Don’t underestimate your role in the new safety act

AEI Cables is advising its customers not to underestimate the importance of cables as part of the new Building Safety Act legislation requirements. The Act – introduced in October 2023 – makes new requirements for ‘higher-risk buildings’, those deemed to be at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys, containing at least two residential units. Building owners should now have their building safety regime in place, and any occupied higher-risk buildings should register with the Building Safety Regulator. The systems in these buildings powered by electrical cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation. Stuart Dover, General Manager of AEI Cables, says, “We are emphasising to our customers the important part played by electrical systems and cables that power these systems as part of this new initiative. “We welcome the move to improve the safety of people and property, but we should be aware of our role as a major part of the supply chain. We are happy to provide guidance and support on these issues as demonstrating competence is also a requirement.” Under the terms of the Act, a Principal Accountable Person who fails to register an occupied higher-risk building ‘without a reasonable excuse’ will be liable to either a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. The Building Safety Regulator oversees the safety and performance of all buildings, in addition to focusing on high-rise buildings. It will promote competence and organisational capability within the sector, including building control professionals and tradespeople. The National Construction Products Regulator will oversee a more effective construction products regulatory regime, leading and coordinating market surveillance and enforcement across the UK. The NRCP has already started taking enforcement action under the scope of existing regulations.  AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control, and Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables, each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes.

Could your business benefit from an apprentice in 2024?

Logic4training, a building services training provider, has introduced a new 19+ apprenticeship programme and is calling for employers who are interested in taking on an apprentice. With over 20 years of experience training plumbers, heating engineers and electricians in essential industry qualifications, the company is well-placed to support the next generation of building services installers. Scheduled for launch in summer 2024 at its Northolt centre, the first apprenticeships will be in Gas Engineering and Smart Metering. It offers an affordable way to nurture new talent as Logic4training apprenticeships provide several benefits over college-based alternatives, including year-round provision so apprentices can start at a suitable time for the employer. In addition, small class sizes ensure the best possible training experience. Logic4training will do a block-release model, with in-centre training tailored in terms of time and content (where possible) to the needs of a business. By completing training in chunks (one to two weeks at a time), on return to the workplace, the apprentice will have applicable skills straight away. Mark Krull, Director for Logic4training, says, "We are excited to launch our new apprenticeship programme. Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity for both the apprentice and the employer; a mutually beneficial arrangement, which allows businesses to cost-effectively upskill someone to meet their specific needs, while the trainee ‘earns while they learn'. Statistically, an apprentice is far more likely to stay with an employer after training is complete. "As experienced training providers to existing installers, we understand the demands of working in the trades and have designed our apprenticeships accordingly, providing flexible start times, support with recruitment and options for employers with a number of apprentices, for example. We also offer all the add-on courses required for a future-proof business, such as heat pump training.'' Megan Killen, Head of Apprenticeships at Logic4training, adds, "Apprenticeships are a tried, tested and affordable model for bringing in new talent. Larger organisations pay into the Apprenticeship Levy, which covers the price of training and smaller businesses pay just 5% towards this cost. Apprentices must be paid a minimum wage, but at the end of the process, you have someone fully qualified and well-versed in the culture of your organisation. We look after all the training elements and support both the learner and their employer throughout.'' Mark concludes, "Overall, the building services sector is experiencing a massive skills shortage. A recent report suggested we need a 78% increase in plumbing and heating apprentices to meet the demand for low carbon heating upgrades. Hopefully, we can encourage employers in Northolt and the surrounding area to contribute to this uplift."

Gripple achieves carbon neutrality across its UK operations

Gripple, a manufacturer of suspension solutions for construction, has released its 2022 Sustainability Progress Report, outlining how it has achieved its first sustainability goal to become carbon neutral across its UK operations.   Gripple has managed to achieve emission reduction targets, supplemented with sustainable offsetting to deliver no net impact on the environment, as certified by Planet Mark, and in accordance with PAS2060:2014.    As demonstrated in its 2022 Sustainability Progress Report, Gripple has reduced its electricity usage from the National Grid in 2022, compared to the previous year by 4%, despite adding a new manufacturing site to its UK operations in 2022.   The company achieved carbon-neutral status for its UK operations by improving energy management, investing in staff training and education, and appointing Sustainability Champions in its business. The Sustainability Champions support Gripple’s Operations teams with frequent energy audits and reviews, identifying new improvement projects and sharing best practices across UK sites.    Gripple has carefully chosen its carbon credits to offset carbon emissions on several hydropower, wind farms, solar farms and wind projects globally.    Part of Gripple’s journey to climate-positive involves evaluating the environmental performance of its products and systems. Its pre-assembled trapeze bracket system Fast Trak is the first product to have published verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), including a full set of verified type III LCAs and The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).   Gripple’s Fast Trak EPDs provide valuable information to architects and construction professionals assessing the long-term sustainability of products in the built environment.    In addition to achieving carbon neutrality for its UK operations, the company has been awarded a Silver Medal as a recognition of its EcoVadis Sustainability Rating. The EcoVadis rating methodology measures the quality of a company’s sustainability management system, allowing benchmarking against industry peers and an evaluation of overall sustainability performance.   Gripple is on the way to reaching its second goal - to achieve carbon neutrality for its global operations by reducing its total carbon emissions (tco2e) from 862.7 to 822.6, representing a total decrease of 4.6%. Its third goal is to achieve net zero by 2030, and the company has invested in upgrading its data collection processes, ensuring a full carbon footprint can be assessed and analysed.

Tilbury Douglas names new Managing Director

Tilbury Douglas, a building, infrastructure, engineering, and fit-out business, has announced the promotion of Phil Shaw to Managing Director - Building North. With more than 25 years of experience within Tilbury Douglas, most recently as Regional Director – North West for nearly seven years, Phil has played an integral part in the growth and success of the region. Having joined the business at the start of his career as an engineer, Phil has extensive knowledge of the industry, region and sectors. In 2022, he was awarded the Constructing Excellence Outstanding Achievement Award and, in 2023, Tilbury Douglas was named Contractor of the Year by Constructing Excellence North West. To enable this progression and to further support the company’s growth, Tilbury Douglas has appointed Martin Horne as Regional Director – North West. Having held senior construction roles for several decades, most recently at BAM for more than eight years, latterly as Construction Director and before that as Technical Director (Structures), Martin brings more than 35 years of construction experience, leading businesses and delivering major projects. Phil will be replacing John Gittins in the Managing Director – Building North role, as John moves into a central role, providing support and assistance in the leadership and development of the national construction business. Craig Tatton, Chief Operating Officer at Tilbury Douglas, says, “I would like to congratulate Phil and John on their new roles and welcome Martin to the business. I look forward to our continued success in the North West and the North as we further grow our presence nationwide in the future.”

Edwin James Group cuts its carbon footprint by 10%

In its most recent Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, the Edwin James Group reported a 10% reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, reaffirming its long-term commitment to its ESG ambitions.   In line with its aim to source all energy needs from renewable sources, over 90% of the Group's office electricity requirements have come from renewables in the last financial year. Energy reduction efforts across multiple sites have removed 55 tonnes of CO2 through reduced gas and electricity consumption, representing an 18% decrease from the previous year.   Outside of the office environment, over 35% of company cars are fully electric. To accelerate the move to a greener fleet, the company ran a pilot programme starting the replacement of around 70 diesel vans with eco-friendly alternatives – this was the initial step towards electrifying the entire vehicle fleet.   Christopher Kehoe, Chief Executive Officer at Edwin James Group, says, “As a group, we believe that our success should not only be measured by financial achievements but also by the positive impact we make on the world around us.   “Our path towards 2030 continues to drive our efforts to become a more responsible company and to work with suppliers and customers who share our vision. Our commitment to our environmental goals and advancement towards net zero remains a key driver for the entire business. As does the promotion of safe and healthy work practices coupled with providing development opportunities at every level.”   At the heart of the Edwin James Group is the development of people and the strategy to nurture home-grown talent from 'apprentice to boardroom'. In 2023, the Group opened its third purpose-built EJ Academy training facility focused on developing digital skills.

BT Group repurposes street cabinet in first EV charger pilot

Etc., the startup and digital incubation arm of BT Group, has announced powering up its first EV charging unit built from a street cabinet traditionally used to store broadband and phone cabling. The announcement marks the first step in the rollout of new technical trials, exploring the potential to upgrade up to 60,000 cabinets, helping to meet the UK Government's sustainability targets by decarbonising the transport system. Developed to help solve EV charging infrastructure needs by repurposing existing street furniture, the pilots explore how this solution could be scaled to address the lack of chargers on UK roads. New BT Group research shows 38% would have an EV already if charging were less of an issue, and with only 53,000 public EV charge points currently on UK roads, the pilot marks an important step in the journey to net zero. Etc. has announced its first installation location in East Lothian, Scotland, with further pilots to roll out across the UK in the coming months. Whilst the UK Government's ambitions are to increase the number of charge points from 53,000 to 300,000 by 2030, access to charging is creating a significant barrier to EV purchases for many. BT Group’s recent research found that 60% of people think the UK’s EV charging infrastructure is inadequate, with 78% of petrol and diesel drivers unable to conveniently charge an EV. The charging solution works by retrofitting the cabinets with a device enabling renewable energy to be shared to a charge point, alongside the existing broadband service with no need to create a new power connection. EV charging can be deployed to cabinets that are in use for current copper broadband services, or those due for retirement, depending on the space and power available to the unit. Once the cabinet is no longer needed for broadband, as the nationwide full-fibre rollout progresses, the broadband equipment is recycled, and additional EV charge points can be added. This allows the re-use of existing infrastructure while deploying more charge points at pace. Whilst the pilot is being rolled out in the UK, EV charging infrastructure is a global challenge. The US, for example, has only 160,000 public EV chargers currently installed to serve over 2.4 million electric vehicles. Tom Guy, Managing Director of Etc. at BT Group, says “Our new charging solution is a huge step in bringing EV charging kerbside and exploring how we can address key barriers customers are currently facing. Working closely with local councils in Scotland and more widely across the UK, we are at a critical stage of our journey in tackling a very real customer problem that sits at the heart of our wider purpose to connect for good.” “This is a key step in our mission to build products and services right now that work for the future, with positive transformation at the heart.”

Megger delivers flexible electrical certification

Secure, easy to use and flexible with advanced multi-user support, the new CertSuite Installation electrical certification software package from Megger is suited to the needs of larger organisations. The cloud-based CertSuite Installation package, supported by Android and iOS devices in app versions and on the web in most browsers, is fully compliant with BS 7671 and is regularly updated with the latest amendments. It provides electrical installation, electric vehicle charge points, emergency lighting, solar photovoltaic and other certificates in addition to offering unlimited certificate generation, storage and support. To enhance its appeal to larger organisations, CertSuite Installation includes a group management feature that allows work to be assigned to teams and a workflow feature that simplifies job management. It allows multiple users to access jobs simultaneously whilst automatically synchronising data so all users can view the latest entries and results. When internet/data access is not available, offline working can continue and, in such cases, data is automatically synchronised to the cloud once internet/data access is restored. “We recognised that large organisations and companies, including housing associations and local councils, needed an electrical certification solution that’s straightforward yet flexible and secure,” says Simon Warren of Megger CertSuite. “We’ve launched CertSuite Installation as a flexible and affordable solution to meet these requirements. We’ve developed it with a whole range of time-saving features, such as built-in circuit templates and the ability to copy and change the job type. If in case anyone does have issues or questions, we provide free technical and domain support. Early users are already telling us that CertSuite Installation is saving them a lot of time, which in turn saves money.” CertSuite Installation software integrates fully with Megger’s new MFT-X1 multi-function installation tester and allows direct transfer of results via Bluetooth. It can also import data such as contact names and addresses from other platforms. Secure generation of PDF certificates, including electronic signatures and photographs of observations, is performed in the proven Microsoft Azure platform. CertSuite Installation will soon be joined by CertSuite Asset (certification for cable, motors and transformers) and CertSuite PAT (certification for portable appliances). Per-user licencing agreements are available on a monthly or annual basis.

Luton Borough Council upgrades its LED street lighting

British lighting manufacturer Acrospire has collaborated with Luton Borough Council to reduce carbon emissions, save energy, minimise light pollution, and enhance public safety through clear surveillance footage.   Luton Borough Council is responsible for over 18,500 streetlights on the public highway; it operates with a focus on maintaining reliable highway infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient movement in Luton. The 'Keep Luton Lit' Street Lighting policy, designed to foster a safe, green, and accessible environment, contributes to the overall prosperity of Luton. In 2019/20, Luton BC initiated a program to replace HID lanterns with energy-efficient LED lighting on all traffic routes and residential roads. The Council sought energy efficiency and the return to photocell control switching at a reduced light level following the previous failure of an operated CMS.   Acrospire was appointed as the main supplier out of two others for the project.   Tim Barker, Managing Director at Acrospire comments, “We provided luminaires for the mass LED rollout based on our previous successful collaboration with the council. The Sprint range of LED luminaires met the high specifications, which resulted in the deployment of over 4,000 Sprint Mini and Micro units across Luton's traffic routes and residential roads.”   The chosen Sprint luminaires offer energy efficiency, lightweight recyclable aluminium bodies, a seven-pin Nema socket for controls, a fully programmable driver, and a toolless entry for easy maintenance. Working on Luton BC's lighting designs, a mix of over 4,000 Sprint luminaires finished in light grey (RAL 7305), 45W and 90W 4000K, have been installed by VolkerHighways, across Luton’s traffic routes and residential roads.   The 4000K Sprint luminaires were selected to meet lighting requirements whilst enhancing surveillance capabilities for public safety. Sprint offers further energy savings and user comfort with a fully programmable driver with dimming.   The Council opted to install 35/18 lux photocells. It delivered 5% savings, based on the old CMS burning hours.   In four years, the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting has yielded 43% energy savings and 61% carbon reduction for Luton Borough Council.   Steven Lain, Service Manager at Bus Services & Operations, Property & Infrastructure at Luton Borough Council, says, "The LED streetlighting upgrades have not only aligned with our sustainability goals but have significantly contributed to creating a safer and more energy-efficient environment in Luton. Acrospire's commitment to delivering a high-quality solution has been pivotal in the success of this project."

Develop expands its reach in Norwich through JTL's new training centre

Develop Training is enhancing its presence in Norwich through short courses delivered at JTL’s newest training centre.  Develop has partnered with its parent company, JTL, one of the largest work-based learning providers in England and Wales, to expand its delivery network across the country.   The facility was unveiled in November by the JTL Group with an investment of £1.5 million, responding to the increasing demand for training in the local area. The new facility is helping bridge the existing skills gap in the sector and will facilitate training electrical, plumbing and heating professionals in Norwich.   Develop will provide short courses to those working in the building services engineering sector. This supports local businesses with their training needs. Develop will offer courses in low and high-voltage electrical, gas ACS, confined spaces, working at height, HVAC, and general health and safety training. In addition to a wide range of training, Develop is well-known for in the utilities, estates and facilities management industries.  Develop trains over 30,000 professionals annually. Courses are run UK-wide from six Develop training centres and two JTL partner centres in Birmingham and Norwich. However, the Group shares over 20 training centres and short courses are run from all of them. Courses can be delivered on customer sites via mobile facilities such as the organisation’s confined spaces vehicle, virtual classroom training, and E-learning courses.  Matthew Gray, Interim Managing Director at Develop, says, “We are pleased to expand our offering in Norwich in partnership with JTL. As part of the wider JTL Group, we have seen a growing demand for training in the area particularly across the Building Services Engineering sector, and especially electricians and heating engineers in the local vicinity. By enhancing our presence in Norwich, we look forward to delivering short courses from the centre and ensuring that industry professionals in the local area receive training of the highest quality.”   For more information about the Norwich centre, as well as a list of the on-site and virtual training courses, download the course brochure here. 

Now is the time for landlords to invest in smart EV chargers

The UK Government has committed to eliminating the sale of fossil-powered vehicles by 2035 and building a strong EV charging network, including home charging. By the end of this year, we will see a 20% increase, at least, in electric vehicle sales, not accounting for plug-in hybrids. This is a clear shift in consumer sentiment and a sign that the switch towards electric vehicles is unlikely to change. In addition, demand is only likely to be spurred due to recent announcements by two of the largest OEMs, Stellantis, and Nissan making further commitments to the UK market. Nissan has announced a £1 billion investment to include battery manufacturing, whilst Stellantis will open its first dedicated EV factory. As consumer adoption of EVs rises and the federal government focuses on incentivising EV charging for rented and rental properties, now is an opportune time for landlords to invest in smart EV chargers, like Wallbox’s Pulsar Max and futureproofing their investment properties. Take advantage of government incentives Building a network of smart home EV chargers is a priority for the UK Government. To help spur the industry forward, the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has specified three types of grants for residential users, two of which directly benefit rented and rental properties. Tenants renting a flat can apply for current EV charging grants, but also landlords for flats and houses with off-street parking. This was eliminated for owner-occupier houses in April 2022. The current grant covers up to 75% of the cost to buy and install a charge point socket, up to £350 per grant. So far, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme has supported over 177,063 domestic installations across the country. Attracting and retaining tenants As demand for EVs grows, prices for new EVs drop and second-hand vehicles enter the market, we can only expect smart home chargers to become an expectation rather than a perk for tenants. As the market grows, having smart EV charging available will help retain tenants in properties. Wallbox says that it is aware that 80% of EV charging happens at home, meaning EV drivers prefer to charge at home and they expect to. Aside from the convenience of home charging, there are also financial incentives for making home charging accessible to tenants. Some industry experts suggest that consumers could save £230 a year simply by charging their car off-peak, which can be scheduled through platforms such as myWallbox. It is also possible that tenant access to smart EV charging will become a national standard. In 2019, the Government began consultation on introducing a requirement for charging infrastructure to be built into all new homes. If passed, England will become the first country in the world to mandate electric charge points in all new homes - further driving demand from tenants in both new and existing rental properties. The environment Now, the UK produces over 50% of its power from low carbon technologies, ultimately helping green the lifecycle emissions of EVs. There are clear environmental benefits for installing smart home charging units, like Wallbox’s Pulsar Max, that can charge with self-produced solar energy but can also prioritise charging with more sustainable energy both by charging when it is cheapest - which usually aligns with when it is also greenest - and by tapping into utility run demand response programs like Octopus’s Intelligence Octopus Go Tariff. Smart charging allows drivers to shift charging to periods of lower overall demand for electricity, like overnight, or high renewable generation like windy or sunny weather - ultimately contributing to a greener UK. Future-proof your investment properties with Pulsar Max Pulsar Max is Wallbox’s future-proofed smart charger from its best-selling product line, Pulsar. Pulsar Max is IK10, meaning it is designed to withstand indoors and out. In addition, it has advanced intelligence offering the smart charging features of today, but future-proofed for software upgrades of tomorrow. It is available through all good installers and distributors.