Baxi heat pump brings efficient heat to self-build Suffolk property

A renewables specialist in Suffolk has transformed the sustainability credentials of a spacious three-bedroom self-build property in Peasenhall by fitting a new air source heat pump. The 2,600ft2 self-build property, built by owners Jonathan and Emma Hayes, required a heating system capable of improving energy efficiency while being suitable for off-grid applications. Another significant requirement involved curtailing the environmental impact of the property. Jonathan reached out to Renew East, a renewable heat specialist, who recommended Baxi’s HP40 Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP). Approximately a third of the properties in Suffolk, including the luxury self-build, were not connected to the mains gas grid, making it a prime candidate for a renewable heating system. Although Renew East Director, Luke Nicholls, is an experienced heating engineer, he welcomed the opportunity to benefit from the support of Baxi services on his first installation of the new product. After carrying out complete heat loss calculations on the property, Luke recommended the 11kW Baxi HP40 Monobloc heat pump with a 250l hot water cylinder. This system feeds the underfloor heating, which emits 11kw of heat even at temperatures as low as -5°C. The system control panel has a user-friendly interface that aids the commissioning process by allowing Luke and his team to view the performance of the outside unit from within the property. Simultaneously, Jonathan and Emma have complete control over the temperature in their home through the heat pump’s connection to Baxi’s uSense smart room thermostat. The Baxi monobloc design aided in the smooth installation process of many standard components such as the mims controller, circulation pump and expansion vessel, housed in the main outdoor unit.  As part of the company’s support for its heating engineers, Renew East accessed Baxi’s extensive heat pump services and expertise both before and during the project, leading up to its installation. To familiarise themselves with Baxi solutions, the team was encouraged to attend hands-on heat pump training, covering design and application, in addition to the practical elements of the installation and commissioning of the system. Once the installation was complete, they benefitted from the commissioning supervision offered by Baxi’s expert heat pump engineers. They could ensure the solution delivered its intended design performance before handover to the homeowners.

Scotland’s leading electrical bodies herald healthy pipeline of emerging young talent

Scotland’s leading electrical bodies are looking ahead to 2024 with confidence as new figures show a healthy pipeline of emerging young talent – but also insist that industry-led apprenticeships are the only way to deliver the future of skills development. The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) and campaigning trade association SELECT have welcomed a report showcasing the youthful age profile of Scottish electricians. They also point to record recruitment levels over the past three years and recent triumphs in national apprentice competitions as further proof of a bright future. They insist that such high standards can only be maintained by industry-approved training. The bodies issued their statement after a new SJIB report found that of the 19,566 people in Scotland with an Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) card, almost 40% (7,813), are aged between 16 and 29, with just 19% (3,836) aged 50 or over. Some 4,603 (24%) holders of the accreditation permitting them to carry out electrical work are aged between 30-39, with 17% (3,314) in the 40-49 bracket. Fiona Harper, Secretary of the SJIB, says “These encouraging findings counter the oft-heard fears of an ageing workforce that won’t be replaced. Instead, it suggests an engaged and eager younger generation who are already embracing the challenge of new technology and will continue to safely heat and power our homes and businesses for generations to come. “As the electrification of society continues, we are looking ahead to 2024 with confidence that a healthy pipeline of young talent is emerging, producing qualified electricians who have a solid, broad base of knowledge that can be added to with additional training as required.” However, Fiona warned that there is no substitute for a proper apprenticeship and that the bodies would continue to rigorously promote employer-led training. This ensures Scotland is served by competent professionals who work to the highest safety standards. She continues, “There is only one route to becoming an electrician and that is undertaking the four-year Modern Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation, with top-up training for areas as needed, such as specialist renewable technology. “We have previously warned about the dangers of ‘six-week wonders’ trying to enter the industry after taking just a short course in basic skills and we will continue to alert the sector and the wider public of the potentially dangerous consequences of employing such people.” New figures emerged during another bumper year for electrical apprenticeships in Scotland, with 908 new starts and full classes for the 2023/24 intake following the 900-plus apprentices and adult trainees recruited for 2022/23 and 2021/22. As a further testament to the youthful age profile of Scottish electricians, Danny McBean, 21, from SELECT member company Grants (Dufftown) Ltd, triumphed in the UK-wide skills contest in Manchester in November, becoming the third Scottish apprentice to win the title in the past four years.

CU Phosco Lighting achieves an outstanding 2.9 TM66 score for the P86x range

CU Phosco Lighting, an innovator in outdoor lighting solutions, has announced that its P86x range, encompassing the P860, P861, P862, and P863 product lines, has achieved an exceptional 2.9 TM66 score.  In receiving one of highest scores awarded by the LIA/CIBSE circular economy certification scheme (TSD-012 TM66 Assured Product Verification Scheme), the company says it underscores its commitment to sustainable design and manufacturing processes. Commenting on this achievement, Matt Murray, Sales & Marketing Director at CU Phosco Lighting, states, "We are thrilled to receive a TM66 2.9 score for our P86x range. Only manufacturers who complete all stages of the LIA/CIBSE circular economy certification scheme process are entitled to use the TM66 Assured Product Verification Scheme mark, and we will be displaying ours proudly. This accomplishment reflects our unwavering dedication to circular economy principles, and we believe it positions us as the best in the industry as far as circularity is concerned." The P86x range, comprising the award-winning P860, P861, P862, and P863 luminaires, has been designed with an emphasis on optimal optical performance, thermal management, compatibility, and serviceability. The range is 100% recyclable, making it easy to upgrade and dismantle at the end of life. These products cater to the most demanding lighting requirements, offering efficiency, versatility, and future proofing for an optimised investment. At CU Phosco Lighting, circularity is at the core of its business strategy and features heavily in 2024 plans. The company consistently evaluates its products for circular economy performance, ensuring accessibility for maintenance, modularity, upgradeability, and the use of recyclable or reusable materials.  A TM66 score between 2.5 and 4 indicates excellent circularity, placing CU Phosco's P86x range at the forefront of sustainable lighting solutions.

Electricians rank among the lowest paying trades for van insurance

Vanarama has conducted a new study analysing the cost of insurance for diesel and electric vans across 40 of the most popular tradespeople job titles. Plumbers emerged with the most affordable insurance quotes for both types of vans. Electricians pay £722.77 for insurance on a diesel van, which is £114.51 cheaper than mechanics, who received the highest quote of £837.28. Shockingly for electric van insurance, there were no quotes for less than £1,000. Nonetheless, electricians still received the cheapest quote at £1,004.29, which is £155.62 cheaper than the highest quote. Vanarama established an ‘average van driver profile’ ensuring the only variable changed for each insurance quote was the job title and van type. The study used the UK’s best-selling van, the Ford Transit Custom, and the UK’s best-selling electric van, the Vauxhall Vivaro-e. The value of each van was determined by analysing Auto Trader listings and calculating the average price. Electricians are among those who will benefit from the cheapest ICE van insurance Occupations such as electricians, plumbers, builders, carpenters, painters, and decorators all receive an annual insurance expense of £722.77. This is a difference of £114.51, almost 16% (15.8%) less in comparison to what mechanics will pay. When analysing the data, it’s interesting to discover that many trades receive the same lower price of £722.77. Beyond the mentioned trades, 14 other trade jobs like gardeners, joiners and plasterers received an identical quote, totalling 19 overall. This sheds light on the financial landscape experienced by different trades and uncovers the significant variation in premiums based on the nature of the profession and the type of van driven. This pattern persists when investigating insurance costs for electric vans. Trade professionals pay a minimum of £1,004.29 for insurance on the electric van The trades securing the most affordable quotes for insurance on electric vans encompass no more than 20 job titles. Amongst them are electricians, plumbing, stonemasonry, joinery, plastering, and locksmithing. However, for these trades, acquiring insurance for their electric vans comes at £1,004.29. On one hand, it secures a substantial saving of £155.62, in contrast to mechanics. However, it is still a considerable cost when compared to the cheapest diesel van insurance, representing an increase of £281.52.

Siemens’ Building X expands fire safety

Siemens Smart Infrastructure is expanding its fire safety offering on Building X, a digital building platform supporting customers by digitalising, managing, and optimising their building operations, by introducing new applications and an application programming interface (API). The expansion aims to increase transparency, decrease response time in case of incidents, and enhance maintenance processes for service providers. It is part of Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform enabling customers to accelerate their digital transformation more easily and at scale. The Building X Fire Apps include the web-based Fire Manager, in addition to the mobile-based Fire Connect. Customers can also feed live data from the connected fire safety system into their applications via the Fire API. All three offerings are part of a new licensing model, paving the way for enhanced customer flexibility by allowing choice of data and app bundles catering to their specific needs. The Fire Apps and API are designed to digitalise the customer workflow for fire safety operation and maintenance, saving time and resources whilst improving safety and minimising disturbance caused by building users. Service providers can monitor all sites remotely and directly connect to the fire panel. The real-time status of product maintenance, incidents or alarms can be easily reviewed through the app’s dashboard, email, or mobile push notifications. This level of transparency allows planned maintenance activities to be carried out and documented efficiently. These enhanced solutions drive digital transformation and yield sustainability benefits. By offering maintenance options and a remote fire system status, it is possible to save CO2 emissions related to annual site visits. "We are excited to enhance the Building X portfolio with Fire Apps and Fire API while ensuring compatibility and cross-functionality with other smart building applications on the platform. This not only allows for a seamless and holistic solution for smart buildings but also builds the basis for future cross-domain use cases. Additionally, it enables our service providers to offer optimised services to their customers while using available experts more efficiently. And ultimately, it pays off in terms of sustainability," says Peter Nebiker, Vice President, and Head of Fire Safety at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. Fire Apps and Fire API are currently available in some countries globally and are being rolled out in many more.

Solar installation boost requires up to 500 additional qualified electricians annually

The latest research on the requirements of the solar PV workforce concludes that to fulfil the government's plans for 70GW of solar capacity by 2035, there may be a need for up to 500 newly qualified electricians annually. With the UK standing at a current solar capacity of around 15GW, the research was commissioned by The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) and funded by NET to explore the electrotechnical industry’s capability to fulfil this growth and the projected resources needed. Research expert Pye Tait carried out wide-ranging investigations, extending from interviews with electrical contractors to in-depth analysis, including examining the duration of the average solar PV installation and the level of maintenance required. It is estimated that from now until 2035, a total workforce of between 6,110 and 6,890 full-time equivalent qualified electricians (FTE) will be required to assist in the growth of solar installations. This represents 4,800 to 5,600 more than the current FTE requirement for solar PV, or an extra 438 to 509 FTE electricians qualifying each year. Despite the challenges, the electrotechnical industry is well-positioned to address the demand. The report estimates that the current population of electricians and electrical fitters in the UK is 210,000 (excluding apprentices). Last year saw approximately 4,000 apprentices become qualified electricians, whilst apprentice enrolment figures in the UK have been significantly higher than average in the past two years. The report by Pye Tait acknowledged that ongoing improvements to solar PV technology could result in reduced requirements for PV units and, therefore, a reduction in the number of electricians needed. Electrical apprenticeship standards incorporating solar PV knowledge and skills means that new apprentices are now becoming exposed to solar PV and other low carbon technologies at a much earlier stage. For the existing workforce, TESP launched the 'Electrician Plus' concept earlier this year. The concept highlights how public safety, alongside solar PV and other low carbon installations, should be exclusively undertaken by qualified electricians who have upskilled in the relevant technologies. With their broad foundation of occupational competence, electricians are well-placed to provide the flexibility and responsiveness needed to adapt to changing technologies and variable work pipelines. “Whilst the initial projections seem within our reach, it’s important to highlight the expanding need for electricians elsewhere across the industry to meet future needs,” says TESP Chair, Ruth Devine. “The impact of growth areas such as smart homes, electrification of heat, electric vehicle charging points and battery storage systems, to name just a few, means we need a constant and increasing supply of qualified and qualifying electricians.” The latest research expands upon a study commissioned by TESP last year, which identified that the electrical vehicle charging point installation demand (with the high-end estimate at circa 5000 electricians by 2030) can be readily accommodated by the industry. TESP is currently working on numerous projects and initiatives to support employers and electricians to upskill. These include engaging with Local Skills Improvement Plans and devolved authorities to secure funding and prioritise upskilling in key technologies for qualified electricians. In addition to looking at alternative training routes such as full-time courses, T-Levels and NVQs.

Power anywhere with Makita's new BAC01 Power Converter

Makita has announced the launch of its new BAC01 36V Power Converter, a solution for converting DC power into AC power suitable for battery charging or using corded tools in outdoor job sites where an AC outlet is unavailable. The new product specifically converts power from Makita’s 36V battery packs to AC power for various applications, simply by connecting the PDC01 or PDC1200 battery pack to the power station. The power converter is designed to support a variety of requirements, featuring multiple outlets: two AC outlets; two Type A USB output ports; two Type C USB outlet ports; and one DC12V cigar socket. When on-site, users have access to a wide range of options to power multiple items. Additionally, it serves as a charging station for Makita’s batteries, compatible with its cordless power tools and outdoor equipment. Its runtime depends on its application. For example, the PDC1200 will power a 1000W load for approximately 56 minutes, and the PDC01 with 4 x BL1860B batteries powers a 750W load for approximately 20 minutes. The power converter is now compatible with Makita’s Makpac system, facilitating easy transportation. Measuring just 39.5cm by 34.5cm by 16.3cm and weighing 7.3 kilos, it can be controlled by using the built-in, retractable carrying handles located on both sides of the unit. Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK, comments, “We’re always looking for opportunities to meet our customers' needs, with our new BAC01 Power Converter doing just that. We foresee this being an instrumental and complementary piece of equipment for tradespeople working on large sites, or in remote areas where there isn’t a power supply available. It’s an easily transportable, highly effective source of power that is compatible with a variety of tools and lighting equipment.” With a nominal battery voltage of 36V, the BAC01 has a maximum power output of 2,800W and a continuous rating output of 1,400W.

Manrose welcomes a young HVAC enthusiast

Manrose, a UK-based ventilation manufacturer, in collaboration with Surrey Choices, has welcomed a young fan-enthusiast, Gabriel Hogan, to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. In response to a social media request from Surrey Choices, an organisation helping people with disabilities and support needs to access work-based alternative education programs, Manrose extended an invitation for Gabriel to spend a day with them. Surrey Choices sought work experience opportunities for Gabriel, who has autism and ADHD, specifically in his area of interest - HVAC and fans.  On an engaging day at the Reading production facility, Gabriel received a comprehensive tour led by Barry Smith, Health and Safety Manager at Manrose. The tour comprised 45-minute visits to each of the key departments, providing Gabriel with opportunities to engage in various steps of the manufacturing process.  During the Mould Shop and Ducting Machines tour, Gabriel gained insights into the manufacturing of key components and had the opportunity to inspect and pack them for customers. Meanwhile, in the fan production department, he gained hands-on experience and built a fan. In Kit Packing, Barry and the Manrose team supported Gabriel in assembling collections of parts for kits. Lastly, in Goods In and Out, the Warehouse Logistics staff presented a show-and-tell session on picking, packing and shipping stock, allowing him to actively participate in the process.  “It was an absolute pleasure to show Gabriel around the Manrose manufacturing facility,” said Barry. “He’s a very knowledgeable young man who engaged with every stage of the process our products go through – he particularly enjoyed the production and packing parts of the day.” Gabriel’s mother, Barbara Hogan, expressed immense joy at the experience Gabriel had with Manrose. She says, “He returned from the visit full of excitement and enthusiasm. I would like to thank all the staff who spent time with Gabriel explaining and demonstrating the different stages of production and helping him to be involved. It has fuelled his passion for your products and stimulated his interest in exploring employment possibilities within this industry.” Gabriel is keen to participate in other placements to further enhance his knowledge and interest in fans and air conditioning. If anyone can offer a placement, please contact info@surreychoices.com.

THORNeco Boris FLEX’s its muscles

THORNeco’s popular high bay Boris has been upgraded. Boris, an ideal solution for high ceilings and open areas, now boasts improved efficiency up to 162lm/w. It features a high output and low glare at <25 UGR, striking the right balance of power and comfort.  Boris serves as an alternative to conventional lighting, offering energy savings greater than 50% compared to traditional solutions. Boris has now gone FLEX, making it more convenient than ever to stock and use. With the lumen switch located directly on the fitting, you can now decide your lumen package on site.  Not dissimilar to other THORNeco products, Boris offers a hassle-free, quick-connect installation, whilst incorporating emergency and sensor version plug-in kits for improved versatility. When it comes to emergencies, Boris’s new plug and play E3 Emergency kit now comes with the latest battery technology (including a three-year battery warranty). Boris is equipped with corridor functionality, allowing for standby time, and dimming level features, contributing to reduced energy costs by ensuring a space is illuminated only when necessary. 

ECA unveils new charter to recharge electrical skills

The Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) has unveiled a new charter to recharge electrical skills at a reception in the House of Commons. The charter, supported by ECA Member businesses, parliamentarians and other stakeholders, aims to secure the growth of the skilled electrical workforce, which is significant in reaching the UK’s net zero goals. Electrification, ranging from heat pumps, solar panels, energy storage and electric vehicle charging, has emerged as an essential component of the UK’s decarbonisation plans. Newer infrastructure for businesses, households and communities necessitates the expertise of a qualified electrician for installation and commission.  ECA maintains the belief that to create more ‘green jobs’ in the future, it is a requirement to have an appropriately trained and thriving electrical workforce. It should commence with a solid foundation of trade competence, achieved through a multi-year electrical apprenticeship, and supplemented by specialised upskilling training in specific net zero technologies.  To accomplish this in England, ECA believes three main changes are necessary: Policymakers engaging directly with the electrical sector. A 30% uplift in English electrical apprenticeship places, in addition to the 40% growth already achieved. Restoring the severely broken skills pipeline connecting college-based education and employment in the industry.   In a reception at Westminster on 27 November, leading parliamentarians such as Alan Whitehead, Minister of Shadow Energy, and various ECA Members called for the government to collaborate with the sector and reconsider the recruitment process by preparing electricians for the opportunities and challenges associated with a net zero world. Leading ECA members such as T Clarke, NG Bailey, Dalkia and Clarkson Evans have joined the association. The initiative is geared towards placing qualified electricians at the heart of net zero efforts. It involves prioritising funding towards industry-endorsed pathways to qualified status, supporting small businesses in hiring apprentices, and closely monitoring the outcomes of classroom-based courses. The charter was signed by the following attendees: Alan Whitehead MP, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, John Spellar MP, ECA Vice President Ruth Devine, CEO of JTL Chris Claydon, CEO of FETA Chris Yates, and many more. Speaking at the event in Parliament, Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs said, “Competent, qualified electricians are indispensable for a safe and reliable transition to net zero. We already have a strong national skills base, and the growth in the workforce that is required is entirely achievable – but we need public policy to support and assist industry in achieving this goal, rather than obstructing or undermining it. “The inconvenient truth is that a great deal of the public money currently being ploughed into classroom-only electrical qualifications and 'green skills’ boot camps in England is going to waste. This money would be far better spent on training routes co-created and recognised by the industry, boosting up the nation’s population of competent, qualified electricians and then upskilling them to install and commission the technologies of the future.”