Hamilton launches new Hartland G2 plate

Hamilton Litestat has introduced Hartland G2, a ‘second generation’ screwless faceplate that’s the perfect competitively priced upgrade to the popular Hartland box fix plate. Following customer and industry research, Hamilton has value engineered the existing Hartland box fix collection to develop the sleek screwless Hartland G2 design. Thanks to an innovatively engineered clip, installation is easy and simply push-to-fit. Moreover, the patented clip is spot-welded to the faceplate to ensure the design solution is robust and delivers extra stability. Thanks to its simplified design, along with reduced parts and manufacturing costs, the Hartland G2 delivers Hamilton’s quality and reliability in a screwless design for an unbelievable price, making it a practical and stylish solution for a wide range of projects. “The second-generation Hartland G2 screwless plate makes one of our most popular design solutions available and accessible in a screwless finish at a very competitive price,” says Gavin Williams, Hamilton’s Head of Marketing. “The new push-to-fit clip ensures easy installation, while the streamlined design means we can offer it at a price point that’s accessible for even more applications, particularly in situations where the Hartland box fix would ordinarily be the most suitable and affordable solution.” Now available at many wholesalers, the Hartland G2 collection comes in six high-quality finishes to complement its contemporary style: Antique Brass, Polished Chrome, Satin Stainless, Richmond Bronze, Matt Black and Matt White, with the latter two being new finishes for this collection. Inserts come in a choice of colours, either white, black or a new, on-trend, Quartz Grey. A further three popular finishes are set to be added to the range in the coming months. For Hamilton, form and functionality go hand-in-hand, so the new range offers both Grid and EuroFix options, as well as 2.4A Dual USB sockets as standard, plus 4.8A Type A and C output connectors, allowing for both smartphone and device charging with ease. The Hartland G2 collection also comes with a 'fit and forget' 25-year product guarantee. With Hamilton’s Hartland a popular design, the new G2 solution has already hit the ground running and is currently being installed on 90 apartments in a new housing development in Watford, Hertfordshire. For more information, visit www.hamilton-litestat.com.

Industry backs leading fire and security awards

A series of leading bodies from across the fire, emergency and security systems sector are now supporting this year’s FSA Awards, which are currently open to nominations from the entire industry. In addition to ECA and Select, which are partnering on the FSA Awards, the industry bodies now supporting the awards are as follows: - BAFE - Fire Protection Association (FPA) - National Security Inspectorate (NSI) - Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) There are two individual FSA Awards – the Peter Greenwood Security Award, and the Ian Marsh Fire Award. A panel of independent judges from the FSA partners and supporters will determine the winning duo, based on their contribution to the industry. The judging panel for this year’s awards is as follows: - Tom Brookes, Chair, FSA - Una Riley, Security industry expert - Alan Wilson, Managing Director, Select - Richard Jenkins, CEO, NSI - Alex Carmichael, Chief Executive, SSAIB FSA Chair and Managing Director of Lindum Fire Services, Tom Brookes, comments, “The FSA is delighted to see these awards move from strength to strength, with the entire industry now getting behind both the Peter Greenwood Security Award and the Ian Marsh Fire Award. We encourage the industry to put forward well deserving individuals for the awards.” Both FSA Awards are being presented at the IFSEC ‘Security and Fire Excellence Awards’ on November 20, 2019 at the Park Lane Hilton in London. The winners of both FSA Awards (plus one guest each) will receive free places on the FSA’s table on the evening. For more details, or to nominate an individual for either award, please click here. Nominations close on September 13.

JIB appoints new Chief Executive

The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry (JIB) has announced the appointment of Jay Parmar as its new Chief Executive. He will take up the post on October 1, 2019, and replaces Steve Brawley, who is scheduled to retire after 11 years in the role. Previously the Director of Policy and Membership at the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, Parmar is an experienced legal professional and is skilled in negotiation, member engagement and business planning. In his current role, he is responsible for policy work and campaigns, representing his industry at UK and EU level, and has a consultative role on a number of Government-led groups. Speaking of his appointment, Parmar comments, “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead the JIB team and am looking forward to working with colleagues, members, partners, and stakeholders with a key interest in this dynamic and vibrant sector, to ensure that JIB continues to deliver a first-class service. My focus will be to ensure that the organisation remains at the forefront of the industry’s fast pace of change; supporting members and further strengthening the value of membership." Andrew Eldred, ECA Director of Employment and Skills, notes, “Jay Parmar’s appointment is good news for the JIB and the wider industry. His abilities and track record position him extremely well to build on the significant achievements of Steve Brawley and his team over the past decade.” Ian Woodland, National Officer at Unite the Union, adds, “We welcome Jay Parmar’s appointment at a very challenging time for the industry, and look forward to working with him. Jay comes with a great deal of experience and know-how that will keep the JIB at the forefront to face these challenges.”

Manchester redevelopment as easy as ABC

Cable management systems from Unitrunk’s RIS (Rapid Installation Systems) range have been installed as part of the transformation of an iconic suite of three Brutalist buildings in central Manchester - the ABC Buildings. Originally constructed between 1959 and 1965, the ABC Buildings are being refreshed for the 21st century as part of Allied London’s St John’s Development, which also includes redevelopment of the former Granada Studios in the city. The project aims to retain the building’s retro mid-century chic, while creating a contemporary commercial environment, including an entirely new building services installation. Mechanical and electrical contractor, Encon Maintain, has been awarded the Cat A mechanical and electrical fit out project across all areas, along with a Cat B fit out on level one of buildings A (Astley) and B (Byrom), which will be occupied by leading sound engineering and production company, The Farm Group. Unitrunk’s EasyConnect cable basket and UniKlip cable tray from the company’s RIS range were selected for the project to ensure ease and speed of installation, enabling new tenants to take occupation as early as possible. A new substation has been installed and Encon Maintain has created a new central switch room serving all three buildings, with busbar installed as risers to take the mains supply into each building. From here, cable management from the Unitrunk range has been installed to provide the infrastructure for all lighting, power, fire alarm, security alarm, access control and data networks. Unitrunk’s cable trunking and UniKlip cable tray has been installed in raised access floor voids of all areas of the buildings, and UniKlip cable tray has also been suspended from the ceilings from Unitrunk channel as part of an exposed installation, creating a stylish, industrial aesthetic. The speed and ease-of-use the system offers has been instrumental in ensuring a neat and uniform installation. Richard Fleming from Encon Maintain comments, “This has been an involved project, which has included both Cat A and Cat B elements, a demanding programme, and the need for an extremely neat installation where services are clearly visible from within the space. The Unitrunk RIS systems have not only made the installation easier, but have also reduced installation times by around 40% as compared to conventional alternatives, which has made it much easier to fulfil the brief.”

Trade Skills 4U opens new training centre in Coventry

Electrical training provider, Trade Skills 4U, has announced the opening of its new training centre at Westwood Business Park in Coventry. The company, established in 2005, has been training electricians from across the country for over 14 years, firstly in Gatwick and more recently in Leeds and Warrington. Opening a state-of-the-art centre in the Midlands, just west of Coventry and situated between the M1, M6 and M40 means customers based in Birmingham, Leicester, Peterborough, Northampton, Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas can easily access the centre. Students are now able book onto a range of courses being delivered at the centre, including City and Guilds diplomas, domestic installer packages, inspection and testing, and more. Carl Bennett, Chairman and Founder of Trade Skills 4U, comments, “I am extremely excited with the opening of the new centre. We have conducted a lot of research in the area to ensure that this is the perfect location to run our courses from. We can see from the people attending our centres in Gatwick, Leeds and Warrington that there is customer demand from around the region, so it makes sense for us to expand to this area.” The new facility offers brand new, state-of-the-art classrooms and workshops that have been built to the highest specifications with the latest technology, the company says. The announcement comes as a result of significant growth and investment over the last 18 months. The new centre takes the total to four, with training facilities in Gatwick, Leeds and Warrington, as well as satellite centres offering short courses in London, Tyne and Wear, Cardiff, Hatfield and Maidenhead. “I am very proud that we have opened our latest centre in Coventry”, says TS4U’s new CEO Neil Johnson. “This new centre follows the industry leading standards of electrical training provision we have set at our other centres across the UK, offering the latest techniques and innovation in learning for our customers across the region.” Courses are now live to book online at www.tradeskills4u.co.uk

New technical director for NICEIC and Elecsa

John O’Neill has been appointed Director of Technical Excellence at Certsure (NICEIC and Elecsa). A well known and much respected figure in the industry, O’Neill has almost 50 years experience in the sector. He started his career as an apprentice at Vauxhall Motors in Luton before working as a maintenance supervisor for General Motors in Canada and the USA. He returned to the UK to set up his own electrical contracting business specialising in electrical work and integrated control systems. He joined NICEIC in 2010 and has filled a number of technical positions, including Area Engineer, Customer Relations Engineer, and, more latterly, the Technical Helpline Manager. O’Neill comments, “I am delighted to take up this role at such a highly regarded organisation in the industry. My time spent as an Area Engineer gave me a great insight into the challenges contractors face on a daily basis and the many different environments they work in. “I look forward to helping them prepare for future opportunities in new markets, whilst at the same time providing high quality, compliant installations. O’Neill will continue to represent Certsure on the JPEL/64 committee, contributing to the BS 7671 wiring regulations, which provides guidance for electrical contractors. Kevan Parker, Managing Director for Certsure, adds, “John is a well known and respected individual within the sector. He brings an immense amount of knowledge and experience to the role, both through his time as a contractor and with NICEIC and Elecsa.”

New electrical safety awareness course for duty holders

Continuing on its mission to help businesses comply with electrical legislation - including the new 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations - health and safety expert, Bureau Veritas, has launched a new electrical safety awareness course for duty holders. The 18th Edition sets out significant recommendations, both mandatory and optional, for new electrical installations. The recommendations are aimed at improving protection against fire and overvoltages, as well as providing clarity on special location installations, in a bid to raise safety standards in domestic, industrial and commercial premises. A recent survey conducted by Bureau Veritas showed that 63% of respondents were not prepared for the changes, and 53% felt the level of available support on the market was poor. Duty holders are legally obliged to ensure the maintenance of a compliant and safe working environment for staff and visitors to their premises under the Electricity at Work Regulations (regulation 4). Recognising the need to help duty holders get up to speed on the latest electrical safety practices, the course, led by the Bureau Veritas Learning Academy, is designed for business owners, senior and operational managers, team leaders and supervisors. Centred on best practice, the course will teach senior business leaders about the important aspects of the law around electrical safety, including recent changes, such as the 18th Edition, with guidance on how to apply this within a workplace environment and create an effective electrical compliance strategy. Participants will also learn more about how to demonstrate commitment to the duty holder role, through supervision and monitoring. These learnings will help duty holders to understand the full breadth of their role and responsibilities regarding electrical safety and how to achieve compliance in the workplace. The courses will run as one-day sessions, allowing 12 delegates per session. Michael Kenyon, Technical Manager at Bureau Veritas, says, “We’re really happy to have launched our electrical safety awareness course for duty holders. In recent years, electrical safety has never been more widely discussed, and while the 18th Edition goes a long way to mitigating some of the risks associated with electrical safety, duty holder education is another great step in the right direction to earning compliance and ensuring a safe working environment for staff and members of the visiting public.” Bureau Veritas also revealed that duty holders should consider the qualifications of electrical contractors - who may need to complete the 18th Edition City & Guilds course - to ensure they have the most up-to-date knowledge when it comes to compliance. Kenyon adds, “While electrical safety is no doubt at the top of the agenda for many duty holders, a sizeable proportion may not fully understand what their role and responsibilities truly entail. Knowledge is power, and taking full advantage of our electrical safety awareness course, alongside other industry accredited courses, will ensure duty holders get ahead of the new regulations, and undoubtedly, will help to save lives.” Bureau Veritas offers a range of testing and certification services to support customers in managing compliance around electrical safety in general for new and existing installations or for specific areas. For further information, visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk/training.

Electrical contractors advised not to rely on project policy cover

ECIC, the specialist insurer for the building services sector, is warning electrical contractors working on major building sites and projects, that they may not be covered under the site’s project policy as they have been in the past. This could leave them exposed if they are found to be at fault in an insurance claim. The warning follows an out of court settlement which has left insurers and contractors in the dark about the extent of cover offered by Project Policies – in the eyes of the law. In 2018, a High Court decision found in favour of a project policy insurer recovering their costs from the contractor who caused a site fire. The Court concluded that, under the terms of the project policy, the subcontractor was required to have separate cover - which was not in place. This meant the contractor was liable for the full cost of damage caused. The contractor in this case was due to appeal the High Court’s decision in early 2019 but instead settled out of court, prior to the appeal hearing. Ian Hollingworth, Technical Claims and Relationship Manager, ECIC, comments, “The out of court settlement has left insurers supporting the UK’s construction sector in need of urgent clarity over policyholder and sub-contractor’s rights under these policies, and where the sub-contractor needs to take out their own CAR/public liability insurance. “Traditionally, employers on larger construction projects take out a project policy to cover damage to the existing structure. There is also the option of adding cover for contract works being undertaken by appointed sub-contractors, including electrical contractors. “The project policy would normally provide protection to named contractors, and sometimes all contractors in the contractual chain, reducing delays in the project and avoiding costly litigation between sub-contractors. However, in this case, the sub-contractor had not been appointed at the start of the project and was not named on the policy. This meant the subcontractor required their own insurance, clearly highlighting the importance of checking insurance cover thoroughly, and not taking for granted that full cover is held for all sub-contractors working on site. “Whilst the situation remains somewhat unclear for the insurers, what is very clear is that electrical contractors and sub-contractors can no longer rely on a project policy insurer to cover any losses in the event of damage they may cause. A project policy does not necessarily provide the catch-all cover on which contractors have come to rely, and overlooking this could be an extremely expensive mistake for any electrical contractor or sub-contractor. Thorough checking of existing cover and the terms of that cover is even more important than ever, so we advise all electrical contractors to work closely with their broker or insurance provider to confirm they are adequately insured for their potential liabilities.”

Rexel launches Industrial Solutions division

Rexel UK has launched a specialist Industrial Solutions division, with a national network of branches delivering expert insight and bespoke solutions to improve business efficiencies. With the development of Industry 4.0 and smarter solutions becoming an expectation within most businesses, Rexel recognised the need to advance its industrial offer to support its customers in developing improved processes and efficiencies. Ian Pegrum, Sales Director of Industry, said they were excited to be launching the industrial strategy into the marketplace, following much development. He comments, “Today we see a very different industrial marketplace than ever before. The technological developments, specifically within the world of intelligence and smart solutions, are becoming so advanced, businesses now demand far more from suppliers – they need a one-stop supply solution that is tailored to their individual needs. “Machinery can now have a requirement to monitor performance and output, gathering intelligent data to improve production process. For example, the world of ordering will change, becoming low in size but higher in frequency. Our customers will adopt an automated system that will ensure they are placed to achieve this, otherwise they will struggle to adapt.” Rexel Industrial Solutions will provide bespoke, tailored supply solutions. This will include technical support from expert staff leading to solutions such as supplier rationalisation, integrated supply solutions, 'just in time' solutions and smart stores. Nick Brent, Head of Industrial Sales, already operates within the field. He says, “The offer we can provide is very diverse and is not limited to our electrical supply focus, we can, and have, delivered a huge range of products and cost saving initiatives. Rexel have free services available to the market, looking at lighting designs and energy management. “We’re very well positioned with our offer to be able to provide full supply solutions to businesses and realise this is the way that businesses must go as the world continues to develop.” The current Rexel Industrial Solutions branches are in Deeside, Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, Whitehaven, Trafford and Peterborough, alongside field-based sales engineers, working throughout the UK, helping to secure Rexel’s development for the future. The Deeside branch has already become the fifth UK Industrial Automation Distributor (IAD) under an initiative from Schneider Electric, designed and developed by Schneider Electric’s Industry division. The scheme is part of a Channel Segmentation Strategy Plan for the establishment of ‘Master’ Partners. It sets out to make a step change in its automation specification and services, offering the highest level of technical training and support for its customers, including end users and OEMs. This training will continue to be rolled out across the specialist branches.

Aico publishes guide to BS 5839-6:2019

With the recent changes to BS 5839-6:2019, Aico – a provider of domestic mains powered fire and carbon monoxide alarms - has condensed the information into a pocket-sized guide. British Standard BS 5839-6:2019 covers specific recommendations for fire alarm systems in all domestic premises, and covers both new-build and existing properties. The standard contains a large amount of detail on all aspects relating to the design and installation of fire alarm systems, including the type of alarm to install and the areas of the property to protect. To further support customers with the changes, Aico has updated its counter mat for wholesalers. The counter mat has a picture of a house with alarms in situ, providing the information about where to site alarms conforming to the changes in BS 5839-6:2019 Table 1. All of Aico's alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations. If you would like further information on the BS 5839-6:2019 updates, visit www.aico.co.uk or email marketing@aico.co.uk to order your free pocket-sized guide.