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To get the best use of our online version, please read the following:

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You can go directly to any advertiser by clicking the corresponding page number.

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To get more information from any advertiser, please click their advertisement to go directly to their website. You can also go directly to any feature by clicking the corresponding page number in the contents page. Thank you

For Electrical & Related Industries in Scotland & Ireland Sep/Oct 2011 • £4.00

OBC

Click Scolmore

25

Danlers

28

Eaton

6-46

Fibox

5

Low voltage

switchgear

SCOTLAND

Flex Connectors

25

Fluke Networks

11

Focus SB

33

Hager Meggar

Latest News New Tech InFreemation Health & Safety

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and More…

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Mr. Resistor

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P4 Limited

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Philips

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Rittal

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Sangamo

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N. IRELAND

TE Connectivity

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Solar PV

Power Systems

Enclosures, Racks & Boxes

Rugged Reliable Installation Testing

No1 Electrical Contracting Magazine for Scotland & Ireland

FEATURES Fluke 1654B Multifunction Installation Tester

Special Offer ! Buy a Fluke 1654B and Fluke 411D on the same order and claim one of the free kits!

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The 1654B is the latest in the 1650 series of Installation testers from Fluke. Designed to meet your need for rugged, reliable, productive test tools. • Test fixed installations to BS7671 17th Edition wiring regulations • Dual display shows PEFC/PSC and loop impedance results in parallel • Fast high current loop test • Variable RCD current mode for customized settings • PASS/FAIL indication for RCD tests • Zero adapter for easy test lead compensation • Test smooth dc sensitive RCDs (Type B) • Extended Memory

Kit 2

DMS Data Management Software, Fluke 365, 2AC, TL175

BS7671, 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations IEC 60364.6.61, HD 384

Look for more details on Fluke products and special actions at www.fluke.co.uk/actions DMS Data Management Software, 2AC, Fluke 117, TL175

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Grid connected PV system installation is quickly becoming a mainstream electrical contracting activity. We provide a guide to electrical installation and testing for PV panels.

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News

29

Health & Safety

36

Diary

43

New Tech

46

InFreemation

46

Classified

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Power Systems Power interruptions are estimated to cost over £8000/hour. Smaller companies have been known to go bankrupt. We take a looks at the main power continuity and protection issues.

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Low-voltage circuit protection devices are critical for the safety of people and equipment, but significant design and performance improvements in recent years have been relatively few.

NICEIC News 30

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Enclosures, Racks & Boxes 30

PVC cable use is in decline, as shown by the withdrawal of the BS 6346 cable standard and the development of a new standard, BS 8573.

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Heat recovery technology has been around for a long time, but hasn’t made a significant dent in the UK domestic market. However, with initiatives, heat recovery has become a hot topic.

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Energy efficient lighting is fast becoming the norm. Therefore the onus is on contractors and electricians to have the product knowledge to provide customers with modern equipment that will meet Government legislation.

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The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those held by the Editor.

Fluke. Keeping your world up and running.®

Cover Story

Focus on:

Low voltage switchgear

WireIN is published by: ENWI Publishing Ltd. 6 Kylepark Ave, Bothwell, Glasgow Tel: +44 (0)1698 816014 Fax: +44 (0)141 626 6906 email: [email protected] www.wirein.co.uk

To claim your kit download a voucher at www.fluke.co.uk/actions and send to the address on the voucher * * Copy of invoice required with returned voucher. For full terms & conditions go to www.fluke.co.uk/actions or contact the Fluke sales office. Allow 4 weeks for delivery of the kit from date of receipt at Fluke. Offer ends 31.12.2011.

Solar PV

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It was crucial to choose the right calibre of distributor; those that are experts in the sector.

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The last thing to be considered when designing electrical systems is the system enclosure and its ancillaries.

SPECIAL FEATURES Zero Adapter

Kit 1

REGULARS

Editor: James Hunt ENWI Publishing Ltd. 6 Kylepark Ave, Bothwell, Glasgow Tel: +44 (0)1698 816014 Fax: +44 (0)141 626 6906 email: [email protected]

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Advertising Manager: ENWI Publishing Ltd. 6 Kylepark Ave, Bothwell, Glasgow Tel: +44 (0)1698 816014 Fax: +44 (0)141 626 6906 email: [email protected] The publishers, authors, producers and printers cannot accept liability for errors and omissions. Any transparencies of artwork will be accepted at the owner’s risk. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, applications for which should be made to the publisher. Design: Scribble Design Ltd. www.scribble-design.co.uk

www.wirein.co.uk

Sep/Oct 2011

3

Have you seen it yet?

WELCOME

NEW fibox alN ENclosurEs for todays advanced systems

James Hunt Editor

Based on the ethos of total commitment to customer service and satisfaction, Fibox have further developed their market leading ALN range of aluminium enclosures. By investing in the development of 22 new moulds leads to a wide variety of applications being suitable as they become instantly compatible with competitors products, - offering end users an extremely attractive alternative. ALN enclosures are solidly built to provide extremely high impact resistance and can be used in wide variety of operating temperatures. For instance; when fitted with a conductive gasket, Fibox ALN enclosures are EMC shielded and provide excellent protection against petroleum, hydraulic oils, alcohols and solvents. These newly tooled ALN enclosures feature perpendicular walls for ease of component installation and wall mounting and have been given an upgraded cover design which offers even more protection for gaskets. Designers have also allowed the inclusion of more internal mounting pods to further offer increased options for pcb designers and OEM Engineers. With IP66/67 and IP68 versions available Fibox believe that the new ALN range boasts better protection from dust and water ingress than their nearest competitor. This is further demonstrated by the inclusion of a higher grade polyurethane gasket which offers better sealing, irrespective of repetitive lid removal. With the vagaries of the OEM market in mind, Fibox are happy to supply these enclosures either painted or unpainted and with their highly comprehensive customising service, they can be delivered ready for populating. Choose the FIBOX ALN enclosure range for durability, strong performance, and proven longevity in harsh environments, such as those found in:

New Megger MFT1700 series, the shape of testing’s future. Now offering n

Heavy industries Chemical & Pharmaceutical industries  Steelworks  Refineries  Breweries 

2-wire non-tripping loop testing

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Loop and PFC displayed at the same time

n

Phase sequence indication

n

3-pole earth testing

n

CAT IV 300 V safety rating

Get the whole picture call 01304 502 101 or go to www.megger.com The word ‘Megger’ is a registered trademark

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Food & Beverage industies

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Public lighting systems

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Shipyards

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Traffic control

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Public utilities

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Waste water treatment plants

Railway installation & signalling



Urban tramways

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Megger Limited Archcliffe Road Dover CT17 9EN UK T +44 (0) 1304 502 101 F +44 (0) 1304 207 342 E [email protected]

The 17th Edition - first amendment Just as you were thinking you’ve finally got a handle on the latest edition of the 17th Edition, along comes a change. BS 7671: 2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations has had its first proper amendment - No. 1, published on 1st July 2011. No doubt many of you will already know about the changes and whether they are likely to affect you, but there will still be many who have not yet assimilated what the changes mean and who needs to know. So, in brief, here they are: There is a new part (Section 444) that recommends how to avoid and reduce electromagnetic disturbances. Another new section (Section 534) concerns the installation of surge protection devices (SPD) to limit transient overvoltages and divert damaging surge current away from sensitive electronic equipment. There is more on the topic elsewhere in this issue of WireIN. These changes will affect all involved in the design, erection and verification of affected electrical installations. New Section 710 is about medical locations, which is all about ensuring the safety of patients in contact with medical electrical equipment. It will affect all those involved in the design, erection and verification of electrical installations in medical locations. Yet another new addition is Section 729, concerning operating or maintenance gangways, including widths, access areas and emergency evacuation. It will matter to those involved in the design, erection, and verification of restricted areas such switch rooms. There is also an important change on model forms for certification and reporting. The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) replaces the Periodic Inspection Report, so will affect everybody involved in the periodic inspection of electrical installations. Various bodies are providing the necessary training courses, such as the NICEIC and The IET, and a key fact sheet is downloadable from www.eca.co.uk. You can’t afford not to know.

For further information please contact: FIBOX Ltd. 3 Primrose Hill Industrial Park, Orde Wingate way, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS19 0BJ tel: 01642 604 400 web: www.fibox.co.uk

Sep/Oct 2011

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Solar PV

When DC meets AC

Far Left: Installation of PV systems should ensure the electrical safety of the installation and installation personnel, and verify the performance/ power output of the system.

Left: Integrated testers capable of performing all of the tests required by IEC 62446 have recently been introduced to the market. This example is by Seaward Solar.

solar PV

panel installation

Grid connected photo-voltaic (PV) system installation is quickly becoming a mainstream electrical contracting activity. Jim Wallace provides a guide to electrical installation and testing for PV panels.

O

nce the electrician has achieved Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation‚ installing a PV system should not be too difficult. However there are some significant differences from the usual installation wiring methods used on other electrical projects. PV arrays produce a DC voltage when exposed to sunlight. DC current generated by the array is converted to AC by an inverter which then feeds into the building’s mains supply. It follows that electrical work on PV panel installation involves working on both the DC and AC sides of the circuit. PV systems are unusual in that the energy source cannot be switched off. If there is daylight falling on a PV panel it will produce

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electricity and it is possible for a relatively small array of only a few panels to deliver a lethal shock. Because of the current limiting properties of PV cells‚ not enough fault current is produced to operate over-current protection devices such as fuses - faults can go undetected, not only causing a potential fire hazard but also wasting energy generated by the PV system.

Installation issues Installation requirements for PV systems are designed to ensure the electrical safety of the installation and installation personnel, and to verify the performance/power output of the system. Installation of domestic grid connected PV systems falls with the scope of Part P of the Building Regulations and it is the installer’s responsibility to meet the BS7671 electrical installation standard – the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations. However‚ inspection and testing of DC circuits associated with

Moeller is Eaton. Electricity brought us together.

www.eaton.eu/en/brandchange

PV arrays requires special considerations as laid down by the IEE Guidance Note 7 for Special Locations. The installation commissioning form for PV arrays up to 16A is Engineering Recommendation G83/1.

Standards for documentation, commissioning and inspection IEC 62446 sets out the minimum requirements for PV system documentation, commissioning tests, and inspection. The standard sets out the information and documentation that should be provided to the customer following the installation of a solar panel system and also the initial (and periodic) electrical inspection and testing required. The detailed measures in the standard ensure that the PV panels and electrical supply connections have been wired up correctly, the electrical insulation is good, the protective earth connection is as it should be, and there has been no damage to cables during installation.

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Testing IEC 62446 sets a number of testing criteria, including the polarity of DC cables, a voltage test for the open circuit and current test for a short circuit, irradiance, an insulation test, and operational and functional tests. Different PV electrical tests require different test instrumentation – typically including an earth continuity and insulation resistance tester‚ a multimeter, and DC clampmeter. Using such an array of instruments can be cumbersome and time consuming, which has led to the introduction of a new generation of integrated testers capable of performing all of the tests required by IEC 62446.

A great opportunity…. So long as electricians are mindful of the issues discussed here, there is no reason why installing PV arrays cannot be a significant business opportunity for specifiers and installers

Jim Wallace Jim Wallace is a long established member of the Seaward Electronic team and his time with the company has seen significant technological innovation in its electrical safety testing products. As engineering manager and then product and technology manager, Jim has been instrumental in Seaward’s development and introduction of advanced testers, the latest example of which is a range of specialist solar PV test equipment. He is a graduate electronic engineer and was awarded an MPhil for research in medical instrumentation. He is chairman of the Gambica Electrical Test Instruments Group and an active member of several IEC standard working groups.



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NICEIC NEWS This page contains the latest news from the NICEIC, which is the UK electrical contracting industry’s independent voluntary body. The organisation offers leading certification services, Building Regulations schemes, products and support to electrical contractors and many other trades within the construction industry. Over 25,000 contractors are registered – read on:

NICEIC and ECA gaze into the future The NICEIC and the ECA have collaborated on a research project that aims to predict the shape of the electrical contracting industry in 2021. ‘2021 Vision: The Future of the Electrical Contracting Industry’, was prepared using the results of a survey of 1,000 ECA members and registrants to the NICEIC. It is also the first tangible result of talks to see how the two organisations can work together to provide unity and leadership for the industry. Emma McCarthy, CEO of the NICEIC, and Steve Bratt, CEO of the ECA, decided to jointly fund the project because they felt it was important to give long-term guidance for the industry at a time when many contractors are recovering from the recession and concentrating on short-term survival. The survey found there are many perceived threats to the industry but also many opportunities. For example, the future of the electrical industry is inextricably linked to the UK’s sustainable future. As the UK strives to achieve ambitious targets for carbon reduction, the industry finds itself in a leading position to take advantage of the opportunities that the drive for carbon reduction brings. Contractors who are willing to develop and learn new skills will grow and thrive. The most important opportunities revealed in the report are: • The Green Deal will lead to half a million homes being upgraded every year year – 96% of respondents see this as an opportunity. • Smart meters will be installed in every home – 95% see this as an opportunity. • There will be more apprenticeships. • New products will be developed to enable sustainable new build and renovation of existing properties. • There will be more training for small businesses in new technology and skills – 97% see this as an opportunity. Visit www.eca.co.uk/2021vision or www.niceic.com to read the document.

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Work-It workwear available through the NICEIC NICEIC-approved contractors can buy Work-It workwear branded with an NICEIC logo and, optionally, their company logo, from the NICEIC Direct website. The range comprises 16 styles in a variety of colours. The garments are lightweight, breathable, hard-wearing and based on proven technology from the sports and mountain-wear markets. All garments ordered through NICEIC Direct sport the NICEIC Approved Contractor logo. For a £30 set-up fee, contractors can also opt to have their own company logo added to the garments. Mike Jackson, head of sales at NICEIC, said: “The clothing is smart, durable and

competitively priced. The branded approach means electricians and contractors can create a very strong and professional image whenever they are quoting for a job or working on site.” Visit www.niceicdirect.com or www.work-it-wear.com for more information.

GLOBAL REACH With manufacturing and commercial

The range includes Nevis and Munro trousers, as well as Cuillin polo shirts.

facilities throughout the world, we are the global partner to many of the world’s leading companies. TE Connectivity. We’re in it.

NICEIC hits the road for more TechTalks NICEIC-registered contractors can get face-to-face advice and information on a range of topics at one of the organisation’s TechTalks, to be held around the country throughout 2011-12. Starting in October, the half-day events will take place in new regions, new venues and cover new topics. Tony Cable, NICEIC’s senior marketing and events engineer, will be giving a series of technical presentations at each event on issues such as amendments to BS 7671:2008 and in particular the new EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) which replaces the current PIR. He will also be talking about the opportunities presented by electric vehicles and a host of other key industry initiatives. Other NICEIC technical engineers

will also speak, and there will be an opportunity for delegates to ask questions. Contractors will additionally have a chance to meet industry suppliers and manufacturers, pick up NICEIC merchandise at discounted prices and take advantage of show discounts. Tony Cable said, “NICEIC’s TechTalks are a fantastic way for registered contractors to get up-to-date information about a number of hot topics. We have made sure that we visit as many regions as possible and can guarantee that attending a TechTalk will be time well spent.” TechTalks take place in London, East Anglia, the North West, Yorkshire, Wales, the Midlands, Northern Ireland, the North East, the South West and Scotland. They are sponsored by lighting and home automation company Niko and tickets cost £20 per person. Visit www.niceicdirect.com to book online.

TE Connectivity – previously known as Tyco Electronics, incorporating AMP NETCONNECT and ADC KRONE portfolios. Greater product choice with outstanding service. SMARTER, FASTER, & BETTER.

The NICEIC is tops for MCS accreditation More than 1,000 companies have signed up for Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation through the NICEIC, making it the leading body for such accreditation. Under the MCS, all products and installers are checked to ensure they meet the necessary standards. The NICEIC has received a large number of enquiries about MCS accreditation this year. Paul Collins, head of NICEIC, said: “The microgeneration industry is currently blossoming and tradespeople with the appropriate skills to supply these technologies are keen to grasp the opportunity it presents. We have witnessed a large number of skilled professionals, such as electricians, plumbers, heating and gas engineers come to NICEIC for accreditation because it is a name associated with quality and assurance.” He added: “Government-backed schemes, such as feed-in tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive are a real incentive for households, but the financial benefits are only available to those who use MCS-approved goods and installers.”

01.07.11


www.ampnetconnect.co.uk www.eaton.eu/en/brandchange

www.adckrone.com/eu

www.te.com/uk

NEWS

www.flukenetworks.com

Short Leads www.glenigan.com

www.unearthore.com

Scottish Housing News www.scottishhousingnews.com

Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland short leads, tenders and news New homes planned for Montrose – Angus council has lodged plans for 45 new homes in Montrose, at the Dungman’s Tack and Wirren Road sites. Timescales for this project have yet to be agreed. Go to www.angus.gov.uk N e w s h e l t e re d a c c o m m o d a t i o n i n Lochee – Dundee council has partnered with the Hillcrest Housing Association to replace Elmgrove House, Lochee with new sheltered accommodation. The work is scheduled for completion in 2012. Go to www.dundeecitiy.gov.uk New homes for Lochend North and Maldevic – City of Edinburgh council and Scottish Futures Trust have awarded a contract for 188 new homes to Places for People. The homes will be built in Lochend North and Maldevic. Go to www.placesforpeople.co.uk Craigmillar neighbourhood hub – Work has begun on the East Neighbourhood office and Craigmillar library in Edinburgh. The work is scheduled for completion in 2013. Go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk New homes for Ardenslate – Argyll Community housing association has announced that 24 new homes will be built in Ardenslate. Go to www.acha.co.uk

Dimplex offers tenyear PV guarantee Dimplex has said it is leading the market for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a ten-year warranty on its products. The company also backs its products with a 25-year performance guarantee. Dimplex said the warranties should give customers peace of mind that the panels will need little or no maintenance throughout their lives. “A solar PV system should be maintenance-free for many years as it has no moving parts; a ‘fit and forget’ way for householders, businesses and other organisations to generate their own energy and reduce carbon emissions,” said the company. Dimplex’s PV panels have also recently been granted salt mist and ammonia test certificates. This means the panels are protected if they are installed in exposed coastal areas, or surrounded by farms and exposed to chemicals in the air.

Lifelong care for your installation ABB marine and crane services has launched a scheme to help companies decide what level of support is necessary for their electrical and automation installations. The ‘management model’ covers all products and systems from ABB’s Extended Automation System 800xA distributed control system through to low and medium-voltage drives, generators, AVRs, and switchgear and transformers. The model has four phases: Active, Classic, Limited and Obsolete. During the Active and Classic phases, all

Dimplex panels go the distance.

services are available, including product selection, installation and commissioning, maintenance, remote monitoring and diagnostics, technical support, upgrade, replacement and recycling plus training and learning. A product in the Classic phase will not be promoted by the sales team. During the Limited stage, the equipment is no longer available. The services offered are limited. Spare parts, maintenance and repair services are available as long as materials can be obtained. In the Obsolete phase, the equipment is not available. ABB cannot guarantee availability of services for technical reasons or within reasonable cost.

your most trusted tester

Housing stock in Argyle & Bute to be upgraded – Argyll Community housing association has announced a £7m programme to upgrade 1400 homes in Argyle and Bute. The work includes new kitchens and bathrooms, heating and rewire, and energy efficiency, improvements and is scheduled to start by April 2012. Go to www.acha.co.uk New homes for Prestonpans – Dunedin Canmore housing association and East Lothian council have contracted with R. Rollo and Sons to build 18 new homes in Prestonpans. The work is planned for completion by spring 2012. Go to www.dunedincanmore.org.uk

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With OVER ONE BILLION LINKS ALREADY CERTIFIED with the Fluke Networks DTX CableAnalyzerTM, it’s no surprise this tester is the most trusted certification tool around. NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO SWITCH TO THE DTX CABLEANALYZERTM. Why? Because you receive a rebate voucher – which could be worth as much as £ 2.495! –

ABB marine and crane services has introduced a four-phase life-cycle management model.

01.07.11

by trading in your old cable tester. Simply buy a new DTX-1800 configuration and give us your old tester (any make or brand) with the voucher. We’ll take care of the rest. You can also trust us on that! FOR DETAILS GO TO www.dtxdeal.com



Trusted in the field since 1992

NEWS

Short Leads Bungalows for North Lanarkshire – Ogilvie Construction has begun building 11 bungalows at the Millerston site in North Lanarkshire for North Lanarkshire council. The work should be completed by January 2012. Go to www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk Refurbishment of E Ayrshire care home approved – East Ayrshire council has granted planning permission to refurbish the Deanhouse care home in Kilmarnock. Work is planned to begin in January 2012. Go to www.lawrencemcphersonarchitects.co.uk Oban Drive new homes project – To be built are 128 properties at the Oban Drive site in Queens Cross, Glasgow – the first phase of a project to build 330 properties in Queens Cross. Go to www.queenscrossha.org.uk Retirement housing scheme for Glasgow – Seddon Construction is planning to build a 30-home retirement development in Mamore Street, Glasgow. The work is scheduled for completion in July 2012. Go to www.seddon.co.uk Major social housing project for West Lothian – West Lothian council has announced a project to build 800 new homes across 13 sites in the region, the first new build by the council since 1983. Go to www.westlothian.gov.uk

Fluke tools chosen for WorldSkills London 2011 The latest Fluke 1654B multifunction installation tester has been chosen by WorldSkills London 2011 to be used by competitors in the Electrical Installation skill category at ExCeL London from 5th – 8th of October 2011. The 1654B has been designed for high productivity testing and verification of electrical wiring installations in domestic, commercial and industrial applications. It offers smooth DC-sensitive RCD Type B testing for buildings equipped with solar panels and provides milliohm resolution for loop and line testing. The instrument can show PEFC/PSC and loop impedance results in parallel, halving the test time of some loop testers. This tester is compact, lightweight (less than 1.2 kg) and has a padded neck-strap to free testers’ hands for testing. Fluke Corporation uses WorldSkills as part of its international education Fluke’s 1654B multifunction installation programme. Go to tester has been chosen by www.fluke.com. WorldSkills London 2011

Voltimum reunites Lauren with her long lost dad A digital marketeer from Oxfordshire used electrical industry web portal Voltimum to track down her electrician father who she had not seen since she was seven years old. Private detectives had failed to find

New Orkney homes – Building work on 15 new homes at Netherton Road, Stromness has begun. The project is the first phase of a programme to build 140 homes over the next three years, and is run by Orkney Builders. Work on the Netherton Road site is due for completion in August 2012. Go to www.orkney.gov.uk Affordable housing for the Borders – Scottish Futures Trust has signed a development contract for 51 new homes in Innerleithen and Galashiels. The contract is due for completion at the end of 2012. Go to www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk New housing project for Clackmananshire – Clackmananshire council has announced a project to build 25 new homes in Hellpark, Sauchie. The council has also confirmed that energy-efficient upgrades to properties in Bowmar have been approved. Go to www.clacksweb.org.uk

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her father, but by entering his name and profession into Google, she discovered that a man who matched the criteria had posted comments on both The Daily Telegraph and Voltimum websites. The Telegraph said it was against its policy to release information about posters, but Voltimum UK agreed to forward Lauren’s enquiry to the poster. Within 15 minutes, Lauren received an email saying: “Hi Lauren, Voltimum passed on your message, if your date of birth is 10/06/82, mine is 15/01/59, then you are my daughter. Love Dad.” One month later, Lauren and her father were reunited. “The timing was incredible,” said Lauren. “I was about to leave the country for seven months and he was about to move hundreds of miles away to the coast. To have found him and to be sat there with him just felt wonderful.” Lauren wrote her story and submitted it into Voltimum’s ten-year anniversary competition because she wanted to thank Voltimum UK and Georgia in particular for their help in finding her father. She won the first prize of an iPad. Voltimum’s Georgia - with Lauren, receiving her iPad.

Deaths at work up in Ireland Workplace deaths in Ireland increased from an all-time low of 43 in 2009 to 48 in 2010, according to the Irish Health & Safety Authority (HSA) in its Irish Health & Safety Annual Report 2010. Sixty per cent of the deaths occurred in the farming, logging and fishing sectors, sectors that account for about 6% of the working population. The Annual Report 2010 outlines the key achievements and activities of the HSA for the year. Visit www.hsa.ie to download it for free.

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All aboard for energy savings Energy use on marine vessels can be cut by as much as half by using variable-speed drives for energy-intensive operations, according to ABB. The company said that in applications such as seawater cooling pumps, chilled water pumps and engine room ventilation fans, payback can be achieved in less than a year. ABB said energy-intensive applications are often over-dimensioned to handle the most extreme conditions. Also, they operate at full capacity even when demand is not high. Any flow control is often through mechanical devices such as bypass valves and air dampers that are

Short Leads Housing developments for Perth – Perth and Kinross council has announced that several building developments will receive council tax funding. The developments are in Muirton, Kenmore, Auchterarder, Crieff, and Bridge of Earn. 70 new homes will be built. Go to www.pkc.gov.uk ABB’s marine energy appraisal service helps vessels – such as Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 - cut their fuel consumption.

inefficient and costly to maintain. Installing a variable-speed drive to adjust the speed of these motors according to demand can cut energy use by about half, with payback on equipment and installation – from fuel savings alone – in less than a year.

Free health and safety in construction course A free online course has been launched covering most aspects of health and safety in construction in Ireland. Topics include construction safety and health management, risk assessment, planning for safety, and the safe use of construction plant and equipment, electricity and other services. It is suitable for those working in construction, and for third-level students of construction studies and related disciplines. Visit www.alison.com/courses/HSA-5 to register.

Green deal alarm demand met by Kidde Fyrnetic The increasingly efficient airtight construction of lowenergy homes has created the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) build up. This risk has been recognised by housing provider Gentoo on its PassivHaus development in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear - believed to be the first Kidde Fyrnetics CO alarms were installed to certified PassivHaus project of provide whole-house protection. this scale in the UK. Kidde Fyrnetics CO alarms were installed and interlinked by Kidde Fyrnetics ‘Smart Interconnect’ facility to provide whole-house protection. For new buildings and major refurbishment or upgrade, Kidde Fyrnetics mainspowered CO alarms have sealed-in, rechargeable lithium cells for backup, preventing tenant access. They can be interlinked and also used as part of the company’s ‘Smart Interconnect’ system for whole-house fire and CO protection, in conjunction with its hard-wired smoke and heat alarms. Where hard-wiring is not viable, battery-powered units are also available, as well as plug-in mains CO alarms for transferable protection. Manufacturers that produce their own CO cells, rather than buying them in, can apply tighter quality controls. Every Kidde sensor is tested under CO and all products must pass through several key quality testing ‘gates’ before becoming available for sale. www.smoke-alarms.co.uk.

01.07.11

E Lothian invests in new homes for Macmerry – East Lothian council has approved a project to build 14 new homes in Whiteloch Road, Macmerry. The project is due to begin in September. Go to www.eastlothian.gov.uk Low carbon development for Raploch – Cruden Homes East has begun work on a low carbon development in Huntly Crescent, Raploch. The development consists of three commercial units and three two-bedroom apartments, all equipped with solar panels. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2012. Go to www.raploch.com 27 new homes to Dunfermline – Fife council has announced plans for an ‘Innovation Showcase’ in Dunfermline in Spring 2012. The centre of the exhibition will be 27 new homes showcasing different forms of construction. Campion Homes has been appointed contractor for the project. Go to www.kingdomhousing.org.uk New Renfrewshire homes planned – Renfrewshire council has announced a bid in the next round of NHT funding. The bid, if successful, will result in 40 new homes being built across the area. Go to www.renfrewshire.gov.uk New homes for North Sighthill – As part of the City of Edinburgh council’s housing development plans, three tower blocks are to be demolished in Hermiston, Weir and Glenalmond Courts. The council plans to build 1300 new homes across the capital. Go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk Kirkintilloch gets affordable homes – Link Housing has begun a programme to build 16 new homes in Waterside, Kirkintilloch. The projects are scheduled for completion in March 2012. Go to www.linkhousing.co.uk Low-carbon homes in Paisley approved – FBN Architects, working for Lorreto Housing association, have received planning permission to build 55 low-carbon homes in Neilston Road, Paisley. Timescales for the construction of the project are to be announced. Go to www.lorettoha.co.uk



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NEWS Manor House Hotel and Conference Centre saves money using low energy lighting.

Click turns hotel and conference centre ‘green’ In a bid to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs, the recently refurbished Manor House Hotel and Conference Centre turned to Click Scolmore for a solution. The company’s Flameguard and Energetic lamps have provided eco-friendly lighting throughout the hotel and conference centre, which includes 31 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms. By using Click Energetic LED 6W lamps to replace the original 50W and 150W

Cooper proves emergency lighting competence

Cooper Lighting and Safety has become the first emergency lighting manufacturer to be certified under the BAFE SP203-4 scheme, which supplies independent third-party confirmation that a supplier is competent to provide services such as design, commissioning and maintenance of an emergency lighting system. BAFE SP203-4 was launched by British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) in March 2011, and will help facilities managers and other ‘responsible persons’ specified in the Fire Safety Order, who are legally obliged to ensure that anyone working on an emergency lighting system is competent to do so. By using a BAFE SP203-4-certified company, they can demonstrate that they have complied with this aspect of the law. Martin Mullin, managing director of Cooper Lighting and Safety, said: “We are delighted to have gained full registration under the new BAFE emergency lighting scheme, which complements our existing BAFE registration for fire detection and alarm systems. We can provide customers with a range of emergency lighting services, including system design, commissioning, inspection, testing and maintenance.”

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lamps used in the bistro, Smith bar and lounge, and all 31 bedrooms, there has been an overall saving of 1300W. The Manor House’s operators were able to replace 75% of all existing lamps with low energy options without compromising on style, size or light output. The significantly lower energy usage that has been achieved has boosted the hotel’s green credentials and is saving money in the long term. Go to www.scolmore.com.

BBES is large employer of the year Glasgow-based Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) has been awarded the Large Employer of the Year award at the Liverpool Community College Employer Awards. The award recognises Balfour Beatty Engineering Services’ work with Liverpool Community College on the Foundation Degree in Building Services Engineering Services. Curriculum areas from around the college are asked to submit nominations for employers the college has worked with. The case study information submitted to the panel commended BBES’ commitment to the college over the years.

Scrappage scheme takes sting out of energy rules Motor users who buy a Siemens IE2 motor from one of the company’s nationwide network of partners can claim a fixed allowance for a scrap LV motor from any manufacturer. Siemens’ partners will collect the scrap motor. The scrappage scheme, from Siemens Industry Automation & Drive Technologies (IA&DT), will run until the end of the year. The company said it will help motor users deal with the cost of the European Union’s European Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) scheme. The legislation, which came into force on 16 June, prevents the manufacture and sale of standard electric motors below IE2 (Eff1) class.

WorldSkills competitors to use Irwin tools Irwin Tools is to supply hand tools and power tool accessories for competitors in the WorldSkills 2011 competition, which takes place at ExCel in London from 4-9 October. WorldSkills International is the world’s largest international skills-based competition. This year it will feature more than 1,000 competitors from 50 countries. Sectors covered include construction and building technology, automotive, engineering and manufacturing process, ICT, and creative arts and fashion. As part of the sponsorship, Irwin is providing a selection of tools to be used in the events, including vices, clamps, saws, drill bits, and utility knives and blades. Visit www.worldskills.org for more about WorldSkills. Visit www.irwin.co.uk for more about Irwin Tools.

Colour-changing LEDs indicate the voltage.

BEAMA updates pair of essential guides BEAMA’s Low Voltage Switchboard Technical Committee has published two guides – a new guide to forms of separation and an updated guide to verification relating to BS EN 61439-2. Since 1992 ‘The BEAMA Installation Guide to Forms of Separation’ has been considered the industry standard, explaining the various ways of meeting the required standard internal separation. BEAMA spokesperson Keith Smith said: “This is a significant industry publication. Forms of internal separation in BS EN 61439-2 are subject to agreement between the manufacturer and the user, and we recommend this

Targeting contractors with Arteor training A free training programme offered by Legrand has already helped more than 200 contractors, installers and system integrators get to grips with its wiring device and home automation range, Arteor. The courses offered include lighting, sound and temperature control, all of which are based on the SCS two-wire BUS protocol, plus ZigBee Radio as a standalone offer, and the total integration of SCS with ZigBee products. They are all delivered at the company’s Birmingham HQ, and cover everything from the myriad of different product and system functions available, through to new installation techniques. Two of the most recent companies to take advantage of the courses, which are all project focused, were Blue Ridge Electrical Systems and Hunter Security. Both companies took the advanced Arteor programming course and have since benefitted from the project support offered by Legrand’s technical team. Students seen at one of Legrand’s Arteor training courses.

LED voltage tester lamp is cheaper option Electricians who are no longer able to find replacement 15W rough service filament lamps for their voltage testers can buy a replacement LED lamp that will be much cheaper than a complete new unit. Test and measurement company Kewtech’s RB1 LED replacement lamp has a colour-changing LED display. White LEDs illuminate at voltages greater than 50V, but they change to blue at 230V and to red at 400V. The coloured displays are also useful in the dark. A major UK supply company has already ordered the LED lamp and others are trialling the unit.

01.07.11



01.07.11

guide as an appropriate basis for such an agreement.” Also, the ‘Guide to Verification to 61439-2’ has been updated (Table 1) and re-formatted to make it suitable for onscreen reading. Visit www.beama.org.uk/en/ publications/ to download the free guides.

Both BEAMA guides are free online.

Induction lights can save warehouses cash

Logistics and warehousing companies can save hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and cut carbon emissions by using new factory lighting technology, according to Electrical Installation Solutions (EIS). EIS has embraced new lighting technologies – in particular induction lighting – to cut clients’ energy bills. Managing director Steve Neeves said: “Much has been made of LED lighting systems in recent years but this technology has its limitations, particularly in larger volume buildings common in the industrial sector. “EIS has been working with manufacturers of induction lighting, which provides more suitable light spread for high-level installations, to develop robust, costeffective and energy-saving lighting.” Typical lamps, such as LEDs, use electrical connections to pass current though them. Induction lamps work by passing a magnetic field through a mercury gas from outside the lamp, exciting the gas to produce ultraviolet (UV) light. The outside of the light is coated and makes the UV light visible as it passes through the coating. Because there is no need for electrodes inside the lamp – the life-limiting factor in most conventional lights – the life of an induction lamp can vary from 60,000 hours to as much as 100,000 hours. It can cut energy and maintenance costs by 35% to 55%.



15

NEWS

William Dyer to fit solar PV

£3.5m research centre job for BBES Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) has been awarded a £3.5m M&E contract for a four-storey laboratory and office building with car parking and rooftop plant at the Beatson Translational Research Centre (TRC). BBES will work with Mansell on the project and the University of Glasgow is the ultimate client. The M&E services comprise air conditioning, BMS controls, fume and MSC exhaust systems, RO water, medical gas systems, UPS and generator standby systems, small power and lighting. Translational research is the process by which doctors and scientists translate their research in the laboratory into therapies for cancer patients. The centre will specialise in the most common tumours and those that cause the most deaths in Glasgow such as endocrine, smokingrelated and gastrointestinal tumours. KJ Tait will provide M&E consultancy services on the project. Work should be completed by the end of summer 2012.

Twin Plus from MarshallTufflex shown installed

Project showcases trunking benefits An innovative project to co-locate a community hospital, health clinic and civic centre into a shared new building, is making full use of the many benefits of cable management solution Twin Plus from Marshall-Tufflex. This trunking, available in standard and antimicrobial versions, was chosen by consulting engineers DSSR for the council offices and hospital. In healthcare, infection control is a huge issue and Bio Twin Plus supports cleaning regimes in the fight against harmful bacteria. Silver-ion protection

Six SOLEIL 100kWp high efficiency inverters at NYSE’s data center.

Rooftop PV installation is UK’s largest SIEL Energy Systems has commissioned the UK’s largest roof-mounted solar power installation at the NYSE data centre. The 600kW system was installed on time and within budget.

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is added to Bio’s PVC-U formulation during manufacture to neutralise and kill dangerous bacteria such as MRSA, E-Coli and Salmonella, even if the trunking is scratched or knocked. Bio Twin Plus has been tested to the quantitative standard ISO 22196:2007; results show the survival rate of bacteria to be less than 0.1%. Twin Plus is a large capacity trunking with bend radius up to 50mm (compliant with CAT 6 and Cat 7), and it features a comprehensive suite of flush accessories and boxes. It can be treated with a conductive spray coating for protection against EMI in PVC-U versions. Go to www.marshall-tufflex.com. It includes six SIEL SOLEIL 100kWp inverters and an array of 2,610 high output multicrystalline photovoltaic modules with an installed surface area of 4,289m2. It has a TGS2 monitoring system that constantly checks all the operational aspects of the inverters and the PV array – including instantaneous, monthly and cumulative generation levels. Wayne Harris from SIEL Energy Systems said: “Since commissioning the system the overall performance has exceeded everyone’s expectations and is generating on average an output 38% higher than initially predicted.” SIEL also connected the system – which has a 25-year warranty – to the grid.

01.07.11

Electric Center is now part of Edmundson Electrical.

Wolseley completes sale of Electric Center Wolseley UK has concluded the sale of its Electric Center business to distributor Edmundson Electrical. Wolseley UK announced last month that electrical wholesaling is no longer a core strategic activity for the UK business and that it was selling Electric Center. About 570 people work for Electric Center, which operates through a network of 84 branches. In 2010, its turnover was £129m. Wolseley UK’s managing director Steve Ashmore said: “I am pleased to confirm that we have completed the sale of Electric Center to Edmundson Electrical. We wish Electric Center and its employees the very best for the future as part of Edmundson Electrical and thank them for their contribution to Wolseley UK.”



Contractor William Dyer Electrical has announced that it has added solar photovoltaics (PV) systems to its energy efficiency services portfolio. The company also revealed that it is now accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). Its staff are accredited to install PV systems rated from 1kW to 100kW. PV solar cells capture energy from the sun and generate electrical power. The cells produce direct current electricity that can be transformed to power equipment in homes and commercial properties. Solar PV technology has advanced rapidly in recent years as a result of increasing demand for renewable energy.

Cuthbertson Laird in double act for Northern Ireland

Get up to speed with the Building Regulations with Vent-Axia.

Vent-Axia guides you through the regs Ventilation specialist Vent-Axia has published a step-by-step guide to help explain recent changes to the Building Regulations that cover ventilation in private and social housing. Marketing director Lee Nurse said: “Amendments to Parts L and F of the Building Regulations issued in October 2010 have effectively re-written the rules for domestic ventilation. The drive to reduce carbon emissions places much greater emphasis on correctly designed and specified ventilation systems, competent installation and verified performance. “This new guide looks in detail at these three key areas and explains how specifiers can achieve compliance.” The Guide includes an overview of Part L, the document that covers fuel and power, and Part F, means of ventilation, with a summary of the implications for ventilation. It covers airflows, background ventilators and noise (Part F) and minimum efficiencies of motors and heat exchangers (Part L). The publication continues with discussion of the impact of these changes on four ventilation systems covered in the Building Regulations: intermittent fans; passive stack; centralised and decentralised continuous mechanical extract ventilation; and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. It includes calculations and information on Vent-Axia products, including the Lo-Carbon Centra, Quadra and Sentinel Kinetic systems. Visit www.vent-axia.com for a copy of the guide.

01.07.11

Hamilton-based Cuthbertson Laird and Metrel of West Yorkshire have partnered to give Northern Ireland a comprehensive calibration service at Newtownabbey, and an extensive test instrument product range. Peter Greenshields, MD of Cuthbertson Laird – the province’s only calibration centre approved by Metrel – commented: “Any additional service opportunities being brought in are always welcome but when it is equipment as high in quality as that researched and developed by Metrel, it is an added bonus”. With the addition of the Metrel product range, Cuthbertson Laird can now provide the comprehensive service that clients need at a price they can afford, the company claims. Metrel provides fast, versatile, portable and reliable equipment that is well established, manufactured in Europe and sold throughout the world. The M13125B Eurotest Combo and M13311 GammaPat products are two of the latest models. Go to www.cuthbertsonlaird.ie for further information.

Prysmian fire alarms for Grade 2 listed buildings Prysmian’s FP200 Gold and Afumex LSX with Earthshield have been specified for the fire alarm and power systems in a succession of Grade 2 listed buildings. Obstacles often occur when working in Grade 2 listed buildings, as their structures are a challenge for modern day services. Afumex LSX presents a solution to this problem – the customer decided that the Afumex LSX is more suitable for this project than a twin and earth solution, which would have required additional mechanical protection. The Earthshield technology used by Afumex LSX requires no additional safety precautions such as metal conduit. The Afumex LSX passes all requirements of the latest BS7671:2008 Wiring Regulations. The customer has now expanded the use of both Afumex and FP200 Gold and specifies them for all of its operations, including commercial, industrial, healthcare and school projects. Go to www.prysmian.co.uk for more information.

Prysmian’s FP200 Gold and Afumex LSX with Earthshield being installed in a Grade 2 listed building.



17

NEWS

Aurora proves its products in LightLab Energy-saving lighting company Aurora has refitted the Aurora Lighting Experience – or ALEX – its conferencing, education, product testing and demonstration suite in Welwyn Garden City. The LightBox conference suite at ALEX 2.0 has a capacity of more than 100 people and can be hired by customers. LightBox lets visitors experience the difference between halogen, CFL and LED light sources and the effect of colour temperature. Connected to LightBox is LightLab, a product testing area with sophisticated test equipment – including an integrating sphere – and interactive displays. Electric

doors open from the conference suite on to an area focused on education, display, performance and testing of four elements of lighting – power, control, lamps and luminaires.

The refurbished Aurora Lighting Experience has conference, product testing and demonstration areas.

Aurora LightLab’s integrating sphere – supplied by Cranfield-based ProLite Technology – is two metres in diameter and equipped with a Labsphere state-of-the-art radiospectrometer that measures performance data for lamps including lumen output, colour temperature, colour rendering index and chromaticity. ALEX also includes a four-metrewide projection screen that shows application shots of lighting schemes incorporating equipment displayed in the LightBox, and a series of 40-inch LCDs present more than 5,000 products from Aurora’s portfolio. Multiple iPads explain LED binning, colour temperature, thermal management, CTA Dimming and other new technologies.

Enclosures and busbars from a single source Specifiers can source their busbars and enclosures together after Italian enclosure maker ETA agreed to pool its expertise with that of German busbar specialist Wohner in the UK. Customers are increasingly specifying enclosures and power distribution systems from a single source.

Click Scolmore iPhone app for ease of ordering Click Scolmore has launched its own iPhone app, bringing instant access to its entire collection of wiring accessories, lighting and home automation products. Downloadable via a 3G connection for iPhone, iPad and iTouch, installers and specifiers can use the app to browse and add selections either to their favourites or to the quote basket. The app then allows you to email the contents of the basket back to yourself providing all the information you need to obtain any quotations. With over 6000 products currently available, you can use the search facility to easily locate the products required. If further information is needed, there’s an option to email Scolmore or find the company on the map straight from the app. As the app is 100% native, there’s the added bonus that Internet connection is not required to use it. Go to www.scolmore.com.

Find all about Click Scolmore’s entire ranges of wiring accessories, lighting and home automation products using the new iPhone app.

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01.07.11

Information on how to buy and dispose of batteries.

Yuasa rejigs its European website Yuasa’s new European website – at www.yuasaeurope.com – contains not only information about products, datasheets and technical support, but also information on battery recycling and links to external sites for recycling advice. The site contains information about lead acid batteries for industrial, security and telecom applications; batteries for automotive and leisure applications; motorcycle batteries, nickel metal hydride and nickel cadmium cells; battery chargers and test equipment. The website is in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian, and includes product information such as technical datasheets. Technical support is available on the site, particularly for automotive and motorcycle products where application and cross-reference guides and battery selectors are available to help users choose the right batteries for their vehicles.



Polished Steel

Brushed Steel

Polished Brass

Black Nickel

Jobs for the girls gets MP’s approval The NICEIC’s ‘Jobs for the girls’ campaign to get more women to work in the UK electrical sector as engineers, contractors and installers has received a boost. At a Palace of Westminster press briefing, Labour MP Chi Onwurah, endorsed this important campaign. Noting that this was a cross-party issue, she said that of around 40,000 UK electrical contractors, only 1% were women: “This is a ridiculously low figure, and it is especially important to encourage more women into engineering and stay in a trade. It is also a necessity to help the UK build its skills base. Prior to becoming an MP, Chi Onwurah was Head of Telecoms Technology at OFCOM, with a focus on broadband provision, and her father was an electrical engineer, so she has considerable knowledge of the sector. Recent NICEIC research of 3,000 women revealed that many would think twice before calling in a male electrician to carry out essential work, so an Apprentice Academy has been launched to encourage and inspire more women into a traditionally male dominated industry. Emma McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Ascertiva Group parent company of the NICEIC, introduced the campaign, commenting: “We are 100% committed to attracting high calibre graduates to build a real future for the electrical contracting industry. We hope that by launching this campaign in-line with our Apprentice Academy, more ladies will come forward and help to even the balance.” There is now a huge leaning towards women looking to take on a trade over a profession, because a trade stays with them for life. When asked which trade women would most like to learn, becoming an electrician came out on top with 35% of the vote.

Europe to build better LED lights Thirty European companies and academic institutions have agreed to join forces to exploit the potential of LED-based lighting equipment that is not designed to simply replace conventional light sources. Enlight is a three-year programme partly funded by the European Commission and European member states. Its aims include a further 40% reduction in energy use by LED lighting systems. Partners in the project will develop smaller and more efficient lighting electronics, drivers and controls, which will let them build optimised LED modules, increasing efficiency and cutting system costs. Enlight will also devise intelligent systems that, in combination with advanced sensors and controls, will generate new applications, systems and market uptake. Companies involved in the Enlight Consortium include BJB, Enel, Helvar, Legrand, Osram and Philips.

sollysta decorative even more choice... The decorative range maintains all the installation features of the white moulded range but now with polished steel, brushed steel, polished brass and black nickel finishes. • Neutral loop terminal on wall switches • Shallow depth, especially on grid • In line terminals

For more information: telephone 0870 240 2400 email [email protected] or visit www.hager.co.uk/sollysta

Sep/Oct 2011

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ON THE MOVE

Prysmian restructures after Draka acquisition

Left, Christian Fischer and, right, John Faill

New appointments at Click Scolmore Leading wiring accessories and lighting products supplier, Click Scolmore, has announced the appointment of two new members to its sales force, as the business continues to grow and expand. Christian Fischer joins the company as area sales manager and will be responsible for developing new business in the North London region, as well as strengthening relationships with existing key accounts. His previous

experience includes time spent within sales at Legrand and Mode Lighting. John Faill is the new area sales manager for the East Anglia region. With more than ten years experience working within business development and sales, John will be responsible for the day to day management of the distributor network in the region. John will also be involved in developing new business in his region. His previous experience includes spells with City Electrical Factors, Luxx Light Technology and Gibbs and Dandy. Go to www. scolmore.com for more information.

Energy and telecom cables specialist Prysmian has restructured after it completed its acquisition of Draka in March. The combined Prysmian Group will promote both the Prysmian and the Draka commercial brands under the new Prysmian Group corporate umbrella. It will have a turnover of €7bn, 98 plants in 50 countries and 22,000 employees. Prysmian Group will have two business units: energy cables and systems, and telecom cables and systems. Products including building wires, underground power transmission and distribution cables, fibre optic and copper telecom cables, and special cables for industry will be managed by region and business. More globalised products such as submarine and automotive cables, umbilicals for the oil and gas sector, and special cables for elevators will be managed internationally. The group has also decided to retain and promote both the Prysmian and Draka commercial brands, both of which are well known in their respective markets.

Mark Taylor joins Cablofil team

Cable management specialist Cablofil has appointed Mark Taylor to the post of area sales manager – he will be responsible for customers across the northwest region. Taylor’s previous roles include spells with an electronic enclosures specialist and a manufacturer of cable harnesses, E-mech assemblies and box builds. He has a 12-year track record in a variety of technical sectors, and before that he spent six years in the Royal Air Force specialising in safety and survival equipment. At Cablofil, Taylor will develop customer relationships across his territory and ensure good quality service and technical support. He will also be responsible for generating new sales enquiries and developing the company’s customer base in sectors such as water and food.

Taylor has experience in Cablofil’s core sectors.

Xicato hires Foster for global sales role

Foster says Xicato is positioned for unprecedented growth.

Xicato has announced that Tom Foster has joined the company as vice-president of worldwide sales. Foster has more than 25 years’ experience in high technology sales with an emphasis on driving and growing the direct and indirect sales teams in new companies. Xicato is focused on bringing easy-tointegrate LED-based lighting solutions to the global lighting industry. At Xicato, he will develop and implement initiatives to increase revenue and market share throughout the Americas, Europe & Asia. Before joining Xicato, Foster was with Gigle Networks where he built and managed the worldwide sales team including a network of independent sales representatives and distributors. Previously, he was vice-president of sales at DisplayLink, and was also vicepresident of worldwide sales for Atheros Communications.

Golder takes GreenBrook commercial role Steve Golder has joined GreenBrook as commercial manager. He will be responsible for the company’s procurement, product management and stock management functions. Golder has held a similar role at a wiring accessories specialist for the past 11 years. He has a total of 25 years’ experience in the electrical industry, many of which were spent in the wholesale sector. He has worked for Denmans and BDC, where he progressed through the business to become a branch manager before becoming manager of the company’s distribution centre.

Golder is a 25-year industry veteran.

Enclosures from the smallest to the largest.

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CLIMATE CONTROL

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

SOFTWARE & SERVICES www.rittal.co.uk

Power systems connected equipment is exposed to the surge. Luckily, since voltage spikes and surges also take time to evolve, SPDs usually suppress the most damaging part in time. Lightning strike can cause very large overvoltages and peak currents (up to 400,000A). Some SPDs designed to protect three-phase systems against lightning strike are said to be able to pass currents of 320,000A/ phase (1,200,000A total). They should be energy co-ordinated so that lightning voltages are reduced to below the immunity of devices to be protected.

Surge arrestor types: Metal oxide varistor (MOV) – This limits voltages to about three to four times the normal circuit voltage by diverting the surge current elsewhere. However, MOVs can be degraded when subjected to several large transients - or a greater number of smaller transients. Connection in parallel (in matched sets) increases current capability and life expectancy.

Unplanned power interruptions are estimated to cost large organisations over £8000/hour. Smaller companies have been known to go bankrupt, so maintaining business continuity is critical. James Hunt looks at some of the main power continuity and protection issues in terms of surge protection and UPS.

H

ow long is it since you last experienced a mains power problem? Most of us can barely remember the last time, but over the last five years, there have been around 96 million unplanned power interruptions in England and Wales alone. It only takes a mains failure lasting as a little as a millisecond to cause serious consequences, yet in data centres, 99.999% uptime is now the target. Expensive and potentially dangerous outages can occur in industry, airports, computer centres and hospitals, so it is sensible to counter power brownouts, blackouts and other damaging problems when they occur. The first part of this article is about protecting electrical and electronic equipment from potentially damaging power surges using surge arrestor devices. The second part concerns Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), which protect against losing mains power.

Main: ABB’s Is-limiter can detect and limit a short-circuit current during the first current rise, i.e. in less than a millisecond.

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Surge protection Voltage spikes or surges are fast, short duration

01.07.11

Transient suppression diode – This limits voltage spikes to less than twice the normal operating voltage. It has a relatively low current capability - as long as current variations stay within range, life expectancy is very long, but if ratings are exceeded, failure may occur. Applications are with circuits exposed to smaller current spikes or more frequent spikes. electrical transients (overvoltages) in an electrical circuit. They are typically caused by lightning strikes, tripped circuit breakers, short circuits, lighting switching, AC motor operation, power and transitions in other equipment on the same power line, power utility malfunctions, storm-damaged powerlines and 100kHz - 1MHz electromagnetic pulses. The result can be cumulative equipment damage, failure, system resets, downtime and data losses. It can even result, especially from lightning strike, in catastrophic equipment failure, as well as longer-term business disruption, expensive equipment repair and replacement costs.

Surge prevention Surge arrestors can prevent such problems by regulating the voltage supplied to electric devices and/or systems by shorting voltages to earth above a safe threshold, or by blocking very fast - a transient voltage surge suppressor protects against spikes that occur in less than 0.000000001s. Surge protection devices are known collectively as SPDs. Parameters affecting SPD design and selection include the let-through voltage; a lower value provides greater protection but with a shorter surge arrestor life. Also important is the energy that can be absorbed without failure and response times, as there is always a slight delay - the longer the response time, the longer the



Gas discharge tube (GDT) – This conducts more current for its size than others, but life is finite and only a few large transients (or a greater number of smaller transients) are accepted. The trigger time is longer, so a higher voltage spike exists before significant current is conducted; extra protection may be needed. Applications are in telecommunications equipment and HF lines.

2) UPS Lighting, telephones, mobiles, laptops, chargers, PCs, tablets, peripherals and servers all depend absolutely upon a reliable electricity supply, as do industrial processes. The answer is to use a UPS - a mature technology that is still being improved to cope with ever more difficult power demands. UPS avoid unplanned power outages, save valuable data and provide time (autonomy) to allow safe shutdown of affected equipment. UPS represent big and growing business because of the increasing reliance on ever greater numbers of digital devices, as well as the demand for cleaner power that they require, and from the changing nature of mains power supplies themselves. For example, as older coal-fired power stations are phased-out, and as more renewable sources are installed, grids will change in ways that are not fully understood - but there will almost certainly be shortfalls. Coming smart grids will also have an effect.

UPS technologies UPS choice is largely determined by capacity, redundancy, scalability and total cost of ownership. It is important to seek early professional advice so that the right solution is chosen. There are several types of UPS: Offline – The simplest and least expensive static (purely electronic) UPS, this type provides limited surge and spike protection. It is the most energy efficient type because charger and inverter do not operate at all times, but an offline system can fail when most needed. Left: The compact offline 3S UPS by Eaton provides affordable and reliable protection against the most common power quality problems for office and home computers.

Selenium voltage suppressor – This type is similar to a MOV but is less effective with letthrough voltage, yet life is longer. The type can dissipate power continuously and retains its voltage let-through characteristics throughout the surge event. Applications are mainly in highenergy DC circuits. Quarter-wave coaxial surge arrestor – A tuned quarter-wavelength short-circuit stub allows a bandwidth of frequencies (narrow or wideband) to be passed, while presenting a short to any other signals, especially towards DC. The type provides possibly the most reliable protection for RF signals above 400MHz, so is suitable for RF signal transmission route applications. Combined lightning current / surge arrestor – This provides energy co-ordination between the various surge arrestor devices and the devices to be protected.

01.07.11

Online (double conversion) – This more expensive static type (typically 10kVA or above) is suitable for operation with a longer-term backup system (eg: a genset). The type is more reliable because the inverter runs continuously, and there is greater protection against surges, spikes, sags, brownouts, electrical noise and



23

Power systems

harmonics. However, it is relatively inefficient, especially at part load – though economy modes improve efficiency.

Schematic showing an online UPS in which the output is independent of input mains supply voltage and frequency variations.

A schematic of a line interactive UPS, in which the output is dependent on input supply frequency variations, but mains supply voltage variations are conditioned.

Line-interactive – This static type (also 10kVA or above) has better voltage stabilisation, power conditioning, energy efficiency, lower running costs and longer life than the offline version. However, less protection is provided against frequency changes and harmonics. Rotary – This (non-static) type’s spinning flywheel provides energy storage for shortterm ride-through if mains power is lost. Protection is also provided against spikes and sags. However, the flywheel typically provides only 10 – 20s of protection before it slows, so often, backup power is provided only while a diesel back-up genset starts and stabilises power. Sine wave quality, harmonics, fault clearing and high inrush load capability are all good. The type is relatively expensive and is usually used for critical applications above 400kVA. Diesel – This comprises diesel engine, generator, kinetic energy storage module and coupling choke to provide power conditioning and ride through energy for the UPS. The diesel engine provides longer-term backup. Availability and reliability are very high, as is stand-by operational efficiency.

A schematic of an offline UPS in which the output is dependent on mains input voltage and frequency variations. The inverter is connected in parallel and simply backs up utility power.

(Pictures by APC)

James Hunt is Editor of WireIN magazine, but has long been an editor and technical journalist working in the electrotechnical, power generation and sustainable energy sectors. Prior to becoming a technical journalist, which has involved employed and freelance work for many hard copy publications, as well as four web portals, he was involved

James Hunt

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in fundamental R&D into all forms and sizes of internal combustion engine.

01.07.11

Emergency gensets – These provide extended run-time after the UPS has done its job of protection, but before mains power is restored. Not UPS in themselves, they are important in the overall picture.

Specification In specifying a UPS, key factors include the business type, existing protection, equipment importance, load type, ambient conditions and future requirements. Static UPS applications are broad, while those for rotary UPS are more limited. Static UPS are typically used in homes, offices, large public buildings, and small to medium sized data centres. Rotaries are typically better suited for applications where there are many short power inrushes (eg: motor switching). Rotary UPS may also provide greater network security, especially for very large multiple megawatt data centers, and tend to be better for centralised architectures. Static UPS are better for distributed solutions. In conclusion, changing power supplies and demands, the increasing dependence on electricity, the changing nature of digital communications, plus climate change mean that the market for UPS is certain to grow, so there will be significant opportunities for switched on electrical contractors

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Sep/Oct 2011

25

SPECIAL FEATURE

out with the old in with the new The copper cores of a power cable.

Copper used in cables.

Common issues found with power cables Damage to armouring from poor handling of the cable during installation. Splits in low smoke cable sheathing due to handling in either hot or freezing conditions, or over-bending the cable. Some territories require fully coloured neutral and/or earth cores within a cable – BASEC will permit certified manufacturers to supply these. The overall diameter of most power cables is not specified, so getting them to fit glands and fittings can be an issue at times – advise use of manufacturer’s recommended accessories.

PVC cable use is in decline, as shown by the withdrawal of the BS 6346 cable standard and the development of a new standard, BS 8573. Dr Jeremy Hodge tells us more.

F

or some time there has been specifier demand for a low smoke halogen free nonarmoured power cable for use within buildings, where the armour protection afforded by traditional armoured cables is not fully justified. The new standard would be for a non-armoured XLPE insulated cable with a low smoke sheath, similar to PVC-sheathed cables made to a current standard, BS 7889.

A new standard for low smoke cable – BS8573 A new standard ‘BS 8573 Electric cables - thermosetting insulated, non-armoured cables with a voltage of 600/1 000V, for fixed installations, having low emissions of smoke and corrosive when affected by fire’, is currently in preparation with the British Standards Institution (BSI). The use of such cables is predicted to offer specifiers potential savings of weight, space and cost. These power cables could be used in places where, in case of fire damage, loss of human life and material assets must be prevented, but where mechanical protection is less important or provided by other means. The same cable type with a PVC sheath is currently on the market, to BS 7889. This is a non-armoured XLPE insulated PVC sheathed

26

01.07.11

cable commonly used within buildings for power distribution. This scheme will be extended to use the low smoke cable version once the standard is published. The BS 7889 standard will remain unchanged, although cables with PVC sheaths are becoming less commonly used in environments such as shopping centres, schools, hospitals and other public buildings where the preference is changing towards predominantly low smoke cables.

Other cable standards relevant to power cables BS 5467 (XLPE insulation, PVC sheath), BS 6724 (XLPE insulation, low smoke halogen free sheath), BS 7846 (XLPE insulation, low

PVC in decline Other PVC-containing standards are continuing to decline in use. In particular, standard BS 6346 – PVC insulated, PVC sheathed armoured cables for voltages of 600/1000 V and 1900/3300 V - has recently been withdrawn without a replacement being substituted. The modern alternative to PVC insulation is cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), although PVC sheathing remains widely used. The IEC standard IEC 60502-1 for low voltage power distribution cables is also available. This standard permits many options of construction, including armoured or unarmoured, PVC or low smoke materials, so buyers should be careful to specify exactly what cable they want when using this standard



Dr Jeremy Hodge

smoke halogen free sheath, fire resistant)

Dr Jeremy Hodge has been the

- mainly used buried in the ground, the

Chief Executive of the British

low smoke version is used where the cable comes up into a building. BS 7846 armoured power cables for fire resistance applications (e.g. supplies

Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) since 2005. Prior to joining BASEC, Jeremy was with the Building Research Establishment and the Loss Prevention Council working on a range of approvals

to fire safety systems). This standard

and technical projects including

was reviewed in 2009 and new, higher

innovative housing, security and fire

performance cable types added, for fire critical systems. BS 7870 series of standards – used by power distribution utilities, includes split concentric cable types.

protection, safety and environmental issues. With a PhD in chemical physics from Oxford University, Jeremy has previously been employed by BP, where he worked on oil exploration projects, and ICI Fibres, where he worked in the quality assurance test laboratory.

01.07.11



27

Energy saving controls you can rely on DANLERS energy saving products are ideal for the automatic control of lighting, heating, ventilation or air conditioning loads. All products are easy to install using the existing wiring, so there is no need for a specialist installer - saving time and money. Special versions of products are available, on request, for integrating into BMS applications or for low voltage installations. All DANLERS products are UK manufactured, come with a 5 year warranty and are ideal for: • OFFICES • SCHOOLS & COLLEGES • HOTELS • HOSPITALS • FACTORIES • CORRIDORS • TOILETS • STUDENT ACCOMMODATION • STAIRWELLS • MANY OTHER APPLICATIONS For information or a free catalogue please contact: DANLERS Limited, Vincients Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6NQ. Telephone: 01249 443377. Fax: 01249 443388. E-mail: [email protected]

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Worker in Edinburgh stair fall

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Bill Taylor, WireIN Health & Safety Expert

InterConstruct 2011 Virtual Conference Organised by The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the InterConstruct 2011 Virtual Conference, the premier learning event for health and safety professionals in the construction industry, will take place on 18-19 of October 2011. Staged in partnership with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), this conference will be completely online, allowing more opportunity to participate. This event will be a practical, action-focused forum for health and safety professionals within building and civil engineering construction and allied industries. The virtual conference will, claim the organisers, offer professional development and online networking opportunities, as well as the chance to contribute to informed debate on key construction safety issues. Once registered, delegates can view all virtual aspects of the conference over the two days and also for up to 60 days afterwards. This includes viewing presentations, visiting the virtual exhibition and having the opportunity to question the speakers. Topics to be covered include working at height, construction in the global marketplace, health issues in construction, prevention by design, global best practice and more. For more details, visit www.interconstruct2011.com

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE - www. hse.gov.uk) reports that a worker broke two ribs after falling off the edge of a temporary staircase after a colleague removed the guardrail. David Tourish, 38, from Moodisburn, was working for Walker Group (Scotland) Ltd on the site of a new build house in Ravelston Dykes, Edinburgh. A temporary staircase with half landings had been put in while the house was built, and there was a gap between one of the half landings and the wall, with a feature window behind it. For most of the build, this gap had been protected by a guardrail, but two days before the accident, this had been removed to gain access and then not replaced. Mr Tourish fell through the gap nearly three metres. In hospital, he was diagnosed with bruised kidneys and two fractured ribs. As a result, he was off work for three months while his injuries healed. He also needed physiotherapy after he went back to work. An HSE investigation found that an

Workplace well-being A Workplace Well-being tool forms part of ‘Health, Work and Well-being’ - a governmentled initiative to improve the health and well-being of working age people. It replaces the existing Business Health Check tool and provides a more user-friendly, online resource. The tool has been designed specifically to help employers improve the health and well being of people in their organisation. Through its use, employers – such as electrical contracting and wholesaling companies - can calculate the cost of employee ill-health, staff turnover and workplace injuries to their business. They can also compare their results against benchmarks in other similar organisations, get useful information on ways to improve through ideas and case studies, and have the opportunity to build bespoke business cases for their own health and well-being initiatives. The Workplace Well-being tool is free of charge and can be accessed at www.businesslink.gov.uk/wwt.

Workplace fatalities on the rise The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says that it is ‘disappointed’ that worker fatalities increased last year. After a record low in the number of people killed at work, provisional figures from the HSE have shown a rise of 24 fatalities, from 147 in 2009/10 to 171 in 2010/11. Of special concern are the construction and agricultural industries, which alone account for nearly half the total fatalities (84) in the past year. The waste industry has also seen an increase in fatalities, from four in 2009/10 to 10 in 2010/11. Although the trend over the past few years indicates worker fatalities are generally decreasing, the most recent figures illustrate that occupational safety cannot be seen as a ‘job done’, says RoSPA. Roger Bibbings, RoSPA’s occupational safety adviser, commented: “The rise in the number of fatalities is disappointing and highlights the fact that if improvements in performance are to be sustained, continuing efforts in health and safety are required”. The provisional fatality figures are available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm

28

Sep/Oct 2011

01.07.11

adequate risk assessment had not been made; that the site manager was aware the guardrail had been removed and should have known there was a risk to his team, and that the work was not carried out in a safe manner. HSE inspector Alastair Brown commented: “This was a serious incident that could have been very much worse. It was also entirely avoidable. This incident highlights the risk posed by unplanned work at height, particularly on small domestic sites when the right equipment needs to be chosen to address risks posed by design features like staircases.” This is the sort of accident that could easily befall electrical installers, who should be just as aware of the risks of falling from height as other building tradespeople. At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the company involved, Walker Group (Scotland) Ltd., pleaded guilty to breaking Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £8,000.

Machinery safety clinic at HSL The Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL www.hsl.gov.uk) offers appointments at a Machinery Safety Clinic for clients wishing to discuss specific machinery safety issues with an expert. Following an initial email or telephone enquiry to HSL, a client can book a fixed price consultation that covers 30 minutes of preparation work and an hour’s face-toface discussion. HSL experts have a good working knowledge and understanding of the subject gained through years of experience of advising on machinery safety, as well as designing machinery. Machinery safety is concerned with achieving the appropriate safety-related performance of machinery – of any complexity. Achieving this performance can help ensure that machinery is cost-effective, compliant with regulations, competitive and most importantly, does not expose users to unacceptable levels of risk. The clinic is based at HSL’s Buxton, Derbyshire site, and is primarily aimed at delegates attending one of the organisation’s machinery safety training courses. While HSL’s courses provide a good general perspective of the subject, the clinic can help answer more specific questions. In addition, a consultant can travel to the client’s site subject to additional travel costs. The cost of a consultation is £195. Call 01298 218806 or email [email protected]



29


LV circuit protection

gains intelligence

Low-voltage (LV) circuit protection devices are critical for the safety of people and equipment, but significant design and performance improvements in recent years have been relatively few. One clear trend, though, has been towards adding intelligence and connectivity to such devices, as James Hunt reports.

C

ircuit protection devices protect cables and other electrical equipment from damage through overvoltage or other faults. They also reduce the danger of fire occurring through an electrical fault and help to protect people too. Fuses still have significant advantages over circuit breakers for some applications, and are relatively low cost and thoroughly reliable. However, this article examines the latest technological developments, so we concentrate here upon circuit breakers. There are three basic types of circuit breaker for domestic, commercial and light industrial use - Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs), Moulded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) and Residual Current Devices (RCDs). Circuit breakers are designed to automatically disconnect on over-current, using either electromagnetic or thermomagnetic techniques, or sometimes both. Circuit breakers are re-settable and are normally quite easy to troubleshoot.

Circuit breaker characteristics RCDs – Many people are badly injured or die every year through electric shock. RCDs help prevent this by detecting current flowing to earth. Earth currents are low, so RCDs are very sensitive, most reacting to 30mA earth currents and tripping within milliseconds. The time-delayed type takes longer and is suitable for other applications where such characteristics are required. RCDs can’t protect against liveneutral shock or overloads, so may be used in conjunction with MCBs or fuses. However, the combined RCD/MCB (RCBO) gives earth leakage and overcurrent protection in one compact unit. Electrium’s Wylex NHX range of 6kA devices – launched last year - includes updated MCBs and matching RCBOs. The range includes B and C curve MCBs, plus B and C curve singlemodule 30mA RCBOs with ratings from 6 - 50A. All incorporate the latest Siemens breaker technologies.

The Wylex NHX range of 6kA devices from Electrium includes updated MCBs and matching RCBOs.

30

01.07.11


capacities of 18, 25, 40, 50, 65, and 70kA.Installation is fast using simple-tofit auxiliaries, and there is a choice of terminals, connections and spreaders. Certain devices feature electronic settings for fault current level and time tripping. A second button selects the protection type, and all units comply with IEC 60947-2.


Zone discrimination

Above: Hager’s MCCB range is rated from 16 - 1600A in six frame sizes, with up to 70kA breaking capacities.

MCBs – These, usually with thermalmagnetic operation, are typically rated to 100A. Small over currents that last only a short time will not disconnect; bigger or longer lasting overloads will disconnect. Short-circuit breaking capacities used to be usually around 10kA, but one trend noticeable immediately is that MCB ratings are now being considerably raised. ABB, for example, provides 15, 26, 36 and 50kA examples. However, for higher ratings, MCCBs are normally be used. MCCBs – These, with thermal or thermalmagnetic operation, are available up to around 1000A and the trip current may be adjustable in larger ratings. MCCBs can interrupt the current immediately (‘instantaneous trip’) with almost no delay, or – alternatively - after a short time to suit the application. MCCBs must be chosen carefully so that the instantaneous part does not trip with starting current, which would be at least a nuisance. Standard MCCBs can take a little time to interrupt current, so current-limiting devices may be better for high fault current applications. However, some more costly MCCBs can interrupt high currents much faster to protect electrical equipment. Depending upon the voltage, MCCB ratings have also risen and are now up to 200kA. To take an example, Hager’s MCCB h3 range is rated from 16 - 1600A in six frame sizes - x160, x250, h250, h630, h1000, h1600, with breaking

01.07.11

Market evolution and changes in legislation or standards affect circuit protection device design, as with nearly all electrotechnical devices and products. Circuit breakers are no different. It turns out that that there haven’t been any big step changes, but there has been constant evolution. Zone discrimination techniques – or zone selectivity (ZSI) - are being increasingly applied to MCCBs. Discrimination is the ability of circuit protective devices to operate selectively. If all devices work at the same threshold current, they may trip simultaneously upon short circuit. Discrimination helps prevent this inconvenient and potentially expensive problem. ZSI techniques help achieve a more accurate and increased discrimination range. For MCCB to MCCB selectivity, ABB uses its Early Fault Detection and Prevention (EFDP) algorithm, a technique that can detect any short-circuit at onset and allows the selectivity limit between

two MCCBs to be increased. The advantages are a possible MCCB size reduction, reduced trip times and lower thermal/dynamic stresses. In addition, many hierarchical levels are possible between same size breakers. These are significant advantages, but installation cost and complexity is greater, and extra wiring and components are needed. ABB says that the EFDP zone selectivity function provided by its PR223EF electronic protection trip unit provides ‘a more complete range of discrimination and coordination possibilities. This contributes greatly to achieving power continuity in a supply network’.

Greater intelligence One noticeable trend has been increasing use of intelligence in circuit protection devices, provided by better and lower cost microprocessors to add functionality. A good example is the incorporation of smart energy meters into devices. Another is modern communication techniques that monitor circuit protection devices, such as Eaton’s Moeller brand, whose NZM-XSWD-704 SmartWire-DT interface for NZM circuit breakers allows interrogation of switch currents and state, load warnings and tripping causes. Switching can be initiated remotely. The same technique is also applied to the company’s electronic motor protection breakers, providing a range of networked motor starters for control panels.

Eaton’s new SmartWire-DT module for the company’s PKE motor protective circuit breakers.



31


New LED Products From

Above: Schneider Electric’s Domae and Qwikline II consumer units offer on-site flexibility at a very affordable price, and help with 17th Edition compliance. Qwikline II also features an innovative plug-on MCB/RCBO fixing system.

James Hunt James Hunt is Editor of WireIN magazine, but has long been an editor and technical journalist working in the electrotechnical, power generation and sustainable energy sectors. Prior to becoming a technical journalist, which has involved employed and freelance work for many hard copy publications, as well as four web portals, he was involved in fundamental R&D into all forms and sizes of internal combustion engine.

32

01.07.11


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small office, there will be many PCs, This trend towards printers and other equipment likely greater intelligence will to have a small earth leakage, which certainly continue, as will may lead to nuisance tripping. For a drive towards industrial this reason, there is a need for more networking connectivity circuits supplying socket outlets to avoid for some circuit breakers nuisance tripping, and the increased use (and many other LV of RCDs and/or RCBOs also means that devices). This is, in part designers and installers should consider because of advantages discrimination between RCDs throughout such as those mentioned, the system. but also because it will Wiring accessories containing circuit make new generations of protection devices are also being devices much easier to introduced to help comply with 17th integrate into the coming smart grids, in which Edition requirements. Legrand’s Electrak interconnectivity and realbrand Rotasoc desk module system time data sharing will be is a good example. This under-desk crucial aspects. unit with 360-degree rotatable sockets In another example, allows rapid configuration or workstation Schneider Electric’s relocation. The RCD and RCBO Micrologic control units protection modules quickly lock into for Compact NS and place, providing immediate 17th Edition Masterpact NT MCCBs compliance, says Legrand. allow information storage and recording of For new applications measurement, monitoring Although no completely new circuit and energy quality events. protection device technologies are This helps provide greater evident, there are new models for productivity and better evolving markets, such as solar PV and energy distribution wind turbines. These require DC circuit management. breakers, such as ABB’s S800 PV series Though now three years MCBs and disconnectors for networks old, and with the first amendments up to 1200V DC (4-pole), and Eaton’s DC having just been published, the string circuit breakers from 12 - 63A that introduction of BS7671:2008 (17th Edition protect PV modules from fault currents. This is a fast growing sector, which Wiring Regulations) had a significant will benefit switched on electrical effect on circuit breaker installation right contractors and installers who take from the outset. The main change was the trouble to train with an approved significantly greater use of RCDs and training organisation and who can then RCBOs. go on to address this highly important Under Rule 411.3.3, all 13A socketand potentially very lucrative new outlets, plus those up to 20A, for market sector use by ‘ordinary persons’, must be protected by a 30mA RCD. In bathrooms, RCD protection is also required on all circuits (Rule 710.411.3.3.), including lighting. The only exceptions are for socket outlets under the supervision of ‘skilled’ or ‘instructed persons’. Also, the latest consumer units are generally designed to have more ‘ways’ to accommodate greater RCD use. The choices are, by now, well known for domestic installations, but for commercial properties there is more to Immediate 17th Edition compliance - the Electrak brand consider. Again RCD protection Rotasoc desk module system from Legrand features RCD for socket outlets is almost and RCBO protection modules that quickly lock into place. certainly needed. Even in a

Part L

Contour LED Downlights

ELECTRIC AL ACCESSORIES

Sep/Oct 2011

33

SPECIAL FEATURE Right: A uniform ducting profile is important for optimum air flow and excellent fit between the component parts is necessary to reduce air leakage.

Left: Heat recovery units are available that are small enough to fit in a kitchen cupboard or pass through a loft hatch for loft installation.

Below: Only with high quality ducting can a heat recovery system operate efficiently.

Hot property

heat recovery ventilation

Heat recovery technology has been around for a long time, but hasn’t made a significant dent in the UK domestic market. However, with initiatives such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for the energy rating of dwellings, heat recovery has become a hot topic. Jon Hill tells us more.

M

ore developers than ever before are now looking to heat recovery as a costeffective means of meeting their environmental responsibilities. Home owners are also looking at long term strategies for reducing their fuel bills and carbon footprint; whether it is from power generation from wind or the sun, or technologies such as heat recovery to reduce the level of energy required in the first place. Heat recovery in the domestic field represents a business opportunity for both specifiers and installers willing to embrace the technology. Specifiers and installers need a good understanding of the concept of heat recovery, so that the correct technology is used and installed properly. However, this is not as complex as it may seem - there are tools in the market place to help you.

Why recover heat? Most professionals in the mechanical ventilation industry will understand the basic concept of heat recovery: it’s the collection and re-use of heat lost from a process. In a domestic setting this will normally be from a wet room.

34

01.07.11

It might interest you to know that a bathroom full of moist air can contain over 600W of heat energy and, according to building regulations, should be exhausted twice each hour. That represents 1.2kWh of heat wasted (enough for 30 lightbulbs or a fan heater!). There are different ways to achieve heat recovery, but the two most cost-effective and practical are mechanical extract ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and exhaust air heat pumps (EAHP). MVHR systems efficiently preheat fresh air drawn into the building with waste stale air, using a heat exchanger – more than 90% of waste heat can be recovered by this means. This clean warm air is then distributed around the home. EAHP systems use refrigeration technology to exchange heat from waste air into low temperature heating systems such as underfloor heating and domestic hot water. The obvious benefit to the homeowner of such technologies is the reduced need for heat and lower fuel bills. Heat recovery systems can also improve quality of life within the home by delivering fresh, oxygenated, pre-warmed and filtered air to living and sleeping areas and



reducing condensation. For the housebuilder, heat recovery puts them one step further towards a carbon neutral home and helps meet the Code for Sustainable Homes. Heat recovery has already made headway into the social housing sector, but is just as suitable for private housing stock and could even be used as a sales and marketing tool for the green homebuyer.

Thoughts on existing properties The technology is clearly ideal for new build, but some manufacturer’s systems can be retrofitted to existing property without major disruption. Heat recovery units are available that are small enough to fit in a kitchen cupboard or pass through a loft hatch for loft installation, and easy to install ductwork is available in different profiles to fit in ceiling voids or run discreetly down walls through cupboards. However, the property will need to be well insulated with drafts kept to a minimum if the system is to run efficiently. Pipework plays a vital role in the heat recovery system. A uniform ducting profile is important

01.07.11

for optimum air flow and excellent fit between the component parts is necessary to reduce air leakage. Only with high quality ducting can a heat recovery system operate efficiently. Planning a heat recovery system including all the correct ducting is where a number of installers come unstuck. Many manufacturers offer a CAD drawing service to meet this need, and online planning tools that allow installers to select the best SAP Q appliance and associated ductwork are now available. Training is also offered by more established manufacturers as an added value service.

Jon Hill Jon Hill is has been technical manager of Polypipe Ventilation, a manufacturer of marketing leading, energy saving domestic and light commercial ventilation systems, for the last 13 years. Jon has enjoyed a 37-year career in engineering, 23 of which have been in domestic

Advanced, but not complex

ventilation. He is a well-known

The technology behind modern heat recovery systems is advanced, but specifying and installing it doesn’t have to be complex. Reducing energy loss and recycling energy generated in the home environment are opportunities that are here to stay. Specifiers and installers who are able to adopt technologies that drive towards these aims are likely to be the ones whose businesses will have a healthy outlook for the coming years

figure in the industry, with a wealth of both technical knowledge and hands on installation experience. Most recently his expertise has been drawn upon in writing the first industry-recognised independent accredited training programme for ventilation installers. Jon is a member of RVA, TEHVA, ADCAS and BSI technical committees.



35

DIARY ECS health and safety course 29 September - Aberdeen

SPECIAL FEATURE 40/100 Gb Ethernet cabling - a perfect storm?

12 October - Edinburgh

For dates & venues, call 0113 232 3721

4 October – Ballymena

27 October - Hamilton

Multimode optical fibre cabling is faced with unparalleled challenges to support 40/100 Gb Ethernet. These present major difficulties in cabling design, installation and operation. Yet the more obvious move to dispense with multimode and opt for the comparatively simple singlemode solution is rejected by those highlighting the additional cost of the transmission equipment. Data centre (and backbone) cabling designers are faced with a complex decision-making balancing of capital outlay, operational expenditure, operational reliability and maintainability while for installers the primary issues focus on testing, contamination management and possible contractual disputes. Two full-day seminars, entitled ‘40/100 Gb Ethernet cabling - a perfect storm - the challenges faced by designers, installers and users’ aims to provide a clear explanation of the key issues.

The Electrical Training Trust in Northern Ireland (ETT) is holding a City&Guilds 17th Edition full course. This three-day course is aimed at practising electricians and electrical contractors and is intended to ensure that they are conversant with the format, content and application of BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition). It is expected that candidates will have basic knowledge of electrical science.

A half-day assessed course (No. 102) by SELECT is intended to update electrotechnical personnel in electrical and general construction industry health & safety standards in line with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) skill card requirements. Participants who successfully complete the course assessment will be awarded a certificate, which can be used to update their current ECS card, to include ECS Assessed hologram. Fees are £65 for SELECT members and £80 for non-members.

www.select.org.uk

Metallic conduit installation (on-site module) For dates & venues, call 01698 723 316. FI Electrical Training of Blantyre is holding an on-site training module on metallic conduit installation, which provides trainees with the skills to successfully install conduit systems.

Tel: +44 113 232 3721 mob: +44 786 011 0563

www.fielectrical.com

Course on 17th Edition

City&Guilds 17th Edition update course

6 October – Edinburgh

28th September – Ballymena

11 October – Inverness

The Electrical Training Trust in Northern Ireland (ETT) is holding a City & Guilds 17th Edition update course. The 17th Edition update qualification aims to update candidates on the main changes and alterations from the 16 th Edition. This qualification is primarily aimed at practising electricians with a working knowledge of the 16th Edition of the BS 7671 and who have already achieved a qualification addressing BS 7671. Certified evidence of achievements must be submitted to ETT prior to booking the course.

26 October - Glasgow SELECT is holding a series of courses entitled ‘Requirements for Electrical Installations BS 7671: 2008 (IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition)’. This one-day course (No. 218) is recommended to electrical installation practitioners and others responsible for ensuring that electrical installations are installed and commissioned in accordance with current requirements. Successful completion of this course is accepted by the SJIB for Grade (ECS) card renewal.

www.select.org.uk

Introduction to electrical building services

www.ett-ni.org

Sustainability seminar series is new

For dates & venues, call 01698 723 316

For dates, call 0141 272 3331

Without an understanding of the basics of electricity, it can be impossible for the non-electrically minded to comprehend the discussions and requirements surrounding the subject. This training course covers the basics principles of electricity, and also the types of electrical systems that are typically found in buildings. To ensure a proper understanding of the basic algorithms used in electrical engineering, delegates will undertake some simple example calculations.

An innovative series of seminars have been launched that explore the sustainability agenda across the housing and construction sectors. Entitled the ‘Sustainability Series’ seminars, these are centred on the impact and benefits arising from the wider sustainability agenda and new legislation in Scotland. For more information on these day-long seminars and workshops, or to book a place, call Christina Balmer on

www.fielelectrical.com

36

City & Guilds 17th Edition full course

0141 272 3331 email [email protected]

01.07.11

www.ett-ni.org

Hazardous area workshop For dates and venues, contact ETCI The Electro-Technical Council of Ireland Limited (ETCI - www.etci.ie) is holding a training course and workshop on Hazardous Area Classification. This course is run biennially by ETCI in Dublin & Cork. The objective is to introduce the subject of area classification, to explain the principles and how an assessment is made. Those who should attend include process, control and electrical, mechanical engineers and designers involved in the design, operation or maintenance of plants where flammable materials are used in the process.

www.etci.ie

Building thermography seminar is free For dates & venues, BSRIA, Bracknell A free BSRIA morning seminar in conjunction with FLIR Systems gives an overview of thermography and how it can be used in building applications. It is aimed at anybody who has a need for an overview of the topic or anyone who wishes to learn more of this measurement technique. Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss thermal imaging camera types, software, as well as hands-on sessions to experiment with the equipment. There is no course currently scheduled, so contact the training manager to register your interest for the next course.

www.bsria.co.uk

Emergency lighting & fire alarms course For dates, contact ETT The Electrical Training Trust in Northern Ireland (ETT) is holding a course on emergency lighting and fire alarms. This intensive one-day course has been designed to provide candidates with the knowledge and information necessary to work BS 5839-1. It has been designed for owners, directors, managers, engineers and others who require an introduction to fire detection and alarm systems to BS5839-1.

www.ett-ni.org



The

future of

energy efficient lighting Energy efficient lighting is fast becoming t h e n o r m . T h e r e fo r e t h e o n u s i s o n contractors and electricians to have the product knowledge to provide customers with modern equipment that will meet Government legislation and help keep their energy usage and costs down while reducing carbon emissions. Here, Chris Tranter from Newey & Eyre talks through the latest lighting innovation – daylight harvesting:

R

epresenting the most significant development in lighting innovation for this generation, the latest range of LEDs combine the brightness of conventional lighting with a small footprint, long life (lasting anywhere up to 30 years) and high efficiency, consuming an average 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs. However, with the vast number of manufacturers and suppliers entering this relatively new market, great care must be taken when choosing a product to ensure that legislation (such as Part L) is met.

Controls for daylight What should not be overlooked, though, is the difference that effective use of daylight and lighting controls alongside the right lamps can make to energy consumption, leading to potential savings of up to 75% in some situations. Control devices can make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption as they ensure that appliances are only in use as and when required. These can be installed in new build and refurbishment projects, for both domestic and commercial applications. Daylight harvesting is also becoming an

01.07.11

increasingly popular technique and by using T5 batten or recessed modular luminaires with intelligent controls, it is possible to maintain lighting quality while also saving energy. Quite simply, detectors are placed in a room and as natural daylight brightens, the artificial lighting level will reduce via the intelligent control. Selection and use of these methods also go a long way to meeting building regulations. The use of dimmer switches and occupancy control can also have a major impact on energy savings. These units are easy to install or retrofit and enable the user to maximise lighting control. However, it is vitally important to select the correct product for the right application to maximise results. Time delay switches are invaluable for use in passageways, corridors or any other area that is not in continuous use. Occupancy control offers a more precise and targeted level of control for meeting Part L.

Main: How amazing good lighting looks in this ballroom – but it can be designed to save large amounts of energy too. Inset: What should not be overlooked is the difference that effective use of daylight and lighting controls alongside the right lamps can make to energy consumption - potential savings can be as high as 75%.

The right specification is crucial There is no doubt about it, the world is becoming greener. Therefore as lighting technology is changing and improving at an incredibly fast pace, there is no place for wasted energy in buildings. As such, when specifying lighting equipment it is crucial to consider a product’s green credentials in order to lower running costs and in turn, maximise profitability. By working with product manufacturers and wholesalers, those specifying can benefit from the expertise and knowledge available and are, therefore, able to make recommendations to clients, with the view to saving money and lowering running costs in the long term

Chris Tranter Chris Tranter is a category manager for Newey & Eyre with responsibility for lighting and lamps. He recently enjoyed his tenth anniversary of working in the Newey & Eyre category management team, during which time he has been involved in all product divisions and gained an in-depth and expansive knowledge of the electrical sector. Chris holds a BA Combined Honours degree from Derby University.



37


For Fibox, which specialises in the manufacture of thermoplastic and aluminium enclosures, establishing a successful distribution strategy not only requires a deep analysis of its clients’ business needs, but also a strong tactical approach to selecting the right distribution partners.

T

he enclosure products concerned are used for protecting electrical and electronic components operating in hostile environments. It was crucial to choose the right calibre of distributor; those that are experts in the sector and which have an established in-depth industrial knowledge across a variety of target industries. Both Glasgow-based Scattergood & Johnson, and Demesne Electrical Sales, which is in Belfast and Cookstown, Northern Ireland, are, says Fibox, vibrant, dynamic and professional companies able to achieve qualitative and quantitative success in the distribution of enclosure products throughout Scotland and Ireland. Scattergood & Johnson is a specialist distributor to the automation, safety system

and other sectors, while Demesne Electrical Sales is said to be Ireland’s leading Irish owned independent electrical supplier, importer and distributor of industrial and electrical components. All of the distribution partners, including these two, are chosen to add value by introducing their own industrial specialisation. They also offer local marketing knowledge and provide crucial logistic support, which helps address end-user needs by offering effective delivery and pre- and post-purchase customer service, as well as facilitating other services - prototyping, customisation and product development.

Enclosure choice Size is normally the first criterion when looking for the right enclosure for a specific application. However, choosing the right material is essential. Apart from aluminium, the plastic materials available include polycarbonate, ABS and GRP. These all have their own benefits in terms of impact resistance, transparency, ease of machining, IP rating, finish, operating temperature range, self-extinguishing properties, fire resistance, rigidity, resistance to chemical attack, weight, UV resistance,

insulating properties, harsh environments, EMC shielding and maintenance.

Services Services offered include enclosure customisation and manufacture using advanced plastic machining CNC equipment programmed to create holes, cutouts and recesses. Enclosures can be painted as required, with the nomenclature silk-screened. Accessories can be installed to offer a complete mechanical-assembly. Where modifications to a standard enclosure are required, design tools are provided, as are CAD drawing files of standard enclosures for use with all major computer-design programs. Technical assistance is available. EMC shielding of plastic enclosures is met with special conductive paint sprayed on the interior of the enclosure. Silverfilled elastomeric gaskets can also be provided. Flexible production techniques provide everything from single appliances to complete system deliveries, with large-volume productdesign services being offered. Special enclosures are divided into surface treatment, custom colour moulding and customised moulding. Classifications include IP, IK, Nema and UL

Enclosures

A view of an open ALN aluminium enclosure. Models in the range can be EMC shielded (fitted with a conductive gasket) and both IP66/67 and IP68 versions are available.

Fibox’s ALN range of aluminium enclosures feature perpendicular walls and more internal mounting pods for ease of component installation, along with an upgraded cover which offers greater gasket protection.

the importance of choosing the right distributor 38

01.07.11



01.07.11



39


Enclosure materials

Well designed control systems are often let down by the enclosure material or surface finish used, which can affect design life, maintenance and operational down time.

Keeping electrical

equipment safe Often, the last thing to be considered when designing electrical systems is the system enclosure and its ancillaries. This is a very common problem, as design is often focused on functionality and performance within the specification outlined by the end user. Philip Glenister shows how choosing the right enclosure helps keep valuable electrical equipment safe:

C

hoosing the right system enclosure and associated equipment for the application can have a huge impact on the overall performance, safety and efficiency of the system’s operation. This can significantly prolong the equipment’s life, save energy, utility costs and unscheduled downtime. The key to a successful design is the environment in which the system will operate and the best internal environment required by the equipment.

Design philosophy System integrators and engineers today are thinking more about the enclosure and

40

01.07.11

In many instances, well designed control systems are let down by the selection of the enclosure material or surface finish, which can effect design life, maintenance and operational down time due to corrosion, material failure or difficulties in cleaning surfaces. For the more corrosive environment such as outdoor, coastal, chemical and heavy pollution, stainless steel should be used or when clean environments are paramount, such as the manufacture of food and beverage, hospitals or pharmaceuticals. Stainless steel can also be powder coated and it exhibits exceptional corrosion resistance, whether in its raw state or powder coated, but users should be aware that if the surface is contaminated with carbon steel then the enclosure can show signs of surface corrosion. For a more cost effective outdoor solution than stainless steel, sheet aluminium can be used. This also provides a high degree of corrosion protection and is powder coated to provide a tough finish to the enclosure surface. It can also be coated with an anti graffiti finish, making it easy to remove paints and adhesives residues from posters. Sheet aluminium also provides the added advantage of being lightweight, making it easier to install without the use of expensive lifting equipment into the less accessible places. Non-metallic enclosures, such as plastics and GRP impregnated plastics, are more suited to the smaller range of electrical enclosures. This

approaches to thermal management in the design process. This used to be and often still is, something of an afterthought, resulting in a poor and ineffective system cooling solution which is expensive, costly, unreliable (due to premature equipment failure) and difficult to maintain. Prevention should be the main concern in any successful design. Much of today’s selection criteria for an optimal enclosure solution are based on thermal performance. Thermal performance, more than any other single element of the design, will form the base line for the design of any enclosure. Size, external ambient and internal heat load can each have an impact on the system cooling design (depending of course on the application). As equipment becomes smaller and requires dissipation of greater heat loads, more design effort should be dedicated to optimising the thermal efficiency of the system. Software calculation programmes for the climate control of enclosures have been developed to eliminate the laborious calculation of the climate control requirements.



type of enclosure provides a robust mechanical strength and electrical insulation properties. It also provides an extremely high degree of corrosion protection but can discolour under certain light conditions – but without harming the material properties of the enclosure.

Easy to maintain Part of a well designed system considers the access for maintenance and repairs. It’s an important benefit to the end user that down time for maintenance is kept to a minimum. With a good system design, maintenance-critical components and procedures are integrated into the overall system and the type of enclosure and accessories selected play a major part in the process. Selecting something as simple as a door stay to hold the door open at a set angle can make it easier for the operative to change the fan or filter, as well as for the operator working on a solid object within a designated area around the enclosure and not in front of a live open system. In some instances access may be restricted to parts of the system design to all but key maintenance engineers while allowing the day to day operations to be carried out by the machine operative. This can be done in a number of ways. One of the most common is by changing the lock insert used within the standard lock mechanism fitted to the enclosures that may make up the complete system suit. This could be something as simple as changing the key shape from a square to a triangle

Philip Glenister Philip Glenister has over 20 years experience within the enclosure industry. He started out as a mechanical design engineer, acting as design lead for outdoor enclosures for 2g and 3g mobile telecommunications networks. Philip migrated into engineering management with a new company where he was in charge of a small team of engineers developing Thermal performance forms the base for design of any enclosure. Size, external ambient and internal heat load each have an impact.

lighting and electronic solutions for the vehicle safety sector. He then joined Rittal and is now product manager for industrial and outdoor enclosures.

01.07.11



41

NEW TECH

Kidde adds remote wireless switch Kidde Fyrnetics has launched a new Remote Test & Hush (RTH) switch accessory for its Slick range of smoke alarms for housing. The RTH switch communicates wirelessly with a Slick alarm that might otherwise be difficult to access – this is useful for elderly or disabled people, or for alarms fitted on high ceilings. The unit is self-contained with an integral lithium battery and is designed to operate reliably for 10 years.

Eaton’s CU helps achieve sustainability rating Eaton has added a wireless energymonitoring transmitter and sensor to its Memera range of consumer units, offering developers the means to achieve the property’s sustainability rating under the Code for Sustainable Homes. Use of these consumer units can result in a lifetime saving of one tonne of CO2, which is worth valuable points under Category 1 of the Code.

www.eaton.com

Expanded enclosure range from Fibox Fibox has further developed its ALN range of aluminium enclosures. ALN enclosures provide high-impact resistance and can be used in wide variety of operating temperatures. They feature perpendicular walls for ease of installation and an upgraded cover design. The range also includes a higher-grade polyurethane gasket for better sealing, irrespective of repetitive lid removal. The range is available to OEMs either painted or unpainted.

M-Web +

www.smoke-alarms.co.uk

www.fibox.co.uk

Easy to install decorative range from Hager

Rittal 19” enclosures for the great outdoors

= reliability, flexibility and cost saving

M-Web + is P4’s new Ethernet interface with

P4’s M-Web systems have been chosen to

integrated web server and supervision unit that

protect the occupants of many education,

continuously scans and monitors the status of

healthcare, local government, transport and

emergency lighting in a building or estate, for

leisure premises throughout the UK.

instant status update via web navigator software. Ideal for smaller and medium sized buildings or estates, it can be directly connected to up to 125 P4 emergency lighting luminaires. By adding collector boxes the network can be expanded to monitor up to 12,500 luminaires. A reliable and flexible solution for remote maintenance.

Full details of these and other exclusive P4 products can be found on our website www.p4fastel.co.uk or you can email us at [email protected] or call us on

01328 850555

P4 L im i t e d 1 W y m a ns Way, Fa ke nh am I ndustrial Estate, Fakenham, Nor folk NR21 8NT

Rittal’s standard range of outdoor enclosures, based on the TS 8, have a whole range of accessories available, including a full range of 19” components suitable for outdoors use. Customers can select from a large range of 19” angles, fitted to a range of static or adjustable shelves, plus a host of cable management options that will meet most requirements, says Rittal.

Tratos has launched a range of ‘Fibre to the home’ (FTTH) optical cables designed for use inside buildings. Optimised for brownfield sites, the cables run vertically from top to bottom of the building and can be branched off to the end user. Reduced connectivity points reduce installation time and minimise disruption for residents. The cables can be easily pulled through existing ducts and installed in small conduits and building floor access points.

Hager claims that its new Sollysta decorative wiring accessories range is easier to fit and better protected against damage than competitive products. Installation features include a shallow back projection, the UK’s first neutral loop terminal in wall switches, cable lead ins, captive terminal screws, backed out terminal screws, wire end stops, in-line terminals and a three pin shutter mechanism on the sockets for safety.

www.hager.co.uk

‘Fibre to the home’ courtesy of Tratos

www.rittal.co.uk

www.tratos.co.uk Sep/Oct 2011

43

NEW TECH

Controllable, efficient HID lighting by Venture

Venture Lighting’s new V5 electronic HID lighting system provides high efficiency lighting for high and low bay applications. It consists of metal halide lamps, electronic control gear, and a reflector. Lamp life is 30,000 hours with a maintained lumen output of 85%. The V5 is not affected by ambient temperatures and can be dimmed within minutes of being switched on. The V5 system is compatible with leading photocells and presence/absence detectors.

www.venturelightingeurope.com

Martindale Electric shines a light on safety The Drummond MTL10 and MTL20 test lamps provide a voltage indicator between 50V and 500V AC/DC, and offer circuit fault detection. The lamps feature a finger shield and insulated probe tip, and are heat/oil resistant. The test lamps can be rotated through 90, 180 and 270 degrees, and they comply with GS38, BS EN 61243-3 and BS EN 61010 standards. There is a two-year warranty.

Click Scolmore’s ‘fast-fit’ cable clamps for quick fitting

Aico CO alarm with tamper-proof battery Aico has launched a carbon monoxide alarm with a sealed-in lithium battery. The alarm is tamper-proof and can be installed by heating and ventilation installers, plumbers and builders - not just electricians. The new model uses a pre-calibrated and tested CO sensor. The alarm is compact (measuring just 120mm x 105mm x 45mm), and can be fixed to the wall or ceiling using a simple twist-on mounting base.

www.martindale-electric.co.uk

www.aico.co.uk

Sangamo controller cuts heating bills

EN54-compliant fire panels from C-TEC

Sangamo’s Powersaver Dual Flexi is a hot water immersion controller that can be used with low-rate electricity tariffs. Settings can be tailored to suit different installation requirements, while ensuring that all programs only operate within off-peak tariff hours (a boost program function allows a maximum two hours of peak-time electricity to be used), reducing heating bills. The PS Dual Flexi is an upgrade to the Horstmann E7Q controller - no rewiring is required.

Super Rod combines to handle cable spools Super Rod has created a cable installation system – Mega Set Plus by combining its Cable Jack and the Mega Set products. Mega Set Plus can handle cable spools and route cable. Existing customers can upgrade their rod sets by retrofitting the Cable Jack to the Cable Rod tube. This twotools-in-one concept saves space in vans, saves taking multiple tools onto site and offers excellent value.

Click Scolmore has added two new products to its ‘Flow’ range of connectors. The CT103C three-pin and CT203 four-pin connectors feature quick release lockable covers and fast fit cable restraints - removing the need for screws. The new products are suitable for three and four core cable, and have a 20A maximum load rating.

www.scolmore.com

www.sangamo.co.uk

Wieland standstill monitors protect machine operators

C-TEC has recertified its range of EN54compliant fire alarm control panels. The range now features stylish and easy-to-use interfaces, combined keypad/key-switch entry and integral EN54-4/A2 switch mode power supplies. The CFP Standard conventional fire panel has extra onboard fire and fault relays. The range has been re-certified to the latest versions of EN54 parts 2 and 4 by the LPCB, requiring regular independent assessment of C-TEC’s factory process control procedures.

www.c-tec.co.uk

Hamilton Litestat’s new multi-room audio system Hamilton Litestat has launched the new Mercury multi-room audio system – a music system offering complete control of music playout throughout the home.

EPLAN software for long-lived documentation

Up to four music sources are plugged into a discreet hub and fed into up to four rooms. There are input options for a radio, two analogue devices such as CD players, and an MP3 player. An iPhone or iPod can be connected via a Mercury wall-mounted iDock. Each destination room features user-friendly wall-mounted control plates for easy access – alternatively, an infrared remote control or two-way WiFi device (such as an iPhone) can be used. The plates are standard UK single–gang sized, meaning that there are no J-boxes or custom back boxes to factor in. Speakers come in a variety of formats, depending on the destination room, including ceiling pairs, compact versions, and outdoor speakers.

www.super-rod.co.uk

Tridonic launches LED module chain

44

Tridonic’s new Talexx Crystal LED module chain lighting system has been designed to highlight lines and edges, backlighting complex contours, letters and symbols for signage, light boxes and sail installations. Talexx features a high lumen output of 103 lm DL per module (100 lm CW) and uses an optimised converter system (4950+ lm per chain at 60W) to provide the bright, precise lighting required for the illumination of signs.

Wieland Electric has enlarged its range of standstill monitors with the launch of the SNS 4074K and SNS4084K. The new devices monitor the pulse frequency of sensors, such as inductive and magneto-resistive proximity switches and incremental encoders, safely stopping dangerous movement when the limit frequency is exceeded. The devices can be used in safety applications up to PL e (cat 4) according to EN ISO 13849-1.

www.tridonicatco.com

www.wieland-electric.com

Sep/Oct 2011

EPLAN has introduced the PDF/A document format in its latest E-CAE software update, guaranteeing long-term access to cross-discipline project documentation. The software is completely flexible to allow collaborators to use certain areas of forms, and can be configured dynamically to allow inputs from different forms to be combined. ISO 19005-1 has deemed PDF/A as the long-term format for electronic archiving.

www.hamilton-litestat.com

www.eplan.co.uk Sep/Oct 2011

45

CLASSIFIED WIRE IN MAG 59X40:WIRE IN MAG 59X40 27/05/2

CALIBRATION

SMOKE ALARMS

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INFREEMATION

INFREEMATION

Finder launches 2011/12 catalogues

Haverland guide to today’s electric heating

Finder has announced two new catalogues for 2011/12 that detail the company’s complete product range. The catalogues, aimed at industrial applications (including an extensive general technical information section) and commercial/residential applications, contain essential information on Finder’s product range for designers and buyers of electronic and electrical systems. Full technical and ordering data is provided, together with performance and setting illustrations.

www.findernet.com

46

75 75 65

01.07.11

The latest Haverland guide includes the new compact ‘Dry Stone’ technology radiators, which provide a more intensified form of heating for larger spaces, or more challenging applications such as hotels, listed properties, and public buildings. The guide also includes the new ‘Plasma style’ tempered glass towel rail/warmers. This publication provides full information regarding the company’s seven product ranges of electric heating solutions.

Parkburn Court Hamilton ML3 OQQ Tel: (01698) 829711 Fax: (01698) 828363 Unit 4, River Park, Blackwater Road, Mallusk, BT36 4TZ Tel: (028) 9083 0302 Fax: (028) 9083 8866

www.haverland.co.uk

408 Oakwood Lane Leeds LS8 3LG Tel: (0113) 2351356 Fax: (0113) 2351161


(Edgcumbe / Metrohm)


Cuthbertson Laird Group Specialists in the Test & Measuring Industry.

Supplying only the best from the world’s leading manufacturers.

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