Connections Autumn 2011 by Redactive Media Group

Jobs for the Girls campaign at Westminster // page 8

connections THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC REGISTERED CONTRACTORS ÂŁ5.00

ADVICE P19 What the new Agency Workers Regulations will mean for your business

WWW.NICEIC.COM

RENEWABLES P34 Government incentives are helping the market for green technologies take off

TWITTER: @OFFICIALNICEIC AUTUMN 2011 | ISSUE 179

THERMAL IMAGING P38 The power of heat can help contractors win more work and boost their reputation

FIRM FOUNDATIONS How gradual evolution is paying off for Milton Keynes-based SJD Electrical

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Autumn 2011 | Issue 179

Contents First phase Making our voice heard

Plugged in News Jobs for the Girls goes to Parliament 8 Catalogue offers hot new kit deals 8 Double date for NICEIC Live New range of workwear

9 9

Belfast duo triumph in Golf Classic 10 Renewables news MCS scheme passes 1,000 mark Green training helps jobless

12 12

ESC news Smart meter safety concerns Additional pledge for fire fund

14 15

Product news 17th edition junction boxes

Illustrations: Cameron Law

Live wire

Cover story: contractor profile 30 SJD Electrical in Milton Keynes has ambitious plans for future growth

Advice 19 Ensure you’re up to date with new rules on temporary workers, says Catherine McGrath

Renewed vigour 34 There are huge opportunities in the ever-expanding market for renewables

Opinion 20 The future lies in intelligent building control systems, says Iain Gordon Training 22 Training standards have seen a shake-up in the light of a CPD and EICR review, says Darren Staniforth Regions 24 Contractors in Northern Ireland are proving particularly resilient to the recession that has hit the region hard Customer care 26 It is essential to carry out pre-work assessments before making changes Insight 28 Working in hazardous areas requires special training and competency Current affairs Lighting up lives

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Features

Fully charged Ask the experts 45 Some of the NICEIC technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions answered

Heat of the moment 38 Thermal imaging saves time and is now a realistic option for all firms Take no chances 42 Despite budget pressures, health and safety must always be a top priority

Technical 48 Fire resistance of cable supports 48 Frequency of periodic inspection 51 Amendment 1 of BS 7671

Harmonics in installations

Snags and solutions

»Cover photo: Richard Lea-Hair NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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Comment

EMMA McCARTHY

First phase Making our voice heard NICEIC has had a strong presence at the recent party conferences, helping to influence policy and promoting the case for registered electricians

n late September and early October NICEIC attended the party conferences. This was a chance for us to listen to what the main political parties have to say, talk to them about issues affecting our industry and look at future policies in the pipeline. What coloured every discussion was the economy, both its current and future state. With trade union action firmly on the agenda, and growth in the economy severely limited, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that the outlook remains gloomy for the years ahead. Indeed, the only opportunity looks to be coming from green policies. The conferences helped us to raise the profile of NICEIC with both the coalition government and the opposition. NICEIC held a series of panel discussions on consumer protection and the need for accredited contractors, which were well attended by MPs and delegates alike.

Emma McCarthy is chief executive officer, NICEIC

All agreed that, with the proposed green deal, the increase in renewable technologies and the smart meter programme, consumers must be able to trust the installers visiting their homes. There was also common consensus among speakers and delegates that to remove Part P and risk exposing homeowners to substandard electrical work would be irresponsible. Our registered electricians were championed by NICEIC at the party conferences and, of course, what stands out is that our entire surplus is gift-aided to the Electrical Safety Council, which works hard to promote electrical safety to the consumer. NICEIC-registered contractors are well positioned to be at the forefront of any growth gained by the green deal, renewables or smart metering, as becomes clear from some of the articles in this issue.

CONTACTS // CONNECTIONS Redactive Publishing Ltd, 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP EDITORIAL General 020 7880 6200 Fax 020 7324 2791 Email editor@niceicconnections.com

PRODUCTION Production manager Jane Easterman Deputy production executive Kieran Tobin

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

General 020 7880 6240 Fax 020 7880 7691 Email kieran.tobin@redactive.co.uk

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Sales manager Jim Folley Senior sales executive Mark Palmer Sales executive Darren Hale Display 020 7882 6206 Fax 020 7880 7553 Email advertising@ niceicconnections.com

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

ÂŠ Redactive Publishing Ltd 2011 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 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

Autumn 2011 NICEIC Connections

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News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

Plugged in Need-to-know industry news for electrical installers Catalogue offers hot new deals on kit

Jobs for the Girls goes to Parliament NICEIC took its Jobs for the Girls campaign to Westminster in September for a parliamentary reception hosted by Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central. A former electrical engineer herself, Onwurah pledged her support for the campaign, which aims to highlight the exciting opportunities available to women within the electrical industry. “Just 1 per cent of electrotechnical apprenticeship starts are women, despite half of all apprenticeships overall and half of our workforce being made up of women,” she said. “I would like to thank NICEIC for launching this campaign and for bringing it to the attention of those in Westminster. In supporting the campaign, I will be pressing the government about what it has been doing and what it can do further to encourage more women into trade apprenticeships and engineering

and other courses where they are underrepresented.” The event brought together a cross-party band of MPs, dignitaries and female contractors pledging support for the campaign. Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon, gave his backing and spoke of the need to address the gender imbalance in the construction industry as a whole. NICEIC’s chief executive officer Emma McCarthy said: “It was great to speak with other women and learn about what entering the construction industry means to them and what a realistic proposition it is. “I would like to thank Chi for backing NICEIC and for the pledges of support that mean we can spread the word, engage with young women and do something positive for the industry.”

NEW ROUND OF TECHTALKS NICEIC’s latest series of TechTalks is now underway, with sessions in Portsmouth, Newmarket, Wigan and York coming up over the next two months. Contractors attending the events will be able to speak to NICEIC staff about its products and services, and have the chance to purchase NICEIC books and DVDs at discounted prices. They will also have the opportunity to discuss technical issues with Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth. For dates of upcoming TechTalks see the diary on page 10.

Autumn 2011 NICEIC Connections

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The new NICEIC Direct catalogue, which will be with contractors from 6 October, offers a huge range of essential kit and equipment at discounted prices. The catalogue features more than 300 new products from some of the industry’s leading brands, and also includes new sections in the areas of automation, renewables, workwear, lockout kits and personal protection. “This is the most comprehensive catalogue ever put together by NICEIC, featuring a wide range of tools, workwear and equipment that no electrician should be without,” said Mike Jackson, head of group sales at NICEIC. “We have worked hard with our suppliers to find the best products at the best prices, as well as providing goods suitable for electricians of all ages – from young apprentices to experienced contractors.” For more information, or to place an order, visit www.niceicdirect.com or call 0843 290 3485.

MIX-AND-MATCH WARNING BEAMA is warning contractors of the risks of installing devices such as RCBOs or MCBs made by one company into consumer units or distribution boards made by another manufacturer. The body is warning that, although the devices may appear similar, dimensions, technical performance and terminations are often not compatible and such mixand-matching will invalidate any testing, certification or warranty they come with. The onus is on installers who intend to mix combinations along these lines to undertake appropriate testing and ensure conformity with BS EN 60439. Visit www.beama.org.uk/en/publications.

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FREE POCKET GUIDES Inside this issue of Connections, you will find Pocket Guide 24 – Smoke and heat alarms in new or materially altered dwellings: Grade D, Category LD2. A printable version of each pocket guide is available on the NICEIC website. Additional copies can be obtained by contacting the customer service department on 0870 013 0382 or by emailing customerservice@niceic.com

NEW ONLINE EICR COURSE Electrical contractors wanting to get up to speed with the new electrical installation condition report (EICR) are being encouraged to take advantage of a new e-learning course from NICEIC, provided through Virtual College. EICRs will replace the current periodic inspection reports from January. Those who sign up will learn how to fill in each part of the report and the new coding system involved. “Our partnership with Virtual College is just one example of how we are making training easier and more accessible for contractors,” said Paul Collins, head of NICEIC. The EICR online course costs £49.50 plus VAT. For more information call 0870 013 0389 or email traininginfo@niceic.com

New range of NICEIC workwear NICEIC has teamed up with workwear specialist WORK-IT to offer contractors a new range of innovative clothing. The garments have been designed specifically for tradespeople and are lightweight, breathable, hard-wearing and based on proven technology from the sports and mountain-wear markets. Contractors can also opt for their own company logo to be included on the garments, with NICEIC offering to add its own logo free with any order made through the NICEIC Direct website. Mike Jackson, head of sales at NICEIC, said: “The clothing is smart, durable and competitively priced. The branded approach means contractors can create a professional image whenever quoting for a job or working on-site.” For more information visit www. niceicdirect.com or www.work-it-wear.com

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Double date for NICEIC Live NICEIC has announced plans to host two more NICEIC Live events in 2012, following the success of the inaugural show in May. The conference and exhibition will again be held at Epsom Downs racecourse in May 2012, while a further event will take place at the Bolton Arena in November. “We are really looking forward to rolling this ‘learning event’ concept out to other parts of the UK, and are now busy making plans around the seminar topics, speakers, celebrities and exhibition to make the event

even bigger and better,” said Mark Smith, head of group marketing at NICEIC. “Next year’s conferences will cover current and future technical and business issues affecting contractors. The exhibition also gives visitors an opportunity to find out about the latest products and services.” The first NICEIC Live event featured big-name speakers Quentin Willson and Peter Moule, and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from delegates and exhibitors. Every exhibitor indicated they would return in 2012, while 83 per cent of attendees said they would book again. Space at the event is limited and attendees for this year’s event will be given first refusal on tickets for 2012 until 6 January 2012. The event is shortlisted for an award at the Electrical Industry Awards. “It is a huge honour to be shortlisted and a testament to the hard work of all at NICEIC who helped launch the inaugural event,” said Smith.

APPLY NOW FOR APPRENTICE COURSE It’s not too late for companies to send apprentices to NICEIC’s subsidised apprentice academy, run in partnership with Bedford College. The apprenticeship scheme is now recruiting for its second batch of applicants and is particularly keen to hear from women considering a career in the industry. “The academy was set up with the intention of plugging the skills gap of the future and providing young electricians with the confidence and assurance to go into the industry with the best knowledge around,” said NICEIC’s chief executive officer Emma McCarthy. Anyone wishing to apply must already be in full-time employment and able to attend Bedford College. NICEIC will help cover the cost of the apprentice’s salary by subsidising their wage by up to £2,000 per academic year. All other costs associated with the student’s learning are covered by the partnership with Bedford College. Jeff Welch, course manager at Bedford College, said: “The NICEIC programme includes six or seven additional modules compared with traditional courses, including training on solar photovoltaic installations that will be vital to electricians over the next few years.” For more information please email darren.staniforth@niceic.com

ROINTE CLUB OFFERS BUSINESS POTENTIAL Electrical contractors around the UK are being urged to join the Rointe Club – a network of installers qualified to fit low-energy electric heating systems. Installers will receive free training in how to install the systems, as well as promotional literature to send to potential clients. When customers make a purchase they will be put in touch with their local installer. “Electrical systems in the UK are out of data, storage heaters are not fulfilling people’s needs and gas is much more expensive and not controllable,” says Monica Gutiérrez, business promoter at Rointe. “This is a new business opportunity for contractors.” For more information visit www.rointe.co.uk or call 0845 604 5987.

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News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

Plugged in Belfast duo triumph in golf tournament The NICEIC Golf Classic trophy has headed to Northern Ireland after a brace of Belfast-based contractors took the title in a closely fought final in September. Lewis Darragh, owner of commercial and industrial contractor Darson Services, joined forces with Michael Dennison of DM Engineering to see off the competition at the prestigious Archerfield Links course in Scotland. “It was very enjoyable,” said Darragh. “After the first day we were joint leaders and we thought we could do it, but didn’t want to get carried away. “From the minute the taxi picked us up from the airport to when they took us back, the whole event was really good. The course, the facilities, the staff – everything was really great. It was a nice weekend and we’ll definitely try and qualify next year.”

NICEIC // DIARY OCTOBER 16-19 Installer Live NEC, Birmingham 25 NICEIC TechTalk Fratton Park, Portsmouth 26 ESC Conference Church House Conference Centre, Westminster

Sunderland-based contractors Graeme Robson and John Potts took second prize, finishing some five points behind the leaders. Hundreds of contractors had entered the tournament and competed in a series of regional heats across the UK before September’s grand final. “Our contractors seem to have a real affinity with the Golf Classic and it just seems to get bigger each year,” said Alan Wells, head of certification at NICEIC. “We look forward to 2012.”

NOVEMBER 1 NICEIC TechTalk Newmarket Racecourse 9-10 LuxLive Earls Court, London 11 EEIBA powerBall Grosvenor House Hotel, London 23 NICEIC TechTalk DW Stadium, Wigan 24 NICEIC TechTalk York Racecourse DECEMBER 6 NICEIC TechTalk Cardiff Football Stadium

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: Consumer advertising campaign autumn 2011 National newspaper adverts appearing in eight newspapers reaching over 20 million people /// Google advertising campaign autumn 2011 Promoting NICEIC contractors on “electrician” searches, with approximately 2,000 searches per week /// Landlord information leaflet autumn 2011 Leaflets given to landlords encouraging them to use a NICEIC contractor when upgrading properties /// Don’t play games with safety summer 2011 Editorial campaign urging homeowners to call in a professional if they are thinking about tackling risky DIY electrical jobs in their home /// DIY SOS summer 2011 A team of NICEIC Approved Contractors filmed for upcoming episode of this primetime BBC show /// Blue Square Premier play-off final May 2011 As well as sponsoring the shirts of Luton Town, NICEIC also took out a one-page advert in the programme highlighting the need to always choose a NICEIC-registered electrician /// Twitter launch summer 2011 Launch of Twitter feed @OFFICIALNICEIC to spread the word about only using registered electricians /// Bank holiday dos and don’ts April 2011 Campaign warning homeowners using the bank holiday period to do some home improvements about the potential risks involved in carrying out any electrical work and the need to call in a professional /// Jobs for the Girls spring 2011 Campaign to encourage more female contractors into the industry, featured in national press and radio interviews /// IET Awards spring 2011 Sponsorship of Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award /// Apprentice Academy spring 2011 NICEIC’s new apprentice academy aims to address skills shortages in the industry /// Botched Jobs spring 2011 Research revealing families waste £100 million a year calling in professionals to put right failed DIY projects /// Linda Barker spring 2011 The home improvement expert appeared in the national press and at the Ideal Homes Show, stressing the need for consumers to call in a competent person from an accredited body such as NICEIC /// Wall of Shame winter 2010 Website dedicated to naming and shaming rogue contractors who misuse the NICEIC logo /// Caution This Christmas winter 2010 NICEIC-backed press campaign urging caution when installing festive lights /// Buy with Confidence winter 2010 Campaign with Trading Standards to promote businesses with high standards of trading and customer care

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News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product news

Plugged in Green product training helps unemployed

Renewable scheme passes 1,000 mark More than 1,000 companies have now signed up for MCS accreditation with NICEIC, making it the leading award body for MCS accreditation. Heating and electrical firm Ivor Cook Ltd in Newport, which employs almost 50 staff and carries out work across South Wales, became the 1,000th customer to register with NICEIC. Jeff Deakin, general manager at the firm, said the renewable sector was an area the company was keen to get into. “As an established heating and electrical firm our staff already have the skills to carry out installations and we see the renewable market as a real growth area,” he said. “It is where we see the future of our business going.

“Ivor Cook is already NICEIC-registered for all our electrical work and it just seemed natural for us to go for MCS accreditation with a professional body with a good reputation.” Since the turn of the year NICEIC has received many enquiries from organisations about MCS accreditation. Paul Collins, head of NICEIC, said: “The microgeneration industry is blossoming and tradespeople with the appropriate skills to supply these technologies are keen to grasp its potential. “A large number of skilled professionals such as electricians, plumbers, heating and gas engineers are coming to NICEIC for accreditation as it is a name associated with quality and assurance.”

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NOTIFICATION GUIDANCE FOR SOLAR INSTALLATIONS

NICEIC-registered Domestic Installers who self-certify solar PV schemes are being reminded that they need to ensure the whole job complies with all relevant parts of the building regulations. For example, the installation of a solar PV system could include the structural and electrical requirements as part of the notification to the local building control. In this case the electrical contractor would need to take sole responsibility for ensuring the work is compliant with the relevant building regulation requirements as part of the self-certification process, including Part A: Structural safety, Part B: Fire safety and Part C: Site preparation and damp proofing, as well as Part P: Electrical safety.

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An Aylesbury-based provider of energy-saving products has taken on 36 people who were previously long-term unemployed – most aged over 55 – on the back of successfully becoming NICEIC MCS-approved. Earth Save Products has been supplying environmentally friendly technologies for 30 years, but the business is now expanding rapidly on the back of installing products such as solar photovoltaic panels and air-source heat pumps. “Everyone deserves a chance,” said chief executive Harold Wilson. “The experience, capability and willingness that’s lost through not considering the long-term unemployed is huge.” The business now employs 42 people and is still looking for additional installers as a result of the demand for its products and installation services. “Our primary business is air-source heat pumps and we look to deliver the whole package,” said Wilson. “I can see the company being 10 times the size it is now within 18 months.”

LAUNCH OF RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE DELAYED The first phase of the renewable heat incentive (RHI), which provides long-term financial support to non-domestic users of environmentally friendly sources of heat, has been delayed. The scheme was due to launch at the end of September, but has been pushed back by at least a month due to the failure to secure state aid from Brussels. The scheme targets large heat consumers and is set to include households in October 2012. When implemented, organisations that have installed eligible technologies, including solar thermal systems, heat pumps and biomass or wood-burning boilers, since 15 July 2009, will be eligible for payments for each kWh of renewable heat produced, over the next 20 years. “The commission has given state aid approval for the RHI, subject to a reduction in the large biomass tariff,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

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Plugged in Smart meter safety concerns ongoing The ESC’s concerns about the smart meter design and its potential impact on contractor safety and small businesses are – despite initial indications to the contrary – still being considered by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The ESC, whose recommendations are supported by a range of industry bodies, including NICEIC, wants an isolating switch built into smart meters. This would allow contractors a simple and safe means of isolating the electricity supply in UK homes when necessary, such as for the replacement of a consumer unit. Currently, the only way to isolate the supply is to remove the electricity distributor’s cut-out fuse, but electricians are not authorised to do this. Previous efforts to provide such authorisation have been blocked by the electricity supply industry. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive engineering solution to a major obstacle to safe working practice and consumer protection,” said Mike Clark, ESC technical director. “We welcome the fact that DECC has now decided to make the isolating switch proposal part of a forthcoming public consultation.” In its discussions with DECC and supply industry bodies, the ESC has highlighted a number of other electrical safety concerns relating to the smart

meter programme, including the consequences of disturbing meter tails during the installation process. “Meter-tail connections at the main switch in consumer units may be loosened when meters are replaced, creating a possible fire hazard,” says Clark. “We would like to see the meter installer having to check the tightness of these connections before re-energising installations.” If you would like to make your views known about how an isolating switch in smart meters would help your business and customers, contact your local MP through www.theyworkforyou.com.

Get involved with safety campaign The ESC is looking for installers to get involved in its flagship Plug into Safety campaign to encourage the use of RCDs. The charity wants to hear from people who can help with the development of local initiatives to encourage homeowners to upgrade their consumer unit to one that is RCD-protected. The ESC is looking for contractors to join local focus groups to come up with ideas. Meetings are on an occasional basis and the council won’t contact you too often. The Plug into Safety campaign was launched in May 2010 and is a five-year initiative designed to raise public awareness of the safety benefits of RCD protection and to encourage habitual use of the technology. The campaign has already secured 23 electrical industry and retail partners to undertake marketing activity esc.org.uk and reach consumers. It has developed and distributed 27,000 electrician’s toolkits and worked with 640 retail outlets to distribute promotional material. In addition, it has worked with a leading manufacturer to have 10,000 electrical products labelled at the point of manufacture with an RCD safety message and achieved 200 pieces of national and regional consumer media coverage. For more on becoming involved in a focus group, please email focusgroup@ esc.org.uk. If you would like to find out how to obtain an electrician’s toolkit, visit www.esc.org.uk.

ESC SHAPES FIRE SAFETY GUIDE FOR FLATS IN ENGLAND

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Alamy

The ESC has contributed to the writing and production of new practical fire safety guidance for purpose-built blocks of flats in England. The work was initiated by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The guidance is intended to ensure adequate fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, regardless of their age. Practical advice is offered on how to assess the risk from fire and how to manage fire safety in such buildings. The document also includes case studies based on commonly found issues in blocks of flats, with suggested fire safety solutions. This guide is intended for buildings that have been constructed as purpose-built blocks of flats and applies to existing blocks only. Fire safety design in new blocks of flats is governed by the Building Regulations 2010, but the new guidance is applicable once a block is occupied. As well as electrical contractors, the guide is aimed particularly at people who manage, give advice on and enforce standards in purpose-built blocks of flats. This specifically includes those undertaking fire risk assessments of such buildings, including those contracted to do this on a commercial basis.

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The Electrical Safety Council: raising electrical safety awareness, made possible by funding from NICEIC. Keeping you up to date with news from NICEIC’s parent charity

FIRM FINED £90,000 FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY FIRE Global packaging firm Innovia Films has been fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £26,790 costs after an electrician and his apprentice suffered life-threatening injuries when they were engulfed by an electrical arc at a factory in Cumbria. The firm pleaded guilty to contravening health and safety regulations. The electricians were working on an energised 1 MVA low voltage (400V) distribution board supplying the production plant when the incident occurred in 2006. A fire had broken out in one of the compartments of the distribution board the previous day and the door to the compartment had been damaged by the fire. The following morning the works electrician and his apprentice were asked to clear away some of the combustion debris from the switch compartment before bolting a plate over the front. The board was not de-energised before the work was undertaken on the grounds that it would take 36 hours to resume production once shut down. As they began the work, an explosive arc of electrical energy engulfed both electricians. In addition to the effects of radiated heat, the ultra-violet light from electrical arcs caused severe skin burns, and molten metal particles penetrated the skin. With their clothing also set alight, both men suffered burns to more than 40 per cent of their bodies. The works electrician was in intensive care for six weeks and in hospital for five months. Nearly five years on, he is still undergoing treatment for his injuries and will never be able to return to work. The less severely injured apprentice spent nine weeks in hospital and has since been able to find employment. This case graphically illustrates what can happen if electrical work is undertaken without first safely isolating the equipment to be worked on, or taking other necessary precautions after due consideration of the circumstances and the risks. Detailed advice and guidance on safe working practice can be found in the ESC Best Practice Guide No 2 – Guidance on the management of electrical safety and safe isolation procedures for low voltage electrical installations. The guide can be downloaded free of charge from the industry section of the council’s website at www.esc.org.uk.

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Additional pledge for fire fund The ESC has committed a further £40,000 to its £100,00 fire safety fund as part of its bid to reduce electrical fires in homes. The fund supports local electrical fire prevention schemes that aim to influence safety standards and change behaviours to keep people safe, with a particular focus on areas of highrisk and vulnerable groups. The £140,000 will be shared among 33 projects UK-wide: 21 in England, eight in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. A number of safety centres will be funded to help set up electrical safety scenarios that help members of the community learn about home, road and leisure safety through the use of realistic settings and scenarios. These enable visitors to experience risks in a controlled environment.

One such project aims to replicate a burnt-out bedsit, which will be used to demonstrate the dangers of various household appliances, with preventative guidance provided to those attending. A project in Wales aims to introduce a “bobby” van scheme that will offer home safety checks to the elderly and disabled in their local community. The scheme will be run by local police and plans to work with the local fire services to make referrals, where necessary, for a full fire safety home check. Last year’s funding directly benefited almost 18,000 people and helped to reach almost a million across the UK. In addition, 2,390 unsafe products, such as electric blankets and other small appliances, were removed from use. For further information on the Fire Safety Fund visit www.esc.org.uk.

Conference speaker line-up The ESC has announced the line-up of speakers for its second product safety conference, which takes place in October. Ed Davey, minister for consumer policy and consumer affairs at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), will launch the event, and speakers will include Ron Gainsford OBE, chief executive of the Trading Standards Institute; Richard Lawson, head of technical regulation, BIS; Christine

Heemskerk, vice-chair, TSI Council; and Kevin Harris, chair of BEAMA’s anti-counterfeiting group. The conference will be held at Church House Conference Centre in Westminster, London, on Wednesday, 26 October. The theme is “Market surveillance: overcoming cutbacks through a combined approach”. A few delegate places are available. To book your place visit www.esc.org.uk/ industry/product-safety.

NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

29/9/11 13:07:21

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News/ESC news/Product news

Plugged in < Click’s new connector

TIME-SAVING ISOLATOR Solar wholesaler REB2B has developed a DC isolator product designed to save installers time on site. The Minute Mate comes fitted with four integral type-4 connectors, allowing contractors to plug it into the final solar PV panel in the array and the inverter without any need to open the box or undertake complex wiring. The device was initially developed as a solution used by the company’s own solar PV engineers who offer technical support and guidance to installers. www.reb2b.co.uk

< REB2B’s Minute Mate

CLICK GOES WITH THE FLOW < MK’s new aluminium trunking system

MK ELECTRIC’S PRESTIGE OFFERING MK Electric has launched its Prestige 3D range of three-compartment trunking in aluminium, which it says offers a more robust system for office, educational and laboratory environments. The trunking is available in both dado and skirting profiles and offers greater depth than other models to accommodate Cat 5e, 6 and and structured cabling. The system comes with pre-drilled bases and hinged lids to offer easy installation and contains pre-punched oval holes at 100mm intervals, meaning no drilling through the metal should be required for wall fitting. There are also 50mm x 21mm knockouts at 100mm intervals along compartment dividers, providing instant access to mounting boxes without drilling or cutting. www.mkelectric.co.uk

JUNCTION BOXES MEET 17TH EDITION CHANGES

< Hager’s latest junction box

Hager has released two new versions of its maintenance-free junction boxes to ensure the products meet the requirements of the first amendment to the 17th edition, the new junction box standard BS EN 60670-22 and the new revision of BS 5733. The J803 and J804 contain sprung push terminals that do not relax and so do not require future inspection, meaning the box can be used for connections where cable needs to be extended. The new boxes are particularly suited to applications where inspection and maintenance is impractical, such as below floors covered by carpet, laminate or tiles. The J803 box is a three-terminal 32A model and the J804 a four-terminal 20A version. www.hager.co.uk

< Twist-In self-closing sleeve

www.niceic.com

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ELECTRICIANS HELP DEVELOP SLEEVE PRODUCTS HellermannTyton has unveiled two new self-closing sleeving products that have been developed following close consultation with electricians. The Helagaine Twist-In is a self-closing sleeve that allows contractors to enclose cables while providing easy access to them in the event of inspection, maintenance or re-assembly. The Twist-In FR also offers flame-retardant properties and provides additional protection against abrasions, meaning it can be used in the railway, aerospace or shipbuilding industries, for example. Both products have been designed to meet the latest wiring regulations. www.hellermanntyton.co.uk

Click Scolmore claims the new additions to its Flow range of connectors offer contractors a quicker installation than any other comparable product on the market. The new CT103C and CT203 three and four-pin connectors include quick-release lockable covers that remove the need for screws, as well as fast-fit cable restraints instead of more conventional screw-down versions. The company says this means it would take contractors the same amount of time to install a connector with a cable restraint as it would a standard version. The connectors are suitable for three and four-core cables and have a maximum load rating of 20A. www.scolmore.com

TORQUE IN POINT Wiha Tools has released its TorqueVario VDE screwdriver, designed to help electricians ensure screw terminals are effectively torqued in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and make sure they comply with regulations. The screwdriver is calibrated and individually certified to international standard EN 6789 and allows contractors to change screwdriver tips according to the item being fitted. The TorqueVario VDE, which is available to purchase at www. niceicdirect.com, also offers insulation of up to 1,000V, meaning periodic inspections can be completed with minimal disruption to clients. www.wiha.com/england

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NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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

AGENCY LABOUR

Live wire Temporary measures Many electrical companies turn to agency labour to cope with busy periods. But businesses should be aware of new rules giving temps equal rights, says Catherine McGrath

usinesses have historically been allowed to treat agency workers less favourably than permanent full-time employees. The Agency Workers Regulations 2010, however, which came into force on 1 October this year, give temporary agency workers greater protection. The regulations apply to all temporary agency workers supplied to a hirer by an employment agency and who work under the supervision and direction of the hirer, but do not cover the genuinely self-employed or those engaged directly by the hirer.

What rights will they have? From day one of their assignment with the hirer, agency workers must be given access to collective facilities such as the staff canteen, car park, common room and childcare facilities. Hirers must also provide agency workers with information about permanent job vacancies. Most significantly, though, if an agency worker has been engaged by the same hirer on the same assignment for 12 weeks or more, irrespective of how many hours are worked each week, he or she will be entitled to the same basic working and employment conditions they would have received had they been engaged by the hirer directly. This includes pay, such as salary, commission and overtime payments, but does not extend to pension contributions or company sick, maternity, paternity or adoption pay. Breaks of up to six weeks between assignments in the same role for the same hirer will not break the 12-week qualifying period. However, the clock will restart if the worker begins a new assignment in a substantially different role.

Good lines of communication should be established between hirers and agencies. Hirers should ensure that details of basic terms and conditions of comparable directly recruited staff are provided to the agency as soon as it is clear an agency workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assignment may last more than 12 weeks. Similarly, any changes to those terms and conditions should be notified to the agency by the hirer. Now may be a good time for hirers to review their terms of business with agencies and, in particular, to ensure that both exchange of information and apportionment of liability are dealt with in any relevant agreement. Finally, hirers may wish to limit the length of agency workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; assignments to less than 12 weeks. Alternatively, the number of directly recruited fixed-term workers or self-employed contractors may be increased, or greater reliance placed on sourcing labour from in-house staffing banks.

Illustration: Cameron Law

What should businesses do now? As a first step, hirers should undertake an audit of their agency workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; terms and conditions to establish what, if any, adjustments need to be made so as to bring them in line with permanent employees doing the same or similar work. Appropriate records should be put in place and maintained, so hirers know how many agency workers are on the books and, more importantly, which of those workers have been engaged for more than 12 weeks. An agency worker who believes that their rights under the regulations may have been breached can request certain information from the agency and hirer concerned. Hirers should therefore implement systems so that any such request can be dealt with in a timely manner.

www.niceic.com

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Catherine McGrath is a solicitor in the employment practice at Harbottle & Lewis

NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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

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

Live wire Take control Intelligent building control systems are set to become a much greater part of an electrical contractor’s work, says Iain Gordon

he demand for comfort, energy savings and easy management of building services is growing. But this can be effectively achieved only with intelligent control of all the products involved. This has traditionally meant more wiring running from the sensors and actuators to monitoring centres, which has meant complicated installation work and higher design and installation costs. The KNX standard for network communications does away with the problems of isolated devices by ensuring all components communicate via one common language. Bus devices can either be sensors or actuators needed for the control of lighting, blinds, security systems, HVAC systems, monitoring systems, metering, AV systems and white goods. With KNX, all these functions can be controlled, monitored and signalled via a uniform system, without the need for extra control centres. All KNX bus devices are connected via KNX communications media (twisted pair, radio frequency, IP/ethernet or power line).

Iain Gordon is president of intelligent building association KNX UK

The KNX certification process ensures that different products from different manufacturers integrate seamlessly. This ensures a high degree of flexibility in the future extension and modification of installations when new tenants move into a building with new needs and uses. The KNX ETS software tool allows the planning, engineering and configuration of all KNX-certified products and is manufacturer-independent. KNX offers different step-in levels for the realisation of projects, and can be coupled to other systems via gateways to other types of network and building management systems. It can also be mapped to BACnet objects and interfaced with DALI technology. With KNX the installer can control the complete electrical system to create a highly flexible, fully integrated intelligent building. The scope of work for contractors is changing. Intelligent building controls may form part of a complete electrical installation and those working with such systems can expect to benefit financially from their specialised skills.

IN FOCUS// GARY CROSS

»Gary Cross is owner of Gary Cross Electrical based in Ilford

How did you start up? Twenty-five years ago when I bought my house I had it rewired and said to the electrician it seemed quite interesting and he said it was really complicated and put me off. I started as a carpenter doing kitchens and then when the restrictions of Part P came in I trained as an electrician and since then I’ve done mostly electrical work. What work do you do? Mainly domestic. I work with a couple of local builders doing kitchens and bathrooms and I also project manage

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renovations. This week I’m doing the headmaster’s house at Dulwich College. How have you coped with the downturn? You have to be flexible. If you sat back and said you only wanted to do electrical it would be more difficult. You have to do whatever it takes to pay the bills. Do you keep busy? I’ve never had a quiet period, but it goes in fits and starts. In school holidays everyone wants painters and decorators because they want their kitchen fitted while

they’re away. But I’ve got a good reputation with the carpentry and the electrics; you might have to travel a bit further but I’ve always managed to keep busy. What is the hardest part of working for yourself? The paperwork: the VAT returns, pricing up jobs, risk assessments. There’s so much of it I’ve had to build an office in my house. Illustration: Cameron Law

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

And outside work? I have an old barn in Normandy in France that we’re renovating. The only thing is I can’t do the electrics out there!

www.niceic.com

30/9/11 09:01:19

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3/10/11 09:36:51

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

CPD REVIEW AND EICR

Live wire All change A recent review of electrotechnical continuing professional development qualifications, along with the introduction of electrical installation condition reports, has seen a shake-up of training standards, says Darren Staniforth

he sector skills council SummitSkills has recently reviewed the electrotechnical continuing professional development (CPD) qualifications. The review sought to ensure the existing CPD qualifications would meet the new requirements of the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) for England and Wales. This would make them available for future funding. The timing of this review was welcomed by the awarding bodies EAL and City & Guilds as it fits in with the introduction of the first amendment of the 17th edition. The amendment to BS 7671:2008 would have required the awarding bodies to review their existing qualifications anyway, because of major changes such as electrical installation condition reports (EICR). Both EAL and City & Guilds were commissioned to complete the review on behalf of SummitSkills, with NICEIC, ECA and the IET contributing to the changes to ensure they represented the interests of the industry. The review was completed by the end of August and both awarding bodies expect to have new qualifications available by the end of the year, if not sooner in the case of City & Guilds.

‘Currently there is the option to complete an update to an old version of BS7671 certificate, provided your original qualification was achieved later than 1992. This will no longer be the case’

What qualifications will be available? Currently there is the option to complete an update to an old version of BS 7671 certificate, provided your original qualification was achieved later than 1992. This will no longer be the case. Anyone wanting to complete a new qualification covering the requirements of BS 7671 must complete a full exam. This does not mean everyone must take three or four days off work to sit through a dull course on the regulations, however, as delivery centres can offer the course over several days if required. Each centre will be required to assess the understanding of the individuals wishing to complete the qualification. If they are judged to hold the correct level of knowledge, the centre could allow the candidate to complete the exam with little or no time in a classroom. This approach lends itself directly to NICEIC’s online 17th edition course, which has now seen

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Darren Staniforth is technical training developer at NICEIC

» 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

more than 1,200 learners enjoy the flexibility, control and inexpensiveness of learning online. With the introduction of EICRs, it has been agreed that the old inspection, testing and certification qualification will be split. Both EAL and City & Guilds will offer two new qualifications. One will focus on the fundamental principles of initial inspection and testing. The other will cover the requirements of periodic inspection and reporting, using the new EICRs for domestic and larger installations. This does not mean that if you hold a City & Guilds 2391 you will need to return to a college to complete a course on the new EICRs. However, NICEIC has recently completed a short online module that gives contractors a full overview of the report, and allows the learner to fully understand what is required in each of its new sections. One other major change has seen the old City & Guilds 2400 design qualification increased to a level 4 certificate. A management section has been added to the assessment criteria. The PAT qualification also went through a review but very few changes were made to the qualification, apart from ensuring it complied with the requirements of the QCF. Last to change were the qualification titles. Some of the City & Guilds numbers are changing, to ensure the new qualifications have a longer shelf life.

www.niceic.com

29/9/11 13:08:25

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3/10/11 09:37:37

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

NORTHERN IRELAND

Live wire

up Bearing Northern Ireland has been hit harder than most regions by the turbulence in the global economy. But contractors are proving remarkably resilient By Adrian Holliday

he Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) construction market survey for the second quarter of 2011 doesn’t flatter contractor conditions in Northern Ireland one little bit. “In much of the rest of the country workloads were flat or slightly down,” it reads. “The exception to this is Northern Ireland, where 64 per cent more respondents suggested that workloads fell rather than rose.” Yet when we talked to several Northern Ireland contractors we found it’s not quite as cut and dried as the research suggests, despite the rough economics, the much lower corporation tax rates across the border and the massive exposure to Ireland’s construction industry. Hard times The recession has been searing for Peter O’Higgins, owner of Largy Electrical Services in Newry, County Down. He and his two employees remain heavily exposed to the private sector housing construction industry. Newbuild houses that were once worth £250,000 can’t be shifted for £140,000, he says, and there’s little cash from banks for first-time buyers. “Between 2008 and 2010 we did a lot of work in Scotland; around 26 houses,” he says. “But there’s nothing happening here. Around January I had never seen it so bad.” His staff have even taken on general labouring work at £40 a day in order to keep going. O’Higgins remains sceptical of spending cash on advertising. His advice for younger contractors is

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simply to leave Northern Ireland and head to Australia or Canada. It’s highly dispiriting, but is this story typical? External conditions aren’t great for Keith Stewart, director of Irwin Electrical based in Portadown and Belfast – a business that has been trading for 20 years. Irwin Electrical endured a difficult time with its bank during the recession. Yet business isn’t too bad. Irwin Electrical is not a small outfit. It runs 25 vans and has actually increased staff numbers to almost 70 in the last two years. “We have turned things around quicker than our competitors, I’d say,” says Stewart. “A key thing we did was to act quickly in December 2008 and January 2009. We examined the business internally and externally. Internally we reviewed our major overheads of wages, salaries and vehicles and embarked on a big cost-cutting exercise.” Next, the business focused on how it conducted its site activities. It found avoidable costs were being incurred owing to managers not planning ahead, so it cut back on unnecessary travel, material wastage and overtime. It focused

‘We reviewed our major overheads of wages, salaries and vehicles and embarked on a big cost-cutting exercise’ www.niceic.com

29/9/11 09:41:09

64 per cent: Proportion of surveyors reporting >A building slowdown in the region has hit contractors

workloads falling rather than rising in Northern Ireland in Q2 of 2011

Economic outlook Northern Ireland

Alamy

Rising unemployment, falling business confidence, slower private sector activity. That will all sound wearily familiar to Irish contractors. It’s not just a lack of work but a lack of credit. Banks are busy attempting to recapitalise their balance sheets to avoid exposing themselves to unnecessary risk, despite regular pleas from business secretary Vince Cable. The latest Markit economic report claims Northern Ireland private sector activity fell markedly, from 44.3 to a six-month low of 43.9 in the seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index for July. Anything under 50 represents a contraction. “Last month, Northern Ireland’s service sector posted its fastest rate of decline in business output since April 2009,” says Richard Ramsey, chief economist for Northern Ireland at Ulster Bank. “This is concerning given that the cuts in public expenditure have yet to bite.”

on managers getting greater efficiencies out of on-site workforces, says Stewart, and became more selective in the construction industry clients it worked with. Cumulatively, these moves saw Irwin begin to build better relationships rather than being stuck at the wrong end of a supply chain, so it got paid faster. Despite economic worry, it knew the food, pharmaceutical and IT industries were doing all right and that the government was still spending. “We focused on maintenance and cut back on partnerships with specialist equipment manufacturers,” says Stewart. “We focused on core electrical distribution systems. We targeted work direct from manufacturing facilities and the government, which proved more straightforward.” Few other contracting businesses have taken on staff in the past two years. More typical is the experience of a County Antrim company secretary, who didn’t want to be named. His company employs 75 staff, down from around 110 in 2009. The business traditionally relied on a 50-50 split between public and private sector work. The private sector remains quiet, but public sector work is slowly coming back. “The pre-qualifier questionnaires are harder than before,” he says. “But it’s good in another way, because it weeds other people out. In the past three to four months we’ve seen an increase in public sector work.” Renewable resurgence But business is better for John Donaghy, general manager of Axon Power & Control, based in County Tyrone. Axon employs 35 staff, and last year’s turnover was around £2 million. Much of its core business is installing control panels for the www.niceic.com

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concrete and recycling industry, so it’s very constructionrelated and the firm felt the force of the recession early on. “Our market is right at the beginning of the process,” says Donaghy. “We work in quarries, and it was obvious what was happening.” This time last year, its workshops were quiet. Now the business has four staff working inside them continuously, five days a week. To reinforce its business model Axon has taken on more inspection work. “We’ve increased marketing and advertising and taken on a bespoke marketing person,” he says. “It hasn’t paid off quite yet. The market is so quiet, it can be difficult to win new work.” It’s also difficult to measure how effective advertising is, Donaghy acknowledges. Much of Axon’s work still comes from existing customers. Meanwhile, the business is diversifying, looking at the renewable energy market and collaboration deals. For example, many European renewable energy companies have invested in Northern Ireland. But it’s more effective for Axon to help with installation client work than for European operators to fly out their own engineers. Donaghy remains mindful of the lifecycle of tenders and contracts, though. “Pre-recession, they might just take a few weeks. Now things can take years. But sectors such as biomass are growing.” The 2020 renewable energy target and the renewable heating incentive should help the market to grow. As with everything in this part of the UK for now, though, there are no guarantees. » Adrian Holliday is a freelance business journalist NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

29/9/11 09:41:18

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

PRE-WORK TESTING

Live wire Electrical assessments Carrying out an assessment of the relevant parts of existing electrical installations is a necessary precursor to any alteration or addition, says Philip Sanders

t is essential to assess the relevant parts of an existing electrical installation before undertaking an addition or alteration. Only then can the installer determine the adequacy of the existing installation and ensure the safety of the addition or alteration and that the existing installation will not be impaired. Typical electrical safety issues identified during a pre-work assessment include: • Absence of, or inadequate means of, earthing, such as the use of a gas, water or other service pipe as an earth; • Absence of, or inadequately sized, main protective bonding or supplementary bonding conductors; • Absence of circuit protective conductors, such as in lighting circuits installed before 1966; • Absence of additional protection by means of RCD, such as for mobile equipment for use outdoors; • Absence of adequate fault protection, such as nonoperational voltage-operated earth-leakage circuit-breaker. It is important to remember that it is the installer who has the responsibility of ascertaining the adequacy of the existing installation before work commences. Therefore it is essential that every installer has a robust procedure when making alterations or additions to an existing installation, including a suitable pre-work assessment. Here are some dos and don’ts giving guidance on the minimum requirements of such a procedure. Do assess existing equipment that may have to carry an increased load Establish that the rating and condition of all appropriate equipment within an installation is capable of supporting the planned addition or alteration. This includes overcurrent protective devices, final and distribution circuit conductors, switchgear and distribution boards. The condition of the existing equipment should be assessed for its ability to carry any increased load and for defects, omissions, damage and deterioration. Any inadequacies in the existing installation that would result in a reduced level of safety in the new work must be corrected before the new work is put into service.

‘Where an existing installation is assessed as not being adequate to support the proposed addition or alteration safely the customer must be advised immediately, preferably in writing’

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Don’t proceed when the existing installation equipment or arrangements are not adequate Where an existing installation is assessed as inadequate to support the proposed addition or alteration safely the customer must be advised immediately, preferably in writing, and the necessary upgrading work recommended to the customer. When the customer’s consent has been given, the upgrading work should be completed before the addition or alteration is put into service. Do ensure the alteration or addition is designed and constructed appropriately The addition or alteration is required to meet all relevant requirements of BS 7671, including, where appropriate, the special requirements contained in Part 7, Special Installations or Locations. Do undertake inspection and testing Inspection and testing must be undertaken to confirm the adequacy and suitability of the relevant parts of the existing installation to support the addition or alteration, the upgrading of the existing installation to support the addition or alteration, and the addition or alteration itself. Do provide relevant certification An electrical installation certificate or minor electrical installation works certificate (where applicable) must be provided to the customer for the addition or alteration.

Don’t forget to include the distributor’s equipment This may also have to carry additional load so its suitability and condition must be assessed. Where required, a request should be made to the distributor for a supply upgrade. Do assess the existing earthing and bonding Assess the adequacy and suitability of the existing earthing and bonding arrangements including:

• Establishing the suitability of the means of earthing in respect of its type and its condition – is it corroded, damaged or inaccessible; • Verify the means of earthing by determining the external earth-fault loop impedance; • Ascertain that the earthing conductor is of adequate cross-sectional area; • Establish, determine or confirm the presence and adequacy of circuit protective conductors for both the final circuits and any distribution circuits; • Where the protective measure against electric shock is automatic disconnection of supply (ADS), the adequacy of the existing bonding must be established.

Philip Sanders is NICEIC’s customer relations engineer

Don’t forget to notify work where applicable Domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales, including rewires, new circuits and most minor work must be notified (Part P) and a Building Regulation compliance certificate issued to the occupant within 30 days.

www.niceic.com

29/9/11 13:09:07

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3/10/11 09:38:19

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

Live wire

Tackling hazards Working in hazardous areas presents unique challenges and only specially trained and approved competent personnel can work in such areas By Hylton Reid

hazardous area is one in which an explosive atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of equipment. An explosive atmosphere is an accumulation of gas, mist, dust, vapour or a combination, mixed with air, that has the potential to catch fire or explode. An explosive atmosphere does not always result in an explosion, but if it caught fire the flames would spread quickly and in a confined space this, or a rise in pressure, could also cause an explosion. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 are the UK enactment of the ATEX 137 directive from the EU. It is an extension of the Health and Safety at Work Act and is a “workplace” directive that requires that every location which could be at risk from fire or explosion has those risks evaluated. The responsibility for this resides with the site operator, who must record the results, make them available and then reduce the risks. Risk reduction Preventive measures to reduce the explosion risk are based on three principles, which have to be applied in the following order: substitution, control, mitigation. Substitution involves, for example, replacing a flammable material with one that is either not flammable or is less flammable. This is not always possible if the flammability is the product, such as petrol. Control involves, for example, reducing the quantity of flammables; avoiding or minimising releases; controlling the release; preventing the formation of an explosive atmosphere; collecting and containing releases; and avoiding ignition sources. Mitigation involves, for example, reducing the number of people exposed; providing measures to avoid the

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propagation of an explosion; providing explosion pressure relief; providing explosion pressure suppression; and providing suitable personal protective equipment. DSEAR clarifies the existing requirements to manage fire and explosion risks that are set out in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Management Regulations) and expands those requirements in a few areas. Hazardous area classification Once the principles of substitution and control have been applied, the remaining hazardous areas should be classified into zones according to the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere being present (see BS EN IEC 60079-10). This allows equipment protection levels (EPLs) to be determined and appropriate protection specified. This is the first item of information that should be requested from the site operator. Zones and EPLs Zone 0 (gas and vapour) and zone 20 (dust): Where an explosive atmosphere is present continuously, for long periods of time or frequently. This normally requires an EPL of Ga for gas and vapour and Da for dust. Zone 1 (gas and vapour) and zone 21 (dust): Where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation

‘Once the principles of substitution and control have been applied, the remaining hazardous areas should be classified into zones according to the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere being present’ www.niceic.com

30/9/11 08:56:42

NICEIC operates a competence assessment scheme for existing Approved Contractors who carry out work in hazardous areas. Further details may be found at www.niceic.com/contractor/schemes/hazardous-areas or by contacting our helpline on 0870 013 0391

occasionally. This normally requires an EPL of Gb for gas and vapour and Db for dust. Zone 2 (gas and vapour) and zone 22 (dust): Where an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does, will persist for a short period only. This normally requires an EPL of Gc for gas and vapour and Dc for dust. Avoiding fires and explosions For a fire or explosion to occur, an explosive atmosphere and a source of ignition need to co-exist. Ignition may be electrically or mechanically initiated, either by spark or hot surface. Protective measures aim to reduce the likelihood that the electrical installation could become a source of ignition. Avoiding ignition sources Electrical installations in hazardous areas need to comply with the appropriate requirements for installations in nonhazardous areas, but the requirements for non-hazardous areas are not sufficient for installations in hazardous areas. By careful design of the electrical installation, it is often possible to locate much of the electrical equipment in either less hazardous or non-hazardous areas. When electrical equipment is to be installed in the hazardous areas, protective measures are applied to reduce the likelihood of ignition. The types of protection, their suitability for the zones of risk, their EPLs and their installation requirements are found in BS EN IEC 60079 part 14. Where is explosive equipment commonly found? Flammable gases, vapours, mists and combustible dusts create potentially explosive atmospheres. Industries include: • Automotive refuelling stations or petrol stations; • On or offshore oil refineries, rigs and processing plants; • Oil and gas tankers, drilling ships and FPSOs (floating production storage offloading vessels); • Chemical processing plants; • Printing industries, paper and textiles; • Hospital operating theatres; • Aircraft refuelling and hangars; • Surface coating; • Underground coalmines; • Sewerage treatment plants; • Gas pipelines and distribution centres; • Grain handling and storage and milling; • Woodworking; • Sugar refineries; • Light metal working, where metal dust can appear. Competence Because of the complicated requirements and the nature of the work, installations and inspections in hazardous areas can only be carried out by competent specially trained and approved personnel. Failure to comply with any or all of the requirements may result in any public liability insurance being invalid. » Hylton Reid is senior engineer, hazardous areas, at NICEIC www.niceic.com

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NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // SJD ELECTRICAL COMPANY: SJD Electrical BASED: Milton Keynes FOUNDED: 1996 MAJOR PROJECTS: Kiddi Caru, St John’s Ambulance, Isotrak/Sainsbury’s STAFF NUMBER: 12 TURNOVER: £500,000 in 2010

Steady evolution Over the past 15 years SJD Electrical has slowly established itself as one of the main players in the dynamic city of Milton Keynes. Despite the best efforts of the recession, it still has an ambitious growth plan for the future By Nick Martindale

n an industrial estate in the south of Milton Keynes – under the shadow of the impressive but unfinished stadium of MK Dons – sits one of the city’s leading electrical contractors. SJD Electrical is by no means a large operation – it employs just 12 people at present – but has embarked on a period of rapid development over the past five years, going some way to filling a gap in the electrical contracting market in one of the UK’s fastest growing cities. “There’s a lot of business here,” says Stephen Devine, who first started as a sole trader in 1992 after being made redundant from a role selling building management and security systems, before setting the company up in 1996. “Whether we get enough of it or whether we should get more is another question. There are companies coming from across the UK every day to Milton Keynes to do contracting work. It can’t be cost-effective to bring people in from those distances.” The business, though, is not yet at a stage where it could take on the major projects, such as the stadium itself or the new Network Rail headquarters that has been built on the site of the former national hockey stadium. “We have to be aware of what we can finance,” he says. “To take on something the size of the stadium where you’re going 30

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to have 50 or 60 people working for a long period of time, you’d need to have your payment terms very clearly defined – otherwise you could be out of business in a few months’ time. “A few years ago, if you had a nice working contract you could ring up your bank manager and say you’d just picked up an order for £100,000 and you’d need £20,000 or £30,000 for a month or two to finance that, and they’d just say ‘no problem’ over the phone,” he adds. “Now it might be more difficult.” Instead, the company has carved out a successful niche on smaller projects across a variety of sectors. Companies moving in and out of the city have provided a steady stream of business, says Stephen. “They move into new factories and want them configured to their purposes with data, power, air-conditioning, fire alarms and CCTV,” he says. “Also, when they’re moving out of premises they have to leave them as they were when they moved in, so there’s quite a lot of work putting things back again.” Around 40 per cent of the company’s work is on commercial and industrial installations, refurbishments or dilapidations,

‘The recession was a valuable learning curve because without that we wouldn’t have checked what we were doing and how we were doing it’ www.niceic.com

29/9/11 09:44:56

» If you would like your company to be considered for a profile in Connections, please email editor@ niceicconnections.com

Photography: Richard Lea-Hair

Stephen Devine

Ruth Devine

£500,000: The amount the business

1996: The year the company

turned over in 2010

was formed

estimates Ruth Devine, Stephen’s daughter and fellow company director. A further 20 per cent comes from newbuild projects, 20 per cent from testing and inspection, 10 per cent from solar PV installations and the remainder from small works in and around the city.

“It’s fair to say she brought a fair amount of professionalism into the business,” says Stephen. “I can use the word processors, spreadsheets and certification software, but Ruth is excellent on the marketing and financial management side. “I used to have to do everything,” he adds. “The biggest problem for most companies is that you spend your time looking for work and then when you get work you have to do that and manage the guys, and while you’re doing that you’re not doing the selling so six months down the line you run out of work. We were doing that time after time, so we thought the way forward was to get our own unit, to spend more money on marketing and advertising and to try and grow the business.” It worked. SJD Electrical continued to pick up work through contacts in the building services sector but also landed a number of notable local projects, including a design-andbuild project at Kiddi Caru nursery in Caldecotte Lakes and the St John’s Ambulance Training Centre at Greenleys. Other clients include Milton Keynes-based Isotrak, Schueco and Cranfield University. “All our clients are either based in Milton Keynes or the sites are here,” says Ruth. “We’ll work nationwide for local customers or we’ll work for customers that are based across the country but have work in Milton Keynes. Essentially, most

The next level While Stephen remains the driving force on the electrical side of the business – maintaining relationships that in some cases go back almost two decades and handling the commercial and sales aspect – the arrival of Ruth, with her background working in the supply chain of a major global corporation, back in 2006 perhaps marked the start of a transition period when the business went from what was effectively a one-man band to a more established enterprise. “When I joined, we had four sub-contractor electricians and Stephen, and within about six months we got up to 12 electricians and two office staff,” she recalls. “Then we had all the problems of going from a sole trader to a larger business; we had to bring all the book-keeping in-house, start marketing, build a website, get dedicated phone numbers, invest in staff training and quality systems, and do all the things that we needed to turn it into a real business.” www.niceic.com

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE // SJD ELECTRICAL

20 per cent: SJD Electrical’s growth target for each of the next three years

Learning the hard way As with all electrical companies, though, SJD Electrical was hit by the downturn. In 2008 – partly on the back of the Sainsbury’s contract – it turned over almost £1 million but made only a small profit, while the following year turnover halved and a single bad debt to the tune of £54,000 saw the business make a loss. “At the beginning of 2009 we had to restructure the business,” says Ruth. “We had to make some redundancies, reduce overheads and we found a new bank that was very supportive. We put some long-term finance in place, developed the business plan and spent a good six months slogging away, and then work picked up very quickly.” Last year, turnover was over £500,000 and the company returned to profitability, and this year it is on target for 10 per cent growth. “The recession was a valuable learning curve, because without that we wouldn’t have checked what we were doing and how we were doing it,” says Ruth. “We weren’t making enough money or managing it properly. We needed the recession to force that issue; otherwise, we would have had bigger problems later on.” The sector is still struggling – Stephen laments how the number of tenders coming in each week has dwindled over the past two years and what he calls “suicide bidding” in certain parts of the market – but SJD Electrical has ambitious growth targets of 20 per cent each year for the next three years. A core part of that growth is likely to come from renewables: something Stephen believes could eventually become the main activity for the business. For now, its focus remains on commercial installations, largely through its relationship with local solar panel company Red Solar. It recently completed the installation of 360 panels at two factories in Chessington and has a 600-panel contract lined up for the end of this year at a site for the Metropolitan Police.

‘You’d need to have your payment terms very clearly defined to take on something the size of the stadium – otherwise you could be out of business in a few months’ time’ 32

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Photography: Richard Lea-Hair

of our work is in and around here, but we do travel as and when the project requires.” The biggest job in the company’s history arrived when it was selected by Isotrak to roll out fleet management units in 400 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK in 2007. The main installations were finished in 2008, but the company still works on new stores and refits as and when required on a regular basis. “We were in Belfast a couple of weeks ago, and in Devon and Scotland on the same day recently,” says Ruth.

> Stephen Devine believes renewables will be central to growth One of its engineers completed the NICEIC’s solar PV training scheme in 2010, and Ruth intends to put others through as this side of the business grows. The business is a firm believer in apprenticeships as a means of developing its own talent for the future, and was highly commended for its training programme in the Learning and Skills Council South East Learning Skills Awards in 2009 after being nominated by Milton Keynes College. The business currently has two apprentices on its books and intends to take on another shortly. The longer-term future of the business, however, is also linked to Stephen’s eventual exit from the company he started 15 years ago, and this is something that is clearly on both his and Ruth’s mind. Merging with or acquiring another company is one option, says Ruth, while the business is also equipping existing staff with management development qualifications. “Ideally I would like to scale down my activities to part-time, so two or three days a week for a few years while there’s a transition period, and then after that I’d probably retire,” says Stephen. “But commercial awareness is not easy to buy in. It’s very easy to make mistakes.” Both Stephen and Ruth, though, are rightly proud of the progress that has been achieved over the past 15 years, and the past five in particular. “It’s nice to be able to sit back and think we’ve lasted more than a year or two,” says Stephen. “We’ve been through a couple of recessions, we’ve always done the work to a high standard and 99 per cent of the time we’ve had satisfied clients. Now we’re demonstrating that we have a good business with a lot of potential.” » Nick Martindale is editor of Connections www.niceic.com

29/9/11 09:45:12

microgeneration certiﬁcation scheme

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3/10/11 09:49:29

RENEWABLES

Despite the uncertainty over the government’s feed-in tariff review, the market for renewable technologies continues to grow, presenting a huge opportunity for contractors

By David Adams

very electrical contractor ought to be thinking about renewables. It doesn’t matter how green-minded you are – this market is growing. Government support is helping to stimulate growth and will continue to do so over the next few years, driven by a legal obligation to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions. The solar photovoltaics (PV) market has been booming since the introduction of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme in April 2010, which pays end-users for any energy produced and a further amount for any spare capacity passed back to the National Grid. The FITs are funded through energy bills, and are guaranteed for a period of 25 years. Although rates will fall with the government’s impending review of FITs, and despite the decision, announced in June 2011, to cut FIT funding for larger PV schemes in favour of installations with less than 50kw of capacity, PV will continue to thrive as equipment gets cheaper and more efficient. Nor is the government the only funding source; in August Barclays launched a £100 million fund

25 years: The period for which the feed-in tariffs are guaranteed 34

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designed to help farmers finance solar, wind, hydro and biomass energy generation. Meanwhile, further opportunities will be created by the government’s renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme. In its first phase, now likely to come in later this year, the RHI will offer financial support to businesses using heat from four renewable sources: solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass or wood-burning boilers. In its second phase, from October 2012, it will expand to cover domestic homes and possibly include more technologies. The second phase will coincide with the introduction of the government’s green deal initiative, which will let private companies offer energy efficiency products and services to consumers – who can pay through energy bills rather than upfront. Heat pumps, solar thermal heating systems and biomass boilers are all also eligible for the renewable heat premium payment scheme, which runs until March 2012 and is aimed primarily at the four million UK households not covered by the gas network. The heat pump market is particularly flourishing, having virtually doubled in size in 2009, when about 14,000 were installed. About 18,000 were installed in 2010, according to BEAMA estimates; most of them air-source pumps. Many were installed in buildings not served by the gas network, where the financial benefits of doing so are particularly compelling. Meanwhile, anaerobic digestion, while still a much smaller market, may get a boost from a decision to raise its FIT rates in the 2011 review. Taking advantage Since April 2010, only installations that were carried out by installers registered under a microgeneration certification scheme (MSC) have been eligible for the FIT, providing a strong financial incentive for contractors to become qualified. Dean Barrett, managing director at Newport Pagnell-based Rolec Group, which has about 40 employees and offers plumbing, www.niceic.com

30/9/11 16:36:09

£860 million: The amount of money allocated by the government for feed-in tariffs until 2015 www.niceic.com

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‘The logical conclusion, that it will become a more significant activity for a contractor, is inescapable. The only question is over the timescale – not if, but when’ elsewhere in the sector to get into this. We’ve worked with individuals learning plumbing skills and electricians doing PV. There are various options available and we’re happy to nurture people through that process.” Up for review While politics created these opportunities, it is also creating problems. The government has allocated £860 million for FITs between 2011 and 2014-15, but last year’s spending review saw the allocation for that final year reduced from £400 million to £360 million. This means the rate paid for FITs will fall following the government’s review, which is due to be finalised by the end of this year, with new rates coming into force from April 2012. The speculation over future rates is making it difficult for contractors and renewable energy businesses to plan. “It’s created a huge amount of uncertainty,” says Jonathan Bates, director and general manager at renewable specialist Photon Energy. “We’ve put all our recruitment plans on hold until we know what’s going to happen. The thing is that money is funded through our electricity bills; it has nothing to do with cutting the deficit.” Connections put those points to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). A spokesperson replied: “FITs are paid by NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

iStockphoto

heating, security, telecommunications and home automation, as well as electrical services, is taking the business through MCS registration and training with NICEIC. Almost all Rolec’s work is for developers of new-build residential properties. With many of these now being built under the sustainable homes code, PV is often installed at the outset. Adding this new string to the company’s bow ensures it can offer developers a comprehensive package of services, says Barrett. Paul Collins, head of NICEIC, believes the MCS scheme has already had a significant benefit for contractors. “It’s really opened up a new market,” he says. “OK, contractors have to do more training, but many see that as a business benefit and an opportunity to diversify into a new area. With the economic situation as it is, you really can’t have all your eggs in one basket.” Another potential option for smaller contractors looking to get into this market is to become MCS-accredited on the back of a company already established in this field. Eco-Exmoor was founded in 2003 to offer renewable technologies to domestic and commercial customers and specialises in solar PV, solar water heating and biomass boilers. The company, based in Devon and Somerset, is currently building up a nationwide installer database. “It costs a lot of money to train as an electrician and then more for separate courses for renewables,” says operations manager Anthony Adderley. “But there are grants out there and we can help to fund it too,” he adds. “We’ve helped more than 30 people

29/9/11 13:58:38

electricity supply companies, which pass on the costs to their customers. But the scheme is subject to the DECC levy control framework to ensure the policy’s objectives are achieved cost effectively and affordably and that the impact on bills is minimised.” “We have £360 million to spend in 2014-15 on all the projects that claim FITs in that year,” the spokesperson added. “The spending review envelope starts in 2011-12, but the £360 million includes absolutely all FITs projects. We have £80 million to spend in 2011-12 and it increases between now and 2014-15 to take into account new installations. The spending review committed to finding savings from FITs of 10 per cent, about £40 million, in 2014-15 and we need to ensure that the scheme remains within that spending envelope.” There is, however, a potentially lucrative market for contractors here, regardless of what the government decides to do in the FIT review. Bates gives the example of a 3.7kW PV system, purchased for about £10,000 today. Under the current FIT levels, payback would be achieved in about six years, but with energy prices forecast to rise by 6 per cent a year until 2020, according to Ofgem, the savings on bills alone make this an attractive investment. “We’re not far from a tipping point where the market doesn’t need the feed-in tariff and government support,” he says. “We’ve probably used up most of the people who are doing this because it’s a ‘good’ thing to do,” adds Keith Marshall, chief executive of SummitSkills. “We’re now seeing people doing it because there is a financial benefit. If we saw a step-change in any other renewable that meant the repayment period for that technology came down markedly then I think we might see another shift.” For contractors, this can only be good news in the long run. “At the moment it’s about design and installation, but that’s going to lead to maintenance and refurbishment,” adds Marshall. “The logical conclusion – that it will become a more significant activity for a contractor – is inescapable. The only question is timescale. The judgment any individual business needs to make is not if, but when.” » David Adams is a freelance business journalist

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Photon Energy

RENEWABLES

Need to know: Solar panel installation To become an MCS-accredited installer in the UK, specific procedures are required that, to all intents and purposes, are equivalent to those described in the IEC62446 standard. As a result, although the standard is not mandatory, it is being effectively enforced because no feed-in-tariff will be paid to a consumer unless the solar PV system has been installed by an accredited contractor. Specifically IEC62446 sets out measures to ensure that: • The PV panels and electrical supply connections have been wired up correctly; • That the electrical insulation is good; • The protective earth connection is as it should be; • There has been no damage to cables during installation. Source: Seaward

Case study

BJG Electrical BJG Electrical was established in Watford in 1980 by Barry Gooden and is now run by his son John, who led the move into renewables – in part because he felt the company needed to find a new niche to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. The company went through the MCS-accreditation process in early 2011. Recent projects have included eco-builds for high net-worth clients that incorporate solar PV alongside home security and automation technologies. “We can put together a really comprehensive energy-efficiency package, with solar PV, lighting design, energy-awareness installations, voltage-optimisation equipment, low-energy lighting, timers and occupancy sensors,” he says. Already the decision is paying off. “Solar PV was a significant investment,” he says. “It really is tens of thousands of pounds, in terms of the man hours it takes to get up to speed. But apart from that it’s really not that difficult and there are massive benefits commercially.” www.niceic.com

29/9/11 13:58:44

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NIC.10.11.037.indd 1

3/10/11 09:43:02

THERMAL IMAGING

Heat

of the moment Thermal imaging allows contractors to easily identify potential faults, saving time and opening the way to more business. Now, price reductions mean it’s a realistic option for every electrical company By Rob Shepherd

hermal imaging technology is now more popular than ever among forward-thinking electrical contractors looking to save time and money when inspecting electrical systems. By performing infrared scans of electrical components such as connections; fuses; junction boxes; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment; switchgear; motors; transformers; pumps; and fans, thermal imaging can identify problems quickly, easily and accurately, thereby saving contractors time and customers money. Previously seen as too expensive, many thermal imagers are now affordable for the average contractor, says Marieke Kers, a spokesperson for thermal imager supplier Flir. “Thanks to price reductions, there are now many electrical contractors

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using thermal imaging cameras who had not heard about this technology a few years ago,” she says. Alan Woodward, managing director of Derbyshire-based, NICEIC-registered Woodward Electrical, is one convert. “Thermal imaging is a highly effective method of testing – as well as being quicker, it also prevents fires,” he says. “A thermal imaging camera can identify potential electrical hazards, which cause 20 per cent of all industrial fires.” Mark Fuller, technical sales manager at Instrotech, says more contractors are now being asked to include thermal imaging as part of their periodic inspections. “As a company we both hire and sell the cameras, and over the past six months the demand for thermal cameras has increased rapidly,” he says. Temperature check Thermal imaging allows contractors to measure the temperature of any object in a non-contact mode, without any health and safety risk, making it particularly suited to predictive maintenance and troubleshooting. A thermal imager interprets infrared radiated or reflected heat by assigning a visible graduated colour or grey scale to an image. The colour palette highlights hotspots as white,

www.niceic.com

29/9/11 09:46:07

>Infrared cameras such as Flir’s E-Series (below) can pinpoint faults in components such as fuses (main picture)

Top tips: For selecting a thermal imager

‘While carrying out the test itself is not difficult, interpreting the results is an altogether more involved process’

with diminishing temperatures through red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, through to black, being cold. “This generates a visible representation of a particular installation and can highlight issues that may not be identifiable under normal analysis,” says Fluke Thermography’s senior technical sales support manager Vicente Ribeiro. For example, what looks like a connector in good operating conditions might be revealed as one pole operating at a 20°C hotter (red) temperature than the other (blue) even though they represent equal loads. “Owing to the sheer number of connections in an installation, there are bound to be some that are faulty, and perhaps dangerous,” says Ribeiro. When a thermal imager identifies a problem, an electrical contractor can then immediately address the issue, says Kers at Flir. “A thermal imaging camera saves time on the job by helping to see an anomaly before real problems occur,” she says. “For the customer, costly breakdowns can be avoided and time and money saved.” To get an accurate temperature measurement of components, imagers usually allow adjustment of the emissivity value – the measurement that tracks how thoroughly the surface of an item emits energy.

www.niceic.com

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• Choose a thermal imager that delivers accurate, repeatable results. Always make sure that the camera meets the industry accuracy standard of ±2% or 2.2°C, whichever is greater • Buy a thermal imager with high detector resolution or image quality. Just as with a digital camera, the more pixels, the better the resolution • Look for a product where you yourself can change the battery. Be sure that you can get an extra battery and a charging station • Look for a lightweight, ergonomic camera for extended or frequent use. A camera that weighs even just a pound or two more than another can start to cause back and arm strain within 20 minutes • Choose a thermal imager with a built-in laser pointer and one that has software-upgrade potential • Buy a thermal imager from a manufacturer with strong post-sale technical support and certified training Source: Flir

In automatic mode, the imager assigns a temperature range based on the thermal scene it sees. However, if the scene has something cool in the foreground and something very hot in the background, the imager usually allows contractors to manually adjust the levels so that they can view just the temperatures of the hot or cool object with a better resolution. A contractor can also take thermal images of key units and compare them with those taken during a previous visit. Any hotspots that weren’t there last time indicate possible problems in the making, and should be investigated further. The software provided with the imager will help to align the images time after time, so comparisons are consistent. Hunting for business In many cases, the contractor is effectively being paid to discover new work, providing a competitive edge for a business. Some contractors who have recognised what this service can offer are now actively promoting it on their marketing and promotional materials. Luton-based NICEIC Approved Contractor Instalec already carries out inspections and diagnostic testing using this technology. “Firms that have regular maintenance and

NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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THERMAL IMAGING

troubleshooting contracts stand to gain from adding a thermal imaging service, as they will already know the facility and which units are critical to performance,” says the company’s managing director Paul Jones. “A thermal inspection can therefore become part of the regular assessment process, with the potential for additional work as a result.” Using a thermal imager should not pose any problems for contractors, and most systems can be used straight out of the box. Most entry-level devices come with a user manual and some form of interactive training, and that’s usually all that’s needed to get started. However, Mark Fuller, sales executive at test equipment reseller Instrotech, says that in some cases specific training is well worthwhile. “Thermography training is something that users should consider,” he says. “There is a range of training courses available, from a simple one-day introduction course to a fully certified level I, II or III thermography course.” “While carrying out the test itself is not difficult, interpreting the results is an altogether more involved process,” adds Jones at Instalec. “Understanding what the images on the screen represent, and making the correct diagnosis, requires a level of knowledge about the physics of what the data represents. It is essential to understand how variables such as temperature, humidity, emissivity and airflow can affect scan information.” Finding the right fit Products range from lightweight handheld imagers that fit easily in a tool belt to fully featured, highdefinition devices. Some even employ technology that integrates infrared and visual in full screen, or through picturein-picture views. These techniques provide an enhanced level of problem detection and analysis, allowing the user to quickly pinpoint and identify the area of concern. Unless contractors are working in an environment with very complicated, small components or very heat-sensitive applications, an imager with a thermal sensitivity range of -10°C to 350°C (14°F to 662°F) will be more than adequate for most jobs. Manufacturers, though, are constantly developing ways to make identification easier. “Fluke’s thermal imagers now include IR-Fusion, a 40

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Need to know: Seeing is believing This is an image of a loose connection taken with a thermal imager. The temperature in the L2 phase is about 55°C. It is clearly hotter than the other phases and the heat is localised, indicating an increased local resistance, says Vicente Ribeiro, senior technical sales support manager at Fluke Thermography. In a new installation that would mean a loose connection while in an older installation it could also be oxidation, he adds. It is enough to see the image, without the need for any precise measurement, to identify the problem as something in need of further investigation.

technology that fuses a visible light image with an infrared image for better identification, analysis and image management,” says Ribeiro. The advantages of using thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool are clear, but anyone looking to invest in a thermal imager must do their homework, warns Jones at Instalec. “Making sure that you get a return on your investment is key to getting the financial benefits from thermal imaging,” he says. Yet with insurance companies now offering discounts for organisations that have their electrical wiring checked during a periodic inspection using this method, the use of thermal imaging is set to grow among electrical contractors. The technique represents an excellent way to gain extra business and provide a higher value offering to customers – something that, in this day and age, few contractors can afford to ignore. » Rob Shepherd is a freelance journalist, specialising in the electrical industry

‘Thermal imaging is a highly effective method of testing – as well as being quicker, it also prevents fires’

Case study

Caerleon: Benefits for testing process NICEIC Approved Contractor Caerleon Electrical, based in Newport, has offered clients a thermal imaging service for several years, and the firm’s managing director Roy Hoare can’t understand why the technique is not more popular. “There are enormous benefits to using thermal imaging as part of an inspection and testing process,” he says. “In fact, I believe that in certain environments such as factories, engineering plants and workshops, an annual thermal imaging test should be mandatory.” Caerleon first looked into the market after being asked by one of its regular customers whether it offered thermal imaging, and eventually invested in a thermal imager from Fluke Thermography and its associated software. Since then, Hoare hasn’t looked back. “Once a customer can see the problems picked up with a thermal imaging test, they are amazed,” he says. “There have been so many instances where the thermal imager has picked up a loose connection or a resistance to current, allowing us to prevent plant damage or even a fire.” His advice for other contractors is to research which products are available that meet their budget and requirements. “Look at existing clients, work out who could benefit, and offer it to them,” he says. www.niceic.com

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connections NIC.10.11.041.indd 1

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Take

no chances By David Adams

iStockphoto

Electrical businesses of all sizes have an obligation to protect the general public, their staff and customers from danger. Despite budget pressures, health and safety must remain a top priority

£100,000: The starting amount suggested by the Sentencing Guidelines Council as a penalty for firms found guilty of health and safety offences leading to a death Autumn 2011 NICEIC Connections

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hanks to a sustained attack from the popular press, the phrase “health and safety” has become a bit of a joke over the past 20 years. A quick search on the website of the reliably outraged Daily Mail reveals the case of New Brighton Council in Merseyside banning steam-powered model boats in a public park, on the dubious-sounding grounds that the boilers inside the boats could explode and injure someone. In fact, as you find out if you actually read past the headline, the council was advised to ban the boats by a local model boat club. The fact is that the vast majority of health and safety regulations are in place for a very sound reason, and legislation concerning the workplace plays a vital role in helping to keep any accidents to an absolute minimum. We know all about the risks associated with electricity. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest there are about 1,000 electrical accidents at work each year in the UK and about 25 deaths. One of the press releases on the HSE website relates to the prosecution of electrical engineering company Powersystems UK. In 2009, high-voltage cable-jointer Stephen Edwards suffered horrific burns when he was instructed to open a cable connection box that he had been told, mistakenly, was isolated and earthed. The terminals inside were live at 11,000 volts. The current arced between one of them and Edwards’ spanner, setting fire to his clothes and causing burns on his hands, arms and chest so severe that he has been unable to return to work. www.niceic.com

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Case study

How KDE plays it safe Not only had Edwards been instructed to stand in the wrong place and handle the wrong piece of equipment, but that equipment had not been tested to see whether it was live. Nor was Edwards wearing suitable protective clothing, and no risk assessment had been conducted. The company was ordered to pay a fine of £5,000, plus £8,000 costs. In 2010 the Sentencing Guidelines Council advised that fines levied on organisations found guilty of offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act that cause death can start at £100,000 and run upwards. Every qualified electrician will have undertaken electrical safety training, but refreshing that knowledge is always worthwhile, not least because we are all too fallible. As John Madden, HM principal specialist inspector (electrical engineering) at the HSE, puts it: “It’s the human factors, the ways in which skilled people with core competencies might, for whatever reason, choose not to follow risk procedures.” The bigger picture Beyond the industry-specific hazards, electricians face the same kinds of health and safety issues that affect other workers, including working at height, musculo-skeletal conditions caused by heavy lifting, and exposure to asbestos. Companies are not only responsible for their own staff – it’s just as important to ensure that any risks that might affect the public, or anyone working at a site where the electrician has completed some work, are also assessed and mitigated. This is why a growing number of firms hiring electrical contractors now apply extra pressure on them to prove they take the right approach to health and safety. “Larger companies now ask us to send them copies of our health and safety policy,” reports Jo-Hanna Hamilton, office manager and co-owner at RS Electrical, a small but rapidly expanding contractor based in Bath, Somerset. The company gets some assistance in refining health and safety policies from John Gilpin, a specialist consultant and proprietor of Essential Health and Safety Services. “They’re trying to ensure that if they’re asked by a large organisation to show them their policy or any other relevant document, they’ve got all the answers,” Gilpin says. “They’re very keen to do the right thing. This is half the battle.” Both Gilpin and the HSE’s Madden stress the important role played by managers. “We look to senior managers and directors to show leadership and to establish well-understood guidelines and managerial practices that ensure operatives follow the correct procedures,” says Madden. They also see plenty of room for improvement. “I often find that risk assessments conducted on behalf of the principal contractor bear little relation to the work actually being done,” says Madden. “It’s a concern if the risk assessment is treated as a tick-box exercise, rather than an active tool.”

NICEIC Approved Contractor KDE Ltd is a thriving electrical, heating and plumbing services company based in Cheshire, with a workforce of about 30 staff. Health and safety policy is reviewed regularly by a committee headed by managing director Keith Darlington and general works manager Ron Sayle. Sayle has run a programme to raise awareness of health and safety issues, based on posters used in the company’s headquarters. “We have one where you see someone in a series of dangerous situations and it asks the question ‘could it happen to you?’” he explains. Regular tests on all the safety equipment and protective clothing stored in the company’s vans help enforce policy, as does a checklist of potential threats on each job sheet, including noise, lifting equipment, dust, fumes, confined spaces, working on live electrics, slips and trips, working at height and hazardous chemicals. Electricians must state which hazards are present on site and the preventive measures taken to mitigate them, including use of protective clothing and equipment. “They do their own little safety hazard assessment on every individual job,” says Sayle.

35 per cent: The reduction in government

Seeking the right balance Yet there will always be a tension between the desire to improve safety on one side and to cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy on the other. In June 2010, the coalition government appointed former Cabinet minister Lord Young to head a review of health and safety law and practice. The findings were broadly welcomed. Judith Hackitt, chair of the HSE, called it “an important milestone on the road to recovery for the reputation of real health and safety”, while Jule Nerney, chief executive of the British Safety Council, predicted its recommendations would “re-establish credibility to our enviable health and safety laws while sweeping away ludicrously misguided regulations and red tape”. But the government’s great eagerness to cut back regulations and the budgets that sustain their enforcement is causing some concern. A spokesperson for the HSE told Connections the organisation had been asked to make savings of at least 35 per cent by the end of the 2010 Spending Review period (2014-15). The construction industry, however, is among the high-risk sectors where frequent inspections are likely to be maintained, making it even more important that NICEIC contractors do all they can to ensure their companies deliver safe working environments for staff, customers and the public. The very best way to do that is always to keep lines of communication to staff fully open. It’s better to talk to employees or contractors now, healthy and safe in the workplace, than to be forced to do so in a hospital ward or a courtroom.

funding for the Health and Safety Executive between 2010 and 2015

» David Adams is a freelance business journalist

www.niceic.com

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NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully Charged From the helpline

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

ANSWER

Is it acceptable for me, as the electrical contractor, to remove the distributor’s service fuse at the origin of an installation to find out its current rating? QU

No! You must not remove the service fuse, whether to find out its current rating or for any other reason. The service fuse and its carrier are the distributor’s property and the contractor is not authorised to interfere with these. Also, unauthorised removal of revenue seals may result in prosecution for alleged theft of electricity. More importantly, it can be very dangerous to attempt to remove a service fuse where the service head has suffered damage or deterioration, particularly in the case of older pattern, metal-clad types. Distributors’ and meter operators’ employees who are authorised to remove service fuses have received specific training on the appropriate safe working procedures and on the hazards that can be present when carrying out this work. Such employees are also provided with a range of personal protective equipment, including full face visors and specially designed gloves to provide both electrical insulation and physical protection from arcing and the like.

QUESTION

ANSWER

Can I find out the rating of the distributor’s service fuse by checking the current stated on the fuse carrier?

No. You cannot assume that the current stated on the fuse carrier is the same as the rated current (In) of the service fuse itself. The current stated on the fuse carrier is the rated uninterrupted current (Iu) of the cut-out assembly (clause 5.2 a of BS 7657: 2010 Specification for cut-out assemblies up to 100 A rating, for power supply to buildings refers). Although the fuse-carriers for modern service cut-outs may be rated at either 60 A or 100 A per phase, it is possible to obtain fuses of ratings up to 100 A to fit both types of fuse-carrier. Therefore, a service fuse carrier displaying a 60 A uninterrupted current rating could actually contain a fuse of up to 100 A rated current. Furthermore, BS 7657 specifically requires that both ratings of fuse carriers shall fit all associated fuse bases (clause 7.1.3 refers).

QUESTION

ANSWER

So, how can I find out the rating of the distributor’s service fuse?

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In the case of an existing installation, you might be able to find out the rating (and type) of the distributor’s service fuse from the Electrical Installation Certificate or from a Periodic Inspection Report on the installation. Otherwise you could contact the distributor and request this information. The distributor has an obligation to provide you with a written statement of the type and rating of the service fuse and certain other information, if you can show reasonable cause for needing it (such as for use in connection with the design, certification or inspection and testing of the installation). NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged The obligation for the distributor to provide the information is set out in regulation 28 (and particularly indent (c)) of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, which states that: A distributor shall provide, in respect of any existing or proposed consumer’s installation which is connected or is to be connected to his network, to any person who can show a reasonable cause for requiring the information, a written statement of – (a) the maximum prospective short circuit current at the supply terminals; (b) for low voltage connections, the maximum earth loop impedance of the earth fault path outside the installation; (c) the type and rating of the distributor’s protective device or devices nearest to the supply terminals; (d) the type of earthing system applicable to the connection; and (e) the information specified in regulation 27(1), which apply, or will apply, to that installation. QUESTION Can I use 230 V power tools on a construction site?

The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it might first seem. Construction sites are recognised as posing an increased risk of electric shock due to factors such as: • the higher than normal likelihood of equipment suffering damage in use • the presence of wetness and the resultant reduction in contact resistances this may cause • misuse of the temporary electrical supplies by electrically unskilled persons • a reliance on a TT earthing system due to restrictions placed on the use of TN-C-S (PME) earthing arrangements on construction sites. As a result of this increased risk, Health and Safety Executive publication HSG141, Electrical safety on construction sites, gives advice, summarised below, regarding power tools and hand lamps used on construction sites. 1. Where possible, pneumatic tools should be employed, especially where the risk of electric shock is particularly high 2. Where practicable, given the nature of the work, battery powered handheld tools should be used 3. A supply at SELV might be appropriate for lighting and power tools in some parts of a construction site. The use of SELV is the strongly preferred protective measure for hand lamps that are to be used in confined or damp locations on site (Note 2 to Regulation 704.410.3.10 of BS 7671 refers) 4. Where the use of SELV is impracticable, a reduced low voltage (110 V centre-tapped to earth) system, meeting the requirements of Regulation Group 411.8, should be provided for general lighting and power requirements on site 5. The use of a 230 V, single-phase supply for portable tools (including cordless), hand lamps and the like is permitted but additional protection should be provided by means of an RCD having a rated residual operating current (IΔn) not exceeding 30 mA (see Regulation 415.1.1). Although the use of 230 V power tools is generally permitted on construction sites in the UK, you might find that this is not allowed by the safe working policies that are in place on certain construction sites. Where this is the case, an alternative, such as tools suitable for use with a reduced low voltage system in accordance with Regulation Group 411.8 of BS 7671, as provided for use by contractors, will have to be employed. Further guidance on safety relating to electricity supplies and their use on construction sites can be found in HSE publication HSG141 − Electrical safety on construction sites and BS 7375 − Distribution of electricity on construction and demolition sites. Code of practice, as well as in Section 704 of BS 7671.

Autumn 2011 NICEIC Connections

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ANSWER

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged 48 51 54 59 62

Fire resistance of cable supports How often should periodic inspection and testing be carried out? An overview of the changes introduced by amendment 1 to BS 7671 Harmonics in electrical installations Snags and solutions: A practical guide to everyday electrical problems

o meet requirements in BS 7671 and recommendations and requirements of codes of practice for safety services (such as emergency lighting and fire alarms), wiring systems should be supported in a way that helps protect against such tragedies. Requirements applying to all wiring systems

Fire resistance of cable supports Two firefighters lost their lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in February 2005. Whilst there were a number of contributing factors to this tragedy, one of the firefighters died when he became entangled in electric cabling that had fallen as a result of the plastic cable trunking in which it was contained melting. The subsequent investigation found that the firefighter had cable insulation stuck on the inside palm of his glove, showing that he had been attempting to untangle himself as he died.

Fig 1 Example of a wiring system collapsed due to fire

The requirements of BS 7671 apply to all wiring systems of a building, including those of distribution circuits and final circuits, safety services, data and communications services, and all others. Regulation 527.1.2 requires wiring systems to be so installed that the general building structural performance and fire safety are not reduced. In the context of wiring systems, this implies that they should be supported in such a way that, where appropriate (such as in corridors, stairways and other escape routes), they will not collapse when affected by a fire and cause injury or death, such as by entangling a person trying to escape from the building or a firefighter carrying out a search and rescue operation. The above requirements would be unlikely to be met by the sole use of plastic cable clips, non metallic cable ties or plastic trunking to support wiring systems. Cables (and any trunking, conduit or cable tray etc) should wherever possible be fixed to a suitable noncombustible substrate of the building using proven metal fixings. It should not be overlooked that, for locations where particular risks of fire exist (due for example to the conditions of evacuation in an emergency, the nature of processed or stored materials, or the combustibility of the building materials), Section 422 of BS 7671 also applies. This Section includes certain requirements relating to the flammability and fire resistance of wiring systems that have implications on the supports for those wiring systems. For safety services, such as fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, Regulation 560.8.1 requires, amongst other things, that the wiring systems meet the requirements of the relevant code of practice appropriate to the application. Recommendations applying to fire alarm wiring systems The recommendations of BS 5839-1: 2002 + A2: 2008, Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Part 1: Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance, apply in addition to the requirements of BS 7671. Clause 26.2(c) recommends that cable systems used for all parts of the critical signal paths, and for the low voltage mains supply to the system, should resist the effects of fire. Note 9 to that clause, which was added after the two firefighters died in the Stevenage fire, states

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that experience has shown that collapse of cables supported only by plastic cable trunking can create a serious hazard for fire-fighters, who could become entangled in the cables. Also, clause 46.2(5), relating to inspections, states that shortcomings in cable support that could result in collapse of a significant length of cable in the event of fire might be regarded as a major non-compliance. To meet the recommendations of clause 26.2, methods of cable support should be such that circuit integrity will not be reduced below that afforded by the cable used, and should withstand a similar temperature and duration to that of the cable, whilst maintaining adequate support. In practice this means that fixings for ‘standard’ fire resisting cables should survive for 30 minutes at a nominal temperature of 850 ˚C without loss of integrity and those for ‘enhanced’ fire resisting cables for 120 minutes at a nominal temperature of 950 ˚C.

Clause 9.2, relating to the wiring for central power supply systems, identifies the need for wiring systems used for the connection of emergency escape lighting luminaires to the standby power supply to adequately resist the effects of fire and mechanical damage. Clause 9.2.2 states, amongst other things, that cable supports and fixings should be fire resistant, such that circuit integrity is not reduced below that afforded by the cable used. A note to that clause states that, in effect, this recommendation precludes the use of plastic supports and fixings where these would be the sole means of supporting the cable. The supports should therefore be suitably selected and installed to prevent collapse of the wiring system in the event of fire. Also, for wiring systems listed in clause 9.2.2 as having an inherently high resistance to attack by fire, which have a survival duration of 60 minutes when tested in accordance with BS EN 50200: 2000, the supports should be suitable to withstand a similar temperature and duration to that of the wiring system, whilst maintaining adequate support. Although the wiring system bringing the mains voltage supply to self-contained emergency lighting luminaires is not covered by clause 9.2 of BS 5266, it still has to comply with BS 7671. It should therefore be supported in such a way that it will not collapse when affected by a fire, as mentioned earlier.

Recommendations applying to emergency lighting wiring systems The recommendations of BS 5266-1: 2005, Emergency lighting − Part 1: Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises, apply in addition to the requirements of BS 7671.

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

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If you have ever telephoned our technical helpline you may wonder who the voices are on the other end of the line. Well, meet the technical helpline team: all industry professionals with vast experience in the electrical industry and some interests outside of the day job too!

Alan Turvey, NICEIC operations engineer Industry experience: Electrician, carrying out industrial, commercial, quarry and domestic installations, lecturer and deputy head of construction with further education college Interests: Walking, bonsai cultivation and restoration of classic bicycles

Stuart McHugh, senior technical helpline engineer Industry experience: More than 41 years in the electrical industry, including a six-year apprenticeship, industrial commercial domestic and street-lighting work Interests: Vintage aircraft, motoring (owns an MGBGT sports car)

Clinton Thompson, NICEIC operations engineer 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 (owns a Royal Enfield Bullet), music (plays guitar in a small group)

John O’Neill, NICEIC operations engineer Industry experience: Owned and operated a large electrical systems integrator, electrical consultant, lecturer in electrical installations and NVQ assessor, experienced in a wide range of installation types and market sectors having spent more than 38 years in the electrical industry Interests: Sports, books and travel

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged How often should periodic inspection and testing be carried out? Approved Contractors, Domestic Installers and members of the public sometimes ask how often an electrical installation should be subjected to periodic inspection and testing. This article considers the factors that influence the decision as to when the first and subsequent periodic inspections should be carried out. First periodic inspection Any electrical installation will deteriorate to some extent throughout its life. The speed of deterioration will depend on factors such as: a) the severity of the external influences that will affect the installation, b) the nature of the activities to be performed in the areas served by the installation, and c) the degree of wear, tear and damage likely to occur in normal use. Regulation 134.2.2 of BS 7671 requires the electrical installation designer to recommend the interval to the first periodic inspection, as further detailed in Part 6. The expiry date of this interval should be stated on the Electrical Installation Certificate. In making the recommendation, the designer should take into account the following, which he or she should already have assessed for the purposes of designing the installation: • the factors affecting the speed of deterioration, such as a), b) and c) above, and • the frequency and quality of maintenance the installation can reasonably be expected to receive during its intended life (Regulation 341.1 refers). Consideration should also be given to any statutory requirements and licensing conditions regarding frequency of inspections that may be applicable to some types of installation (examples are given later in this article). There are some projects where information such as the exact nature of the use of the premises and the arrangements for future maintenance of the installation is not clear, such as may be the case for speculatively built premises. Nevertheless, the installation designer must still make a recommendation for the interval to the first periodic inspection, based on the best information available. Table 3.2 of IET Guidance Note 3 provides guidance on the initial frequency of periodic inspections for

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installations in a wide range of typical premises (domestic, commercial, educational and so on). The periods in the table are maxima and are based variously on statutory requirements, licensing conditions, recommendations given in British Standards and Codes of Practices, and longstanding industry custom and practice. Whilst the periods given in the table provide a useful starting point, they should not be seen as a substitute for a proper assessment of the interval required between periodic inspections, particularly where the installation or premises are not typical. It should be noted that those recommendations appearing in Table 3.2 of IET Guidance Note 3 taken from statutory instruments, British Standards or Codes of Practices could be subject to change as and when those documents are revised. It is the responsibility of the designer of the installation to be aware of, and to act on, the most up to date information and requirements at all times. Subsequent periodic inspections The interval that was recommended to the first periodic inspection might not be appropriate for subsequent inspections. One reason for this is that, in making the recommendation for the interval to the first inspection, the designer may have made assumptions that have turned out to be inaccurate, or are no longer valid, about matters such as: • the nature of the users or occupiers of the premises (such as their capability) • the intended usage of the installation (such as loading, and frequency of use of equipment) • the levels of use and misuse in service • the effects of external influences (such as temperature, wetness, dust or other foreign bodies, corrosive substances, impact or vibration) • the suitability of selected equipment for both the environment and the work activities taking place in the installation (such as locations, amounts and types of outlets, luminaires and controls), and Fig 1 Example of ‘next inspection’ label

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged • the extent and effectiveness of ongoing maintenance. Another reason that the interval recommended to the first periodic inspection might not be appropriate for subsequent inspections is that a periodic inspection might reveal trends in the deterioration of the installation that indicate the need for either a shorter or longer interval to the next inspection than the one recommended to the first periodic inspection. As indicated by Regulation 622.1, matters such as those in the list above, as well as the findings and recommendations of the previous periodic inspection, if any, should be taken into account when deciding on the period to the next inspection. Where the inspector chooses to recommend a reduced interval to the next inspection, it might also be appropriate to make comments regarding the need for effective maintenance to be performed between inspections and, in some cases, regarding the suitability of the installed equipment and the way it is being used.

Table 1

Type of installation

Recommended frequency for inspection and testing

BS 7671 reference

Temporary installations of exhibitions, shows and stands

After each assembly on site

711.6

Within a caravan (as defined) – In general Not exceeding 3 years – Frequently used (high mileage) Every year Temporary installations forming After each assembly on part of fairgrounds, amusement site parks and circuses

721.514.1 (Fig 721) 721.514.1 (Fig 721) 740.6

Other situations where inspection and testing may be required

Statutory requirements Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR) places an obligation on duty holders to maintain electrical systems (as defined in those regulations), so far as is reasonably practicable, in order to prevent danger. This maintenance requirement applies to all places of work. Maintenance requirements relating to installations ‘for the supply of water, gas and electricity’ in short lease accommodation can be found in Section 11, sub-section (1) (b) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (England and Wales) and in Section 13 (1) (c) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Whilst the requirement in the above legislation is to maintain, a case can be made that by performing regular inspection and testing of the electrical installation an assessment can be made as to where maintenance can be most efficiently and effectively applied. For rented accommodation, the case for a range of types of regular inspection is made in Section 8 (1) – Implied terms as to fitness for human habitation in the Landlord and Tenant Act and Section 14 – Landlord’s duty to repair and maintain of the Housing (Scotland) Act. In both cases, the suitability of the condition of the electrical installation should be assured at the start of and throughout the period of any tenancy. Very specific requirements are laid down in The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 with respect to properties falling within their scope. Regulation 6 (3) states that: The manager of an HMO must – (a) ensure that every fixed electrical installation is inspected and tested at intervals not exceeding five years by a person qualified to undertake such inspection and testing; (b) obtain a certificate1 from the person conducting that test, specifying the results of the test; and (c) supply that certificate to the local housing authority within 7 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that authority.

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In practice this means an Electrical Installation Condition Report in accordance with Regulation 631.2 of BS 7671.

Regular inspections of a particular frequency might be a requirement of a British Standard or a Code of Practice, such as is the case with some aspects of fire detection and fire alarms systems and emergency lighting installations. In the case of a number of types of special installation or location, BS 7671 specifies the frequencies in Table 1. Electrical installations of caravan parks are an example of where the frequency of inspection and testing is subject to a licensing condition, locally set, which must be met. Typically this condition will call for an annual inspection. Other examples of types of installation which are subject to similar licensing requirements are cinemas, where an interval of between one and three years would be typical, and petrol filling stations, which are generally required to be subjected to inspection and testing annually. Other premises open to the public may also be subject to similar licensing conditions. A mortgage provider may require the electrical installation of premises to be subjected to some scrutiny as a precondition of the mortgage offer. In such cases, it would be wise to determine the degree of inspection and testing that the mortgage provider requires to be carried out. It might be necessary for inspection and testing to be carried out on an electrical installation after the occurrence of significant events such as fires, flooding or structural damage as a pre-requisite of obtaining compensation. On occasion, a property may be placed under the control of a housing association, letting agent or similar for a period of time with the proviso that the property is returned at the end of that period in at least as good a condition. In such cases a thorough inspection, including testing should be carried out prior to the handover to provide a reference point.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged An overview of the changes introduced by Amendment 1 to BS 7671 Amendment 1 to BS 7671: 2008 was published on 1 July 2011 and comes into effect on 1 January 2012. The table in this article gives an overview of the main changes introduced by the amendment. Because of the number of changes, it has not been possible to go into detail about them in this overview. However, some of the changes will be described more fully in future issues of Connections. The new Electrical Installation Condition Report introduced in Amendment 1 was discussed in an article in Issue 178 of Connections.

BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change/new content

Introduction

Timeline

Date of issue of AMD 1 is 1 July 2011. Any installations that are designed after 31 December 2011 must be designed in accordance with the requirements given in AMD 1. Either version of BS 7671: 2008 may be used in the interim.

General

Regulation numbering system

The 17th edition saw the adoption of the IEC numbering system, in which the component parts of a Regulation number are separated by a decimal point, as an aid to implementing changes to the requirements given in the International (IEC) and European (CENELEC) base documents. A number of the requirements contained in BS 7671 are particular to the United Kingdom. To show where this is the case, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;100â&#x20AC;&#x2122; component has been introduced to the numbering system. For example, Regulation 522.2.100.

General

References to ESQCR 2002

Amendments have been made in a number of places throughout BS 7671 to clarify the requirements of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 with regard to the suitability for use of Protective Multiple Earth (PME) earthing facilities.

Chapter 11

Alignment to base standards

A number of regulations have been renumbered to more closely match the requirements in the base European standard.

110.1.1

Extension of scope

Scope extended to also include medical locations, and operating and maintenance gangways.

110.1.3

Standards to be referred to alongside BS 7671

BS 8519: 2010 Selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications. Code of Practice added to list of standards that might need to be referred to and complied with in certain cases in addition to the requirements of BS 7671.

110.2

Removal from scope

Electric fences covered by BS EN 60335 now excluded from scope.

131.3.2

Thermal effects

Livestock included in scope of requirement for protection against thermal effects.

Part 2

Definitions

Changes made to correct, improve or otherwise modify existing definitions. Definitions for cable bracket and flexible cord deleted. A number of new definitions introduced, in many cases to accompany newly introduced sections of the Regulations. In some cases, definitions have been more closely aligned with those given in the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV). In some cases, a section number has been included after a number of newly introduced definitions to highlight their point of origin within BS 7671. For example Temporary overvoltage (UTOV), {534}.

Part 2

Symbols

Five rating factors added/amended. Nine other new symbols added, six of which are from the new Section 534 (Devices for protection against overvoltage).

Chapter 31

Conductor arrangements and systems

The diagrams for single source TT, TN-S and TN-C-S systems commonly used in the UK have been revised and moved to Chapter 31. A number of figures have been added to illustrate the range of current-carrying conductor arrangements taken into account in BS 7671. Arrangements for d.c. circuits are included. The diagram for a TN-C system has been deleted.

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BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change/new content

411.3.3

Removal of examples

Deletion of ‘some commercial or industrial locations’ as examples of where additional protection by RCD having IΔn not exceeding 30 mA need not be provided for general purpose socket-outlets of rating 20 A or less for use by ordinary persons.

Tables 41.2; 41.4; & 41.6 BS 88 fuses

Amended to reflect changes in product standards for cartridge fuses.

Table 41.5

Simplification of table

Scope of the table revised to cover only circuits at a nominal a.c. rms line voltage to Earth (U0) of 230 V.

418.3.8

Electrical separation

Wording changed to make content a requirement and not a recommendation.

422.3.1

Thermal effects – Luminaires

Content expanded. Also, the provision of a safety protective shield for a lamp where flammable materials could be ejected in the case of failure becomes a requirement and not a recommendation.

422.3.4

Thermal effects – powertrack

Requirement added for powertrack systems to meet the fire condition test specified in BS EN 61534 series.

422.3.8

Thermal effects – luminaires

Minimum acceptable IP ratings for luminaires modified and expanded. Requirement added that luminaires be so installed that dust or fibres cannot accumulate in dangerous amounts in locations where such dust or fibres might cause a fire hazard.

422.4.1

Thermal effects – equipment

Minimum IP rating of IP3X added for boxes and enclosures in prefabricated hollow walls containing pre-installed wiring systems, where such walls are liable to be drilled during the erection process where CA2 conditions exist.

422.4.2

Thermal effects – luminaires

Content expanded. Provision of a safety protective shield for a lamp where flammable materials could be ejected in the case of failure becomes a requirement and not a recommendation.

430.1

Protection against overcurrent

New note added to explain that, where used in Chapter 43, the term disconnection does not necessarily mean isolation.

Section 443

Protection against overvoltages

A number of notes relating to BS EN 62305 added.

Section 444

Measures against electromagnetic disturbances

New section added, Measures against electromagnetic disturbances.

512.1.5

Compatibility

Requirement added relating to compatibility of temperature rating for conductors in relation to the operating temperature of the equipment to which they will be connected or the use of 70 °C current ratings.

514.10.1

Nominal voltages

Wording regarding enclosures within which nominal voltages exceeding 230 V to Earth are present but may not be expected has been simplified. Requirement relating to nominal voltage exceeding 230 V between simultaneously accessible enclosures has been deleted.

514.15

More than one supply for installation

This Regulation Group now refers to alternative supplies rather than dual supplies.

521.100

Wiring systems

New requirement recognising the use of prefabricated wiring systems.

522.6.100

Cables in floor or ceiling voids

New indent relating to SELV and PELV circuits.

522.6.101

Cables in walls or partitions

New indent relating to SELV and PELV circuits.

522.6.103

Cables in partitions having metallic parts

New indent relating to SELV and PELV circuits.

522.8.1

Installation of cables

New text added regarding suitability of lubricants for use when drawing in cables.

522.13

External influences

Renamed Movement of air (AR).

522.14

External influences

Cross-reference to Section 422 has been added.

523.8

Installation of cables

Wording modified to clarify that where heat dissipation factors vary along a cable route, the current-carrying capacity of the conductors should be appropriate for each part of that route.

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NICEIC Connections Autumn 2011

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged

BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change/new content

524.2.2

Triplen harmonics

New statement that where the total harmonic current due to triplen harmonics exceeds 33% of the fundamental line current, the cross-sectional area of the neutral conductor may need to be increased.

Table 52.3

Cross-sectional areas for conductors

Power and lighting circuits now categorised separately. Minimum cross-sectional area of insulated copper conductor forming part of a power circuit increased to 1.5 mm².

526.3

Connections

New indent, recognising that maintenance-free accessories complying with BS 5733 need not be installed such as to be accessible for inspection and maintenance.

530.3.5

Isolation, switching and control

New requirements giving the conditions under which auto-reclosing devices for protection, isolation, switching or control may be installed.

533.3

Protection against fault current

Simplification/clarification regarding the significance of both maximum and minimum fault current conditions with respect to the selection of fault current protective devices.

Section 534

Surge protective devices

New section added, Devices for protection against overvoltage.

537.1.3

Isolation of installation

New text added regarding the use of distributor’s cut-out fuse for isolation of installation between origin and first isolator for the installation.

559.3

Luminaires and lighting

Luminaires fixed to the outside of a building that are supplied directly from the internal wiring of that building, and road traffic signal systems, are excluded from the scope of Section 559 Luminaires and lighting installations.

559.6.1.100

Luminaires and lighting

Consideration to be given to provision of neutral conductor at each switch position to facilitate the installation of electronic switching device.

559.10.3.2

Luminaires and lighting

Wording changed to make content relating to additional protection for the lighting arrangements in telephone kiosks, bus shelters, town plans and the like a requirement and not a recommendation.

Table 55.2

Luminaires and lighting

Table expanded to reflect changes in BS EN 60598-1 from which the symbols are taken.

560.4.1

Safety services

Classification of changeover times modified.

560.6.1

Safety services

The types of electrical sources recognised as being suitable for use for safety services are listed.

560.6.14

Safety services

New requirement for certain aspects of the condition of a source for a safety service to be monitored.

Part 6

Inspection and testing

Amendments to reflect replacement of the Periodic Inspection Report by the Electrical Installation Condition Report.

701.411.3.3

Locations containing bath or shower

Clarification that requirement for additional protection by RCD(s) applies to all low voltage circuits of the location (i.e. not ELV circuits).

704.410.3.6

Construction and demolition sites

New requirement. The fault protective measures of non-conducting location and earthfree local equipotential bonding shall not be employed for installations of construction or demolition sites.

706.1

Conducting locations with Clarification that Section 706 does not apply to installations covered by BS 7909. restricted movement

708.553.1.12

Caravan/camping parks

New requirement for each fixed connection to a leisure accommodation vehicle to be provided with an individual overcurrent protective device.

708.553.1.13

Caravan/camping parks

New requirement for each fixed connection to a leisure accommodation vehicle to be provided with individual protection by an RCD having a rated residual operating current ≤ 30 mA which disconnects all poles of the supply including the neutral.

709.553.1.8

Marinas

Wording changed to make content a requirement and not a recommendation.

Section 710

Medical locations

New section added, Medical locations.

717.1

Mobile or transportable units

Scope amended to clarify that both a.c. and d.c. installations of mobile and transportable units are covered.

717.313

Mobile or transportable units

New requirement, stating acceptable methods of supply for a unit.

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BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change / new content

717.55.3

Mobile or transportable units

New requirement. Automatic means of disconnecting the supply from generator sets mounted in the unit, other than those providing SELV or PELV supply, in the event of the unit being involved in an accident. Where this is difficult to achieve, an easily accessible emergency switch is to be provided.

Figs 717.1; 717.2; 717.3; 717.4.

Mobile or transportable units

Conductive external staircase (steps into vehicle) added to figures.

Fig 717.4

Mobile or transportable units

New example of connection to a fixed installation for a unit using simple separation and an internal IT system with or without an earth electrode.

Fig 717.6

Mobile or transportable units

Example of connection to a fixed electrical installation for a unit using simple separation and an internal TN system. Was previously Fig 717.4

Fig 717.7

Mobile or transportable units

New diagram. Example of connection to a fixed electrical installation for a unit using an IT system without automatic disconnection in the event of a first fault.

721.1

Caravans

The three-phase nominal a.c. voltage changed from 440 V to 400 V.

Section 729

Operating and maintenance gangways

New section added, Operating and maintenance gangways.

753.410.3.6

Floor and ceiling heating systems

New requirement. The fault protective measure of earth-free local equipotential bonding shall not be employed for floor and heating systems.

Appendix 1

Standards referred to in BS 7671

List of British and other standards to which reference is made in the Regulations has been updated.

Appendix 2

Statutory Regulations etc

Names of various government department and titles of posts therein updated.

Appendix 3

Time/current characteristics

Changes made in line with changes made to the standards covering cartridge fuses.

Appendix 4

Current-carrying capacity and voltage drop for cables

New section 2.4 with table containing correction factors to be applied when determining current-carrying capacity and voltage drop for cables having flexible conductors, using data for cables having solid or stranded conductors in Tables 4D1, 4D2, 4E1 and 4E2. Five Rating factors added/amended, which are used in equations within this Appendix. New section 5.5, Rating factors for triple harmonic currents in four-core and five-core cables with four cores carrying current and 5.6 Harmonic currents in line conductors. (Expanded version of text that was in Appendix 11 previously). New section 6.4, Voltage drop in consumers’ installations. (Text was in Appendix 12 previously). Amendments made to descriptions in Table 4A2 for installation methods specifically for flat twin and earth cables in thermal insulation. New Table 4B4, Rating factors for depths of laying other than 0.7 m for direct buried cables and cables buried in ducts. New Table 4B5, Rating factors for cables having more than 4 loaded conductors. Table 4C2, Rating factors for more than one circuit, cables laid directly in the ground – Reference Method D in Tables 4D4A to 4J4A now only applicable to multicore cables. Table 4C3, Rating factors for more than one circuit, cables in ducts buried in the ground – Reference Method in Tables 4D4A to 4J4A now only applicable to multicore cables. New Table 4C6, Rating factors for cables enclosed in infloor concrete troughs (Installation Methods 118 to 120 of Table 4A2).

Appendix 5

External influences

Part B, Utilisation. Table amended. Part C, Construction. Table amended.

Appendix 6

Model forms for certification and reporting

Original Schedule of Inspections. Modified to be applicable for use with Electrical Installation Certificate only. Introduction of Electrical Installation Condition Report to replace Periodic Inspection Report. Introduction of Condition report inspection schedule for domestic and similar premises with up to 100 A supply. A number of changes made to Generic Schedule of Test Results. Introduction of generic list of Examples of items requiring inspection for an electrical installation condition report.

Appendix 16

Protection against overvoltage

New Appendix added Devices for protection against overvoltage.

Note. Many of the minor editorial and similar changes introduced by Amendment 1 are not included in this table. www.niceic.com

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BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change/new content

411.3.3

Removal of examples

Tables 41.2; 41.4; & 41.6 BS 88 fuses

Amended to reflect changes in product standards for cartridge fuses.

Table 41.5

Simplification of table

Scope of the table revised to cover only circuits at a nominal a.c. rms line voltage to Earth (U0) of 230 V.

418.3.8

Electrical separation

Wording changed to make content a requirement and not a recommendation.

422.3.1

Thermal effects – Luminaires

Content expanded. Also, the provision of a safety protective shield for a lamp where flammable materials could be ejected in the case of failure becomes a requirement and not a recommendation.

422.3.4

Thermal effects – powertrack

Requirement added for powertrack systems to meet the fire condition test specified in BS EN 61534 series.

422.3.8

Thermal effects – luminaires

422.4.1

Thermal effects – equipment

422.4.2

Thermal effects – luminaires

Content expanded. Provision of a safety protective shield for a lamp where flammable materials could be ejected in the case of failure becomes a requirement and not a recommendation.

430.1

Protection against overcurrent

New note added to explain that, where used in Chapter 43, the term disconnection does not necessarily mean isolation.

Section 443

Protection against overvoltages

A number of notes relating to BS EN 62305 added.

Section 444

Measures against electromagnetic disturbances

New section added, Measures against electromagnetic disturbances.

512.1.5

Compatibility

514.10.1

Nominal voltages

514.15

More than one supply for installation

This Regulation Group now refers to alternative supplies rather than dual supplies.

521.100

Wiring systems

New requirement recognising the use of prefabricated wiring systems.

522.6.100

Cables in floor or ceiling voids

New indent relating to SELV and PELV circuits.

522.6.101

Cables in walls or partitions

New indent relating to SELV and PELV circuits.

522.6.103

Cables in partitions having metallic parts

New indent relating to SELV and PELV circuits.

522.8.1

Installation of cables

New text added regarding suitability of lubricants for use when drawing in cables.

522.13

External influences

Renamed Movement of air (AR).

522.14

External influences

Cross-reference to Section 422 has been added.

523.8

Installation of cables

Wording modified to clarify that where heat dissipation factors vary along a cable route, the current-carrying capacity of the conductors should be appropriate for each part of that route.

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29/9/11 09:51:24

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged

BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change/new content

524.2.2

Triplen harmonics

New statement that where the total harmonic current due to triplen harmonics exceeds 33% of the fundamental line current, the cross-sectional area of the neutral conductor may need to be increased.

Table 52.3

Cross-sectional areas for conductors

Power and lighting circuits now categorised separately. Minimum cross-sectional area of insulated copper conductor forming part of a power circuit increased to 1.5 mm².

526.3

Connections

New indent, recognising that maintenance-free accessories complying with BS 5733 need not be installed such as to be accessible for inspection and maintenance.

530.3.5

Isolation, switching and control

New requirements giving the conditions under which auto-reclosing devices for protection, isolation, switching or control may be installed.

533.3

Protection against fault current

Simplification/clarification regarding the significance of both maximum and minimum fault current conditions with respect to the selection of fault current protective devices.

Section 534

Surge protective devices

New section added, Devices for protection against overvoltage.

537.1.3

Isolation of installation

New text added regarding the use of distributor’s cut-out fuse for isolation of installation between origin and first isolator for the installation.

559.3

Luminaires and lighting

559.6.1.100

Luminaires and lighting

Consideration to be given to provision of neutral conductor at each switch position to facilitate the installation of electronic switching device.

559.10.3.2

Luminaires and lighting

Wording changed to make content relating to additional protection for the lighting arrangements in telephone kiosks, bus shelters, town plans and the like a requirement and not a recommendation.

Table 55.2

Luminaires and lighting

Table expanded to reflect changes in BS EN 60598-1 from which the symbols are taken.

560.4.1

Safety services

Classification of changeover times modified.

560.6.1

Safety services

The types of electrical sources recognised as being suitable for use for safety services are listed.

560.6.14

Safety services

New requirement for certain aspects of the condition of a source for a safety service to be monitored.

Part 6

Inspection and testing

Amendments to reflect replacement of the Periodic Inspection Report by the Electrical Installation Condition Report.

701.411.3.3

Locations containing bath or shower

Clarification that requirement for additional protection by RCD(s) applies to all low voltage circuits of the location (i.e. not ELV circuits).

704.410.3.6

Construction and demolition sites

New requirement. The fault protective measures of non-conducting location and earthfree local equipotential bonding shall not be employed for installations of construction or demolition sites.

706.1

Conducting locations with Clarification that Section 706 does not apply to installations covered by BS 7909. restricted movement

708.553.1.12

Caravan/camping parks

New requirement for each fixed connection to a leisure accommodation vehicle to be provided with an individual overcurrent protective device.

708.553.1.13

Caravan/camping parks

709.553.1.8

Marinas

Wording changed to make content a requirement and not a recommendation.

Section 710

Medical locations

New section added, Medical locations.

717.1

Mobile or transportable units

Scope amended to clarify that both a.c. and d.c. installations of mobile and transportable units are covered.

717.313

Mobile or transportable units

New requirement, stating acceptable methods of supply for a unit.

Autumn 2011 NICEIC Connections

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BS 7671 reference

Subject

Summary of notable change / new content

717.55.3

Mobile or transportable units

Figs 717.1; 717.2; 717.3; 717.4.

Mobile or transportable units

Conductive external staircase (steps into vehicle) added to figures.

Fig 717.4

Mobile or transportable units

New example of connection to a fixed installation for a unit using simple separation and an internal IT system with or without an earth electrode.

Fig 717.6

Mobile or transportable units

Example of connection to a fixed electrical installation for a unit using simple separation and an internal TN system. Was previously Fig 717.4

Fig 717.7

Mobile or transportable units

New diagram. Example of connection to a fixed electrical installation for a unit using an IT system without automatic disconnection in the event of a first fault.

721.1

Caravans

The three-phase nominal a.c. voltage changed from 440 V to 400 V.

Section 729

Operating and maintenance gangways

New section added, Operating and maintenance gangways.

753.410.3.6

Floor and ceiling heating systems

New requirement. The fault protective measure of earth-free local equipotential bonding shall not be employed for floor and heating systems.

Appendix 1

Standards referred to in BS 7671

List of British and other standards to which reference is made in the Regulations has been updated.

Appendix 2

Statutory Regulations etc

Names of various government department and titles of posts therein updated.

Appendix 3

Time/current characteristics

Changes made in line with changes made to the standards covering cartridge fuses.

Appendix 4

Current-carrying capacity and voltage drop for cables

Appendix 5

External influences

Part B, Utilisation. Table amended. Part C, Construction. Table amended.

Appendix 6

Model forms for certification and reporting

Appendix 16

Protection against overvoltage

New Appendix added Devices for protection against overvoltage.

Note. Many of the minor editorial and similar changes introduced by Amendment 1 are not included in this table. www.niceic.com

54_57_technical_amendment.FINAL.indd Sec1:57

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NIC.10.11.058.indd 1

3/10/11 09:48:44

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Harmonics in electrical installations BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations) introduced a range of regulations giving requirements for safety where harmonic currents are present in an electrical installation. This article, which is the first of a series of three articles on harmonics, examines the cause of harmonic currents.

Fig 1 Current and voltage in an a.c. circuit supplying a resistive load

Voltage and current

LOAD

Voltage

Current

Resistive load

Voltage

Current

In the above circuit, the current and voltage are both sine waves.

Large inductance

LOAD

Voltage

Supply current

Supply voltage and current

Fig 2 Current and voltage in an a.c. circuit supplying a load via a bridge rectifier and inductive filter

Voltage

Supply current

(a) In the above circuit, due to the large inductive filter, the current waveform is rectangular even though the voltage is a sine wave.

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59_60_technical_harmonics.FINAL.indd Sec1:59

(b)

part 1 What are harmonics and where do they come from? A feature of electrical power systems is the presence of harmonic currents. These can lead to a number of undesirable effects, including overheating of rotating machines, transformers and chokes due to increased iron losses; overheating of the neutral conductor in three-phase circuits due to triplen harmonics; unwanted operation of circuit-breakers and fuses; over-stressing and premature failure of power factor correction capacitors; rectifier type instruments failing to indicate true rms values; and the increased possibility of interference with communications circuits. The topic of harmonics is complex. To develop an understanding of the causes of harmonics, most electricians need to re-visit some of the assumptions made during their technical education, regarding the current flowing in a.c. systems. If we connect a resistive load to a supply having a sinusoidal voltage waveform, then, as shown in Fig. 1, the current will be a sine wave in phase with the voltage. However, it should not be assumed that, just because the supply voltage in an a.c. circuit is sinusoidal, the current taken from the supply will be sinusoidal. If a sinusoidal voltage is applied to a device that has nonlinear current/voltage relationship, the current taken from the supply will not be sinusoidal. An example of this is shown in Fig 2(a), where an a.c. source is being used to supply a load via a bridge rectifier and a large inductive filter (i.e. via a non-linear device). The rectifier inverts the negative half cycles of the input voltage, and the filter blocks the ripple in the load current to produce a smooth d.c. current. In this situation, if the ratio of inductance to resistance (L/R) on the d.c. side of the rectifier is very large, the current taken from the supply is a rectangular wave in phase with the supply voltage, as shown in Fig 2(b). Although the situation shown in Fig 2 is extreme, it is convenient to use this rectangular current waveform as a basis for our discussion. In practice, many loads found in industrial and commercial installations, such as switched mode computer power supplies, electronic fluorescent lighting ballasts, uninterruptible power supply units and variable speed drives, take a nonsinusoidal current waveform of one shape or another. Harmonics are the pure sine waves of different frequencies that make up a non-sinusoidal waveform, such as rectangular, triangular, saw-tooth, trapezoidal and all others. Each harmonic has a frequency that is an exact multiple of the fundamental supply frequency. So, if the fundamental (or mains) frequency is 50 Hz, then the 2nd harmonic will be at 100 Hz, the 3rd will be at 150 Hz, and so on. Even harmonics (2nd, 4th etc) are rare in a.c. circuits nowadays but were common when half-wave rectification was widely used.

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Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Fig 3 The effect of adding a third harmonic to the fundamental

Fig 5 Input voltage and current waveforms of a 12 V d.c. power supply unit

Sum of fundamental and 3rd harmonic Voltage

Fundamental

Current

Third harmonic

Time

Fig 4 The effect of adding the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th harmonics to the fundamental

Current

Sum of fundamental and 3rd harmonic Sum of fundamental and 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th harmonic

Measurement of harmonic currents

Time

A branch of mathematics known as Fourier analysis allows a regular repetitive waveform to be broken down into its constituent harmonics. This theory forms the basis of a technique known as harmonic analysis, which can be applied to electrical networks. It can be shown using harmonic analysis that a rectangular wave (such as that in Fig 2(b)) is made up of a sine wave at the fundamental frequency plus an infinite series of odd harmonics, consisting of the 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th, and so on, with amplitudes of â&#x2026;&#x201C; times that of the fundamental for the 3rd harmonic, and 1/5 times for the 5th harmonic, and so on. This cannot be proved in this short article but the truth of it is demonstrated in Fig 3 and Fig 4. Fig 3 shows the situation where a 3rd harmonic (yellow) with amplitude of â&#x2026;&#x201C; of the fundamental is added to the fundamental waveform (blue) to form the green waveform. Fig 4 then adds the 5th (purple), 7th (gold) and 9th (light blue) harmonics, of the appropriate amplitudes, to arrive at the red waveform. It can be seen that the red waveform is approaching the shape of a rectangular waveform. Adding further odd harmonics in accordance with the above series would produce a closer and closer approximation to a rectangular

waveform. However, the higher the order of a harmonic the smaller its influence, and once we get to around the 25th harmonic the effect is insignificant. The rectangular current waveform in Fig 2 is an extreme case, as already mentioned. Fig. 5 shows the shape of the input current waveform of a 12 V power supply, which is typical of that for many types of electronic equipment. An analysis of this waveform would show it to be made up of the fundamental and a series of odd harmonics. There can be no even harmonics in a wave for which the positive and negative half-cycles are identical in shape.

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In practice, rather than carrying out a mathematical analysis, a measuring instrument of the type shown in Fig 6 can be used to determine the harmonic content of the current taken from the supply. Further articles in this series The other two articles in this series will be published in future editions of Connections. Part 2 will look at how triplen harmonic currents (3rd, 9th and 15th, and so on) can significantly increase the current in the neutral conductor of a three-phase circuit. Part 3 will explore the procedures in Appendix 4 of BS 7671 for sizing four-core and five-core cables carrying triplen harmonic current. Fig 6 Harmonic analyser

OFF

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NIC.10.11.053.indd 1

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Classroom and online training available from NICEIC

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NICEIC Training is better than ever! As well as offering a wide range of training at all levels including domestic, renewables, commercial and industrial courses, you can now combine the best of the classroom with the ease of online learning for some of our City & Guilds courses! All of our down-to-earth and friendly lecturers are trained qualiďŹ ed electricians. They really understand you, your industry and how to get the best from you. To ďŹ nd out more click or call www.niceic.com traininginfo@niceic.com

0843 290 3434 3/10/11 09:47:59

Ask the experts/Technical

Fully charged Conduit drops to motors

Snags & Solutions A practical guide to everyday electrical problems, now updated to Snag 24 Amendment No 1 of BS 7671

Conduit must be properly supported.

‘Snags & Solutions’, NICEIC’s problem solving book, is available in three parts, which cover many commonlyencountered 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 comes 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 2 – Wiring Systems, relating to where the final connection to a motor in a factory or a plant room is from overhead and there are no walls or other structural features to provide support for the conduit drop.

snags and solutions

snags and solutions A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Part 3 Part 2

wiring systems

inspection and testing

2nd Edition

COMPLIES WITH

Autumn 2011 NICEIC Connections

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A final connection to a motor in a factory or a plant room frequently presents a problem because the supply will often be from overhead and there are no walls or other structural features to provide support for the conduit drop. NICEIC Area Engineers have reported conduit drops of 5 m or more with one right-angled set and often a second, more open, set for which the only support is provided by the conduit entries at each end. A knock from a ladder, vibration, or the use of the conduit as a hand-hold could cause damage or slackening of conduit joints leading to damage to the wiring or a high resistance connection or an open-circuit protective conductor..

Solution The conduit must be adequately supported, have secure fixings and be protected from mechanical damage (Regulation 522.8.1). The conduit must be protected from mechanical deterioration and electrical continuity must be assured (Regulations 543.2.2, 543.2.5 and 543.3.1 refer). Vibration of the motor must be taken account of by a means such as flexible conduit but the flexible or pliable conduit must not be used as a protective conductor (Regulation 543.2.3 refers). Whether or not steel conduit is used as a circuit protective conductor, it is always required to provide reliable electrical continuity along its length and to be effectively and permanently connected to the Main Earthing Terminal (with certain permitted exceptions such as where SELV conductors only are installed within the conduit). Every joint in conduit must be electrically and mechanically continuous (Regulation 543.3.6 refers). An alternative approach is to use a flexible cable, preferably metal-sheathed, to supply the machine with a short length of conduit at the lower end. This conduit should be firmly fixed to the machine or a support, as shown. The conduit should rise to about 2 m above floor level and should terminate with a ring bush or cable gland. This method will accommodate discrepancies in the relative locations of the machine and supply point, and will provide mechanical protection adjacent to the machine. The flexible cable must be adequately supported.

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29/9/11 09:53:05

Flexible cable

Regulation 522.8.1

Regulation 543.2.3 (part of)

A wiring system shall be selected and erected to avoid during installation, use or maintenance, damage to the sheath or insulation of cables and their terminations. The use of any lubricants that can have a detrimental effect on the cable or wiring system are not permitted.

A gas pipe, an oil pipe, flexible or pliable conduit, support wires or other flexible metallic parts, or constructional parts subject to mechanical stress in normal service, shall not be selected as a protective conductor. Regulation 543.2.5

Regulation 543.2.2 (part of) Where a metal enclosure or frame of a low voltage switchgear or controlgear assembly or busbar trunking system is used as a protective conductor, it shall satisfy the following three requirements. (i) Its electrical continuity shall be assured, either by construction or by suitable connection, in such a way as to be protected against mechanical, chemical or electrochemical deterioration (ii) Its cross-sectional area shall be at least equal to that resulting from the application of Regulation 543.1, or verified by test in accordance with BS EN 60439-1.

The metal covering including the sheath (bare or insulated) of a cable, in particular the sheath of a mineral insulated cable, trunking and ducting for electrical purposes and metal conduit, may be used as a protective conductor for the associated circuit, if it satisfies both requirements of items (i) and (ii) of Regulation 543.2.2. Regulation 543.3.1 A protective conductor shall be suitably protected against mechanical and chemical deterioration and electrodynamic effects. Regulation 543.3.6 Every joint in metallic conduit shall be mechanically and electrically continuous.

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Product Focus Seaward

Marshall-Tufflex

Investment in new test instrumentation is helping one of the UK’s leading providers of portable appliance testing services to expand its operations and services to customers. Hawkesworth Appliance Testing has equipped its entire network of test engineers with new Seaward PrimeTest 250 portable appliance testers as part of an investment strategy to ensure that clients meet their safety testing responsibilities as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible. Hawkesworth has 110 test engineers carrying out over 11 million pat tests at over 20‚000 customer locations and has become the largest independent PAT testing company in the UK and Ireland.

An innovative project to co-locate a community hospital, health clinic and civic centre into a shared new building in Selby, North Yorkshire, is making full use of the many benefits of cable management solution Twin Plus from Marshall-Tufflex. The £22 million Selby Community Project is a joint venture between the NHS North Yorkshire and York, and Selby District Council, to rebuild the town’s War Memorial Hospital and health clinic and provide new council offices at the same time. Marshall-Tufflex’s Twin Plus trunking is available in standard and antimicrobial versions.

0191 586 3511 www.seaward.co.uk

Aico

Martindale Electric

A sophisticated yet highly affordable new carbon monoxide (CO) alarm from Aico is now available with a sealed-in lithium battery. The combination of tamper-proof battery unit and inability to use it in other common household devices directly addresses the problem of possible battery removal by the resident. But it’s not just the lithium battery that sets this alarm apart – the quality of the design and build combined with the alarm’s functionality are key to its success, as is the value price point, which Aico is confident will encourage a far wider adoption of CO alarms than ever before.

Now available from Martindale Electric is the latest range of Drummond MTL10 and MTL20 test lamps, which provide a visual indication of voltage between 50V and 500V AC/DC and offer the chance to safely detect and identify any faults in a circuit. Both feature a finger shield and insulated probe tip with only 4mm of exposed metal on both the lamp housing and the probe for added protection, while a two-layer double insulated cable with white inner insulation offers a clear warning of abrasion. As an extra precautionary measure, the cable is also heat and oil resistant, making it suitable for a variety of applications.

0870 758 4000 www.aico.co.uk

01923 441717 sales@martindale-electric.co.uk

EES Data

Danlers

EES Data produces a full suite of contract management software. All are Windows 7 touch screen-enabled and built on a number of core modules: full professional contract estimating, small works costing and billing, supplier and quotation request, purchase ordering, job cost financial monitoring, application for payment and stock control. 01924 200103 www.ees-data.co.uk

marketing@marshall-tufflex.com

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Danlers designs and manufactures a range of discrete, PIR occupancy switch grid modules suitable for mounting into a Eurodata plate or for building into luminaires. These elegant, energy-saving grid modules bring the load on only when a person is present, thus saving on energy bills. They also include a person detector, adjustable photocell, relay and adjustable time-lag function. Versions are available with either a 5m or 10m detection zone. Each module can switch up to 6 amps of load, including fluorescent lighting. Danlers PIR 0ccupancy switch modules are UK manufactured and come with a five-year warranty. www.danlers.co.uk 01249 443377

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29/9/11 13:13:01

MK Electric

Seaward

MK Electric is launching a cost-effective BattenFit Sensor range that can deliver energy savings of up to 80 per cent. The BattenFit range of devices use presence detection to automatically switch the light on when someone enters an area and switch it off again when the area is vacated. These sensors provide a solution for customers requiring a simple and cost-effective energy-saving solution in any space where there is a possibility of lights being inadvertently left on for extended periods. More sophisticated variants provide the same reliable presence detection and additionally monitor levels of natural light to further eliminate unnecessary use of energy.

A new dedicated software programme for the solar PV industry helps system installers produce all electrical test documentation for client handover packs quickly and easily. The new Seaward SolarCert Elements software is designed to help solar PV installers create comprehensive folders of system information, including customised test certification and inspection reports, installation layout diagrams, photographs and datasheets. The easy-to-use software is a manual data entry programme that improves the efficiency of solar PV testing by allowing the fast and simple recording, storing and searching of measurements.

www.mkelectric.co.uk

0191 586 3511 www.seawardsolar.com

Ideal

Fluke

Ideal has launched the Lil’ Ripper Stripper, a highly innovative, low-cost, handy, multi-function wire stripper for flat cable. Designed for versatility of use, the Lil’ Ripper Stripper incorporates three separate stainless steel blades that can be used to rip, clip and strip flat cable in quick and clean motions. It also includes a specially designed twist-assist feature that can be used to tighten most sizes of twist-on wire connectors, as well as integral looping holes for neat looping back of wires. The Lil’ Ripper Stripper is extremely easy and safe to use and its compact design means it can conveniently fit into an electrician’s pocket.

Fluke offers a rugged electrician’s kit that includes three testers in one, the ideal package for the residential and commercial electrician. The Fluke 1652C/PKit comprises the latest high-productivity Fluke 1652C multifunction installation tester, which tests to the requirements of BS7671 IEE 17th edition wiring regulations and offers automatic RCD testing, phase sequence indication and a remote probe; a Fluke T120 2-pole tester, which features a 1999 digit LCD display and LED bargraph to indicate voltages from 12V to 690V AC/DC and a patented three-phase rotation detection system; and a Fluke SM200 socket tester, with three vivid bi-colour LEDs and an audible buzzer that indicates missing earth, live/earth reverse, live/neutral reverse, missing neutral or live faults.

01952 444446 www.idealindustries.co.uk

www.fluke.co.uk

Click Scolmore

Martindale Electric

The latest additions to Click Scolmore’s Flow range of connectors are the CT103C 3-pin and CT203 4-pin connectors, which feature quick-release lockable covers, negating the need for screws. The products also benefit from new fast-fit cable restraints, which again means no more time-consuming fiddling with small screws. It is now as quick to fit a connector with a cable restraint as it is to fit a standard version, and it is significantly faster than a product with screw-down cable clamps. The new 3 and 4-pin connectors are suitable for 3 and 4 core cable, and have a 20A maximum load rating.

Martindale Electric’s new proving devices PD440 and PD430 are portable and battery-powered and ensure test lamps and voltage testers are operating correctly for safe working. Suitable for use with Drummond test lamps, digital multimeters and low-impedance voltage testers, they offer a greater level of operator safety as they generate voltages up to 450V. The PD430 adds a lower voltage range of 50V. Compact and lightweight, the new proving devices can easily be carried around in an electricians’ tool kit so test instruments can be proved before and after working on any circuit as advocated by the Electrical Safety Council.

01827 63454 www.scolmore.com

Trevor Groome 01923 441717

www.niceic.com

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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 This quarter’s crop of shoddy electrics and bad practice includes (1-5) a 2D bulkhead light with the live cable terminated in the earth and vice versa, causing the metal back plate to be live; a Y-plan heating system wiring connection with the connector nailed to the floor joist; a domestic installation with all the earths and neutrals connected together; an example of how not to connect a three-phase switch fuse; and a multi 12V transformer with innovative use of a screw and paper clips. It continues with (6-10) junction boxes found buried in a wall; a 10mm cable installed in a consumer unit with no fuse or isolator; an MICC cable without gland, pot or seal found in a domestic loft; the switch for a 9.5kw shower using a 1mm flex; and a dead bird in a distribution board.

Hitting the road for kids of Chernobyl An intrepid electrician from Norwich has raised more than £1,000 for children who are still affected by the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Greg Lockwood, an NICEIC Approved Contractor from Marsham, near Norwich, was part of a group of bikers who travelled 4,000 miles to the reactor site over two weeks during the summer. The bikers raised more than £12,000 for the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, Diss & District branch, which allows children and orphans from the affected area – many born with abnormalities or suffering from cancers – to come over to the UK for a holiday. “It was very demanding, but very rewarding,” said Greg. “The highlight was visiting two orphanages in Belarus. They all knew we were coming and were out there cheering us. They just don’t see motorbikes apart from on television and we gave them a pillion ride in the grounds.” Congratulations to Greg and the rest of his team. 66

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1 2 4 3

6 Thanks to our contributors: Andrew Butler of CETECH in Wirral /// Bill Ginty of Bill Ginty Electrical in Bolton /// Bob Allison of Worcester Electrical Services /// Chris Dunger of Dearne Electrical in Rotherham /// Darren Kempson of Kempson Electrical Services in Aylesbury /// Dave Barratt from Derby-based DB Electrical Services /// Steve Harding of Avalon Electrical in Maidstone /// Ian Moorcroft from ECA Contracts in Birmingham /// John Law from All Electrical Services in London /// and Kevin Jarvis of Newmarket-based Aatec Services.

10 Keep those shots coming in!

Let there be light . . . Electricians are not exactly renowned for their militant tendencies, but a few undercover agents are threatening to take the law into their own hands by switching back on street lights in Northampton that have been turned off by the council to save money. A vigilante group opposing the blackout claims to have a number of trained electricians among them, and has even won the backing of a local councillor for the direct action. We can only see two flaws in the plan: scrabbling around in the dark to turn them on and then being fully illuminated in the process of committing a crime. And the fact that the council will simply turn them off the next day, of course.

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30/9/11 09:00:00

Have you seen it?

You have now! New Megger MFT1700 series, the shape of testing’s future. Now offering Q

2-wire non-tripping loop testing

Loop and PFC displayed at the same time

Phase sequence indication

3-pole earth testing

CAT IV 300 V safety rating

Now you have seen it call 01304 502 101 or go to www.megger.com for full details

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

The word ‘Megger’ is a registered trademark

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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, helping you to carry out comprehensive and reliable energy audits. Plus, with its simple design, free software and simple data transfer via USB to your laptop, the Electrocorder is such a low cost investment that it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fail to amp up your business.

ENERGY AUDITS VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION ACCURATE DATA & LOW INVESTMENT

E : sales@electrocorder.com W : www.electrocorder.com T : +44 (0)870 225 1790 Quote FMM311011

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