SELECT backs Grenfell Inquiry's call for regulation

Scotland’s largest trade association, SELECT, has echoed the Grenfell Inquiry’s call for regulation and a shake-up of the construction industry – and has urged the Scottish Government to “step up and act on regulation” before tragedy strikes again. The campaigning body says it agrees with inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick that the sector needs “fundamental change” to avoid a repeat of the tragic blaze in which 72 people lost their lives in June 2017. Among the many recommendations in yesterday’s damning report, Sir Martin said the sector should appoint a construction regulator to oversee all aspects of the industry. And SELECT Managing Director, Alan Wilson, says such a suggestion underlines the urgent need for regulation of the electrical industry, which it has been tirelessly campaigning for over the past 10 years. Alan explains, “As an organisation which has always put safety first and foremost, we welcome the call from the Grenfell Inquiry for an industry regulator, and we can only reiterate that this report reinforces the absolute importance of regulation in our sector. “We have been calling for similar measures for more than a decade, but despite significant cross-party support, our pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears among those who have the power – but apparently not the will – to make it happen. “When is the government going to act? Will it take another disaster for it to wake up and do something? Grenfell should be a catalyst for real change and the politicians have the power in their hands to make that happen and step up and act on regulation. “Electrical safety is a very real issue and regulation of the industry would help eliminate the risks posed by unqualified people carrying out potentially dangerous work.” SELECT’s long-running campaign had attracted support from MPs and MSPs of all parties, who all agreed about the importance of professionalism, transparency and safety in construction procedures. Alan continues, “We have a draft Bill ready to go, and now’s the chance for the Scottish Parliament to use its powers and be a leader in the changes which we need. There can’t be short cuts or quick fixes. This report reinforces the importance of always using suitably qualified professionals in safety-critical work, and SELECT will continue to work hard behind the scenes to ensure working conditions are safe for contractors.” The campaign for protection of title for the profession of electrician has been pursued over the course of many years by SELECT in partnership with the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), Unite the Union and other industry bodies. The campaigns aims to make it a statutory offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have no (or inadequate) qualifications, and to make sure that those who work in the industry do so in a safe and competent manner. SELECT has set up a Wall of Support for backers to add their voice to the cause, with recent additions including former Transport Minister, Kevin Stewart, and Conservative MSPs, Craig Hoy and Oliver Mundell. Cross-party support was also evident in a recent episode of SELECT’s Sparks’ Remarks podcast, with Tories Jamie Halcro-Johnston and Brian Whittle and Labour’s Monica Lennon all reinforcing their backing for the campaign. For more from SELECT, click here.

LIA announces programme for Autumn Tech Forum

The Lighting Industry Association (LIA) has announced the programme for The Autumn Tech Forum 2024, which is set to take place on Wednesday 23 October at The Studio in Birmingham. The forum promises to deliver access to the latest industry insights, along with engaging discussions and networking opportunities for professionals across the lighting industry. Attendees will benefit from a comprehensive programme that includes essential technical updates on compliance and sustainability, among other key topics. The line-up of expert speakers will provide valuable knowledge and practical advice, tailored to help delegates stay ahead in the sector. In keeping with The LIA’s commitment to encouraging a more inclusive industry, the association is also continuing its Emerging Talent initiative. This programme, which has been enthusiastically received, offers a 50% discount on forum registration to LIA members aged 40 years and younger when a full price ticket has been purchased. By supporting the next generation of lighting professionals, The LIA is ensuring that fresh perspectives continue to drive innovation within the industry. Megan Henshaw, Marketing Manager at The LIA, says, "The Autumn Tech Forum is our key member event, and the ideal opportunity for members to connect with their industry peers, all in one room. We can't wait to welcome the industry's emerging talent to the forum." Dan Griffiths, The LIA’s Technical Operations Manager, adds, "The forum's impressive line-up ensures that LIA members will gain the insights needed to navigate the future of the lighting industry with absolute confidence." The Autumn Tech Forum 2024 is The LIA’s key member event, and an ideal opportunity for attendees to connect with industry peers and gain the insights needed to navigate the future of the lighting industry with confidence. The full schedule for the day is as follows: 10:00 - Event introduction 10:05 - LIA Overview - Website and Technical Updates | Ayça Donaghy - LIA CEO, Megan Henshaw - LIA Marketing Manager, Dan Griffiths - LIA Technical Operations Manager 10:25 - Approaches to Effective Lighting Design | Peter Thorns - Head of Strategic Lighting Applications, Thorn Lighting 10:40 - CE+CE≠ CE - Why? | Caroline Johnson - LIA Technical Manager 10:55 - The Role of Training towards Competence | Teresa Beazley - LIA Commercial and Training Manager 11:15 - Morning break 11:45 - Ecodesign and Energy Labelling: Insights from the eepliant3 Project | Paul Sargent - LIAQA and Overseas Activities Manager, Andy Guest - LIA Membership Services Manager 11:55 - Lighting at Night: Dark Skies and Compliance with EN 12464-2 | Peter Thorns - Head of Strategic Lighting Applications, Thorn Lighting 12:15 - The ESPR and Its Impact on the EU | Teresa Selvaggio - Director of Public Affairs, LightingEurope 12:40 - Sustainability Standards: NABERS, BREEAM, and WELL | Neil McLean - Industry Relations (Europe and Asia), Lutron Electronics 12:55 - Lunch 13:55 - LIITE Group Panel 14:10 - Market Compliance: Navigating TP(a) and TP(b) Requirements | Dan Griffiths - LIA Technical Operations Manager, Jack Adams - LIA Laboratory Manager 14:30 - Understanding Remanufacturing Luminaires to BS 8887:221 | Tom Ruddell - Remanufacture Engineer, EGG Lighting 14:50 - Wireless Controls and PSTI | Stewart Langdown - Director of Business Development, zencontrol Group 15:10 - The Science of Light | Dr Shelley James - Age of Light Innovations 15:30 - Q&A Panel 15:45 - Event end To purchase tickets for the Autumn Tech Forum, click here. For more from The LIA, click here.

UK tradespeople urge government for more support

UK tradespeople are calling for the new government to make a clearer plan aimed at supporting more people into the construction industry and upskilling existing staff, following a recent survey conducted by Screwfix. More than 1,000 UK tradespeople were surveyed about life in the trade, their key challenges and opportunities as the construction industry faces its ongoing skills shortage. While 75% of those surveyed said they have work planned for the next six months, only 3.7% of sole traders and 19% of SME firms (those with two to five staff) were able to take on an apprentice in the last year. Meanwhile, tradespeople are struggling to keep up with demand. Most will spend four months of the year working more than five days a week, and 69% feel they have no one to hand their business over to after retirement. 42% of those over 65 say they will never retire or do not know when they’ll be able to. Almost two-thirds (60%) stated that the pressures of increased tax and business regulations were their primary concern and key barrier to achieving their business objectives. A further 58% highlighted the lack of skilled labour available in construction as a key challenge and necessary policy area for the new government to focus on, as it seeks to propel the UK’s economic growth. On the topic of skills, the majority (92%) believe more needs to be done within schools to encourage young people into the trades, while a further 30% responded that there are no significant initiatives in their region to promote trade careers. To communicate the thoughts and feelings of UK tradespeople, Screwfix has launched its Voice of The Trade report which outlines the key challenges of those currently working in the industry, including those they face around attracting new talent. Considering the views captured from across the industry, the report sets out five key areas of suggested focus for the government, to best support the trade: Make business tax and regulation small business friendly Provide direct grants to SMEs to support recruitment Encourage flexibility in apprentice hiring to reflect the work tradespeople have planned via T-level placements and flexi-apprenticeships Make upskilling flexible and focused on when trades have time to train Celebrate trade apprenticeships as having the same value as a university education John Mewett, CEO at Screwfix, says, “We are passionate about supporting tradespeople and we know from speaking with them just how rewarding a career in the trade can be. As a supplier to the trade, we wanted to understand and be a voice for what tradespeople are seeking from the new government to support their businesses, and to help more people enter the construction industry. “The construction sector and the tradespeople within it are crucial for the upkeep of our homes, workplaces, infrastructure and, ultimately, our economy, and we need to make sure it remains strong. With the UK on course to face a shortfall of 250,000 tradespeople by 2030 and the new government’s emphasis on driving economic growth, now is the time to support our current trade workforce as well as educate and inspire the younger generation on the significant career opportunities available.” Download a copy of Screwfix’s Voice of The Trade report here. Fore more from Screwfix, click here. 

UK home heating could be set for revolutionary change

Millions of UK homes could successfully switch to low carbon electrified heating whilst easing pressure on the electricity grid by using innovative heat battery technology. The landmark innovation trial ‘Neat Heat’, led by UK Power Networks in partnership with OVO and tepeo found the switch would significantly help the UK meet its net zero targets by 2050. Neat Heat ran for 18 months until June, and involved installing tepeo’s Zero Emission Boiler (ZEB) which uses heat battery technology, in 30 homes across the South East and East of England. The findings demonstrated that heat batteries, as an all-electric low carbon alternative to fossil fuel boilers, can shift peak energy demand for heating to off-peak times by up to 95%. This means that homes could be efficiently heated even in the depths of winter, whilst providing substantial carbon savings of 15,600kg CO2 compared to if these homes were using gas boilers instead.  By leveraging thermal storage, homes could ‘charge’ their heating systems outside of the most expensive hours of the day, with heat being released on demand when needed. At launch, the project attracted more than 2,000 registrations of interest for the limited spaces available, evidencing a strong demand from UK customers for new alternatives to fossil fuel heating. The trial was built around an innovative tariff proposition developed by OVO called a ‘type of use’, giving customers access to a cheaper (than standard) rate to charge their ZEBs. Customers could also set their ZEBs to charge during the cheapest times during the day, making it simple for the customer and enabling flexibility for the grid.  As well as showing 95% of a trialist’s yearly heating demand could be moved outside of peak hours, where demand on the grid was highest, over 90% could be moved in the coldest weeks in winter. All participants experienced no noticeable change to their heating, with the ZEB providing a similar experience as a traditional boiler but powered entirely by electricity. Green solutions such as the ZEB could play an important role in decarbonising home heating. They are ideal for the estimated over 20% of UK homes which lack the space required for low carbon solutions like heat pumps or where these solutions could prove difficult to retrofit. All homes involved in the trial also benefited from quick installations with minimal disruptions, taking on average one-to-two days. All trialists opted to continue with their new ZEB heating solution rather than reverting to a fossil fuel boiler. Head of Innovation at UK Power Networks, Luca Grella says, “Being able to move electricity demand away from peak hours is huge, for both our network and customers. “The more people move to electric heating systems, the more resilient our network will need to be. Shifting demand away from peak hours will reduce the upgrades needed to keep up with the future demand for green technologies, which would ultimately have been paid for by customers across the country. We hope this also opens the door to further low carbon solutions which we know they are keen to adopt.” For more from UK Power Networks, click here.

Ansell Lighting launches Bespoke LED Strip Cutting Service

Reducing installation time on site, Ansell Lighting has launched a new bespoke cutting service for its range of LED strip lighting. Supplying product already pre-cut to required lengths, the new service is ideal for projects of all sizes and applications, with strips supplied pre-soldered or with all required joining accessories. Offering personalised support, Ansell Lighting has a dedicated sales team on hand to guide customers through the bespoke cutting ordering process, ensuring every order meets specific requirements efficiently and accurately. All bespoke LED strip orders are produced by Ansell’s in-house team and are both quality controlled and tested before shipment. Delivered within a maximum 72-hour turn-around time, they are also supported with a five-year warranty for ultimate peace of mind. Ansell Lighting’s range of LED strip lighting incorporates eight different product lines, including C-CELL: COB, D-CELL: dim-to-warm, E-CELL: eco, H-CELL: high efficiency, K-CELL: single cut, P-CELL: professional, U-CELL: ultra long and Z-CELL: irregular bend. All strip lighting is supplied with a self-adhesive back meaning no adhesive or fixings are required. Mark Abbott, Managing Director at Ansell Lighting says, “We understand that off-the-shelf solutions aren’t always the most efficient for our customers on site. As part of our commitment to ensure product installations are as quick and easy as possible, we decided to launch the Bespoke LED Strip Cutting Service, providing tailored solutions that meet the exact needs of each project.” Fore more from Ansell Lighting, click here.

Webro gets SLIM with Triotronik

Webro Cables & Connectors has announced that it has been appointed as the UK distribution partner for Triotronik SLIM Patch Leads. The innovative product line-up has been created to solve the long-standing problems of cable chaos and space limitations in server racks. Trusted by customers in over 70 countries and highly favoured by installers, integrators, technicians, and engineers, the impressive product portfolio carried by Webro is comprised of 90 lines in two main cable categories: Cat 6A SLIM Patch Leads are fully shielded and suitable for up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) applications, and feature an indestructible plug. At only 3.8mm in diameter, they are currently the thinnest on the market in the Cat 6A class. Cat 6 SLIM Patch Leads are suitable for up to 1 Gigabit and PoE applications, and feature an indestructible plug. At only 2.8mm in diameter, they’re currently the thinnest on the market in the Cat 6 class. All Triotronik SLIM Patch Leads are UL, CE, and UKCA certified. Cat 6 SLIM Patch Leads are available in ‘SLIM’, ‘SLIM LIGHT’ and ‘SLIM TOUGH’ options, and Cat 6A in ‘SLIM’ and ‘SLIM LIGHT’ options - in lengths from 0.15 to 3m. Thinner, more flexible, and fast High-quality 100% copper wired, standard-compliant Triotronik SLIM patch leads are not only six times thinner than conventional patch cords, but they’re more flexible with a 90º bend radius - and they’re durable. They deliver fast data transmission up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet and are ideal for PoE applications. Most commonly they’re deployed in data centres, within traditional IT and across industrial environments. Webro Technical Lead, Gary Banfield says, “We’re delighted to have secured this exciting distribution partnership with Triotronik. Across the board the SLIM Patch Lead range delivers what our customers have been asking for – space saving solutions in network racks, and easy cable management. Finally, we have a solution to overcome cable ‘spaghetti’ clutter!” Commenting on the appointment, Triotronik International Business Development Manager, Bernhard Endmayer, says, “We’re highly excited to join forces with Webro, a strong and professional partner to further drive the success-story of SLIM in the United Kingdom. Thanks to locally available stock and Webro’s great network spanning the UK we will be able to jointly provide the ‘SLIM-solution’ to every part of the country with short lead times. Let’s get work cleaning up network cabinets with the power of SLIM!” Available now Webro will work in partnership with Triotronik to drive its SLIM Patch Lead solutions into the UK market. Webro is fully stocked to support customer projects with the best product solutions and expert service.

Scottish Government approves battery energy storage system

Kona Energy, an energy storage development specialist, has announced that the Scottish Government has granted consent for the construction and operation of the Smeaton Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 228MW:456MWh project near Dalkeith, East Lothian. This development is set to significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the UK grid, achieving estimated carbon savings of roughly 15,368 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. The Smeaton BESS will store energy from renewable sources and release it during peak demand, reducing grid constraints and lowering energy costs for consumers. The project's strategic geographical location will play a critical role in enhancing grid resilience and supporting the UK's transition to a zero-carbon future. Using the same methodology as previous Kona assessments, the Smeaton BESS is expected to save 15,368 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in its first year. This is the equivalent of offsetting the emissions from 17,328 average UK homes - not including heating. The Smeaton BESS is strategically positioned to particularly reduce energy constraints and related costs on the UK grid. National Grid ESO estimates show that constraint costs could reach as high as £3 billion in 2029, with the bulk of this coming from curtailing wind in Scotland. Projects such as the Smeaton BESS are vital in bringing these costs down, reducing bills for consumers and preventing the waste of clean energy generation. With the nearby Torness nuclear power station due to shut down in 2028, the project will also play a key role in improving local network stability. The project aligns with Kona Energy's ongoing work with the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and National Grid to mitigate energy constraints and improve network stability. Kona jointly wrote a proposal paper illustrating how ESO can use batteries to rapidly reduce the public cost of constraints. This was done in partnership with Zenobē, Eku and Field in response to the ESO’s Constraints Collaboration Project. Kona Energy, advised by Opus Corporate Finance LLP, will shortly be seeking investment to bring the Smeaton BESS project to market. To support the project’s delivery, Dr Lu Zhang, previously with Hithium, a leading Chinese cell manufacturer, has joined Kona Energy as Technical Director. Dr Zhang’s expertise will be vital in maximising the project’s potential and ensuring its successful and speedy implementation, the company says. Andy Willis, Kona Energy's Founder, comments, “This is fantastic news, adding to Kona’s growing portfolio of work. This project represents a significant step forward in decarbonising the UK’s electricity grid while providing tangible and real benefits in terms of cost reduction and energy security. We are eager to collaborate with investors and partners in order to deliver this project on a rapid timescale.” “Tackling constraint costs is vital in not only bringing down consumer bills and preventing the costly waste of clean generation, but also for retaining public trust in reaching net zero. The huge financial burden of prohibiting wind turbines from operating is becoming a more relevant topic in the wider debate - and rightly so. Our industry must do more to tackle this, and projects such as the Smeaton BESS will help to significantly reduce the waste involved. “Its strategic location will give it a unique role to play in drastically slashing constraint costs and consumer bills - that was one of the key reasons why our development team was so enthusiastic about the project’s potential. "I'd like to thank the Scottish Government for their positive engagement on the project, and look forward to working with them again in the future in order to deliver our shared net zero goal."

BG updates market on bidirectional devices mandate

A supplier of consumer units, BG, is updating electrical installers and wholesalers on the latest category-relevant safety legislation affecting electricians and electrical engineers who are inspecting, testing or installing circuits that are covered by circuit protection devices. The changes in the IET's 3rd Amendment to BS7671: 18th Edition on 31 July 2024 reflect safety and, in particular, the expansion of renewables into the home by making clear the definition and identification of protection devices. With new build and retrofit sales of solar, energy storage, and EV charging on the increase, the role of circuit protection devices has become ever more important. This update clearly gives definition and marking identifications for bidirectional and unidirectional circuit protection devices. A regulation has also been added under chapter 53 that gives clear definition when defining and installing devices for protection, switch control, monitoring and circuit isolation. This regulation also covers the potential and possible directions for power flow. If power flow is not in a single direction, only appropriate bidirectional devices shall be selected and used. With the increased demand to incorporate PV, battery storage, and EV into homes, the regulation has been updated to further ensure that these installations are safe. Feeding power back into a circuit that has a unidirectional device could result in damage to the device, compromising safety to the home and its users. British General has a range 18th Edition Amendment 3 bi-directional devices for installations that feed into and draw power through the same circuit protection device. These consist of bidirectional RCDs, circuit breakers, and double pole RCBO devices. Philip Grove, BG’s Product Manager for circuit protection, comments, “We are seeing the industry changing at a fast rate as customers introduce solar, renewables and electrical vehicle charging to their homes. It is ever more important to ensure that expansions and alterations are safe for the home and users. We welcome this latest update as this another step forward for ensuring users have safe installations.” BG is part of the Luceco Group, which also includes the Sync Energy and Masterplug brands as well as commercial and domestic lighting. For more from the Luceco Group, click here.

One Click LCA partners with Recolight

One Click LCA, a provider of life-cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration (EPD) software, has announced a strategic reseller partnership with Recolight, the operator of one of the UK’s largest Reuse and Recycling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance schemes. The strategic partnership between One Click LCA and Recolight will offer expertise, guidance, and LCA and EPD technology to the lighting industry. By generating LCAs and EPDs, lighting manufacturers can better understand the carbon impact of their products and satisfy increasing specifier and client requirements for achieving green certifications like BREEAM, LEED, net zero, and more. Recolight is known for its commitment to reuse, the circular economy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By partnering with One Click LCA, Recolight can offer its members and other industry stakeholders access to software - already used by several lighting manufacturers - that simplifies the process of creating accurate and credible LCAs and EPDs for their products. Key benefits of the partnership: • Simple EPD generation: One Click LCA’s intuitive EPD software automates the process, helping lighting manufacturers to save time and resources. • Market differentiation and benchmarking: EPDs will help lighting manufacturers stand out in a competitive market by showcasing their products’ environmental performance. • Meeting customer demand: With EPDs, lighting manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to reducing carbon, meet green procurement standards, and attract sustainability-focused customers. • Expert guidance: Recolight and One Click LCA’s understanding of the lighting industry will provide support and guidance to companies helping them cut through the complexity of environmental metrics. Panu Pasanen, Founder and CEO at One Click LCA, comments, “This collaboration with Recolight highlights One Click LCA's commitment to decarbonising the lighting industry. Recolight’s extensive network of luminaire manufacturers will benefit from combined access to world-leading LCA and EPD software, and support and consulting, to enable them on their decarbonisation journey.” Nigel Harvey, CEO at Recolight, adds, “An increasing number of specifiers and end-users are now demanding credible environmental metrics as part of their lighting procurement and specification. Those companies that move early will gain a competitive advantage. We are delighted that through this partnership with One Click LCA, Recolight can provide access to industry-leading LCA and EPD software that enhances embodied carbon transparency, and helps both specifiers and manufacturers move towards a low carbon future.” Andreas Adam, Chair of the Recolight board and Global Sustainability Manager Lighting at LEDVANCE, notes, “The agreement with OneClick LCA is another great example of the Recolight team’s commitment to supporting and facilitating action on sustainability within the lighting industry.” The partnership follows the recent launch of One Click LCA’s Luminaires EPD Generator tool, which streamlines the creation of EPDs for lighting products. For more from Recolight, click here.

Asda forecourt growth fuelled by Evolve

Evolve, a provider of Managed Network Solutions and IT services, has announced its pivotal role in Asda's strategic move towards becoming Britain's second-largest grocer. Following Asda's acquisition of 116 petrol forecourt sites from the Co-op in 2022 in a £600 million deal, the supermarket giant faced the challenge of delivering a seamless and efficient user experience at these new locations. To meet this goal, Asda required state-of-the-art technology and dependable managed connectivity services. Evolve stepped in to provide the essential infrastructure, ensuring that consumers can enjoy a broad range of products and services conveniently and reliably. Commenting on the project, Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve, says, “The fuel forecourt sector is highly competitive, where connectivity is key to success. Asda selected Evolve as its connectivity partner thanks to Evolve's two decades of extensive experience and expertise in the forecourt sector, and I’m incredibly proud of the service we delivered. “A key challenge facing the team was that each of the new sites requiring connectivity faced time constraints, meaning it was imperative for our engineering and development teams to tailor the connectivity solution to fit the deadline. We are well-versed in the dynamic nature of the market and the importance of keeping pace with its customers, and were able to deliver the Asda solution ahead of schedule.” Fully managed network solutions, including SD-WAN, connectivity, and guest Wi-Fi, as well as connectivity to third parties such as POS vendors and fuel tank polling, are essential for businesses in the forecourt sector to operate efficiently and deliver a seamless customer experience. To this end, Evolve supplied a secure network and robust connection able to support fuel and store sales, third-party services and guest Wi-Fi. Ashley Cowley, Asda Technology Senior Manager for Express Stores, adds, “We approached Evolve with this project as we knew it was a big ask to get everything up and running with limited downtime. The team got round this by setting the sites up to run on 4G/5G to ensure they remained operational. Temporary communications for installations were also used at the beginning of the project, and overnight installations were carried out to minimise disruption to operations. “Evolve managed the entire project from start to finish, and we now have a new tech stack that’s been specifically designed with point-of-sale, and all other connectivity-dependent elements in mind. Evolve's solution will enable us to operate more efficiently while streamlining operations and reducing downtime in future.” By investing in fully managed network solutions, Asda forecourts can now also collect valuable data and analytics for more informed decision-making, and allowing it to tailor offerings. Evolve specialises in network solutions for forecourts, including fuel stations and convenience stores. Its managed network services optimise supply chain management, logistics, and store operations, leading to improved profitability and customer satisfaction.