Notes for Recipients’ on the reverse of this page.

This certificate is based on the model form shown in Appendix 6 of BS 7671.

Inspector

Name ( CAPITALS)

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION AND TESTING *

See attached schedule

SCHEDULE OF ADDITIONAL RECORDS*

Postcode

The extent of liability of the signatory/signatories is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.

Branch No NICEIC Enrolment No (if applicable) Reviewed by (Essential information) For the INSPECTION AND TESTING of the installation: * Where the electrical work to which this certificate relates includes the installation of a fire alarm system and/or an emergency lighting system (or a part of such systems), Signature .................................................... Date Signature .................................................... this electricalDate safety certificate should be accompanied by the particular certificate(s) for the system(s) Name ( CAPITALS)

§

Note: Enter ‘NONE’ or, where appropriate, the page number(s) of additional page(s) of comments on the existing installation

COMMENTS ON EXISTING INSTALLATION

Address

I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the inspection and testing of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signatures below), particulars of which are described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY that the work for which I/we have been responsible is to the best of my/our knowledge and belief in accordance with BS 7671, amended to (date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

Page 1 of

Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (July 2011) Qualified

DCN6/1

Supervisor †

* This box to be completed only where the design, construction, inspection and testing have been the responsibility of one person.

Date

ICN3/

Reviewed by Date

Signature Name ( CAPITALS)

Qualified Supervisor ††

† Where the inspection and testing have been carried out by an Approved Contractor, the inspection and testing results are to be reviewed by the registered Qualified Supervisor. †† Where the design, the construction, and the inspection and testing have been the responsibility of one person, the inspection and testing results are to be reviewed by the registered Qualified Supervisor.

This certificate is based on the model forms shown in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (July 2011)

Page 1 of TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF THE DISTRIBUTION BOARD IS NOT CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE ORIGIN OF THE INSTALLATION

Please see the ‘Notes for Recipients’ on the reverse of this page.

Test instruments (serial numbers) used:

Original

Signature Name ( CAPITALS)

Characteristics at this distribution board Confirmation of supply polarity

Earth fault loop impedance

RCD

ms

Insulation resistance

Other

ms

Continuity

See note below

ICN3/1

Zs Ipf

At I n Operating times of associated RCD (if any) At 5I n

ICN3/

kA

(if applicable)

(To the person ordering the work)

Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5): The extent of liability of the signatory is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.

For the DESIGN, the CONSTRUCTION and the INSPECTION AND TESTING of the installation.

(To the person ordering the work)

I, being the person responsible for the design, construction, inspection and testing of the electrical installation (as indicated by my signature below), particulars of which are described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the design, construction, inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I have been responsible is to the best of my knowledge and belief in accordance with BS 7671, amended to (date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

Other

TEST RESULTS

Regulation 610.6

Location of distribution board:

1

n

2

(Line)

(Neutral)

(cpc)

Line/Line

Line/Neutral

Type: BS(EN)

(M )

(M )

Nominal voltage:

No of phases:

Overcurrent protective device for the distribution circuit: Distribution board designation:

R2

R1 + R2

Supply to distribution board is from:

V

Associated RCD (if any): BS(EN)

Rating:

A

Polarity

Record lower or lowest value

All circuits

RCD No of poles:

I

Line/Earth

Original

Circuit number and line

Ring final circuits only

(measured end to end) (At least one column to be completed) TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF THE DISTRIBUTIONr BOARD IS NOT THE ORIGIN OF THE INSTALLATION* r DIRECTLY TO r CONNECTED

TO BE COMPLETED IN EVERY CASE

(M )

Neutral/Earth

(M )

( )

Maximum measured earth fault loop impedance, Zs ( )

RCD operating times at I n (ms)

Test

at 5I n button (if applicable) operation (ms)

( )

mA

n

(s)

Operating current, I n

(mm )

Maximum Zs permitted by BS 7671

(mm )

2

Rating

cpc

2

Short-circuit capacity

Live

(A)

(kA)

(mA)

( )

RCD

Overcurrent protective devices BS (EN)

Type No

Circuit conductors: csa

Max. disconnection time permitted

by BS 7671

Reference method

Type of wiring (see code below)

Circuit designation

Number of points served

CIRCUIT DETAILS Circuit number and phase

A Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) should be issued only for an addition or alteration that does not extend to the provision of a new circuit, such as extending a final circuit. It should not be issued for the addition of a new circuit (Regulation 631.3 refers) and is unsuitable for certifying the replacement of a distribution board (or consumer unit), for which an EIC should be issued (Note to MEIWC in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 refers).

Insulation resistance

Circuit impedances ( )

First floor lighting except bathroom

7

First floor socket-outlets New shower

40

10.0 4.0

On completion of the verification, according to Regulations 610.1 to 610.5, a certificate shall be prepared.

Note: Where the installation can be supplied by more than one source, such as a primary source (eg public supply) and a secondary source (eg standby generator), the higher or highest values must be recorded.

TESTED BY

Regulation 631.3

Signature:

Position:

Name: (CAPITALS)

Date of testing:

This certificate is based on the model forms shown in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (July 2011)

Where minor electrical installation work does not include the provision of a new circuit, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate, based on the model given in Appendix 6, may be provided for each circuit altered or extended as an alternative to an Electrical Installation Certificate.

Regulation 632.1 Following the initial verification required by Chapter 61, an Electrical Installation Certificate, together with

www.niceic.com

62_63_technical snags.FINAL.indd Sec1:63

See previous page for Circuit Details

See Table 4A2 of Appendix 4 of BS 7671: 2008 CODES FOR TYPE OF WIRING A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Thermosetting/ cables insulated/ cables cables cables /SWA SWA in metallic in non-metallic in metallic in non-metallic sheathed cables cables conduit cables trunking conduit trunking

H

Mineralinsulated cables

O (Other - please state)

Page 4 of

5

* In such cases, details of the distribution (sub-main) circuit(s), together with the test results for the circuit(s), must also be provided on continuation schedules.

This certificate is based on the model forms shown in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (July 2011)

See next page for Schedule of Test Results

schedules of inspections and schedules of test results, shall be given to the person ordering the work. These schedules shall be based on the models given in Appendix 6.

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

63

22/01/2013 09:25

Product Focus Sprue Safety

Fluke

A 10-year, sealed for life battery, wireless interlink capability with up to 50 units on a network and groundbreaking ‘Thermoptek™’ technology inside are just some of the features the latest FireAngel WST-630 smoke alarm offers. Providing the ultimate protection for Grade F installations, this product is easy to fit and use and has been designed to give residents the ultimate protection against fire in their home. It is certified to EN 14604:2005.

Fluke has introduced the Fluke® T90, T110, T130 and T150 voltage and continuity testers. The new family of rugged two-pole voltage/continuity testers offers a combination of light, sound, vibration and digital display to provide instant answers under any working condition. The Fluke two-pole testers feature high-quality construction, including a heavy-duty moulded case, thicker wiring with WearGuard™ wear indicator, a sturdy battery case and durable probe protector.

02476 323232 www.fireangel.co.uk 020 7942 0700 www.fluke.co.uk

Seaward Solar

Dialight

Seaward’s latest electrical safety tester establishes a new approach to portable appliance testing.

The innovative new Apollo 600 is equipped with onboard risk assessment tools to assist the user and ensure a proportionate response to the inspection and testing of electrical equipment.

The new multi-purpose PAT tester combines electrical testing with sophisticated safety data collection and handling features, including an onboard digital camera.

The Dialight SafeSite®Transportable LED High Bay luminaire is a high performance floodlight with ATEX/IECEx certification suitable for use both in Zone 1, 21 and Zone 2, 22. Delivering up to 12,500 lumens, the new luminaire is designed for temporary lighting applications and for maintenance tasks that require a robust light source, such as tank cleaning and sandblasting. With an operating voltage range of 110-277 VAC this LED floodlight is highly suited for use with remote generators.

0191 586 3511 sales@seaward.co.uk

www.dialight.com

EES Data

Marshall-Tufflex

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.

Whatever the design, capacity or dimensional requirements of your trunking project, Marshall-Tufflex has the perfect solution, offering the largest range, best options and some of the easiest to fit systems in the marketplace. To simplify the specification process the UK manufacturer has produced a mini-brochure – We’ve Got it Covered – outlining its most popular PVC-U multi-compartment perimeter trunking solutions.

01924 200103 www.ees-data.co.uk

64

marketing@marshall-tufflex.com marketing@kimbercoms.co.uk

ESP

Ideal Industries

ESP has produced a new 2013 catalogue that brings together the company’s collection of fire and security products. The 60-page catalogue contains images, features and full specification details for more than 250 products, including the latest additions to the CCTV division. Providing electrical contractors and installers with a handy, at-a-glance guide to ESP’s complete product offer, the catalogue is divided into four main product categories: CCTV; EAP (external area protection); access control; and fire alarm systems.

Ideal’s extensive range of wire connectors includes the new SpliceLine™ in-line wire connector that is three times faster to install than traditional crimped butt splices and more traditional push-in connectors, which can reduce wiring time by up to 50 per cent. The SpliceLine™ in-line wire connector is an innovative alternative to traditional butt splices that does not require crimping, soldering or heat shrinking.

01527 515150 info@espuk.com

01925 444446 electrical.enquiries@idealnwd.com

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

64_65_product focus.FINAL.indd 64

www.niceic.com

22/01/2013 14:42

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

Scan QR code with your smart phone to visit our site

Scolmore Scolmore has launched a sophisticated integrated LED downlight that will provide contractors and installers with a high light output, high performance product that can be fitted into the shallowest of ceiling voids.

Inceptor is a fire-rated, integrated LED downlight with pre-wired driver and flow connector. It combines a number of key features that the company believes sets it apart from competitor products. Unique to Inceptor is the innovative flexi-driver element that means it can be fitted into a recess depth of just 60mm – making it one of the most flexible fittings currently available. The Flexible Driver Mount, which connects the driver to the LED assembly, allows the product to be mounted in two configurations – open and closed. Scolmore has also integrated its popular Flow Connectors into the product, which will make the product quick and easy to install as well as to remove and replace for the purpose of circuit testing.

01827 63454 www.scolmore.com

Urmet

Prysmian

Urmet celebrates 75 years of manufacturing with a special 75-day promotional door-entry kit offer, running until 31 March 2013. The video door-entry promotional kit includes Urmet’s hugely successful and stylish Aiko hands-free video door-phone. This package costs £378.00 excl. VAT. The audio door-entry promotional kit includes an Atlantico audio handset and a separate PSU. The price for this package is £39.00 excl. VAT.

Prysmian’s FP200 Gold® “standard” and FP PLUS™ “enhanced” cables have been installed in a five-storey office block and a seven-storey hotel as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment of Ancoats in Manchester, designed by 5 Plus Architects and known as Fabrica. FP PLUS™ meets the requirements of the fire alarm standard, BS 5839-1 “enhanced grade” and has also received third party BASEC and LPCB approval. FP PLUS™ also uses enhanced Insudite™, Prysmian’s unique insulation.

www.urmetdomus.co.uk marketing@urmet.co.uk

023 8029 5029 cables.marketing.uk@prysmian.com

Fluke

Danlers

Fluke has introduced the Fluke® CNX Wireless System, the first set of test tools that wirelessly connects multiple measurement modules and sends simultaneous readings to a master device up to 20 metres away, allowing users to troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently.

Ideal for industrial maintenance technicians, electricians, control technicians and facilities maintenance technicians, the rugged, customisable tool set allows users to choose various measurement modules based on their specific troubleshooting needs.

Danlers have launched two Batten-mounted PIR occupancy switches capable of significant energy savings at low cost, ideal for switching lights off when not required. With energy savings of up to 50 per cent the payback period is kept to a minimum. These UK manufactured IP 53 rated controls can switch lighting loads of up to 10 amps and can be mounted onto the end of lighting battens via the 20mm knock out and come with one metre lead.

020 7942 0700 www.fluke.co.uk

01249 443377 sales@danlers.co.uk

Kidde Fyrnetics

NICEIC DIRECT

Kidde Fyrnetics has launched its new professional portfolio brochure of hard-wired smoke, heat and CO alarms and 10-year guaranteed sealed-in battery products. Kidde’s acquisition of Firex created a new force in smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.

Now, the Firex cable-harness range is available alongside the Kidde Slick® fast-fit smoke and heat alarm range, featuring wireless interconnect capability. All Kidde products are BS Kitemarked to demonstrate consistent quality.

The latest offer from NICEIC Direct is the TEK4 Inspection Camera, which comes with a four-volt Li-Iion battery that enables easy inspections in tight spaces such as beams and wall joists.

It has several functions, including brightness, zoom, image flip and a five-minute auto shut-off. The screen resolution is 320 x 240 pixels and the screen size is 69mm. With this offer the camera costs £58.33.

01753 685148 www.smoke-alarms.co.uk

0843 290 3501 www.niceicdirect.com

www.niceic.com

64_65_product focus.FINAL.indd 65

NICEIC Connections Winter 2012-13

65

22/01/2013 14:43

Current affairs

Don’t forget to send Current Affairs any pictures that have made you smile and let us know of any hidden talents or charity initiatives. Email editor@ niceicconnections.com

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Let’s get physic-al An NICEIC Approved Contractor from Eastleigh has developed a rather unusual hobby of conducting his own electronic experiments.

Sean Quinn, who now runs EEC Ltd but used to work as an electronics technician, has worked on a number of whacky projects over the years, including developing electronic dice games and robots, as well as fiddling around with old components sourced from consumer unit upgrades.

His most recent experiment involved investigating why hot water freezes faster than cold water, which made the final 50 out of 22,000 entries in a competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

“I could see its application in cooling cooked food faster or high-speed ice-cube makers if the underlying science could be pinned down,” he says.

He hopes to keep experimenting and eventually make the fastest ice-cube maker – which must give him something to think about during those cold winter months.

66

Our latest batch of sub-standard installations includes: (1-6) a bathroom light with no RCD protection; a crowded fusebox with an interesting earthing set-up; how not to extend a cooker circuit; a poor quality installation of a second incoming main; an ambitious attempt to squeeze in oversized MCBs in a distribution unit; and a wall light where the rawlplugs had amazingly missed the cables.

And (7-10): another unfortunate rodent; a potentially lethal situation of a piece of wet wayrock on incoming L1 & L2 phases in a factory; a cooker circuit with sub-standard cabling and a loose neutral; and a 4.0mm SWA connection to an outbuilding hooked up to the electricity board supply with no over-current device.

1

2

3

4

6 7 8

5 Thanks to: John Lindsey of Amps Electrical, Catford /// Kevin Oscroft from Energise Electrical Services, Buxton /// Derek Horsburgh of John Rae Ltd, Kelso /// Daniel Woodward of ARQ Building Service Contractors, Burscough /// Martin Bullock of MB-ES Electrical Contractors, Drighlington /// Brian Coleman of Evergreen Electrical, Swanley /// Wes Fellows of Fellows Electrical, Wolverhampton // Brian Abbott from Active Electrical Services, Durham /// Michael Riddiough of Wombwellbased MJR Domestic Electrical Services /// David Bailey of David Bailey Electrical Services, Faringdon

9

10 Keep those shots coming in!

Hellish homes

EMS marks 30 years

It’s never nice to think about profiting from the misfortune of others, but it seems electrical contractors could be doing just that from people moving into new homes.

According to a survey by home emergency service HomeServe, 60 per cent of those moving into new properties discovered a hidden horror, with dodgy wiring or damaged electrics being the most common offender.

One in five of those who had found an unexpected surprise said it was electrical-related, with the average cost of repair a cool £1,466. Other hidden gremlins included dampness and roofing problems.

Middlesex-based NICEIC Approved Contractor EMS is celebrating after reaching its milestone 30th year in business.

The company, which was set up by managing director Chris Allum, works for a range of clients, including Sky Broadcasting and the University of Reading. It was named electrical contractor of the year in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by Electrical Times.

Sporting a beard and a London accent, Chris’s staff have affectionately nicknamed him “Allum Sugar” – the predictable response to which, presumably, is “You’re fired”.

Winter 2012-13 NICEIC Connections

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The Electrocorder range of electrical data recorders has been designed and manufactured in the UK to help you do your job better. Every model has been expertly calibrated to give the most accurate electrical diagnoses using constant sampling techniques, helping you to carry out comprehensive and reliable energy audits. Plus, with its simple design, free software and simple data transfer via USB to your laptop, the Electrocorder is such a low cost investment that it can’t fail to amp up your business.

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