Industry Remains Optimistic Despite Downturn

A new engineering services sector survey shows that two thirds of businesses (67%) expect their turnover to increase or remain the same in Q3 of 2020, compared with Q2, where there was a sharp drop in turnover due to the coronavirus crisis. Almost two thirds (60%) of businesses reported less turnover in Q2 compared to Q1 – the sharpest drop since the quarterly Building Engineering Business survey began in 2016. However, this fall in Q2 turnover was not as large as businesses had predicted earlier in the year, during the previous iteration of the survey. Back in April, almost three-quarters of respondents (74%) had predicted a fall in turnover during Q2. ECA CEO Steve Bratt says, “The sharp downturn in turnover over Q2 was keenly felt across industry. The picture that is now emerging is one of a resilient sector that braced for impact in the spring and is so far weathering the storm whilst remaining cautiously optimistic about the future. “ECA is committed to supporting contractors through this period and working collaboratively with the Construction Leadership Council to deliver on the recovery plan, and to press for continued Government investment and support for engineering services.” BESA Director of Member Services, Debbie Petford, adds, “The resilience of the sector is evident in these latest figures and we are finding that our members are cautiously positive, despite the end of furlough looming large at the end of October. “A key issue going forward will be retaining skilled workers. We already suffer from a skills gap and the threat of redundancies may drive skilled workers out of the industry or discourage trainees entering our sector. The government’s KickStart scheme, the CLC’s Talent Retention Scheme and our own new online learning solution, the BESA Academy are key initiatives which will help.” Alan Wilson, Select's Managing Director, notes, “While the drop in Q2 was obviously a concern, these latest figures are at least encouraging, and show that the sector is fighting back against the impact of COVID-19 and demonstrating the resourcefulness needed to recover and rebuild. “Less encouraging is the ongoing issue of late and withheld payments, which continue to be a problem for so many contractors. In the current climate, the industry relies on cashflow more than ever, yet small firms in particular are still waiting too long to get paid. “Select will continue lobbying members of the Scottish Parliament to support legislation to ring-fence retention monies and end a 200-year-old measure that continues to be abused, with devastating consequences for hard-working contractors.” The use of agency workers and subcontractors continues to fall, in line with a downward trend observed throughout late 2019 and 2020. Although 9% of businesses said they were using more agency workers and subcontractors than in the previous quarter, 30% of respondents said they were using fewer than before. Payment issues continue to be a challenge for businesses. Despite public sector rules mandating payment within 30 days, less than one-third of direct contracts (32%) and just 27% of indirect contracts were paid during this timeframe. ECA has a live support page at www.eca.co.uk/business-recovery where businesses can access key information and guidance.

Don’t be left in the dark

As the long dark nights of winter stretch ahead, home and business owners will be focussing on keeping their properties protected. This presents new opportunities for installers, as the requirement for maintaining or upgrading security systems increases. Neil Baldwin, managing director at ESP looks at some of the options that installers should be considering. According to the police, crime fell by 28% when Britain went into lockdown to battle the coronavirus at the height of the pandemic. While many have been spending more time at home in lockdown, burglaries have been significantly reduced - but this could all change as restrictions are lifted. With the easing of lockdown and people returning to work and going out more, experts are warning of the return of the burglars taking advantage of empty homes. With break-ins tending to be more common as the nights grow longer, now’s the time to make sure adequate security measures are in place. For some home and business owners, it may be a case of starting from scratch with the provision of security, for others a case of replacing old and corroded equipment or upgrading to a more sophisticated and reliable system. For those customers with no external security measures in place to protect their properties, the installation of a simple low energy LED floodlight can be enough to deter unwanted intruders. Today there are modern, ultra slim versions available that appeal to those looking for a stylish, more aesthetic lighting solution than the bulky options often associated with floodlights. The NightHawk Plus range of floodlights, for example, are simple to fit and adjust, and there is a selection of light outputs to choose from and an optional PIR version with predefined settings for ease of use. For added protection and the means to capture activity on camera, a combined camera and security floodlight system could be considered. There are a range of products available, such as a complete, all-in-one, energy-efficient, high-performance LED PIR floodlight system. ESP’s GuardCam Combined Security Camera and LED Floodlights, for example, are suitable not just for securing domestic properties, but also for areas around offices and industrial or agricultural units.  The system is straightforward to install by simply connecting to the mains power, fixing to the wall and setting the time and date via the supplied SD card. Once switched on, Guardcam will detect an intruder, floodlight the area, and initiate a high definition video recording directly to an internal SD card. If selected, an audible warning can be delivered, and users have the ability to record their own warning message. An 8GB card is supplied and there is the capacity for a maximum card size of 32GB. Up to 200 x 20-second video clips can be captured. Or you can go one step further and opt for the latest Wi-Fi version that offers remote monitoring via smartphone or tablet. ESP’s GuardCam Deco is a combined Wi-Fi security camera and LED floodlight system, which has been designed with ease of set up as a key feature, including the option for remote monitoring via smartphone or tablet, using ESP’s specially developed ESP Smart APP. With a built in camera that offers full 1080p HD live viewing and recording, the GuardCam Deco is the perfect all in one solution for a wide range of applications. On approaching the unit, GuardCam Deco will detect the intruder with proven PIR technology at a distance of up to 10 metres from the unit. It will floodlight the area, initiate a video recording and provide the user with an option to deliver a two-way audio message or activate the inbuilt alarm warning. It features an adjustable 16W high-intensity LED Security Lamp (3000k colour light and 800 lumen) and you can remotely dim or turn on/off the LED lamp via the app. It will record up to 200, twenty-second video sessions onto the supplied 8GB storage, and this is expandable up to 64GB. GuardCam Deco has the option to deliver motion notifications via the app whilst recording the activation. The user friendly app also allows recordings to be accessed. The integral high-resolution digital camera offers wide angle camera view and clear image recording in video format. Night images retain colour and clarity due to the automatic LED light illumination. Even where an existing security light might be in place, chances are that it is old, corroded and out of order.  Yet, a fully functioning, replacement solution can be installed in no more than 15 minutes and without the need for additional cabling.  This is an easy solution for installers to sell to customers.

Eaton Launches ‘Fundamentals of Emergency Lighting Guide’

Leading power management company, Eaton, has announced it is launching a ‘Fundamentals of Emergency Lighting Guide’ to empower consultants, planners and building owners to implement best practice emergency lighting systems. The guide aims to highlight the importance of essential illumination for guiding occupants, via safe routes, to critical locations and vital resources – reducing panic and saving lives in building emergencies. Eaton’s ‘Fundamentals of Emergency Lighting Guide’ details six easy to navigate sections, including: What is emergency lighting? Understanding system approaches Choosing the right products Choosing the right system for your needs Planning for compliance Creating a complete system Eaton offers more than 50 years of emergency lighting expertise built up through a brand heritage that embraces CEAG, as well as leading national manufacturers including Luminox, Blessing and Menvier. Eaton works closely with national and international industry organisations, including the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting (part of Lighting Industry Association) to advocate for regulatory change and ensure the highest standards of regulatory compliance, safety, reliability and efficiency are being met across Europe. Anthony Martindale, Field Product Manager at Eaton, comments, “There’s no room for cutting corners when it comes to protecting life and property. You wouldn’t put your family at risk in your home, and the same mentality should apply for building occupants. Whether it be a fire or terror attack, an effective emergency lighting system acts as a critical lifeline in emergency situations, particularly when we’re talking about some of our most vulnerable, for example in healthcare buildings. “We built the ‘Fundamentals of Emergency Lighting Guide’ to help building owners, facilities managers and electrical contractors to start the conversation around implementing best-practice emergency lighting systems and to show the value of the investment. “A good emergency lighting system not only saves lives but enables buildings to comply with ever-tougher legislation. For building owner or occupiers, the wrong - or substandard - emergency lighting system leads to at best, premature failure of luminaires increasing operational costs, and at worst, loss of life. Furthermore, designers and decision-makers who select or install the wrong or substandard emergency lighting can see, at best, damage to relationships with their clients, and at worst, substantial fines or imprisonment.” Martindale concludes, “Every building is different and there is no 'one size fits all' approach. The needs of a hospital is going to differ from that of a school or office building. The industry needs to be moving from a basic, ‘fit and forget’ attitude to bespoke solutions that evolve overtime based on the changing nature of risk. Decision-makers need to reduce risk by asking the right questions in the buying process to achieve compliant, safe, reliable and effective emergency lighting. We hope this guide will help enable them to be more confident throughout the buying process.” The announcement of Eaton’s upcoming ‘Fundamentals of Emergency Lighting Guide’ follows the launch of two new Eaton emergency lighting products, the DualGuard-S central battery system and the VisionGuard Intelligent emergency lighting visualisation software. Eaton is one of the largest manufacturers of emergency lighting in Europe and protects some of the world’s most iconic buildings from stadia to metro systems, including Emirates Stadium. You can pre-register to be one of the first to receive Eaton’s new ‘Fundamentals of Emergency Lighting Guide’ here.

Red Arrow meets industrial lighting demand

The demand for industrial lighting is growing, but Red Arrow is fully equipped with: Newly developed products focused on tackling energy efficiency Flicker free lighting and driver on board technology Localised lighting with sensors, saving energy and money The industrial lighting market is expected to grow by 4.7% over the next six years, with an increasing demand for energy efficient lighting systems, new technologies and a range of products. But what is driving this growth and how are Red Arrow keeping ahead of the market? As you are aware, industrial lighting is typically found in manufacturing environments, such as factories, chemical plants or refineries. Similar to commercial lighting, adequate and well-designed illumination is a key factor in maintaining high worker productivity and employee safety. Poor lighting causes several issues for employees, including headaches, migraines and eyestrain, but it can also make potential hazards worse – because if visibility is limited, anything can become a dangerous obstacle. And with flickering lights, low light levels and poor colour rendition also contributing to poor productivity, in industrial settings where safety is a primary concern, it’s important to follow best practice when considering your next lighting installation. What are your requirements? There are several lighting hazards that can affect the health and safety of people, including but not limited to glare; flicker; uneven lighting; luminaire brightness; insufficient light and improper selection of emergency lighting. Good industrial lighting should always provide improved visibility, upgraded aesthetics, better employee morale, less eye fatigue, enhanced security and better-quality control. However, while a well-lit workspace will enhance output and maintain safety, choosing the right light fittings for each environment’s demands is vital. From the amount of light to the quality of light – flicker, colour rendition, long life and temperature – each setting will require a different solution. For example, in a factory where fine detail work is carried out on a daily basis, the uniformity of light must be considered to avoid unnecessary shadows or reflections. And in large settings, localised lighting with sensors can save on energy and costs. What do you need? Representing a significant cost to businesses, poor lighting can result in injuries, increased absence and reduced staff efficiency. But Red Arrow are tackling this head on with their innovative products: New UFO Highbay With a compact, simple, robust design and IP65, Red Arrow’s UFO Highbays can be used where efficient fixed output is all you need. It’s the optimum product for cost-conscious installations. Weatherguard Plus Using a flicker-free driver and designed for both new installations or to retrofit into existing installations, Weatherguard can be used in a wide range of areas, offering improved efficacy of 100lm/W. Plus, a future-proofing plug and play replaceable gear tray delivers an extremely long service life and environmental benefits, with the option of an upgrade ability. High efficiency Commando Highbay Equipped with high efficiencies of around 130lm/W, a life expectancy of 50,000 hours, IP65, IK10 and a five-year warranty, this range is suitable for all factory and warehouse lighting installations. Supplied with a dimmable gear as standard, it can be used with a range of add-on accessories, such as microwave sensors, remote controls and polycarbonate refractors.

Scolmore Dubai Doubles Warehouse Capacity

Scolmore continues to expand its operation in Dubai with the opening of a second warehouse that will help meet the growing demand for its extensive range of products in the Middle East. The new warehouse will operate alongside the office and warehouse facility that was established in 2019 in the Business Bay Area, and which trades as Scolmore International Electrical Trading LLC. With a capacity to hold in excess of 2 million AED worth of stock, it will allow the company to provide a same day/next day delivery service on all stocked items – Click Wiring Accessories, Ovia Lighting and ESP Emergency Lighting – across all of the UAE including Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The location of the warehouse facility in Ras-Al Khor makes it ideal for local deliveries and its proximity to all the main highways means the company can deliver quickly and within its promised timelines. Scolmore Group has enjoyed eight years of successful trading in the Middle East and currently has two UAE based companies. Scolmore International Electrical Trading LLC, and Scolmore International Middle East FZE – a free-zone based company (office and warehouse) located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. This warehouse is the larger of the two warehouses and acts as a feeder warehouse to the local one. Stock is received from the UK into the main warehouse and from the free-zone it would either be moved to the local warehouse or re-exported to Middle East countries - for example Oman, Bahrain, Kingdom Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait and further afield. Tim Piggott, Scolmore Group Sales Director Middle East, comments, "The opening of this new warehouse facility will allow us to hold and distribute high stock levels, and to fulfil the requirements of our growing customer base on a same day or next day basis."

CICV Forum reminds construction workers to be COVID-19 smart in free time

As Scotland continues to battle a surge in the global pandemic, the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has repeated its urgent call for industry workers to be COVID-19 smart in their social lives. The unique collective of more than 100 construction professionals is once again reminding staff to protect their colleagues by following physical distancing guidelines away from the workplace. The plea comes after a rise in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Scotland, which has now seen localised restrictions extended on household gatherings. Rebecca Crosland, Health and Safety Adviser at the Building Engineering Services Association, a leading Forum member, said: “As we’ve seen in the past week, the R number is rising in some areas as a result of suspected transmission between people at home and in social activities. “Since people can spread the virus before they know they’re sick, it’s vital that everyone working in the construction industry adheres to the physical distancing rules whether they’re at work or relaxing during their free time. “Physical distancing means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people not from your household. To reduce the risk of transmission and stop the spread of this virus, it is therefore essential that everyone follows these rules 24/7, wherever they may be.” Vaughan Hart, Managing Director of the Scottish Building Federation, another leading Forum member, said: “It is essential that we continually emphasise the message that this dangerous virus has not gone away and it is vital that we all need to remain vigilant to prevent any further resurgence. “We need to reiterate that our workforces should not relax their guard at any time, whether at work or at home. I’m sure everyone will understand that it would be dispiriting to face a winter in lockdown or witness the closure of work sites by not adhering to the physical distancing rules now.” Crosland added: “Remember, if you don’t follow the physical distancing rules, your actions could have serious consequences for both your colleagues, your friends and your family.” To reinforce its message, the Forum is ramping up a recent campaign which used social media animations and open source posters to remind construction workers to stay safe. The films feature construction workers called Campbell and Fiona who observe physical distancing in their spare time to protect colleagues when they return to work. The message is repeated on the posters, which can be printed out and displayed in workplaces. The reminder follows a recent CICV Forum health and safety webinar, during which its experts delivered updates on the latest safety advice for workers in depots, office and sites.

ECA teams up with industry to launch Learning Zone

The ECA has joined up with a number of industry-leading organisations to launch the ECA Learning Zone. ECA’s Learning Zone is designed to educate and inform ECA Members and the wider industry on a wide range of electrotechnical and commercial issues, from the latest amendments to the Wiring Regulations to new, cutting-edge technologies and value-adding support services. The first webinar in the ECA Learning Zone series, in partnership with manufacturer Aurora Lighting, will take place on Thursday September 24th at 11am. The webinar will be open to ECA Members and subsequently, the wider industry. ECA’s energy and emerging technology solutions advisor, Luke Osborne, and Chris Hill, Aurora's product manager of smart devices, will examine smart lighting installations for homes and offices, including Aurora’s latest smart lighting offering. ECA technical director Mike Smith said: “The new ECA Learning Zone allows ECA’s commercial associates to reach our members – and the wider electrotechnical industry – to join forces with ECA’s technical and business experts to deliver up-to-the minute information on many of the latest industry topics. “Attendees can look forward to engaging presentations, important new information and the opportunity for training and professional development.” The first session will present the latest information and views on the installation of smart lighting for a range of applications, including relevant standards, regulations, along with advice on good and best practice. Upcoming ECA Learning Zone webinar partners include ECA commercial associates Scolmore and Power Quality Expert, with more information to follow.

HPA encouraged by results of training consultation

The results have been revealed from a consultation on qualification criteria for low carbon heating system training courses. The consultation was carried by a Coalition of Heating Industry bodies with particular interests in Low Carbon Heating Systems. A Training Strategy published by the Heat Pump Association (HPA) alongside the consultation lays out how the heating industry needs to transform to enable the wider adoption of heat pumps throughout the UK building stock. The Strategy contains five clear steps for how a plumbing and heating engineer can be trained to meet the new challenges we face in trying to achieve the UK goal of a zero carbon future, reducing administration cost, and recommending to government that they support a training voucher scheme for the first 5,000 installers to go through the new course. The consultation survey ran throughout June and asked 21 questions centred around the proposed content for heat pump training courses. A total of 123 participants completed the survey. The majority of respondents were largely gas boiler or heat pump installers, with generally strong support given around the proposed new training route and course content outlines. The key results from the consultation were: 98% of respondents were positive about the content proposed for the Heat Pump Foundations course. Over 66% of respondents indicated that they would be likely or very likely to attend the course. The course content for the Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) specific course was well-rated by 96% of respondents. Many respondents cited that cost was a key consideration, with suggestions of a voucher scheme/incentive for installers to carry out this training. Regulatory requirement to do so was repeated as a key motivation if this course was mandatory to keep working, while others cited age as a reason that they would not attend. Eighty-six per cent of respondents were either in agreement or of no opinion regarding the proposed length of time for the course (two days for the heat pump foundation course with one day for each technology). Some suggested that an on-site follow-up assessment at a later date will be needed to ensure quality. Graham Wright, Chairman of the HPA, said: “The results of this consultation are an encouraging indication that the installer base is in agreement that skills need to be at the required level in order to ensure traditional methods of heating are phased out and low carbon heating systems are embraced. We would like to thank everybody who took part in the consultation, it has been very useful to see the feedback on our proposed Training Strategy.” Wright added: “While we have seen a commitment from government towards low carbon heat in order to meet our net-zero targets, it is up to us as an industry to communicate regularly and put the right training in place that will move our industry forward.”

SELECT re-appointed as certification scheme provider by Scottish Government

As the importance of certification becomes increasingly critical in the construction industry, SELECT has been granted Ministerial approval to continue in its role as a Scheme Provider for the Certification of Construction (Electrical Installations to BS 7671) scheme. Initially introduced within the 2003 Building (Scotland) Act, the scheme allows competent individuals to be appointed Approved Certifiers of Construction or Design, giving them the authority to certify that any work they undertake as part of a building warrant is compliant with building regulations. SELECT has been a Scheme Provider since 2005 and the re-appointment decision means it can continue in this role to the industry for another six years. The reappointment decision was made by the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Division (BSD) after a lengthy application process involving intensive data and documentation submission, followed by review by a BSD appointed certification panel. Dave Forrester, Director of Technical Services and Head of Certification at SELECT, said: “We are delighted that the integrity and quality of the services that we have been delivering for the past 15 years will continue to be of service to the Scottish Government and the construction industry as a whole. “Certification has never been higher on the sector’s agenda and building standards services are key to ensuring that construction schemes can help raise standards throughout the industry and deliver new buildings and improved facilities. “The reapplication process was comprehensive and detailed and I would like to thank key team members – Training and Development Adviser Malcolm Duncan, Training Manager Jenny Cryans and Technical Administrator Susie Liddle – who helped make it possible.” Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “Certification has multiple benefits, including improved efficiency and productivity and increased peace of mind, with the highest standards upheld. “Along with other scheme providers, SELECT has been working with the Scottish Government over the summer to address issues raised by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and create positive outcomes for certification. “The entire team at The Walled Garden congratulates Dave Forrester and his team who put so much effort and expertise into drafting a successful application which will allow us to continue to serve the sector in Scotland.”

Knightsbridge Rewrites The Script With New Blockbuster Catalogue

Knightsbridge has published its new 2021 catalogue, which is available to the trade now. The handy publication is packed from cover to cover – over 2,500 products across nearly 400 pages – with new developments, impressive innovations, and lots of ideas. Divided into easy-to-reference sections, the catalogue provides full product details along with high quality lifestyle and product images. It features a new Smart section comprising a comprehensive range of commercial, domestic, and outdoor Smart products that are easy to use and all controllable via one simple app. Some new introductions reflect the ever-changing tastes of consumers – a polished chrome finish added to the popular rounded edge range of switches and sockets, a selection of new under cabinet lighting, and additions to the range of LED lamps. For outdoors, there’s plenty to choose from: an innovative new range of weatherproof wiring accessories, and new wall lights and bollards. For commercial work there is a comprehensive new range of self-test emergency lighting products – they put safety first while requiring minimum manual intervention post installation, therefore keeping costs down. To get your copies, simply visit https://www.mlaccessories.co.uk/catalogue-request or call Knightsbridge on 01582 887760.