Siemens protects unique works of art

[caption id="attachment_10501" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Siemens building management system is smart, flexible and intuitive[/caption] Not dissimilar to an iceberg in appearance, the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris is an architectural triumph. Designed by US star architect Frank Gehry, it is hardly surprising that within its first year of opening in 2014, over a million visitors frequented the multi-award winning attraction. The building is not only impressive on the outside, but is equipped with state-of-the-art building technology, provided by the Siemens Building Technologies Division. The solution ensures protection of the museum’s contents, which to the art world, is priceless. Optimal climate The temperature inside the museum is regulated at a constant 25°C. Depending on the weather, controllers installed in the floor provide fully automatic heating or cooling. This results in maximum comfort for visitors and optimal climatic conditions for preservation of sensitive exhibits while ensuring the best possible environmental compatibility. Earlier, the French certification authority Certivéa had selected the Fondation Louis Vuitton as a pilot project for its new quality seal Haute Qualité Environnementale (HQE). The intention is to award the HQE seal to buildings housing cultural assets that have minimised their energy consumption. An efficient system Thanks to Siemens, the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum has achieved high efficiency, through measures such as screen printing on the glass surfaces to reduce solar radiation, high-efficiency insulation and a geothermal heating and cooling system. In combination with PXC automation stations, the building management system Desigo Insight offers fully automatic control of the temperature and hydrometry in all galleries to meet the requirements of the exhibits. The Siemens building management system is smart, flexible and intuitive. Clear graphics, a trend viewer, alarm management, scheduling, reporting and analytics make it easy to control the entire building and its many functions. In addition, the museum is equipped with a Siemens fire safety system. Rigorous testing proved their efficiency even in rooms with very high ceilings and in light of the challenging volume effects characteristic for this type of building. The Siemens contract package also includes comprehensive 24/7 maintenance for all facilities, with a guaranteed response time of just four hours.

Stuart Pearce draws crowds to Live North

Former England star Stuart Pearce was the main draw at this year’s NICEIC and ELECSA Live North event in Liverpool. The tough tackling full back, who worked as an electrician before finding fame as a footballer, entertained a crowd of more than 400 people at Aintree Racecourse with stories from his past. He spoke about life as a jobbing electrician for Brent Council alongside his experiences of working for some of the most famous names in football. [caption id="attachment_10285" align="alignleft" width="300"] Contractors were able to look around a thriving exhibition hall featuring some of the biggest names in the industry.[/caption] Pearce famously still worked as an electrician after signing his first professional deal with Coventry City. The work, he said, supplemented the wages he received as a footballer, which was less than an employed electrician back then in 1983. He eventually gave up the life of a spark when he secured a big money move to Nottingham Forest a few years later. This year’s event was sponsored by Bosch Power Tools, Denmans, Elite Security Products, and The Scolmore Group. In addition to the talks contractors were able to try out the latest kit and take advantage of special offers including £250 worth of discounts.

Feilo Sylvania teams up with Gooee  

Feilo Sylvania has been presented with the first development kit from its partner Gooee. On the first morning of LuxLive, ExCel London, 23-24 November 2016, Gooee handed over its first development kit to Feilo Sylvania ready to be integrated into its luminaires. Feilo Sylvania is working together with Gooee to develop its ‘full-stack’ operating platform which connects the lighting system to the Internet of Things (IoT). This eco-system consists of innovative components operating both on-premise and in the cloud that work together to enable a secure and scalable IoT platform. The benefit of a connected system is it can provide end-users with vital data about the operation of their building, be it a commercial or retail environment. Building owners can see unoccupied areas and adjust building services such as heating and air conditioning accordingly or update cleaning rotas. In effect, the value of the occupancy data that can be collected is nearly 12 times more valuable than that of installing the most energy efficient lighting. In connecting to the Gooee Cloud and integrating its smart-hardware, Feilo Sylvania can drive down end-user’s costs with enhanced lighting control, complete energy management services, analytics that highlight inefficiencies, and direct marketing through beacon management. For further information visit: www.feilosylvania.com

Stuart Graham wins SkillELECTRIC 2016

Twenty-year-old Stuart Graham has been named the UK's best young electrician after winning the SkillELECTRIC grand final at the NEC in Birmingham. Stuart, who runs his own business, Graham Electrical, won the competition after scoring top marks in a two-day electrical installation task, which had to be completed in line with industry standards against a strict timeframe. He qualified for his place in the final after winning his regional heat in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, which saw him compete in a five-hour practical challenge against 12 other apprentices from the area. Stuart said, ‘The final was very tough but it was a great experience. I'd recommend taking part in this competition to anyone who might be thinking about it for next year – it's a great way of testing your skills.’ Jon Dicken, organiser of the 2016 SkillELECTRIC competitions alongside WorldSkills UK congratulated Stuart, adding, ‘These competitions provide a platform to highlight the skill required to become an electrician and the opportunities a career in this industry can offer.’ WorldSkills UK competitions are proven to enhance a person’s apprenticeship or training programme by enabling them to develop key character and employability skills.

Beckhoff calls for greater awareness of BS EN15232

Beckhoff Automation is calling on engineers and building operators to take a closer look at the BS EN15232 standard and the energy saving principles behind it. BS EN15232 relates to energy performance in buildings and highlights the impact of building automation, controls and building management systems. The standard rates building energy management systems (BEMS) from A to D. A Class D rating means that there is essentially no BEMS to speak of, while class A involves sophisticated, automated methods of controlling lighting, HVAC and other building services. As BS EN15232 can help to determine how much energy can be saved by implementing different BEMS solutions, the standard is relevant to consultants, specifiers, engineers and even end users. Every building owner or operator welcomes lower energy bills so it is imperative that they fully understand their energy saving options at the very start of a new build or retrofit project. Raising awareness of the standard, is likely to help optimise performance in commercial buildings and highlight the benefits of properly integrated building automation. For further information visit: www.beckhoff.co.uk

Pre-Teens Encouraged To Take UP STEM Careers To Close UK Skills Gap

Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sectors are struggling to attract school leavers and the industries are seeking solutions to their ongoing skill gaps. During research by MathWorks, STEM professionals were asked whether students are being targeted too late to develop a love of STEM subjects? The response was affirmative; half of respondents believe students need to be encouraged towards these sectors much younger than is conventional: at primary school. When asked to consider their own experiences; 40 per cent said they were inspired to love the subjects by their families and 19 per cent knew they wanted to follow a STEM profession by the time they were 10 years old; 46 per cent had made the decision by 16. Most respondents agreed that the emphasis for turning out future STEM professionals shouldn’t be placed on educators alone and that families and the industry should take on a greater responsibility. In terms of what the STEM industry could do, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) said employers should be hosting school visits – while 56 per cent also believe they should be funding projects at schools.

Quick thinking and safety training comes to the rescue as two McCann employees help injured delivery driver

Civil and Electrical Engineering firm McCann has commended a heroic performance by two employees, as Steven Finch and Dave Millington put their first aid training to the test to help an injured delivery driver. Both men have earned the McCann October Employee of the Month award, after having the presence of mind to respond to an incident which occurred while they were loading lighting columns during work on the A45 Tollbar scheme. Steven and Dave noticed a delivery driver struggling to unload steel sections from his lorry. Before either could offer assistance, the driver dropped the steel and, in the process, suffered a severe cut to his forearm. Both men immediately rushed to help, using the first aid kit supplied with all McCann company vans to bandage his arm before contacting emergency services for assistance. Both Steven and Dave stayed with the driver until the emergency services arrived on the scene, and it is understood that he is now in the process of making a recovery from his injuries thanks to the quick thinking of both men.

Hylec-APL and Edmundson Electrical Limited sign commercial agreement

Hylec-APL has announced that it has signed a major commercial agreement with Edmundson Electrical Limited.  The agreement covers the supply of Hylec-APL’s electrical and electronic products to Edmundson Electrical Limited’s 350 outlets throughout the country, including all Edmundson, Electric Center and Lockwells branches. Edmundson Electrical will be stockists of Hylec-APL’s product ranges, including the recently-launched Debox SL; the DEDS Series of galvanised steel door enclosures; Hylec’s new IP67, VDE approved AC & DC rotary ISOLATOR switch boxes and the IP66-rated DN range of junction box enclosures with 35mm DIN rail and mounting screws. Edmundson Electrical represents an important addition to the development of Hylec-APL’s wholesale channel, allowing it to achieve greater market penetration. For further information visit: www.hylec-apl.com

Beam me up Walton!

Ellis has promoted Stephen Walton to the position of chief engineer. Stephen, a mechanical design engineer with close to two decades experience, joined Ellis in 2015 and has since played an important role in the development of a number of new products, including a trefoil version of the Centaur cable saddle. Richard Shaw, managing director of Ellis, said: ‘We are very much a business that likes to promote from within and in the short time Stephen has been with us he has made a real impact on a number of different levels.’ ‘When it came to identifying a candidate to fill this division leading role there was only one choice.’ Commenting on his new role, Stephen said: ‘When I moved to Ellis last year I did so because I wanted a new challenge, so to find myself rewarded for rising to it so successfully just 12-months later is a huge compliment.’ I’m of course delighted to now have the same job title as Captain Scott did on the Starship Enterprise!’ Prior to joining Ellis in 2015, Stephen had worked in a number of roles at Forum Energy Technologies in Kirbymoorside, North Yorkshire. Starting as a graduate engineer he moved up through the ranks to become global tooling manager for a division that enjoyed 100 per cent growth within two years of his appointment.   For further information visit: www.ellispatents.co.uk

Trade Bodies Urge Chancellor to Prioritise Energy Infrastructure Investment

In advance of this month’s Autumn statement, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) have called on Chancellor Philip Hammond MP to prioritise investment in new digital technology and clean energy, and to provide greater support for SMEs. The two trade bodies, have issued a four-point plan to the treasury, urging the following measures be prioritised in the Autumn statement: Boost government and private sector spending on research and development, through an increase in R&D tax credits, and expansion of government programmes, such as Innovate UK and Catapult. Provide government support to encourage a step change in electrical and heat storage. For electricity, battery technology has the potential to revolutionise the UK’s energy model by allowing renewable energy to be stored and deployed at any time and the renewable heat initiative harnesses energy reduction and wasted heat costs. Introduce a centralised digital government procurement portal and payment platform, to enable public sector clients to manage the supply chain, with the aim of improving payment practices, market stability, collaboration and transparency. Exempt new investment by small and medium sized firms into their places of work and working methods (e.g. in BIM initiatives, broadband, or solar panels and energy storage) from consideration in business rates to facilitating enhanced business infrastructure. Implementing these measures will help to position the UK as a world-leader in R&D, clean energy and in the digital commercial revolution.