Grade II Listed Apartment Development Rocks Thanks To Electrical Install

Rock Power Connections has finalised the installation of an electrical supply to Alban House, a Grade II listed façade that has recently been converted into residential development in Hereford City Centre. The building, that had previously stood empty for over six years, has been converted into 18 luxury apartments and two commercial units. Rock Power Connections was appointed to upgrade and install the new electrical supply for the residential development, which included the implementation of a new onsite substation and individual meters for each apartment.  Due to the Saxon heritage of the site, Rock Power Connections appointed an archaeologist to oversee all excavations and ensure the history of the building was preserved. This included housing the 500KVA packaged substation in a listed coach house, which required additional listed-building consent. Rob Davies, Project Manager for Rock Power Connections, explains, “Due to the site being of historical interest, upfront planning was key to this project to address and mitigate all potential issues.” “We encountered various challenges whilst completing this project, including finding oyster shells, which caused delays, and meant the team had to work closely with Western Power Distribution and their contractor to reschedule works. However, we were all very pleased with the end result and particularly in seeing a new development of modern apartments within the local community.” Alban House is one of the latest connection projects to have been completed by the growing independent connections provider, where the Rock team liaised very closely with Western Power Distribution, the Council and the archaeologist to ensure the installation was treated sensitively, whilst adhering to the project timescale.  Founded in 2012, Rock Power Connections is a family-run Independent Connections Provider, which specialises in the design and installation of new and upgraded electricity connections to business, industrial and commercial properties UK wide.  

CICV Forum Welcomes Return To Work In Scotland

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has welcomed the first tentative steps that have been announced to get the sector in Scotland back to work – but insists health and safety and collaboration must be at the heart of the phased return. The collective – which has been working towards restart with a number of bodies, including the Construction Leadership Forum – commented after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland will begin a process to reopen construction sites from next week (May 28), alongside other measures. Under the phased return to work, businesses will be allowed to resume work on sites, based on a six-point plan which the government has developed with the industry. Collaboration and cooperation with the trades unions will also be important to ensure a safe return. The overriding focus on safety has been promoted by the Forum, which has successfully produced a range of industry advice about correct working during the course of the crisis. Vaughan Hart, Managing Director of Forum member the Scottish Building Federation, says, “The shutdown in Scotland has been one of the biggest challenges the sector has ever faced and, while we wholeheartedly welcome the return to work, it must be carried out in the proper manner. “This means that the health and safety of operatives is paramount, and the correct guidance and procedures must be adhered to at every phase of the proposed route map. The Forum has been at the forefront of helping the industry by clarifying advice and this effort will now come into its own.” The Forum says it now plans to release more guidance to help business owners, contractors and apprentices through each stage of the phased return, including advice for construction sites, domestic work and colleges. Alan Wilson, Chair of the CICV Forum and Managing Director of SELECT, the electrotechnical trade body for Scotland, adds, “This is the news we have been waiting for and it has not come a moment too soon. “We all understand the reasons why Scotland has been in virtual shutdown since March, and we all need to work together to assist the sector as it faces an uphill struggle to recover.” Hew Edgar, Head of UK Government Relations and City Strategy, comments, “One of the most important lessons to come out of the crisis is the value of working together for mutual benefit.“The Forum was only created eight weeks ago, and is the perfect example of this principle, having brought together a huge range of organisations and individuals in a concerted effort to protect the industry. “As we restart the sector, collaboration between everyone involved – clients, architects, surveyors, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers – will be of the utmost importance since many of the issues which beset the industry pre-COVID, such as late payments and retentions, will still need to be addressed.”

JS Wright Apprentice Named Apprentice of the Year

Shaun Donaldson, who works at mechanical and electrical services specialist J S Wright was named Mechanical Engineering Services Apprentice of the Year for the Midlands by JTL, a  training provider for the building services industry, on the completion of his training.  One of more than 1,500 apprentices in their final year of training with JTL, Shaun received a trophy and a cheque for £100 at the Jurys Inn Hotel in Hinckley - and is now in the running for the title of JTL Apprentice of the Year at the national awards to be held in London in October. Having completed his NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating with the provider, Shaun is currently working in J S Wright’s prefabrication department, producing fully loaded heat interface unit backboards and other modular units for multi-million-pound apartment schemes. Shaun was assessed against four key elements that make up the apprenticeship framework: practical work on site, theoretical knowledge, key skills and industrial test scores. Paul Walton, JTL Plumbing and Heating Training Officer, says, ‘’Shaun is an extremely committed, conscientious and polite student - and from my first session with him he instantly showed maturity beyond his years.  “Due to his fantastic interpersonal skills, he’s someone his classmates often go to for help and advice. This has made him very popular amongst his peers and helped him to achieve his Level 2 NVQ.” Paul Millington, J S Wright Associate Director and Leader of the J S Wright Apprentice Academy, adds, ‘’This is an excellent achievement and thoroughly well deserved. Shaun’s empathy, helpfulness and ability to confidently complete projects on time and to a high standard have been indispensable to the business.” Shaun adds, ‘’I’m thrilled to have won this award and I would like to thank J S Wright and my JTL Training Officer for all their support. I couldn’t be more excited about taking the next step to the national awards. I believe that to be successful in your apprenticeship you must be patient, hardworking and always be willing to listen and help others.” Founded in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, manufactures, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors from offices in Aston and central London. 

ESP Launches Free CCTV And Fire Systems Design Service

ESP is further enhancing its commitment to helping the sector with a newly launched, dedicated design service which will allow contractors access to a free of charge design facility that will cover CCTV systems and fire systems.   Available to any size of business, from local electricians to national contracting companies, the aim is to provide expertise in choosing the right products and solutions to create a scheme that meets all the requirements and objectives of the project in question, and that is compliant with all the relevant regulations and standards. From an initial enquiry to discuss the requirements, the next stage will be one of information and measurements gathering.  For larger and more complex design schemes, a visit to site will be carried out for a detailed survey.   With all the relevant information gathered, including drawings and specifications, a suitable design proposal for a CCTV system or fire system will be created and supplied to the client along with a quotation.  Two-way interaction between customer and the ESP design team throughout the process will be of paramount importance to ensure the design scheme meets all the necessary requirements.  Matt Tighe, ESP’s System Designer, is heading up the service.  He has accrued vast experience in the industry, which includes 14 years in the fire protection sector, where his responsibilities included designing, installing, commissioning and project managing in all aspects of the fire and security industry – from care homes to nuclear power plants.

Toolstation Launches ‘Head First’ To Support Trade Mental Health

Toolstation has launched an initiative to help provide support to the mental health and wellbeing needs of those working in the trade.  Working together with the mental health anti-stigma campaign, Time to Change, ‘Head First’ will encourage the trade to be more open in talking about their own mental health and supportive of others who may be struggling, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. To start, it will offer practical guidance and signposted resources via a dedicated hub on toolstation.com. The launch coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May) and comes after a survey of over 5,000 Toolstation customers found that one third are finding the current situation very challenging, with 45% of all respondents saying that the mental wellbeing of family members and friends was their main challenge, concern or worry at this time, and 25% stating that they were most concerned about their own mental wellbeing. James MacKenzie, managing director at Toolstation said the ‘Head First’ initiative is needed now more than ever: “Working in the trade can be both physically and mentally demanding. Whilst we all talk about physical aches and pains, it’s not so easy to tell someone you're feeling sad, anxious, over-stressed or just out of sorts. Our customer survey has highlighted the damaging impact Covid-19 is having on the livelihood of tradespeople, with 61% reporting the work challenges they face and almost one third sharing the concern that they will go out of business. Against this backdrop, being aware and talking openly and without any shame or embarrassment about how you and others are feeling mentally is more important than ever – as is having quick and easy access to information and organisations that can provide support.” The Toolstation survey adds to evidence that stress, depression or anxiety are major issues amongst tradespeople, including the statistic from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that males working in skilled trade occupations had the second-highest risk of suicide among the major occupational groups, accounting for 29% (3,059 out of 10,688) of all male suicides. In response to these and other industry and health statistics, Toolstation has teamed up with Time to Change, the social movement working to change the way we all think and act about mental health problems, in developing Head First to help raise awareness and provide support to those working independently or as small businesses in the trade. The Head First campaign is launching with a dedicated area on the Toolstation website that contains easy to find information and advice from Time to Change that will help tradespeople notice when things are getting too much, and what to do about it, with a focus on the importance of ‘asking twice’ when someone says they’re “okay” in case the reality is that they’re actually not. In the coming weeks, further content will be added that responds to the information and support needs of tradespeople. Jo Loughran, Director at Time to Change, says, “Now, more than ever, we need to be able to reach out and seek support from our colleagues and friends. We’re all adapting to a new way of life and a new way working, which comes with its own challenges, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be supportive of each other when it comes to mental health. By working with Toolstation, we hope to open up the conversation about mental health among people in the trade who might be reluctant to chat freely about their emotions or feelings. Simply providing people with the confidence to support their friends or colleagues has the power to change lives, and it doesn’t need to be difficult or scary.”

The Electrical Industries Charity Reminds People that #KindnessMatters

The Electrical Industries Charity is excited to support Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.  The Electrical Industries Charity have always championed positive mental health in both people’s work and home life. It is more vital than ever to create and try to maintain a positive mindset and be vigilant for signs of ill mental health in others. The Electrical Industries Charity is excited to promote the theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week - kindness.  “It is more important than ever to be kind, to look after one another and be kind to ourselves. In a confusing and uncertain world, a kind gesture can be all that is needed to place a smile on your face and someone else's. Kindness is something we can all practice and in these times of pandemic, kindness is all around us,” says The Electrical Industries Charity. “From those who donate to food banks, offer their time to shop for the vulnerable, to those who have painted rainbows in their windows to thank our key workers. These little pick-me-ups are what keep us going in these tough times.  “We all understand how to be kind to one another. Humanity is united by our ability to be kind. It is the way we bond. Being kind is how we can reduce stress, develop friendships and it is the ultimate antidote to isolation.  “We may be in a world flooded with uncertainty and some of us may feel despairing but take the time to improve your own well-being and someone else’s. Boil the kettle and arrange a video call for a 20-minute chat with a friend. Cultivate a herb garden and share the fruits with a neighbour, drop them to a friend’s doorstep or a family member. Post a card to someone for no reason but to say hi. These little gestures don’t cost the earth, but they mean the world. We have never been more physically distant; kindness can bridge that gap and help form stepping stones of smiles to feeling together again.” The Electrical Industries Charity wants to champion kindness and is encouraging people to spread random acts of kindness and share them by tagging @electricalcharity plus #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. If you would like to understand more about your own mental health, your family’s, friends’ and colleagues’ then why not sign up to The Electrical Industries Charity’s virtual mental health training course which you can do from your own home. Courses are limited to six participants at a time and you will receive access to powerpoints, video and interactive communication as well as open communication with a qualified trainer.  Read more here: VMHAT May 2020

Priva Welcomes Roadmap On Re-occupation Of Buildings

The publication of clear guidance from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) on the measures that must be taken prior to the re-occupation of buildings, will give building owners a clear roadmap for the months ahead, says Priva UK.  As concern and fear grows regarding the risks associated with the airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus, CIBSE’s advice is ‘to increase ventilation as much as possible, increasing the flow of outside air and preventing any pockets of stagnant air. Recirculation of air within buildings should be avoided to reduce the risk of transmission’. CIBSE also warns that this increased demand for recirculation of air will - very likely - result in an increase in energy bills.  Gavin Holvey, Sales Manager Priva UK & Ireland, believes that the building services industry will play a central role in helping businesses adapt to the ‘new normal’.   “Right now, all of us, whether we are employers, building owners, building engineers or FMs - are desperately seeking clarity on how to make our buildings safe and fit for purpose. Strong leadership and guidance is needed - and these new publications from CIBSE are a vital starting point,” he says. Priva shares CIBSE’s view that the pathway to making buildings safe for returners to work requires specialist expertise.  “The role played by FMs and building engineers is often overlooked. But we must now understand that these people are critical to our economy - without them, and their specialist skills - we simply can’t get our built environment into a shape where people can feel safe in buildings,” comments Gavin Holvey. “Calculating the appropriate volume of outside air, and reconfiguring existing air handling systems to provide it, needs expertise,”  says the launch information from CIBSE. As such, its engineers are finding that their skills are suddenly very much in demand. As well as ventilation and air conditioning, the CIBSE guidance also reminds building owners and managers that checks will be required on water systems - which will need flushing - and lifts and escalators that have been idle for weeks. Emergency systems also need to be checked and new regimes established for working and recreational spaces.  Click here to read the latest CIBSE guidance.

The Bosch GTC 400 C Professional Thermal Imager

Create clarity from the first evaluation through to the documentation – tradespeople on construction sites can work efficiently and save time by using the GTC 400 C Professional thermal imager from Bosch. The tool generates a conclusive thermal image with detailed information, and therefore helps to assess the situation quickly. Additionally, it provides important findings for preparing offers and enables the results of work to be checked. Fast overview of weak spots and possible damage Checking that radiators and underfloor heating work evenly, detecting overheating in electrical installations or finding thermal bridges, energy losses and sources of air draft – all this is simple to complete using the thermal imager. The GTC 400 C Professional reliably identifies weak spots and provides tradespeople with a fast overview – for instance, to ensure that no underfloor heating lines are damaged when installing drywalls. The thermal imager accompanies and assists tradespeople in every phase of their project: From advising customers with a visualisation of the problem areas, to preparatory tasks such as inspecting where lines are installed, through to efficient documentation and follow-up work. Fast data exchange and further processing via smartphone or PC The GTC 400 C Professional is equipped with a Wi-Fi module which the tool uses to establish its own Wi-Fi hotspot. Users can connect their smartphone or tablet to the tool and import the thermal images, including the measured data, to Bosch’s Measuring Master app. This makes it possible to pass the thermal images produced and the measured data on to customers, colleagues or other trades. The images taken can be edited directly in the app, and notes or information can be added. Alternatively, the raw data of the thermal images can also be transferred to a PC by micro USB connection in order to edit this data using the free GTC Transfer Software, or to create reports and offers. Deep information and real image camera for simple assignment With a wide field of view of 71 degrees, the thermal imager provides a detailed picture, even when the image is taken near the object. In the saved thermal images with a resolution of 160 x 120, each of the 19,200 pixels on the 3.5 inch display corresponds exactly to one measuring point and provides a detailed, informative thermal image. Thanks to the high thermal sensitivity, even the smallest temperature differences can be displayed. The operation of the tool is intuitive. For example, the image-in-image function can be activated at the push of a button. This displays the thermal image within the context of the original image, which makes it easier to assign and locate measurements. To make slight temperature differences or contrasts even more visible, users can choose between different color modes for displaying the thermal image. The tool automatically marks the coldest and warmest pixel on request. This allows loose terminals in control cabinets to be located, for example. The dynamic scale automatically adapts to the minimum and maximum values measured, but can also be fixed using lock mode. This provides a standardised reference scale with identical visualization, which can be useful for measurements in several rooms with different temperatures. The dual power supply provides users with flexibility: The tool can be operated both with a replaceable 12 volt rechargeable battery from the Professional range and with four alkaline AA non-rechargeable batteries. For use on construction sites, the tool has IP 53 dust and splash protection. The GTC 400 C Professional thermal imager is available now.

What Effect Has Coronavirus Had On The Lighting Industry?

The Lighting Industry Association (LIA) has surveyed its members to establish the effect of the current lockdown on the lighting industry.  Currently 89% of members reported their business remained open in some form with the most operative functions being sales (95%), dispatch (90%) and accounts (87%).  The average capacity lighting businesses are running at is around 45%. Approximately 44% of staff are currently furloughed and only 4% reported that they had made any redundancies as a direct result of the coronavirus lock down.  Many companies (69%) are reporting difficulties in obtaining raw materials or components with a variety of reasons down to late deliveries, shortage of shipping capacity and slow return to manufacturing capacity in China among the most common.  We also asked if members had attempted to access the various Government support schemes and 47% reported positively, however, many had experienced difficulty owing to the portals not being fully ready or lack of support from banks.  On the subject of credit, 38% reported that their customers had either asked for or had simply taken extended credit with others reporting late payers deducting early payment discounts outside the qualification period.  On a more positive note, 71% of LIA members reported having a recovery plan in place ready for the removal of lockdown measures. The full report can be read here.

Tamlite Lighting Becomes CIBSE Patron

Tamlite Lighting has become a Patron of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). The Patrons, established in 1979, are the corporate supporters of CIBSE, who foster the sharing of technical and financial support to a wide range of initiatives led by the Institute, giving CIBSE members access to their knowledge and expertise. Tamlite works closely with building services engineers, M&E consultants and electrical engineers, and as a registered CIBSE CPD provider, Tamlite can provide expert technical advice for engineers in the built environment. As a patron, Tamlite is committed to raising the awareness of the benefits of lighting within the build environment to its members and young engineers, from wellbeing to energy efficiencies that encourage the use of best practices in sustainability. Colin Lawson, Head of Market Intelligence at Tamlite Lighting comments, “CIBSE is very well respected throughout the building services industry.  Our national specification and project engineers have been involved with local CIBSE groups for some time, therefore becoming a CIBSE Patron was a natural step forward; it gives us the chance to educate and inform others, through collaboration and cooperation with CIBSE and other related organisations. We are excited about what we can contribute and learn from fellow patrons and CIBSE members as we forge closer links.”