IEE publishes new guidance for electricians on Selection and Erection of Equipment

The IEE has published new guidance for electricians. Guidance Note 1 – Selection and Erection of Equipment enlarges upon and simplifies relevant requirements of BS 7671:2008.

It includes detailed coverage of external influences and factors affecting the installation of cables and equipment. It discusses various types of protective devices in easy-to-read text and includes illustrations in full colour.

Nick Canty, IET publishing director, said, “The book provides essential information in a convenient, easy to use format and is essential for all electricians, electrical contractors and their managers, installation designers, and students in further education and professional training.”

The book has been updated to align with the 17th edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations and, for the first time, is published in full colour.

For expert advice on your electrical installations contact ESI: Electrical on 01797 227741 or www.esielectrical.co.uk

NICEIC produces free practical guide to planning your kitchen that ensures all the electrical aspects are covered

If the economic downturn has left you unable to move and you have chosen to improve your home instead, the kitchen is a good place to start. Not only will it add value to your property when you do come to sell, but the kitchen has become a central meeting point for many busy families making practical and careful layout essential. So make sure you take some time to plan your new kitchen, and don’t forget to pay attention to the electrics required to power the new hub of your home.

NICEIC has produced a free practical guide to planning your kitchen that ensures all the electrical aspects are covered.

Top tips from NICEIC:

· Consider the position of key appliances. For ease of working, try to create a triangle between the cooker, the fridge and the food preparation/sink area

· Water and electrics don’t mix. Make sure sockets, switches and fixed electrical installations are not in a position where they may get splashed with water

· Low voltage ceiling spotlights provide useful ambient light, but make sure they are fire rated

· Draw up a plan of your kitchen – or use the computer generated plan supplied by your kitchen supplier – to discuss lighting, socket and switch placement for fixed and portable appliances with your electrician

· Ask your electrician to calculate the power needed for your kitchen and whether additional circuits are required

· Don’t underestimate the electrical supply required – it can be disruptive and costly to add more sockets and circuits after your new kitchen is installed

· Current building regulations require all kitchens to have adequate air extraction and a fire detection system, ask your electrician to include these in his installation plan

· For a touch of luxury, turn your kitchen floor into one large radiator with underfloor heating. This will suit most floor finishes, except carpet, but make sure it is installed by a professional electrician

While it’s relatively easy to make an electrical circuit work, it is far more challenging to make the circuit work safely. All electrical work carried out in the kitchen must meet Part P of the Building Regulations, and this work is best left to the professionals. The simplest way to ensure that any electrical work is carried out safely and to a high standard is to use a government approved registered electrician, or kitchen installer, such as one registered with NICEIC, who will issue you with a Building Regulations Compliance certificate on completion to prove the work meets required safety standards.

NICEIC maintains a list of around 24,000 approved electrical contractors and domestic installers, who can undertake electrical work in your home in compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations.

ESI: Electrical can carry out all electrical installation and maintenance works inline with Building Regulations and Part-P. All workmanship is guaranteed and supported by the ECA warranty and Bond. For more details contact us on 01797 227741.

CalCard instrument calibration checkbox allows contractors to take quick calibration checks wherever they are working

The CalCard is an instrument calibration checkbox reduced to the size of a credit card. The compact size means it can be stored in a wallet or pocket, allowing contractors to take quick and easy calibration checks of test equipment values wherever they are working.

Ever been working on a third floor flat and got an odd reading on your insulation continuity meter? You need to know whether it’s a genuine fault or simply a dodgy meter reading, but you’ve left your instrument checkbox in the van. With no probes to detach, or sockets to plug in, the CalCard provides a quick and accurate source of suitable check values, and is designed to complement your existing calibration routine.

Business Development Manager for ELECSA, Sarah Fry, said “We are always looking for products that can help contractors in their day to day working life and were impressed with the CalCards ease of use and reliability.”

Manufactured by Calltronics Limited, the CalCard is guaranteed for 3 years and now available to all contractors direct from the ELECSA online shop for £19.98 including VAT

Colour your world with LivingColors luminaires

As the trend towards personalizing living spaces in tune with mood and occasion gains momentum, there is a growing recognition that lighting is one of the easiest and most effective means of creating different atmospheres in the home, without the need for expensive redecorating.

Royal Philips Electronics has announced a significantly extended and upgraded LivingColors range for European consumers. In addition to the enhanced LivingColors collection and the LivingColors Mini collection, Philips will offer a choice of four new luminaires: two LivingColors floor lamps, a wall lamp and a ceiling lamp – each of which includes the 50% increase in light output and new functionality incorporated in the upgraded LivingColors.

Each luminaire can be adjusted in height or angle, making it a simple matter to light up any part of your home in your choice of the 16 million shades and colours that LivingColors is capable of producing. Elegant aesthetics ensure that the luminaires make a stylish impression whether in use or not.

LivingColors upgrade delivers increased light output and a choice of stylish new finishes
The clear and black LivingColors range has been extended with three special editions: floral, anthracite and frosted white finishes, reflecting developments in interior design. The upgraded range creates 50% more light and lets consumers adjust the speed at which colours change. So whether consumers are feeling laid-back and relaxed or upbeat and energetic, with LivingColors they can match the ambience at home to their mood.

By simply touching the colour wheel on the intuitive remote control, consumers can let the LivingColors display an almost infinite variety of colours. So they can create the right atmosphere for fun, a lazy Sunday, friendship, romance or any other ambience to suit the mood or moment.

LivingColors products are based on advanced LED technology developed by Philips. They last much longer than traditional lamps, consume much less energy and are at the forefront of a new generation of sustainable lighting solutions.

Since its launch in 2007, LivingColors sales have approached 1 million products. Ashley Smith, Philips Marketing Manager for Consumer Lighting in the UK, said: “The new luminaires will make a real difference to consumers looking for greater flexibility in where they place their LivingColors to get the best effect”. He added: “The success of LivingColors is proof that people recognise the value of using light to enhance the ambience in their home to suit any mood or occasion”.

The new LivingColor editions will be offered in the region of £ 225 from autumn 2009

New low-energy Decorative light bulbs range from Megaman

Megaman has launched a new range of low-energy light bulbs offering a wide choice of styles, sizes and fittings. The company claim that they match conventional lightbulbs for size and shape, but offer energy savings of up to 80% and an operational life of around 15,000 hours – making them the perfect replacement for short-lived energy-guzzling incandescent types.

The new Decorative Range includes the Classic Series, consisting of compact ‘golf ball’ and “ping pong ball” types. These are available with both screw and bayonet fittings (all standard sizes), and offer power ratings from 4 Watts up to 20 Watts (equivalent to a conventional 100 Watt bulb).

The ‘Golf Ball’ design is not only one of the most universally popular designs used in existing lamps and fittings, but in this low-energy version represents a technology breakthrough in terms of both size and durability. Delivering a classic warm-white illumination and delivering a life expectancy of around 15,000 hours, the ‘Golfball’ classic is compatible with just about any existing light fitting.

The range also includes the Candle Series, offering a perfect choice of replacements for all traditional candle shaped bulbs. These fit well into chandeliers, table lamps and decorative wall lamps. There is even a flame tipped version for use in flickering candle-effect fittings. Like the Classic Series, these candle types are available in a wide variety of bayonet or screw fittings, and power ratings of between 7 and 9 Watts.

Both the Classic and Candle Series feature a translucent protective coating of silicone around the bulb glass, providing added strength and making the bulbs much more difficult to break than conventional bulbs.

To round off the new offering, the range includes a wide selection of low energy reflector types called the Reflector Series. These incorporate the very latest in lamp tube technology, and are direct replacements for mains halogens and compact spotlamps with GU10 and screw-in base fittings. High luminous efficiency is maintained throughout life lamp, typically about 15,000 hours, making them ideal for display and art lighting, reception and living areas, corridors and offices. There are even some dimmable types.

A key feature of these reflector types is that they produce far less heat and UV radiation than conventional spotlights or halogens, making them much safer and less prone to over heating than conventional types. Low power consumption (7 Watts to 20 Watts) and extremely long operating life (15,000 hours) mean that they are particularly suitable for long periods of continuous operation.

All of the low energy bulbs in Megaman’s new Decorative Range use the latest in lamp technology to maximise lumen efficiency, reduce heat and prolong life. The lamps each contain less than 3mg of mercury, in a safe amalgam form, claimed to be an industry first. They are also built with recyclable solder-less bases which are rustproof, user friendly and environmentally responsible.

ESI: Electrical are able to supply the full range of Megaman products. For details of how we can help you reduce your business electricity consumption, please visit www.esielectrical.co.uk or call 01797 227741

Update the look and feel of your home by installing the correct lighting solution

Installing the right lighting solutions could be the perfect way to update the look and feel of your home décor while avoiding the effort and expense usually associated with home improvements.

When the urge strikes to redecorate the home, your instinctive reaction may be to reach for the colour swatches and dust off your paintbrushes, but don’t be too hasty. Whether you simply want to convey a feeling of warmth in the lounge or improve the intimacy in your bedroom, creating or changing the ambience in your home may be a lot simpler than you think.

Traditionally, lighting in the home was seen as purely functional, particularly in areas such as the kitchen or bathroom where sufficient light is needed to perform tasks such as cooking or showering, but with Philips Lighting solutions all this has changed and we’re increasingly beginning to appreciate the decorative role that lighting plays in the home. Philips offers a number of flexible lighting solutions to suit your changing moods or requirements, meaning that updating your home has never been simpler or more cost-effective.

Philips LED-based LivingColors range of lamps can create the desired atmosphere in a room by changing the colour, amount and intensity of lighting at the spin of a dial. With up to 16 million unique colours to choose from, you need never reach for a paintbrush again! And, the use of LED technology means that colours can be controlled precisely. When combined with the EcoClassic range for example, the effects are stunning. This range includes a wide variety of shapes and light levels, including spots and specific halogen sockets.

We all know that the energy saving bulbs are a bright idea but can they really create the desired atmosphere in the home? A common misconception is that energy saving lamps deliver a harsh or dull light, that they are not aesthetically pleasing to the eye and are only available in limited shapes and sizes. Well, thanks to lighting pioneer Philips, it is now time to see them in a new light. Philips offers energy saving lamps in a wide variety of fittings, shapes and sizes to meet your every need, whilst providing a beautiful crisp light quality.

The EcoClassic 30, so named because it offers 30 per cent energy saving on traditional incandescent lamps, is not only dimmable but combines the high performance and outstanding light quality of halogen with the beautiful look and feel of a traditional incandescent bulb.

Philips offers energy saving lamps in a wide variety of fitting, shapes and sizes to meet your every need, whilst providing a beautiful crisp light quality. So, style and quality are not compromised and the options for creating the right ambience for your home are only as limited as your imagination.

Philips LivingColors range and energy saving lamps are available through ESI: Electrical.

Philips launches full range of efficient lighting fittings for the residential lighting market

Royal Philips Electronics has announced the launch of its LIRIO by Philips innovations which become available the second half of 2009. In total 40 products will be launched, all in line with the upcoming EUP (Energy Using Products) directive to phase out inefficient lighting from September 2009 onwards.

LIRIO by Philips is Philips’ premium brand for the residential lighting market. LIRIO by Philips is offering a complete collection in contemporary and Belgian design on a global scale. This is the result of the 2006 acquisition of Partners in Lighting International by Philips and brings years of experience in consumer luminaries, product design and lighting technology together.

LIRIO by Philips offers a range of decorative premium fittings that allows you to express yourself in a creative way. The LIRIO by Philips fittings characterize themselves by :
• Modern and discrete luxury designed by young, upcoming Belgian designers
• Timeless forms with a strong silhouette
• Passion for absolute quality in materials and finishing
• High quality, innovative and detailed materials and finishing
• Intelligent & refined controls
• Selective distribution

Some highlights of the upcoming product launches:

Wika
Cylindrical drums of light in pairs or trios with shiny white shades, Wika pendants, wall- and table lamps beat a constant rhythm of light. Wika is delivered with the latest energy saving halogen light sources (Philips EcoHalo) which deliver an energy saving of 33%. Wika where organic design meets green thoughts.

Hava
Round, flat spot heads in a quirky rectangular surround suspended from a base that seems to float on the ceiling. Equipped with the latest PowerLED technology Hava gives spotlighting a whole new twist.

Skive
Outsize hemispheres in white with a silver lining, or black with gold inside, Skive epitomises the cool simplicity of chic conceptual design. Huge oversized sculptural pendants but with a reduced energy consumption: Skive is delivered with 3 Philips EcoClassic 70W lamps, which generate a high light output comparable to three 100W incandescent bulbs.

Maze
Purity of form in a pendant, on the floor or on the table. Maze is finished in black with chrome detailing and double-layered, fabric shade for unusual, appealing lighting effects. The floor lamp is adjustable in height too. Practically amazing: modern chic with a green touch. Maze is delivered with 4 Philips EcoClassic lamps.

For the 2009 range prices start at £60- £850, the overall collection is positioned between £45 and £1200

Raytec Lighting Amnesty campaign offers installers cash back to make the switch to energy saving LED technology

With the aim of saving thousands of pounds for both taxpayers and private businesses, leading UK CCTV lighting manufacturers Raytec are organising the first ever ‘Lighting Amnesty’ to encourage the switch from wasteful CCTV and security lighting to new energy saving Infra-Red and White-Light LED technology.

Raytec have launched the ‘Lighting Amnesty’ campaign to alert public and private sector users, from local authorities and schools to power plants and industrial sites, to the amount of energy and money being wasted by older style CCTV and security lighting.

The new scrap-and-save scheme offers installers cash back to make the switch and helps end users to significantly reduce power consumption, CO2 emissions and running costs.

High performance, low energy LED illuminators from Raytec, deliver lower power consumption, provide longer life, lower running costs and zero maintenance, compared to older style lighting which is also extremely slow to start up.

“We calculate that when you take into account both higher running costs and shorter bulb-life, an organisation, such as a hospital, using 100 CCTV and security lights will be saving £45,000 per year in switching to low energy LED illuminators,” says Raytec’s Managing Director Shaun Cutler.

This estimate is based upon 4,400 hours usage per year at 10p kw/hr; with labour costs conservatively calculated at £40 per bulb change (though it is often much higher).

“Multiply this across all hospitals and local authorities – and add in government departments – and the sums saved for the taxypayer could easily run into millions of pounds,” adds Shaun “This is quite aside from potential savings for the private sector.”

LED’s also offer increased site security as they require zero maintenance and don’t fail, so you are guaranteed 24/7 illumination on demand. To encourage users to reduce this waste and save costs, during the “Lighting Amnesty” Raytec are offering free site surveys and energy reports detailing the annual CO2 and cost savings made by switching to low energy LED illuminators.

The reports will spell out exactly how and where the organisations can save money if they switch to energy-efficient LED technology.

In switching to LED illuminators the user will start to make cost savings within 2 years compared to 500W lights and in 3 years compared to 300W lights. “Switching to energy efficient LED illuminators is one simple measure among many others needed to save both costs and the environment,” adds Shaun Cutler.

The Raytec Lighting Amnesty runs until 31st January 2010 – UK only.

John Healey: £450m to get workers back on stalled housing sites

03.11.2009 Back Housing Minister John Healey today finalised a £450m funding package to kickstart work on over 150 stalled housing developments, getting work back on track and builders back on site. Mr Healey said this cash injection to every region of the country is a rapid response to the recession, to help house-building at a time when the industry needs it most. Workers will start returning to these mothballed sites within weeks – building over 11,100 homes, and creating or safeguarding around 9,500 jobs. Over 5,000 of these houses will be affordable homes for low cost sale or rent. The Government has applied tough value for money tests for projects to receive Kickstart funding. The Minister today gave the green light to 115 schemes to receive a share of up to £388m. This takes total Government investment through the Kickstart programme to over £450m to deliver over 11,000 homes. It means that since June Mr Healey has approved the release of almost £1.5bn in Government help for house-building. The flagship Kickstart programme offers rapid action in recession. House-building projects can take years to complete, but under Kickstart once cash has been confirmed builders can return to work within weeks. Mr Healey is ready to run a second wave of Kickstart, with over £500m available. Developers continue to see the real help this can offer in tough times, which is why second wave bids have been received that could deliver up to 55,000 homes and around 2,000 apprenticeships. To ensure the Government gets the most for every taxpayer’s pound, this funding comes with tough terms. Over two thirds of the funding is expected to be repaid, with less than a fifth consisting of direct grant to support developers and the rest used to fund affordable homes as part of the Kickstart programme. Only developers who have accepted a realistic current market price for their land have been eligible for this investment. Today, John Healey finalised round one of the Kickstart programme, which started in July and short-listed 270 projects in line for funding. Of the 270 schemes short-listed for funding in this round of the Kickstart programme, 152 projects have been approved. Developers for 81 schemes withdrew their bids for Kickstart support at this time – with some citing improved market conditions and better access to private finance as one of their main reasons. Forty-six developers that have withdrawn from the first round of Kickstart are submitting bids for the second round. But 35 schemes have not passed the tough tests and will not receive Kickstart funding – either because they did not offer value for money for taxpayers, or because the design of the development was not of a high enough quality. Some could not meet the tight timescale – a key requirement to ensure communities benefited from this cash injection as quickly as possible, when they need the help most. John Healey said: “This Kickstart cash is a rapid response to the recession, using the power of Government investment to support the country through the downturn. With this investment, we are creating jobs and helping build the homes people need. “Kickstart funding comes with tough terms, and I expect much of this money to be repaid within five years. Some developers have failed our tough value for money test, but I’m also encouraged that others have withdrawn saying they no longer need help because market conditions are improving. “But with over £500m Kickstart cash available in the second round, help is on hand for those who need it. And I expect all developers submitting bids to offer apprenticeship and local job opportunities for young people in our communities as part of their plans to get their stalled housing projects back on track.” Chief executive of the HCA, Sir Bob Kerslake said: “I am delighted that the HCA has been able to play such a major role in unlocking key housing schemes across the country. “The due diligence process has been a thorough and challenging one for all involved but I am pleased that so many good schemes have been confirmed. We now look forward to completing the contracts and getting starts on site.”

Companies fined after fatal concrete collapse at Heathrow Terminal 5

Two construction companies have today been fined £105,000 after one man died and another was seriously injured when a concrete slab collapsed at Heathrow Airport in 2005, despite an earlier recall of defective equipment.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the principal contractor, Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure Limited, of Anchor Boulevard, Dartford in Kent; and SGB Services Limited, a supplier of construction equipment, based in Kingston Road in Leatherhead, over the incident.

Both companies pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and SGB Services Ltd also pleaded guilty to breaching section 6(1) (c) of the Act.

At a sentencing hearing today at Isleworth Crown Court, Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure Limited was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £75,000 in costs. SGB Services Ltd was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs.

The court heard that both men were part of a team building a multi-storey car park at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 construction site. On 3 August 2005, 27-year-old Mathew Gilbert, who was a carpenter from Plymouth, and 21-year-old engineer’s assistant Parminder Singh, from Slough were standing on a concrete slab, when it collapsed and fell 17 metres to the level below.

Mr Gilbert died in the collapse and Mr Singh suffered serious life-changing injuries; he suffered a broken back, a broken leg and a broken jaw. He has extensive scarring and pain in his back when walking and sitting.

The construction of the car park required the use of Threaded Shoring Adaptors, also known as TSAs which were used to secure parts of the temporary works structure. The HSE investigation revealed that the collapse of the concrete slab was due to the catastrophic failure of two TSAs, which were found to be part of a sub-standard batch manufactured for SGB Services Ltd two years previously.

By supplying a batch of sub-standards TSAs in 2003, SGB Services Ltd failed to ensure that the TSAs they supplied were able to carry maximum loads. Furthermore, the company resupplied the same sub-standard TSAs to construction sites in 2005, despite having implemented a recall programme, which was intended to remove all defective TSAs from circulation.

The HSE investigation also found that Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure Ltd failed to have adequate systems in place to inspect the quality and condition of the TSAs before they were used in safety-critical applications, and had failed to remove sub-standard TSAs from use when warned.

HSE Inspector Karen Morris said:

“The tragic death of one man and the serious injuries suffered by his colleague could have been prevented if both companies had had more robust systems in place. It is vital that safety-critical components are inspected before use to ensure that defective equipment is not used.

“It is also crucial that recall programmes are carried out effectively and thoroughly, so that defective components can not under any circumstances be brought back into circulation”.

“This case demonstrates an extremely serious failure of both the principal contractor and the supplier to ensure the materials they supplied for the work were fit for purpose.”