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ECA News ECA warns on Green Deal


THE ECA HAS ADVISED THE DEPARTMENT OF Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that crucially important areas need to be addressed urgently in order to maximise the benefi t of the Green Deal to the consumer, the economy and the environment. Paul Reeve, ECA head of Environment, said: ‘We are greatly concerned that SAP – the domestic energy assessment software – is still restricted to “passive” measures such as insulation, but cannot factor in “active” energy-effi ciency improvements. Yet many active measures pay back more quickly than the more expensive passive measures. If a Green Deal assessment does not consider the contribution of active measures to energy savings, then customer choice, and the energy saving capacity of the Green Deal, is going to fall short.’


The ECA has also highlighted a similar situation for commercial and public sector buildings, where Simplifi ed Building Energy Model (SBEM) software may not be able to support recommendations for a range of active energy effi ciency measures. The ECA is so concerned about software issues that it has suggested the Green Deal for commercial premises should be put on hold until it is resolved. ECA also wants to see a practically useful link between the Green Deal and Feed-in Tariffs (FITs). Reeve commented: ‘Current policy statements suggest that those who already have access to cash up-front for renewables can access FITs, while those who don’t can’t – but they can borrow against the Green


Asbestos regulations


THE CONTROL OF ASBESTOS Regulations 2012 came into force on 6 April 2012, taking account of the European Commission’s view that the UK had not fully implemented EU Directive 2009/148/EC on controlling worker’s exposure to asbestos. The new Control of Asbestos


Regulations 2012 will undoubtedly lead to extra costs for employers, believes Paul Reeve of the ECA. ‘The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has put considerable thought into limiting the fi nancial impact of the new requirements changes, but the cost of the changes should not be played down. They will require thousands of maintenance contractors to provide three-yearly respiratory health assessments for tens of thousands


14 ECA Today May 2012


of operatives,’ said Reeve. ‘A major practical problem is that contractors do not always know if a given employee will actually do any “notifi able non- licensed work”, which means that these employees may need a health assessment, in case they are required for this type of work.’ Reeve added: ‘We aim to work with HSE on delivering the most cost effective routes to health surveillance, and we’d welcome an authoritative explanation of the employee health, but also the business, benefi ts of the required surveillance. This will help employers understand why it is required, and achieve active support from the industry.’  See www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2012/632/contents/made


Deal. Not only does this not seem equitable, but it further reduces the scope for installing renewables, even though they are listed as Green Deal measures. Access to FITs will help renewables to meet the Green Deal’s “Golden Rule” for electricity bill loan repayments.’


The ECA has also advised DECC that competent SMEs offer a signifi cant direct route to delivering the Green Deal – and a wider range of energy solutions – for customers (see SME role call story on page 16).


CABLE ADVICE


THERE HAS BEEN MUCH talk in recent years about the use of copper coated aluminium (CCA) cables that are being sold as either a suitable equivalent for use as Category 5, 5e or 6, or complying with Category 5, 5e or 6 standards. ECA members are advised that CCA Category 5, 5e or 6 data cables do not appear to comply with the TIA, CENELEC or IEC standards.


CCA data cables have been successfully used for many years in coaxial data and other coaxial communication cables. However, they should not in any circumstances be used in their 4-pair data cables variant, despite the wide variety of Cu/Al make-up.


The ECA would like to remind its members that it recommends the use of third party-certifi ed cables whenever possible.  For further technical advice regarding this matter, call the ECA technical helpline on 03333 218222.


NATIONAL CAREERS SERVICE ‘MUST ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYERS’


THE ECA HAS WELCOMED THE government’s launch of the National Careers Service (NCS), but says careers advice must take into account the views of employers if it is to help resolve growing unemployment. Iain Macdonald, ECA head of Education and Training, said: ‘The NCS is a positive step forward and we hope it will lead to more people fi nding the right training that leads to a fulfi lling career. However, it is vital that the new


service engages with industry. ‘It would be unacceptable for the NCS to encourage people to take up vocational training courses that don’t deliver what employers actually need. In the electrical contracting industry, we face a looming skills crisis. Unless people are directed towards industry-recognised qualifi cations that lead to work, we and other sectors will suffer a skill shortage. At the same time, those out of work won’t have gained the qualifi cations to get jobs.’


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