Sparks Autumn 15 Issue by SNG Publishing

AUTUMN 2015

THE ONLY MAGAZINE FOR APPRENTICE ELECTRICIANS

INSIDE...

SPARKS NATIONAL APPRENTICE COMPETITION 2016 LEVEL 2&3 EXERCISES WIRED ABOUT AMENDMENT 3

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EDITOR’S NOTE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

AUTUMN 2015

THE ONLY MAGAZINE FOR APPRENTICE ELECTRICIANS

INSIDE...

AUGMENTED REALITY AT WALSALL COLLEGE SPARKS NATIONAL APPRENTICE COMPETITION 2016 LEVEL 2&3 EXERCISES WIRED ABOUT AMENDMENT 3

WIN

MEGGER SAFE ISOLATION KIT WORTH £184!

EDITOR: RACHEL MACSWEENEY editor@sng-publishing.co.uk ADVERTISING: SUE CATT sue.catt@sng-publishing.co.uk GRAPHIC DESIGN: STUDIO 74 www.studio-74.co.uk PUBLISHER: CELIA MATTHEWS celia.matthews@sng-publishing.co.uk PRINTERS Stephens & George, England

GENERAL ENQUIRIES To subscribe to SPARKS Magazine call 0870 774 3049 or subscribe online at www.sparks-magazine.co.uk

DISCLAIMER SPARKS Magazine is published by SNG Publishing Ltd (SNG). All content and artwork is © SNG Publishing Ltd or its contributors and SNG is a trade mark of SNG Publishing Ltd. No part of SPARKS Magazine may be copied, transmitted or published in any form or by any means without prior permission. Although SNG has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it does not verify any claims or other information appearing in the advertisements contained in SPARKS Magazine. It therefore cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for consequences that may arise from the content or artwork contained in SPARKS Magazine, including any errors or omissions or any opinions or advice given therein. This publication and its content is not a substitute for professional advice on a particular matter. Advertisements are accepted for publication in SPARKS Magazine only upon SNG Publishing Ltd standard terms of advertising.

Welcome to the new look SPARKS Magazine! We hope you like the new design, and you may have also spotted that we have a brand spanking new logo. But you’ll be relieved to hear that we haven’t changed everything about the magazine. We still feature a huge amount of technical content and exercises to support both students and lecturers in the electrical sector. This is what sets us apart from other magazines and makes SPARKS unique. In this issue we talk to Alex Tranter – a lecturer at Walsall College. What started out as a standard interview about her role at the college quickly became a much longer article about her fascinating job which includes trialling new teaching techniques including augmented reality. We’d never heard of that being used in teaching before, so if your college uses it please get in touch as we’d be interested to hear your experiences and how effective it is for students and lecturers. We’re also launching the next SPARKS Annual Apprentice of the Year in this issue. The annual competition has been running since 2009, supporting and encouraging apprentices to aim high. The competition is now open for entries, and colleges can each nominate one student to be put forward to qualify for one of six regional heats in 2016, ultimately leading to the grand ﬁnal where winners from the six heats will compete against one another in a practical challenge for SPARKS Annual Apprentice of the Year 2016. If you’d like to see your college featured in SPARKS magazine or if you have any news you’d like to share or have any ideas for features you’d like to see, just get in touch with us at editor@sng-publishing.co.uk

Rachel MacSweeney EDITOR © SNG Publishing Ltd, 2015

SPARKS-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

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02 AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | CONTENTS

FEATURES 08 10

PAGE 06

Electric Cables Electric Cables Steel Containment Systems Wiring Containment Practice Questions Selecting & Using Power Tools Electrician’s Hand Tools Wordsearch - Hand & Power Tools BS7671:2008 Selecting & Using Power Tools Multiple Choice Questions BS & BS EN Numbersearch

Lecturer Proﬁle

Sparks catches up with Alex Tranter, Electrical Training Assessor at Walsall College

Sparks National Apprentice Electrician Competition

We’re kicking off a new search for the 2016 winner! Find out all the exciting details for this year’s competition

National Competition Sponsors

Competition is Key

Snickers Workwear Revolution in Knee Protection

Tool Tips

Cable Selection

Putting the Power into Your Work

Check out this year’s sponsors

EAL provide some helpful tips for all you would be competition entrants

PAGE 10

26 30 34 36 38 40 41 42 44 49

WIN

PAGE 08

SYLLABUS

Snickers Workwear showcase their revolutionary knee guard system

BASEC offer advice on choosing the right cable type for the job at hand

Hitachi look at the latest battery and tool technology available for professionals

A Helping Hand

Klein Tools and Super Rod donate a cool £1Million of products to apprentices!

Are You Wired About Amendment 3?

Financing Your Van Purchase

PAGE 12

Wera Tools highlights their new ‘must have’ W1 Maintenance Kit

Mercedes highlight some of the options to consider when purchasing a van

REGULARS Editor’s Note Industry News Hall of Shame Product & Services Tea Break Time

COMPETITIONS 06

WIN a Megger Safe Isolation Kit worth £184

PAGE 22

01 04 46 47 48

PAGE 19

We review the main changes that came into effect in July 2015

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS READ THE FULL STORY IN THE NEWS SECTION OF SPARKS-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

NEW ELECTRICAL CAREERS WEBSITE LAUNCHED The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) has launched a new website designed to highlight the wide range of roles, progression routes and opportunities available within the electrical industry. The website caters for a range of people considering a career in the industry: school-leavers, experienced professionals wishing to transfer in from other sectors, and those who are already working in the industry but want to understand more about the progression routes open to them. TESP Chair Diane Johnson comments: “We developed this website to raise awareness of the wide range of work carried out by those with electrotechnical skills, and dispel the myths and stereotypes of electricians. We have plans to expand it later this year to showcase the broader and more specialist roles where electrotechnical skills are applied, so we can highlight just how diverse the opportunities on offer are in our industry.” She continues: “Our industry is facing a real and serious skills shortage, and needs to recruit bright, capable people and build a wide talent pool in order to combat this and to ensure we have the right levels and quantities of skills in the future. Competition for apprenticeship candidates in particular is ﬁerce, because of the range of academic and vocational options open to young people today. I hope this website will help them understand just how far a career in this industry can take them and why they should apply for an electrical apprenticeship.” ○ VISIT ELECTRICALCAREERS.CO.UK

NEW DATES FOR AWARD WINNING TECHTALKS NICEIC and ELECSA have announced the latest set of dates for its award winning TechTalk series. Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth will once again be hosting, with special talks on ﬁre alarm design, installation and commissioning, new consumer units, EICR coding and CDM regulations all planned. Attendees will also be able to access special deals, try out some of the latest products and get plenty of technical advice from some of the industry’s biggest names who will be exhibiting at each event. TECHTALK DATES AND LOCATIONS: Date 13th October 2015 20th October 2015 22nd October 2015 11th November 2015 3rd February 2016 11th February 2016 24th February 2016 9th March 2016 15th March 2016 17th March 2016

Location Southampton London Exeter Belfast Cheltenham Norwich Llandudno Durham Leeds Derby

Venue Southampton Football Club Alexandra Palace Westpoint Arena Culloden Estate and Spa Cheltenham Racecourse Norwich City Football Club Venu Cymru Ramside Hall Hotel Leeds United Football Club Ipro stadium

Each event starts at 9am and ﬁnishes at 1.15pm. Tickets cost £25 and are available now from either NICEIC or ELECSA. ○ VISIT NICEIC.COM OR ELECSA.CO.UK | 0843 290 3456.

APPRENTICESHIPS WILL BE LEGALLY PROTECTED The UK government has announced plans to legally protect apprenticeships so that the term cannot be misused. In order to legally describe training as an apprenticeship, schemes will have to provide at least one year of training and meet other requirements too. The measures will be part of the government’s Enterprise Bill outlined in May to parliament. In a statement, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills said the legislation would give the government power to take action if the term is “misused to promote low-quality courses”. Skills Minister Nick Boles who includes apprenticeships within his remit said “Businesses know their value, so it’s high time they were recognised both by the public and in law as being equal to degrees.” The government has pledged to create three million apprenticeships by 2020. To help reach that target, public bodies, including hospitals, schools and the police, will be set targets to take on more apprentices.

NEWS | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

TWO MILLION PEOPLE REACHED BY NAPIT CONSUMER MESSAGES NAPIT’s local newspaper campaigns have reached nearly 2.4 million readers nationwide this year, bringing essential electrical safety advice to householders and encouraging the use of competent, registered installers. The double-award winning promotion, in which over 80 local newspapers have taken part across the country, has continuously improved since it began in 2011. The latest campaign was delivered by NAPIT in conjunction with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), the professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service, to provide quality advice to the British public on how to avoid electrical fires in their homes. Articles carrying awareness messages will continue to appear in newspapers throughout the rest of the year as NAPIT work with various organisations to promote the use of registered, competent installers. ○ NAPIT.ORG.UK

TASTER DAY SPARKS REAL INTEREST A group of women interested in finding out more about becoming an electrician attended a special event at The Sheffield College earlier this year. The free taster session was set up to coincide with Women in Engineering Day on June 23rd. It provided an opportunity to gain insight into the sector, and included practical sessions involving wiring a 2-way lighting circuit. Sheffield based spark Mandy Reynolds, who runs her own successful electrical contracting business, spoke to the group about her experiences in the industry. “It was great to see the enthusiasm being shown and shows that there is a real, genuine interest from women to get involved in electrical work,” commented Mandy. “Traditionally, women might not have been given the opportunity or appropriate advice about a trade as a career. Open days like these really help give women an insight into what work is involved and the steps that need to be taken to get the right qualifications and experience.” The event was organised by NICEIC; The Sheffield College; Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WEST); and JTL Training. Heather Smith, principal at The Sheffield College, said: “The construction and engineering industry is changing and offering more opportunities, with a pressing need to fill skills gaps. We are committed to raising awareness of the rewarding careers available for females as well as males, challenging stereotypes and highlighting the inspirational role models who are leading the way.” ○ NICEIC.COM

BASHFUL BRITS TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK The safety of people and property is being put at risk because 18 million of us feel too embarrassed to ask if an electrician is registered, according to research by Electrical Safety First. The Charity has just launched a major consumer campaign to raise awareness of the need to use a registered electrician. It follows an investigation earlier this year which discovered that asking an electrician for proof of their professional registration was one of the top three most awkward questions – after asking your boss for a pay rise and requesting a queue jumper to get to the back of the line. Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety First explains “it seems that British ‘awkwardness’ is a real barrier when it comes to checking that an electrician is safe to work on your home. But with more than half of all domestic fires in the UK arising from electricity - which also causes 350,000 serious accidents each year - ensuring your electrician is registered could end up saving your life.” The charity is offering consumers five simple tips to help with this awkward question including how to check whether the electrician is registered and what the appropriate certification bodies are. ○ ELECTRICALSAFETYFIRST.ORG.UK

COLLEGE BUILDS ITS FUTURE BY OPENING NEW LEEDS CAMPUS Work is complete at Leeds College of Building’s brand new state of the art £17million education and training facility in Leeds city centre, which has just opened its doors to its first students. The new 8,000 square metre building has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and occupies a prominent position close to Leeds city centre on Cudbear Street and Black Bull Street. The new purpose built campus will serve a large number of Leeds College of Building’s 7,500 students along with the College’s existing North Street and Millwright Street campuses. Ian Billyard, Principal at Leeds College of Building, said “As the UK’s only specialist construction college, this new building has been specifically designed to provide a modern learning environment, where both our students and staff can thrive. It will enable us to continue building on the high standard of training that we are renowned for, as well as expanding the number of courses and qualifications we offer, in order for us to stay ahead of the UK’s rapidly evolving construction industry. Leeds College of Building currently offers a wide range of Apprenticeships in courses including brickwork, carpentry and joinery, electrical, painting and decorating, plastering, plumbing and wall and floor tiling. In addition the College offers 22 Advanced Apprenticeship routes, various technical routes, such as civil engineering and surveying, together with two Higher Level Apprenticeships in Construction and Built Environment (Sustainability) and Facilities Management which offer university equivalent, work based education at an affordable price. ○ LCB.AC.UK | 0113 222 6002

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | COMPETITION

A MEGGER PRIZE! Here’s your chance to win a safe isolation kit courtesy of Megger, which consists of a TPT320 voltage tester combined with a MPU690 proving unit. Together they’re worth £184, and comply with the regulations for safe isolation of an electrical circuit. About the voltage tester

About the proving unit

The Megger TPT320 voltage tester provides electricians and electrical engineers with voltage indication but has additional functions that makes it a versatile instrument. Although this tester is primarily for testing in electrical installations the unit can be useful for a wide number of applications such as testing auto electrical and ﬁre alarm systems.

To complement the voltage tester, the Megger MPU690 proving unit provides a portable battery operated voltage source that can verify the correct functioning of a two pole voltage detectors. Good practice requires that two pole voltage detectors are proved to be functioning correctly on a known voltage source, both before and after they have used to verify that a circuit is not live.

FEATURES      

AC / DC voltage from 12 to 690V Continuity Phase rotation LCD / LED display Bright LED torch CAT IV 600 V rating

FEATURES      

5 stepped nominal output voltages Automatic operation High output power suitable for test lamps Extended battery life Magnetic base Rugged case

To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is send an email to editor@sng-publishing.co.uk and put ‘Megger Competition’ in the email title. We’ll pick a winner at random and notify the lucky person by email before the end of October. Good luck!

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | LECTURER PROFILE

WALSALL COLLEGE YEAR ESTABLISHED 1952 / 53 NUMBER OF STUDENTS 3500 full time, 1300 apprentices, 6500 part time

ELECTRICAL COURSES AVAILABLE PART TIME

R E R U T LEC E L I F O R P anter with Alexandra Tr WHO? Interview trical r Assessor in Elec ne ai Tr ? AT H W DOING ll College

WHERE? Walsa

17th Edition Wiring Regulations - Evening Award in the Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installations Award in the In-Service Inspections & Testing of Electrical Equipment (PAT) Award in the Periodic Inspection, Testing & Certification of Electrical Installation City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation – Evening City & Guilds 2394 / 2395 Combined Inspection Test and Periodic Inspection (Buildings, Structures and the Environment) (APL)

FULL TIME City & Guilds 7202 Level 1 Diploma in Electrical Installation City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation City & Guilds 2365 Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation (Buildings & Structures)

WORK BASED

...by being involved with everything I have a much better overview of each student, and how all the elements of their course fit together. Lecturers are the unsung heroes of our industry, taking on multiple roles to teach and help students find apprenticeships which will lay the foundation for future careers. And if we’re honest the very standards of the industry too! In the first of a series of interviews with college lecturers we talked to Alexandra (Alex) Tranter who works at Walsall College.

Credentials A quick look at their website (walsallcollege.ac.uk) conﬁrms an impressive list of credentials in the ‘about

us’ section. In March 2013 they became the ﬁrst OFSTED outstanding general further education college under new inspection framework, with outstanding success rates achieved by students, which put the college in the country’s top 10 per cent of colleges. They’ve also just invested £300,000 to create a new engineering manufacturing workshop, and £11M on a brand new business and sports hub opening in September 2015.

About Alex Alex joined the college six months ago, and was previously working as an electrician in Wales. Which sparked off so many questions! After having spent four years working for a housing association as an electrician, she explained that unfortunately job opportunities were few and far between in her local area. That, combined with the fact that she has family near Walsall, encouraged her together with her husband to make the move from Wales. Giving a clue as to why she chose to be an electrician she said ‘I remember watching Challenge Anneka on TV (ok it’s a fairly old

Advanced Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation NVQ Diploma Level 3 in Electrical Installation

programme from the early 90s where Anneka of the title helped people with projects such as restoring old buildings) and wanting to be that person who helped others to get the job done. I think I achieved that working at the housing association as sometimes we’d be called in to bring a recently vacated house back up to scratch, and after two weeks working on the job I’d have an immense sense of satisfaction and pride that I’d been part of making that house safe for the next tenants.’ Although Alex was a fully trained electrician, she had to undertake a TAQA qualiﬁcation which trains assessors. If women are supposedly better at multi tasking, then Alex has the perfect job. At Walsall she teaches, but also visits students on site when they are working as apprentices, and reviews them too. She prefers this approach rather than different people handling different elements, saying ‘by being involved with everything I have a much better overview of

LECTURER PROFILE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

each student, and how all the elements of their course ﬁt together’. She continues ‘it’s a three way relationship between student, lecturers and employers and being part of the Employer Responsive team means I’m not just teaching but involved with all aspects of the Level 2 and 3 NVQ electrical qualiﬁcations. Being involved with the practical side is important because there is a difference between what we teach, and what actually happens in the work environment. At the moment I’m looking after 20 learners, but that will increase to 40 at full capacity.’

New technology Walsall is a forward thinking college and Alex says she’s impressed with the set up so far. One of the projects she’s involved with is trialling an augmented reality app as an aid to learning. It’s a free app which students can download and Alex explains that the college is trying it out to see if there is any value to it. She says ‘by trialling it we can see if it increases the time that students spend learning, or whether it reduces that time. Part of the aim is to see whether it can help with students who learn at different rates, so quick learners won’t be held back and those who take more time won’t be left behind. It’s all about looking at new ways of learning, and students really like the new technology.’

AUGMENTED REALITY – WHAT IS IT? According to Wikipedia augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. The augmented reality that Alex is trialling at Walsall involves downloading an app onto a smartphone or tablet, which can then be used to animate images or symbols on course material. She explains as follows: ‘Some of the course units are very full of information so I am developing booklets to accompany those which are ‘auras’ for the augmented reality app. What this means is say I put the triangle for ohms law onto the booklet, when the student holds their smart phones over the image it will become animated and my voice will explain how we use transposition of formula. This will aid the learners who sometimes take a bit longer to fully understand the principles of electrical theory. It also means that I can make the classroom fully interactive for each individual student with posters around the room which will become animated to explain concepts to ﬁt in with the units they are being taught. It is a way to ensure that the apprentice is in charge of their own learning and they can go at a good pace for themselves, it is also quite a lot of fun in the classroom for what might otherwise be quite a dry subject!’

As you would probably expect Alex is an advocate for women in construction, and has been proﬁling female student success through case studies. She’s also involved with a role model project for the 2015/15 student intake where existing apprentices are matched up with new starters to give them positive solutions and mentoring to help build conﬁdence and

on site skills. As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy then she also engages with local schools, visiting them to deliver skills speciﬁc training to both male and female students with a view to inclusivity. ‘In a male dominated industry it’s a huge culture change, but things are gradually changing – one small step at a time.’

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | NATIONAL COMPETITION

T O G U O Y E V HA ? N I W O T S E WHAT IT TAK The SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year is now open for entries, with the chance to win big prizes and be recognised for your skills. The 2016 event will be the toughest yet since the competition was launched seven years ago. This year EAL will be providing the competition judge, who will be assessing students on both practical and technical merits. SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year brings together students, lecturers, employers, industry leaders and manufacturers. This year sponsors include Megger, Scolmore, Trade Direct, Knipex and Wera Tools – all of whom are generously supporting the next generation of electricians by donating prizes for the event.

How does it work? Each college can put forward one student for the competition. There’s also a UK Heating Apprentice of the Year which runs alongside the event at the same time, and colleges can also enter one student for that competition too. The student can be working in industry or college based, and must be studying for their NVQ qualiﬁcations, and be no older than 24 years of age.

To enter, the students must be able to successfully complete a test paper from a previous year which can be downloaded from the SPARKS website at www.sparks-magazine.co.uk. There is an online application form which must be completed no later than 31st October 2015. If successful, students will be invited with their lecturers to attend one of six regional events around the country where they’ll spend the day competing against other students on practical tasks. Scolmore, Wylex and Schneider Electric will be providing products to work on for the competition.

NATIONAL COMPETITION | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

The winner of each regional heat – plus the next person who has received the highest score from all six regional heats - will then go forward to the grand ﬁnal which will be held in March 2016.

In it to win it Aside from the prestige of winning a national competition, there’s a fantastic list of prizes provided by the sponsors including:

 A Megger MFT1730 worth more than £1300 for the overall winner, and a package of testers worth more than £1000 for the college which the winning student attends

2015 R E N N I W  All ﬁnalists receive Megger AVO410 multimeters worth over £150 each



£500 worth of vouchers from Trade Direct for the winner, and £250 worth of vouchers for each of the two runners up

 All entrants receive a set of screwdrivers from Wera Tools

 A beer cooler from Scolmore  And lots of other great prizes!

This year’s winner Matt Cross from Petroc College was the proud winner of the Sparks UK Apprentice of the Year 2015 held earlier this year, walking away with over £2,000 worth of prizes! He encouraged others to enter saying ‘I think the SPARKS competition is really good as you are given plenty of time to get the task competed, so you can pace yourself. I have always been taught that the quality of my work is more important than speed. I ﬁnished an hour early at the regionals and I had an hour or so to spare at the ﬁnals.’

The competition is a chance to meet other students from different colleges and Matt said ‘I got on well with the other lads. It was really good fun and I think everyone enjoyed the event. There was a great atmosphere there. I am competitive but I don’t really show it. I will always work hard and challenge myself to be better, but I’d be the ﬁrst to congratulate someone if they did won. Fair play.’

REGIONAL HEATS SOUTH WEST BRIDGWATER COLLEGE Thursday 14th January

WALES COLEG Y CYMOEDD Thursday 21st January

NORTH EAST NEW COLLEGE DURHAM Thursday 28th January

NORTH WEST BURNLEY COLLEGE Thursday 4th February

SOUTH EAST PROCAT Thursday 11th February

MIDLANDS STEPHENSON COLLEGE Thursday 18th February

FOR ALL THE LATEST COMPETITION NEWS VISIT SPARKS-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | NATIONAL COMPETITION

PLATINUM SPONSOR

MEGGER SUPPORTS APPRENTICES Megger is delighted to have the opportunity of recognising and rewarding talent among young electricians by sponsoring this year’s Sparks Apprentice of the Year Award. The company, which has been designing and manufacturing innovative test equipment in the UK for well over 100 years, has always been a firm believer in investing in the future of the electrical industry, and that means providing support and encouragement for young electricians. There’s no doubt that this works. At its UK headquarters in Dover, Megger has a flourishing apprentice programme of its own, and many of the company’s senior staff at Dover and its other locations around the world started their careers as Megger apprentices. But it’s not only its own trainees that Megger works with and supports. The company has developed a whole range of training materials specifically for use in technical colleges, and experts from the Megger technical support and sales teams make regular presentations to technical college students, giving them an insight into the practical applications of test equipment, as well as introducing them to the latest instruments.

Training materials Apprentices – and working electricians – will also ﬁnd a wealth of informative material available free on the Megger website (megger.com). It’s not just product information, but application guides that explain the theory and practice of many types of testing. Just a few examples are a comprehensive guide to earth electrode resistance measurement, invaluable information about insulation resistance testing and a full description of loop testing techniques. These, and many useful publications, are available for instant downloading. And, of course, for those who have an Android or Apple smart phone, there’s the Megger Cable Calc+ app, which instantly calculates cable sizes and voltage drops, making it a valuable tool for apprentices and for qualiﬁed electricians. In short, Megger is always happy to give value back to the industry that supports it and, in particular, to make life easier and more interesting for those who are joining or working in the industry. In sponsoring the Sparks Apprentice of the Year Award,

Megger hopes that students following electrical courses in technical colleges will be inspired to push themselves a little harder and to take an even greater interest in developing their skills, so that they stand an even better chance of being selected by their tutors as entrants.

...the outright winner will win an MFT1730 multifunction tester worth more than £1,300... It’s definitely worth the effort! All entrants get a Certificate of Achievement that will be a great addition to their CVs, and all get valuable equipment and clothing that will be useful to them during their studies and afterward in their careers. For the finalists, there are even more rewards and, for the outright winner these are topped off by winning an MFT1730 multifunction tester worth more than £1,300 as well as a package of testers for your college worth over £1,000 to help future students, and by something money can’t buy – the Apprentice of the Year title.

So, if you’re an apprentice studying for a Level 3 qualiﬁcation, go for it! You’ve absolutely nothing to lose but quite a lot to gain. And Megger wishes you every success!

NATIONAL COMPETITION | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

SCOLMORE GROUP HELPING TO SHAPE THE FUTURE Developing new and innovative products that make electrical installation projects quicker and easier to carry out is what Scolmore prides itself on. We are, therefore, delighted to be getting involved with the UK National Apprentice of the Year scheme and playing our part in developing the talent and skills that will ensure the industry continues to thrive in the future. Scolmore Group is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of electrical accessories and wiring products. We are proud to be a British-based, family-run business with an international reputation for quality, innovation and exemplary customer service. The Click Wiring Accessories range remains the number one choice of electricians and contractors who value the flexibility of the modular based range, as well as the one-stop solution that the comprehensive offer allows. Our online ordering service is supported by automated order picking and processing procedures which enables us to offer service levels we believe are unprecedented in the industry. In September 2010 we entered the home automation market with our Click iNELS Radio Frequency Wireless Control System. Simple and flexible installation, significant energy savings and easy programming are the key attributes of the system. In recent years we have been building a reputation as one of

the lighting industry’s leading manufacturers. Under our OVIA umbrella brand we offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of lighting products available from under one roof. We are also the exclusive distributor of the highly respected Italian Fumagalli brand, which enables us to offer high quality ‘ﬁx and forget’ solutions for a whole host of outdoor lighting applications. The latest additions to our lighting collection is Inceptor - one of the industry’s most sophisticated integrated LED downlights ranges. We understand the importance of supporting the industry and we are keen to play our part to help the electricians of today and tomorrow to develop their skills and grow their businesses.

...we are keen to play our part to help the electricians of today and tomorrow...

TRADE DIRECT – RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprenticeships have long been the way into recognised trades, offering a proven way to study, earning while you’re learning in the work place. This means that you can start and run your own business as soon as you qualify. Sure, you may not know everything that there is to know about running a business, and will need to find your own customers and build a reputation, but you can be your own boss from day one. At Trade Direct Insurance we recognise the value that apprenticeships can bring both the student as well as the employer, but also understand that money can be tight while you’re training. The SPARKS National Apprentice of the Year Award is committed to helping develop electrical excellence across England and Wales, and we want to support the competition and you. We’re proud to offer £500 to the winner, and £250 to two runners-up in the national final. When you’re working, you’ll need insurance. Our Public Liability product has been designed to be flexible, and to meet the needs of trainees / apprentices, those newly qualified as well as small businesses. With 3 levels of cover, and limits that can be tailored to your needs, it really can grow as your business does. Oh, and you can earn a No Claim Discount while you learn on a recognised training course, saving you more money! A policy from Trade Direct Insurance grows as your business does. Why not give us as ring on 08000 280 380, or visit our mobile friendly website at www. tradedirectinsurance.co.uk, and see how affordable our insurance is, and how we can give you one less thing to worry about. TRADE DIRECT INSURANCE. QUALITY INSURANCE AT TRADE PRICES.

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | NATIONAL COMPETITION

BRONZE SPONSOR

WERA SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR World-leading manufacturer Wera specialises in screwdriving tools with headquarters in Germany and UK operation in Derbyshire. Wera’s tools are for professional, industrial applications and are a solutionprovider for problems associated with screw-connections. Wera emotionalises and intrigues users consistently with exceptional product ideas. In practical applications these – with many unique features – result in truly outstanding performance. 100% perfect quality is assured through a continually monitored manufacturing process resulting in near zero complaints. Feedback from users is crucial in Wera’s tool designs and to make life easier, faster and safer this input is vital. The electrical / plumbing industries are two of the most regulated from safety aspects and Wera can contribute valuable advice and recommendations from nearly 80 years of experience.

Wera are very pleased to be sponsoring and continuing support of The National Apprentice of the Year Awards because it gives the company a chance to have a responsible and productive input into the well-being of our country’s upcoming plumbers and electricians.

SPOT THE MISTAKE Are you considering entering next year’s Apprentice of the Year? With the level of competition being as ﬁerce as this year’s, it’s certainly worth ensuring that you don’t lose out on the small details. Have a look at the photos here and see if you can spot some of the problems that we spotted this year. If you can’t spot the errors, have a look online for the answers at sparks-magazine.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

COMPETITION IS KEY We spoke with EAL Product Specialist and electrical competitions judge, Darren Oates.

EAL, the specialist awarding organisation, is a keen supporter of industry competitions. Each year, EAL specialists attend various competitions as expert judges, and this year EAL will be providing the judge for the Sparks Apprentice of the Year Competition. We wanted to have a chat with someone who has experience from judging the competitions first-hand, and see what they think about skills competitions and the future outlook for the electrical sector. Darren Oates, EAL Building Services Product Specialist, is a judge at various electrotechnical competitions in the UK. He is a man on a mission – to find the best of the best. Darren, the 40-year-old father of two from Port Talbot, and a number of his colleagues volunteer hundreds of hours of their time each year to oversee key competitions. “This is my way of putting something back in to the industry that I love,” said Darren. “Building services has given me a great living and a great life. “I was an apprentice at 16 – and have known that I will always make a living. There is always work there if you want it. It’s a skill that society will always have a need for. “New technology is emerging every day – there is always something to learn and master. “Competitions are so important – to hone the skills of those that enter – but help set the bar high for the industry. “I get a tremendous buzz out of it – witnessing at first hand competitors under

extreme pressure producing work of an absolutely fantastic standard. Speed, agility and accuracy in action. “Electrotechnical is on its way back – the sector has experienced difﬁculties during the recession – but we are coming out of the bad times. “A lot of smaller companies have emerged in recent years that have brought new life and vigour to the sector.” EAL does not only support the industry through competitions and cutting-edge qualiﬁcations, they also have an active role across the UK through the electrotechnical forums, world-class customer service and close relations with the industry. “Our regional electrotechnical forums are vital. We invite customers in to have a full and frank open session. We have a special relationship. Everyone has a contact number and email address – and they have direct contact whenever they have an issue.

TOP TIPS FOR COMPETITORS Get these three things right, and you’ll have a head start in your next electrical competition

GET YOUR TOOLKIT IN ORDER

MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE

READ THE BRIEF PROPERLY

At competitions every second counts, and time spent searching for the right tool is time away from completing your task.

Spend time planning how to tackle each stage of your task. Fixing problems later on will slow you down.

Make sure you understand exactly what is involved in your task. If anything is unclear, ask the organisers to explain.

“We are able to respond almost immediately, where other AOs cannot, due to EAL employing a full time team of EQAs and product specialists. “It gives us an edge over all our competitors.” ○ For more information visit eal.org.uk

DARREN OATES: PRODUCT SPECIALIST, EAL. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TRAINED IN ELECTRICAL / MECHANICAL INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE. Darren said: “It’s my goal to be an integral team member for a leading awarding body. Ensuring that the high quality standards are maintained and to assist in expansion of the existing client base. It would also be my aim to ensure best practice is key, by consistently assisting, communicating and supporting customers.”

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | FEATURE

R A E W K R O W S R E THE SNICK REVOLUTION IN N O I T C E T O R P E E KN Knee injuries are commonplace amongst tradesmen including electricians who might be crawling around in a loft space ﬁtting spotlights for example. Sore and swollen knee joints are highly aggravating, but prevention is far easier than cure by taking the proper steps to look after you knees. And, with the latest revolutionary kneepad, that’s now possible.

The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body and there are different types of knee injuries. The most common is probably Housemaid’s Knee or Bursitis, which is caused by kneeling for long periods of time or by repetitive knee movements such as crouching down and standing up. Fluid builds up in the Bursa - which is the sack of ﬂuid that cushions the knee joints – causing swelling, soreness and stiffness in the joint. The condition is both preventable and treatable, however in more prolonged or chronic cases, continuous pain and stiffness may result in surgery.

So what is the answer? As you might expect knee protection on site is covered by EU legislation which sets out the functional requirements with which kneepad manufacturers must comply. However, there’s far more to the design and operation of effective kneepads that will prevent long term knee injuries. There have been various types of knee guards over the years. Strap-on pods that cut into the back of your knees, foam rubber mats and basic pads. The most effective kneepads have to work properly with the work trousers they’re used with, staying in precisely the right position to ensure reliable knee protection.

That’s what you get with the revolutionary KneeGuard System from Snickers. Most workwear manufacturers supply kneepads for their work trousers which vary in price, quality and effectiveness. But the adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ means that at the bottom end of the market you can now get a pair of rubber kneepads for less than a ﬁver with no guarantee of comfort or protection. Protecting your knees is important. Injuries may mean you cannot work and so you need to invest carefully to protect your health and welfare on site. The world’s ﬁrst ‘active’ kneepads from Snickers Workwear are proven to last twice as long as other kneepads and take cutting-edge knee protection to a completely new level with the revolutionary D3O® materials.

What’s D3O®? D3O® is a unique and active and specially engineered rubbery material comprising intelligent molecules which ‘ﬂow’ with you as you move. On shock they lock together to absorb the impact energy to provide highfrequency protection. The durable D3O® material also features an extremely slow compression rate, ensuring that the kneepads keep their shape with Snickers Work Trousers during hard work and over a long period of time. So, if you work a lot on your knees, this material will give you by far the best, long lasting knee protection available.

THE PERFECT KNEEPADS    

Work in tandem with work trousers Stay in position Are adjustable Hard-wearing on the outside and soft on the inside  High sides prevent knees from sliding

To get more information on Snickers’ Workwear visit snickersworkwear.com or alternatively, call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788

ADVERTORIAL | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

A R E W T A W E N S ’ T A H W

With 2015 in full swing Wera would like to introduce the new ‘must have’ kit for electricians and maintenance workers across the country. Meet the new W1 Maintenance kit, featuring the top-selling Kompakt VDE, Zyklop Speed and Joker range of products. Let us ﬁll you in…

As all electricians know, recessed screws and RCBO’s often present problems when using a traditional insulated screwdriver. Access is often restricted and the temptation is to ‘cut back’ the insulation - but don’t do it! The amount of exposed metal blade on a VDE screwdriver has to follow a strict standard of safety (VDE 1000V EN60900:2012). Once the insulation has been cut back that safety margin has been destroyed, the warranty on the tool is void and you’re putting yourself at risk. The Kompakt VDE ExtraSlim range solves the problem without compromising safety, and features in the new W1 Maintenance Kit. The insulation is integrated into the blade and tapered, for easy access to recessed screws.

serrated teeth to grip rusted fasteners. Whilst this set is squarely aimed at electricians and maintenance engineers, with the range of included tools it would no doubt be of interest to a number of other professionals.

○ wera-tools.co.uk Another great feature of the latest Wera kits is the newly designed structured fabric box. It’s durable but lightweight and represents a welcome change from the bulky, heavy and poorly made metal and plastic cases found elsewhere.

So what else is in this new kit? Let’s start with a ratchet… Tired of carrying around five separate ratchets to cater for all eventualities? No problem, the W1 contains the ¼” drive Zyklop Speed ratchet. That means you have a swivel, flex-head, locking, power AND ultra-fine ratchet all in one. Not just a ratchet, it can also be used as a screwdriver via the included bit holder attachment! The Joker Wrench is another leap in innovation, bringing genuinely useful and time-saving features to the humble spanner - featuring an incredibly useful holding function, bi-hexagonal profile and

consistently developing groundbreaking new tools and pushing the boundaries of innovation, focussed on making your work easier, faster and safer. So if you just want a screwdriver, they can do that, better than anyone. But if you want more, if you demand more, then you’ve come to the right place. Join #TeamWera now!

The W1 is one of a range of new kits Wera have introduced to suit speciﬁc users or applications. There is the SH1 PlumbKit aimed at, you guessed it, all the plumbers out there. There is also the H1 Wood Kit, the M1 Metal Kit and the Zyklop Metal/Speed Set, combining two great ratchets and a selection of accessories compatible with both. Tool Rebels Wera are always challenging the standard - it’s their core belief. They are innovators, who many say are the best in their ﬁeld, with some of the best product designers and engineers in Germany - the home of performance manufacturing. Wera are

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | JUST FOR FUN

! N U F R O F J UST Health & Safety Quiz Use the letter codes to match the abbreviation with its correct meaning. 1

HASAWA

Health and Safety Executive

CDM

Mobile Elevating Work Platform

PUWER

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

HSE

Personal Protective Equipment

RIDDOR

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations

COSHH

Approved Codes of Practice

MEWP

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

PPE

Respiratory Protective Equipment

RPE

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

ACoP

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

CHECK

10 =

FEATURE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

Cable standards not only specify the dimensions and materials of a cable, they also require that a range of speciďŹ c tests are undertaken on the cable to prove the construction and performance in terms of temperature, ďŹ re and smoke performance, thermal insulation, voltage drop, and external inďŹ&#x201A;uences.

ARE YOU CHOOSING THE RIGHT CABLE TYPE FOR THE JOB? The British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) rigorously tests cable to meet British, European and International standards. We speak to Dr Jeremy Hodge, chief executive at BASEC about choosing the right cable type for its environment.

What are typical temperature ranges? Cables need to be kept within an allowable range of temperature, otherwise the insulation or sheathing material may decay and crack, compromising safety. Each cable type is rated at a speciďŹ c maximum conductor temperature, based on the materials used. Ordinary PVC and similar materials are usually rated at 70Â°C. Rubber materials, enhanced temperature PVC, XLPE and low smoke zero halogen materials are usually rated at 90Â°C. Higher temperatures can be resisted by special heat resisting types â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some silicone rubber cables may operate up to 250Â°C, and mineral insulated cables well above that. At the other extreme, only cables intended for use outdoors in freezing conditions should be used below 0Â°C. Flexible cables in particular should be carefully speciďŹ ed for cold conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; look for a -40Â°C test rating if in doubt.

What about thermal insulation? With increasing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions, the amount of thermal insulation used in buildings is increasing. Cables always run slightly warm, because of the internal resistance in the copper conductors. This heat can build up unless it is lost through convection or conduction. If a cable is mounted in thermal insulation, against a wooden joist, or in the ground, the thermal environment will be different and the cable will reach a different maximum temperature. In some circumstances this might result in overheating, so a larger sized cable needs to be speciďŹ ed to keep it cool enough. It is important to assess the mounting conditions as described in the IET Wiring Regulations and to use appropriate de-rating factors, so that the right size of cable can be chosen and safety is not compromised.

What is voltage drop? For small installations with short runs of cable it is usual to base cable sizes on the maximum current load (including fault current) that can be anticipated. However, when designing and installing long runs of cable, such as to a distant outbuilding it is important to consider the drop in voltage in the cable over that distance and

to install a larger cable to minimise this drop. A cable of several standard sizes larger than that calculated from the load alone may be needed. In such circumstances the advice of a full scope qualiďŹ ed electrician should be obtained.

What external influences should be taken into account? The IET Wiring Regulations set out a range of conditions that the installer needs to assess in order to specify the correct type and size of cable for the conditions. These include: ambient temperature (for example, loft insulation); water or humidity; solid foreign bodies such as dust; corrosive or polluting substances such as acids or oils; threat of impact which might damage the cable; vibration and other mechanical stresses such as stretching; mould and vermin such as mice, rats, birds; solar and UV radiation; and a number of others. Once the external inďŹ&#x201A;uences have been assessed, the usability of various cable types can be checked against BS 7540 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Electric Cables: Guide to Useâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Visit basec.org.uk for further info about BASEC and its role in the electrical industry.

@BASECCables

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | FEATURE

GOOD TO KNOW 1 Cordless power tool technology offers increased ﬂexibility for working in tight spaces

2 Lithium-Ion battery technology offers increased power, runtime and service life

3 Brushless motors can increase operating time on longer high-volume drilling jobs

PUTTING THE POWER INTO YOUR WORK Simon Miller, Brand Manager for Hitachi Power Tools, looks at the latest battery and tool technology for professionals. As an installer, investing in a good set of power tools is an important decision. Cordless power tool technology is now providing tradespeople with greater performance, more run time per charge and longer warranties than ever before. Getting in those hard to reach places can be tricky, and that’s when cordless power tool technology really comes into its own, especially if there is no on-site power source available for corded tools. There is nothing more frustrating than when the battery life does not last long enough or does not provide enough power to get the job done.

Hitachi Power Tools was one of the ﬁrst power tool manufacturers to have both 5.0Ah Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery technology and brushless motors available on its 18V cordless range.

This provides many advantages for users, including increased power, runtime and service life. Lithium-Ion battery technology is prevalent

in the cordless power tool market because of its low memory effect and very slow loss of charge when not in use. In comparison cheaper battery packs often rely on a simpler “dump” charger with a less rigorous method of monitoring. This means they have to have a built-in margin of safety of up to 20% of charge, so can be less reliable, have shorter run times and could possibly be dangerous if misused.

Performance To increase performance, tool manufacturers are also turning their attention to developing extremely efficient electric motors. Brushed motors produce sparks, friction and heat, so the recent introduction of brushless motors by manufacturers such as Hitachi has seen an increase in efficiency, sometimes providing as much as twice the performance of a brushed motor. Hitachi’s brushless motor technology performs 150% more efficiently compared to conventional brushed motors. Brushless motors improve dust proofing, which is important for installers as it gives the power tools a longer service life. This saves you time and money, not just in respect of cleaning your power tools, but

As an installer, investing in a good set of power tools is an important decision. replacing them too. The brushless motor can increase working time by up to 40% when used on those longer high-volume drilling jobs. The Hitachi 18V 5.0Ah cordless range includes combi, driver and SDS-Plus Hammer drills; circular, jigsaw and reciprocating saws; a planer, angle grinder, impact driver and wrenches; an automatic screwdriver and fan. There is also a worklight and radio for use on site. Lithium-ion batteries combined with the very latest brushless motors within cordless power tools offer installers ﬂexibility and choice for the job in hand. Subsequently, longer warranties, such as our three-year offer, save users time, money and hassle. ○ hitachi-powertools.co.uk

TAKE THE LEAD...

...WITH ELECTRICAL QUALIFICATIONS FROM EAL

Qualifications to support Apprenticeships and training for electrical contractors: • gain the skills to deliver outstanding services in domestic, commercial and industrial settings • access industry recognised qualifications in inspection and testing, periodic reporting, portable appliance testing and the 17th Edition wiring regulations • help learners meet requirements for electrotechnical industry schemes.

“EAL qualifications are high quality, more demanding and make students aim higher.”

David Quinton, Head of Plumbing and Electrical, South Gloucester and Stroud College

EAL Awards

EAL_Awards

01923 652400 customercare@eal.org.uk www.eal.org.uk

CLOSER TO

INDUSTRY

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | FEATURE

KLEIN TOOLS & SUPER ROD DONATE £1 MILLION OF PRODUCTS FOR APPRENTICES Two leading tool manufacturers, Klein Tools and Super Rod, have teamed up to donate £1 million worth of tools to JTL’s training program for the electrical sector. This represents a signiﬁcant investment in apprentices, and comes at a time when Klein’s presence in the UK is growing alongside the partnership with Super Rod. L-R: Mark Klein (President, Klein Tools), Jon Graham (Chief Executive, JTL), Malcolm Duncan (Managing Director, Super Rod)

ABOUT KLEIN TOOLS A family owned company, Klein Tools has been designing and manufacturing premium quality hand tools since 1857 and is a leading supplier in the US electrical market. The majority of Klein tools are manufactured in plants throughout the States and are the number one choice among professional electricians and other tradespeople in that country. ABOUT SUPER ROD Listen, innovate, deliver – Super Rod puts customers at the heart of everything they do. This approach has enabled them to develop the world’s leading cable installation system, delivering millions of hours of labour savings for its customers. Focused on the needs of the professional electrician, Super Rod continuously seeks industry innovations to provide the best hand tool solutions for their customers. ○ kleintools.com / super-rod.co.uk jtltraining.com

JTL is a not-for-proﬁt charity, offering advanced electrical apprenticeships, plumbing apprenticeships, engineering maintenance apprenticeships, and heating and ventilating apprenticeships throughout the UK. The donation will supply apprentices studying at JTL’s ﬂagship National Centre of Excellence in Birmingham with Klein Tools’ electrical tools.

Successful partnership Based at Mill Wharf, Aston in Birmingham, the JTL National Centre of Excellence provides a vital training base for nearly 150 apprentices across the different building services engineering and facilities management disciplines, as well as home to a range of training courses for those already working within the industries. “We are pleased with the partnership we have with Super Rod, and are thrilled to make the dual investment in JTL for the great work they do in training the next batch of this country’s electricians,” said Mark Klein, president of Klein Tools. “Klein Tools is focused on delivering quality tools and also wants to ensure the future success of apprentices in the electrical industry.” At the end of last year Klein Tools and

Super Rod entered into a partnership to offer Klein’s full range of high-quality electrical products through Super Rod’s wellestablished distribution channel and sales network in Europe. Thanks to the partnership, Klein Tools products can now be found in 411 City Electrical Factors stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. “In the time we have been partnered with Klein, we have seen only positive response and customer satisfaction for their tools,” said Malcolm Duncan, managing director of Super Rod. “Apart from distributing their products, we are proud to say we are working with the company to make a signiﬁcant investment in the skills and experience of the United Kingdom’s electrician workforce.” JTL supports more than 5,000 young people in apprenticeship disciplines including electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation, and engineering maintenance ﬁelds. The organisation works with about 3,000 businesses in the United Kingdom to help place apprentices in corresponding.

THE POWER TO SUPPORT YOU ALL THE WAY

the power behind your business Each year we support over 36,000 electrical contractors and renewable energy installers with technical advice, training, news and discounts on a wide range of products and services. Let us get behind you from day one of your career. To find out how to join us call 0843 290 3392

niceic.com

elecsa.co.uk

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | FEATURE

ARE YOU WIRED ABOUT

AMENDMENT 3? Why Amendment 3 matters Electrical safety is one of the most important things in the home, which is why we have regulations to make sure installations comply with minimum safety standards. BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) sets the standards for electrical installation in the UK and many other countries, and a major update to the regulations took effect on July 1st 2015. Entitled ‘BS 7671: 2008 (2015) Amendment 3 to the 17th Edition of the IET wiring regulations’, it’s important that installers and contractors understand what the amendment is and how it will affect them. The driving force behind the amendments is the desire to protect persons, livestock and property from unsafe installations, including the risk of ﬁres caused by electrics in the home.

What does it mean for electrical contractors? From July 1st 2015 all electrical installations designed and installed, must comply with the updated regulations.

HERE’S A REVIEW OF THE MAIN CHANGES WHICH YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF: NEW NUMBERS Although we’re all part of Europe, the Third Amendment recognises certain regulations that apply to the UK only. These are now identiﬁed by a new numbering system. Regulations with a .100 number are CENELEC requirements and those with a .200 number are speciﬁc to the UK.

WHAT’S NEW?

Some new regulations have been added including:

CHAPTER 41

Protection against electric shock. There’s now a requirement for RCD protection for socket-outlets up to 20A and for mobile equipment for use outdoors up to 32 A for all installations, however there are some limited exceptions. Maximum earth fault loop impedances given in tables 41.2, 41.3, 41.4 and 41.6 have been revised to take account of the Cmin factor of 0.95

CHAPTER 42

Protection against thermal effects. Due to the number of consumer unit ﬁres reported within domestic premises, Regulation 421.1.201 (UK only) has been added and requires consumer units and similar switchgear to have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material or be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material. The example given in BS 7671 of a non-combustible material is steel. This won’t take effect until 1st January 2016

to make sure there’s an adequate supply of suitable enclosures on the market.

CHAPTER 52

Selection and erection of wiring systems. A new regulation 521.11.201 (UK only) has been included giving requirements for the methods of support of wiring systems in escape routes. The regulations concerning selection and erection of wiring systems have been re-drafted. Reference to “under the supervision of a skilled or instructed person” has been removed.

CHAPTER 55

Other Equipment. A new section 557 Auxiliary Circuits is included. All auxiliary circuits are deﬁned in Part 2.

PART 7

Special Installations or Locations: Section 701 locations containing a bath or shower. There is now a requirement for RCD protection to be provided for:  low voltage circuits serving the location  low voltage circuits passing through zones 1 and 2 not serving the location.

WHAT’S CHANGED? 01

PART 2

Definitions have been expanded and modified, including the introduction of some new symbols. A list of abbreviations used in the Regulations has been added. The definition of ‘competent person’ has been removed and it has been replaced with ‘instructed

FEATURE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

person (electrically)’ and ‘skilled person (electrically)’. These changes have been reﬂected throughout the wiring regulations.

SECTION 559

Luminaires and lighting installation. Requirements for outdoor lighting installations and extra low voltage lighting installations have been moved to new Sections 714 and 715 respectively.

APPENDIX 3

Time / current characteristics of overcurrent protective devices and RCDs. This includes changes in connection with maximum earth fault loop impedance to take account of the Cmin factor of 0.95 given in CLC / TR50480:2011.

Since the announcement of Amendment 3, NAPIT has strongly advocated training for installers on how the changes affect the work they undertake.

CHAPTER 51

Common rules. Section 551 concerning compliance with standards requires all equipment to be suitable for the nominal voltage and also requires certain information to be noted on the Electrical Installation Certiﬁcate.

Supporting Petroc College on Amendment 3 Earlier this year NAPIT delivered a presentation on Amendment 3 to the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations to lecturers and students at Petroc College in Devon. With Amendment 3 being such an important topic for the electrical industry, lecturers at the college were keen to see how the changes would affect current and prospective students and to understand the changes better in order to teach their courses effectively. Back in April, NAPIT Regional Inspections Manager, Paul Chaffers, delivered an informative presentation on the changes and answered any burning questions attendees had on the Wiring Regulations.

APPENDIX 6

Model forms for certification and reporting. The schedule of inspections (for new work only) has been replaced by examples of items requiring inspection during initial verifications (which must be appended to the Electrical Installation Certificate). A small number of changes to the Electrical Installation Condition Report and associated notes have been made, including a requirement to carry out an inspection within an accessible roof space where electrical equipment is present in that roof space.

Martin Cheetham, an Electrical Engineering lecturer at Petroc College, said: “The event, facilitated by NAPIT, was extremely useful for the continued personal development of Petroc Staff and local employers / employees. This included providing electrical contractors, maintenance electricians and electrical wholesales colleagues with the necessary updates, information and guidance to successfully address, implement and

demonstrate compliance with Amendment 3. The Northern Devon Learning Community was grateful for the opportunity to discuss the changes and implications and to ask pertinent questions.” Mark Pearce, NAPIT’s Business Manager, said: “Since the announcement of Amendment 3, NAPIT has strongly advocated training for installers on how the changes affect the work they undertake. We continue to be proactive in supporting colleges on the changes to the Wiring Regulations and we look forward to continuing to deliver these seminars up and down the country.” ○ NAPIT.ORG.UK

Amendment 3 webinar draws in huge audience More than 1500 conscientious sparks tuned into NICEIC and ELECSA’s ﬁrst ever live webinar. The Wire, which was hosted by industry legends Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth, provided viewers with a free, informative update on the changes to the BS7671 wiring regulations. Sarah King, Events Manager at NICEIC, commented: “The introduction of Amendment 3 brought about some big changes within the industry and it is important that all contractors are aware of the changes and what they might mean to them when carrying out electrical installation work.” ○ ELECSA.CO.UK / NICEIC.COM 3RDAMENDMENT.CO.UK

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Electric Cables Covering Outcome 4 of Unit 304 ‘Understand the Types, Applications and Limitations of Wiring Systems and Associated Equipment.’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent).

○

General knowledge questions and tasks for cables.

Q1. An electric cable is designed to safely carry Q2. The typical construction of an electric cable will consist of a solid or stranded

and a protective

layer called the

Q3. Cable insulation is generally a layer of PVC that may be over-covered with an additional layer called the Q4. The insulating material used in the construction of MICC cable is Q5. The current rating of an electric cable depends on the method of installation and the cable Q6. The cross-sectional-area of an electric cable is expressed in mm2 and refers to the of the conductor.

Q7. Complete the labels for the following cable samples...

Q8. Composite cables are cables that can be clipped direct to a surface and consist of two or more cores. One example of a composite cable is

Go to sparks-magazine.co.uk to freely download exercise answers

VDE

www.knipex.de

Apart from the pliers the assortment of KNIPEX insulated tools also includes everything necessary for electricians like ratchets, open end wrenches, box wrenches or nut drivers.

KNIPEX – VDE Range Insulated tools – a question of trust The Knipex VDe range encompasses everything that the electrician needs when working on live installations. in addition to products from the world of pliers, tools such as single open ended spanners, box wrenches, nut drivers, ratchets etc. are also available as insulated tools. KNIPEX insulated tools are safety-tested, one by one every single pair of pliers leaving our factory is first tested at a voltage of AC 10,000 V. This represents a test load that is 10 times the maximum voltage permitted when working. This safeguards the user when working. You can depend on Knipex tools in every situation.

KNIPEX Quality – Made in Germany

For more details about the Knipex range of tools, and for details of your nearest stockist please contact: Alex Garami – 0777 543 7469 a.garami@knipex.com

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Q9.

The abbreviation BASEC is the registered mark for the

Q10. What is the function of the BASEC mark found on electric cables?

Q11. The following illustration shows a

Q12. The following illustration shows an cable.

cable. PVC insulation

conductor

insulation

stranded conductors

PVC sheath

Q13. Flexible cable has a multi-strand core, (usually 32 strands of copper conductor) all cores are insulated with an over-covering of PVC or silicon rubber as shown below. TASK: Label the parts.

Q14. Single-phase power supplies into domestic premises may be supplied using a concentric cable. The central core is the line and the neutral conductor surrounds it and provides mechanical protection. TASK: Label the parts.

Q15. PVC insulated Steel-Wire-Armour, (SWA) has galvanised steel wires surrounding the insulated cores providing mechanical protection. Single and multicore versions are available. TASK: Label the parts.

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EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

Q16. In situations likely to have high temperatures present for long periods of time, or a risk of explosion exists, Mineral Insulated Copper Covered (MICC), cable may be selected. What are the two main advantages of MICC cable?

1. 2. TASK: The illustration shows a single-core non-sheathed or bare copper sheath MICC cable. Label the parts.

Q17. Fire–Proof or FP cable is ﬁre resistant and may be used where mechanical protection is required without secondary containment. TASK: Label the parts shown in the illustration.

Q18. Fibre Optic cable is used for data transmission and electrical signals that need to be protected from electro-magnetic interference. The ‘conductor’ consists of a very fine glass fibre through which energy, in the form of light, is passed. (There is no solid copper or aluminium conductor and therefore current, as we understand it will not pass through this type of cable). TASK: Label the illustration for a single–core fibre optic cable.

○ Summary of Cable Facts CONDUCTOR: Usually made from copper and arranged in solid, stranded or multi-stranded format for a range of cross–sectional–areas. INSULATION: This is the protective covering surrounding a conductor. Insulation is usually polyvinyl chloride, (PVC), synthetic rubber or silicon rubber. SHEATH: This provides the basic protection against electric shock and a mechanical protective layer for the conductors. TWIN AND THREE–CORE ‘FLAT’ CABLE: Twin and Earth cables have an over–covering of PVC that provides mechanical protection for the separately insulated line and neutral conductors and the bare circuit protective conductor. This cable is a composite cable insofar as it can be clipped direct to a surface without additional protection or mechanical containment. SPECIAL CABLES: PVC SWA, FP and MICC are composite cables and can be installed using proprietary clips or cleats and cable-ties without the need for secondary containment.

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Electric Cables Covering Outcome 4 of Unit 309 ‘Understand the Relationship Between Resistance, Resistivity, Voltage, Current and Power’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent).

All cables are identiﬁed by the cross-sectional-area of the conductor and not the overall cross-sectional-area of the cable.

Insulation

The cable size in mm2 is the total area of the conductors. To determine the cross-sectional-area, (c.s.a.) of a cable it will be necessary to measure the diameter of the conductor.

Conductors

Measurement can be made using a ruler, callipers and ruler, or a micrometer.

Diameter (d)

Q1. Which one of the instruments listed above provides the most accurate result?

○

HOW TO CALCULATE THE C.S.A To calculate the c.s.a having accurately measured the diameter of the conductor, it will be necessary to apply a formula. One of two formulae can be used: i.

Area (a) = πd² 4

ii. Area (a) = πr² Note: the diameter must be halved for this formula

TRY THESE PROBLEMS:

Q2. A conductor has a diameter of 1.78mm. What is the c.s.a.? i.

Area (a) = πd² 4 a= a=

Q3. A cable has a radius of 1.38mm. What is the c.s.a.? ii. Area (a) = πr² a= a=

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

○

MANIPULATING FORMULA It may be a good idea to practice manipulation or transposing formulae at this stage:

WORKED EXAMPLE 1. A cable has a c.s.a. of 10mm2. What is the cable diameter? (We could use either formula, but let’s keep things fairly simple) Using formula ii Area (a) = πr² Remember we are looking for the diameter, so the answer will need to be doubled. Therefore, the formula can be adjusted as shown.  1st rearrange the formula to make r² the subject: a = πr² divide by π on both sides of the equal sign π π  Next rewrite the formula the right way round r² = a π  Finally to remove the (2) from r2 square-root the opposite side like this: r=

a π

 So r=

a π

10 = 1.78mm x 2 = a diameter of 3.57mm 3.142

WORKED EXAMPLE 2. Rearrange formula (i) and make d the subject. i. a = πd² 4  Multiply both sides of equal sign by 4

a x 4 = πd² x 4 4

 Now divide both sides by π

a x 4 = πd² π π

 Next rewrite the formula the right way round

d² = a x 4 π

 Finally remove the square from d and square-root the opposite side

ax4 π

TRY THIS A conductor has a c.s.a of 4.0mm2. What is the conductor diameter? d= d= d= d=

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R E E R A C R U O Y T R STA : H T I W R E T R A M S G #WORKIN

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Steel Containment Systems Covering Outcome 4 of Unit 304 ‘Understand the Types, Applications and Limitations of Wiring Systems and Associated Equipment.’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent).

○

Identify the correct name for each of the following steel cable containment systems and suggest one application.

STEEL CABLE CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

IDENTIFY

APPLICATION

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ADVERTORIAL | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

FINANCING YOUR VAN PURCHASE Research from Mercedes-Benz Vans shows that despite Britain’s van drivers contributing more than £43.8 billion to the UK’s economy, nearly 60% are still being turned down for funding by traditional High Street banks. Regardless of the tax and National Insurance payments that van drivers make – each contributing more than £5,600 a year in fuel duty and tax alone, which is more than a ﬁfth of van drivers’ entire annual income – Britain’s banks are still no-go’s for many small business van drivers.

Obtaining finance Pre-recession rates from 2007 show that 90% of business loans were successfully approved, highlighting the signiﬁcant drop in obtaining ﬁnance over recent years. Finance is extremely important in helping businesses achieve their own aspirations, not least because for many in the industry, a van is not just a means of moving around, but is a vital tool for the job.

Mercedes Sprinter

While some customers want to buy, there is a big section that increasingly turns to leasing to fund their vehicle requirements. Pre-recession, around 80% were taking out Hire Purchase on their van – a loan to purchase the vehicle. In 2015, this ﬁgure

Finance is extremely important in helping businesses achieve their own aspirations... is more like 50% - proof that customers are seeking new and more effective ways to fund their van.

Current trends One of the big trends in the finance industry is now towards the hybrid products available in additional to the traditional Hire Purchase and Leasing methods, for example Contract Purchase, which guarantees future value if the customer decides to purchase at the end of their term, rather than return it. Mercedes-Benz Vans has seen a big increase in the amount of finance requested and approved to its customers, with one in three vans now funded via Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. The approval rate is 85% - a 43% greater approval rate than high street banks. So while many lenders view elements of credit risk very differently, a manufacturerassociated finance company understands the vehicles much better and what can be the best option for many businesses.

Leasing Leasing is one such option which is proving popular as it beneﬁts initial cash ﬂow – the 20% VAT cost has to be paid upfront in one payment as part of any type of ‘purchase’

ﬁnance, whereas with a standard Operating Lease or Finance Lease, the VAT is payable within each payment instalment. Remember that VAT within an instalment cost, or paid upfront, can easily distort a monthly payment, so bear that in mind if contemplating the difference between buying and leasing. Also it is important that businesses refer to their accountants to ascertain which is the most tax efﬁcient way to acquire the vehicles – and this will vary depending on a multitude of factors. Currently, the number of vans in the UK from new to ten years old is around 3.3 million. Government estimations show that it could double to 6 million by 2020; vans are clearly a necessity to the UK. If you look historically at the van industry, tradition suggests that when the vehicles come to the end of ownership, it is simply replaced like-for-like. However, van operators are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about selecting the right van for its application – rightsizing.

Last year was a record-breaking year for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. In the year, the manufacturerassociated finance company funded more vans than ever before, lending over £250 million worth of finance, which represented a significant 6.8% increase on the previous year.

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Wiring Containment Practice Questions Covering Outcome 4 of Unit 304 ‘Understand the Types, Applications and Limitations of Wiring Systems and Associated Equipment.’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent.

Q1 a

20mm, 25mm & 32mm are diameters of...

Ans.

Joints in trunking, cable tray or metal ducting will require...

Sufﬁcient set-screws and nuts to secure the joint

Standard power cables

Standard conduits

Ducting

The ends of the containment to be pushed together

MICC cables

Protective bonding straps across each joint

Labels to indicate the position of the joint

Stainless steel, galvanised and enamel are surface ﬁnishes for...

Ans.

The accessory used to join lengths of metal conduit is a...

Conduit, trunking and cable tray

Conduit only

Connector

Trunking only

Screwed sleeve

Cable tray only

Joiner

Coupler

The cable capacity rating for a conduit allows for...

Additional cables to be installed at a later date

Expansion of cables when in use

Sufﬁcient cable temperature rise without damage

Circulating air space allowing cables to shed heat in use

Ans.

The device used to prevent undue strain on cables in a vertically mounted trunking is a...

Clamp

Pin-rack

Support block

Off-set

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Ans.

EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

The best practice method for connecting ﬁxed metal conduit to a motor terminal box is...

Ans.

Which one of the following wiring systems

Q10 requires the introduction of ﬁre barriers where

Ans.

it penetrates ﬂoors or ceilings? a

PVC SWA

PVC conduit

Direct connection of the conduit with the box

Flexible conduit

Which one of the following containment systems may be used to support ﬂuorescent luminaires?

Trunking

Cable tray

Conduit

Ducting

Spacer-bar, distance and hospital, are all types of...

Ans.

Conduit 25mm and above

Trunking with an area of over 710mm²

Cable tray

Cable basket

Q11

Cable basket is designed to support all of the following cable types except...

Single PVC insulated cables

PVC SWA

PVC insulated MICC

CAT 5 data cable

Q12 A running–coupler is sometimes used in...

Conduit

PVC conduit systems

Trunking support mechanisms

Trunking installations

Saddle

Underground ducting

Support bracket

Steel conduit installations

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Ans.

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Selecting & Using Power Tools Covering Unit 305 ‘Understand the Procedures for Selecting and Using Tools, Equipment.’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent).

○

The following questions concern the selection and use of power tools. It may be necessary to refer to the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and other resources as may be helpful.

Q1. What is the requirement for an employee regarding his / her employer when using or about to use power tools?

Q2. Hand-held power tools can also be referred to as...

Q3. The majority of reported accidents involving the use of portable electrical equipment are most likely to be...

Q4. Identify FOUR reasons why portable electrical equipment may develop a fault.

Q5. You have been issued with a new electrically operated drilling machine by your employer. What do you need to do before using it?

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EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

Q6.

You are about to use an electrically operated chasing machine that is approximately two years old, what checks will you need to carry out before using it?

Q7.

Portable electrically operated equipment used on construction sites must be what voltage rating?

Q8.

List FIVE examples of portable electrically operated equipment that may be found on a large construction site.

Q9.

Identify the THREE main colours used to identify voltages of plugs and socket-outlets on a construction site.

Q10. Identify FOUR items of 110V electrical power distribution equipment that may be found on a large construction site.

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Electrician’s Hand Tools Identify the correct name of each tool pictured below.

HAND TOOL

USED FOR...

IDENTIFY

Terminations and other ﬁxing devices

Gripping, twisting, bending and cutting cable or wire Flat and circular gripping points Parallel cutting edges

Adjustable cutting notch that ﬁts over cable insulation with a twisting and pulling motion. The insulation is cut and pulled off of the conductor

Combination of wire strippers and crimping tool for cable lugs

Cutting cable or wire Parallel cutting edges and crimping facility for small lugs

Cutting cable or wire Parallel cutting edges

General ﬁxing devices

Gripping and cutting Used in crowded electrical control panels where access to parts may be restricted

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EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

WORDSEARCH: Hand & Power Tools Try to locate the names listed below. Words may be left to right or top to bottom.

A T R A N S F O R M E R B H E H M D I O

L E V E L A P A N H E A D F Z A I R A S

C R E U I W Q U C A C D L P Y N A I C F

X M R L J F N V H A M M E R S D A L E T

G I C F P V F L I M H A A V U L E L F A

I N S X G M W H S L S N D T G A N I R P

K A T V Q P Q L E H A L L E N M C N E E

L L E G A L U C L E W G F V X P A G B M

W S S K N I F E V A K L E D I S S M S E

Q C U T T E R S R B O O T S F I T A G A

C R U N T R R S I N K V V W T I L C S S

R E S U N S T R I P P E R S F W A H J U

T W O E M R U U C R K S S P E N C I L R

H D N L E A N L O P J H E A G N U N O E

I R T S Y F D E I S L F R N G S T E L C

J I G S A W H R I T O O I N O N B A E M

N V Z M N T E O C H A R G E R Y I A B Y

M E N G O G G L E S S T G R I N D E R L

T R E K D B D E S P L I T P I N C U P E

H A C K S A W L E E C J N V I O Q N Z S

 BOOTS

 HACKSAW

 PLIERS

 CHARGER

 HAMMER

 RULER

 CHISEL

 HAND LAMP

 SAW

 CUTTERS

 JIG SAW

 SPANNER

 DRILLING MACHINE

 KNIFE

 STRIPPERS

 GLOVES

 LEAD

 TAPE MEASURE

 GOGGLES

 LEVEL

 TERMINAL SCREWDRIVER

 GRINDER

 PENCIL

 TRANSFORMER

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

BS7671:2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations incorporating A3: 2015 Covering Outcome 7 of Unit 304 ‘Know the Regulatory Requirements Which Apply to Installation of Wiring Systems, Associated Equipment and Enclosures.’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent).

The third amendment to BS7671: 2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations came into effect on 1st July 2015; this means that all installations designed from this date must comply with BS7671: 2008 incorporating Amendment 3: 2015. TASK REQUIREMENTS: The following tasks will require you to have access to BS7671: 2008 + A3 2015.

○

TASK 1: Finding speciﬁc regulations Complete the following table giving a brief description of the Regulation.

Regulation number

Description of the Regulation

134.1.1

332.1

424.1

512.1.5

521.11.201

557.1

○

TASK 2: Application of BS7671: 2008 +A3 The Regulations do not apply to all situations in which electrical systems are installed. For each of the following consider whether BS7671 applies or not and complete the table using ticks or crosses.

Example

Yes

A veterinary practice Electric vehicle charging station at a supermarket Life safety and ﬁreﬁghting applications Lightning protection systems for buildings and structures Permanent electric fences erected in a dairy farm

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EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

○

TASK 3: Use of Appendices & Tables For each question complete the answer and state the reference and page it can be found on.

Question

Answer

Q1.

BS951:2009 concerns?

Q2.

The permitted voltage tolerance for a public 230V supply is?

Q3.

The Cmin factor for a low voltage supply to ESQCR 2002 is?

Q4.

The fault current to achieve a 0.4 second disconnection time for a 400A BS 88-2, fuse to system E is?

Q5.

A 25mm2, multicore SWA with 70°C thermoplastic insulation installed to Method C supplying a d.c load has a rating of?

Q6.

The equation used to determine a Zs maximum measured value is?

○

Table reference / Page no.

TASK 4: Symbols used in BS7671 Complete the following table of symbols and their meanings.

Symbol

mV/A/m

4 5 6

Meaning

Page reference

Voltage between lines U oc Earth fault loop impedance

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SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | EXERCISE

Selecting & Using Power Tools Covering Outcome 7 of Unit 304 ‘Know the Regulatory Requirements which apply to Installation of Wiring Systems, Associated Equipment and Enclosures.’ (Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electro-Technical Systems and Equipment 2357-13 / 91 or EAL equivalent).

○

REQUIREMENTS: The following practice multiple-choice questions will require you to have access to BS7671: 2008 +A3 2015.

ADVICE: It may be helpful to highlight or underline the key words in the question before attempting to ﬁnd the answer in the British Standard; you should ﬁnd this technique helpful when looking for references in the Contents or Index pages of BS7671. EXAMPLE QUESTION: A linked, switch or circuit-breaker shall be inserted in which of the following conductors? a. Neutral

b. Line

c. Both neutral and line

d. Negative

PROCEDURE: Key words are ‘linked’, ‘switch’ and ‘circuit-breaker’. Look for ‘switch, linked’ in the index, (page 491). Note that the first reference is ‘definition - Part 2’ so this is the best place to begin. Turn to Part 2 - Definitions, page 35 and the answer can be found. ANSWER: C

Attempt the following multiple-choice questions. (Allow 2 minutes / question)

BS 7671: 2015 sets out technical requirements intended to ensure electrical installations conform to fundamental principles, except which one of the following?

Assessment of general characteristics

Selection and erection of equipment

Lightning protection systems for buildings

Special installations or locations

Ans.

Which one of the following is not an exclusion from the scope of BS7671:2015?

Electrical equipment of machines

Railway signalling equipment

Supply systems to the public

Electrical installations in prefabricated buildings

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Ans.

EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

Before a permanent addition or alteration is made to an existing installation it is necessary to...

Ans.

An electrical installation must be designed so that separate circuits are installed in such a way that...

establish that the condition of the existing equipment is adequate

only one circuit is protected

earthed metal cable systems should be considered

a fault in one circuit affects the other circuits

earthing is inadequate

a fault in two circuits operates one protective device

supplementary bonding used on existing exposed parts

a fault in one circuit does not affect any other circuit

A non-stationary unit used for demonstration purposes is deďŹ ned as a...

Ans.

The effectiveness of the protective measures used in a circuit must be...

caravan

maintained

booth

only checked on installation

pleasure craft

tested annually

temporary structure

replaced every ten years

Which one of the following is connected by means of a main protective bonding conductor?

Main earth terminal to an earth electrode

Ans.

In a sauna where water jet cleaning is used, electrical equipment must have a degree of protection of at least...

IPX3

Earth electrode to a water pipe

IPX4

Metallic motor enclosure to an earthing terminal in a CCU

IPX5

Incoming gas service pipe to the MET

IPX6

The symbol for the continuous operating voltage of an SPD is?

Ans.

Self-resetting overcurrent protective devices

Q10 are permitted on extra-low voltage lighting transformers rated up to... a

25VA

30VA

50VA

100VA

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Ans.

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | HALL OF SHAME

HALL OF

There are lots of great electricians out there doing a fantastic job, but every now and then you’re going to come across something which perhaps doesn’t conform to regulations. Or good practice. Or common sense even. Here’s some of the ﬁnest examples we’ve seen recently. If you come across a bad installation or something which isn’t quite right then send your pics to editor@sng-publishing.co.uk and we’ll print the best ones in the magazine.

YOU... tive I HAVE A CRUSH ON be extremely destruc th of the cable can ea sh the to ty on g ali tin qu Termina red, but the poor ction when re-powe ! - the device can fun overheat. Not good lly start arcing and tua en ev ll wi n tio connec

PULL THE OTH ER ONE... In a pub - pe rhaps someo ne stood on the ﬂex an d pulled the faceplate off. No sign of th e screws thou gh!

CALLING NO-ONE...

CUT SHORT... … ing. A little worrying Found in a new build

When testing a ﬁre alarm system, the test key got stuck in a call point. Fair enough, sometimes the key can get caught on an internal spring. But here wasn’t anything underneath to get caught in!

A big thank you to Bad Electrickery for letting us use a selection of their pictures and captions! More can be found on their facebook page /BadElectrickery?fref=ts or their website www.badelectrickery.com

PAINT MY CONDUIT... What is that I spot? There upon yonder wall? Has someone forgotten to put a conduit lid on that box? Why yes, and the painter has dutifully included it in their efforts!

I LIKE IT CRISPY This looks like another case of a bad termination leading to overheating, followed by crispy despair.

P R O D U C T S & S E RV I C E S

PRODUCTS & SERVICES | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

If you would like the professional electricians of the future to know about your products or services, why not advertise in this section? It’s cost effective and your brand will reach around 12,000 electrical students throughout the UK. ○ Call 0870 774 3049 for details.

SNICKERS NEW RUFFWORK TROUSERS Now, after 40 years of innovation, Snickers Workwear is now launching a completely new generation of Work Trousers for professional tradesmen. While Fabric, Functionality and Fit are the Hallmarks of this ‘Next Generation’, it’s the innovation and technology in the design of the garments that really sets Snickers Work Trousers apart from the rest. The new Work Trousers for ‘RUFFWork’ are based on an uncompromising design for tough work. These are modern heavy-duty work trousers combining amazing comfort and ﬁt with reinforced functionality. They’re designed for professionals who rely on their gear in demanding environments. With all the functionality you can expect from Snickers, these Work Trousers are made from a revolutionary fabric that’s heavy-duty yet extremely comfortable. It’s a polyamide-reinforced Dobby Pro+ fabric, featuring 100% Cordura® lining on the Trousers themselves.  01484 854788 | snickersworkwear.co.uk

SAFE AND CERTAIN IDENTIFICATION OF POWER CABLES With the latest CI cable identification system from Megger, reliable identification of lowvoltage power cables – and de-energised high-voltage cables – is now a fast and straightforward task. The system injects current pulses of up to 100 A into the cable and detects them using a sophisticated receiver that verifies multiple parameters of the received pulse. This guards against the false indications that can be experienced with identification systems that rely on audiofrequency injection. Correctly identifying cables in power networks before cutting or splicing them is essential, both for safety and for the avoidance of costly and disruptive power outages. Developed specifically for this application, the Megger CI system is compact, inexpensive, dependable and easy to use.  megger.com

INSTALLING BACK BOXES WITH THE SPACER CONNECT The Spacer Connect is a tool designed to provide a fast, easy and reliable method of connecting back boxes when installing multiple sockets or switches. It allows the back boxes to be quickly connected, aligned correctly, perfectly parallel and no need for using rubber grommets. The Spacer Connect is able to signiﬁcantly reduce the time required to connect multiple back plates, increase the safety of the installation and reduce the chances of further reworking required at the end of a job. It is available in two variants, the 15mm seen here and the 35mm, to allow for a 20mm decorators gap between front plates.

 01761 241601 | spacerconnect.com

If you would like your product or service featured in this section, email press releases to:

editor@sng-publishing.co.uk

SPARKS MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | PUZZLE CORNER

TEA BREAK

TIME

FAMOUS ELECTRICIANS ON THE BALL! I’m sure we all know that Stuart Pearce (MBE and football manager no less) worked as both an electrician and a plumber whilst playing for his local non-league team Wealdstone. Hopefully the experience comes in handy for those tricky football management situations!

1 4 7

2 5

8 9 10

11 12 13 14

ELECTRICAL TRIVIA

15 16 17

DOMESTICITY & ELECTRICITY Did you know that the ﬁrst four common domestic items to be powered by electricity were the sewing machine, fan, kettle and toaster? Still being used in millions of households all around the world today.

JOKING ASIDE Q: What kind of car does an electrician drive?

A: A Volts-wagon. Q: What’s grey, crispy and hangs from the ceiling?

A: An amateur electrician.

Q: Why did the lights go out? A: Because they liked

18 19 20

ACROSS 1 5 9 11 13 14 15 16 17 18

Type of cable insulation Wiring regulations What type of innovative learning is being trialled at Walsall College? (2 Words) What does SWA stand for? (3 Words) Manufacturer of electrical testing equipment British Approvals Service for Cables The section of the building regulations which deals with electrical installations (2 Words) The accessory used to join lengths of metal conduit is one of these Power tool manufacturer What type of cable is used for data transmission? (2 Words)

19 One of the colours used in a ﬁre exit sign 20 What type of document is The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989?

DOWN 2 3 4

Flexible cable has a multi strand what? What can drop over long runs of cable? What colour is used to identify one of the voltages (230) of plugs and socket-outlets on a construction site? 6 What is an electric cable designed to carry safely? (2 Words) 7 Part P scheme that has Tech Talks 8 Prestige van and car manufacturer 10 Electrical lecturer at Walsall College (2 Words) 12 Protective cover surrounding a conductor

each other! Answers (hope you didn’t peek before you ﬁnished!) ACROSS: 1. PVC, 5. IET, 9. Augmented Reality, 11. Steel Wire Armour, 13. Megger, 14. BASEC, 15. Part P, 16. Coupler, 17. Hitachi, 18. Fibre Optic, 19. Green, 20. Statutory DOWN: 2. Core, 3. Voltage, 4. Blue, 6. Electric Current, 7. ELECSA, 8. Mercedes, 10. Alex Tranter, 12 Insulation,

EXERCISE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2015 | SPARKS MAGAZINE

NUMBERSEARCH: British & European Standards Try to locate the following BS and BS EN numbers in the grid. (Numbers can be found vertically and horizontally from left to right)

1 9 2 4 7 6 2 1 0 3 6 2 3 4 7 5 2 6 2 8 9 1 3 6 8 2 1 0 0 4 0 5 3 1 5 0 3 7 5 3 8 4 1 7 0 9 1 6 4 3 7 2 4 6 4 7 1 3 6 1 3 4 2 7 2 6 8 6 1 1 7 7 5 2 0 6 8 3 2 8 4 3 0 5 0 5 2 7 4 4 6 1 0 1 7 6 5 1 7 8 6 5 1 0 3 8 2 3 8 1 2 8 4 3 0 3 6 6 7 0 2 1 7 5 9 1 3 2 6 5 1 8 1 6 7 2 1 6 6 0 6 0 1 3 9 9 6 1 0 2 6 2 1 0 7 7 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 4 1 3 7 4 0 1 5 2 6 3 0 1 7 6 0 8 3 0 5 4 2 1 9 4 0 4 0 6 0 7 5 6 5 4 5 4 5 9 3 2 8 3 6 0 3 0 9 4 1 7 9 3 4 0 8 8 0 7 3 1 1 9 6 8 5 2 8 5 1 9 7 2 0 1 8 1 8 5 0 1 0 9 3 4 9 0 6 0 8 0 9 3 4 6 2 7 0 7 2 8 2 9 5 7 6 3 9 6 8 7 2 7 5 4 0 5 6 5 1 0 1 5 8 5 0 7 9 1 1 6 7 3 8 9 3 4 0 1 3 1 0 1 3 7 2 6 3 2 7 3 1 1 9 3 0 4 0 5 2 9

 BS 67 CEILING ROSE

 BS 7671 IET REGS

 BS 1363 13A SOCKETS

 BS EN 60601 MEDICAL

 BS EN 61000 EMC

 BS 1361 CARTRIDGE FUSE

 BS EN 61558 TRANSFORMERS

 BS7540 CABLES

 BS 88 FUSES

 BS EN 61009 RCD

 BS 3036 FUSES

 BS 1362 FUSE LINKS

 BS EN 60898 CBS

 BS EN 60309 SOCKETS

 BS 951 BONDING CLAMP

 BS EN 50266 FIRE TEST

Go to sparks-magazine.co.uk to freely download exercise answers

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