Carrier announces new CPD training courses

Carrier, part of the Carrier Global Corporation, has announced a new range of 10 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training courses for 2023. The CPD programme is for consultants, installers and end-users wishing to update their knowledge on key technical and legislative topics. The new courses are certified by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), and those attending gain credits towards their annual personal CPD learning programmes. They are offered free of charge and presented by experienced practitioners at customers’ offices or hosted at Carrier's various office locations across the UK. The CPD themes include: F-gas Refrigerants and Eco Design Efficiency and Legislation Heat Pump Technology Ventilation System Design via AHU’s and RTU’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): how to achieve a healthy building The new range of courses will provide attendees from young engineers to experienced engineers with the knowledge and skills regarding HVAC systems that will enable them to design solutions to achieve environmentally sustainable buildings. The 12 new courses are: Hydronic CPDs F-Gas Refrigerants Eco Design Legislation on Chiller Efficiency F-Gas Air Source Heat Pumps Water Source Heat Pumps Heat Pumps Heat Pump Regulations Airside CPDs, led by the CIAT brand: AHU Application and Design AHU Legislation (Eco Design) RTU Application and Design RTU Legislation (Eco Design) FCU Design and Application Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) "We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible education and training via our CIBSE-approved CPD offering,” says Paul Smith, Carrier Commercial Director, UK&I. “Our new range of CPD training courses is designed to help professionals stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices in the HVAC industry.” The courses will be held at various locations throughout the UK, and are focused on face to face presentations, although upon request, these can be presented as a webinar style format. All of the CPDs are CIBSE-approved via their CPD provider program. To register interest, visit the website.

Kensa Utilities wins the UK Green Business Award

Kensa Utilities is thrilled to announce that its Heat the Streets project has been successful in the ‘Green Heat Project of the Year’ category at the UK Green Business Awards, organised by BusinessGreen. This recognition highlights its commitment to revolutionising the heating industry and its dedication to deployment of sustainable, efficient energy solutions. The UK Green Business Awards celebrates excellence within the green business sector. The ‘Green Heat Project of the Year’ category acknowledges some of the most innovative green heat projects in the UK. Kensa’s project emerged as a winner, impressing the judges by bringing affordable, low-carbon heating to urban areas with a street-by-street approach. Heat the Streets aimed to decarbonise residential heating across all housing sectors by deploying the company’s highly efficient and renewable ground source heat pump technology connected by an in-road network of boreholes, known as a shared ground loop array. The project has successfully demonstrated the scalability and viability of ground source heat pumps connected to in-road infrastructure as a cost-effective solution for reducing carbon emissions and providing reliable, sustainable heat. Lisa Treseder, Director of Business Development at Kensa Utilities, expresses, "We are honoured and thrilled for Heat the Streets to be recognised at the UK Green Business Awards. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team who have been instrumental in making this project a resounding success. "Heat the Streets represents a significant step towards achieving our goal of decarbonising heating at scale. Combining our new business model where Kensa Utilities fund, own and maintain the infrastructure with Kensa's well established ground source heat pump technology, we can confidently advance towards the reduction of carbon emissions and the implementation of more efficient heating solutions." The project has also showcased the importance of collaboration between industry experts, local authorities and community stakeholders. Through strategic partnerships and proactive community engagement, the company has successfully delivered the first iteration of a 21st century version of the gas grid, providing homes in Cornwall with low cost, low carbon, energy-efficient heating systems, whilst improving the quality of life for residents.

Screwfix Top Tradesperson applications are now open

The renowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson award is back for 2023. Talented tradespeople from across the UK and Ireland can apply with the chance of being crowned the ultimate champion of the trade. Now in its 14th year, the annual award celebrates the work of tradespeople, from electricians to plumbers, builders to painters, and carpenters to roofers, highlighting their professionalism and dedication to promoting and supporting the future of the industry. Applying is simple, as tradespeople can put themselves forward or can be nominated by employers, customers or friends, by filling out the online application form. A selection of the best applicants will be shortlisted to take part in the semi-final interview in August, with the top 10 progressing through to the final. The final will take place at Screwfix LIVE in Farnborough on 22 September 2023, where a panel of esteemed industry experts will put the finalists through their paces before announcing the champion. One exceptional tradesperson will be crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2023 and walk away with an incredible trade bundle worth £20,000. The bundle will include everything a champion of the trade needs, including tech, tools, and training to take their successful career to the next level. Toby Peacock, an electrician from Cambridge, is the reigning champion after winning Screwfix Top Tradesperson in 2022. He says, “This award has transformed my career. I have driven my business forward and the prize has meant I have been able to invest in new equipment and training opportunities. My application also shone a light on mental health in the industry, which I had personally experienced in my own career. Since winning the competition, I have launched my own podcast, ‘Tearoom Talks Podcast’, which focuses on how we can improve mental health in the trade." Jack Wallace, Marketing Director at Screwfix, adds, “Screwfix Top Tradesperson highlights the incredible tradespeople working across the UK and Ireland, who show passion and dedication day in, day out. Our annual award not only celebrates this exceptional talent within the industry, but also looks to inspire others to see how rewarding a career in the trade can be. “When choosing our champion, we look for inspirational tradespeople that not only go above and beyond for their customers, but act as an ambassador for the industry by investing in the future of the trade and look to inspire the next generation of tradespeople. “There can only be one champion and we can’t wait to see the calibre of applications we get this year.” Tradespeople have until 16 July 2023 to submit their application.

Unicrimp expands Q-Crimp accessories range

Unicrimp has announced that it will expand its popular Q-Crimp range of cable accessories to provide installers with an increasing number of problem-solving products. The latest additions are a Green Earth Inspection Box and Hexagon Plain Driller Screws. Designed to house and help protect the connection to an earth point, the new Green Earth Inspection Box forms part of the company’s growing earthing rods and components range which was first introduced in 2019. Measuring 100mm x 100mm x 50mm, it is constructed from PA66 to provide high mechanical strength and it is supplied complete with lid, fixings and a safety label. The Hexagon Head Plain Driller Screws are designed to save valuable installation time with no need for pre-drilling. Because they are self-drilling, this eliminates the need for a pre-drilled pilot hole, as the screw performs the drilling, tapping and fastening in one action. They are available in a large range of sizes from 4.8mm x 13mm to 6.3mm x 50mm. The 6.3mmx50mm comes in a pack size of 100, while all other sizes are in packs of 200.

KNIPEX adds length to Needle-Nose Pliers

KNIPEX Needle-Nose Pliers are high leverage combination pliers with pointed jaws and are a further development of the classic combination pliers from the KNIPEX Wuppertal tool forge. Needle-Nose pliers are now also available in a length of 185mm. With these pliers, tasks in the professional workshop and on electrical installations can be carried out effortlessly as these slim pliers can cope perfectly with tight, hard-to-reach work areas. These flexible pliers are twist-proof and full of power. A high lever transmission power joint makes it easier to cut soft, medium-hard and hard wire, making the pliers a high leverage diagonal cutter. The convex profile of the serrations in the pipe gripping area results in a stable three-point contact and means round pipes can be easily gripped and powerfully turned. Hexagonal profiles can also be powerfully turned. A milled transverse groove in the gripping area also makes it easy to securely hold and pull out even tiny items such as nails, pins and bolts. The pliers have a slim head shape with tapered jaws which allows for good access. The reliable and powerful pliers are forged from special tool steel and oil-hardened.

From London to Paris, powered by the sun

Wallbox has announced that it will sponsor the London to Paris EV Rally, the official international electric vehicle rally, promising to be one of the premier e-challenges in Europe in 2023. Following the success of the first two editions, it will be held between 30 June and 2 July 2023. Aside from being one of its sponsors, Wallbox will also participate in the rally by charging one of the EV competing cars, the Nissan Ariya, which has a 60kWh battery, through its home charger, Pulsar Max, which will be powered only by solar energy, and therefore will not produce emissions during the rally. The company’s vision is in line with the event's aim of helping customers reduce range anxiety and highlighting the accessibility of electric vehicles, playing a determinant role in developing an efficient and greener transportation system. Additionally, EV is a key pillar not only for zero emissions mobility, but for a new energy management paradigm that enables renewable energy production and consumption. Pulsar Max is its smart home charger upgraded to unlock even more time, money and energy savings for everyday EV drivers. It works seamlessly with all its energy management solutions, including solar charging, through the Eco-Smart feature, which connects the EV charger with solar panels, and the bidirectional power metre. By using Eco-Smart, users can choose to charge their electric cars entirely through solar from their home solar installation, or a mix of solar and grid to maximise cost and energy savings. This feature is massive in the UK and the solar market is maturing at a rapid rate, faster than most countries globally. The number of households installing rooftop solar panels reached its highest level in 2023, with more than 50,700 installations between January and March, more than double the amount of last year. Users can also save money and lower their impact on the environment by scheduling charging sessions through the myWallbox app. By charging during off-peak hours in terms of energy costs, drivers can expect to save up to £180. The rally will be going from London to Brighton, and then on to Paris, calling at the midway point at Ifield College, before heading down to Brighton seafront for an afternoon, showcasing the EV and renewable energy technology. After the evening reception, the rally will continue on the ferry overnight, setting off from Dieppe at sunrise and travelling through Northern France, arriving in Paris in the late afternoon.

Circuit Protection FBA Design Service 

The Contactum design service for circuit protection allows you to create a bespoke design for factory assembled units to be supplied for your project.   If your project requires a fully customised solution or specific outgoing devices pre-fitted then this service will be of benefit. It enables a highly reduced labour time on site while also ensuring continuity across your project.  In a few easy steps the Contactum team can help you to design and build the best, compliant configuration to suit your project. Using standard and non-standard Contactum devices and accessories the company can supply your units fully assembled.  All you need to do is contact the dedicated contractor sales team via email at contractors@contactum.co.uk. Discuss the requirement, agree a design configuration, and confirm the quantities*.  Contactum can then provide a unique quotation for your exact requirements. Once agreed and an order is placed via one of the company’s selected distributor partners, Contactum will assemble and dispatch your boards ready for installation.  The design service is perfect for all project applications, and the company works closely with M&E consultants, electrical contractors, and housing developers for peace of mind guaranteed compliance and continuity across the project.  Benefits include:  Dedicated contractor sales team  Fast turnaround time from enquiry to delivery  Faster installation time  Reduced labour costs  Reduced waste from packaging  No loose product on site  Boards correctly configured  Available for all circuit protection ranges  *Minimum order quantities apply 

Delta Tecnic simplifies TPU cable colouring

Delta Tecnic has simplified the colouring of TPU cables with its customised solution for colouring special cables. The company has managed to simplify and optimise the process by using a single masterbatch per colour, despite using different compounds with different flame retardant levels and colours due to the use of various fire retardant loads. TPU is the most widely used polymer in special cables and stands out for its resistance to rubbing and its ability to withstand continuous and mechanical movements. However, fire resistance is a critical factor in many applications, both in buildings and machinery. With the increase in fire safety related restrictions, the demand for more fire resistant TPU cables has been increasing. To make TPU flame retardant, it is necessary to add fire retardant fillers, such as white coloured mineral fillers. The more charges added, the higher the fire resistance. Currently, there are different grades of fire resistance in TPU on the market, each with a different shade of white. This has created challenges for cable manufacturers, as each grade requires a specific colour masterbatch. A significant reduction in required references In this context, the company has been developing a single masterbatch capable of covering the same colour in the different ranges of TPU. Rather than having to use a specific colour masterbatch reference for each compound according to its fire resistance, with the solution offered by Delta Tecnic, a single colour masterbatch covers the different TPU compounds, simplifying the number of references and unifying the final colour of the cables manufactured, regardless of the degree of flame retardant required. The key to this solution lies in the economy of scale and the optimisation of production. Although, the masterbatch used for white coloured TPU is more expensive due to the higher pigment load needed to obtain the correct colour, the increase in batch size and the consolidation of individual productions have enabled a single masterbatch to be obtained. This not only generates cost savings for manufacturers, but also a reduction in the material needed in inventory, freeing up work capital and standardising the colour of the cables manufactured by their customers. TPU has become increasingly important in the cable industry, especially in electric vehicle charging, because of its flexibility, resistance and excellent properties for outdoor use. It is an optimal material for cables used for applications, such as charging stations and in electric vehicles. This demand has fuelled the need for efficient and customised solutions.

Why installers should only work with OCPP charge point hardware and software

The Open Charge Point Protocol, or OCPP, is the most important acronym across the electric vehicle industry. Soon, all charger manufacturers will be working only in OCPP, to allow them to connect to any charge point management system. Clenergy EV asks what this means for EV installers. The electric vehicle (EV) industry is experiencing unprecedented growth in the UK - there are now 780,000 plug-in EVs on the road, and in May 2023 EVs accounted for 23% of all cars sold that month1.  This shift has led to a surge in demand for EV charging infrastructure, with installations growing exponentially - especially for commercial use cases. Getting this right is paramount to enabling the growth in EVs, as without it, drivers cannot charge their vehicles.  As the need for charge point hardware grows, more and more players are coming into the UK - and they are almost entirely using something called the Open Charge Point Protocol as their communication method of choice.   What is the OCPP?  The OCPP is a global language for communication between a charge point and a central software or charge point management system. This is vital for the seamless integration of charging stations into the broader EV ecosystem - it means a mix of hardware and software solutions can co-exist within one marketplace.  OCPP was devised by the Open Charge Alliance - an association of global organisations that share best practice on everything EV. It’s been adopted throughout the EV charge point marketplace by both hardware manufacturers and charge point software providers.  What it means for the installer  An EV installer needs to be using charge point hardware that is OCPP compliant, especially if they’re targeting the commercial marketplace. There are a few major benefits of this - for the installer and for their end client.  First, flexibility and choice. Some hardware manufacturers specialise in certain scenarios - Tritium and Kempower only make rapid charging units, for instance, whereas Easee only makes single socket AC chargers. The installer can choose charge points best suited to the client’s needs, and not be locked into one supplier. This is similar to using multiple wholesalers - sometimes a unit is out of stock, and it’s better to keep options open instead of only using one supplier.  Secondly, with the rapid advancements in EV charging technology, new models of charging stations are continually being introduced. OCPP isn’t an official standard yet, but the majority of new innovations are going to be pushed through this communication protocol.  Lastly, the key pointer is the installer can provide a much better service and win more long-term work from the client. How can they do that?   The critical role of EV charging software   Each charging station requires a Charge Point Management System (CPMS) to effectively manage them - this is where charge point allows someone to set tariff ratings and enables EV Drivers to pay at point of use. This is often referred to as back-office software.  Some hardware manufacturers provide one of these out of the box - but it’s not something that they specialise in, and it can sometimes show. It will lack basic functionality, like setting up public and private tariffs.  But it is crucial if the chargers are in a commercial environment: whether the end client is looking to monetise the chargers in question, or simply power their own company vehicles.  This is where installers can excel in the EV marketplace, by partnering with an OCPP complaint software provider. When this is in place, there are suddenly multiple options for the installer - for extra revenue and for delighted end clients:  Give the client the whole solution - offer them a full turnkey solution, with a CPMS that allows them to set their own tariffs and monetise their charging stations long-term.  Maintenance agreements - by using a software partner, installers can use the CPMS to manage the charging stations remotely. A fault can be solved without a site visit, keeping the client happy. This can be an additional revenue stream.  No support burden - Most charge point software companies offer 24/7 support to end users - which means they’re not calling you if they can’t use the unit correctly.  Easier onboarding and commissioning - specialist teams are available to help, streamlining the final stages of the install and making the whole process more efficient.  Long term work - if your end-client is happy with all of the above, they’re likely coming back to install more charging stations. The EV marketplace is only going to continue growing!  Earning more from every charging installation  The importance of an OCPP hardware solution, coupled with hardware agnostic charging software, gives an EV installation business the most flexibility. It allows them to grow their brand in the EV industry, in what is going to become a fiercely competitive industry. It’s time for installers to start growing their own EV empire.  1 zap-map.com/ev-stats/ev-market 

Carhartt launches women’s work shorts

Step into summer in style with workwear that is designed specifically for women. Carhartt’s new women's Canvas Work Shorts (105730) are a perfect blend of fashion and functionality. These 5in shorts are made from a stretch canvas fabric incorporating rugged flex technology, ensuring they stay put no matter how intense the job gets. No more saggy shorts, just unrestricted movement as you squat, lift, crouch and bend without missing a beat. With a flexible waistband that moves with you, there are no limitations. The shorts are made from 97% cotton and are designed to beat the heat, making them a great onsite wear for scorching summer days. They are soft, lightweight and breathable. They absorb sweat and allow heat to escape, keeping people cool and comfortable, even in the most demanding conditions. Carhartt’s shorts feature two reinforced front slash pockets, offering a secure space for a phone and other essentials, while the two reinforced back pockets provide ample room for stashing handy tools. The shorts are available in Basil and Carhartt Brown.