Connections Spring 2013

THE MAGAZINE FOR NICEIC AND ELECSA REGISTERED CONTRACTORS £5.00 SPRING 2013 | ISSUE 185

Millions hear of Electrical Safety Register // page 6

connections

GROWING PLACESSet up in 1935, Nantwich-based Gilks has

expanded from a high street shop to a national contractor // page 28

ADVICE P17

How a quality management system can make your business stand out / / /

PAT TESTING P32

Despite recent changes, portable appliance testing off ers opportunities for contractors

UNDERFLOOR HEATING P36

Driven by energy effi ciency, electric underfl oor heating is fi nally coming of age

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3www.electricalsafetyregister.com Connections Spring 2013

ContentsSpring 2013 | Issue 185

N

Brave new world 4Certsure off icially launched

NewsPromotion of Electrical Safety Register reaches millions 6

Electrotechnical apprenticeships need funding reform, says ECA 7Book now for NICEIC Live South 7

Early bookers enjoy golf discount 8

Renewables news Green Deal advisors complete their first assessments 10

ESC news Calculator helps customers check for socket overloading 12Switched On goes digital 13

Product newsThe latest testing products on the market 15

Advice 17Implementing a quality management system can help your firm to stand out from the crowd, says Mo Ghaus

Opinion 18Contractors assessing LED products need to know exactly what they are looking for, warns Michael Dangoor Regions 20Adrian Holliday finds contractors in the north-east are controlling costs and sourcing new business

Insight 22Cloud certification allows contractors to create, store and send certificates from wherever they are

Customer care 24Care is needed when installing new technologies to ensure designs meet requirements, advises Philip Sanders

Insight 27The TrustMark badge is a sign of quality – and therefore a natural fit for registered contractors, says Liz Male

Current aff airs 66Pensioner discovers electricity

Cover story: contractor profile 28Gilks occupies the same Nantwich premises where it started in 1935 but has changed in many other respects

Under scrutiny 32Portable appliance testing remains a lucrative market for contractors despite the government’s war on red tape

Hot to trot 36Electric underfloor heating is no longer expensive and ineff icient – and that’s good news for contractorsAsk the experts 41

Some of the NICEIC technical helpline’s more frequently asked questions answered

Technical 44Verification of a solar PV system 44

Connection of tap-off units of busbar trunking systems 49

Outdoor lighting installations 52 Uncommon conductor arrangements 56

Snags and solutions 60

Features

32

»Cover illustration:Mike Poloway/UNP

Illustration: Cameron Law

Fully charged

Live wire

Plugged in18

22

28

36

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4 Spring 2013 Connections www.electricalsafetyregister.com

Comment

First phase

Certsure LLP – the off icial trading name of the new joint venture between the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) – was off icially launched on 1 April.

Both our parent companies have been fantastic in helping create the joint venture, and I would like to personally thank Phil Buckle at ESC and Steve Bratt from the ECA for their help.

Both the NICEIC and the ELECSA schemes will now be run by Certsure, and will be 50:50 owned and governed by the ESC and the ECA.

Certsure will act as the sole registration, certification and assessment body for everyone under the NICEIC, ELECSA or ECA certification schemes. For the first 18 to 24 months, the registration scheme brands will run in parallel, so there will be no change to you or your business. You will continue to use the same customer service teams as before.

However, as a registered contractor with one of the NICEIC or ELECSA schemes, or as a member of

the ECA, your business is now automatically listed at www.electricalsafetyregister.com. We expect to launch further benefits to everyone listed on the register over time.

Certsure is an exciting development for the electrical industry. It is a partnership that will benefit the industry by giving us a stronger voice to government, stakeholders, consumers and contractors. We can collate eff orts to raise awareness about safety and the need to use a registered contractor, and we can pool resources, knowledge and experience to provide a better service for our registered contractors.

The first of these benefits to contractors is the creation of the Electrical Safety Register. We hope that by now you are seeing some of the work we have carried out to promote this to consumers and specifiers of electrical work (see page 8 for more details).

So, welcome to everyone from ELECSA, who will be receiving Connections for the first time. I hope you enjoy reading and contributing to the magazine over time, and I look forward to working with you all in the future.

Brave new world Certsure – the joint venture between the ESC and the ECA – is now up and running, bringing several benefi ts to both NICEIC and ELECSA registered contractors

Emma Clancy is chief executive off icer, Certsure

NEMMA CLANCY

EDITORIALGeneral 020 7880 6200Fax 020 7324 2791 Email [email protected] Editor Nick Martindale Technical editor Mike Clark Sub editors Victoria Burgher/Clare CroninArt director Mark Parry Art editor Adrian Taylor Picture researcher Akin Falope Publishing and business development directorAaron Nicholls

ADVERTISING AND MARKETINGSenior sales executive Darren Hale Sales executive Patrick Lynn Display 020 7880 6206Fax 020 7880 7553 Email [email protected]

PRODUCTIONGeneral production enquiries 020 7880 6240 Fax 020 7880 7691Production manager Jane EastermanDeputy production executive Kieran TobinEmail [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS Should you require your own copy of Connections or multiple copies for your staff, subscriptions are available by calling 020 8950 9117

CONTRIBUTIONSConnections welcomes ideas for contributions. Please email [email protected]

ISSN 2042-5732

© Redactive Publishing Ltd 2013 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP. Registered No. 3156216. All rights reserved. This publication (and any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any print or electronic format (including but not limited to any online service, any database or any part of the internet) or in any other format in any media whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Redactive Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.

Printed by Wyndeham (Peterborough) Ltd. Paper by Denmaur Papers plc

The paper mill that makes the text paper for this magazine states that it uses at least 80 per cent wood pulp from sustainable sources.

Redactive Publishing Ltd, 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP

WWW.NICEIC.COMWWW.ELECSA.CO.UK

ENQUIRIESCertsure 01582 539000External affairs director Richard Pagett 01582 [email protected] Communications officerPaul Collins 01582 [email protected] DirectMike Jackson 01582 [email protected] @ElecSafeRegTechnical helpline 0870 013 0391Customer services 0870 013 0382Sales 0870 013 0458Training 0870 013 0389

CONTACTS // CONNECTIONS

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S O U T H

16 May 2013Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, KT18 5LQ

BOOK NOW @ www.niceiclive.com or call us on 020 7324 2771

Partner sponsor:

Technical Conferenceand Exhibition

LAST CHANCE TO

BOOK!

Non Registered£49 (ex VAT)

Cost:Electrical Safety Register Contractors£29 (ex VAT)

Highlights for 2013:

Speakers include:

Tony CableSenior Events and Marketing Engineer, NICEIC

Darren StaniforthTechnical Development Manager, NICEIC

Kelvin FreemanAssociate Director, Atkins

Wayne Hemingway MBEDesigner and Chair for Building for Life

New exhibitors include:

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Plugged inElectrical Safety Register promotedA campaign to promote the Electrical Safety Register reached an audience of more than 32 million people following coverage on national television, radio and newspapers.

The Electrical Safety Register, one of the first benefits of the partnership between the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), contains details of more than 36,000 NICEIC- and ELECSA-registered contractors and ECA members.

As part of the campaign, the ESC’s director general Phil Buckle and Electrical Safety Register spokesman Tony Cable appeared on BBC Breakfast news, highlighting the dangers caused by people carrying out DIY electrical work and stressing the importance of using a local, competent electrician listed on the Electrical Safety Register.

Buckle also took part in a series of radio interviews, syndicated across 149 regional and national stations, urging people to visit www.electricalsafetyregister.com.

“When the ESC and ECA announced they would be forming a partnership, one

directive was to promote electricians on the register to both the general public and specifiers of electrical work,” he said.

“We will be working with the ECA to continue promoting the Electrical Safety Register to the public.”

An advert for the Electrical Safety Register also appeared in the Mail on Sunday homes and improvement supplement in February, and further campaigns are planned.

“By providing specifiers of work with such a great resource, we can encourage them to use a registered electrician,” added ECA CEO Steve Bratt. “The register will become the trusted resource for consumers looking to employ a competent electrical contractor, in a commercial or domestic setting.”

CONTRACTOR FINED FOR MISUSE OF NICEIC LOGO An electrical contractor has been fined for fraudulently claiming to be registered with NICEIC, after using the logo on company stationery presented to a customer.

Newport-based Lyndon Saunders, who trades under the name of Cain Solar Energy Division, pleaded guilty to eight counts of unauthorised use of a trade logo, including misuse of the NICEIC logo. He was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs.

“We take misuse of our logo seriously and we welcome this latest prosecution,” said Certsure CEO Emma Clancy.

NICEIC has stepped up its fight against firms incorrectly using its logo with a “wall of shame”. Contractors caught falsely claiming to be registered will be named and shamed on the NICEIC website and their details passed to Trading Standards.

News/Renewables news/ESC news/Product newsN

ASCERTIVA ‘GOOD FIRM TO WORK FOR’Ascertiva Group, which helps fund the Electrical Safety Council, has become a Times Top 100 Best Company to Work For.

The accolade is awarded on the views of employees, and on the policies and processes of employers.

Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire, said: “Congratulations to Ascertiva. It is a mark of recognition for all the great work they do, both inside and outside the off ice.”

Last year, in addition to increasing company profits across the group, Ascertiva employees took part in volunteering days at Luton and Dunstable Hospital and helped create a nature reserve at Lower Watling School in Dunstable.

Need-to-know industry news for electrical installers

OVERSEAS DRIVE FOR BELFAST CONTRACTORBelfast-based NICEIC-Approved Contractor BI Electrical Services has created 26 local jobs as part of a growth drive into Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

The expansion will be overseen by former NICEIC chief executive Jim Speirs, who has been appointed as a non-executive director for the business.

“Both regions have fast-growing economies, and this is creating opportunities for electrical engineering,” said Speirs.

The announcement was made by Northern Ireland’s enterprise minister Arlene Foster. “BI Electrical joins an increasing number of local companies that recognise the importance of looking beyond local markets,” she said.

The 26 new jobs will be created at BI Electrical Service’s Mallusk facility, and the firm also plans to establish a three-year apprenticeship scheme.

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‘Apprenticeship reform needed’The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has called on the government to reform the way apprenticeships are

financed in the electrotechnical industry.

“The current system of apprenticeship funding is prohibitive for employers and apprentices in our industry,” said Diane Johnson (pictured), skills ambassador. “If it

isn’t changed, it could discourage both

parties from taking part.

“Employers face a dilemma when it comes

FREE POCKET GUIDEInside this issue of Connections you will find

Pocket Guide 30 – Notices at or near the origin of an installation in a building.

A printable version of each pocket guide is available on the NICEIC website. Additional copies can be obtained by contacting the NICEIC customer service department on 0870 013 0382 or at [email protected]

Book now for EpsomContractors planning to attend NICEIC Live South are being urged to book now to avoid disappointment, with the event proving as popular as ever.

This year’s exhibition and conference is taking place on 16 May, and is once again being held at Epsom Downs racecourse.

As well as an exhibition, where attendees can meet suppliers and businesses including partner sponsor WF Senate, there will be a full conference programme. Speakers include social housing guru Wayne Hemingway; Kelvin Freeman, associate director of Atkins, who will talk about the electrical challenges of the Olympics; the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s technical regulations manager Mark Coles; and NICEIC’s own double act of Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth.

“We are keen to keep improving the conference and exhibition and in response to attendee feedback have included more ‘back to electrical basics’ topics,” said Mark Smith, group head of marketing at Certsure. “To give

something back to the industry, we have also decided to allow apprentices to attend free of charge, if accompanied by a paying ESR-registered contractor.”

Tickets cost just £29 plus VAT for members of the Electrical Safety Register, with non-registrant tickets £49 plus VAT. Exhibition-only passes are available free of charge. For more information or to book a place, visit www.niceiclive.com

Details have also been announced for the NICEIC Live North event, which will be held at Bolton Arena on 24 October. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR

QUALIFIED SUPERVISORSThe Electrotechnical Assessment Specification Management Committee (EAS) has agreed to implement the new qualified supervisors’ technical competence requirements for anyone wanting to become a qualified supervisor, which came into eff ect from 6 April.

There are diff erent routes satisfying the requirements for registration as a qualified supervisor, including on-site assessment, off -site assessment, a mixture of both, and the gaining of appropriate qualifications.

Anyone who already has a competency-based qualification, as outlined in the EAS document, will not need to have the new qualification if they apply to become a new qualified supervisor.

In addition, anyone who has been working as a registered qualified supervisor within the two years preceding 6 April this year will be eligible to be proposed as a qualified supervisor for a new employer, without needing to demonstrate the new level of technical competence.

to reform the way apprenticesfinanced in the elect

industry.“The curren

apprenticeshiprohibitive forand apprenticindustry,” saidJohnson (pictskills ambassa

isn’t changeddiscourag

parties taking

“Efacwh

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-

to delivering practical training to apprentices,” she added. “They often struggle to insure apprentices under the age of 19 to go on-site, but receive only 50 per cent of the funding for a 19-year-old apprentice that they get for one aged 16-18.”

The ECA is recommending a delivery contract for apprentices which would provide full funding for level 3 apprentices up to the age of 24.

“A more flexible approach to funding would allow employers more time to deliver the on-site training apprentices need,” said Johnson.

“It would also allow young people who wish to study for a higher apprenticeship the funding to get the best possible start in the industry.”

CERTSURE CEO JOINS TRUSTMARK BOARD Certsure CEO Emma Clancy (pictured) has agreed to serve on the board of TrustMark – the government-endorsed quality mark for tradespeople – as a trade director for a term of three years.

“I am delighted to take up the role,” said Clancy. “The customer is at the heart of every professional business.”

TrustMark’s board consists of three trade directors, three non-trade directors and an independent chairperson.

Liz Male, chairman of TrustMark, added: “The TrustMark board has never been stronger and we have an excellent balance between trade and non-trade directors.”

See Liz Male’s column on page 27.

A packed house at NICEIC Live South

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The Building Industry Golf (BIG) tournament for 2013 is now open for bookings, and NICEIC and ELECSA-registered contractors can take advantage of an early-booking discount if they enter before 30 May.

The BIG tournament features a pairs Matchplay and a pairs Stableford event, culminating in a grand final in October at the stunning Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire.

The Matchplay Championship features three rounds in regions between June and August, with four weeks to play each round. In September, there will be four regional finals, from each of which the leading two pairs will qualify for the final.

The pairs Stableford events will be staged at the following venues:• The Carrick on Loch Lomond,

Dunbartonshire, 19 June• Marriott St Pierre, Chepstow,

Monmouthshire, 25 June• Sand Martins Golf Club, Wokingham,

Berkshire, 10 July• Moor Allerton Golf Club, Leeds, West

Yorkshire, 12 JulyThe price per pair includes coff ee and

bacon rolls on arrival, 18 holes of golf and

a meal afterwards. The winning pair from each event will qualify for the final.

There is an early-booking discount of £5 per pair for the Matchplay Championship, making the price £40 per pair including VAT. There is a £20 discount per pair for the Stableford event, making the price £100 per pair including VAT. Please enter the promotional code NIC13 on the website to receive your discount.

The grand final will take place on 18 and 19 October, and qualifiers will enjoy two nights’ accommodation in the luxurious golf lodges at Turnberry and 36 holes of top-quality links golf.

For more information, or to enter online, visit www.bigtournament.co.uk

The Electrical Safety Council and Electrical Contractors’ Association have been working hard to promote the Electrical Safety Register (ESR) to consumers and specifi ers, as part of the commitment made under the partnership between the two organisations. Recent campaigns include:

Plugged inEarly bookers enjoy a discount on golf

INDUSTRY // DIARY

April25-26 ElexWestpoint Arena, Exeter

May 14-16 Safety & Health ExpoNEC, Birmingham

16 NICEIC Live SouthEpsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey

16 Electrical Product Safety ConferenceChurch House, Westminster

June 5-6 Northern Ireland Electrical Trade ShowRamada Plaza Hotel, Belfast

12 Essential Install Live SouthSandown Park, Surrey

17-20 Trading Standards Conference and ExhibitionThe Brighton Centre, Brighton

20-22 The Electric EventICC, Birmingham

ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGISTER


Turnberry Resort will host the fi nal

The ESC’s director general Phil Buckle took part in a series of radio interviews to promote the benefits of using competent electricians as listed on the ESR

Phil Buckle and Tony Cable also appeared on BBC Breakfast news, promoting ESR

ESC exhibited at the Ideal Home show, promoting the need to use competent electricians

Ads ran in the Mail on Sunday home improvements supplement, and twice in Metro

A week long e-marketing campaign for ESR ran on Metro online, using banner ads

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Plugged in


Green Deal advisors fi nish fi rst projectsNICEIC-registered Green Deal advisors have completed their first assessments under the government’s flagship energy eff iciency programme.

Green Deal assessments are independent evaluations to assess whether a property is eligible for installations under the scheme, and which measures would be most appropriate.

The volume of assessments being undertaken will be an important bellwether as to the future success of Green Deal. More than 2,000 assessments have been undertaken since the scheme was launched at the end of January.

“Green Deal advice is an exciting new area for electrical contracting businesses,” said Nick Wright, Green Deal project manager at NICEIC.

“The nature of contracting is changing, with businesses becoming more multidisciplined and looking to create a turnkey solution for their customers – from energy eff iciency advice through

to installation. NICEIC is strategically positioned to provide a full solution.”

Green Deal advisors work on a pay-per-click basis, with the client being charged for each report they lodge. Green Deal advisors registered with NICEIC can use the Elmhurst Green Deal and ETECH Green Deal software.

Only firms with the appropriate approval can operate as Green Deal advisors or installers. Certification for both these aspects can be obtained through NICEIC.

For more information on the Green Deal, visit www.niceic.com

The Brackenbury Centre in Portland has fought off stiff competition to win the eco-makeover award run by renewable energy specialist Puragen, as part of its Keeping It Local campaign.

The Dorset business took top spot, ahead of second-placed Latham Hall in Penketh, Warrington, and will receive a renewables makeover including energy-saving technologies worth £7,000.

“The installation of these renewable technologies will have a positive eff ect on the centre’s energy bills for years to come,” said John Scott, managing director of Puragen. “We hope that this will help it to continue to off er its brilliant service to the community that it has managed to maintain over the past few years.”

Community hub in Dorset wins upgrade

SOLAR PV ‘BIBLE’ UPDATED TO HANDLE NEXT GENERATION The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has published the hard-copy version of the updated industry “bible” on solar photovoltaics, ensuring installers will be ready to work with the next generation of PV.

Energy minister Greg Barker recently unveiled the new Guide to the Installation of Photovoltaic Systems, which has been updated in the wake of uptake by businesses and householders. The ECA was a core member of the microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) solar PV working group, which was tasked with revising the guide.

“I pay tribute to those who have worked on this guide over the past few months,” said Barker. “It is the ‘go-to’ text for PV system installers, and its widespread use will improve the reliability of installations, increase customer confidence

in PV and help consumers benefit from quality-focused engineering solutions.” The updated solar PV guide includes the latest in system design and installation

techniques. It off ers enhanced information on performance calculations, dead load and wind load requirements, and clarifies the requirements for RCDs and array frame earthing and bonding.

The MIS 3002 standard, which covers PV installation, has also been updated to reflect its status as a key document for assessment. Contractors must start working to version 3.0 of the standard from 7 May.

Electronic versions of the guide and the MIS 3002 standard can be found at www.microgenerationcertification.org. For hard copies of the guide, go to www.eca.co.uk

ECA WARNING ON ENERGY REDUCTION SCHEME The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has warned that the government’s proposed energy demand reduction initiative (EDR) must avoid the mistakes made with the feed-in tariff s (FITs). In its submission to the government’s consultation, the ECA said the scheme must be simple and properly subsidised.

Paul Reeve (pictured), ECA head of business policy and practice, said: “The government cannot allow this to turn into yet another FITs fiasco. It must ensure that there is a guaranteed rate of return, or businesses won’t see the benefits.”

Under the proposed EDR, businesses will receive an as-yet unspecified financial incentive for making energy-eff icient improvements to their premises. The ECA has recommended that lighting upgrades, along with building control systems, should be made a priority, as these will off er the greatest rate of return.

The association is also urging the government to learn from the example of other countries, such as the energy-saving certificate scheme in France and the “pro-kilowatt” system in Switzerland.

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IDEAL LAN Testing SeminarsDuring April, May and June, IDEAL INDUSTRIES are running a series of 1/2 day LAN installation and testing seminars across the UK.

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✔ Testing networks to published standards (Cat 5e, etc.)

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✔ Management of test data

✔ Practical hands-on installation and testing session

Interested? Simply contact us and we’ll confirm details of the venue closest to you. Hurry - spaces are limited!

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Calculator checks for socket overloading

Electrical contractors can now make their customers aware of the problem of sockets being overloaded by uploading an online socket overload calculator to their websites.

The ESC has developed the calculator to enable householders to check the electrical appliances in their homes, in response to concerns raised by fire and rescue services about electrical sockets being overloaded.

The interactive calculator shows the power that is used by a range of typical household appliances, such as a television or hairdryer, and helps people to find out what is safe to plug into a four-way bar adaptor, and which combinations are potentially dangerous. It highlights the fact that the public should never plug into an extension lead or socket appliances that together exceed a current of 13 amperes or 3 kilowatts of energy.

“Most people use extension leads in their homes to enable them to plug more appliances into one wall socket,” says Emma Apter, head of communications at the ESC. “But what many people don’t consider is that there is a limit to the amount of power that can be drawn from a single socket. When these sockets are

overloaded it creates a fire risk, and at worst could lead to house fires, severe injuries or even death.”

The ESC is using the calculator to promote electrical safety as part of its appliance safety campaign.

To use the ESC’s online calculator, go to www.esc.org.uk/overloadingsockets


INDUSTRY EVENT PROMOTES CONSUMER SAFETY ISSUES

The ESC industry summit, which recently took place in Westminster, brought together a range of key stakeholders to discuss consumer safety and the changing landscape of the electrical industry.

The event focused on three significant developments: the changes to Part P and the ongoing review of the Building Regulations; what the Green Deal means for contractors; and how smart metering is likely to impact on the safety of electrical installations.

Don Foster MP, minister of state for communities and local government (DCLG) – the department responsible for the review of the Building Regulations – launched the event by opening the discussion on Part P. This was followed by a panel discussion, which included Roberta Blackman-Woods, shadow minister for DCLG, and then an audience question-and-answer session (pictured).

Responding to questions from the floor, the minister acknowledged concerns regarding the reduction in notifiable work and the issue of third-party certification. However, he stressed the overarching legal requirement for all electrical work to be safe, and noted that changes to Part P would be reviewed. He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to raising consumer awareness of electrical safety and the need to use a registered electrician.

Other presentations at the summit included Philip Arend, from Carillion, on its Green Deal partnership with Birmingham City Council, and Jaqui Russell, head of the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Roll-Out smart metering implementation programme. The ESC’s technical director Mike Clark also spoke on the electrical safety issues arising from smart meter installations.

“The ESC believes consumer protection is best served by working with industry, and that this becomes even more of an imperative during a period of significant change,” said Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC.

“Establishing the industry summit allowed us to gather industry views to develop a green paper, or discussion document, which will be submitted to government departments.”

The agreed answers to several new questions have been added to the industry guidance on the Wiring Regulations section of the ESC website. These include:

• In a multicore flexible cable that includes a protective conductor coloured green-and-yellow (having the same csa [cross-sectional area] as the other

conductors), can the protective conductor be used as a live conductor if it is suitably overmarked at each end of the cable?

• The external earth fault loop impedance at an installation is so high that it seems likely that there is a fault on the distribution system. Is it suff icient to install RCDs [residual-current devices] in the installation to enable the required disconnection times to be achieved?

• Is it permissible to terminate cables with conductors having a rated operating temperature exceeding 70°C (such as with 90°C thermosetting insulation) in accessories having a maximum rated operating temperature of 70°C?

For these and other commonly asked questions on applying BS 7671: 2008 as amended, visit www.esc.org.uk/forum

More wiring questions answered

Plugged in

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Switching on to digitalThe ESC has made it even easier to keep up with its latest news by introducing a digital, page-turning version of its quarterly magazine Switched On.

The move follows a readership survey that found the majority of respondents favoured a digital version, with positive comments about sustainability, ease of access via smartphones and other devices, and the potential to link to further online content.

However, there was also strong opinion in favour of retaining the current printed version from readers not having convenient access to computers or mobile devices, or who would find it diff icult to print articles of interest. A significant proportion also expressed a preference for paper publications.

Therefore the ESC will continue to distribute printed versions free of charge via the existing channels – as inserts in Professional Electrician and SELECT’s Cabletalk magazine, and to

those on the ESC’s direct mailing list – up to and including the autumn issue.

With eff ect from the winter issue, paper copies will continue to be available on subscription only – by direct mail – at a price intended to cover the cost of printing and distribution.

Digital versions of all issues can be found at www.esc.org.uk/switchedon

The Electrical Safety Council: raising electrical safety awareness, made possible by funding from Certsure. To view the ESC’s Switched On magazine, visit www.esc.org.uk

Safety campaign hits the spotThe ESC’s product safety campaign has hit the headlines, with coverage on national TV, including ITV’s News at 10, BBC Breakfast and Daybreak, as well as the Sunday Times, the Telegraph and national and local radio.

The campaign highlights the low level of public awareness around the recall of electrical products, with research revealing that around two million people had previously ignored a product recall and a million admitting to currently owning a recalled electrical item.

To help people discover if they have “missed” an electrical product recall, the ESC has developed an online tool, at www.esc.org.uk/recall. Simply enter the model number, brand and description of goods, to discover if a product has been recalled and what to do next.

In addition to its high-profile consumer campaign, the charity is also working with the industry to address the issue of product safety. The ESC’s third product

safety conference is being held in London on 16 May, with the theme of protecting consumers through a 360° approach.

The event will focus on a review of recall processes and traceability, looking at how recalls are tracked within the supply chain and to the consumer.

Speakers will include representatives from major retailers, manufacturers and trade associations, including Dyson, Bosch, AMDEA, Recall UK and the British Retail Consortium. For more information, please go to the ESC website.

ESSENTIAL GUIDE PROVES POPULAR WITH USERS The ESC’s Essential Guide continues to show its worth as a regularly used reference resource. During 2012 it was accessed by 4,264 individual users and 3,657 individual company users.

The Essential Guide is a searchable online resource that provides an easy-to-access source of relevant and authoritative information. Covering more than 350 topics, it can be searched in several ways, including by regulation number, topic number and keyword.

Companies that are registered as either an Approved Contractor or a Domestic Installer with the NICEIC receive access to the Essential Guide as part of their benefits package.

As well as electrical contractors and installers, users of the Essential Guide include building services consultants, local authorities, government and housing associations.

The ESC recommends that all those involved in the design and installation of electrical systems in buildings consider a regular annual subscription to enable them to access the guide.

ELECTRICAL-INTAKE AREA LABELS WARN OF FIRE RISKThe ESC has supplied millions of fire-warning labels to fire and rescue services and electricity-supply industry bodies throughout the UK, to raise awareness of the risk of fire in electrical-intake areas.

Four million labels have been supplied to several electricity-supply industry bodies – in collaboration with the Association of Meter Operators – for use, where appropriate, when electricity meters are replaced. A further 250,000 labels have been distributed to fire and rescue services.

The ESC has supplied the labels free of charge to fire and rescue services but the supply industry bodies have funded most of the cost of providing theirs, with a small contribution being made from charitable funds in recognition of the industry’s assistance in raising awareness of the issue.

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Making the Green Deala great deal for you

Certification BodyReg. No. 6017

The Green Deal improvements you will become certified for are as follows:

Offer includes a Quality Management System Audit to PAS2030. On-site assessment will be conducted at your next annual visit.

Green Deal is now here! Take advantage of the growing opportunities and become a Green Deal Installer now.*

*This offer includes a quality management system audit to PAS2030. An on-site assessment will be included in your next annual visit. This offer certificates you for the Green Deal improvements specified only. Additional measures can be added onto your Green Deal package at a cost of £290 per half day visit required. If certification is not achieved, additional assessments will be charged at our usual costs. All prices exclude VAT. For a full list of available measures please visit www.niceic.com/contractor/green-deal

For more information click or call

0843 290 [email protected]

Great deal!We are offering NICEIC Registered Contractors the opportunity to become a Green Deal Installer for just £290!

Domestic InstallersApproved Contractors

• Lighting Controls (Non-Domestic)

• Light Fittings• Storage Heaters (Domestic

and Non-Domestic)

• Light Fittings• Storage Heaters (Domestic)

Green Dealassessment for

£290Quote Code

GD290!

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Plugged in



THE APOLLO HAS LANDED

Seaward has introduced the Apollo 600, a multi-purpose portable appliance tester (PAT) designed to carry out point-to-point testing of fixed appliances, as recommended by the fourth edition of the Institution of Engineering and Technology code of practice.

The device is designed primarily for risk-based portable appliance testing, but can also be used to carry out earth continuity and insulation tests on fixed appliances. Its ability to store inspection and test results means users can keep an accurate record of when equipment was tested and when further tests are due.

The Apollo 600 also off ers a range of electrical safety tests to enable all workplace appliances to be tested, and includes a built-in digital camera to enable visual evidence to be taken during inspections.www.apollo600.com See our PAT feature on page 32

Martindale Electric has released a general purpose cable detector, designed to quickly and accurately trace cables hidden in walls or underground.

The CD1000 can also locate fuses or breakers on live or dead circuits, and identify interruptions and open circuits in cables and electrical floor heating systems. It can also be used to trace metallic water and heating pipes.

The product comes as a kit and includes a transmitter and receiver, which

can also be used as a non-contact voltage indicator. Up to six diff erent circuits can be tested at any one time.

The device also includes an LED torch and a self-test facility, and is supplied with TL47 test leads with crocodile clips, earthing rod, 9V and 1.5V alkaline batteries, and a case with full instructions.www.martindale-electric.co.uk

TRACING HIDDEN DANGERSFLEXIBLE FLUKE

The new AC current meter from Fluke includes a flexible measuring loop that can be used to take and store readings and wirelessly record results on a PC.

The Fluke CNX i3000 iFlex AC wireless current module enables readings of up to 2500A around awkward-sized conductors, making wire access easier. It can store up to 65,000 sets of minimum, maximum and average readings and has a CAT IV 600V, CAT III 1000V safety rating.

The kit can also be used as part of a wireless Fluke CNX 3000 measurement system, sending readings for display on a master device, allowing users to place modules in hazardous or awkward places and then watch and record the readings from a safe distance.

The product comes complete with a Fluke iFlex i2500-10 flexible current probe, TL175 test leads, AC175 alligator clips and a magnetic hanging strap.

A wireless PC adapter and software is an optional extra.www.fluke.co.uk

WIHA TOOL WALLET

Wiha has unveiled a “Super Seven” electricians’ kit, featuring a range of commonly used VDE tools. The set includes six SlimFix screwdrivers and a pair of heavy-duty VDE diagonal cutters, housed in a wallet.

The SlimFix screwdrivers provide access to deep screws, with the blade being 33 per cent narrower. The devices also off er 1000V VDE security, with the insulation directly moulded on to the blade itself.

The 160mm diagonal cutters include Wiha’s DynamicJoint functionality, which the company claims can reduce the amount of force required by up to 40 per cent. www.brianhyde.co.uk

< Fluke wireless current module

< Apollo 600

< Super Seven

< CD1000

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Live wireAdvice/Opinion/Regions/Insight/Events/Case study/Customer care/Training

In tough economic times every business needs to make sure it is working as eff iciently and eff ectively as it possibly can. Implementing a quality management system is a way of looking at everything you do when working towards achieving this aim. Such systems have also been proven to both save businesses money and help them to become more resilient when times are tough.

ISO 9001The world’s most popular quality management system is ISO 9001. This internationally recognised standard provides your company with a robust framework based on a set of common sense management principles. The aim is to ensure your business achieves customer satisfaction consistently, eff iciently and profitably.

ISO 9001 is a management tool that many businesses use as a guide for implementing a solid foundation and structure for their operations. This enables them to get organised so they can concentrate their energy on running and growing the business.

Route to certifi cationSome firms prefer to go the extra step and choose an outside agency – a certification body – to verify the systems they have in place. Just as electrical contractors look for the NICEIC or ELECSA badge to give credence to the electrical work they provide, so firms trust the ISO 9001 logo as it marks out their organisation as one associated with quality and dependability.

Many contractors are initially put off by the thought of gaining certification because of a fear that it will create more paperwork or bureaucracy. However, ISO 9001 only requires six procedures and gives the business lots of flexibility to demonstrate how it meets the standard. The process of gaining quality certification is also straightforward and, no matter what size your company, it will be relevant to the work you do.

Certification can be achieved in just three simple steps: application, assessment and registration. It is similar to applying for NICEIC and ELECSA registration. Once you have contacted the certification body (such as NQA, the sister company to NICEIC), you fill out an application form outlining the areas of your business: type of work, number of employees, management structure and work location.

AuditA booking will then be made for an independent assessor to come out and audit your place of work. Typically the assessor will look at the processes you have in place to manage the core activities of the

Pole position Implementing quality management systems can help your fi rm to operate as effi ciently as possible and ensure that it stands out from the crowd when pitching for business, says Mo Ghaus

N

business. These include staff competence, customer satisfaction, working with suppliers and ensuring that completed work meets technical and legal standards.

The assessor will also identify opportunities for improving the business, so it is not just a checking activity. Their job is to add value to your business, as well as to ensure it meets the technical requirements of the standard, which leads to certification.

Benefi tsOne contractor that has benefited from ISO 9001 certification is Barrett Bros Electrical Ltd, a family-run building and electrical services firm in Hither Green, South London. Established in 1970, it secured ISO 9001 certification in 1995 as a way of standing out from the competition. Today this proves a vital tool in securing work with local authorities. The firm has been re-certified for the past 17 years, undertaking annual check-ups and the three-yearly recertification process.

The use of certification as a way of securing larger contracts – many tender contracts nowadays, particularly with local authorities, make it a mandatory requirement – is perhaps the main reason why contractors choose to go through the process.

But a quality management system is also a positive investment that will save your business money, regardless of whether clients mandate it. Many of the processes undertaken to gain certification show you exactly where your costs are. It gives you control of your business activities by analysing what you are doing and improving the way that you do it, helping to save you money.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Mo Ghaus is head of NQAFind out more at www.nqa.comIll

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Live wire

W ith traditional lighting technologies it’s fairly simple to determine whether you’re getting the best product and value, but with advancing LED

technology – and terms such as “CRI” (colour rendering index) being thrown around – it’s much harder to know.

When specifying LEDs, there are a few questions you must ask to determine quality and suitability of a product. It is important to diff erentiate between a datasheet and a test report. A datasheet should demonstrate all the technical parameters of a product, but it may sometimes be misleading or inaccurate, and cannot take into account batch variations in performance. A test report, however, is a true measure of performance for that tested product.

Accurate information on a few technical parameters should give you a good portrayal of performance. Lumen output and power consumption figures show the total output of light, as well as allowing you to calculate eff iciency (lumens per watt). These are vital

for determining Part L compliance. But one should be cautious that the light output or lumen figure is that of actual delivered light, not the value of the bare LED chip. Colour temperature should be observed since, on occasion, datasheets have shown light output for cooler colour temperatures because these values are higher. CRI and chip brand are important factors to determine the quality of light, with CRI values of Ra=80 or above seen as a benchmark standard for good performance.

Furthermore, extensive guarantees and use of the chip-life value can be misleading. When manufacturers quote the chip life (such as 50,000 hours) as an overall estimate of the lifetime for the product they are completely overlooking the potential failure of any other component, including those within drivers.

These parameters are essentially the benchmark for determining quality, but many in the industry cannot provide true data in test reports for their products. In light of this, Orlight has invested in scientific-grade test equipment to provide real data upon request, and we always provide the brand of chip used and even the model in some cases. If others in the industry followed suit it would make life much easier for specifiers.

Light relief The LED market is a minefi eld of misinformation for the unwary, which means contractors and specifi ers need to know exactly what to look for when assessing products, says Michael Dangoor

If you have an opinion about an issue concerning the electrical industry, let us know. Email [email protected]

LED STANDARDS

IN FOCUS// STEPHEN BARLOW What is the background to your business? I run the Mr. Electric franchise for Cornwall and South Devon, and the Aire Serv Cornwall franchise. These are operated by TEE Ltd, which is owned by my father and his business partner. I got involved about 15 years ago after leaving college.

How do the two electrical businesses work? TEE tends to focus on the large commercial side and anything domestic or light commercial goes through Mr. Electric. We bought the Mr. Electric

franchise because we like the system: the guys wear smart uniforms and use mats and shoe covers so it’s very customer-oriented.

Do the businesses complement each other? The domestic work helps drive cash flow because you normally do the work and then get paid, but you can build your business on other work. They do complement each other, but over the next few years we’ll probably combine them and become fully branded – running two sets of everything can be challenging.

How do you see the business developing? We’d like to get Mr. Electric to £2-3 million a year. There’s plenty of work out there, especially with the Green Deal coming up. We also have the add-on of the air-conditioning side of our business and we’re also looking at plumbing and heating. You have to off er customers more value for money and more services.

What about outside work? I spend time with my partner and children and go to the gym, but there’s not much downtime!

If you are a small business or sole trader and would like to feature in In Focus, email [email protected]

» Stephen Barlow is general manager of Mr. Electric Cornwall and South Devon, and Aire Serv Cornwall

Michael Dangoor is technical director at Orlight

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

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NORTH EAST

The north-east has been hit harder than most regions by the economic downturn. But contractors in the area are making ends meet by controlling costs and sourcing new businessBy Adrian Holliday

T he UK economy still stubbornly refuses to take off . The pound is shrinking and public borrowing growing, despite the coalition’s attempts to rein it in. Unemployment in the north-east stood at 9.8 per cent in March: the highest in the country. So how are things on the ground?

Liam Tickle is director of Tecal Ltd, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He’s responsible for 16 staff and business is good. “My partner has a construction company with a lot of loyal investors locally and we’re benefiting from that,” he says. He makes sure he keeps overheads low, with minimal off ice staff and as many hands on the tools as possible.

With this in mind, Tecal don’t lease vans – the firm currently has four – but buys ex-hire vehicles with around 90,000-plus miles on the clock. “Last time we paid £1,000 each for Renault Kangoos,” says Tickle. “It might mean £500 at MOT time, but that also includes a service.”

And Labour costs are continually monitored too. “If a guy is working a Saturday between 8am-12pm but leaving at 11.50 that means packing up at 11.30,” he says. “That’s a frustration and those costs can soon mount up.”

Another issue is a lack of work from the public sector. “We’re on all the right procurement databases, but we’re never selected,” he says. It’s a common complaint in the industry. But Tecal recently won a £1 million contract for a 250-bed student accommodation block – the result of

four years of discussion – which broke ground in February, although Tecal’s input will have to wait until mid-summer.

NICEIC registration has helped: an out-of-the-blue call from a London customer through the NICEIC website resulted in a £250,000 contract to replace 10,000 fluorescent tubes with LEDs on sites across the region. Corporate and social responsibility was key – the contract was awarded partly on the use of local labour and independent suppliers.

Diversity paysMark Cummins, who runs One Stop Electrical Solutions in Redcar, says that, despite high local unemployment, business is good. “I’m doing very well. I sub-contract when I need to. I don’t do big builds, it’s more re-wires and smaller jobs.”

There’s been a slight upturn in the rental property market as more landlords become familiar with their legal obligations. Driving this, he suspects, is an increase in aff luent Southerners buying up cheaper property in the north to let out.

Most of his work is private, and he’s careful with pricing too, unlike some of his competitors. “What some charge is

‘One builder said to us that they never need an overdraft because they use sub-contractors to fi nance their working capital’

Weathering the storm

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on by moves from Brussels to pull away from diesel fuel. “The locations where gas-powered vehicles are maintained will need tight environmental and health and safety controls, not to mention rigorous testing,” he says. “I understand that more emissions regulations from Brussels will make it more diff icult for diesel engines to meet their requirements.”

Staying competitiveFinally, over in Hartlepool, Stephen McKay from S.M. Electrical Contractors is busy. That’s down to a variety of factors, including loyal clients and little exposure to the undercutting many other companies have experienced. The three-man operation has even benefited from increasing flexibility around how the public sector hires. “A lot of schools can now get in their own contractors, as long as they have the proper insurances,” he says, which has seen him take on jobs ranging from refurbishments to fire alarms and inspections. There’s still a fair amount of work from builders, but this is increasingly focused on housing extensions rather than newbuild.

McKay, for the moment, is more or less booked up until mid-summer. But, despite the positive work environment, he says taking on an apprentice is a step too far in the current climate. “You have to pay out too much money,” he says. “I had an apprentice for a six-month trial, and he could have had a job. But he said he could earn more stacking shelves. But if he’d stayed for three years he could have been earning treble what he would earn doing that.”

» Adrian Holliday is a freelance business journalist

> Liam Tickle (third from left ) and his team at Tecal in Newcastle upon Tyne

The north-east has closely tracked the fortunes of many brand names hit by the downturn’s economic gusts and squalls: the run on Northern Rock; considerable job losses at Nissan in Sunderland; and Direct Line – owner of Churchill and Green Flag – which recently closed its Teeside base.

But things are improving: Northern Rock is now backed by Virgin, and Nissan hopes to up car production in 2013 to 500,000 vehicles a year. Last year it announced plans to take on an extra 400 staff to work on its new compact car, with a further 1,600 in the wider supply chain, underwritten by £9 million from the government’s regional growth fund.

North Tyneside, too, was recently named as the top district for inward investment based on environment and infrastructure, following analysis of 335 local authority areas in England.

frightening,” he says. But, more generally, he’s optimistic, also noticing a slight upturn in newbuild construction. “If I get five or six jobs a day then I’m quite happy,” he adds. Diversity, he adds, is crucial; he had been plumbing in a WC when he spoke to Connections.

Brute forceJohn Turner of Electrical Services North East in Durham has seen the tougher side of the recession. In 2009, his company of 29 staff was exposed to a substantial loss from three local builders. He’d experienced nothing like it, despite being in operation since 1976.

“We struggled on for about a year, but then we had no other option but to shut down and start all over again,” he says. “We are now back up to four employees, and a lot older and wiser. We don’t do any sub-contract work for builders. One builder even said to us that they never need an overdraft because they use sub-contractors to finance their working capital. It is limiting, but the old saying ‘turnover is vanity, and profit is sanity’ is very true.”

Much of the company’s bread and butter now is testing and inspection work, which can lead to other problem-solving, and more work. Turner has steered clear of the photovoltaic market for now, although he believes the recession has flushed out those who saw PV work as easy money. “It’s taken the heat out of the market and left the people who should be there,” he says.

Turner is looking to renew the company’s hazardous areas qualification related to natural gas-powered vehicles, brought

Economic outlookNorth-east

2,000: The number of jobs created, directly

or indirectly, at Nissan’s compact car factory in Sunderland

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CLOUD CERTIFICATION

Cloud certifi cation means electrical contractors can now create, store and send certifi cates from wherever they are, saving time and money

F illing out forms can often take up a large part of any contractor’s day, but thanks to an innovation by NICEIC, the time spent on necessary paperwork is set to be reduced dramatically.

NICEIC has teamed up with WhiteCloud Software to create a revolution in electrical certification. The new cloud certification system is

designed to make the creating, storing and administration of electrical certificates a simpler, more streamlined process.

While paperless form-filling is nothing new, the one major diff erence with the cloud system is that contractors do not need to install the software. They can simply log in with their NICEIC details to easily fill out all forms online. Additionally, because the system is cloud-based, it allows multiple users to work on a form from various locations. All forms are then automatically stored for up to five years.

“The move to a cloud-based certification system is another innovative measure NICEIC is taking to ensure contractors have access to the most up-to-date technical software out there,” says Certsure’s commercial manager Mike Jackson. “Filling out the necessary paperwork can be a time-consuming job for many contractors, and we believe this new system will help save them both time and money.”

With the new system, there are no joining fees or software costs. Updates are also free, and there are no licence costs per user. Firms simply log on to the site and register their details, and can then purchase certificates individually for just £1.

Forms can then be completed either on-site or back in the off ice, and can be emailed or printed off for clients and personal record-keeping. Jobs can also be automatically notified to Building Control using the same information on the electrical installation certificate.

“More work across all industries is now carried out online, simply because of the convenience it off ers to people,” adds Jackson. “With access to the internet now so easy, contractors can be in contact with their off ice at any time of the day, meaning paperwork doesn’t have to be a task done at the

end of a hard working day. We have put a lot of work into developing this system, and we think contractors will really notice the benefits.”

NICEIC is now at the final testing stage of its online certification and notification system, following positive feedback from the pilot programme.

“The initial test programme was a success, and we are implementing final suggestions from users to improve overall functionality,” says Jackson. “We have had to delay the launch slightly to implement the recent changes to Part P, but we expect the system to be fully available in the next few weeks. We also hope to have an ELECSA-branded version up and running in the near future.”

“We have carried out interviews and tests with a range of electrical contractors to ensure the new system has everything they need,” he adds. “We have spoken with both Domestic Installer and Approved Contractor scheme registrants, so the system can be tailored to meet each individual need.”

Taking the pain out of paperwork

1. Main screen

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‘We have carried out interviews and tests with a range of electrical contractors to ensure the new system has everything they need’

Stephen Clemens (pictured, left ) runs Clem Electrics in Torbay, Devon. He has been using various soft ware programs to fi ll out forms over the past fi ve years, and has been trialling the new NICEIC system.

He believes the time it can save contractors will be most benefi cial. “Filling out EICRs was defi nitely easier, as the options available mean you can just tick or untick what you need rather than having to tick each individual box. In some cases, this could be up to 50 boxes,” he says.

“Linking up to the BRCS (building notifi cation) site also saves time, as it is now all in one place and means you don’t have to log in separately.”

Cloud certification in action

• Free for all NICEIC and ELECSA contractors • No soft ware to install• All of your certifi cates and jobs are held securely in your

online account• Allows you to produce and issue certifi cates for just £1 each• Integrated with Building Control for electronic notifi cation

of your jobs• Accessible by everyone in your company, wherever they

are, whatever the time• A range of certifi cates and forms available• Easy to use, with online help videos guiding you through

every step • Allows you to complete and certify jobs instantly on-site,

email right away or retrieve and print later

Key features2. Creating a certifi cate

3. All information automatically transferred for BRCS notice

4. Final certifi cate

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Spring 2013 Connections www.electricalsafetyregister.com24


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EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

In with the new Contractors are increasingly installing new technologies to meet customers’ electrical and energy needs. But care must be taken to ensure designs and installations meet requirements, advises Philip Sanders

T he electrical industry has seen many contractors add to their more traditional range of work by venturing into advanced or alternative technologies, including renewable and energy-eff icient products. Over the years, more

and more innovative technologies have been adopted into mainstream electrical contracting, including solar photovoltaic power supply systems, heat pumps, advanced electric heating, voltage optimisation and energy-eff icient lighting schemes.

Specifiers, architects and consumers alike are all looking to take advantage of these technologies in the pursuit of more comfortable, controllable and energy-eff icient installations. And government-backed incentives included within the microgeneration and Green Deal schemes make energy-eff icient measures even more financially attractive.

However, the design, construction and verification of such installations must be carefully considered.

While being conversant with the relevant electrical safety requirements of BS 7671, electrical contractors may be less familiar with the requirements of the relevant technology-specific standards, Building Regulations or the installation requirements of the manufacturer. So it is essential that the relevant standards and instructions are referred to and, where appropriate, the manufacturer’s advice sought at the planning and design stage.

Remember, technology-specific regulations are used to supplement and not replace the electrical safety requirements of BS 7671.

No matter what technology is being used, the five essential steps for success are:

Customer requirementsAsk your customer to provide their requirements and talk through the available options, providing information such as product literature where possible. Without ruling out the more traditional methods, use your experience and knowledge of advanced or alternative technologies to provide your customer with guidance, be as factual as possible and include both the pros and cons of each option.

Product selectionOnly select products that comply with the relevant standard and that are supplied by manufacturers who

can assist you in meeting all the relevant requirements. In some instances your customer may wish to provide the products themselves and, where this is the case, the product must also be verified as being compliant with the relevant standard and the manufacturer’s instructions considered prior to commencing your design.

DesignThis may be quite simple or more complex depending on the technology and size of installation, but it should always take into account the requirements of BS 7671, the manufacturer, and any other relevant regulations and/or scheme requirements. Where appropriate, the manufacturer’s advice should be sought directly to aid your design, and for larger installations you should consider a manufacturer’s site visit. Records of this information should be agreed with and provided to your customer, and copies should be kept for your records and for site personnel during construction.

ConstructionTo ensure all the relevant requirements are being addressed, your design should be referred to during construction. Where changes to the design are proposed, it is essential to verify that compliance with the relevant requirements will still be achieved. Any changes must be agreed with your customer and recorded.

CompletionThe completed installation should be verified against both your customer’s requirements and your design. An appropriate handover should be undertaken, which should include all the relevant documentation, including certification, operating instructions, maintenance information and relevant warranties. A “walk through” of the installed system, together with your customer and/or end-user, should be undertaken and all user controls should be fully explained.

‘Technology-specifi c regulations are used to supplement and not replace the electrical safety requirements of BS 7671’

Philip Sanders is NICEIC’s customer relations engineer

» Details of the NICEIC microgeneration and Green Deal schemes and the opportunities that they can off er can be found at www.niceic.com/contractor/microgeneration

24_customercare.FINAL.indd Sec2:2424_customercare.FINAL.indd Sec2:24 08/04/2013 15:1308/04/2013 15:13

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Live wire

S even years ago, a quality mark with government-endorsed standards was launched to tackle the menace of cowboy tradespeople and to signpost consumers to the good firms. Since then, TrustMark has provided consumers with a platform to find

reliable, safe and competent tradespeople, and has become a strong source of support for consumers looking to have work carried out in their home.

NICEIC and ECA are TrustMark scheme operators that have been great advocates for the scheme since the beginning. Many of their contractors are registered with the scheme. But there are still a considerable number of its registered contractors who are not reaping the benefits and creating a point of diff erence in this competitive domestic market.

All electricians registered with the scheme are assessed on a regular basis to ensure high standards. By employing a TrustMark-registered electrician, consumers have assurance that the work will be carried out to a consistently high professional standard and will be done in the best way to ensure a safe job.

Another key advantage of being TrustMark-registered is the recognition. It’s the only national “find a trader” scheme that operates to government-endorsed standards and that involves both industry and consumer interests in its governance and board. Many consumer organisations, including Citizens Advice, Trading Standards Institute, Age UK, the HomeOwners Alliance and the Off ice of Fair Trading (OFT), are signposting consumers to registered firms, which again ensures visibility of NICEIC electricians for anyone searching for a reputable local TrustMark business.

The scheme now holds the largest database of vetted tradespeople in the UK, comprising more than 23,000 firms across the country. TrustMark electricians’ details were viewed more than 408,000 times in 2012 – an average of 34,000 per month.

TrustMark standards – the “core criteria” at the heart of the scheme – cover competence, customer care and business practices, and haven’t changed much since 2006. However, in the past year or so, we have recognised that our standards need to be updated and reviewed, particularly with the advent of the new consumer protection legislation and the wholesale review of the consumer protection landscape in the UK last year.

Working closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, we aim to create an updated set of

standards that are credible and pragmatic, stretching where they need to, but also achievable and capable of being enforced. We are looking to achieve greater parity between all the diff erent standards required of the trades, making it less hassle for the industry and easier for the consumer to understand, and eliminating any grey areas.

The standards will be brought more in line with the consumer protection legislation on issues such as cold-calling and doorstep-selling, in support of the campaign by Trading Standards, Citizens Advice, the OFT and Action Fraud. Among other changes, there will also be clearer responsibilities on firms that sub-contract work, and more monitoring and vetting of firms that want to join TrustMark.

Another area we are committed to is the Green Deal, as we see it could create a positive opportunity for domestic, building-led growth in the economy. Our concern is to ensure any work that falls outside the Green Deal and Green Deal providers is carried out by competent tradesmen.

Consequently, we have lobbied hard for the Green Deal code of practice to include clear advice to Green Deal providers that they must make sure any “ancillary works” are done by properly vetted and insured tradespeople, such as TrustMark-registered firms.

To help us achieve these objectives, Emma Clancy, CEO of Certsure, recently joined our board as trade director. She will play a key role in the overall success of TrustMark, and will help us to continue to find better ways to improve the home repair, maintenance and improvement sector.

‘The Electrical Safety Register is a great development in the industry that will provide guidance and support to homeowners wanting to hire professional registered electricians’

Liz Male is chairman of TrustMark

27


Building trust The TrustMark badge helps reassure customers that they are choosing tradespeople with a reputation for quality work, making it a natural fi t for registered contractors, says Liz Male

NSTANDARDS

TrustMark has been a strong supporter of the Electrical Safety Register as a means of

ensuring consumers can easily fi nd local registered electricians whose work has been assessed and certifi ed.

“The Electrical Safety Register is a great development in the industry that will provide guidance and support to homeowners wanting to hire professional registered electricians,” says Liz Male, chairman of TrustMark.

“Together, we must drive for higher standards, greater consumer empowerment and recognition of reputable fi rms, both now and in the future.”

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Hidden treasureBased just behind the high street in the Cheshire town of Nantwich, Gilks still operates from the same location it started up in back in 1935. But the business today is a very diff erent beast

CONTRACTOR PROFILE // GILKS

By Nick Martindale

T ucked away in the heart of the Cheshire town of Nantwich, squeezed between the main high street, a quaint, pedestrianised side street and a car park, lie the off ices of Gilks electrical contractors. It turns out there is a good reason for this unlikely location; when the business was first set up in 1935 it originally owned the

shop at the front, which sold white goods, while the electrical workshop – specialising at the time in rewires and domestic work – was based at the rear. Today, the company still operates out of the back part, while the front forms part of the current high street.

The company was originally founded by George Gilks and ownership was later transferred to Mike Harthern in 1991. The current owner, Mark Beeston, joined the business in 1995 as an engineer from the local electricity board. Within two years he had been promoted to contracts director and then bought into the company as part of a management buyout. He became sole owner four years ago, buying out the only remaining shareholder.

At the time, the business was turning over around £2.5 million a year, says Mark, but since then has expanded dramatically. At one stage it was turning over nearly £9 million; in today’s climate that figure is closer to £6.5 million. “It’s a

fantastic story for me,” he says. “I’ve only had two jobs in my life and we’ve taken more staff on and have grown into the shape we’re in today.”

There are essentially two main sides to the business: undertaking design and build services – including building, plumbing and mechanical work, as well as electrical – on newbuild projects in education, medical, commercial and industrial spaces, and undertaking term contracts. The business works closely with a number of main building contractors, including companies such as Carillion Enterprise and Seddon Construction.

“We have some good relationships, so if certain counties have a new school we’ll go in with the main contractors from the outset and do the design with them,” says Mark. The education sector remains strong at the moment, he says, while another recent supply of work has been the business’s

COMPANY: Gilks

BASED: Nantwich, Cheshire

FOUNDED: 1935

MAJOR PROJECTS: British Aerospace, Ministry of Defence, RNLI

STAFF NUMBERS: 71

TURNOVER: £6.5 million

‘It’s well known that aft er every recession there is a big upturn in work so we’re trying to keep ourselves in good shape to respond to that’

Mark

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www.electricalsafetyregister.com Connections Spring 2013 29

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Mark Beeston

David Leigh

‘At one stage I would never have portrayed us as a national contractor, but we have become one because you have to go where the work is’

involvement in a job to combine emergency services in a single control centre in Bury.

Gilks also works directly with regular clients, including British Aerospace, where it is currently working on the wings for the new Airbus. “They’re very complex jobs,” says Mark. “When the wings are vertical they would be taller than the building so to put the wing in the floor folds up and then there’s a mezzanine floor that comes back up against the wing, and people can work on that.”

The company also recently undertook the automated control wiring on the engine production line for the new Baby Bentley two-door car, at the car-maker’s site in Crewe.

Nursing homes have also been a growth area for the business, as have crematoriums, including the Agecroft Crematorium in Salford. “Crematoriums are virtually prehistoric,” says Mark. “They’re not environmentally friendly and they’re ineff icient because they’re burning things and not using any heat. It’s not a nice topic of conversation, but we’ve had a spell of fitting new crematoriums with heat recovery systems so they are much more environmentally friendly.”

Broadening the baseAn ongoing maintenance relationship with the Ministry of Defence – through Carillion Enterprise – has also been hugely productive. Some 15 years ago, Gilks began working at the RAF Valley site in Anglesey and today it looks after all mechanical

and electrical operations on the base, including relighting Sea-King helicopters and rewiring the runway. The business has developed a local presence too, and now operates a small off ice on the island, servicing local clients, including Anglesey Council and the RNLI.

“We have an off ice off the camp to deal with private work in Wales, but we also have a set-up on the camp in a contractors’ compound,” explains Mark. The company also has a base on another military base at Fulwood Barracks, near Preston.

As the company has grown, so too has its geographical coverage, taking on work from Scotland to the south of England. “At one stage I would never have portrayed us as a national contractor, but we have become one because you have to go where the work is,” he says. “We try and use our staff ; we do supplement it with labour through other avenues such as agencies, but the ratio is always very high in favour

Peter Martin

Mark Ashley



of our own labour, to ensure a good standard. That’s why we carry quite a lot of operatives.”

Gilks currently employs 71 people across its various sites, of which 49 are tools-based.

Mark attributes much of the company’s recent success both to its dedicated team and investment in health and safety. The company was recently awarded the ISO 18001 standard by NQA – in addition to 14001 for environmental management and 9001 for quality management – and Mark believes this will eventually become a requirement for organisations looking to get on to preferred supplier lists.

“There aren’t many organisations with ISO 18001, certainly not electrical contractors, but some of our major clients have it, and if they start using people who don’t have it this can dilute their own qualification,” he says. It’s hard to say exactly how much this helps with winning work, he says, but the business recently picked up a contract refurbishing National Grid sub-stations where safety was a primary factor.

Tough timesThe business, however, has not been immune to the recession, and the commercial projects in particular are harder to find. “You only have to drive around to see there are many off ices and spaces to let,” he says. “At one time we used to do a lot of industrial estate buildings, with a warehouse and an off ice attached, but there are so many vacant ones that the market has really been quashed.”

The current landscape means that ensuring there is suff icient work to keep staff busy is a challenge. “We’re quite a stable employer and I’ve seen a lot of people get married, buy houses and have families,” he says. “Some companies do it diff erently; they just have a few key people and then hire and fire as the contracts come and go, but we have a bigger workforce to feed. It can be feast to famine and we work hard at that, with a lot of planning and forecasts, but it doesn’t come easy.”

Margins are also very tight, he says; wages remained static for the past four years, but this year staff have had a small rise. And fuel prices are also biting. “The cost of operating has gone up and not in proportion to the value you can win tenders for, so it’s been tough,” he says. “But we’re still in a strong position financially and we’re investing in the right areas. It’s well known that after every recession there is a big upturn in work so we’re trying to keep ourselves in good shape to respond to that.”

To this end, the company has just launched a new website, as well as investing in ISO 18001 and its NICEIC and Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) accreditations.

Other strategies include focusing more on the maintenance side of the business. “It’s a good area to be in now because people are maintaining rather than renewing facilities,” he says. “So that side has grown for us, certainly in the MoD sector, and we’re trying to do more in the private sector as well.”

One-stop shopIn the longer term, the aim is to become a “one-stop shop” for organisations, meeting all building services installation and maintenance requirements. “That’s quite an attractive package,” says Mark. “People like to make just one phone call to get a problem solved, as long as they’re still getting value for money.” Gilks recently became Gas Safe-registered with this in mind, he adds.

The plan for the future, however, is for steady and controlled growth. He’s reluctant to put a figure on how big the company could get, but believes it could cope with being a £10 million enterprise without having to relocate. Opening further satellite off ices is also an option; the business has traditionally done well in Scotland, and Mark feels the use of technology makes it easier to operate such arrangements.

For now, Mark – who is still only 47 – remains firmly committed to the business in which he has invested so much time, eff ort and money. But he also has a number of roles in the industry outside of Gilks – he is chair of the ECA’s West Midlands executive committee and sits on its national labour relations committee, as well as on the JIB national board – and can see a time where a younger generation becomes more involved in the running of Gilks.

“Eventually I would like to see the younger guys carry the success of the company on into a new era,” he says. “But I’m certainly not running out of ideas just yet.”

» Nick Martindale is editor of Connections

‘It’s not a nice topic of conversation, but we’ve had a spell of fi tting new crematoriums with heat recovery systems so they are much more environmentally friendly’

CONTRACTOR PROFILE // GILKS

1935: The year Gilks fi rst started trading in Nantwich, selling electrical goods

‘There aren’t many electrical contractors with ISO18001, but some of our major clients have it, and if they use people who don’t this can dilute their own qualifi cation’

David Leigh, contracts director, (left) with MD Mark Beeston


call us: 01709 385468email us: [email protected] us: www.cmd-ltd.comfollow us: @cmdltd BS 5733

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PAT TESTING

Under scrutiny

‘Some employers will reduce testing, but the majority believe that in most cases the number of tests will continue as before’

Portable appliance testing has come under fi re from the government’s war on unnecessary bureaucracy. But there remains a market for contractors, and it is one that can lead to bigger jobs By David Adams

F or some contractors the humble portable appliance test (PAT) is a bread-and-butter service: a useful way to initiate and maintain

client relationships and a steady, if unspectacular, source of income. For others, it can seem a less-than-lucrative distraction from core business, and a job best outsourced to someone else.

But some PAT providers have been giving the industry a bad name, telling customers, falsely, that annual testing is a legal requirement. Others create problems by doing a bad job. After all, anyone who has completed a two-day course on PAT can start calling themselves a PAT provider.

In May 2012 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a revised version of its guidance leaflet INDG 236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments. The aim of the revision was to clarify legal requirements, and it formed part of the

£30 million: The amount the government claims businesses spend each year on unnecessary regulations

government’s response to Professor Ragnar Löfstedt’s 2011 review of health and safety legislation.

“Löfstedt found that PAT was an example of regulation being applied too widely and disproportionately, resulting in costly over-compliance,” says a spokesperson for the HSE. “Businesses were being misled by some providers, which over-interpreted what the law actually required.”

The new version of INDG 236 is supposed to stop such “over-interpretation”. “You must maintain electrical equipment if it can cause danger, but the law

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Andy Jull Electrical Andy Jull has more than 23 years’ experience as an electrician and in 2009 launched his company, Andrew Jull Electrical, based in Herne Bay, Kent. The company has three staff : Andy, his colleague Keith Skipton and an apprentice, Christopher Hart.

Jull’s reason to off er PAT is straightforward. “With PAT testing, when you get into a place you can end up doing all their work,” he says. “We’re working for a factory near us in Ramsgate. We started doing PAT testing for them, and using the Megger [420 tester] machine we can do a full electrical asset list, too. We can see where the electrical equipment goes, and every year when we test we’ll fi nd it all again.

“Once I’ve done that kind of job, they oft en call me back for maintenance,” he adds. “So it’s not a money-making business for me; it’s more of a door-opener.”

Case study:


by saying every individual item should be risk-assessed,” he says.

Connections put some of these concerns to the HSE. In a written statement, it replied that the organisation “promotes a proportionate, risk-based approach to the maintenance of portable electrical appliances and encourages businesses to do what the law requires and no more”.

The HSE added that it plans to publish a refreshed version of HSG107 – Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment – in the coming months, re-emphasising the risk-based approach, and said no substantial amendments were planned for INDG 236. “We recognise, however,” the statement continued, “that there is still work to be done as businesses continue to report concerns and instances of over-zealous marketing and mis-selling by certain PAT providers.”

One way the cowboys might be tackled is through creating a tougher

also reports no negative impact on his business. But he does feel the new guidance lacks clarity in places. He quotes the leaflet’s half-definition of low-risk environments: “Off ices, shops, some parts of hotel and residential care homes.” Johnson asked the HSE to clarify which parts of hotels and residential care homes were referred to, but received a “very vague” response. “When pushed, it took a default stance

‘As the price for PAT testing falls, the need for quicker, more effi cient and cost-eff ective testing increases. This can sometimes be achieved only by specialists’

[Electricity at Work Regulations 1989] does not say how you must do this or how often,” says the text on page one. The leaflet advises dutyholders on determining appropriate levels of maintenance for each item, taking into account whether an item is used correctly, suitable for the job, used in a harsh or a low-risk environment, or double-insulated. It notes that not every item needs a PAT: sometimes a user check and visual inspection will do.

Mixed messagesUnfortunately, when the leaflet was launched, employment minister Chris Grayling hailed it as a sign of the government’s commitment to cut the number of health and safety regulations – which he claimed cost UK businesses £30 million per year – by half.

This message was reinforced by certain media outlets. “Petty health and safety rules that force firms to make checks on electric kettles and computers every year are to be swept away,” crowed the Daily Express.

The danger, as several PAT providers and other observers pointed out, was that this message could drown out the one the HSE wanted to get across: that employers are responsible for assessing risks and determining testing frequency for portable appliances.

PAT equipment manufacturer Seaward suggested in a statement that the changes in INDG 236 could “pose a significant challenge for the PAT sector”, but that providers should respond by moving from a cost-per-test model to off ering comprehensive “advisory, testing and record-

keeping services”. Seaward, and rival manufacturer Megger, have each run seminars to explain the changes and advise PAT providers. “The impression I get is that some employers will reduce testing, but the majority believe that in most cases the number of tests will

continue as before,” says Simon Wood, Megger’s UK wholesale and distribution sales manager.

Ian Stevens, owner and director of PAT services provider

PSW Services, says there’s been no discernible eff ect on his business. “There’s no such thing as bad publicity. If anything, we saw a slight increase in enquiries immediately afterwards.”

Andrew Johnson, owner of PAT provider React, which conducts PAT on behalf of other electrical contractors and carries out tests for employers,

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Win a CalCard Contractors involved in portable appliance testing or any other form of testing, and in particular the tests required by BS 7671, need to ensure the test equipment they use is maintained, and that the accuracy and consistency of the test instruments used for certifi cation and reporting purposes are verifi ed on a regular basis.

The CalCard is a resistance checkbox used to verify the correct readings of insulation and continuity resistance measuring test equipment, by providing a known source to measure the instruments against in order to ensure they are still functioning within specifi cation. Any variance in the quick and simple daily check will allow contractors to determine if their test equipment needs recalibrating.

NICEIC is giving away 10 CalCards to readers who can answer the following question:When is the date of this year’s NICEIC Live South event? The CalCard is also available for purchase at www.niceicdirect.com, priced at £23.99.To submit your entry, email [email protected] with your answer, along

with your name, address, telephone number and registration number. The closing date for entries is 31 May.

Competition:

34

qualification for PAT providers. “We’d like to see some type of grading,” says Trevor Dyster, executive director at the Association for Professional Appliance Testing (APAT). “At the moment, there may be people who have retrained and taken PAT testing as a path into the industry. They should be encouraged to take broader electrical qualifications.” However, the HSE says it sees no need for a new, separate PAT qualification.

Technological developmentsBut at least whoever is doing the testing can now use better equipment. Smaller, lighter, battery-powered, Bluetooth and USB-enabled PAT testers are making testing quicker and more eff icient. Bluetooth also helps testing equipment to link wirelessly with label printers and barcode scanners.

“This allows the technician to get closer to the appliance under test, whereas previously a lot of time was spent locating a power source and powering up and down,” says Johnson at React. “The equipment also allows a wider range of tests, including testing of surge-protected adapters at lower voltages and testing RCD-protected appliances for trip-time compliance.”

Dyster, meanwhile, highlights as a key advance increased memory power, which allows engineers to store more test data.

Another trend is to build digital cameras into testers, as with Seaward’s Apollo 600. Photographs taken using the device can be tagged to individual items, sites, locations and test results. “Visual inspections are subjective, but here you have photographic evidence that is tagged to the asset, so you don’t have to match up photos from a camera or a smartphone,” says Amy Lyons, an applications engineer at Seaward.

The Apollo 600 is also equipped with onboard risk assessment software and a retest calculation tool. It can be used for all electrical safety tests required by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for plug-in appliances, including point-to-point testing of fixed appliances as well as PAT; for a wider range of health and safety tests, including fire detection and alarm systems; and for emergency lighting.

Meanwhile, Megger’s PAT 400 series now features a larger on-board memory to store tests and results, the capability for continuous operation and testing at lower power; and an enhanced user interface.

PAT TESTING

But who is using this equipment? With a relatively large number of companies off ering PAT services in recent times, prices have been depressed in many areas, making it diff icult to make money out of PAT, particularly on a cost-per-test basis. Dyster, for one, believes it’s now often more sensible for contractors to off er PAT as part of a broader safety-testing service package.

Johnson believes no contractor can aff ord not to use the best new PAT equipment, and that this may entail outsourcing PAT to companies such as React. “As the price for PAT testing falls, the need for quicker, more eff icient and cost-eff ective testing increases,” he says. “This higher output can sometimes be achieved only by specialists, as they carry out

testing 24/7. An electrician who dips in now and again is often at a disadvantage because he’s using older equipment.”

Some may wish for increased regulation, or the introduction of new qualifications, but there’s no prospect of either at present. For now, they may be best advised to take advantage of the new technologies’ capabilities and make PAT part of a broader testing service package; or to outsource PAT to a trusted specialist while they focus on off ering clients other services. PAT may be, as one contractor says, “a bit dull”,

but there’s money to be made here – without

resorting to sharp practice.

» David Adams is a freelance

business journalist

Spring 2013 Connections www.electricalsafetyregister.com


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UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Hot to trotOnce regarded as expensive and ineffi cient, modern electric underfl oor heating is anything but. That should be good news for electrical contractors, writes Rob Shepherd

Thermogroup’s Thermonet: magnifi ed view and (bottom right) from a distance

36_38_underfloor.FINAL.indd 3636_38_underfloor.FINAL.indd 36 08/04/2013 15:2408/04/2013 15:24


T he origins of underfloor heating can be traced back to Roman times, when a “hypocaust” used the hot air generated from

a fire in a void between a building’s living area and its foundations to heat the area above. Although modern electrical underfloor heating is far less labour-intensive, the principle of heating the surface area of a floor is exactly the same.

Electrical underfloor heating has seen significant growth across Europe since the early 1990s. In certain countries it is now considered a mainstream technology which, as well as being highly eff icient, also provides added value when looking to sell properties. “It is particularly popular in Scandinavian countries, where heating under tiled and wooden floors in lobbies, kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories is second nature,” says Jonathan Jones, marketing manager at Pentair.

Kelly Butler, marketing director at the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association (BEAMA), is also a fan. “It is typically cheaper to install than water-based systems and requires little or no maintenance, as there are no moving parts such as water pumps, valves and actuators,” he says. “Also, as the electrical supply becomes smarter and greener, low energy-consuming, highly controllable solutions for heating are becoming ever more attractive.”

Challenging conventionWhen most of us think of a domestic heating system, one of the first items to spring to mind is a radiator. Fixed to walls the length and breadth of the nation, radiators have enjoyed a dominant position in the domestic heating sector for longer than most of us can remember.

In recent times, however, the energy

Sizing it upElectrical underfloor heating can be the perfect solution for newbuild, refurbishment and renovation projects – from older homes to large apartment schemes and aff ordable housing. “There is no restriction on the size of project or type of dwelling it is suitable for,” says Joan Pask, group marketing manager at Warmup. “It is increasingly the number-one choice for newbuilds, as the atmosphere inside low-energy or airtight houses requires careful management, precise heat control and zoning, to avoid overheating.”

Lee Nurse, marketing director at Vent-Axia, agrees. “Systems are now available that include a thermostatic controller that monitors both the floor and air temperature,” he says. “This allows customers to gain maximum control over their environment by allowing them to set the thermostat at either the ideal floor or air temperature, depending on the room.”

Next-generation systems also feature a factory-made hidden splice, which means there is no need for a return conductor. Installation is simplified, since the end of the cable can be placed wherever is most convenient.

Warm opportunityIn an industry where new revenue-generating opportunities are few and far between, the installation of electrical underfloor heating should prove a welcome addition to electrical contractors’ portfolios. “The systems are designed for quick and easy installation and should be connected by a qualified electrician,” says Rooney. “Most leading manufacturers also off er total support, from project quote to completion.”

‘It is typically cheaper to install than water-based systems and requires little or no maintenance, as there are no moving parts such as water pumps, valves and actuators’

eff iciency of radiators has been called into question, and in this respect they come up short on several counts. Their primary failing is their positioning on walls, as any heat generated moves vertically until it reaches the ceiling, where it accumulates until such a time that there is enough of it to reach the people in the room and warm them up.

An electrical underfloor heating system, on the other hand, delivers a comforting and even radiant heat across the whole floor area with no cold spots, warming from the floor upwards.

Homeowners are also increasingly style-conscious, and this is another reason for the system’s current popularity. “By eliminating the need for radiators, electric underfloor heating gives people freedom to design a room, with no obstacles,” says Stuart Bell, partner at Thermogroup.

A range of formats are available, designed to suit diff erent types of floor surface. Mat-based and loose-wire systems are perfect for installation under ceramic, tile and natural stone, while foil systems are suitable for use with laminate, carpet, vinyl, engineered wood and other floating floors.

The heat requirement of a room will depend on its size and heat loss characteristics, which can be calculated using the elemental method: individual calculations for heat loss through walls, ceilings, windows and the floor. Dividing the total heat loss by the floor area will give the heat requirement in watts per square metre (W/m²). It is then easy to specify the amount and type of matting, foil or wire required.

Controlling the energy used is important, and this has traditionally been one of the criticisms levelled at electrical underfloor heating. “In the 1960s, when it was first introduced, insulation standards were poor and the controls not accurate, so running costs were high,” says Steven Rooney, sales director at Gaia Climate Solutions. “The

fact that these aspects of homes have improved means that running costs are now far less

than people think.”

Vent-Axia


Shore thing Overlooking the beautiful waters of Whitsand Bay at Downderry on Cornwall’s south coast, Celtic Shores is a development by TP Estates of 12 two-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom penthouses. The luxury specifi cation was enhanced with the installation of DEVI electrical underfl oor heating throughout.

The cables are located within a fl oor that comprises prefi nished hardwood fl ooring on top of chipboard, timber battens and a mineral wood resilient layer, situated on a 165mm concrete fl oor. The Devireg 550 thermostats calculate when the heat must be turned on to reach the right temperature at the required time within each of the apartments. The system heats the voids between the joists, while insulation drives the heat upwards so it dissipates through the fl oor to give even coverage.

“DEVI was chosen for Celtic Shores following our use of the product in previous developments, where it has proved to be an economical, clean and controllable form of heating,” says Barry Evans, development director at TP Estates.

Case study:


One company that has benefited from using this technology is Surrey-based Debatsford Developments. “I have seen an increase in demand due to the desire for greener houses,” says director Ian de Haan. “It also helps us work towards the requirements in the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Passivhaus standard.”

Being able to install such technology could also open doors to other markets, as David Goose, managing director of Ambient Electrical, has found. “As the rentals market becomes increasingly buoyant, landlords are investing in underfloor heating to make their properties stand out, and savvy electrical contractors are tapping into this target audience,” he says.

Given the simplicity of installing the systems, little or no additional training is required. Qualified electrical contractors will already be aware of the skills necessary. It is, though, important for contractors to be up to speed with the latest industry developments and legislation, says Pask at Warmup. “In particular, building regulations, and the levels of control that heating systems must be designed and installed to, should be implemented in order to ensure a minimum standard of quality.”

When it comes to the installation itself, care is needed to ensure it is all performed correctly at the time, as modifications will not be easy to make or appreciated by customers. “Make sure to use the correct-sized system for the available floor space, and use the information in the installation manual,” warns Bell at Thermogroup. “Also, check that the heating system is working before, during and after installation.”

The outlook for electrical underfloor heating is positive, and its ability to provide exceptional levels of energy-eff icient heating for all environments means it is fast becoming the solution of choice. Contractors who add it to their services could develop a lucrative sideline, hidden beneath the floor.

» Rob Shepherd is a freelance business journalist who specialises in the electrical industry

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

“It’s not energy-effi cient”Electrical underfl oor heating can be set 5°C lower than water-based heating systems to achieve the same comfort levels, according to a study by ASHRAE

“It’s only for bathrooms or kitchens”It can be used to heat the whole house or certain rooms – for example, just the ground fl oor, or a single room such as a conservatory

“It will raise fl oor levels”It will not raise fl oor levels. Some leading systems use British Electrotechnical Approvals Board-approved ultra-thin heating elements, with wire only 1.6mm thick

“Floors are uncomfortably hot”Floors are warm, but not hot. With its low operating temperature, electrical underfl oor heating delivers a comforting heat across the whole fl oor area, with no cold spots

“It’s diffi cult to control”An energy monitor thermostat off ers accurate fl oor temperature control. Active energy management prompts users to choose the best temperature for each room

“It’s expensive compared with other systems”It can use much less energy than warm-water heating when properly zoned and controlled, and is virtually maintenance-free

Source: Warmup

Myth-buster: electrical underfloor heating

5oC The amount electrical underfl oor heating systems can be set lower than water-based heating systems to achieve the same comfort levels, according to a study by ASHRAE


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Ask the experts/TechnicalN

From the helpline

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

ANSWER

The stroboscopic eff ect is an optical illusion that causes a rotating or other cyclically moving object to appear stationary or be moving more slowly than it actually is, or in the opposite direction.

This can introduce the risk of someone touching a dangerous moving object, such as the rotating chuck of a lathe, believing it to be safe to do so.

The stroboscopic eff ect happens when the rotating (or other cyclically moving) object is lit by a source that gives off short, regular flashes of light at a rate similar to that at which the object rotates. Persistence of vision then causes the optical illusion.

If, for example, the object is a rotating electric fan, and a flash arrives each time a fan blade passes a fixed position, the blades seem to stand still. If the flashes occur less frequently, the blades seem to move slowly in their actual direction of motion. If the flashes arrive more frequently, the blades seem to move backwards.

A fluorescent or other discharge lamp operating directly from a 50 Hz a.c. supply flashes 100 times per second and can therefore cause the stroboscopic eff ect in some cases.

ANSWER

The stroboscopic eff ect can be prevented or diminished by one or more of the following means:• Where fluorescent or other discharge lamps operating directly from the a.c. mains

supply (such as switch-start fluorescent) are used:• spread the lamps over two or more phases of supply and make sure lighting fed from

more than one phase is operating whenever the object is rotating, or • use luminaires having a lead-lag ballast (a ballast for a pair of fluorescent lamps,

one operating on leading current and the other on lagging current) to diminish the stroboscopic eff ect.

• Make use of fluorescent or other discharge lighting having high frequency controlgear.

• Make use of lamps that give a continuous, non-flickering light output (such as lamps operating on smooth d.c.), either to light the whole area or as a local ‘task lighting’ placed, say, above the rotating blade of a sawbench.

QUESTION

What is stroboscopic eff ect and what

can cause it?

QUESTION

What can be done to avoid the

stroboscopic eff ect?

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QUESTION

Is it permitted to install an electric

fl oor or ceiling heating system

without any form of temperature

control/sensor?

QUESTION

How should the conductors of a

110 V reduced low voltage system

forming part of an electrical

installation be identifi ed to show

their polarity?

Fully charged


ANSWER

Yes. An addition or alteration is subject to the requirements of Chapter 61 for initial verification (Regulation 610.4 refers), and on completion of the work carried out in accordance with Chapter 61, Regulation 514.12.1 requires a periodic inspection and testing notice to be fixed at or near the origin of the installation.

The legend on the new periodic inspection and testing notice should identify the circuits to which it relates (the circuits involved in the alteration or addition).

ANSWER

A reduced low voltage (RLV) system is one complying with Regulation Group 411.8. The nominal voltage does not exceed 110 V a.c. between line conductors (single-phase 55 V to earthed midpoint, three-phase 63.5 V to earthed neutral). Single-phase circuits usually have two line conductors. Three-phase circuits have three line conductors, and may or may not include a neutral.

Regulation 514.3.1 requires the cores of cables to be identified by colour or by lettering and/or numbering. Table 51 of BS 7671 specifies the colours and lettering/numbering to be used.

Neutral conductors should be identified by the colour blue or the letter N. Protective conductors should be identified by the colour combination green-and-yellow.

The two line conductors or a single-phase RLV circuit are not specifically addressed in Table 51. However, applying the principles of Table 51, one line conductor should be identified by the colour brown and the other by the colour black, or alternatively one line conductor should be identified by the alphanumeric L1 and the other by the alphanumeric L2.

The three line conductors of a three-phase RLV circuit should be identified by the colours brown, black and grey, respectively, or by the alphanumerics L1, L2 and L3, respectively.

ANSWER

In most cases no. The relevant requirements are given in Section 753 of BS 7671, and summarised below.

It is necessary to prevent floor or ceiling heating systems in buildings from overheating.

To prevent heating equipment exceeding a temperature of 80 °C, Regulation 753.424.3.1 requires one or more of the following measures to be applied in the zone where the heating units are installed:

• Appropriate heating system design.• Installation of the heating system in accordance with appropriate

manufacturer’s instructions.• Installation of temperature limiting devices.Where there is a possibility of skin or footwear coming into contact with a floor

that has underfloor heating, Regulation 753.423 requires the surface temperature of the floor to be limited to a suitable value.

The regulation gives an example value of 35°C. However, some manufacturers of underfloor heating units recommend a maximum surface temperature of around 25°C where skin or footwear might come into contact with the floor.

QUESTION

Aft er an addition or alteration has

been made to an existing installation,

does BS 7671 require a periodic

inspection and testing notice to

be fi xed at or near the origin of

the installation?

41-42_askexperts.FINAL.indd 4241-42_askexperts.FINAL.indd 42 09/04/2013 09:3409/04/2013 09:34

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The initial verification of a small-scale solar PV system – Part 1 This article is the first in a series dealing with the initial verification of grid-connected small-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. It looks at the requirements relating to design, installation and initial verification. It also introduces the NICEIC Electrical Installation Certificate for Small-scale PV Systems and considers the procedures for conducting pre-installation checks and initial inspection.

The second article in the series will look at the procedure for initial testing.

Part 1 Requirements, NICEIC PV Certifi cate, Pre-installation Checks and Initial Inspection

Building Regulations and Planning

In domestic premises in England and Wales, the work associated with the installation of a microgenerator is, to some extent, notifi able under Part P of the Building Regulations. Non-electrical aspects of the Building Regulations also apply. In Scotland, a Building Warrant may be required.

The installation of a PV system may require planning permission. Therefore, before the work commences, it should be determined whether the proposed work is subject to these requirements or is considered ‘permitted development’, by consulting the local Planning Authority.

ESQCR Requirements

Regulation 22 of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR) contains requirements concerning the installation and

44 The initial verification of a small-scale solar PV system – Part 1

49 Safe connection and disconnection of tap-off units of busbar trunking systems

52 Outdoor lighting installations, highway power supplies and street furniture

56 Uncommon conductor arrangements

60 Snags and solutions: A practical guide to everyday electrical problems

operation of generators in parallel with the distributor’s network. These generally prohibit the connection of a generator without prior consent of the distributor, and are likely to preclude parallel operation of generators in domestic premises.

However, ESQCR Regulation 22(2) gives an exemption for the parallel operation of generation rated up to a total of 16 A per phase (known as small-scale embedded generation or microgeneration), provided:

• it has protection that will disconnect from the mains supply automatically in the event of the loss of that supply,

• the installation complies with the edition of BS 7671 current at the time of installation, and

• the installer notifi es the distributor before or at the time of commissioning the generator.

Engineering Recommendation G83/2, issued by the Energy Networks Association, gives a procedure to facilitate the connection of type-tested small-scale embedded generators (including grid-connected small-scale PV systems) in accordance with the requirements of the ESQCR.

MCS Requirements

For most customers, the reason for installing a PV system is to take advantage of the feed in tariff s (FITs).

To be FIT-eligible, a PV system must be installed by an MCS installer (such as an NICEIC MCS Approved Installer), using equipment certifi cated by a UKAS accredited Certifi cation Body where appropriate.

MCS installers are assessed against the requirements of Microgeneration Installation Standard MIS 3002. MIS 3002 requires small-scale PV systems to be designed and installed in accordance with the MCS/ECA Guide to the Installation of Photovoltaic Systems.

The MCS/ECA Guide requires that a PV system shall be inspected and tested in accordance with BS 7671, and that the d.c section shall also be inspected and tested in accordance with BS EN 62446, Grid connected photovoltaic systems – Minimum requirements for system documentation, commissioning tests and inspection.

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Due to the nature of the technology used in PV systems, some aspects of the inspection and testing given in BS EN 62446 diff er markedly from the procedures for inspection and testing included in BS 7671.

BS EN 62446 includes a model verifi cation certifi cate, a model inspection report, and a model PV array test report.

NICEIC Electrical Installation Certifi cate for Small-scale PV Systems

For a newly installed PV system, the installer could be in the position of having to complete four separate forms relating to verifi cation. These are the BS 7671 Electrical Installation Certifi cate, the BS EN 62446 Verifi cation Certifi cate, the BS EN 62446 Inspection Report and the BS EN 62446 PV Array Test Report.

To reduce the burden on NICEIC MCS Approved Installers, NICEIC has produced the Electrical Installation Certifi cate for Small-Scale Photovoltaic Systems (EICPV). This incorporates the important features of all four of the above forms, as illustrated in Fig 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show pages 1, 2 and 3, respectively, of the EICPV.

Page 1, which includes Sections A to G, is where the names and contact details of the Client, NICEIC MCS Approved Installer and any separate designer are recorded. Also to be recorded on Page 1 are any intended departures from the requirements of BS 7671 or BS EN 62446 or the MCS/ECA Guide, and the recommended interval to the fi rst periodic inspection and test. The Designer and Installer should sign Sections C (Design) and D (Construction and Initial Verifi cation), respectively, to confi rm that their work has been carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements, except for any intended departures recorded on Page 1.

Section H (Details of the Existing Electrical Installation), on Page 2 of the EICPV, is where the relevant technical details of the a.c. electrical installation to which the PV system is connected are recorded. These include (amongst other things) the type of system earthing (TN-S, TN-C-S, or TT), nominal voltage, number of phases, details of the equipment at the origin, sizes of main conductors, maximum demand, external earth fault loop impedance and maximum prospective earth fault current.

This information is important not only for record purposes but also to help verify that the PV system is correctly designed in relation to the a.c. installation to which it is connected and does not impair the safety of that installation. For example, information about the a.c installation is needed in connection with the requirement of Regulation 132.16 of BS 7671 to check that the rating and condition of the existing equipment, including that of the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances (the addition of the PV system) and that the earthing and bonding arrangements are adequate.

Section I (Overview of PV System), on Page 2, is where details of the main components of

PVCB1

Electrical installationcertificate for a small-scale

photovoltaic system

PVCB1/1

This certificate is based on the model forms shown in BS 7671 AND BS EN 62446.Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (April 2012)

Page 1

This certificate is not valid if the serial number has been defaced or altered

PVCB1/

F. DETAILS OF THE ORGANISATION THAT CARRIED

OUT THE DESIGN OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

G. NEXT INSPECTION

I RECOMMEND that the photovoltaic system is further inspected and tested after an interval of not more than

§ Enter interval in terms of years, months or weeks, as appropriate§

E. PARTICULARS OF THE MCS APPROVED INSTALLER

Trading title

NICEIC Registration No(Essential information)

Address

PostcodeTelephone No

D. CONSTRUCTION AND INITIAL VERIFICATION

A. DETAILS OF THE CLIENT

Client andaddress

B. ADDRESS OF THE INSTALLATION

Installationaddress

I/we, being the person(s) responsible for the construction and initial verification of the photovoltaic system, including verificationof any design work not carried out by me/us, (as indicated by my/our signature adjacent), particulars of which are described onpage 3, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the construction, inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY thatthe said work for which I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671,BS EN 62446 and MCS guidance (as amended) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:Details of departures from BS 7671, BS EN 62446 or MCS guidance (as amended)

C. DESIGN

Please see the ‘Notes for Recipients’on the reverse of this page.

I/we also CERTIFY that the solar PV system meets the requirements of Microgeneration Installation StandardMIS 3002.

The results of the initial verification reviewed by the Qualified Supervisor

Signature Name(CAPITALS) Date


Ori

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al

(To

the

pers

on o

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ing

the

wor

k)

Postcode

This certificate is an important and valuable documentwhich should be retained for future reference

INSTALLER

Organisation

Address


I/we, being the person(s) who carried out the design of the photovoltaic system (as indicated by my/our signatureadjacent), particulars of which are described on page 3, having exercised reasonable skill and care when doing so,hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge andbelief, in accordance with BS 7671, BS EN 62446 and MCS guidance (as amended) except for the departures, if any,detailed as follows:Details of departures from BS 7671, BS EN 62446 or MCS guidance (as amended):

The extent of liability of the signatory/signatories is limited to the photovoltaic system described insection I of this certificate.

For the DESIGN of the installation

Postcode

Postcode

These certificates are for use only by MCSApproved Installers and Conforming Bodiesenrolled with NICEIC.

Only the NICEIC MCS Approved Installerresponsible for the installation and verificationof the photovoltaic system is authorised to issuethis certificate for the work.

NICEIC certificates are accountabledocuments. Unused certificates should be keptsecure by the Qualified Supervisor.

In accordance with BS 7671, BS EN 62446 and MCS guidance

� � � ��

Guidance on the completion of Certificates and Reports may be found in currentNICEIC publications, details of which are available on www.niceicdirect.com.

Amd 1: 2011

or

The extent of liability of the signatory/signatories is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.For the INSPECTION AND TESTING of the installation: Signature .................................................... Date Signature .................................................... Date

I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the inspection and testing of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signatures below), particulars of whichare described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY that the work for whichI/we have been responsible is to the best of my/our knowledge and belief in accordance with BS 7671, amended to (date)except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

DESIGN

DETAILS OF THE CLIENT

Page 1 of

Client /Address:

I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the design of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signature(s) below), particulars of which aredescribed above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the design, hereby CERTIFY that the design work for which I/we have beenresponsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671 amended to (date)except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5):

The extent of liability of the signatory/signatories is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.For the DESIGN of the installation: **(Where there is divided responsibility for the design)

Signature .................................................... Date

Signature .................................................... Date

DETAILS OF THE INSTALLATION

New

Anaddition

Analteration

Address:

CONSTRUCTION

I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the construction of the electrical installation (as indicated by my/our signature below), particulars of whichare described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the construction, hereby CERTIFY that the construction work for whichI/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671 amended to (date)except for the the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

The extent of liability of the signatory is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.

INSPECTION AND TESTING

Extent of theinstallationcovered by thiscertificate:

**


This certificate is based on the model forms shown in Appendix 6 of BS 7671

Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (July 2011)Please see the ‘Notes for Recipients’on the reverse of this page.

QualifiedSupervisor †

The installation is:

Name(CAPITALS)

Name(CAPITALS) Inspector

† Where the inspection and testing have been carried out by an Approved Contractor, the inspection and testing results are to be reviewed by the registered Qualified Supervisor.

Name(CAPITALS) Constructor

Name(CAPITALS) Name(CAPITALS)

Designer 1

Designer 2


Signature .................................................... Date

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION AND TESTING * * This box to be completed only where the design, construction,inspection and testing have been the responsibility of one person.

I, being the person responsible for the design, construction, inspection and testing of the electrical installation (as indicat ed by my signature below), particulars of whichare described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the design, construction, inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY that the said workfor which I have been responsible is to the best of my knowledge and belief in accordance with BS 7671, amended to (date)except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:

Details of departures from BS 7671, as amended (Regulations 120.3, 133.5):The extent of liability of the signatory is limited to the work described above as the subject of this certificate.For the DESIGN, the CONSTRUCTION and the INSPECTION AND TESTING of the installation.

††Where the design, the construction, and the inspection and testing have been the responsibility of one person, the inspection and testing results are to be reviewed by theregistered Qualified Supervisor.

QualifiedSupervisor ††

Name(CAPITALS)

Signature Date Signature

Name(CAPITALS)

Date

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

For the CONSTRUCTION of the installation:

This certificate is not valid if the serialnumber has been defaced or altered

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERTIFICATEIssued in accordance with British Standard 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations by an ApprovedContractor or Conforming Body enrolled with NICEIC, Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis,Dunstable, LU5 5ZX

ICN3/

Ori

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al

(To

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pers

on o

rder

ing

the

wor

k)

ICN3/1

Fig 1 EICPV, equivalent to four separate forms

Either

Fig 2 EICPV page 1

PVCB1/1

This certificate is based on the model forms shown in BS 7671 AND BS EN 62446.Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (April 2012)

Page 1


PVCB1/

F. DETAILS OF THE ORGANISATION THAT CARRIED

OUT THE DESIGN OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

G. NEXT INSPECTION

I RECOMMEND that the photovoltaic system is further inspected and tested after an interval of not more than

§ Enter interval in terms of years, months or weeks, as appropriate§

E. PARTICULARS OF THE MCS APPROVED INSTALLER

Trading title

NICEIC Registration No(Essential information)

Address

PostcodeTelephone No

D. CONSTRUCTION AND INITIAL VERIFICATION

A. DETAILS OF THE CLIENT

Client andaddress

B. ADDRESS OF THE INSTALLATION

Installationaddress

I/we, being the person(s) responsible for the construction and initial verification of the photovoltaic system, including verificationof any design work not carried out by me/us, (as indicated by my/our signature adjacent), particulars of which are described onpage 3, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the construction, inspection and testing, hereby CERTIFY thatthe said work for which I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, in accordance with BS 7671,BS EN 62446 and MCS guidance (as amended) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:Details of departures from BS 7671, BS EN 62446 or MCS guidance (as amended)

C. DESIGN

Please see the ‘Notes for Recipients’on the reverse of this page.

I/we also CERTIFY that the solar PV system meets the requirements of Microgeneration Installation StandardMIS 3002.

The results of the initial verification reviewed by the Qualified Supervisor



Ori

gin

al

(To

the

pers

on o

rder

ing

the

wor

k)

Postcode

This certificate is an important and valuable documentwhich should be retained for future reference

INSTALLER

Electrical installation certificate for a small-scale photovoltaic system

Issued in accordance with BS 7671 and BS EN 62446 by an MCS Approved Installer registered with NICEIC, Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5ZXB

Organisation

Address


I/we, being the person(s) who carried out the design of the photovoltaic system (as indicated by my/our signatureadjacent), particulars of which are described on page 3, having exercised reasonable skill and care when doing so,hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I/we have been responsible is, to the best of my/our knowledge andbelief, in accordance with BS 7671, BS EN 62446 and MCS guidance (as amended) except for the departures, if any,detailed as follows:Details of departures from BS 7671, BS EN 62446 or MCS guidance (as amended):

The extent of liability of the signatory/signatories is limited to the photovoltaic system described insection I of this certificate.

For the DESIGN of the installation

Postcode

Postcode



Fully charged


the PV system, including the PV modules and inverter, should be recorded.

Again, this information is important not only for record purposes but also for verifying that the PV system meets the relevant requirements of both BS EN 62446 and BS 7671.

Both BS 7671 and BS EN 62446 require that inspection shall precede testing and should normally be undertaken prior to energizing the installation. BS EN 62446 also requires that the inspection and testing (and indeed the installation of the PV system itself) shall meet the relevant requirements of IEC 60364.

IEC 60364 is an international standard for the safety of electrical installations. It forms the basis of the requirements of BS 7671. Consequently, where BS EN 62446 refers to IEC 60364-6 and IEC 60364-7-712, for example, the relevant requirements are refl ected in Part 6 (Inspection and Testing) and Section 712 (Solar PV Power Supply Systems), respectively, of BS 7671.

Section J (Schedule of Items Inspected), on Page 3 of the EICPV, combines the items to be inspected that are referred to in BS EN 62446 with those that are listed in the model Schedule of Inspections in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 that are applicable to PV systems.

At appropriate stages in the erection process, and upon completion, a visual inspection of the items shown in Section J should be carried out. Although the list of items in Section J starts at the PV modules and works towards the intake position, the inspection may in practice be carried out in the most convenient order for the particular installation.

The person carrying out the inspection should always bear in mind that the PV modules produce a voltage whenever they are exposed to daylight. To avoid receiving an electric shock the inspector should follow appropriate safe working practices.

NICEIC MCS Approved Installers (PV) can purchase copies of the NICEIC Electrical Installation Certifi cate for a Small-scale Photovoltaic System from NICEIC Direct.

Go to www.niceicdirect.com, contact [email protected] or call 0870 013 0458.

PVCB1/3This certificate is based on the model forms shown in BS 7671 AND BS EN 62446. Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (April 2012)

Page 2


PVCB1/

Electrical installation certificate for a small-scale photovoltaic system

SUPPLY CHARACTERISTICS

TN-S

TN-C-S

Tick boxes and enter details, as appropriate

System type(s)1-phase(2-wire)

Other

3-phase(3-wire)

Number and type of live conductorsNature of supply parameters Notes: (1) by enquiry (2) by enquiry or by measurement (3) where more

than one supply, record the higher or highest values

Hz

kA

Ω

BS(EN)Nominal

frequency, f (1)

Prospective faultcurrent, Ipf

(2)(3) kAProspective faultcurrent, Ipf

(2)(3)

External earth faultloop impedance, Ze

(1)

1-phase(3- wire)

Number ofsources

3-phase(4-wire)

Please state

PARTICULARS OF INSTALLATION AT THE ORIGIN

Distributor’sfacility

Installationearth electrode


Means of earthing Details of installation earth electrode (where applicable)Type (eg rod(s),

tape etc)

Electroderesistance, RA

Method ofmeasurement

Location

Ω

Main switch or circuit-breaker

Conductormaterial

Conductorcsa mm2

Conductormaterial

Location(where not obvious)

Conductorcsa mm2

Earthing conductor Main protective bonding conductors and bonding of extraneous-conductive-parts (✓)

Waterservice

Oilservice Gas service

Structuralsteel

Other incomingservice(s)

TypeBS(EN)

No ofpoles

Ratedcurrent, In

Voltagerating

RCD operatingcurrent, I�n*

* applicable only where an RCD is used as a main circuit-breaker

RCD operatingtime (at I� n) *

Supplyconductors

materialSupply

conductorscsa

mm2

Continuity/connection

verified✓

Continuity/connectionverified

✓

✓

Characteristics of primary supply overcurrent protective device(s)

V

Nominalvoltage(s) U (1)

Uo(1)

V

A

mA

ms

Single-phase 3-phase A

Confirmationof polarity

kAShort-circuitcapacity

V

Number of smoke alarms

Maximumdemand (Load)

kVA/Amps

Measured Ze Ω

Protective measure(s)for fault protection Delete as appropriate

H. DETAILS OF EXISTING ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

TN-S

TN-C-S


System type(s)1-phase(2-wire)

Other

3-phase(3-wire)

Number and type of live conductorsNature of supply parameters Notes: (1) by enquiry (2) by enquiry or by measurement (3) where more

than one supply, record the higher or highest values

Hz

kA

Ω

BS(EN)

TT

Type

Nominalfrequency, f (1)

Prospective faultcurrent, Ipf

(2)(3) kAProspective faultcurrent, Ipf

(2)(3)

External earth faultloop impedance, Ze

(2)

1-phase(3- wire)

Number ofsupplies

3-phase(4-wire)

Please state

Distributor’sfacility

Installationearth electrode


Means of earthing Details of installation earth electrode (where applicable)Type (eg rod(s),

tape etc)

Electroderesistance, RA

Method ofmeasurement

Location

Ω

Main switch or circuit-breaker

Conductormaterial

Conductorcsa mm2

Conductormaterial

Location(where not obvious)

Conductorcsa mm2

Earthing conductor Main protective bonding conductors and bonding of extraneous-conductive-parts (✓)

Waterservice

Oilservice Gas service

Structuralsteel

Other incomingservice(s)

TypeBS(EN)

No ofpoles

Ratedcurrent, In

Voltagerating

RCD operatingcurrent, I�n*

* applicable only where an RCD is used as a main circuit-breaker

RCD operatingtime (at I� n) *

Supplyconductors

materialSupply

conductorscsa

mm2

Continuity/connection

verified✓

Continuity/connectionverified

✓

✓

Characteristics of primary supply overcurrent protective device(s)

V

Nominalvoltage(s) U (1)

Uo(1)

V

A

mA

ms

Single-phase 3-phase ARated current

Confirmationof polarity

kAShort-circuitcapacity

V

Maximumdemand (Load)

kVA/Amps

Measured Ze Ω

Protective measuresfor fault protection Delete as appropriate

Comments on existing installationrelevant to the installation of PV system

SUPPLY CHARACTERISTICS

PARTICULARS OF INSTILLATION AT THE ORIGIN

I. OVERVIEW OF PV INSTALLATION

This Certificate relates to a New PV Installation An alteration or addition to an existing PV Installation


Details of arraysArray 1Location Connected to Inverter number No of strings

No of modules Manufacturer Model number Pmax STC(module)

Array 2Location Connected to Inverter number No of strings

No of modules Manufacturer Model number Pmax STC(module)

The protective measure used by the DC components is double or reinforced insulation Yes No

The PV system isprotected by a SPD Yes No Details of generation meter

Manufacturer Model number Serial number Location

Details of inverter(s)Manufacturer Model number Power rating Location

1

2

Type§

In

Type§

In

Rating

Numberof poles

Rating

Numberof poles

Device 2 BS(EN)*

Short circuit capacity (kA)

Device 1 BS(EN)*

Short circuit capacity (kA)

Details of Circuit Protection Device(s)

*Circuit Breaker BS EN 60898, RCBO BS EN 61009-1, RCD BS EN 61008-1 § Conventional RCD – Type AC, d.c. blocking RCD – Type B † Insert N/A (not applicable) where appropriate

Details of connections to consumers a.c. installationConnected at a) Main consumer unit using way number … b) Auxiliary consumer unit (tick if applicable).Location of consumer unit

†

†

†

†

†

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PVCB1/5

This certificate is based on the model forms shown in BS 7671 AND BS EN 62446. Published by NICEIC, a part of the Ascertiva Group © Copyright The Electrical Safety Council (April 2012)Page 3


PVCB1/

Electrical installation certificate for a small-scale photovoltaic systemJ. SCHEDULE OF ITEMS INSPECTED

PV modules, fixings & associated protective devices

1. Array frame correctly fixed and stable; roof fixings weatherproof.

2. PV modules securely fixed to frame.

3. Array frame and materials corrosion proof.

4. Ventilation provided behind array to prevent overheating/fire risk.

5. Cable entries weatherproof.

6. String overcurrent protection devices are fitted in accordance with manufacturer’sinstructions.

7. Blocking diodes have a minimum reverse voltage of 2 x Voc STC.

8. Where required, array frame protective equipotential bonding has been correctlyinstalled and connected to earth.

d.c. cables and connectors

9. Cables and connectors rated for continuous d.c. operation.

10. Cables and connectors suitable for maximum current and voltage. (Voc STC x 1.15 andIsc STC x I.25).

11. Where string overcurrent protection devices are not fitted, the string cables are sizedto accommodate the maximum combined fault current.

12. Protective bonding conductors (where provided) are parallel to and bundled with d.c.cables.

13. String cables clearly identified for maintenance purposes.

14. String cables, array cables and d.c. main cables have been selected and erected soas to minimise the risk of earth faults and short-circuits.

15. Wiring loops have been kept as small as possible.

16. d.c. switch disconnector fitted to d.c. side of the inverter.

17. Wiring systems and junction boxes have been selected and erected to withstandexpected external influences, such as wind, ice formation, temperature and solarradiation.

18. Satisfactory connection of conductors.

19. Cables securely supported.

a.c. Installation

20. Selection of equipment and protective measures appropriate to external influences.

21. Selection of conductors for current-carrying capacity and voltage drop.

22. Presence of fire barriers, suitable seals and protection against thermal effects.

23. Presence of circuit protective conductor.

24. Appropriate erection methods.

25. Means of isolating the inverter have been provided on the a.c. side.

26. Routing of cables in prescribed zones.

27. Connection of conductors.

28. Cables incorporate earthed armouring or sheath, or run in earthed wiring system, orotherwise, adequately protected against nails, screws and the like.

29. Proximity of non-electrical services and other influences.

30. Overcurrent protective device in consumer unit complies with inverter manufacturersrecommendations.

31. Inverter protection settings conform to G83/2.

32. Additional protection by 30 mA RCD provided (where required).

33. If an RCD is installed to provide fault protection and there is not at least simpleseparation between the d.c. and a.c. sides of the PV system and the inverter is able tofeed d.c. fault currents into the installation, the RCD is of Type B to IEC 62423.

34. Isolation and switching devices have been connected such that the PV installation iswired to the ‘load’ side, and the mains supply to the ‘source’ side.

36. Where the PV system connected to an auxiliary consumer unit, the selection anderection of the cables connecting this consumer unit to the mains supply and themethod of connecting are satisfactory.

Labelling and Information Sources

37. All circuits, protective devices, switches and terminals are suitably labelled.

38. All isolators are clearly labelled.

39. All d.c. junction boxes (PV generator and PV array boxes) are fitted with a warninglabel indicating that active parts inside the boxes are fed from a PV array and still maybe live after isolation from inverter and public supply.

40. Single line wiring diagram displayed on site.

41. Dual supply warning labels are fitted at point of interconnection.

42. Inverter protection settings and installer details are displayed on site.

43. Emergency shutdown procedures are displayed on site.

44. All signs and labels are suitably secured in place and durable.

Notes 1. Use ✔ to indicate that an inspection has been carried out and the result is satisfactory 2. Use N/A to indicate that the inspection is not applicable to a particular item 3. An entry must be made in every box.

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Fig 3 EICPV page 2

Fig 4 EICPV page 3


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of 16-24 year old women are more interested in learning a skilled trade rather than a profession.63%

Supporting Jobs for the GirlsAs part of its Jobs for the Girls campaign NICEIC is looking for electrical contracting firms who might be able to help provide opportunities for females looking to gain valuable on-site experience.

The Jobs for the Girls campaign was set up in 2011 to try and encourage more women into the sector and address the gender imbalance that exists. It is estimated that only 1 in every 1000 electrical contractors is female.

As part of this initiative NICEIC has now set up a notice board at its sister site www.jobsforthegirls.com which aims to put female contractors in touch with firms who might be able to offer some valuable work experience for those just starting out in the trade.

If you have a vacancy or might be able to offer some valuable on the job training then send any information about your firm and the position available to: [email protected]

Encouraging women into the construction industry

CON.04.13.048.indd 1CON.04.13.048.indd 1 10/04/2013 08:0810/04/2013 08:08


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Safe connection and disconnection of tap-off units of busbar trunking systems In Issue 183 of Connections (Autumn 2012) we published an article on the safe connection and disconnection of tap-off units of busbar trunking systems conforming to BS EN 60439-2.

However, in the latter part of 2012, BS EN 60439-2 was withdrawn and replaced by BS EN 61439-6: 2012.

Whereas all new busbar trunking system products now being introduced should be in compliance with the new standard, BS EN 61439-6, there is currently no deadline for withdrawal of the manufacture of busbar trunking systems to BS EN 60439-2. It is therefore anticipated that some busbar trunking systems to BS EN 60439-2 will continue to be available for a period of time.

Due to the important safety issues covered in the article in Issue 183 of Connections, that article is repeated below, but modified to take account of both busbar trunking systems conforming to the new standard, BS EN 61439-6: 2012, and those conforming to the old standard, BS EN 60439-2.

At the end of the article, mention is also added of precautions necessary with busbar trunking systems that pre-date BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2.

Safe connection and disconnection of tap-off units of busbar trunking systems to BS EN 61439-6: 2012 or BS EN 60439-2

A question that oft en has to be addressed with a busbar trunking system is whether or not a tap-off unit can safely be connected to or disconnected from the system while the busbars are energised, thus removing the need to isolate live parts. This can be an important consideration where the busbar trunking feeds a multitude of items of current-using equipment where isolation of the busbars could result in major inconvenience or perhaps loss of production.

Clearly, a busbar trunking system that does not have to be disconnected from the supply

in order for a tap-off unit to be connected to or disconnected from it aff ords greater fl exibility to the user as to when such a connection or disconnection can be carried out.

Product standard

The current product standard covering the particular requirements for busbar trunking systems (busways) is BS EN 61439-6: 2012. This recently replaced BS EN 60439-2: 2000, which has now been withdrawn. However, it is anticipated that some busbar trunking systems to BS EN 60439-2: 2000 will continue to be available for a period of time.

Both BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2 apply to busbar trunking systems and their accessories for feeding and distributing electrical power in residential, retail, public, agricultural and industrial premises. The two standards also apply to busbar trunking systems designed to incorporate communication and/or control systems or intended to supply luminaires through tap-off units, although neither BS EN 61439-6 nor BS EN 60439-2 applies to supply track systems in accordance with IEC 60570 – Electrical supply track systems for luminaires.

BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2 embrace (among other things) busbar trunking systems with facilities for tap-off units at predetermined points, as well as for roller-type or brush-type tap-off units.

Although both BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2 permit a busbar trunking system to be designed with a facility for tap-off units to be safely connected to it without the busbar system being disconnected from the supply, such a facility is not necessary for conformity of the system with either BS EN 61439-6 or BS EN 60439-2.

Manufacturer’s instructions

As BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2 make it optional whether a busbar trunking system is designed for ‘live’ connection of tap-off units to the busbars, it is important that in every case the manufacturer’s instructions are obtained and closely followed when it is intended to connect or disconnect a tap-off unit.

In some cases manufacturers’ literature refers to the provision of ‘automatic safety shutters’ that are necessary for basic protection against electric shock wherever a tap-off unit is not present at a connection point. References to such shutters should not be construed as allowing live connection of tap-off units to the busbars.

Similarly, there are sometimes references to a plug-in system that is fully shuttered. Again, such shutters are intended to prevent access


50 Spring 2013 Connections www.electricalsafetyregister.com50

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to live busbar conductors when a tap-off unit is absent. References to them in the manufacturer’s literature should not be taken to suggest that live connections are permitted. Neither should references to internal fl ash barriers be taken to suggest that there is a preventative measure associated with making ‘live’ connections.

It should be noted that even where a manufacturer agrees that their system has been designed to allow tap-off units to be connected to or disconnected from it without the need for isolation of the busbars, this may apply only for busbar trunking systems up to a particular current rating.

Safe working procedures

Care must be taken to ensure correct polarity when connecting a tap-off unit to a busbar trunking system to BS EN 60439-2, because the design of some systems, conforming to a version of BS EN 60439-2 dating from before Amendment A1: 2005 of that standard came into force, may not include arrangements to prevent reverse polarity connection of a tap-off unit. Amendment A1: 2005 of BS EN 60439-2 addressed that issue.

In a busbar trunking system conforming to BS EN 61439-6 or to BS EN 60439-2: 2000 + A1: 2005, all tap-off units utilising a protective conductor and/or a neutral conductor are required to be designed such that they cannot be connected incorrectly to any part of the busbar system. BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2: 2000 + A1: 2005 also require that the protective conductor connection makes fi rst and breaks last when connecting and disconnecting a tap-off unit to/from the busbar trunking system.

A tap-off unit must not be connected to or disconnected from a busbar trunking system whilst the busbars are energised, unless the manufacturer has confi rmed that the design of the system allows this, and the load has been switched off from the tap-off unit prior to carrying out this procedure.

Even where a manufacturer has expressly agreed that their system has been designed to allow tap-off units to be connected to or disconnected from it without the need for isolation of the busbars, such ‘live connections’ must be treated as live working within the meaning of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (see Regulation 14), and all necessary precautions must be taken with regard to the risks of electric shock, burns and explosion. ‘Live’ connection should therefore be considered to be the exception rather than common industry practice. The Health and Safety Executive has led investigations into a number of incidents involving serious dangers to persons resulting in severe injury, where connections have been made to energised busbars.

The outgoing circuit of a tap-off unit must not be energised until it has been inspected and tested in accordance with Part 7 of BS 7671, to verify that the requirements of that standard have been met.

The above procedures, which are necessary for compliance with health and safety legislation, do not fully eliminate risk. In all cases an assessment must be made of the risk in relation to any intended live working, and all necessary safety precautions must be taken to manage the risks identifi ed by the assessment.

Provision of instructions to the user

Having installed a busbar trunking system, the electrical installer must ensure that the user is provided with a copy of the manufacturer’s installation and user’s instructions or, in their absence, the necessary instructions for the safe use and modifi cation of the system. Where necessary, suitable warning notices must be fi xed at all relevant points of the installed system.

Busbar trunking systems pre-dating BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2

Some busbar trunking systems that pre-date both BS EN 61439-6 and BS EN 60439-2 still exist and extreme care should be taken in connecting or disconnecting a tap-off unit with such systems.

If the manufacturer’s instructions are not available, as is highly likely, a tap-off unit must not be connected to or disconnected from the busbar trunking whilst the busbars are energised; the busbars must be isolated.

Care must also be taken to ensure correct polarity when connecting a tap-off unit to the busbar trunking system, as the design of the busbar trunking system may not include arrangements to prevent reverse polarity connection of a tap-off unit.

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Protective measures against electric shock

Measures that are not to be used

Not surprisingly it is not permitted to use the protective measures of obstacles or placing out of reach, which are covered in Section 417. Furthermore, the conductors of any low voltage overhead line that are within 1.5 m of an item of street furniture are required to be provided with basic protection (by insulation or a barrier or enclosure), except where maintenance of the street furniture is restricted to skilled persons trained in work near bare overhead lines. Regulation 559.10.1 refers.

Also not surprisingly, it is not permitted to use the protective measures of non-conducting location and earth-free local equipotential bonding, which are covered in Section 418.

Automatic disconnection of supply

Where, as is usually the case, the protective measure of Automatic Disconnection of Supply is used, the requirements listed in Regulation Group 559.10.3 have to be met, the most signifi cant ones of which are summarised below.

Access doors. A door in street furniture, such as a lighting column, must not be used for the purposes of a barrier or enclosure for basic protection against electric shock (Regulation 559.10.3.1, indent (i) refers). This means that when the door is open (or removed), contact with live parts must be prevented either by insulation or by a barrier or enclosure.

Any door at less than 2.5 m above ground level giving access to equipment must be locked with a key or require the use of a tool to open it (Regulation 559.10.3.1, indent (iii) refers).

Enclosures. Access to the interior of an accessible enclosure containing live parts must be by the use of a tool or key (Regulation 559.10.3.1, indent (ii) refers). An exception is allowed where only skilled or instructed persons have access to the enclosure but, even then, one of the other means of preventing access to live parts required by Regulation 416.2.4 must be provided (interlocked isolation device or intermediate barrier).

Access into luminaires. Access to the light source of a luminaire less than 2.8 m above ground level must be possible only by removing a barrier or enclosure that requires the use of a tool (Regulation 559.10.3.1, indent (iv) refers).

Main bonding. There is a relaxation from the general requirement of Regulation 411.3.1.2 to main bond extraneous-conductive-parts, in that metallic structures such as fences (see Fig 1)

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Outdoor lighting installations, highway power supplies and street furniture Specific requirements for outdoor lighting, highway power supplies and street furniture installations first appeared in the IEE Wiring Regulations in 2002, in the Sixteenth Edition. This article looks at the current requirements for these installations, which are given in Section 559 of BS 7671: 2008 (incorporating Amendment No 1: 2011).

Scope

The requirements for outdoor lighting installations apply to such installations for:

• roads, parks, car parks, gardens, places open to the public, sporting areas, illumination of monuments and fl oodlighting,

• places such as telephone kiosks, bus shelters, advertising panels and town plans, and

• road signs.Not covered by the requirements are items of

equipment owned by an electricity distributor, temporary festoon lighting, luminaires fi xed to the outside of a building and supplied directly by the internal wiring of that building, and road traffi c signal systems (such as traffi c lights).

Regulation 559.3 refers.



that are in the proximity of an outdoor lighting installation are not required to be connected to the main earthing terminal (Regulation 559.10.3.1, indent (v) refers).

Additional protection by RCDs. Regulation 559.10.3.2 requires additional protection by an RCD (with residual operating current, I

Δn , not exceeding 30 mA and an operating time not exceeding 40 m s at 5 I

Δn) to be provided for lighting in telephone kiosks, bus shelters, town plans and similar locations.

Disconnection times. Regulation 559.10.3.3 permits a disconnection time of up to 5 seconds for a distribution circuit supplying fi xed equipment (such as lighting columns or distribution boards) used in highway power supplies in a TN or TT system. Although, in the case of a TT system, this is a relaxation to the general requirement of Regulation 411.3.2.4 for a disconnection time not exceeding 1 second, it should be appreciated that the relaxation applies only for highway locations. A highway is any way (other than a waterway) over which there is public passage, including the highway verge and any bridge under which, or tunnel through which, the highway passes (the Defi nitions in Part 2 of BS 7671 refers).

Size of earthing conductor. Regulation 559.10.3.4 requires the earthing conductor of a street electrical fi xture (such as a lighting column or highway distribution board) to have a copper equivalent cross-sectional area of not less than that of the supplier’s neutral conductor at that point or 6 mm2, whichever is the smaller.

This requirement applies only where the street electrical fi xture is supplied directly from the

electricity distributor’s network – as it is only in these circumstances that the fi xture will have an earthing conductor (defi ned in Part 2 of BS 7671 as ‘a protective conductor connecting the main earthing terminal of an installation to an earth electrode or other means of earthing’) – and, furthermore, the fi xture uses an earthing facility provided by the distributor as the means of earthing for the installation.

The reason behind the required minimum size of earthing conductor is that, in the event of a discontinuity occurring in the supplier’s neutral conductor, the earthing conductor may have to carry diverted neutral current returning to the distribution transformer via the metalwork of the street electrical fi xture and the general mass of Earth.

Earth electrode for circuits feeding more than one item of street furniture. In a TN-C-S (PME) system, Clause 8.5.2.3 of BS 7430: 2011, Code of practice for protective earthing of electrical installations, recommends that for a circuit feeding more than one item of street furniture (such as by looping using a cable with separate line, neutral and protective conductors), an earth electrode should be installed preferably both at the point of supply and at the last or penultimate unit. Fig 2 refers.

By connecting the earth electrode to the distributor’s PME earthing facility (via the protective conductor of the circuit and the main earthing terminal and earthing conductor of the installation), the objective is to make the resistance to Earth of the distributor’s supply neutral (PEN) conductor at any point less than 20 Ω before any (other) circuit protective or bonding conductors of the installation are connected to it.

Clause 8.5.2.3 recommends that if a single electrode produces a resistance of more than 20 Ω, other earth electrodes equally spaced along the circuit should be installed.

Earthing of metallic access panels, covers or doors of street furniture. While exposed-conductive-parts of Class I street located equipment are required to be connected to the earthing terminal within the equipment, there is no requirement in Regulation Group 559.10 concerning the earthing of metallic access panels, covers or doors of such equipment. Generally, such an item is not considered to be an exposed-conductive-part (neither is it an extraneous-conductive-part) unless the access panel/door has electrical equipment fi xed to it or the wiring is in contact with it.

However, guidance provided in BS 7430: 2011, Code of practice for Earthing, recommends (in clause 8.5.1) that such decisions regarding the earthing of a metallic access door and other

Fig 1 Metallic fence in the proximity of an outdoor lighting installation



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structures should be based on the engineering judgement of the installation designer. Such a judgement should take into account the possibility of a reverse supply polarity occurring and for TN-C-S earthing systems, the possibility of losing the neutral connection.

Double or reinforced insulation

Double or reinforced insulation may be used as a protective measure for an outdoor lighting installation. However, where this measure is applied to the whole installation, Regulation 559.10.4 requires that no protective conductors are provided and that conductive parts of lighting columns are not intentionally connected to the earthing terminal.

Where double or reinforced insulation is used as the sole protective measure for a whole installation or circuit, Regulation 412.1.3 requires it to be verifi ed that the installation or circuit will be under eff ective supervision in normal use, so that no changes will be made that could impair the eff ectiveness of the protective measure (such as a connection to Earth).

External infl uences

All electrical equipment must be capable of operating safely under the expected conditions of external infl uences.

Any equipment forming part of the installation should, by construction and/or the manner of its installation, have a degree of protection of at least IP33 (Regulation 559.10.5.2 refers).

Regulation 559.10.5.1 recommends that equipment should be suitable for operation:

• with ambient temperature range between –40 ˚C (classifi cation AA2) and +40 ˚C (classifi cation AA4), and

• when exposed to a relative humidity between 5% (classifi cation AB2) and 100% (classifi cation AB4).

The same Regulation also calls for resistance to water sprays (classifi cation AD3) and to small objects (classifi cation AE2). However, these two factors are addressed by the requirement of Regulation 559.10.5.2 for a degree of protection to at least IP33, as mentioned above.

Further information on classifi cation of external infl uence is given in Appendix 5 of BS 7671.

Devices for isolation and switching

Where equipment is connected to a TN system and the isolation and switching is carried out by instructed persons only, and provided suitable precautions are taken to prevent any equipment from being inadvertently or unintentionally energised, Regulation 559.10.6.1 permits a fuse carrier located within the equipment to be used for the purposes of isolation and switching the supply on load. However, where the equipment can only be isolated by the electricity distributor’s cut-out, the distributor’s permission must be obtained prior to using the cut-out fuse for this purpose.

Inspection and testing

Electrical supplies to street furniture should be regularly inspected and tested in accordance with the general requirements of Part 6 of BS 7671. Where there is a programmed inspection and testing procedure in place, the warning notices that are required to display the dates for periodic inspection and testing and RCD testing as required by Regulations 514.12.1 and 514.12.2 may be omitted (Regulation 559.10.7.1 refers).

Guidance on completing certifi cates and condition reports for highways installations is provided in the NICEIC publication: Guide to Completing Specialised Certifi cates and Reports.

Temporary supplies

Where a temporary supply is taken from an item of street furniture it should be so arranged as not to adversely aff ect the permanent supply to that fi xed equipment. A durable label is required by Regulation 559.10.1 and should be fi tted externally to the temporary supply unit stating the maximum current to be supplied from that unit.

Circuit supplying street lamps, using cableswith separate line, neutral and protective conductor

Distributor’sP.M.E

supplyto pillar

Fig 2 Example of the use of earth electrodes for a circuit feeding more than one item of street furniture


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Uncommon conductor arrangements One of the characteristics of the supply (or supplies) to an installation that BS 7671 requires to be assessed is the arrangement of the current-carrying conductors under normal operating conditions (Regulations 301.1 and 312 refer). Most low voltage a.c. supplies to installations in the UK are taken from a three-phase, 4-wire distribution network, and so the conductor arrangement is familiar. But contractors occasionally come across uncommon conductor arrangements, such as in a two-phase, 3-wire supply. This article considers the nature of such conductor arrangements and some of the implications for the contractor. We begin, though, by reviewing the more commonly-found conductor arrangements.

L1

N

L2

L3Secondary winding ofdistributor’ transformer

Starpoint

Two-phase3-wire Three-phase

4-wire

Single-phase2-wire

Common conductor arrangements

In the domestic and small commercial setting, a single-phase, 2-wire supply taken from a three-phase, 4-wire distribution network is usually provided. In most cases the line voltage to Earth (and neutral), U

0, is 230 V.

For larger commercial and industrial installations a three-phase, 4-wire supply is usually provided. Each of the three line conductors has the same nominal line voltage to Earth, U

0 (230 V

in most cases), but there is a phase angle of 120° between these three voltages. This gives a nominal voltage between lines (U) of √(3 ) × U

0, which equals

400 V where U0

is 230 V. As illustrated in Fig 1, a three-phase, 4-wire

supply can be used to serve three-phase loads (with or without neutral, as applicable), and also single-phase, 2-wire loads and, exceptionally, two-phase, 3-wire loads. Most single-phase loads are connected between line and neutral but some types of single-phase equipment (such as certain welders and discharge luminaires) are designed to be connected between two line conductors so as to operate at the voltage between lines (U).

Uncommon conductor arrangements

Chapter 31 of BS 7671 recognises one type of single-phase, 3-wire supply and three types of two-phase, 3-wire supply, which are detailed below.

Fig 1 2-wire, 3-wire and 4-wire supplies taken from a three-phase, 4-wire network

Single-phase, 3-wire supplyIn the single-phase, 3-wire supply the two line conductors generally have the same nominal line voltage to Earth (and neutral), U

0, but there is no

phase angle between these voltages, and hence the nominal voltage between lines (U) is zero. Figures 2 and 3 refer.

A single-phase, 3-wire supply can be used to supply single-phase, two-wire loads (connected between line and neutral), and single-phase, 3-wire loads.

The current in the neutral of a single-phase, 3-wire circuit is equal to the arithmetic sum of the two line conductor currents (assuming they are both at the same power factor). This means that the current in the neutral will exceed that in the line conductors, assuming they are both carrying current. Consequently, in most cases, it will be necessary to provide overcurrent detection for the neutral conductor (as well as for the line conductors). Regulation 431.2.1 refers. This detection should cause the disconnection of the line conductors but not necessarily of the neutral conductor.

Two-phase, 3-wire suppliesThe three types of two-phase, 3-wire supply recognised by Chapter 31 are diff erentiated from one another by the phase angle between the two line voltages to Earth (and neutral), U

0. This angle

may be 180°, 90° or 120°, as shown in Fig 4.



Two-phase, 3-wire with phase angle 180°

The two-phase, 3-wire conductor arrangement having a 180° phase angle comes from a centre-tapped secondary winding of a single phase transformer, the centre-tap being connected to Earth. With this arrangement, two lines conductors and a neutral are supplied to the installation. In most cases such a supply will have a nominal line voltage to Earth (and neutral), U

0, of 230 V and a nominal

voltage between lines (U) of 460 V, as shown in Fig 5.Such supply arrangements may be found in

remote locations, such as certain farms, churches and pumping stations, where it might be necessary to have both an increase in the available supply capacity and the opportunity to utilise larger motors for specifi c applications, like milking parlours. Careful consideration should be given to the rating of switchgear and the like, as ratings of

devices might need to be capable of switching in excess of the typical voltage of 400 V.

When fi lling in either an Electrical Installation Certifi cate (EIC) or an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) typically the nominal voltage for this supply arrangement to be recorded would be 460 V/230 V.


The two-phase, 3-wire conductor arrangement having a 90° phase angle is uncommon in the UK as a supply to an installation. It has been included in BS 7671 to align with international standards and is sometimes used for applications such as supplying two single-phase furnaces.

Such a supply can be derived by a number of means. One of these is to use the ‘Scott-T transformer arrangement’ connected to a conventional three-phase supply. Assuming the desired line voltage to Earth (and neutral), U

0 on

the two-phase side is the same as the voltage between lines (U) on the three-phase side, the Scott-T transformer arrangement consists of two single-phase transformers – one being a centre-tapped 1:1 transformer and the other having an 86.6% tap – connected as shown in Fig 6.

Were such an arrangement to have a three-phase supply of nominal voltage between lines 400 V

Phase angle 0º

Single-phase 3-wire

L1

N

L2

Fig 2 Single-phase, 3-wire supply

Fig 4 The three types of two-phase, 3-wire supply

Phase angle 180º

L1

N

L2

Phase angle 90º

L1

N

L2

Phase angle 120º

L1

N

L2

L2

L1

U = 0 V

Fig 3 Phasor diagram of line-neutral voltages (single-phase, 3-wire supply)


58 Spring 2013 Connections www.electricalsafetyregister.com58

Fully charged


connected to its primary, the secondary would provide a two-phase supply of nominal line voltage to Earth (and neutral), U

0, 400 V, and

nominal voltage between lines, U, equal to √2 × 400 V = 566 V, as shown in Fig 7. When completing either an EIC or an EICR for this two-phase supply arrangement, the nominal voltage recorded would therefore be 566 V/400 V. However, this is only an example and the actual

nominal voltage to be recorded would depend on the actual transformer ratio used.

The current in the neutral of a two-phase, 3-wire circuit supplied from the secondary and serving a balanced load would be equal to √2 times the current in each of the two line conductors of the circuit (assuming they are both at the same power factor). Consequently, it may be necessary to provide overcurrent detection for the neutral conductor (as well as for the line conductors). Regulation 431.2.1 refers.


The two-phase, 3-wire conductor arrangement having a 120° phase angle between line conductor voltages comes from a typical three-phase, 4-wire distribution network, with two lines and the neutral being supplied to the installation. In most cases such a supply will have a nominal line voltage to Earth (and neutral), U

0, of 230 V,

and a nominal voltage between lines (U) of 400 V, see Fig 8. Such supplies are commonly found in rural locations but may also be provided to larger domestic installations.

When completing either an EIC or an EICR typically the nominal voltage to be recorded would be 400 V/230 V.

In conclusion, although supplies to electrical installations typically fall into either the three-phase, 4-wire or single-phase, 2-wire arrangement, there are occasions where single-phase, 3-wire and two-phase, 3-wire supplies might be found, and the contractor should take care to determine the correct conductor arrangement, both when designing and when commissioning the installation.

Fig 5 Phasor diagram illustrating that the voltage between lines, U, is 2 × U0 (two-phase, 3-wire with phase angle 180°)

L2 L1

U = 460 V

180ºU0 = 230 V U0 = 230 V

U = 400 V

U0 = 230 V

U0 = 230 V

U0 = 230 VL1

L2

L3

120º

120º120º

L1

L2

90º

U0 = 400 V

U = 566 V

L1

L2

L2

N

L1

L3

86.6% tap

50% tapSupplyoutput

(two-phase)

Supplyinput

(three-phase)

Fig 6 Scott-T transformer arrangement

Fig 7 Phasor diagram illustrating that secondary voltage between lines, U, is √2 × U0 (two-phase, 3-wire with phase angle 90°)

Fig 8 Phasor diagram illustrating voltage between lines (two-phase, 3-wire with phase angle 120°)


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Conductors must be correctly identifiedConductors must be correctly identifi ed by colour or alphanumerically to avoid confusion when the installation is repaired, extended or modifi ed at a later date.

Snag 53Where single-core cables are installed in trunking or conduit, the green-and-yellow conductor must only be used as a protective conductor. Using the conductor as a live conductor would create confusion in those who may need to maintain the system.

SolutionIf an additional live conductor is needed, then it should be run within the trunking or conduit and labelled accordingly.

However, where a fl exible multicore cable is installed, as for example occurs between a connection unit and an extract fan (of Class II construction) incorporating a timer, the protective conductor may be appropriately labelled andused as a live conductor.

‘Snags & Solutions’, NICEIC’s problem solving book, is now available in five parts, which cover many commonly-encountered electrical installation problems. All parts have been updated, where appropriate, to take account of the requirements of Amendment No 1 to BS 7671: 2008 (17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which was published on 1 July 2011 and came into full eff ect on 1 January 2012.

Part 1 of Snags & Solutions addresses 53 problems relating to earthing and bonding. Part 2 covers 55 problems relating to wiring systems. Part 3 covers 52 problems relating to inspection and testing. Parts 4 and 5, which have recently been introduced, cover 50 problems relating to emergency lighting and 48 problems relating to domestic fire detection and alarm systems, respectively.

The books are available from NICEIC Direct. To give an indication of the value of these books, a

snag and solution is being covered in each issue of Connections. This issue addresses a snag from Part 2 – Wiring systems, relating to the correct identification of conductors.

Amd 1: 2011 Amd 1: 2011

snags and solutionsA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EVERYDAY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

wiringsystems

Part 2

3rd Edition

Amd 1: 2011

Snags & Solutions A practical guide to everyday electrical problems Now updated to Amendment No 1 of BS 7671

L SL N

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Regulation 514.4.2 (part of)

The bi-coloured combination green-and-yellow shall be used exclusively for identifi cation of a protective conductor and this combination shall not be used for any other purpose.

Single-core cables that are coloured green-and-yellow throughout their length

shall only be used as a protective conductor and shall not

be overmarked at their terminations, except

as permitted by Regulation 514.4.3.

L SL N

Meet the helpline

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

Justin Maltby-Smith, NICEIC senior operations engineerIndustry experience: Ran his own electrical company, lecturer, consultant/project managerInterests: Kung-Fu and kickboxing, black-belt instructor

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

Stuart McHugh, senior technical helpline engineerIndustry experience: More than 41 years in the electrical industry, including a six-year apprenticeship, industrial commercial domestic and street-lighting workInterests: Vintage aircraft , motoring

Clinton Thompson, NICEIC operations engineerIndustry experience: Electrician (domestic and industrial), electrical engineer (food industry, high-volume production and heavy press industry), college tutor, training centre tutorInterests: Classic cars and bikes, music

Norman Bradshaw, NICEIC technical helpline engineerIndustry experience: Electrician for 23 years, working as an Approved Contractor, assisting new electricians in gaining Part P registration and working in partnership with local building control departmentsInterests: Voluntary work, running

Duncan McFarlaneNICEIC technical helpline engineerIndustry experience: Time-served electrician, working on domestic, commercial, industrial and petrochemical installations. Electrical clerk of works, electrical surveyor, lecturer and NVQ assessorInterests: Travelling and motorcycling

L SL N

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Snags and Solutions Part 5Snags and Solutions Part 5 contains guidance on the design, installation, inspecting, testing, commissioning and maintenance of fire alarm systems within domestic and similar premises.

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Product FocusFlukeUntil 30 June, Fluke has special promotions off ering a Fluke 1654B Multifunction Installation Tester or a Fluke 6500 Portable Appliance Tester in money-saving kits. The Fluke 1654B/LIM EDITION includes free soft ware and an earth spike kit. The Fluke 6500/BASIC KIT includes data management soft ware, appliance PASS labels and an extension lead test adapter. These off ers can be found at www.fl uke.co.uk/Fluke-Specials

020 7942 0700 [email protected] uke.nl www.fl uke.co.uk

SeawardSeaward’s latest electrical safety tester establishes a new approach to portable appliance testing. The innovative new Apollo 600 is equipped with onboard risk assessment tools to assist the user and ensure a proportionate response to the inspection and testing of electrical equipment. The new multi-purpose PAT tester combines electrical testing with sophisticated safety data collection and handling features, including an onboard digital camera.

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Marshall-Tuff lexCable management specialist Marshall-Tuffl ex has reinforced its market-leading position with its Series 507 Powertrack and fi ttings becoming the fi rst system to achieve ASTA type test certifi cation for short circuit testing to BS EN 61534-22:2009 Clauses 15.4,18.4.3.2, & 18.4.3.3. The testing regime was conducted by global specialist Intertek. Series 507 Powertrack comprises a comprehensive range of underfl oor 63Amp powertrack. marketing@marshall-tuffl ex.com [email protected]

EES DataEES Data produces a full suite of contract management soft ware. All are Windows 7 touch screen-enabled and built on a number of core modules: full professional contract estimating, small works costing and billing, supplier and quotation request, purchase ordering, job cost fi nancial monitoring, application for payment and stock control.

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Lewden PalazzoliLewden Palazzoli has expanded its range of enclosures in diff erent materials and designs within its large range of electrical products and power distribution solutions. The new products, described with full specifi cation data in the company’s new “Circuit Protection” catalogue, feature cost-eff ective and practical features and benefi ts in a choice of stainless steel, steel, GRP, plastic and aluminium.

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Lewden PalazzoliLewden Palazzoli has launched a guide and listing of circuit protection and control equipment for domestic, industrial and commercial applications. Containing the latest technological advances and design improvements, Lewden’s full range of consumer units, MCBs, RCDs, isolators, surge protection devices, control gear and much more are clearly listed. The catalogue also features technical data.

020 8539 0237 www.lewden.com [email protected]

WihaWiha has introduced a Super Seven electrician’s kit, featuring the German manufacturer’s best-selling VDE tools. Taking full advantage of Wiha’s revolutionary SlimFix and Dynamic joint technology, the Super Seven kit, distributed in the UK by Brian Hyde, comprises six VDE SlimFix screwdrivers, plus a pair of heavy duty VDE Diagonal Cutters, all neatly and safely stored in a sturdy zip-close wallet.

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ESPESP has added to its growing CCTV range with PowerCat – a complete CCTV CAT5 cabling solution that overcomes the problems of restricted distance owing to voltage drop. The power hubs provide an innovative method of transferring video signal and providing camera power along a single Cat5e run – at up to 300M. They are available in 4, 8 and 16 channel variants and are supplied with the appropriate number of power video baluns for connection to the cameras, and BNC patch leads to transfer the video signals to the DVR.

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DanlersDanlers have launched two Batten-mounted PIR occupancy switches capable of signifi cant energy savings at low cost, ideal for switching lights off when not required. With energy savings of up to 50 per cent the payback period is kept to a minimum. These UK manufactured IP 53 rated controls can switch lighting loads of up to 10 amps and can be mounted onto the end of lighting battens. They detect movement of a warm body within their detection zones (either 5m or 10m variants) and include a photocell.

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UrmetDoor-entry and access control specialist Urmet Domus announce the launch of their full IP touch-screen monitor, which has been specifi ed and installed across London in high-volume and landmark residential buildings. The monitor, the fi rst in a line of product launches planned by Urmet in 2013, is packed with valuable features and is now setting the benchmark in the door-entry sector. The product, designed mainly for large-scale residential developments, is currently the only full IP PoE 7” touch-screen with dual LAN ports on the market.

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Marshall Tuff lexDomestic energy management specialist Marshall-Tuffl ex has launched an intelligent boiler control unit that can reduce boiler running costs by 20%, subject to boiler usage pattern. The Domestic Boiler Management unit, which is Energy Saving Trust Recommended and qualifi es for the 5% VAT level if purchased direct from an installer, controls the fi ring cycle of gas, oil and LPG boilers, reducing unnecessary dry cycling.

marketing@marshall-tuffl ex.com [email protected]

MartindaleMartindale Electric – pioneer in electrical safety – announces its new Professional CD1000 general purpose Cable Detector. The CD100 is designed to quickly and accurately trace cables in walls and underground, locate fuses/breakers on Live or Dead Circuits and locate interruptions and open circuits in cables and electrical fl oor heating systems. It can also be used to trace metallic water and heating pipes. Supplied as a complete kit, the CD1000, negates the need for any other electrical equipment when detecting cables. This saves valuable time and money.

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Kidde FyrneticsWith a growing choice of domestic smoke alarms, specifi ers and installers need to be careful when selecting the right type. Wireless interlinking technology, using accessories such as Kidde’s Slick® Wireless Alarm Base, can eliminate disruptive wiring between mains alarms powered from an adjacent lighting circuit. But there will still be situations where simply installed battery alarms prove invaluable. Here, the quality of batteries is critical. Kidde’s innovative TEN-4 smoke alarm achieves all the relevant requirements.

01753 685148 www.smoke-alarms.co.uk [email protected]

PhilipsPart of Philips’ high-quality CoreLine LED family, the new CoreLine Downlight range can be used to replace conventional CFL downlights in general lighting applications. Whether for a new building or the renovation of an existing space, the range provides excellent quality of light as well as substantial energy and maintenance savings. Two versions are being launched: Mini 1100 lumens and Compact 2000 lumens, available in a choice of colour temperatures – 3000K and 4000 K.

01483 298677 www.philips.co.uk/lighting

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Current affairs

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Seeing the light at last A pensioner from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland is finally experiencing the benefits of electricity, after his house was connected to the National Grid for the first time.

John McCarter (pictured), 78, had lived in the property at Downhill for almost 30 years, using candles and coal fires for light and heat. He would sit in his car in the evening to read.

He had previously been involved in a successful battle to get the street connected to the grid, but his own house was not hooked up after his landlord refused to foot the bill.

Despite the lack of heat and light, he refused to move out, saying he enjoyed the sea views, but now hopes to get a television.

Thanks to: Paul Ray of Paul Ray Electrical Services in Hednesford /// Glen Handley from Glen Handley Electrical in Ashbourne /// Tony Morrison of AR Morrison Electrical Services in Halifax /// Chris Diaper of Chris Diaper Electrical in Kettering /// Bob Allum of Elite Electricians in Orpington /// Mark Reynolds of Essex-based M&S Designs /// Mike McKinley of Mike McKinley Electrical Services in Wetherby /// and Joel Fisher of Walsall firm Fusion Electrical.

Don’t forget to send Current Aff airs any pictures that have made you smile and let

us know of any hidden talents or charity initiatives. Email nick.martindale@

redactive.co.uk

This quarter’s collection of shoddy and

dangerous discoveries includes: a fused

incoming neutral supply and dodgy earth

connection; highly dangerous under-

cupboard lighting; a domestic property with

an unnecessary electricity board cut-out; and

external lighting in the Canary Islands, complete

with RCD protection.

It continues with: an inappropriately placed

bathroom socket; a consumer unit with diff erent

incoming and outgoing cabling; an unusual

SWA connection at an open cabinet in a public

place; and innovative use of an air-vent,

among other horrors.

1

3

Keep those shots coming in!

Electricians are used to fi nding rodents causing problems in houses, as regularly testifi ed in Caught on Camera. But at a property in Essex they did rather more than just electrocute themselves, and the off ender was not a mouse but a squirrel.

One inquisitive creature chewed through the cable of a fl uorescent light in the garage of a Romford house, sparking an electrical fi re that caused more than £20,000-worth of damage.

The house belongs to former Tory councillor Alby Tebbutt, who heard about the fi re while on his way to a funeral.

He has now declared war on his unwelcome houseguests. “I put nuts out for the birds but the squirrels keep eating them,” he said. “Now they’ve set my house on fi re, I’m going to shoot them all.”

Clubbing togetherElectrical contractors, manufacturers and suppliers are wanted to compete in a charity golf event run by the Luton & District Electrical Society to raise money for the Road Victims Trust.

The event is being organised by Paul Jones (pictured), managing director of Luton-based NICEIC Approved Contractor Instalec, whose own family has benefited from the charity’s support after his son was killed in a road accident. The tournament will be held at Mentmore Golf Club in Buckinghamshire on 16 May. Entry costs £240 for a team of four. This will be the sixth event Paul has run for the charity, and so far he’s raised around £18,000.

For more details, email [email protected]

2

4

75 6 8

Essex squirrels in fi ring range

Reuters

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

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

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E : [email protected] W : www.acksen.com T : +44 (0)870 225 1790

The Electrocorder range of electrical data recorders has been designed and manufactured in the UK to help you do your job better. Every model has been expertly calibrated to give the most accurate electrical diagnoses using constant sampling techniques, helping you to carry out comprehensive and reliable energy audits. Plus, with its simple design, free software and simple data transfer via USB to your laptop, the Electrocorder is such a low cost investment that it can’t fail to amp up your business.

ENERGY AUDITSVOLTAGE OPTIMISATIONACCURATE DATA& LOW INVESTMENT

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Documents

Connections Spring 2013