Invest In Building Controls To Reduce Operational Costs, Urges BCIA

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is urging the industry to invest in building controls at the design stage of a building in order to lower the overall operating costs in today’s commercial buildings. The 10 80 10 concept represents the total lifetime costs of a building, whereby 10% of the costs of a building is invested at the construction stage; 80% is spent on operating the building and the remaining 10% is accounted for in dismantling and demolition. The majority of the operational budget is accounted for by the running of building services, which includes air conditioning, heating, lighting and ventilation. A study from the Royal Academy of Engineering showed that for every £1 it costs to build, it will cost £5 to maintain and a further £200 to operate a building during its lifetime. However, too often the £1 spent in the construction phase is squeezed by value engineering and the potential maintenance and operational efficiency benefits are not realised. This is particularly evident with the BEMS where connected points are paired back, metering is removed or commissioning time is cut short. The latest figures from the BCIA’s Market Information Services (MIS) revealed that a new record was set early this year of £654.8 million for the total controls and BEMS market in the UK. This highlights a 0.3% increase in comparison to one year ago and outlines the impact that controls systems have in today’s buildings. Therefore, building managers who utilise effective building controls at the design stage can considerably reduce the running and maintenance costs of a building while increasing energy efficiency and performance. Jon Belfield, president of the BCIA said, “The importance of an effective controls system being implemented at the design stage of a building cannot be underestimated. By investing more in building controls right from the start of construction projects, building user satisfaction will increase and the operational costs over the lifecycle of the building will be significantly reduced.”

Campaign For Statutory Recognition Of Professional Electricians Raised Again In Holyrood

The ongoing campaign to confer statutory recognition on Scotland’s professional electricians will again be under the spotlight when an MSP raises a further motion addressing the issue in the Scottish Parliament later this month. The move, by Jamie Halcro Johnston, Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, is the latest in a campaign by representatives of both employers and employees to secure official, legal recognition of qualified and competent electricians in the interests of public safety. Pat Rafferty, Scotland Regional Secretary of Unite the Union, has expressed its full support for the long-running campaign for recognition of the skills, knowledge, training, experience and qualifications of electricians and the vital role they play in the functioning of modern society. He said, “Unite has already contributed to the establishment of the Electricians Working Group which was convened at Holyrood following a concerted awareness-raising push by electrical employers’ association SELECT, the Scottish Joint Industry Board and the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust, together with Unite. “The Government’s own statistics disclose that 69% of all accidental fires in Scottish homes are caused by electricity and it is clear that work carried out by unqualified operators poses a distinct threat to community safety. This motion is a crucial next step in our campaign for recognition and we are optimistic that it will be carried.” Fiona Harper, secretary of the Scottish Joint Industry Training Board, said, “Recognition of the vital role that trained and qualified electricians play in safeguarding all parts of Scottish society is long overdue. These are highly-trained, competent and qualified professional people whose contribution to Scotland’s economy and modern life is immense.” Halcro Johnston’s motion, which is due to be debated in parliament on Thursday October 25, will ask Holyrood to note the calls supporting the principle of the regulation of electricians, and will point out that, while more than 100 regulated professions exist in the UK, there is no protection afforded to electricians. It will again ask Parliament to appreciate that improperly-installed electrical work creates a significant risk of fire as well as other harm to householders and that the installation of electrical work by unqualified or only partly qualified individuals carries a safety risk. Finally, it will ask for acknowledgement of calls for the Scottish Government to consider how the Parliament’s powers over protection of title can be utilised to reassure the public of the safety of electrical work in domestic and non-domestic premises.

CEDIA To Offer Technical Talks For Electrical Contractors At London Tech Forum

CEDIA, the trade association for the custom install industry, has revealed a wide-ranging technical talks programme for electrical contractors at its forthcoming, free-to-attend London Tech Forum, taking place at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday October 17. The event will also feature displays from 20 exhibitors, showcasing the latest products and technologies from some of the biggest smart home brands, and will close with a headline keynote presentation from Guy Singleton on The CEDIA Designer (TCD) software. Sessions on the day will be led by top industry presenters and cover: • Pro-tips for light control on luxury projects by Sam Woodward, Lutron • Smart home design: now and the future by James Drummie and Stuart Tickle, AWE • CI can be hi-fi and why high-performance audio is as important as control and display by Andy Oattes, Focal UK • Leading innovation in video delivery – OLED, AI HDR and More by Dean Little, LG UK • The realities of AV over IP by Rob Thompson, RGB • Addressing the three Rs of acoustics by Neil Davidson, Genesis Technologies UK During the day, delegates will have the opportunity to talk with all the 20 exhibiting sponsors and be able to explore what they have to offer. They are also encouraged to stay for the networking drinks reception, following the CEDIA keynote presentation. “This is the biggest London Tech Forum to date and is a must for electrical contractors seeking to stay up to speed with the latest industry thinking and products,” says Matt Nimmons, CEDIA EMEA’s managing director. “Those coming to the event will be able to attend insightful talks, network with their peers and get hands-on with some great new products from exhibiting companies, all within the state-of-the-art events space at the Emirates Stadium. The best part of it is that the London Tech Forum is absolutely free to attend.”

More Than A Month Of Work Is Lost To Congestion According To Mercedes-Benz

Congestion is increasingly becoming a critical business issue according to the latest research from the Mercedes-Benz Vans Business Barometer. Delivery drivers say that, on average, 16% of their working day is lost due to congestion, which means, based on a (very conservative) eight hour working day, this equates to one hour 17 minutes a day, or more than six hours across a typical working week, adding up to 37 working days a year lost due to congestion for the average delivery driver. Greater London reaffirms its place at the top of the ‘congestion league’, with respondents saying 18% of their working day is lost to congestion – higher than anywhere else in the UK. The research, undertaken amongst 2,000 van owners and operators in the UK, also highlights that congestion is now the second biggest ‘barrier to growth’, with 31% believing this will be a barrier to growth in the coming year, rising to 38% amongst fleet managers, and second only to rising fuel costs (57%). The top six transport related growth barriers are; Rising fuel costs 57% Congestion 31% Vehicle Expenditure 29% Driver shortages 21% Meeting increasing customer demand 16% Servicing ‘down time’ 10% More than 40% (43%) of respondents in the North West say that congestion will be a barrier to growth – the highest figure nationally. The North West is home to an emerging (and controversial) ‘Smart Motorway’ network roll-out that impacts some of Britain’s busiest motorways, including the M6, M56, M62 and M60 with completion dates years away. Further to this, more than half (55%) of owners and operators said they plan on increasing the number of vans they own or operate within the next 12 months, only adding to the strain on the vital arteries of the UK’s business network. With the delivery economy on the rise, business operators are citing growing customer bases (47%), continuing growth of online shopping (40%) and a shift away from heavy goods vehicles as the main reason they’ll be investing in bigger fleets. Steve Bridge, managing director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, said, “Anyone who has travelled along the M6 recently will fully understand the frustrations felt by our hard working van drivers – the amount of roadworks dotted all along the motorway is causing significant congestion issues, not least the stresses it puts time-sensitive couriers and distribution drivers under. “We know from our Business Barometer that a growing customer base ever more focused on online retail is a positive for the industry, but unless the issue of congestion is tackled, these businesses will suffer. Congestion causes delays that cost money as well as time and can damage the reputation of business that rely on their deliveries. “This is a key issue for the van driving/owning community so we hope that the trade associations and Government organisations reading this will continue to take note of the opinion and sentiment of van owners and operators and listen to their concerns.” The Mercedes-Benz Vans Business Barometer is a nationwide quarterly survey of 2,000 businesses, created to help understand the economic landscape and discover what van owners and drivers need to keep their business moving.

New York JIB Visits UK

The JIB played host to its US counterparts this month when the New York JIB visited London and Edinburgh as part of the JIB's 50th anniversary celebrations. Dr Gerald Finkel, chairman of the New York JIB, representatives of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 3 and the Electrical Contractors of New York, were guests of JIB and ECA member T Clarke plc during a site visit to 22 Bishopsgate, the 62-storey commercial office development currently under construction in London. The delegation also attended the JIB National Board meeting on September 13 and were guests at a dinner arranged by the JIB before flying to Edinburgh, where the Scottish Joint Industry Board hosted a visit to a hydro electric scheme and a tour of the royal yacht Britannia . “The JIB Chairman Paul Corby and I were very pleased with the excellent camaraderie between our respective members and the remarkable alignment of the challenges our organisations face within different environments,” said Steve Brawley, JIB chief eecutive. “We have much to learn from each other and I look forward to continuing and enhancing our friendship and co-operation in the coming years.”

ACI Warns Of Dangerous Turkish Flexible Cord

Unsafe flexible cord, intended for use in domestic and industrial applications, has been found on sale in the UK, prompting the ACI to issue a fresh alert to the electrical supply chain. The latest find of substandard flexible cords is marked ‘Made in Turkey’ and ‘Ermaks’. Samples came to light following the Initiative’s recent `Counterfeit Flexible Cords’ campaign, which alerted the electrical supply chain to dangerous industrial flexible cords. According to the ACI, in two separate instances, 1.5mm² and 2.5mm² three-core PVC insulated and PVC sheathed ordinary duty flexibles have been submitted for testing to the ACI. Testing showed that the cable’s conductors were Copper Clad Aluminium (CCA). This is believed to be a deliberate attempt by the manufacturer to reduce the amount of copper within the core and in doing so the cost of the cables, says the ACI. The flexible cord could potentially be used in domestic extension leads and industrial connection leads which are exposed to constant flexing during their everyday use. Testing showed conductor resistance to be higher than that specified by the British and European standards that the cord claimed to meet. The reduced copper content results in the cords burning out whilst in use, creating a significant fire risk to the user. The reduction in copper content of the 2.5mm² conductors meant they only just met the maximum safe current carrying capacity of a 1.0mm². CCA conductors, being predominantly aluminium, are not as robust as copper conductors and break easier during normal flexing. This ultimately results in individual strands breaking leading to no continuity or a hot spot within the cable as electricity arcs between the gap where the strands have broken. ACI is warning that any cable or flexible cords marked ‘Made in Turkey’ and `Ermaks’ should not be used and should be tested by an approved electrician. Samples can also be sent to the ACI (minimum 5m length) for testing. For further advice on this issue and other substandard cable can be found at aci.org.uk.

Jack Teasdale Wins 2018 ECA Edmundson Award

21-year-old Jack Teasdale has been recognised as one of the country’s leading electrotechnical and engineering services apprentices after winning the 2018 ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Award during an awards ceremony held September 19 in London. Jack, who works for ECA member-firm Opus Building Services Ltd in Tyne and Wear, was trained by JTL. After overcoming fierce competition from two other finalists, Jack won prizes which include £1,500 and a study tour to France sponsored by industry manufacturer Hager. He will also go on to be an ambassador for the electrotechnical industry over the next 12 months. Jack said, “It’s very humbling and a privilege to be recognised as ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year, and to be an ambassador for other apprentices. One of my mentors was himself the winner of this award in 1997, so it’s an honour to follow in his footsteps.” The two runners-up, who each won £750 and a state-of-the-art toolkit, are Niall Watson of Derry Building Services and Conor McCarthy of Darke and Taylor ECA CEO Steve Bratt commented, “I’m pleased to offer our congratulations to Jack Teasdale for deservedly winning this year’s ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Award. The quality of the three finalists this year is a real indication of the talent that exists in our industry. “Opus Building Services and JTL deserve credit for the support they have given to Jack during his apprenticeship, and which has been a clear success. Congratulations also to Derry Building Services and Darke and Taylor for presenting such able finalists, and supporting high quality training within our sector, which has clearly been a great success.” Edmundson Electrical managing director Mark Felber added, “Edmundson is delighted to have sponsored the industry-leading ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Award for the last 44 years. We have a long-established policy of developing young people within our sector through both our apprenticeship and graduate schemes. “Many congratulations to Jack and the other two finalists for making such an impressive start to their careers – and of course for reaching the final stage of the ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Award.” The 44th ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Award ceremony, held at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, London, was attended by a host of leading figures from across the electrotechnical industry.

Volkswagen Transporter Sets New Nürburgring Lap Record

A Volkswagen Transporter has set an unofficial lap record of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the hands of HMS Racing British Touring Car driver Rob Austin. The lap time of nine minutes 58 seconds, beats the benchmark time set by TV presenter and professional motor racing driver Sabine Schmitz, of 10 minutes and 8 seconds, in 2005. The production-standard Volkswagen Transporter was supplied by Northgate Vehicle Hire, and is powered by the mid-range 150 PS diesel engine. The attempt, filmed on home soil for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, set out to beat the 10-minute barrier and the time set by Schmitz on the same track 13 years ago. Northgate Vehicle Hire sponsors Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) team HMS Racing. A spokesman said, “This feat by a professional racing driver was an unusual way to showcase the quality and durability of one of our most popular vans, the Volkswagen Transporter.” Kate Wright, national rental manager, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented, “The Transporter has won a host of accolades throughout its history, but this is perhaps one of the most unusual. We’re really excited to be part of this record attempt which shows just what our vans can do. Most customers choose them because they’re reliable, cost-effective and offer some of the best technologies available, but maybe this is another good reason to choose one!”

Recolight Celebrates Recycling Milestone

Lighting WEEE compliance scheme Recolight has announced a major milestone, having funded the recycling of 300 million fluorescent and LED lamps and luminaires since the WEEE regulations were implemented in 2007. Recolight has the only dedicated open collection point network for consumer and business waste fluorescent and LED lamps. With 3,000 collection points, the Recolight network contributes to the continuing increase in the UK’s lamp recycling rate – up from 39.5% in 2012 to 48.5% in 2017. Nigel Harvey, chief executive of Recolight said, “Our members can be very proud that they have helped to achieve this 300 million milestone; it is they that have made it possible and it is a testament to their dedication to improve lighting recycling in the UK. Their role is helping the UK to meet the national recycling targets set out in the recast WEEE directive.” Recolight has extended their recycling service to collect more waste electricals covered by the WEEE regulations. Suzanne Castine, marketing manager at Recolight added, “It’s great to be in a position to offer this complete WEEE recycling service. Feedback from our collection partners told us they wanted more. The success of our lamp and luminaire service over the years has made this possible. “

Contractor Gives Away Van To Help Apprentices

An NICEIC registered contractor is giving away his van to set up a fund for apprentice electricians. Thomas Nagy, who runs a YouTube channel showcasing his electrical work in and around London, came up with the idea after deciding to get a new van for his business. Thomas commented, “With new laws surrounding emission levels in central London, I have had to look at getting a new more eco-friendly van. “Normally, I would just look to trade in the old van but to be honest I have had it since new and it has served me well so I thought, why not try and do something different? “A new van can be a major cost for someone just trying to make a start in the sector and so hopefully it will be put to good use.” He estimates the old van, which is fully racked out, is worth around £4,000. It will also come complete with a brand new toolkit, courtesy of ITS Tools, which is worth £400 alone. The competition requires visitors to his site to answer a simple question and pay £5 to be in with a chance of winning the van. The competition has raised more than £5,000 already and will run until November 4. Thomas is going to donate the proceeds from the competition to a bursary fund specifically for young apprentices who need a hand to make a start in the sector. He has asked NICEIC to help facilitate the fund. Paul Collins, communications manager at NICEIC, said, “Thomas got in touch and told us about the idea we were only too delighted to try and help. “It is a great idea and a very generous gesture that will give something back to the industry – particularly apprentices, who often find the cost of just getting started very prohibitive.” NICEIC already runs its own 'Jobs for the Girls' bursary which aims to give young women, who are under-represented in the electrical industry, a helping hand. The Thomas Nagy apprentice fund will be run in a similar format with young apprentices able to apply for a certain amount of funding to help them with tools, training, or other associated costs. More details will be available in January 2019 when the bursary fund opens. To enter the competition visit Thomas’ fundraising page.