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CONTENTS
PUBLISHER
Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER
Anita Salchert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Derek Gaylard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Keith Van Kerckhove • Mark Nelson Muey Saephanh CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Pam Fulmer
FEATURES 6 Code Update: NFPA 99 Enters a New Era By Keith Van Kerckhove
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Photopic and Scotopic: Seeing is Believing By Mark Nelson
CASE STUDY 16 Success Story:
Executive and Advertising Offices 3591 Cahaba Beach Road Birmingham, AL 35242 toll free: 800.981.4541 phone: 205.981.4541 fax: 205.981.4544 www.epsmag.net • danny@epsmag.net
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Catoosa School District By Muey Saephanh
DEPARTMENTS 26 Industry News 32 Product Focus 40 Ad Index ON THE COVER Photo courtesy of PG LifeLink
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PRESIDENT
Danny J. Salchert
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
Electrical Products & Solutions™ is published twelve times a year on a monthly basis by ABD Communications, Inc., 3591 Cahaba Beach Road, Birmingham, Alabama, 35242, USA. Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices. Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed to qualified readers in the electrical contracting industry. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ABD Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 382885 Birmingham, Alabama 35238-2885
PRINTED IN THE USA
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FEATURE • PG LifeLink
Code Update: NFPA 99 Enters a New Era
By Keith Van Kerckhove
Beginning in 2012, organizations involved in the design and construction of health care facilities will notice some major changes. After a six year revision process that spanned two complete cycles, the National Fire Protection Association finally released a revised edition of NFPA 99 in the fall of 2011. This publication, “NFPA 99 – Health Care Facilities Code – 2012 Edition” is a major event due in part to the elevation of this document from a guideline standard to an enforceable code, thus allowing various jurisdictions to adopt the requirements directly into local building ordinance. National accreditation organizations, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Joint Com6
mission will likely implement the revised requirements in their survey regimes as well by 2013. Since it was first issued in 1982, as a combination of 12 separate hospital standards, this document has provided practical guidance on the design, application, and maintenance of health care facilities including electrical, mechanical, and other building systems. However, over the years many have complained of its disjointed structure and increasingly obsolete references. Regular revision cycles have made some slight improvements to keep pace with new technology and practices, but failed to address the underlying fundamental issues. This latest edition represents a
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
concerted effort on the part of the healthcare engineering community to fully rewrite and modernize this standard into a cohesive set of relevant and effective requirements. The broadest change made during this process was to transform the way in which the document is applied in order to match current delivery methods for health care services. The previous occupancy based structure has been replaced with a more intuitive, risk based approach in which safety systems and procedures are employed consistent with the relative risk level of a given procedure. In other words, the potential for harm to a patient, staff member, or visitor due to a system failure is the most important factor to consider, not just the Continued on page 8
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FEATURE • PG LifeLink
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type of building or department. The risks associated with surgical and other critical medical procedures are the same whether they are performed in a large urban hospital or a small outpatient surgical center. Formal risk assessments are essential to properly determining the necessary safety precautions throughout all types of health care facilities. Among the many revisions to the Electrical Systems Chapter, one of the most impactful is related to the determination of “wet procedure locations”. Confusion and misinformation has circulated around this topic for years. The previous standard (2005 edition) provides a vague definition of wet [procedure] locations and places the responsibility for designation on the governing body of the facility. The intention was that those individuals with firsthand knowledge of the procedures themselves should apply the definition. However, it offers no guidance on how to properly evaluate and apply this definition, nor does it require any documented justification. Consequently, without any true mandate, many facilities have felt it unnecessary to undertake a serious review of the relevant risks 8
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and simply deemed all such areas as “dry”. In many instances, this decision was made solely by executive staff without consultation of other relevant stakeholders. The reality is that many critical care areas including surgical, ICU, cardiac, labor and delivery, and trauma rooms play host to many medical procedures which routinely result in substantial volumes of fluid contacting both the patient and attending staff. Blood and other bodily fluids, antiseptics and sanitizers, intravenous fluids, conductive gels, and saline irrigation liquid all reduce the body’s natural electrical resistance and can create a path for dangerous electrical current to flow through the body in the event that a ground fault develops on nearby electrically powered medical equipment. This is no surprise to physicians, nurses, and others intimately familiar with these areas. These facts were supported by an independent study commissioned in 2010 by the NFPA’s affiliated Fire Protection Research Council to analyze and quantify the electrical hazards associated with fluid spills in hospital operating rooms. The subsequent report, entitled “Evaluation of Health Care
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
Operating Room protected by an Isolated Power Panel
Operating Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations”1 provides the results of it research. Among the study’s key findings are the following: • Cardiovascular, thoracic, obstetrical, and orthopedic surgeries are the most prevalent surgical procedures performed today.2 These routine procedures involve very large volumes of blood loss and or irrigation solutions, up to several liters in some instances.3 • Their research confirmed that fluids can pool in the work area during surgical procedures, and that significant spills of blood and irrigation fluid can occur.4 Blood run off has been estimated to pool around the shoes of surgical team members in up to 13% of all operations.5 • Splashes of blood and fluid are observed more than 50% of the time for many common surgical procedures.6 In a common sense response to this situation, the 2012 edition of NFPA 99 attempts to address some of the ambiguity of the previous version and Continued on page 12
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FEATURE • PG LifeLink
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Operating Room showing a wet procedure location.
ensure all newly constructed and renovated areas are thoroughly evaluated by inclusion of a new section. “6.3.2.2.8.4* Operating rooms shall be considered to be a wet procedure location, unless a risk assessment conducted by the health care governing body determines otherwise.”7 This new section acknowledges that, at least in the case of operating rooms, wet procedures are the norm. It does not change the definition, nor does it take away responsibility from the individual facility. Individual OR’s can be opted out of this designation by the facility through the use of a documented risk assessment process to determine the relative probability of fluid release during a procedure. Although this section specifically addresses operating rooms because of their very high probability of fluid release, it does not preclude the classification of other critical care areas as “wet” using the same process. In addition, guidance on which stakeholders, beyond just administrators, should have a voice in this review is included in Annex A as follows. “A.6.3.2.2.8.4 In conducting a risk assessment, the health care governing body should consult with all relevant parties, including, but not limited to, clinicians, biomedical engineering staff, and facility safety engineering staff.”8 This ensures that those individuals with intimate knowledge of the procedures themselves are able to take part in this critical decision. During this assessment it is important to consider not only the intended use of particular procedure rooms, but also the possible alternate uses it may eventually be called on to support. Most modern facilities are designed with the flexibility to handle a wide range of procedures. The addition of these two sections is entirely consistent with the document’s new risk-based application.Formal risk assessments take into consideration both the severity and probability of a particular hazard occurring. In this case, the hazard is a release of conductive fluids during specific types of medical procedures. In particular, 12
we are interested in sprays, spills, and fluid accumulation that come in physical contact with patients or attending personnel. Given that the severity of this contact is very high in the presence of electrically powered medical equipment, the main parameter to consider is the likelihood that fluid contact is established. There are two factors that will determine this, the probability of a spill occurring, and size and position of the spill in relation to individuals in the area. Frequency data on fluid splashes and spills during many types of surgeries are available from several sources. These can range from relatively small percentages less than 10%, up to 100% frequency for many orthopedic procedures. Since patients are typically stationary during surgery, and personnel are generally nearby, even a moderate volume of fluid (around 1 liter) released within the patient care vicinity is very likely to come in human contact. Over the course of one year, this could amount to several hundred potentially hazardous spills in a single operating room.9 Under the new code every facility should establish an assessment team and develop a methodology that makes sense to their en-
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
vironment. Documents such as “ISO/IEC 31010, Risk Management – Risk Assessment Techniques” can be consulted for tips on developing a process. The bottom line is keeping people safe from electric shock hazards using common sense principles. It is especially important for electrical system designers and specifying/consulting engineers to become familiar with these new requirements, as areas classified as wet procedure locations require special protection against electrical ground fault hazards. This protection can be in the form of GFCI devices if the system can tolerate loss of power in the event of a fault. However, any loss of power in critical patient care areas is generally not tolerable, and therefore, isolated power systems are the preferred choice of protective system. Design Engineers should review the new document carefully and discuss its implications with their clients that currently do not use isolation power systems. Note that these new requirements only apply to newly built or renovated areas. Therefore, retro-fitting existing, functional rooms with fault tolerant power safety systems will not necessarily Continued on page 14 be required, but it is
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port”, Melissa K. Chernovsky, Ph.D., port”, Melissa K. Chernovsky, Ph.D., certainly something for owners to consider. Joel E. Sipe, Ph.D., Russell A. Ogle, Proactively applying the risk based strategy Joel E. Sipe, Ph.D., Russell A. Ogle, Ph.D., P.E., CSP, Exponent, Inc., The Ph.D., P.E., CSP, Exponent, Inc., The throughout their existing facilities could Fire Protection Research Foundation, Fire Protection Research Foundation, streamline risk management programs and Quincy, MA, October, 2010, pp. 15-16. Quincy, MA, October, 2010, pp. 11-12. minimize potential liability concerns. In addition, facility renovation and moderniza- 3. “Evaluation of Health Care Operating 7. “NFPA – Health Care Facilities Code – Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations – Final Re2012 Edition”, National Fire Protection tion continues to occupy a large proportion port”, Melissa K. Chernovsky, Ph.D., Agency, Quincy, MA, September, 2011, of overall health care construction. AccordJoel E. Sipe, Ph.D., Russell A. Ogle, Chapter 6, Paragraph 6.3.2.2.8.4. ingly, owners and consultants should be sure Ph.D., P.E., CSP, Exponent, Inc., The 8. “NFPA – Health Care Facilities Code – to review the impact of these changes on exFire Protection Research Foundation, 2012 Edition”, National Fire Protection isting renovation plans. Electrical contracQuincy, MA, October, 2010, pp. 6-12. Agency, Quincy, MA, September, 2011, tors and facility maintenance professionals Appendix A, Paragraph A6.3.2.2.8.4. should also review the new requirements 4. Duensing RA, Mueller GP, Williams RA, “Hazards in the Operation Room,” 9. “Evaluation of Health Care Operating and make sure that they are familiar with all Chapter 15: in Malangoni Mark A, ed. Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations – Final Reof the latest information. ❏ Critical Issues in Operating Room Manport”, Melissa K. Chernovsky, Ph.D., 1. “Evaluation of Health Care Operating agement, Lippencott Raven, PhiladelJoel E. Sipe, Ph.D., Russell A. Ogle, Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations – Final Rephia, PA, 1997. Ph.D., P.E., CSP, Exponent, Inc., The port”, Melissa K. Chernovsky, Ph.D., 5. Quebberman EJ, Telford GL, Hubbard Fire Protection Research Foundation, Joel E. Sipe, Ph.D., Russell A. Ogle, S, Wadsworth K, Hardman, B, Goodman Quincy, MA, October, 2010, pp. 62-77. Ph.D., P.E., CSP, Exponent, Inc., The H, Gottlieb MS, “Risk of blood contamFire Protection Research Foundation, ination and injury to operating room perKeith Van Kerckhove is Vice President Quincy, MA, October, 2010. sonnel,” Ann Surg, V214:614-612, 1991. of Engineering and Scott Mustian, 2. “Evaluation of Health Care Operating 6. “Evaluation of Health Care Operating Vice President of Sales & Marketing – Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations – Final ReRooms as Wet/Dry Locations – Final RePG LifeLink
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CASE STUDY • ICC
SUCCESS STORY
Catoosa School District
By Muey Saephanh
On April 27th, 2011 Catoosa County, GA along with several other counties were devastated by tornados causing extensive damage and loss of life. Among the devastated was Ringgold Middle School which sustained substantial damage. Rebuilding of county schools from the tornado damage remains on track as relief efforts continue to provide the county with a fresh new start. Now, Ringgold Middle School and Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School are the first of eleven schools in Catoosa County, GA to complete reconstruction. Catoosa School District prepares children to become good citizens and leaders of the future with high standards for excellence in education. Catoosa schools have built a tradition of achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. They take pride in providing a safe, nurturing and challenging learning environment for the students and Continued on page 18 16
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families of Catoosa County. Access to technology will provide instructional tools necessary for the students’ success. Through system and school-level long-range technology plans, Catoosa County Schools are committed to integrating technology into the curriculum, providing sufficient resources and training to support faculty and staff offering access to up-to-date technology for all students, faculty, staff, and the community. Recent reconstruction of these schools provides students and instructors with access to state-of-the-art technology and allows for the opportunity to improve education within the district. All library media centers are networked, and classroom and computer lab computers will be able to access the library and other local area networks in the schools. For the majority of the schools this was the first comprehensive upgrade to their entire network infrastructure in several years. Updates specified in the infrastructure provided new deployment for voice and data cabling, as well as fiber optic runs linking from the Intermediate Distribution Facility (IDF) and the Main Distribution facility (MDF) to classrooms, labs, and administrative areas. Renovations include 12-strand- 50 micron fibers 18
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that connect the IDF to the MDF. The IDF is located in the Media Center with 16 6strand-50 micron fibers which are distributed to classrooms where they are terminated in low profile wall cabinets. Typically there are two classrooms that are served by one fiber and each computer lab has a dedicated fiber run. Category 6 cabling within the IDF is connected to a lab in the media center as well as offices. Some CAT6 drops go to administrative offices at the end of the 7th grade hall near the media center. Installations for both schools consisted of ICC’s end-to-end channel link solution. Products included 175,000 feet of CAT 6e 600MHz riser (CMR) premise cable and over 2,200 drops. A combination of copper and fiber optics were installed using CAT 6 high-density (HD) jacks for wall area outlets, 122 units of multimedia configurable 24-port patch panels. Blank multi-media patch panels were used rather than standard panels which provided better identification with color matching modular connectors to help identify the media center. In addition, fiber adapter panels, rack mount fiber optic enclosures, patch cords, faceplates, surface mount boxes, cable management, and raceway were installed in these new
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
buildings as a turn-key solution. “The new technology has greatly improved our network efficiency and reduced downtime at schools where our new components have been installed,” Steve Sawyer, IT Director said. “The biggest change is the inclusion of a wireless network. This opens up many doors for our teachers when it comes to the delivery of instruction. Additionally a more reliable network Continued on page 20
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with improved speed allows teachers to more consistently include technology within their instructional planning. Technology is a valuable tool within the instructional framework and our aim is
part of the renovation efforts. SWC is one of the leading systems integrators in the country since 1976. SWC has seven branches specializing in high end solutions for the educational, healthcare, and Industrial Commercial markets. Since SWC is an ICC Elite Installer, the Ringgold Middle School and LFO High School installations will be covered under ICC’s 15 Year Performance Warranty. Since 1984, ICC has been offering end-to-end structured cabling solutions for data, voice, audio, video, and fiber optic connectivity for commercial and residential installations. ICC offers a wide array of modular connectors, faceplates, patch panels, patch cords, UTP premise cable, cable management racks, fiber optic solutions, raceway solutions, residential products, and other products to have that technology available when that meet and exceed project needs. ❏ teachers need it.” South Western Communications Muey Saephanh is the Administrative (SWC) was the installer behind this proAssistant at ICC Marketing ject and has been awarded 11 Schools as msaephanh@icc.com
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FEATURE • PRUF LED
Photopic and Scotopic: By Mark Nelson
Seeing is Believing
LIGHTING CONTINUES TO BE given object. There are approximately 17 proved depth of field, acuity, and less faa subject of debate, and some of this debate involves Scotopic and Photopic light readings. At this point, there is plenty of scientific data to back up the fact that, as lighting professionals, we need to understand these terms and why they can be important to a quality lighting consultation and installation. The human eye contains two light sensing parts that are known as rods and cones. Both of these parts in the eye are used to distinguish color and to some extent clarity of an object. Cones in the eye respond to Photopic sensitivity while the rods respond via Scotopic sensitivity. As more of the color spectrum is presented with the light source, you engage both parts of the eye resulting in increased color and clarity of a 22
rods to each cone in the eye. Even though there are far fewer cones in number to each rod in the eye, the cones are essential to our vision by allowing resolution of fine detail and color discrimination. Both parts of the eye are needed to distinguish accurate color and clarity. So where does clarity come into play? In short, the pupil in the eye is used to focus on objects by using the light available to it. With lower light levels, the pupil will be larger in an effort to try and focus on the object by letting as much light into the eye as possible for this task. Conversely, in higher light levels, the pupil shrinks to allow the amount of light needed to accurately focus and distinguish color on the object. Smaller pupil size results in im-
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
tigue. This means that in low light or in Scotopic poor light, the eye is working harder causing greater fatigue. In a work place environment, this can result in decreased productivity. This fatigue will occur regardless of the worker’s age, but can be especially important as the working class ages since our eyes naturally degrade over time. Currently, over one-third of workers in the United States are in the Baby Boomer generation with ages ranging from 48 to 66 years old. Quality of light is more important than ever. Historically, the common solution to this problem has been to increase light levels using higher wattage lamps to produce more lumens. In theory, we assume that we can increase lumens Continued on page 24
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thereby increasing foot candles at desk height/task height and be just fine, right? Not necessarily. While raising light levels by increasing power and lumens will in fact decrease pupil size, it can add tremendous glare and waste significant energy. This theory was born in the lighting industry at a time where we erroneously assumed that the more light sensitive rods in the eye function only at dim light levels. This view also created the standard light meter measurements of lumens as the standard. Unfortunately, this measurement style completely excludes the Scotopic measure. The end result becomes that while you could increase lumens, you could still be in a Scotopic weak lighting environment. If the light is not Scotopically enhanced, the pupils of the eye are still larger and under greater strain than with a Scotopically enhanced light source. The key is meeting in the middle. For general purposes, the middle can be defined by achieving the appropriate foot candles(considering both Scotopic and Photopic views), minimal glare, great clar-
ity, while still providing the most energy efficient and cost effective solution. So how is this achieved? This is where Scotopic and Photopic science comes into play. Since the rods and cones of the eye respond to different parts of the color spectrum, it makes sense to look at a solution to engage both the Scotopic and Photopic view, while still keeping in mind our other, “meet in the middle” factors. Lighting color is measured with the Kelvin scale and ranges from 0 to 10,000. Most lighting installed in home and commercial interior applications through the years has ranged from 2700 to 4100 Kelvin. This Kelvin temperature range is far more weighted to the Photopic view and leans mainly on the performance of the rods in the eye. With that in mind, one way to effectively engage both the cones and the rods of the eye would be to increase the Kelvin temperature of the lamp or fixture. The higher color temperature activates more of the rods in the eye which enables you to see enhanced color but also creates the visual perception of a
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Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
“brighter” light since both parts of the eye are now engaged. For example, you might replace an existing 4100 Kelvin lamp with a LED, or Scotopically enhance florescent lamp, at 5500 Kelvin. Using this strategy will reduce the pupil size, which we know will minimize fatigue, enhance visual color acuity, and may allow you to use a more energy efficient light source or less lamps overall. We get this result through the rods and cones of the eye both being engaged due to the increased color spectrum provided by the high Kelvin lamp or fixture. With the varied light sources and technology available today, traditional measurement of lumens and foot candles is just one way to determine which lighting choice would be best for your application. Seeing is believing. ❏ Mark Nelson is the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PRUF LED, a manufacturer and distributor of LED Lighting based in Waco, TX.
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Industry NEWS
California Bear Creek Ranch Powering Agricultural Water Pumps with Solar Energy Conergy’s Solar Large Projects Group Completes the 300 kW Solar Power Plant Bear Creek Ranch, an affiliation of Pacific Ag Management, in Wasco, California chose Conergy’s Solar Large Projects Group as the project manager for its 1.5-acre solar energy power generation site . The solar energy site will power the water pumps and irrigation system for the surrounding almond orchards. Brought into the project at its conception phase, Conergy is providing development, EPC and O&M services, along with assistance in securing financing. Using Conergy P modules and Conergy’s SolarLinea driven-pile ground mounting, the solar site will annually produce 470,000 kWh of clean solar energy, which is equivalent to reducing CO2 levels by 308,000 pounds per year or not driving nearly 6 million miles. Wanting to reduce their costs and hedge against rising utility rates, Bear Creek Ranch decided to install a solar power plant. Using an operating lease financing structure, the power plant will provide the ranch $2.6 million in utility savings over the next 25 years. “By implementing a solar power plant we are able to turn our energy costs into predictable fixed costs. By hedging against rising utility rates, we can increase our profitability, have better cost control and improved forecasting capabilities.” says Keith Gardiner, Managing Partner of Bear Creek Ranch. “We chose Conergy as our project developer due to its track record, its reputation of installing similar systems on agricultural operations and the Company’s responsiveness.” “Working on many agricultural solar energy projects, Conergy has the insight and experience to develop cost effective solutions for the unique challenges this sector faces, such as being heavily dependent on electricity to irrigate crops. We are pleased that we can apply this experience to the development of Bear Creek Ranch’s solar power plant development,” said Conergy’s David Vincent, Project Development Manager. “With this solar power plant, Bear Creek Ranch is showing their environmental stewardship and energy 26
leadership in the agricultural industry.” From planning, financing and engineering to procurement, construction, permitting, and maintenance, the Conergy Solar Large Projects Group has provided turnkey solutions to meet a continuum of renewable energy objectives. To every project, the Group brings its experience in developing power plants around the world from a 10 MW system for a Michelin manufacturing plant which at the time of interconnection was the largest rooftop installation in the world to 20+ MW installations in Spain and South Korea. In the United States, the Projects Group team brought online a 2 MW ground-mounted photovoltaic installation at the Fort Carson U.S. Army base in Colorado, a 3 MW ground mounted photovoltaic installation in Pennsylvania for Exelon and a 1.6 MW tracker system in California for the South San Joaquin Irrigation District. The SolarLinea is a Conergy-manufactured driven-pile mounting system for free-field PV installations. With a terrainadaptable design, the SolarLinea adapts to a ±10% terrain variation and minimizes or completely eliminates site modification. The system is designed to decrease the total install cost of PV system, from labour, equipment and other overhead costs. Offering design flexibility and optimal use of space, the SolarLinea is available in both a dual and single post options. About Conergy USA Only Conergy delivers solar energy systems from a single source. As a system manufacturer, Conergy produces all components for a solar installation and offers all services under one roof. With its modules, inverters and mounting systems, the solar expert creates Conergy System Technology, which is efficient and synchronized solar energy systems for private or commercial rooftops, as well as for multi-Megawatt Parks. Conergy System Services deliver a “Worry-Free Package” for Conergy solar installations. Conergy’s experts not only install on-site turn-key solar projects, but they also manage the planning and financing, project implementation, system mon-
Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2012
itoring, operation and on-going maintenance of the project for maximum performance. With this comprehensive technology and service package, Conergy offers yield insurance for its installations. Conergy System Sales brings Conergy premium products to nearly 40 countries. The solar expert supports homeowners, installers, wholesalers and investors in their efforts to “go solar” through deep-rooted local operations in 18 countries. With sales activities on five continents, Conergy has close relationships with all its customers. Listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, Conergy employs more than 1,700 people worldwide. Since Conergy’s founding in 1998, it has produced and sold more than 1.5 GW of clean solar power. Through its acquisition of well-established local companies, Conergy began operating as a distributor and project developer in North America in 2005 and currently has five offices, four warehouses and three production sites in the region. Conergy manufacturers mounting systems in Sacramento, CA. In Ontario, Canada Conergy produces modules and mounting systems that meet local content requirements for the Provincial FIT. In addition, Conergy operates a Project Group that develops and operates large-scale systems. Through these activities, Conergy maintains expert knowledge about local market conditions and requirements. ❏ About Bear Creek Ranch After serving one term in the White House, Herbert Hoover decided to farm. He hired experts to find the best agricultural land available – the Bear Creek Ranch was one of two sites they identified. “Hoover told them to find the best combination of soil, water and climate, and they didn’t let him down,” indicates Gardiner. “We’re on some of the best ground in the world. If you can’t make it as a farmer here, you can’t make it anywhere. We believe the solar system will stabilize our power costs and enhance our ability to farm this ground for generations.”
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Industry NEWS
Judge Dismisses Pass & Seymour In Lutron Patent Infringement Case A judge has made a final ruling in a mony Dimmers. The case was originally patent infringement complaint filed by filed against Pass & Seymour and others Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., against Pass on May 16, 2011. & Seymour concerning its range of HarOn November 2, 2011, Administrative
Law Judge Theodore R. Essex formally dismissed Pass & Seymour, Inc., as a respondent in Investigation No. 337-TA776 that was pending at the United States International Trade Commission. Pat Davin, Vice President and General Manager at Legrand/Pass & Seymour said, “We are happy with the outcome. Pass & Seymour is a company that has built and maintained its reputation on innovation, good business ethics, customer centricity and collaboration with our wide range of partners. We are committed to protecting our own intellectual property while respecting the IP of others. Delivering industry leading products, like the Harmony Dimmer range will continue to be important for us.” ❏ About Legrand Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Named to Forbes’2011 list of the 100 Most Innovative Companies, Legrand believes innovation for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth. Legrand reported sales of $5.7 billion in 2010. Legrand has a strong presence in the North American market, with a portfolio of well-known product lines that include Cablofil, Electrorack, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Vantage, Watt Stopper and Wiremold. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819). FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 43 ON READER SERVICE CARD
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Industry NEWS
Connecticut Company Thrives in Down Economy Connecticut Home Generator Systems Strives to Find Qualified Employees Nationally, the unemployment rates remains above 8%, but here in Connecticut, one company is bucking the trend. In the aftermath of October’s historic storms, Newington Electric Company, a CT institution for more than 50 years, has announced the formation of Connecticut Home Generator Systems (CTHomeGeneratorSystems.com). “During the past two storms, Newington Electric Company fielded over 4,500 phone calls and hundreds of emails from CT residents who were without power,” said Ed Ingalls, owner of Newington Electric Company. “We had to call in additional help and worked around the clock, in response to the needs of our customers.” Connecticut Home Generator Systems has moved full steam ahead since its recent formation, however, despite a depressed economy, the company is
struggling to find qualified employees to fill a number of open positions created by the new company. “We want to get the word out that there is opportunity here in CT,” said Ingalls. “In order to turn the tide of unemployment, it takes growth, one company at a time.” Included on the list of open positions are a variety of positions, including: • Generator Installation Department Manager • Generator Service Maintenance and Repair Manager • Office Manager A/R and A/P • Generator installation Electricians • Generator Service and Repair Technicians • Site Assessment Coordinator • Sales & Customer Relations
Company, has been providing expert generator installation for more than twenty years. The organization has become one of the largest Generac dealers in the state, offering 24-hour emergency service and repairs to its customers. Newington Electric is also listed on Generac’s web page as an authorized sales & service dealer and installation expert. Now Connecticut Home Generator Systems is pushing the company to the next level. Moving forward, CT Home Generator Systems will be dedicated to providing its customers with unsurpassed first class customer service before, during, and after a storm. “Anyone can install a generator on a nice, sunny day, however, it’s the service after the installation that counts the most,” Ingalls adds. “If your generaConnecticut Home Generator Systems’ tor won’t start, will your electrician be parent company, Newington Electric available in the middle of a storm when you need him most?” Connecticut Home Generator Systems’ main focus will be on installing and servicing residential stand-by generator systems, while educating its customers on the choices they have when deciding on a home generator system that’s most suitable for their current situation, specifically taking into consideration the customers’ needs, requirements, concerns and physical limitations. To anticipate the demand for its new division, Newington Electric has expanded into an additional 2,000 square feet of office warehouse space at its current facility, located at 16 Progress Circle in Newington, CT. For more information on the positions or home generator systems safety and installation, visit CTHomeGeneratorSystems.com or call toll-free: 855-667-4819; Newington Electric Company is the parent company of Connecticut Home Generator Systems. Newington Electric offers statewide electrical contracting services specializing in commercial and residential electrical service and repairs. The Company is a second-generation company started in 1958 by Richard Ingalls and is now owned and operated by his son Edward Ingalls. Newington Electric is State licensed and registered with the State of Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection. For more information or call 860-667-4819. ❏
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Product FOCUS Milwaukee® Launches New Thermal Imager Milwaukee Tool Corporation continues to expand their Test and Measurement line and M12™ LITHIUM-ION system with the introduction of the new 160x120 Thermal Imager, powered by M12™. Ideal for professional preventative maintenance and troubleshooting applications, the new tool features 160x120 pixel, high resolution thermal images, a visual camera for standard pictures, and the broadest temperature range in its class (-10° to 350°C/ 14° to 662°F) for unmatched productivity. “Designed from the ground-up with the professional tradesman in mind, this tool is faster, more versatile and easier to use than any other tool in its class,” says Jon Morrow, Director of Marketing, Test and Measurement for Milwaukee Tool Corporation. “Users are able to capture a thermal & visual image on every trigger pull and toggle between the two with the simple push of a button. With an easy, 5-button interface and a no blur, no wait display that updates the screen image 60 times a second, this tool is easy to use and delivers professional quality… all for an outstanding value of only $2,500 suggested retail.” As a complete problem-solving solution, the 160x120 Thermal Imager kit also includes the simple and powerful Thermal Imager Report Software that makes analyzing images and generating reports quick and easy. Users can easily download images from the Thermal Imager with the included 2GB SD card or USB connection port. By simply switching SD cards, users can even take the tool back into the field while someone else generates the report to minimize downtime. All images use the versatile JPEG file format that can be used with any graphics program for added convenience. Powered by REDLITHIUM™ battery technology*, the new 160x120 Thermal Imager leverages Milwaukee’s M12™ battery system for quick charging and easy field replacement. By using the M12™ battery, the tool is compatible with the entire Milwaukee M12™ System of professional power tools and there is less downtime on the jobsite as the battery charges 5 times faster than the closest competitor. Features: 2260-21 M12™ 160x120 Thermal Imager Kit • Capture thermal & visual images on every trigger pull • Crisp, high resolution thermal images for professional users • PC software built from the ground up to quickly analyze images and rapidly create reports • All images use versatile JPEG file format Includes 2260-20 160x120 Thermal Imager, Thermal Imager Report Software and Manuals on CD-ROM, 2 GB Memory Card, USB Cable, (1) M12™ RED LITHIUM™ Battery Pack, 30-Minute Charger, SD Card Reader and Carrying Case *REDLITHIUM™ Battery Technology Milwaukee’s new REDLITHIUM™ batteries provide up to 40% more run-time, 20% more power and 50% more recharges than other Lithium products on the market. The new technology will also operate in extreme temperatures as low as 0°F/-18°C and will run 20% cooler, with fade free power and no memory effect. For more information visit, www.milwaukeetool.com FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 45 ON READER SERVICE CARD
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Appleton’s New Interlocked Receptacles Offer NEMA 4X Corrosion Resistance in Compact Form Factor Appleton, the leader in hazardous location electrical equipment, has expanded its Powertite™ line of plugs, connectors and recptacles with the new FSQC interlocked receptacle, offering NEMA 4X corrosion protection, superior electrical performance, and a highly compact form factor. Typical sites that would benefit from the FSQC include refineries, chemical plants, water treatment facilities, and pharmaceutical production. “Customers can now eliminate the expense and inconvenience of replacing receptacles that do not stand up to aggressive salt spray or corrosive chemicals by installing a fully finished, highly durable unit into an existing electrical system footprint,” said Eric Goldberg, Director of Hazardous Products Marketing for Appleton. “If you are looking for compact, durable and safe receptacles for retrofit or to meet existing specifications for expansion projects, there is no longer any reason to settle for second best. Choose the Appleton FSQC and end the cycle of future replacements.” The compact footprint is suitable for applications where space is restricted and is ideal as a drop-in replacement for existing competitor FSQC receptacles. Appleton delivers the major advantage of NEMA 4X protection to greatly reduce maintenance and replacement costs. A durable epoxy powder coat finish provides superior corrosion resistance. Competing products do not meet rigorous NEMA 4X requirements. For more information visit, www.appletonelec.com
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Product FOCUS Cerro Wire Introduces Steel Pulling Grips Simple and reliable wire pulling grip lets you pull four times as much wire per day Cerro Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, introduces a complete range of wire equipped with RectorSeal single-use steel pulling grips, the simple, reliable, and durable single-use wire pulling tool that reduces set up time and lets you pull up to four times more wire per day. Pulling grips eliminate waste, saving time and money, especially on larger commercial jobs. Rated for use on THHN and XHHN wire, these steel pulling grips reduce total set up time for a 4-wire pull to less than five minutes. Eighteen sizes are available, ranging from 1 AWG to 750 MCM. Made with an extremely durable steel body, the pulling grips are far less likely to fail during an installation than a pulling grip made of aluminum. They also have a shorter body length, which allows them to corner better, further reducing failure risk compared to other pulling grips. The contractor can receive the wire with all three or four wire lengths on a paralleled reel, ready to pull. At the end of each wire is a steel lanyard, used to pull the wire through the conduit; lanyards are of staggered lengths to stagger the heads, making entry into the conduit and through nineties easier. To complete the pull, a contractor simply attaches his rope to the lanyard. After the pull is complete, the grips are simply cut off and are disposable. “No more taking hours of expensive labor just to prepare to pull wire by preparing pulling ends,” said Rick McDonald, President of Cerrowire Electrical Distribution. “Contractors using our pre-installed steel pulling grips will add significantly to their bottom line.” For more information visit, www.cerrowire.com
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Product FOCUS Resi-Pro™ Multimeters Help Contractors Economically Troubleshoot Residential Electrical Systems Troubleshooting, repairing and verifying electrical systems play a major role in the job of residential contractors. To assure professional results without overpaying for unnecessary features, IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. today introduced its affordable Resi-Pro™ line of digital multimeters. The two multimeters that make up the Resi-Pro™ line deliver the functionality required by residential electricians to perform routine testing operations, such as measuring AC/DC voltage, current, resistance and temperature. Both models are CAT II safety rated up to 600V, well beyond the demands of typical residential systems, plus offer large, easy-to-read displays. Compact, handheld dimensions make Resi-Pro™ multimeters portable without sacrificing a rugged design including a protective rubber boot and overload protection on all ranges. At the forefront of the Resi-Pro™ line is the model 61-312. It offers residential electricians auto-ranging and auto continuity, along with testing of AC current (1.2% accuracy), DC current (0.8% accuracy), capacitance (3.0% accuracy), frequency (3.0% accuracy), temperature (1.0% accuracy), and resistance (1.0% accuracy). MSRP is $38.00 (U.S). For more basic testing, electricians can choose the Resi-Pro™ 61-310. It tests current, resistance and temperature, as well as household batteries (1.5V/9.0V). MSRP is $25.00 (U.S.). Resi-Pro™ multimeters are backed by a two year limited warranty. For more information visit, www.idealindustries.com
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Lithonia Lighting Launches PROTEON™ LED High Bay The PROTEON LED luminaire offers one-for-one replacement of HID and fluorescent fixtures. Acuity Brands, Inc., a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, has expanded its LED indoor ambient lighting portfolio with the launch of the PROTEON™ LED high bay from Lithonia Lighting®. The PROTEON luminaire can replace high intensity discharge (HID), fluorescent and induction high bay fixtures in manufacturing, warehousing, cold storage, commercial, retail and other large indoor spaces. The PROTEON LED high bay is for indoor spaces with mounting heights ranging from 15’-40’ and ambient temperatures between -4°F (-20°C) and 131°F (55°C). Utilizing a robust aluminum extruded heat sink, the fixture provides superior thermal management to reduce operating temperatures. Featuring focus, narrow, wide and spread distributions, the PROTEON LED luminaire meets both horizontal and vertical light level requirements as determined by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The product comes standard with a semi-diffuse lens to reduce glare. For additional glare control, a highly-diffuse lens is available. The PROTEON fixture features a custom light engine specifically designed for the lumen requirements of high bay lighting to achieve optimal performance and reliability. Using pluggable connectors, electrical components are securely mounted to a removable, maintenance-friendly tray. Optional controls offer additional energy savings and can extend the life of the PROTEON LED high bay. The PROTEON fixture is available with Acuity Brands nLight® enabled controls that facilitate remote system configurability. Advanced features include the ability to group fixtures, adjust dim levels, schedule operation and monitor status. For more information visit, www.acuitybrands.com FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 51 ON READER SERVICE CARD
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Product FOCUS T3 Innovation’s New Snap Shot™ TDR Now Available Utilizing an Advanced Form of Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry, Snap Shot Seeks and Measures for Electrical Faults Over Energized Data Lines, Electrical Cable Runs, and Live Coax Systems T3 Innovation, a leading provider of advanced handheld test equipment for the cable/telecommunications, datacom/networking, electrical design and maintenance, and residential/CEDIA custom install markets, has announced that the new Snap Shot™ fault finding/cable length measurement TDR is now available. “With the complexity of today’s electrical, data, voice and video signal carrying systems, you need a tool that is fast, accurate, and easy-to-use to see down the wire and show the exact conditions that exist,” explained Ron Vogel, T3 Innovation CEO. “Our new, compact Snap Shot TDR accurately detects, locates and identifies fault conditions such as opens, shorts, and arc faults on energized cable of all types up to 3,000 feet in length.” Made in America with American technology, Snap Shot’s large backlit LCD display clearly shows lengths in both feet and/or meters with an accuracy of better than 1 percent for pinpointing any fault or condition. Dual internal memory allows users to store cable parameters for easy reference, while a built in tone generator with multiple tone capability traces found faults. “In addition to precise location of faults, Snap Shot uses an advanced form of Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry that allows its use over energized cables,” added Vogel. “Now, attached working data lines, electrical cable runs, and live coax systems can be measured for run lengths, and to see if there are any existing electrical faults while the cable is in use and under power. No other TDR has this capability.” For more information, visit www.t3innovation.com
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Advertiser INDEX This advertisers index is compiled as a courtesy to our readers. While every effort is made to provide a complete and accurate listing of companies, page numbers and reader service numbers, the publisher is not responsible for errors.
Company AEE SOLAR AEMC INSTRUMENTS ALBER CORPORATION ARPI OF USA BATTCON 2012 CONFERENCE BRADY WORLDWIDE BURNDY BYTE BROTHERS CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS CONNECTRAC COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION COPPER WIRE STRIPPER DH SOLAR ENERGIEBAU NORTH AMERICA EXTECH INSTRUMENTS/FLIR SYSTEMS E-Z METER GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES GENSCO HIOKI USA
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Company
11 IFC 25 36 40 1 24 28 27 32 13 34 39 35 3, 9 36 7 33 15
11 1 18 49 54 4 42 43 19 45 12 48 23 22 5, 9 50 8 46 13
ICC KRENZ & COMPANY LAPP USA MEGGER MITCHELL INSTRUMENTS NATIONAL WIRE & CABLE PG LIFELINK PHASE-A-MATIC PHILIPS EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRUF LED QUICK MOUNT PV REMCO ELECTRICAL MFG. SNAPNRACK SOKKIA STRIP-TEC THE HOME DEPOT UNDERGROUND DEVICES UTILITY METALS
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PG#
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19 38 31 IBC 29 37 BC 38 30 23 21 34 17 5 14 4 20 10
15 52 21 2 20 51 3 53 44 17 16 47 14 7 40 6 41 10
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