Main Description
Antarctica is the coldest and most isolated continent in the world. It’s also the most exhilarating, providing a unique and spectacular setting for our vital scientific research. By joining the team responsible for building and maintaining our facilities and equipment, you could play a crucial role in our success.

Responsible for the maintenance, repair, support and upkeep of all electrical services on the station, you will be expected to work on all aspects of the electrical trade, including installations, breakdowns and testing. Using your own initiative, you will be required to undertake duties without direct technical guidance on site.

Other roles available:
Electrical Services Technician (Installation and Testing)
Electrical Services Technician (Installation)

Qualifications: Served full apprenticeship, BTEC, relevant City & Guilds or NVQ.
Recognised qualification within the electrical services industry.

Duration: Appointments will be for a period of 18 months,

Salary: Salary will be from £23,700 per annum.

On-line application forms and further information are available on our website at
www.antarctica.ac.uk/employment
These are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508.
Please quote reference: BAS 67/13 (M)

Closing date for receipt of application forms is 21st July 2013
Interviews are scheduled to be held w/c 5th August 2013

We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome.

You will need to be physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions.

Lighting Products (South/South West)

Our client specialises in the latest technology in LED lighting solutions for sustainable lighting and offer high quality products sold at competitive prices and with recent investment and new product development is continuing to expand throughout the UK. Their objective is to bring value products built by leading manufacturers in partnership with semiconductor LED chip manufacturers bringing innovation to an emerging market.

You will be selling their range of products to electrical wholesalers, independents and stockists throughout the South and South West – demonstrating the products and working closely with the managers to build relationships and profitable turnover.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, enthusiastic salesperson used to dealing with and selling wholesalers throughout the region. Ideal living location M3/M4 from
Reading to Bristol.

For more information please call Hayden Nash Consultants on 0118 930 5555 or email on vacancies@hayden-nash.co.uk

www.hayden-nash.co.uk

(1.London/Herts 2.Wilts, Avon, Glocs 3.Manchester/North West 4. Newcastle/North East)

Our client is a well-established £multimillion Manufacturer of quality LED lighting products who are now looking to strengthen their salesteam with dynamic sales professionals.

You will be selling a range of well-engineered, aesthetically pleasing and fully compliant LED products comprising commercial/office lighting, floodlights, pendants, street lights and accessories to electrical wholesalers, stockists and distributors, contractors, local authorities and end users throughout the region.

This career opportunity represents an ideal move for a dynamic, enthusiastic lighting/electrical sales professional with a ‘can do’ attitude. You should have good knowledge of selling to the electrical wholesale sector, ideally with LED lighting experience combined with the ability to present a solution sale and a proactive approach to developing business.

For more information please call Hayden Nash Consultants on 0118 930 5555 or email on vacancies@hayden-nash.co.uk

www.hayden-nash.co.uk

Ultra reliable drivers and LEDs combined with a superb IP65 rated, weather resistant finish and stainless steel fixings make the NHF range the perfect choice for a range of floodlighting applications.

The range offers an impressive lumen output to power usage ratio with an expected life of 50,000 hours.

To ease installation each model is supplied with a free, IP66 rated quick fit junction box to connect the cable.   An extended seven year warranty is also offered – testimony to the company’s confidence in the quality of the product range which retains a competitive price position.

www.espuk.com

Made from cotton/nylon yarn that’s been brushed for style and comfort, this jacket is at the forefront of workwear fashion.

The Vintage Mac Jacket has a full length twin-zipper that includes chunky, easy-to-grip tabs that are railed on a white profiled zip. Externally two button fastened front pockets provide storage, while internally a mesh lining delivers the desired level of warmth for a comfortable wear.

Fitted with a peaked hood that has an integral pull cord for shape, this combined with a hem cord, underarm vents and Velcro adjustable cuffs provide the wearer with a comfortable tailored fit.

Available in a choice of two colours: orange and blue, Scruffs Vintage Mac Jacket is an eye-catching top ideal for both work and casual use.

www.birchwoodpricetools.com

Manrose’ Part L compliant showerlight fan now comes with an LED lamp.  Designed and developed with performance as a key consideration, the innovative LED Showerlite features LED technology which uses 3W of energy compared to standard dichroic lamps which use 35W.

A distinctive showerlight incorporated into a circular diffuser, the LED Showerlite also boasts a low specific fan power of 0.43w/l/s, providing an energy efficient fan. For households, this low energy product available at a highly competitive price makes the LED Showerlite the smart choice for any bathroom application.

Carefully developed to take into account all the latest industry legislation, the LED Showerlite is Part F and L compliant. A ceiling mounted product, the unit is powered by a SELV (safety extra low voltage) LED driver which makes it ideal for installation within the splash area of a shower or bath. Meanwhile, the LED Showerlite’s 100mm standard size also means it is well suited for use on retrofit projects.

The LED Showerlite is readily available in white or chrome for delivery in boxed carton packaging.

www.manrose.co.uk

The luminaires are constructed from powder coated steel, with quick-connect push terminals for easy installation. The selection includes louvred and diffused ceiling mounted and suspended models with all recessed versions suitable for 25mm and 15mm ceiling systems. All are supported with three hour maintained emergency versions.

The 2013 Knightsbridge Catalogue from ML Accessories now contains more than 2,000 lighting and wiring products supported by unbeatable Knightsbridge service, including newly extended ordering hours for same day despatch. Next day delivery is standard and ML Accessories has increased its already impressive stock levels for more choice, greater support and even better service.

Dedicated teams offer fast-response customer service, sales and technical support, and orders can be placed by phone, fax, email or online.

www.mlaccessories.co.uk

GlassGuard SB is available in various options to suit appropriate lighting requirements: LumaStat daylight sensor control, motion sensor and digital dimming. With the incorporation of Passive Infra-Red (PIR) and photocell capabilities, GlassGuard SB can help maximise energy savings of up to 60%.

All GlassGuard SB luminaires are fitted with GlassGuard BlackBand compact fluorescent fragment retention lamps. This added-value feature helps to minimise the risk of glass contamination or injury from accidental lamp breakages.

GlassGuard Marketing Manager, Stewart Damonsing explains: “We are all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and we have developed a range of luminaires with this in mind which do not compromise safety or efficiency. Added to the fact that they come with GlassGuard BlackBand fragment retention lamps, GlassGuard SB luminaires are an efficient and safer alternative to tubular metal halide and sodium luminaires.”

www.glassguard.co.uk

This month we’ve teamed up with Timeguard to give one lucky reader the chance to win the latest generation iPad.

Pick up the iPad with Retina display and be amazed. It’s as if you’re actually touching your photos, reading a book or playing the piano. That’s because the fundamental elements of the display, the A6X chip, the cameras, the wireless connection — all work together to make iPad 4 capable of so much more than you ever imagined.

Innovation and distinctive design are hallmarks of Timeguard products as well with brilliant ranges like Vision for outdoor power with clear windows so you can see the status of the sockets timers and RCDs inside.

Then there’s NightEye for LED security lighting, with heads no bigger than the iPad, for even the most powerful 32W models.

www.timeguard.com

How to enter

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply send an email with the title Timeguard Competition to trushtonthorpe@datateam.co.uk and include your name, address, telephone number and the correct answer to the following question:

A super-compact LED 400 NightEye will provide energy savings of 86% and deliver 2000 lumens, which is comparable to the output you’d get form a chunky old-style halogen floodlight with output of:

a)            50W

b)            150W

c)            230W

The closing date for entries is 01 June 2013 The first correct entry drawn out of the bag after this date will win an iPad 4. Good luck!

EnviroVent’s Distribution Director, Andy Makin, offers practical advice when it comes to supplying and installing MVHR systems.

Over the past five years, MVHR has experienced a significant uplift in demand owing to the increase in airtightness of properties and the requirement to achieve ever more stringent DER targets. This has led to a large number of products entering the market to compete for a piece of the pie.  However, with so many choices out there, it is important to do your research and consider a few important factors.

An MVHR system should be fit for purpose. It is vital that the dimensions of the unit are taken into account before specification. Often, the overriding factor comes down to performance, however if the body of the unit won’t fit through a loft hatch, for example, or takes up the entire utility room then this is clearly not practical.

Correct installation

Ease of installation is also imperative.   The downside is that heat recovery systems can be the most complicated type of mechanical ventilation system to design and install due to the amount of ducting involved, especially if retrofitting.  If you get it wrong, the penalties can be huge. Correct installation of a ventilation system is therefore key to getting it right.  When it comes to the energy efficiency of a building, installation has equal importance to the type of system selected.  A report published in 2007 by BRE, stated that: “Poorly installed units – even low energy heat recovery systems, cannot be said to be fully energy efficient if they are badly installed.”

This affects the performance results that can be included in the SAP Calculations for new build properties. A poorly installed system that doesn’t follow the SAP 2009 – Appendix Q MVHR Installation Guide will have to use default values compared to a system that has been installed correctly which can use the Appendix Q results.

Save yourself the headache and use a manufacturer that offers a dedicated complete service solution. Some manufacturers, such as EnviroVent, offer contractors and installers a free design service and technical support, plus a detailed quotation, technical specification, on-site support and training and commissioning of the systems.  You can use them for as much or as little as you need.

In addition, you need to ensure that the contractor is BPEC approved. Domestic ventilation is a ‘Notifiable Work’ which means that all ventilation provision in new build properties must be commissioned by a suitably qualified person. If one of your customers is looking to book onto a BPEC course, they should ensure that they select a training programme hosted by a company with expert installation experience, such as EnviroVent, in order to gain first-hand knowledge of key aspects and real life situations.

Extra functions

User functionality is also a consideration.  Some MVHR units are available with remote control boost switches which give the user the option of increasing the fan speed to increase the airflow when required. The more intelligent the system, the better and humidity tracking controls, automatic summer by-pass and frost protection functions are certainly features that you should look for.

Following extensive research and testing, EnviroVent have recognised and overcome the complexities of heat recovery installation to launch a unique, modular, 2-in-1 system called the energiSava 380.  It is specifically designed for ease of installation in a unique modular format to fit through a standard loft hatch and provide optimum flexibility.

The lightweight and compact design allows for a one-man installation and the system incorporates easy push-button commissioning. It can also be rotated to enable both right and left configurations depending on the type of installation required.  What’s more, the system also performs to the highest efficiency on SAP Appendix Q, achieving a low Specific Fan Power of 0.40 W/l/s and thermal efficiency of 93%.

Running continuously on trickle, the energiSava 380 provides all year round healthy indoor air quality. No user intervention is required as the intelligent humidity tracking controls constantly monitors the average humidity level over a two minute period. This allows the system to sense any rise in humidity and increase the extract rate in direct correlation to quietly and efficiently control condensation. Even at night time it has been cleverly engineered to prevent noisy running and also incorporates a frost protection facility to ensure optimum efficiency of the system.

www.envirovent.com

The market for home automation has seen significant growth over the past few years as solutions have become more mainstream and as a result, more affordable. For the consumer this growth means that there is now greater choice than ever before both in terms of technology and finishes. Here Deepak Sharad of Schneider Electric explores the widespread uptake of home automation systems, the benefits and the opportunities available to electricians and wholesalers still yet to capitalise on this growing and exciting market.

The smart home was once perceived to be limited to luxury homes and specialist projects undertaken by DIY enthusiasts. However as the cost of home automation technologies decreases and the manufacturers make installations far less complex for the contractor, the solutions are rapidly growing in popularity.  Indeed, market reports and industry experts predict home automation is set to become one of the fastest growing markets in the UK, which is good news for the electrical wholesaler looking to generate new revenue streams and ensure customer retention.

An AMA report in 2011 showed the UK home automation market to be worth around £65 million, representing a 12% increase on the previous year. With the market forecasted to be worth an estimated £156m by 2016, this equates to 37,000 systems being installed in the residential sector.

Increased control

While the smart home industry has been around for a while it is only in the last decade that building control and automation technologies have begun to dominate. During this time, the main focus has been on commercial applications, where businesses have been able to achieve significant financial savings and notable reductions in energy consumption through increased control across functions such as lighting and heating.

What is interesting though is how the dominance of technology and smart solutions in our everyday lives now impacts on the commercial and domestic automation industry.  Now consumers are much more au fait with digital touch screens, interactive apps and automated systems that take control of a process.   This makes it far easier for manufacturers to push forward IT based solutions for today’s digital age, and home automation is no exception.

In addition, the difficult economic climate of the past four years has actually boosted interest and investment in smart homes and smart home technology. The on-going increase in energy costs now means smart homes and smart home technology is seen as a means to help homeowners use energy wisely.

Technological age

An energy efficient home is one where light and heat are only provided when it is needed, and where electrical items are used, only where required. However living in a technological age and being more reliant on electrical gadgets within our everyday lives means that we use more energy and it may come as no surprise that the Energy Saving Trust estimates that around one third of household energy bills and over a quarter of household carbon dioxide emissions can be attributed to electrical appliances.  Therefore a system that can help homeowners to ensure they only draw power when necessary will be of great benefit.

Simple solutions

Connect, a wireless lighting control system from Schneider Electric, operates via radio frequency and is based on the Z-wave open standard. This technology enables complete control over compatible devices through a mesh-based solution. One of the key benefits of Z-wave is its intelligent re-routing technology ensuring communication between the transmitter and receivers can always be maintained and is not dependent on line-of-sight communications.

Easy to install and programme, home automation systems are not science fiction, but are in the here and now, providing simple yet effective energy efficiency solutions for the modern home. Through automation, consumers can ensure equipment only works as hard as it needs to, in order to create the optimum comfort levels and save energy wherever possible.

When it comes to specifying home automation systems, the contractor needs to consider the needs of the homeowner today and in the future. Additionally products need to be simple to install and easily understood by the consumer, which is a key consideration for the wholesaler when looking at what solutions to stock.

The smart home of the past was arguably a niche opportunity for early adopters. Looking ahead, the smart home will be an absolute prerequisite of the home owner, facilitating reduced environmental impact of the home, reduced energy costs and a real on-going business opportunity for installers and the wholesaler.

www.schneider-electric.com

The rapid advancement in technology continues to affect all aspects of our lives, not least the way we control the appliances and functions in our home and business environments.  Marie Parry, Marketing Manager for Scolmore Group explains why, when it comes to wiring accessories, it is no longer about new and exciting finishes, it’s about flexibility and functionality and incorporating multiple modules into one plate and ultimately being able to create bespoke installations to suit individual requirements.

The concept of modular wiring accessories isn’t a new one – interchangeable cover plates and interchangeable switch modules have been available for years.  What has changed is the development of technology and the desire by homeowners to have more ability to control the lighting and other electrical accessories.   Today’s modular systems provide a huge choice in modules and are designed to keep up with the range of requirements of modern installations.

As new developments in home automation continue so the impact is being felt on wiring accessories with an increase in demand for wireless systems to control the lighting, heating, shutters and more.

A Radio Frequency Wireless Control System, such as the Click iNELS from Scolmore Group, is suitable for both refurbishment and new build projects and can be used to update an existing wiring system.  Because of its simplicity and flexibility it can be easily installed into any property – with a whole house installation taking no more than three days.   This makes it a very attractive proposition for electrical installers who can offer it to their customers as an entry level smart home solution.

Flexibility

You can have complete control of the heating, lighting, shutters, blinds, gates, garage doors and appliances and the system can be installed without the need for additional cabling or wall cutting.

You just need to decide which features you want to control in your home and the system can be up and running in a very short space of time – allowing you portable and remote control up to a distance of 200m.

The beauty of an RF Control System is its simplicity and flexibility.  All units can be connected to the central RF control unit providing one intelligent wireless system.  This touch screen control panel provides centralised control and visualisation of the entire system.  Heating, switching, dimming, control of shutters, window and door opening can all be quickly and easily set and adjusted.

You can set daily and weekly switching programmes to make sure that the comings and goings of a household are catered for.  You can also use the system to simulate occupancy when you are not at home – setting the lights to come on and curtains to close in the evenings, for example.

Simplicity and flexibility

Whilst simplicity and flexibility of installation and operation of this system are key attributes let’s not forget the important issue of energy saving due to increasing costs.  Because you will have complete control and regulation of your heating and lighting, you will only be consuming energy when it is needed, which means you can reduce your bills as well as your carbon footprint.

The RF system is made up of seven wireless transmitters, five receivers and three combined units.  No additional cables or wall cutting is required to install the system as the receivers can be installed behind the appliance (light fitting etc.) or wired on to an existing circuit and the transmitters are powered by battery, so there is no need for any wiring or additional power supply.

Switches can be mounted on glass, wood or walls and can be moved or relocated freely, making them totally flexible.    Programming is also extremely straightforward as the transmitter is easily connected to the receiver with the push of the corresponding buttons on the appropriate devices.

Because this type of home automation system is based around wireless technology rather than the conventional bus-based systems this means it is possible to start on a small scale and build up.  In other words you can automate one part of your home and gradually expand to incorporate the whole of the property to offer control not just of lights and heating but blinds, shutters, garage doors and gates.

Intelligent system

At the other end of the home automation spectrum, a high specification intelligent electrical installation system allows you to manage a myriad of different functions throughout the home or the work place.  A click of a mouse, a quick text or the sound of your voice can set in motion any number and combination of commands that will control all the gadgets you like.

Because everything is set from the computer via a programme, it is possible to change or modify the settings of any of the devices and units connected to the system – such as creating or modifying lighting mood scenes and varying the time it takes dimmers to fade up or down.  The options are endless.

However, with its ease of installation into an existing dwelling and with minimum cost and disruption involved, a wireless RF system offers an ideal solution to enter the home automation market.  Electrical wholesalers are perfectly positioned to take advantage of the popularity of wireless systems by ensuring they have both the stock and product knowledge to meet the requirements of their customers and by maximising any potential increase in sales revenue.

www.scolmore.com

If there is a positive lesson to be learnt from the recent food standards crisis then it’s the importance of knowing your supply chain. As Tesco undertakes to sell more meat from ‘closer to home’ and others similarly look to reassure customers, Peter Smeeth of the Approved Cables Initiative examines whether this is a pledge that the cable supply industry should be considering to deliver a better and safer product to the market.

As the UK’s supermarkets face a significant drop in sales of processed foods and ready meals, 43% of the 1,000 people surveyed said they were more likely to buy food traceable from UK farms in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, demonstrating a strong demand for British farmed products.

Although it has a far higher consumer profile, the issues faced by the British food industry currently mirror an on-going problem for the UK cable industry. Once a thriving, sustainable sector with more than 30 cable manufacturers in the UK alone; today it is down to less than a dozen stoical companies.

The reason for the decline lies firmly with the influx of and demands for cheaper cable products. Just as we have seen the food industry source cheap meat to support the supermarket’s value brands, so electrical wholesalers and distributors have looked beyond the UK for cheaper cable products. The cables purchased and installed in our new homes and public buildings is more likely today to have been imported from Europe, the Middle and Far East. Whether it is compliant with British Standards is another question.

Non-compliant cable

In the UK, cable manufacturers operate a fully audited supply chain that is regularly checked. Their cable products will be independently inspected by third party approval organisations (such as BASEC, LPCB, HAR) to ensure that raw materials used are from approved sources and that the finished products are tested to required standards. This in turn enables the manufacturer to be confident that its finished cable product has been produced correctly in accordance with the stringent standards and regulations that we voluntarily operate in this country.

Third party approval is not unique to UK cable manufacturers – many reputable overseas cable producers have similar high expectations for their cable product. Yet since its inception in 2010, the Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) receives weekly calls and emails from installers and contractors regarding high risk and sometimes unsafe cables.

In almost all instances reported to us, the cables in question are manufactured outside the UK, imported by distributors and electrical wholesalers and do not meet our British Standards. Yet despite this non-compliance they are still deemed fit for sale and installation in our shopping centres, schools and hospitals.

`Why’ is a question the ACI has been asking Government for some time. In the UK we have excellent manufacturing capabilities and British Standards, which are recognised as a benchmark worldwide. Yet we currently allow cable distributors and electrical wholesalers to step outside this process to seek out cheaper products that risk being inferior, non-compliant and in some instances dangerous.

A distributor’s remit is no different – whether they supply cable to an electrical contractor or meat to a food processing factory – they are responsible for what they purchase and sell. Right now non-compliant cable products are arriving at our ports, ordered by UK distributors for purchase by UK contractors and installation in our public buildings and private dwellings.

The ACI has spent the past three years working with industry to help educate the market in better cable purchasing practice but it is down to the whole of the cable supply industry to consider their position and act accordingly.

Better practice

The supply chain from specification through to installation needs to be an audited and checked process. When placing an order a contractor needs to include the details of the type of cable required, referencing British or other standard and cable reference number or code. They should detail the number of cores and nominal cross section and the quantity and lengths of cable required.

When cross referencing deliveries it is important to ensure traceability so a manufacturer’s details should be present on the cable and conformance certification should also be checked. Third party approval ensures a cable and its manufacturer’s processes have been independently checked and meet relevant standards. By listing technical options and delivery details it helps to rule out other errors in supply chain practices.

Customers, whatever the industry, need to know and be confident about where their product is coming from. The ACI is aware of instances where distributors will supply from several different manufacturers – not just from order-to-order but even in the same batch. Meaning that what you buy today may be different from what you can buy next week.

Guarantee safety

The ACI continues to lobby for change and meet with those with the power to influence change.  For instance there are benefits for all from the single market in Europe, but ensuring that products traded across borders are up to our UK expectations is vital and we are pressing Government for assurances on the measures that are being applied to prevent safety or quality problems in the future.

Certification schemes, such as we have for cables, are voluntary and led by the cable industry. They are important but currently don’t go far enough. At the ACI we want to be clear about how they can be strengthened to prevent safety and quality problems when products are traded across borders, when not every product can be inspected at ports.

The ACI believes it’s time that third party certification of cables became mandatory through tougher consumer and business protection legislation.

We hope that the cable supply chain will take a long hard look at what is happening in the food supply chain and wake up to the problem it has created.  Let’s hope it’s soon for the sake of UK cabling and public safety.

www.aci.org.uk

Having the means to offer or add automation and thus offer the consequent energy savings to a customer is becoming increasingly important as our power stations begin to reach the end of their projected life expectancy, worryingly often before sufficient new plant is commissioned and on-line to replace them. Michael Simms, Product Manager, Wiring Accessories for Electrium Ltd explains why this also presents a great business prospect to wholesalers and their customers, offering the means to reduce power usage and hence ever increasing energy bills.

Crabtree is supporting this opportunity with the design and introduction of an exciting range of motion and passive infrared detectors to add to its existing range of electrical accessories and PIRs. The new range provides a simple source of reliable products to allow trade counter customers to offer end users automated control of power circuits with an extremely easy to install, simple plug-in system of push-fit connectors. Installations can therefore be upgraded to offer ceiling, wall and corridor occupancy detectors, and a state of the art PIR for other motion detection applications, with that all important benefit of meaningful energy savings.

Electricity consumption by lighting in the UK is split between the commercial (70%), residential (26%) and street lighting (4%) sectors.  Residential lighting in fact accounts for around 8% of household energy bills. Commercial lighting on average accounts for 30 – 40% of energy bills but is dependent on the specific commercial premise type i.e. school, factory etc.

Manage usage

To examine and quantify potential savings, a study has been conducted by the Lighting Research Centre & Energy Star Buildings Program using occupancy sensors to manage power usage.  It compared consumption data in specific rooms when fitted with no occupancy sensors against the observed usage in the same room when fitted with occupancy sensors.

The study was carried out on 158 rooms which included 42 restrooms, 37 private offices, 35 school classrooms, 33 conference rooms and 11 break rooms.  All of the spaces contained normal manual controls for lighting with the study being conducted over a two week monitoring period. A logging device was used to record the time and state of light each time the occupancy or lighting conditions changed. Four separate studies were conducted with devices set with different time delay settings of 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes with the final results combined to show an average percentage and kWh saving across all of the time settings.

The results demonstrated a massive saving when occupancy sensors were deployed.

For the break room, there was an average saving of 1.59kWh per day, amounting to a 22% saving against a room with no occupancy sensor. The classroom saved even more – 9.44kWh per day, which showed a huge 55% saving.

Another major saving came from the classroom because although you might expect classrooms to have little or no cost saving at night, weekends and holidays during the year, this is often not the case. The study showed lights were often inadvertently left on during these periods, which was of course immediately corrected by the automated system. The conference room, private office and restroom showed savings of 44%, 33% and 53% respectively, showing a total average saving across all rooms to be 3.378kWh per day, saving 41%.  Across 365 days per year, this equated to a saving of 1,232kWh – this average being for just one room.

Easy installation

To achieve results like these for end users, Crabtree provide a comprehensive, yet straightforward selection of easy-fit products. Firstly there is an unobtrusive flush mounted ceiling master motion sensor, capable of detecting occupancy in any room, and allowing the convenience of automatic ON/OFF switching to any area that might have occasional use.

Each sensor has a TIME ON control, adjustable from 30 seconds minimum to a maximum of 30 minutes. The sensor will reset the time interval whenever movement is detected, so while there is movement from a heat source in the detecting area, the light will remain on. There is also a sliding scale Lux setting, allowing the sensors to be active in response to ambient lighting conditions, adjustable as required.

These detectors are really extremely easy to install. To fit them, a power supply module is first connected to the local supply; this unit provides the switched output. A master sensor is then simply plugged into the power supply, with up to an additional five slave sensors able to be daisy chained to extend coverage. The plug ‘n’ play design means installers don’t need to wire back from each additional sensor to the load, thus saving valuable installation time on site. This not only makes the system quick and easy to fit, but also the slave sensors give a great deal of flexibility, allowing the detection footprint to be tailored to each situation.  Each slave unit is supplied with a five-metre plug-in extension lead, and if the maximum of six sensors are used, coverage of up to 234sq m. is possible

Multiple locations

With this new system, a single detection zone can also have multiple locations. The whole floor of a building, for example, can be operated as one zone with multiple sensors. This is ideal when one sensor cannot provide the required coverage as a result of room shape, the detection zone or the range limit of a single sensor. At a mounting height of 2.4 metres, the typical detection range of a master or slave occupancy sensor is eight metres, with masks available to customise the detection zone. These detectors can switch loads of up to 1,800W for incandescent lighting or 1,100W for fluorescent and energy saving lamps.

Dedicated stand-alone corridor motion sensors are also available, all fitting into a standard flush or surface box. Corridor sensors have a figure eight detection zone with a reach of 24 metres and a three metre width, probably the widest detection range available on the market today. They can switch up to 1,000W for incandescent lighting, and up to 500W for fluorescent and energy saving lamps.

With many energy utilities announcing around a 10% increase in energy prices last autumn, occupancy sensors are an excellent way of offsetting this cost and actually reducing the final bill.

www.electrium.co.uk/crabtree

Electric water heating can prove to be an ideal solution for a wide range of commercial premises.  Here Robin Wood, Heatrae Sadia’s Technical Sales Engineer, talks through the various options on offer to help electrical wholesalers advise their customers.

Rather than just being somewhere to buy pre-selected products from, the electrical trade counter has become a place for installers and contractors to turn to when they need technical advice and product guidance.  And if an employee is knowledgeable it can lead to a sale, and repeat business.

So it’s definitely worth being clued up on the various electric water heating products available – including small-scale solutions.  After all, as they are ideal for a wide range of properties, electrical wholesalers might find they are asked about them on a relatively frequent basis.

Although large storage cylinders are found in many commercial properties, not all businesses and organisations in the UK actually need huge amounts of hot water.  For example, although it’s essential for doctor’s surgeries, dental practices, beauty salons and food counters to have a supply of hot water for hygiene purposes, they will typically need just a few sinks or basins (sometimes just one) to satisfy their demands.

And rather than using a large storage cylinder/boiler to feed the taps, it’s very often the case that small scale, low cost water heating can be more appropriate.  For the benefit of the end user, small scale electric water heating units are also efficient, cost effective and economical to run, and the products are more aesthetically pleasing than in the past.

Options available

When only a few people need to wash their hands and just one single sink or basin is required, point of use water heaters or electric instantaneous hand wash units are good solutions.  They are ideal for washrooms in small business premises, as well as healthcare applications like dental and doctor’s surgeries, where they would usually be installed in individual consulting rooms.

Single vented point of use storage water heaters, generally sited next to the point they serve (as the name suggests), are typically available as over-sink or under-sink units (under-sink versions need a purpose designed vented tap).  They can be fed directly from the cold water supply, eliminating the need for a hot water supply from a remote boiler and expensive pipe runs.

They heat water with an electric heating element and the water is temperature controlled.  As hot water is drawn off, the unit automatically refills.  Point of use products have an open outlet to allow any excess pressure in the unit to be vented, but during the warm up process it is normal for expanded water to drip from the spout.

Heatrae Sadia has one of the largest ranges of point of use products available, and our Streamline and Express models are market leaders for appearance, performance and ease of installation.  In recent years we have also improved Streamline’s energy efficiency.

Hands free

Meanwhile, electric instantaneous hand wash units are often found where space is limited, for example in compact washroom facilities.  Usually slim-line in design, they require just a small amount of wall space above a sink or basin.  They have a swivel spray outlet attached to the unit and are turned off and on with a switch or dial.  Automatic versions are also available which provide a set amount of hot water (for example 25 seconds), delivered at a pre-set temperature.

Heatrae Sadia offers the Handy electric instantaneous hand wash unit, and a No Touch version is available.  Non-touch technology is ideal for applications where hygiene is a priority – for example in medical facilities or on supermarket food counters.  Users simply wave their hand in front of the unit to turn the hot water supply on, which eliminates the cross contamination of germs, bacteria and dirt often found on taps and push button controls.  A timer turns the water off after a set period to ensure that water wastage is kept to a minimum.

Point of use and instantaneous electric hand wash units are a good solution for individual hand washing facilities, but when a few sinks or basins are required (for example in office washrooms, restaurants or hairdressing salons) a small unvented system is more appropriate, and also offers similar performance to that of a larger system.

Fed directly from the cold water mains, unvented systems provide powerful hot water without a loss of performance if several taps are turned on simultaneously.  It should be remembered that although some commercial organisations only need a small amount of hot water, they might want it to be powerful.  For example, this could be the case in stylish restaurants and bars and hairdressing salons because powerful hot water could make a good impression on customers.

Cost effective

Small unvented systems offer other benefits too.  For example, they can be more cost effective to install than single sink open outlet water heaters, and can include thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) to guard against scalding.  And, in larger buildings, a number of small unvented water heaters can provide a more flexible design solution than one large centrally distributed system, allowing individual units to be isolated or serviced without closing down the complete hot water supply.

Suitable for multi-basin supply, our Hotflo range is ideal for light duty commercial applications, while Multipoint is designed for applications with a higher demand for hot water, or can alternatively serve a larger number of lower usage outlets.

Not all businesses and organisations in the UK require large amounts of hot water, so very often small scale electric water heating can prove to be an ideal solution.  It’s therefore worth learning more about the options that are available.

Heatrae Sadia recently launched a free online training programme aimed at electrical wholesalers, developed in conjunction with training specialist Cortexa.  There are currently four modules which include: Unvented Hot Water Systems, Electric Heating Products, Drinking Water (Hot and Cold) and Decentralised Heating Products.  The programme has been designed so that staff can choose the modules that are relevant for them depending on their areas of specialism or the type of products that the wholesaler they work for sells.

www.heatraesadia.com

April saw the return of the EDA Business Forum, a regular and popular event on the industry calendar.

Held twice a year in different locations around the country, the EDA’s forums are primarily designed to attract members from the geographical area where it is held.

For newer members or colleagues that have not been able to attend in the past, the forums help those members gain an insight into the EDA, and how it can help their business. As part of their membership, members and affiliates are able to attend free of charge.

The first forum of 2013 had a great turn out on the day, with a good mix of manufacturers and wholesalers attending, as well as the EDA’s training providers being on hand to discuss Product Knowledge Training, and the EDA Vocational programme.

The first presentation from Redring entitled Save water – Save money – Save time concerned the fact that water bills are to rise by an average of 5.7% over the next year. Redring discussed the awareness of consumers of both their energy and water consumption.

The second presentation from Zhaga, Making LED Light Sources Interchangeable, looked at the ever changing LED market with a particular emphasis on light engines and socketable LED modules. Last but certainly not least, Vent-Axia took delegates through the many external forces changing the face of ventilation.

EDA forums offer excellent opportunities to liaise and network with industry colleagues in one location. This forum, like others, saw the perfect opportunity to liaise with colleagues from Amtech, Countrywide Electrical Distributors Ltd, Dextra Lighting, Edmundson Electrical, Electrabrands, Electric Center, ERF Electrical Wholesalers, Eyre & Elliston, Fern-Howard, Illuma Lighting, Legrand UK Ltd, Lockwell Electrical, Marco Cable Management, Megaman, Midshires, Newey & Eyre, Nexans, OSRAM Ltd, Prysmian Cables & Systems, Rexel, Redring Xpelair, Rifina Co Ltd, Schneider Electric Ltd, Stearn, UK Cables Ltd, UK Electric (Kirkby Components), Vent-Axia, Venture Lighting Europe, WF Senate, Zip Heaters (UK) Ltd.

So if you’ve not been to an EDA Forum, but would like to know more, contact the EDA on 01892 619990 or alternatively go to their website.

www.eda.org.uk

The new electrical installation has been carried out to enable centralisation of services for the Isle of Wight’s 39 electoral wards, 25 parish councils and eight town councils at Newport County Hall. The remodelling project has opened up the building to allow resident access to council services via self-service terminals in the new public reception area and has increased staffing capacity from around 300 to more than 700.

The project follows the installation of a state of the art ‘Server Farm’ in 2010 to provide secure data and IT services to secondary equipment rooms on each floor. Electrical contractor Paktron used Legrand’s Cablofil steel wire tray system for the cable management infrastructure for the server farm scheme and opted for Cablofil again for the refurbishment of the main building.

Matt Lane from Paktron explains: “We had used Cablofil steel wire tray cable management throughout the Server Farm project as its open structure provides ample ventilation for data cables while the system has a unique safety edge that prevents cables from snagging. The cable management specification for the office refurbishment needed to answer the demands of quality, longevity, cost and reduced installation times and, once again, Legrand’s Cablofil system ticked all of these criteria.”

Paktron Installed Cablofil steel wire tray in sizes ranging from 50mm to 600mm, largely in the ceiling voids, with separate runs of basket for power, lighting and data. The main arterial cables were installed in vertical risers connecting with the ceiling void installation on each floor.

Matt adds: “The ceiling voids were quite tight but Cablofil steel wire tray is so lightweight and flexible that creating bends on site to fit the available space was relatively straightforward.”

www.legrand.co.uk

The Woodland Spa offers spa day packages along with a ladies state-of-the-art Technogym gym, three specialist pools, two hot tub spas and an extensive thermal experience suite.  The interior design was undertaken by Dorking based IDP Design who were also responsible for the overall conceptual lighting designs including large ‘cigar’ and pendant lighting in the restaurant and a bespoke fixture within the hydro pool area.

Decorative lighting was created and supplied by Pendle based Chantelle Lighting who chose to use Megaman’s LED GU10 and Gls lamps within specific areas of the spa.

www.megamanuk.com

Trinity Leeds will have a million square feet of space traversing three of the busiest shopping streets in Leeds; Briggate, Albion and Commercial Street. It opened its doors in March 2013 and a footfall of 23 million visitors is forecasted in its first year.

The fire alarm systems in the centre are therefore of the utmost importance for protecting this influx of shoppers. For this reason, Prysmian’s FP PLUS was installed in these systems. FP PLUS is an ‘enhanced’, hard skin, dressable fire resistant cable that meets the requirements of BS 5839.

Due to the sheer size of the Trinity Centre, with its vast area spanning three levels, Prysmian’s most robust fire-resistant cable, FP 600S, was also specified. Designed and developed for the toughest British Standard fire test for cables, BS8491 F120, FP 600S  was the ideal specification for Trinity, as it is suitable for use in all power and control circuits, as defined in BS8519:2010, installed in ‘large and complex buildings’.

For the non-emergency circuits, Afumex BS6724 Low Smoke Cable has been installed. Afumex is Prysmian’s range of low smoke, zero halogen (LSOH) flame-retardant cables.

Trinity Leeds, developed by Land Securities, will have 120 shops, 12 restaurants, bars and cafes and the biggest Everyman cinema in Britain.

www.prysmian.co.uk

Created with the input of some of the world’s leading fire safety experts and installation companies, C-TEC’s ZFP boasts a unique touch screen interface which proved invaluable in its installation at the Together Trust’s Bridge College, an independent college for students aged 16 to 25 years with disabilities, complex needs and autism.

Andy Green, C-TEC’s Marketing Manager said: “The visual aspect of the ZFP is very impressive as all devices installed on a system are displayed clearly on the panel’s touchscreen interface. Therefore, if the panel identifies a faulty device, you can see which one it is immediately. The interface is very user-friendly as the scroll up, scroll down options and onscreen keyboard especially make installation and programming simple and straightforward.”

Situated in the entrance area, the sophisticated 4-loop ZFP provides total protection at the new £6.9m purpose-built specialist centre which opened on The Manchester College’s Openshaw Campus last September. The panel is linked to an array of devices including 150 Apollo smoke and heat detectors and 90 C-TEC manufactured addressable loop sounder/beacons located throughout the site.

The fire alarm system at the college has been programmed as a simple ‘one out, all out system’ due to the nature of the building. Andy says: “Obviously the ZFP is capable of very powerful cause and effects and complex phased evacuation strategies but, as every classroom has an exit door and the building has only one floor, a basic evacuation programme was deemed perfectly adequate for this particular project.”

www.c-tec.co.uk

Sleeperz is a 98-bedroom glass fronted hotel situated close to Newcastle Central Station and the city’s popular quayside area. It offers modern, cutting edge architectural design teamed with bold contemporary interiors and an array of features normally associated with far more expensive hotels.

Javeed Anwar, Head of Marketing and Sales for Sleeperz Hotels said: “The unique selling point of Sleeperz is that we offer budget prices in a location that oozes style, something that we achieved by putting every single aspect of the hotel under the interior design microscope.”

Anwar worked closely with Janine Powell of Ilfracombe-based Hampton Design Studios to create the perfect look and Legrand’s brushed steel Traditional Synergy wiring accessories were selected for use throughout the hotel – a specification decision made due to their aesthetic appeal.

The full specification comprised 1, 2 and 3 gang switches, 1 gang switched and unswitched sockets, 2  gang sockets, double and single data sockets, telephone and TV sockets, and included both Synergy white and Synergy decorative wiring accessories.

Caroline Boden, Marketing Manager for Legrand’s wiring device division, said: “When we first launched Synergy our aim was to elevate wiring accessories to the status of must-have style accessories – especially within the hotel sector. Seven years down the line wiring accessories really are seen as part and parcel of a hotel’s interior design scheme, and Synergy has gone from strength to strength.”

Legrand’s Synergy range features wiring accessories that not only complement every conceivable décor, but also meet the practical and safety needs of installers and end users. The range also benefits from the flexibility and functionality of a comprehensive grid system that can support between 1 and 24 modules.

www.legrand.co.uk

The house was, in its time, a showpiece of the movement, combining up-to-date features with an emphasis on craftsmanship that was a reaction against the increasingly industrialised late Victorian era. Thirtover was one of the first homes to have an electrical system installed and many of the original light fittings remain. It was against this backdrop that the new owners of the house decided to upgrade all of the lighting – combining the best of modern LED technology with an appreciation for the historical legacy of the building.

“We wanted to see how far new lighting technology could sit comfortably in a building of considerable historic interest,” explains the homeowner. “The goal was to use significantly less energy and make the house a viable family home that met the needs of teenagers and their parents.”

Kosnic was selected as the LED supplier due to the affordability of their product range, ability to offer lifetime guarantees and the wide range of decorative products. Beautiful LED Startree candle lamps were retrofitted into traditional chandelier fittings and sconce wall lights, offering a high lumen output and immediate energy saving of 90% compared to the old halogen lamps.

Thirtover House had many halogen spots and these were replaced with dimmable GU10 lamps.  Colour changing LED lamps and strips were also added to the bedrooms of the teenagers. The addition of a web-based home automation system means that the lighting can be controlled via an iPhone or iPad and the main reception rooms have pre-set scenes for entertaining, watching television and other lifestyle-influenced activities.

Local legend has it that the Queen of Sweden visited Thirtover during the Second World War and gave a piano recital in the main drawing room. The same room is now a domestic cinema with tiny LED G4 lamps embedded in the room – these twinkle and then dim automatically as the cinema screen drops in preparation for the family gathering to watch the latest blockbuster.

www.kosnic.com

Nigel is an experienced sales and product development professional who has worked across diverse sectors of the metering business, from Astute Class submarines to switch boards. In addition to working for names such as TE Connectivity and Crompton Instruments, and managing accounts for Rolls Royce, the MOD, BAE and the NHS, he also ran his own electricity contracting business for a number of years.

“I’m looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience in both sales and product development to Marshall-Tufflex. I’m keen to grow the profile of the Sinergy range and, of course, grow sales,” said Nigel, who lives with his wife in Shoeburyness, Essex.

www.marshalltufflexenergy.com

Allen Crossley the General Manager of Clynder Cables who has been with the company for over 25 years is delighted with the move. Allen says: “I am extremely pleased that Davro Investments has been able to buy Clynder Cables as this has resulted in the preservation of six jobs in Manchester as well as bringing together two well respected British cable companies under the same ownership. Clynder Cables and Permanoid hold the same values for top quality cable and outstanding service to customers.”

Clynder Cables was founded in Huyton, Merseyside in 1984 and quickly established itself as the leading brand for British made high quality tri-rated panel and switchgear wiring. In 2002 the company relocated to Manchester, where it was able to strengthen the distribution side of the business.

In recent years Clynder has developed new product ranges such as the Superflex range of highly flexible tri-rated panel wiring, cables with remarkable properties of flexibility and bending radius. Other products include 2491X and 2491B equipment wires, the latter complying with BS7211 cross linked zero halogen, double insulated tri-rated cable and photovoltaic cable for solar panel installation.

Clynder Cables will continue trading from its Manchester headquarters.

www.clyndercables.co.uk

While at the plant Mr Cameron opened the new high voltage testing laboratory – a £2m facility that typically tests extra high voltage power transmission cable at one million volts.  The laboratory will be a central resource for Prysmian’s worldwide manufacturing operation but represents only a fraction of the £15m the company is investing in its UK plants this year.

Following the opening ceremony Mr Cameron participated in a question and answer session with over 300 Prysmian staff.    Questions were on a range of subjects, but the issue of regulating the import of cheap substandard cable was clearly close to the heart of the audience.

They will have been cheered by the response as he said: “I see your problem with substandard cabling that does not do the job and I will investigate at a European level to see what can be done.”

Throughout the half hour session, the Prime Minister repeatedly expressed his support for UK manufacturing saying: “We need to make more things and sell more things. Companies like this, investing and growing, are key to our success.”

Paul Atkinson, CEO of Prysmian in the UK said.  “We are delighted to welcome such high level government interest and support in our manufacturing technology and also welcome Mr Cameron’s understanding of a key issue that threatens our industry.

“Substandard cable affects us all – from installers and wholesalers through to local authorities – all the people we trust to provide good electrical safety at work and home, for our families and friends.”

www.prysmian.co.uk