Carly Weller and Darren Staniforth, Head of Electrotechnical Solutions at CEF and ECN Awards Judge, discuss the latest series of TechTalks, the importance of safe isolation and Amendment 4.
CW: Hi Darren, Series 4 of CEF’s TechTalks has just kicked off – how is it going?
DS: I’m thrilled to say we’ve had a great start. The engagement from the people who have turned up has been brilliant and it’s nice to see so many electricians care about the future of electrical installations.
Everyone who attended has agreed that they need to be part of the decision-making process and our TechTalks allow them to be included without the need to go to the BSI website on their own.
CW: What’s new for Series 4?
DS: This time around, Dave and I are looking at the proposed changes to fire alarm and emergency lighting standards.
We also consider the outcomes of the second Grenfell report, before moving on to looking at a newly introduced standard for battery storage systems in domestic installations. We finish off by looking at the 3rd Amendment to the Wiring Regulations and the proposed 4th Amendment, which will see all of us needing a brand new regs book in 2026.
CW: What do you make of the proposed changes to the Wiring Regulations, 4th Amendment?
DS: It’s clear that a good dose of common sense has been used when the proposed changes were pulled together. The installer community needs to take stock of what’s being proposed and make sure we can implement it practically and safely on site. If we don’t think that’s possible, we must take this opportunity to pass comment back to both the BSI and the IET.
CW: CEF is supporting Super Rod’s safe isolation campaign – why is this so important and what advice would you give to electrical contractors?
DS: Two years ago, I used the Super Rod report as the basis of the research into one of the topics we delivered at TechTalks.
It’s horrific to think that we were losing around 13 electricians a year, all because safe isolation wasn’t deployed. We wanted to know what could be done to bring that number down, and one of the big things everybody in the industry can do is raise awareness of the need to complete safe isolation every time.
CW: We are delighted that you are returning to the ECN Awards judging panel this year – why did you want to get involved?
DS: It’s a privilege to be part of the judging panel and hear the remarkable stories of exceptional individuals, businesses and innovations. It’s an amazing opportunity to recognise and celebrate all the great work within our industry, together with a great opportunity to identify future trends and innovations. Last year’s entrants really showcased the best of British engineering and I’m looking forward to seeing the same again this year.
CW: What’s next for you and CEF?
DS: CEF are always looking to make things easier for our customers. Over the coming months you will see CEF offer our own renewable training.
This will start small initially, with workshops dedicated to solar PV battery storage systems and maintenance of existing renewable installations. After this we’ll provide customers with a national solution to the skills gap by helping upskill electrical contractors to help take advantage of the increased activity in the renewables sector.
CW: Do you have any career advice for people starting out in the industry?
DS: Without a doubt, I believe one thing that everybody can do to help them get on in this industry is to improve their communication. Effectively communicating with people irrespective of age and background will help everyone progress. It will help customers understand what’s going on, it will help colleagues understand some of the problems that you’re facing, and it will allow you to find solutions and collaborate when you’re trying to solve problems.
CW: What do you think should be made a priority for the electrical sector?
DS: We’ve already spoken about safe isolation and it’s a topic we can’t talk about enough. However, just talking about it isn’t enough – we actually have to make it happen. A challenge to everybody reading this is to show somebody you’re working with, be that a supervisor or an apprentice, how to safely isolate the equipment or installation you’re working on. I believe all scheme providers should include this as part of their annual assessment and every qualification should include an assessment of safe isolation as standard. My hope is that in doing this we will see a reduction in the number of fatalities and injuries we see each year.
CW: Where do you see the industry in five years?
DS: With the introduction of Part P of the Building Regulations we saw a split in the industry. There were installers who only carried out domestic work and those that would take on all types of work. In the next five years I feel we will start to see them come together more, with electricians being asked to work in different environments as companies diversify.
CW: What are your interests away from work?
DS: I’m a father to three girls, so my interests are wherever I’m told they are! As my job takes me all over the UK, it’s important that I spend as much time as possible with my family when the opportunity presents itself. Five years ago, we moved into a house that was clearly a ‘doer-upper’ and it’s a project which is still ongoing. My wife thinks the project is going to take a lifetime – I just hope that it’s in my lifetime!
