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I N D U S T R Y C O M M E N T
Spoilt for choice
By Simon Dixon of Riegens Lighting
T
hanks to the recent pressure sodium but, more HID lamps can’t be dimmed. fittings it is often possible to consumption and improve is required, compared to around
advances in fluorescent recently, that choice has Clearly, this severely limits the replace HID fittings on a point- lighting quality with minimum 9,000 hours for HID lamps. The
lighting technology, broadened. control options that are for-point basis while reducing cost and disruption. use of multi-lamp fittings also
specifiers now have With the introduction of the available, as most energy-saving the installed load considerably. If A number of options were means that a single lamp failure
considerably more T5 fluorescent lamp, along with lighting control depends on we consider a 400W HID lamp considered and the best solution will only have a minimal effect
choice in selecting the best fittings that have been optimised being able to switch or dim the with additional ballast losses of proved to be replacing the on light levels in the area and re-
luminaires for high and low bay to take full advantage of their lighting whenever required. 60W, this can be replaced by a 4 existing 400W HID lamps with 4 lamping can be scheduled for a
applications. characteristics, light outputs that In contrast to HID, fluorescent x 40W or 4 x 55W T5 fitting, x 55W fluorescent fittings, using convenient time. When single
When specifying light fittings are comparable to HID sources lighting will re-strike reducing the load from 460W 4000K colour temperature lamp HID fittings fail, light levels
for any application it’s clear that can now be achieved with immediately and can be dimmed per fitting to 160-220W tubes, on a point-for-point basis. in a wide area fall dramatically so
the specifier’s ultimate objective considerably lower energy whenever needed, so there are (depending on selected lamps) These are controlled via integral the lamp has to be replaced
is to provide the end customer consumption and a higher level many more control options. For with the added benefit of occupancy and daylight sensors immediately to maintain a safe
with the best lighting scheme, in of control flexibility. example, in a warehouse these improved colour appearance and to minimise running hours and working environment.
terms of lighting quality, energy Consequently, I would control strategies would colour rendering. resulted in projected savings of In the light of all of these
performance and ongoing cost recommend to all lighting typically include occupancy Just as importantly, around £50,000 per annum on factors, which have been proven
of ownership. In order to do that, specifiers that they take a fresh detection in aisles that are only fluorescent lamps are available energy alone. The ability to in the field at Netto and other
it’s important to stay abreast of look at what can be achieved used occasionally, so that in a wide range of colour include integral emergency companies, I would urge anyone
changes in lighting technology with T5 fittings. lighting only switches on when a temperatures and colour lighting in the fluorescent involved in specifying high or
so that projects always take To that end, it’s worth person or vehicle enters the rendering indices, so the fittings also means there is no low bay lighting to take a step
advantage of the most recent considering some of the aisle. Where natural daylight is specifier has more scope to get need for a separate emergency back and consider the current
innovations. performance characteristics of entering the building the lighting the lit environment just right for lighting system, as would be the picture, rather than relying on
Lighting for high and low bay both types of source. For can also be set to dim as the activities in the space and the case with HID lighting. what’s always been done in the
applications is a case in point. example, HID sources have a appropriate to maintain the customer’s preferred ambience. Further savings will be past. In that way, end customers
For many years the only sensible long warm-up time (as much as design illuminance. This train of thought was put achieved through lower are assured of a solution that
choice was high intensity 15 minutes) so the frequency of Another key consideration is to the test recently when we maintenance costs as the takes full advantage of the
discharge (HID) light sources on/off switching has to be the installed electrical load and worked with supermarket chain fluorescent tubes offer a life of technologies that are now
such as metal halide and high minimised - and the majority of with high-output fluorescent Netto on ways to reduce energy 16,000 hours before re-lamping available.
Knocking back the knock off
By Joanne Reynolds of MK Electric
T
he old adage “if it looks customer and, at worst, harm and generally didn’t work. They large lawyer’s fees, take far too the prevalence of counterfeiting. positions (end-user or
too good to be true, them or their customers in turn. didn’t represent a threat to core long and do not provide any real The manufacture of fake customer-facing) and aligns
then it usually is” is as Until recently, most export markets, and were not incentives for the criminals to electrical equipment occurs them with the concept of
appropriate for this counterfeit wiring devices were seen in the UK at all. stop producing fakes, BEAMA mainly in China and this is ‘reputable source’ with the
industry as it is for sold in the markets of Asia, By 1999 however, they were used ‘administrative actions’. where the first BEAMA activity associated reputational benefits.
many others. Bargain prices for Africa and South America – but present in most major UK These actions use the local was initiated; Electric Dragon Second, in these uncertain
items such as wiring devices, now there is evidence that export markets, and some regulators (the equivalent of was the name given to group times, there will be many in the
circuit protection products and Europe is also being targeted; brands were seriously ‘trading standards officers’ in actions taken in locating the sector seeking additional
other electrical ancillaries are a although recent surveys threatened. They were of UK) in the various countries source of counterfeit products confidence from the products
bargain for a reason, possibly indicate that traditional UK varying quality, but generally a (often China) to carry out raids in China, and the resultant they buy – especially those
several reasons. They may be wholesale channels are great improvement on earlier on manufacturing sites which raiding of the factories where finding their way into the hard-
counterfeit and carry the generally not dealing in copies in terms of appearance, produce counterfeit products. they are made, outlets where hit commercial property
distinguishing marks of well counterfeit products. It is particularly with respect to their Such actions have almost they are sold and exhibitions environment. Quality ensures
known brand names, they may obviously in the interest of finish. immediate effects such as where they are displayed. end-user satisfaction and
be very good imitations or customers to combat It was then that member closure of the counterfeiting While UK manufacturers can obviates the loss of profits
facsimiles of well known counterfeiting and ‘passing-off’ companies of British factory, seizure of fake be hugely satisfied with arising from remedial call-
products but carry another as vigorously as possible. Electrotechnical & Allied products, mould and press BEAMA’s work in this field, the backs, disputes and other
manufacturer’s logo or they Most companies would Manufacturers’ Association tools, the fining of the purchasers and installers of problems. A comprehensive
simply are manufactured in and support and echo the view of (BEAMA) formed an anti- counterfeiter and eventually the wiring devices should be branded offer can only re-
sourced from low cost countries MK Electric’s managing director, counterfeiting committee with destruction of the fake similarly so. The stemming at assure the customer and the
using budget components with Mike Southgate, that defense of the aim of getting companies to products. In some instances, source of counterfeit, fake and engineers will benefit from what
a lesser regard for quality and intellectual property is vitally work together to tackle a the larger counterfeiters have copycat products is a necessity has been described as a ‘flight
safety. important, not only for the common enemy and share been forced to pay very large if we are to stop the to quality’. Finally, profits are
Whatever the reason, it is business itself, but for its costs for a mutual benefit. penalties, one-third of which is undermining of our whole better protected if only for the
certain that it won’t necessarily customers. The BEAMA approach was paid to the victim. electrical installation industry. commonsensical reason that
be a good deal. Counterfeit or Fifteen years ago, copies of different to previous methods The singular purpose of the That engineers should budget goods attract budget
copycat products not only UK electrical accessories in traditionally used in the various BEAMA group was and still support anti-counterfeiting margins; and, in a reduced
create vulnerability in terms of overseas markets were few; countries by reputable is to raise awareness amongst campaigns and resist degraded volume market, making more
liability and possibly livelihood, most of them were made in manufacturers. Instead of using specifiers, consultants, imports is obvious at many from less is the only sane way
it can at best inconvenience the China, were of very poor quality, the courts which attract very contractors and users of levels. First, it secures their own forward.
4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JULY 2009
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.bsee.co.uk
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